The November Beauty Edit ’19

It’s so hard to believe that we’re now in the final stretch before Christmas and New Year’s break. I’ve just come back from a short coastal getaway, and am feeling refreshed and ready to tackle some of my final projects of 2019. As far as self-care goals go, I’ve been pretty big on getting into a regular routine. The occasional treat myself evenings with an enriched facial mask, and quality skincare products which go the extra mile. Safe to say, over the past six weeks I think I’ve really nailed it. 

The Skincare Edit

Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum | I wanted to kick things off with the product that I think has been the biggest game changer this past month; the Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum. One of the few beauty ingredients not safe during pregnancy or nursing is retinol – which has always played a role in my evening routine. This is a plant-derived alternative, and I loved that 1; I could use it throughout pregnancy, and 2; it can be used both morning and night. Coincidentally, I just finished up my bottle this morning, so this is something I’m going to have to repurchase (and am kicking myself for not doing so during the Black Friday sales). While I don’t think it has quite the same impact as a traditional retinol (it’s softer/easier on the skin), I did notice that the fine lines on my forehead and in between my brows became less visible, and overall my complexion seemed brighter and healthier. Hands down one of my favourite products I’ve tried this year. My only complaint? The bottle should be bigger, and I did find once I’d made my way through 3/4 of the product, the pump stopped working effectively.

Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel | The second product from Biossance that I’ve been using is their eye gel – and you may have noticed a common theme here. All of their products contain an ingredient called squalane.This is one of those “super” ingredients I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of, as it has numerous benefits for your skin. It mimics the moisture of your skin, keeps it hydrated (yes please!), calms redness and irritation, and can even contain antioxidant properties. I have sensitive skin as it is, and I find it tricky to stumble across an eye cream (or gel) which isn’t too rich or not quite right. This has been a dream to use. I’ve been alternating between this and an eye cream from Indie Lee, and have found that with the combination, my under eye area looks more hydrated than ever before.

Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturiser | To round out the trifecta, I’ve been using this gel moisturiser to finish off my morning routine. I love gel formulas as they don’t feel too rich or heavy on the skin, and settle in a lot faster than creamier moisturisers. I can’t say I’ve noticed my skin feeling brighter or more balanced, but I have enjoyed the addition of this to my skincare routine. It gives me extra hydration, feels cooling, and doesn’t irritate my (very) sensitive skin. Since introducing this trio of products to my regular staples, I’ve noticed my complexion has really balanced out, and any spots or blemishes are now a rare occurrence.

Drunk Elephant Best No.9 Jelly Cleanser | You probably know about my quest to track down the perfect mascara (more on this below…), but for the past six months I’ve also been trying to find a new cleanser. Something which was balancing, didn’t strip my skin of its essential oils, removed any makeup, and didn’t break me out. Oh, and wasn’t too expensive, either. And I’ve finally found it. Drunk Elephant had been on my list of beauty brands to try for a while, and it was during a recent browse at Mecca for a pregnancy-safe cleanser that I was recommended this. This hits the mark for me in so many regards. It’s a gel-like texture which foams up when in contact with water, it isn’t overly scented, and my face feels clean but soft and nourished after I’ve used it. Price-wise, it’s at the higher end of what I was willing to pay, but for me, it’s worth it.

Tarte Deep Sea Collagen Super Serum | I might have oily/combination skin, but hydration is one of my main areas of concern. Seems like an oxymoron, but I love a good ultra-hydrating product. The key for me is that it needs to be lightweight; anything heavy or too rich tends to break me out. One of my favourite finds from earlier this year is the Deep Sea Collagen Super Serum from Tarte. I love this so much I have a back up in my drawers. It’s a bio-phase product and ideal for preparing your skin ahead of makeup application as it gives a nourishing boost of hydration. One of my holy grail products for sure.

Bioeffect EGF Serum | Another older product that I’ve brought back into rotation is the EGF Serum from Bioeffect. I’ve been reaching for this primarily at night, during our skin’s hardest working renewal phases. It’s another one of those super-hydrators, and in combination with Epidermal Growth Factor – the main ingredient – it increases cell turnover. Along with the Biossance trio, this is another one of those hero products that has seriously been doing the most for my skin.

The Makeup Edit

Ardell Faux-Mink Multi-Layering Mascara | A new mascara has been a feature of my beauty edits almost every month. If you’ve been following my journey, you’ll know that most mascaras smudge on me, and I’m not a big fan of anything waterproof, and I prefer regular mascara formulas to tubing ones. The closest I got to perfect was this mascara from YSL; and while I do love luxury makeup, I wanted to find a more affordable alternative for such a high turnover product. I was recently send the Faux-Mink Multi-Layering Mascara from Ardell to try, and I think it’s safe to say that the search for my perfect mascara is finally over. It doesn’t smudge, budge, or transfer, plus it lengthens and adds volume to my lashes. It’s also not difficult to remove at the end of the day, and I’m a big fan of the natural fibre bristle wand. Oh, and it doesn’t cost the earth! One I’ll be repurchasing again and again, that’s for sure.

NARS Blush in Gina | As much as I have been enjoying using cream blushes of late, I’ve found myself gravitating to this gorgeous powder blush from NARS in the shade “Gina”. It’s an almost fluorescent peach hue, that looks gorgeous on the cheeks – especially if you’ve got a lovely sun kissed glow. NARS always smash it out of the park with their powder products, and this is no exception. A little goes a long way, so I always apply with a light hand – if I go overboard, it’s nothing a couple dabs of my beauty blender can’t fix!

Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen | Another oldie but a goodie, is the Eye Defining Pen from Tom Ford. I discovered this while tidying up part of the bathroom, and figured I might as well make the most of it before it dries up. The pen has both a brush style tip, and a hard felted tip, though I’ve always exclusively used the former. It’s easier to work with. It’s a nice opaque black liner, though I definitely don’t think you need to spend this kind of money on eyeliner. NYX makes an incredible one which is a fraction of the price, and doesn’t budge at all when applied.

The Beauty Edit

Clarins Stretch Mark Minimiser | One of the first things I started researching (aka, “googling”) when I found out I was pregnant, was how to prevent stretch marks. I <em>know</em>, it’s a silly thing to be concerned about, but I figured I might as well get clued up on the topic. I bookmarked so many creams, including this Stretch Mark Minimiser from Clarins. The team were kind enough to send this over to me as part of a pregnancy care package, and while I’ve come to the conclusion that stretch marks are largely genetic, I do think keeping the skin on your belly, hips, and upper thighs hydrated doesn’t hurt. I’ve used a few creams now, and this one is by far my favourite. It has a very soft, neutral scent, feels rich and creamy, but isn’t sticky at all.

Clarins Energising Emulsion | Pregnancy has come with its fair share of unexpected symptoms; restless leg syndrome and cramping being two of the more uncomfortable ones I’ve experienced. This is a minty-scented lotion which you massage into your calves and thighs at night, and it’s become a integral part of my evening routine. I’ve found that it’s only on nights when I don’t use this that my legs have cramped up, and it’s helped to calm down any involuntary twitches once applied. You can use this throughout the day too to ease tired legs, and I think it would be great for those who might be suffering from edema or swelling around their ankles, particularly as it has a cooling effect.

Corpus Naturals “The Botanist” Natural Deodorant | It was probably around 18 months ago that I finally decided to make the shift to natural deodorant. Safe to say, the transition can be… interesting, but traditional deodorants were no longer cutting the mustard, especially as most contain aluminium these days which can really disrupt the bacteria under our arms. I’ve tried my fair share of natural deodorants now, and my biggest complaint with many of them is that you do often need to reapply throughout the day. This one from Corpus is probably the best I’ve come across to date. It has a gorgeous botanical scent, it doesn’t leave any residue on my skin, and it has serious lasting power. Definitely a winner and a good unisex option too.

FRANKiE4 7-Free Nail Polish | My go-to polish shade for summer is usually a vibrant tomato red, but I’ve been enjoying opting for a more muted option these past few weeks. My toes aren’t regularly on show, but if you have seen them of late, I’ve had one of FRANKiE4’s 7-Free Nail Polishes on. I have the shade “Transcend”, which is a neutral, mushroom colour. In the bottle, it almost has a pearlescent quality to it, which gives a nice sheen on the toes when applied.