That shift in seasons always signals to me that it’s time to refresh my beauty game. My complexion behaves differently depending on the time of year. I’d argue that it’s almost as fickle as I am. Some of my heavier night creams which I’d use a few times a week are now an absolute no-go. And from a make up perspective, I want to add more *glow* where I can.
THE SKINCARE EDIT
So let’s start first with skin, as that’s where I’ve noticed the biggest change in my routine.
PMD Beauty Clean Pro RQ | I’ve always wanted to try out one of these facial cleansing devices, so was thrilled when I received this as part of Mecca’s new launches for the month. It’s a silicone brush, with bristles on one side of the “head”, and a rose quartz piece on the other. I was intrigued by this concept; which has both a cleansing aspect (delivering 7,000 vibrations per second – that’s going to give you a serious deep cleanse), as well as the rose quartz piece for massage (and to help reduce inflammation in the skin). I was surprised by how instantly I noticed a difference. My skin feels cleaner after each use, and I’ve noticed that there is less “dirt” visible in my pores. And I love the way this makes my skin feel. I’ll usually do a good solid minute cleansing my entire face using the second vibration setting (there are four), followed up by a massage using the ActiveWarmth technology on the fourth vibration setting. I tend to focus this just on the lower half of my face, as it can feel quite uncomfortable on the forehead.
The whole concept behind the ActiveWarmth tech, is that it allows your skincare to penetrate deeper. I’m not sure I’ve been using it for long enough to be able to make a serious judgement on this. But I feel like if you’re investing serious money into your skincare, that ramping up the efficacy probably isn’t a bad idea.
Bioeffect EGF Day Serum | I know I talked about this serum in last month’s edit, but I wanted to quickly touch on it again. This has really stood out to me as a fantastic, year-round, daily serum. My skin feels hydrated and like its gotten a little boost every time I use it. Almost like a little “plump” up.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Night Serum | Another product I’m still on is this beautiful night serum from Drunk Elephant. I tend to use this every other night, primarily as I’m conscious my skin leans on the more sensitive end of the spectrum. I find that this not only has an impact at recovering my skin from any small breakouts (which I’ve been getting a little more frequently – all the sweet treats I’ve been eating!), but also leaves it looking brighter.
Clinique Moisture Surge Intense | I recently just made my way through another one of Clinique’s Moisture Surge moisturisers. That entire range is without a doubt my favourite; it’s fragrance free, non-irritating, and I especially love the gel texture of the moisturiser. It’s very soothing and calming, particularly during those warmer months. The intense version kicks things up a notch. This is for extremely parched skin, and it really packs a punch. I describe my own skin type as oily/combination but dehydrated, and I found that this left my complexion feeling softer and more moisturised in the morning than with the original edition. On a daily basis, this may be a little too much for me, especially as this moisturiser has technology which keeps your skin hydrated for 72 hours post-application. Instead, I’ve been using this more like a sleeping mask on alternate nights – similar to how I’d use the Avene Hydrance Sleeping Mask.
Clarins Total Eye Lift | A new launch from Clarins, I was so excited to be introduced to this product during a learning session with the brand. The two key ingredients in this eye cream are cassie wax (to promote an immediate tightening effect) and harungana (which replenishes and visibly tightens skin). For me the ingredient which really caught my eye was the albizia extract. This works to reduce fragility in the capillaries and fight the appearance of bags and dark circles – something that’s become a major concern for me since having a baby! I started using this in the second half of the month, both morning and night. The cream itself is quite rich, so something I would recommend more for mature or very dehydrated skin. For my skin type (and especially as we come into spring/summer), I found it a little too intense, and had to stop using it after a milia appeared around my left eye. That said, it’s a beautiful product, with 94% of ingredients derived from natural plant extracts, and I noticed that it had a smoothing effect on my fine lines during the time I used it.
Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Eye Cream | The eye cream I was using for the first half of the month (and have since gone back to, for the am), is this one from Antipodes. I’m a huge fan of this NZ-based brand, and have been extremely drawn to this range for its use of manuka honey. The extract draws moisture to the skin, leaving it feeling hydrated. This has more of a stiffer (but creamy) texture to their Kiwi eye cream I mentioned last month, but it doesn’t feel heavy or too rich. I also love the honey scent. I’ve noticed that this offers an instant brightening effect around the eyes, so has quickly become a firm favourite for me to disguise any lack of sleep I might be having…
Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Light Day Cream | And from the same range is this day moisturiser. Unlike the eye cream, this has a very milky, light texture to it. A little goes a long way, and it leaves a slight white cast until warmed up and worked into the skin. Like the eye cream, this has a beautiful soft honey scent which really lingers. I personally love this, but it’s not my husband’s cup of tea. The manuka honey again has this beautiful hydrating effect, leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth. Plus, the addition of kiwi and grapeseed have a brightening effect. Another favourite of mine, and it creates a great base layer for makeup, too.
THE MAKEUP EDIT
My go-to makeup products tend to remain pretty static. I have a tightly edited collection, and I know what I like. If you’re curious what my day-to-day makeup routine looks like, then I’d suggest having a quick read through this post. Below, I’m touching on two of my holy grail staples, as well as two “new-to-me” makeup products I’ve been loving.
Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Eyeshadow Palette | Even if I’m not going anywhere, eyeshadow is still a non-negotiable for me. I love that it helps to brighten up my eyes, plus it’s a way to continue having fun with my makeup despite the slower pace of life. This palette from Benefit is “new in”, and I love it as an all rounder every day option. I mostly stick to the shades in the top row, using the “base” hues over most of the lid and in the crease, and one of the “highlighter” shades in the inner corner and first third of the mobile lid. The formula is really easy to blend out, and I like that they deliver pigment, but you still have a reasonable amount of control over the actual payoff. There’s a little bit of kick up when you swirl your brush in the pan, so I tend to pat it into the product instead. Perhaps the only thing missing for me is an intense deep dark brown. I love having this in a palette as it can easily replace the need for liquid liner.
NARS Pro Prime Eyeshadow Base | I repurchased this back in August, and honestly don’t think I can full express what a vital part of my makeup routine this is. I have extremely oily eyelids, and before discovering eye primer – and good eye primer – any eyeshadow I’d apply would be eaten up by my crease before the day was out. The formula of this is easy to work with and blend in, and it truly makes eyeshadow adhere to the lid. It won’t budge or crease.
Benefit Gimme Brow | Every time I try a new brow product – no matter the brand – I always come back to Gimme Brow. I love the small, dainty wand; it’s just the right size for brows. For me, this gives a pretty natural effect, but you can layer it on to go bold if you really want. I generally brush through a small amount to fill in any visible gaps in the front and fuller part of my brow. I’ll usually just skim the “tail” with this slightly. Lasts all day, too.
Benefit Hello Happy Air Stick Foundation | I’ve tried a small handful of stick foundations over the years, and always found them a little too heavy or thick for my liking. This took me by absolute surprise, as the formula is so contrary to my past experiences. I’ve found my preferred way to apply it is to “draw” the product straight onto my face where I want coverage, though you could also use a brush or a sponge to grab product directly from the tube. I’ll then use a brush to work it into my skin. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and blends in effortlessly, and has a satin, skin-like finish. This is billed as a medium coverage product, however I find the way I use it, it applies more on the lighter end of the spectrum. Instead of doing a full face, I just focus this where I need a bit of coverage; under the eyes, a little across my cheeks, and around my nose.
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – Ultra Glow | You know how I mentioned that “glow” was something that I was focused on? This starts with skincare, and ends with a setting spray for me. The one I use on the daily is the regular edition of the All Nighter Setting Spray – which is fantastic – but this really steps it up a notch. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid so gives your skin an extra hydration boost, while leaving a subtle glow to the face.
HAIR CARE EDIT
Finally I want to talk about hair care. It feels like I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride since having my son. Pregnancy made my hair full and shiny – it was probably the healthiest it’s ever been. Something I think I can probably put down to the hormones (helped along by the products I was using). The three months postpartum I started to experience hair loss. Nothing that would be noticeable if you weren’t seeing the handfuls that were coming out at a time. And since then? I’ve had uncontrollable baby hair regrowth around my hairline. But it’s not just the amount of hair I’ve had which has changed, it’s also the quality of it. I noticed around the time that I was experiencing hair loss, that it begun to look less vibrant and shiny. Even though by my standards, I was doing all the right things.
Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner | The first step to healing my hair, was with Aveda. Over the years I’ve definitely called this out as my go-to for haircare. I love their ethos, that their products are vegan and plant based, but the most important thing for me? They actually work. My usual S&C combo is from the Smooth Infusion range, which I find great for me as I tend to have a bit of frizziness and this plus the smoothing creams help to bring that down a few notches. And I’ve also sworn by the Damage Remedy line in the past, too. But I think they’ve both been gazumped by the Botanical Repair range. In addition to the S&C, I’ve also been using the intense conditioning treatment, and leave-in conditioner. The change in the quality, appearance and texture of my hair was dramatic. It was shinier, silkier, and felt stronger. This has special technology which delivers three-layer hair repair to the cortex, cuticle and f-layer, and it’s derived from 94% natural ingredients.
Grown Alchemist Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner | The other S&C duo that I’ve used in the past month is the nourishing range from Grown Alchemist. I believe in mixing up your haircare from the viewpoint that continued, religious use causes us to develop somewhat of a tolerance. So, I was on the lookout for something I could rotate in with my faves from Aveda. These are designed for daily use, with ingredients targeted towards nourishing the scalp, retaining the hair’s natural oils, and increasing manageability and strength. I have quite dry hair at the moment, and do find that the shampoo can sometimes feel like it’s stripped a bit of moisture, however this is quickly rectified when followed up by the conditioner. I love how my hair looks after using this duo – it has volume, shine, and isn’t frizzy.
