Who needs some new beauty inspiration right now? It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut and buy the same products, from the same brands, over and over again. I’m as guilty of it as the next person and I work in the industry!
I think part of the problem is that there is an almost overwhelming number of new beauty releases literally every day. What I also find particularly frustrating is that so few reviews these days are unbiased. Beauty bloggers, editors and writers are often given products to use and review (for free) on the understanding they’ll be generally positive.
There are a few fantastic beauty bloggers that don’t fall into this trap however and are always worth following for news of the latest beauty releases. Check out www.britishbeautyblogger.com and www.carolinehirons.com for well-written and honest beauty reviews and advice.
If you’re looking to boost your skincare or make up regime, here are just a few products I’m using and loving right now.
1. Pestle and Mortar Superstar Night Oil, £63.00
http://www.pestleandmortar.com/uk/product/superstar-retinol-night-oil/
What’s great about it?
Two forms of retinol, cold-pressed rosehip oil and anti-oxidants mean this oil will work wonders for your skin. It has helped reduce the size of my pores, and given my skin the ‘I’ve had 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep’ look (not easy with a new puppy!)
It also stimulates collagen, which is why it is considered anti-ageing. Collagen gives skin a plump, youthful look. More collagen = fewer lines and wrinkles.
This night oil is great even if you’ve got oily or combination skin as grape seed and jojoba oils (that form the basis of this oil) are very low on the comedogenic scale. This is the scale that determines how much an oil clogs pores.
It’s not cheap but a little goes a long way. After the first use, your skin will look more dewy and feel more hydrated. With regular use, your skin will look brighter, healthier and plumper.
2. The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer, £3.90
http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-high-adherence-silicone-primer-30ml
What’s great about it?
If you’ve failed to hear about the hype surrounding The Ordinary’s products, you’ve probably been hiding under a rock! They’ve taken the beauty world by storm and with good reason.
The Ordinary is part of a new beauty brand called Deciem which also has offerings such as NIOD and Hylamide. You know a brand is in its ascendancy when it gets pick up by QVC, one of the most formidable beauty influencers in the UK today.
Their ethos is ‘Clinical formulations with integrity’. What this means in reality is high-quality products, based on an understanding of chemistry and bio-chemistry, without the inflated prices.
For too long the beauty industry has had people believing that you have to pay a lot for good quality products. And while that can sometimes be the case (it depends on the levels of active ingredients amongst other things), you really don’t have to spend a fortune to have great skin!
What I love about this primer, apart from the price of course, is it’s ability to just feel like an extra layer of skincare. So many primers I’ve tried feel as though you’re almost adding another layer of foundation that sits on the skin.
I don’t use this product every day and it’s probably unnecessary to do so unless you have particularly oily skin. But if you’ve got a long day (work and then out in the evening for example) it’s great for keeping your makeup in check and stopping it melting in to your skin by mid-afternoon. In fact, if you use this with the Lancome foundation below, you makeup will literally not budge until you remove it at night. Or the next morning (yeah we’ve all been there!)
Great for all skin types it also helps to blur pores and mattify skin. It can even be used as a moisturiser if you really want to streamline your skincare regime.
3. Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation, £31.50
http://www.lancome.co.uk/makeup/face/foundation/teint-idole-ultra-wear-foundation/A00235-LAC.html
What’s great about it?
I’ve tried a lot of foundations in my time, and this is one of my particular favourites. It’s quite heavy so not for everyday use, but great when you want a foundation that really lasts.
I have oily skin, and with most foundations I need to use powder after a few hours. With Lancome’s Teint Idole, I can go 8 hours or so without having to touch-up my make-up which makes it a winner in my book! It’s also one of the only foundations I’ve tried that doesn’t oxidise. This is a chemical process where a foundation turns a shade or two darker (and often orange) when exposed to the oxygen in the air.
As an added bonus, it now comes in 40 shades, with most shades coming in a neutral, cool and warm bases.
What’s also great, if you visit a Lancome counter, you’ll get a generous sample to take away and try and home. Mine lasted three days which should give you enough time to decide if you like it.
4. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecting Pressed in Amethyst, £32.00
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/becca-shimmering-skin-perfector-pressed-prismatic-amethyst.html
What’s great about it?
Highlighters can be a bit hit and miss if I’m honest. Use too much (or the wrong shade) and you can look like you’ve been dipped in oil. But find the right shade and you can get an ethereal glow like never before!
What’s great about the Becca Amethyst highlighter is that it’s one of the only truly universal shades that I’ve found. you can see from the picture below that it’s flattering for all skin tones (click to enlarge the picture). Unusually it’s also usable by skins that have both warm and cool undertones.
Here are a few ways to wear highlighter.
1. For a daytime look lightly dust across the very sharpest point of your cheekbones using a fan brush, for example the Zoeva 129 Lux fan brush below
2. For a more dramatic look, spray the fan brush with a setting spray before swirling into the highlighter. This magnifies the shimmer and will make it last all night. Recommended setting sprays include Urban Decay’s All Nighter and E.L.F.s Studio Illuminating Mist and Set.
Use on cheekbones, on the tip of your nose and underneath the arch of your eyebrows. Highlighter can also be used on collarbones, shoulders and even on shins to make your legs look long and lean.
3. Use a eyeshadow blending brush (or fingertip!) and dab a dot of highlighter right in the centre of your eyelid. It’ll give you a fantastic wide-awake look, either as the last step to an already made-up eye, or without any other eye make up.
So there we are, my top four products of the moment! Have you tried any? What are you loving at the moment? Leave a comment and let me know.
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