Spring is finally here (more like summer really), so I thought I'd welcome it with a little beauty update!
01. CLEANSE.
I am an avid advocate for anything gentle when it comes to cleansing - think milky, non-foaming or creamy (or anything that claims to be for sensitive skin). My most recent discovery is the
Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel, which is a non-foaming, summer smelling treat. Another great discovery is the Clarisonic paired with the
deep pore cleansing brush head (used about 2-3 times per week) which really, really makes my skin baby smooth and clears away blackheads. A final splash of toner (
a blue bottled glycolic acid one from Mario Badescu) and I'm all ready for the next step.
02. TREAT YO' SELF.
I'm currently trying to use up every single drop of oil in my bathroom cabinet before splurging on the big time contender - the
Rodin Olio Lusso (made out of heaven and meadows and double rainbows and unicorns and all that). So far, my
rosehip oil has come to a finish (not a re-purchase kind of product) and I'm halfway through my
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (I swear this one works like sourdough starter, it never gets empty). First, a spritz of the
Caudalie Eau de Raisin and then a couple of drops of the Kiehl's oil smeared all over the face. I feel like it's easier to put on if the face is moist. On those dry skin days, I'll put some
Kiehl's moisturizer on too.
03. NO ACTION WITHOUT PROTECTION.
I cleanse my face and do all that at night, because I feel like my face needs a couple of hours worth of rest before going out into the real world. Especially after having used the Clarisonic! In the mornings, the only prepping step I do is therefore to put on sunscreen (after a splash of cold water). Mine is from
Kiehl's (damn, I should be some kind of representative for the brand - I'm dropping their name like crazy in this post) and has an SPF of 50. Better to be safe than sorry! Right? It sinks in so fast and doesn't leave any kind of oily residue whatsoever.
04. TIME TO GET DIRTY.
I've got myself a clean, happy face. Now it's time to get dirty! For my base I use the
RMS concealer and.... that's about it. I've never been a fan of foundations (probably because I can't really figure out how to put one on without it looking like a layer of actual dirt on my face) and find natural skin much more appealing. If I feel like looking alive I might put on some (emphasis on
some) blush. I am currently using either a cream blush from
Topshop or a
Dior lipstick in the colour Bobo. For the lips, I use a q-tip with some
Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm on it and kind of scrub on my lips. I feel like this way the moisture sinks in a lot quicker. Plus, it kind of adds a natural flush to the lips. Oh, and the
RMS living luminizer, which will seriously last you years. I've had mine for more than a year and I have yet to see the bottom of the pot yet - with practically daily usage too.
At night, I like to go red. As a thumb rule, I make sure I leave the rest of my face bare. I have two beloved products:
Beauty Is Life lipstick (stays on forever, no matter how many you make out with) and my new love, the fabulously creamy
Satin Lip Pencil from Nars in Majella. I think the reason why I love a red lip so much is because I'm lazy. Doing a cat eye, a smoky eye - basically any kind of
eye,
takes time and patience and a lot of touching up and frankly..
ain't nobody got time for that. A lip is so easy! You just put it on and that's that. End of story.
05. EXTRAS.
- Exercise helps, or at least sweating does. I jog (slowly and loudly) and do hot yoga. If you're not the exercise kind of person, maybe you could try going to a sauna?
- Greens also help. If you have trouble eating salad, you could try making a smoothie with spinach. My favourite mix goes like this: 2 handfuls of spinach, 1-2 handfuls of frozen mango, some orange juice and a touch of ginger. Supa' fresh and doesn't taste at all of spinach.
- Nails. I'm really loving my Chanel polish (double layers make for the perfect colour).
- Body. Exfoliation gloves, shower oil and an epilator (again, I'm lazy) are everyhing I need.
- Hair. I got the tip from a hair dresser to wash my hair twice with shampoo. The first wash gets the dirt out and the second wash adds all the fabulous advantages the bottle promises. So I wash my hair twice with shampoo and that's it. No conditioner, no masks. I want to try something that adds volume to the roots, but I feel like any product that I've tried has made my hair either greasy or sticky.
- Perfume. I have none. I have lots of testers though. (Walk into any Sephora and chances are they'll hand you a tiny bottle of some new perfume). Two scents I really like, however, are the Do Son by Diptyque and Byredo's Rose Noir. Both which cost a small fortune, which is why I am currently scentless.
- Zinc! What an amazing little supplement. I've had trouble with dandruff and acne, both of which have improved tremendously since I started taking effizinc.
- And then the best and most important beauty tip of them all: "If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” - Roald Dahl.
For breakfast I basically had this every morning. I still have it, even if I am now 'allowed' to have bread or cereal. It's just that good. What you do is you boil quinoa with almond milk (any milk is fine, I just prefer almond) and frozen raspberries until the quinoa is done. Then you stir in some maple syrup (like a tablespoon) and cinnamon. Top with almonds if you like a little crunch in the mornings.
