It’s been a hot minute since my last beauty update; and given that the end of the year is literally in plain sight, I thought I’d pull together a handful of new-“ish” products I’ve been using, and break down my thoughts. I thought it’d be a nice way to wrap things up before I share my best in beauty for the year.
For context, my skin tends to be relatively blemish-free, is oily/combination but dehydrated, and as I inch closer to my mid-thirties my concerns are focused around addressing dullness, pigmentation (hereditary), and fine lines/wrinkles. I favour dewy, natural looking makeup for complexion so I can have fun with the eyes and lips. And for my hair, it’s quite dry and thick; prone to frizziness and can get coarse if I don’t maintain it well.
SKINCARE
Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid | This might technically be “skincare”, but I’ve been using the Glossier Futuredew more as a primer for makeup. And for me, that’s been working wonders. It’s an oil and serum hybrid, which initially rang alarm bells for me. Oils are generally on my *to avoid* list as I always, always, break out when I add it into my routine. The texture is more like a thick, gooey cream, and it works into the skin beautifully, leaving a luminous glow which creates the perfect canvas for makeup. This is the type of product I’d happily use on makeup-free days to make my skin look dewy and fresh. One I’ll be repurchasing again and again (via mail forwarding!).
Sunday Riley C.E.O Vit C Brightening Serum | Vitamin C is a pretty core part of my skincare routine. I use it morning and night, to add brightness to my complexion. A necessary step given my sleep is generally interrupted; so think of it as my skin saviour. Sunday Riley is a brand which has continued to impress me. Their skincare is highly effective, and I just really adore this product. Not only does it have a concentration of Vitamin C at 15%, but it also has glycolic acid (for gently exfoliating away dead skin cells), and hyaluronic acid (to plump up your complexion). Besides, you know a product like this is doing you good when a friend comments on how your complexion is glowing. More of that, please.
Antipodes Glow Ritual Vit C Serum (20% off with code ‘JAMIELEE20’) | The other Vitamin C serum that I’ve been using is from Antipodes; another one of my most beloved brands. There’s very few products I’ve tried from them which haven’t worked out for me. I like to this of this as liquid gold. It’s formulated with Kakadu Plum, a fruit with the highest recorded concentration of Vitamin C. It has other star ingredients like Vinanza Grape and Kiwi, which both have a hydrating and brightening effect. I prefer to use this exclusively in the evening as I find it leaves a subtle gold glow to the face when applied. That said, it’s easily become one of my favourite products to use. My skin feels softer and looks brighter when this is part of my routine.
Biossance Squalane + Amino Aloe Gentle Cleanser | I’m not sure why, but whenever I see the word “gentle”, I always go in assuming that I’ll have to double cleanse. I wear pretty heavy duty eyeliner and eye makeup on a daily basis, so efficacy is really key for me; especially as by the end of the day, I’m pretty keen to run through my skincare routine as speedily as possible. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that this new cleanser from Biossance was not only gentle and soft on the skin, but actually did an excellent job of breaking down all my makeup. No second cleanse needed. It’s a gel formulation which foams up ever so slightly, but never feels like it’s stripping your skin of essential oils. Honestly, I’m impressed. I like this way more than their Elderberry Jelly Cleanser (which is nice, but a little too gentle for my needs).
Tarte Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost | Gel moisturisers are generally my hydrator of choice during the warmer months. Anything too heavy, and my skin will have a freak out. This Tarte gel moisturiser has been my go-to of late, and the fact that I’ve almost finished it up probably tells you all you need to know. It’s nice, and I enjoy using it. Though there are loads of other gel moisturisers out there that perform the same way, so I’d probably shop my stash over rushing out to replace this one. But if it did find its way back into my vanity, I also wouldn’t complain. It’s gentle and non-irritating, unscented and doesn’t flare up my dermatitis like some other products would. The gel formulation is cooling, and it doesn’t interfere with any makeup products I apply over the top of it. That said, if my skin is feeling severely dehydrated, this won’t quite cut it. Usually I’ll go in with some sort of mist on top if needed.
MAKEUP
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation | I can be pretty fussy when it comes to base products. I want my skin to look like skin; a bit of dewiness, and redness covered. And I do love when my freckles peek through – it looks more natural. Clinique’s a brand I’ve used consistently over the years, their chubby sticks and Moisture Surge products sit up there with my favourites. So it’s disappointing to have to share that this latest foundation launch just wasn’t the one for me. I found at least on my skin, the way this settled – regardless of application and prep – was visible to my eye where other bases that I love aren’t. It also would break up slightly. So, it could be perhaps in response to my skincare routine. It has a matte, satin finish, and loads of skincare benefits. Which is part of the reason I’m so sad that this foundation didn’t work for me. Loaded up with hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and vitamin C, I can appreciate what a powerhouse staple this can be. My personal preferences aside, the colour range is phenomenal, and you’ll get full, buildable coverage with this one.
Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser | Part of the same family as the above foundation is this concealer. Skincare and makeup in one, this has Vitamin C (for brightening), caffeine, and hyaluronic acid (for hydrating). Again, this just wasn’t the one for me. I find the formulation a little too dry for my undereye area, despite it being quite thick; it tends to gather in my fine lines. Full coverage, and very brightening, I will use this in a pinch. The doe foot applicator is dual-ended with a sponge tip at the handle, though I find this a little stiff for using in such a delicate place. I prefer to pat this in with fingers or with a fluffy brush.
Glossier Solar Paint (in Ray) | Give me creams over powder face products any day. Bronzer in particular is one I like to use in cream format. While it typically isn’t as long-lasting as a powder, it meshes in with your complexion rather than sitting on top of it. Naturally, when I heard Glossier were releasing a cream bronzer, I was intrigued. And decided to throw it in with my order to give it a go. The colour is beautiful; it has this slight metallic quality to it when applied to the face (with a doe foot applicator – love this), which adds a bit of glow when buffed out. Overall, I really like this, but I do think you need to work at the blending to ensure it doesn’t look muddy. Especially on areas like the neck. ‘Ray’ is a good colour for me too; adds a nice sun kissed glow to the face.
Glossier Cloud Paint (in Beam and Dusk) | Hands down one of the best beauty products I’ve tried recently. I tend to be a creature of habit and don’t change much with my makeup routine, but these have been a firm favourite since they arrived. Personally, I prefer the shade ‘Dusk’, a very neutral brown nude, which I find works well pulled higher up on the cheeks, and on the high points of the face like a stereotypical bronzer. A little goes a long way with these blushes, so start off small as you can go overboard pretty quickly. I find that they have a slightly tacky quality on the skin, but don’t budge at all; probably one of the longest-lasting makeup products I currently have on rotation. If you try just one thing from Glossier, make it this.
HAIRCARE & BODYCARE
I should probably preface this final section by saying, after years of being a loyalist to one product, I’ve been mixing things up. I have three different shampoo/conditioner combos on the go; all of which I’m enjoying. For me, I notice some rather subtle changes to the texture and condition of my hair depending on which products I reach for.
Chloe Zara Hair – Silk Hair Wash, Silk Hair Condition & Silk Hair Balm | I thought it might be easiest to chat about these products as a trio. For me, the key thing I notice when using Chloe Zara Hair is that my hair feels silkier and is softer – less frizz (something I’m perpetually trying to combat). The formulation lathers up beautifully and doesn’t feel like it’s stripping my hair at all. The Silk Hair Balm in particular has become part of my regular haircare ritual. It’s designed to be used more as a treatment that’s rinsed out, but I like to use it as a leave in product. I run a walnut sized amount through my hair when it’s still damp, just before blowdrying. Love that it adds a lot of shine, and my hair just feels healthier.
Klorane Volume Shampoo & Conditioner | Klorane’s Dry Shampoo is probably one of my oft-used haircare products, along with their hydrating Mango Hair Mask. So when I got sent their Volume range, I was super curious to see how it’d work with my hair. And you know, I like it. I’ve been using this as part of my rotating trio of haircare products, and the thing I notice when I use them is that my hair is noticeably more voluminous. Perhaps a little more frizzy than with the Chloe Zara or Gisou products. The Dry Shampoo from this range is mega effective too – great for reviving limp hair in need of a wash. It’s the flax fibre which adds volume, without weighing down your hair. And a little goes a long way – it lathers up to a super rich foam with just a small amount.
Bumble and Bumble Bb Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray | Despite using this on and off for the past couple of months, my mind still isn’t quite made up on it yet. With haircare, my personal approach is not to go overboard. Like with makeup, I tend to think less is more. But I find when I use a “light” and with this texture spray, that it does… well… nothing. A small little bit of grit but no noticeable texture or volume. It’s when I go crazy and use 1/4 of the can that I see progress. And it’s then, that I actually love the impact. My hair has grit, it retains a curl, and stays voluminous, even on day 5. Which has me torn. On the one hand I really appreciate what this does for my hair when I’m liberal with application, but it’s a sure-fire way to burn through the product – I’d be buying a full-size bottle every 4 weeks at least. For me that’s just not practical. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for alternatives – recommendations welcome!
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Wash and Conditioner | This was a purchase that was definitely inspired by Instagram. At least, seeing so many people using the Gisou Hair Oil. I wasn’t in the market for an oil, but loved the concept of a honey infused shampoo and conditioner. Rich and nourishing were the two attributes which immediately came to mind. I’d say in terms of hair texture, softness and shine, this is on par with the Chloe Zara haircare. Oh, and as you’d expect, it smells positively heavenly.
Nécessaire The Body Oil | In place of a body lotion, I’ve been reaching for this absolutely lush body oil from my favourites, Necessaire. I’ll apply this as part of my “after shower” routine. It immediately sinks into the skin, and doesn’t leave it feeling greasy or sticky. And my god is it nourishing. I’ve never had especially dry legs, but usually will have to apply a moisturiser during the warmer months out of necessity. Definitely a had-to-have in my body care routine, and a stand out from the brand. I occasionally will get the odd patch of eczema on my legs, and haven’t had a single flare up since I started using this. One thing to highlight is that the dropper does leak so you’ll want to store this one upright. Also, it’s glass packaging; which in its own right feels very luxe. I’ve had a narrow miss where I dropped both the pipette and the glass jar on the floor. Thankfully wasn’t a casualty.
