Summer Must-Haves

Summer is always a bit difficult for me, being a redhead, I have to watch out for many things, especially not getting sunburnt.  Not a very easy task, as I sunburn with 50+ SPF in the shade, but I try!  Here are a few things that I am taking with me whilst travelling:

1. La Roche Posay Anthelios Sun Lotion with SPF 50+ for Sun Allergy Prone Skin: This is a great sunscreen for sensitive skin, and only one of the two different brands that my skin will accept.  It has UVA and UVB protection, so it also helps to prevent skin ageing from any sun damage.  It contains a reduced amount of chemical filters, no perfumes and no parabens, so those with sensitive, allergy-prone skin will find it a very welcome alternative to other high street brands.  I use this protection in the first weeks of summer, as this is when my skin is most vulnerable, and as mentioned before, even can burn in the shade with high protection.    

2. Piz Buin Allergy Lotion SPF 15: Just like the sunscreen from La Roche Posay, this lotion by Piz Buin is formulated for sensitive, allergy-prone skin and contains UVA and UVB protection.  This lotion contains Calmanelle, which is said to increase the skin's tolerance.  I sometimes find it a hard time to find sunscreens made for allergy-prone skin that have a lower SPF than 50, but after a while my skin does adapt to the sun a bit and I find sunscreens with 50+ to be a bit too high.  Piz Buin offers this medium protection, which is great, especially for e.g. underarms, which adapt to the sun more readily.  

3. bareMinerals Natural Sunscreen SPF 30: This mineral sunscreen by bareMinerals is the perfect sunscreen to wear over make-up, as it comes in powder form and can be easily stored in a hand bag for travelling.  It is oil free and preservative free, and contains both UVA and UVB protection, as well as several other vitamins, aloe vera extract and antioxidants.  I find this to be a very useful tool, as face sunscreens can often be very oily, although they state not to be, and I think they are quite uncomfortable to wear underneath a foundation.  This powder solution is great, and it even has a detachable brush so that this can be cleaned regularly.  The product is not only suitable for the summer, but can just as well be used over foundation or over a tinted moisturiser throughout the year.

4. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua with SPF 15: The light texture of this foundation is great for the summer heat, and still provides a fair bit of coverage.  My skin never feels dry with this product, and it also lasts really well during the day.  It is just important to shake the product really well before using it, so that all the ingredients can combine together.

5. MAC Extra Dimension Blush 'At Dusk': This is my new favourite blush, as it is such a lovely, natural pink colour that suits very fair skin tones really well.  It is also not completely matte, so it gives a nice glow to cheekbones, making it a perfect summer blush!

6. MAC Pro Longwear Eye Shadow 'Sweet Satisfaction': My absolutely favourite eyeshadow for every day use, it lasts forever and gives a perfect depth to the eye for warm summer days, when eye shadow can be more of a hinderance than anything else.  For an evening look it can be combined with darker brown or gold shades do make a wonderfully warm smokey eye.  

AQUAporin for Thirsty Skin

     

                                   

After having tried many high-end moisturisers and being somewhat unhappy with them, I decided to try out this moisturiser by Eucerin (available at Boots in the UK) which says to be fast-absorbing and giving "long-lasting hydration, even in the deeper epidermal skin layers".  I went for the rich version of it, and so far I am very happy with the product, mainly because it is not achieving any less than the pricey products I had before and my skin feels much more comfortable than it did before, going to show that expensive does not necessarily mean better, on the contrary, especially if you have very sensitive skin, products by brands such as Eucerin, La Roche Posay and Avene are often recommended by dermatologists as generally they are fragrance free, etc. therby reducing any potential skin irritation.  This product is also advertised as a good make up base which is most definitely the case! All in all this product is a fantastic alternative to pricey high-end moisturisers, especially for very dehydrated and sensitive skin. 

Double Wear Review

Estée Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup has established itself as a go-to product for those needing more coverage for long time periods such as is needed in e.g. bridal makeup.  I tend to use it in the evenings for dinners or when going out, as it really does stay in place for hours on end without looking like a mask! I often combine this shade (1C1 Shell 15) with the next darker colour in the summer or in the evenings, but stick to the lighter shade during the dax to give a fresh look.  The only negative comment to make about this foundation is that it gives me a bit of a rash on the top of my cheekbones right under the eye area so I have avoided using it lately, which is a shame as it is a great staple, but if a rash occurs it is best to lay off the product for a while and perhaps give it another try later.  

                                     

                                    

Skin Break

After a very long exam period, the longest I have ever had, I can finally spend some more time exploring new products that I have not tried out before.  I am really interested in REN products at the moment and I gave their F10 Smooth and Renew Mask a try.  The mask is made for sensitive skin, and made to exfoliate skin gently, and brighten the complexion.  I prefer these kinds of masks to an exfoliator that contains tiny particles that remove dead skin, as my skin does still have impurities, and these small particles can tear open the skin and rub the bacteria around the face.  This mask is applied, and has a very fruity smell by the way, left on the skin for about 15 minutes, and then removed with a muslin cloth (which is also provided with the mask).  The next day my skin feels extremely smooth, but not dry at all, as it often happens with an exfoliator.  Usually, I aim at applying a hydrating mask right after an exfoliating product, as this is often when these products will work best, with all the dead skin cells having been removed with the mask.  I repeat these two steps one a week, and I can really tell a difference!  I look forward to Tuesdays (my designated mask-days) now, as it is uncomplicated and my skin really does feel great the next morning.  

Rosy Goodness

Most unfortunately, after four years of constant use, my trusted Dior Blush Édition Dentelle is coming to an end. It was a great blush containing a matte pink colour and a more shiny terracotta colour, and the combination of both was great for a rosy natural look. I find it quite difficult to find the right blush, and mainly stay with pinks, as this seems to give the most natural look, everything else always makes me look too dark. However, I don't like the pigments being too strong, as I equally don't want to look too pink. At the moment I am using the Guerlain Météorites Perles Blush in 00, and it is made up of several tiny pearls in different colours, vers shiny so it gives a dewy look, and it is not heavy at all! I bought the travel size to start with, and it is turning out to be very praftical for travels, and especially practical for a purse as it has a tiny brush on the top, but not a flat one as is found in many flat blush containers, so it makes applying blush on the go more like applying blush at home with a proper brush, without having to remeber taking an extra one along.

Murad Cleanser

This cleanser has replaced my REN cleanser as I was not really feeling any improvement of my skin. It was recommended to me by my Spa, so I thought I would give it a go. Usually I do not go for anti-blemish cleansers as they have the tendency to dry out my skin in a flash, but I was reassured by my Spa that this would not be the case, as it is actually also anti-aging, so I guess this is the reason why it simultaneously also nourishes your skin. If a cleanser does dry out my face, my skin feels tight instantaneously and it will only get worse over time, but it was definitely not the case with this cleanser! It has a time release function, meaning that it still fights bacteria in the skin after it has been treated. I have been using it for three weeks now, which is still ususlly too early to make any definitive conclusions, but so far, so good! It is really simple to use, it is just massaged onto the damp face, then washed off with warm water. What is especially great with this product, is that a little goes a very long way. I use just over a pea-sized amount twice a day, and that is really all you need. Even after three weeks, the tube does not seem to be a lot more empty than it was when I bought it, which is fantastic. The tube contains 200 ml, and this will most surely last me a really long time. I had a lot more difficulties with my REN cleaner, where I had to buy a new tube every three weeks. So far, this is my first Murad product and I am really eager to try out other products in their range!

Bright Pink Clutch

Loving the hand-made clutch for the AM Centenary celebrations! Wonderful leather, and a bright colour, the perfect piece for any time of the day!

Rose Bud Shellac

In a desperate attempt to summon the warm weather, I switched my usually dark nails to some spring pink; to Shellac's Rose Bud to be exact.  It is relatively pale, but still has a nice pink radiance and is lovely for spring/summer time.  At first, I wanted to go for one of the new pastel shades, however, these seemed a bit too pale for my white hands, but this shade is really bubbly!  Worn together with some above-knuckle rings by Fashionology.nl (middle finger) and Regal Rose chevron rings, fabulous basic look to complement any outfit!

Bardot Hairstlye

To celebrate her 17th birthday, my sister hosted a mystery dinner last week set in the 1960's.  Everyone had to get into their appropriate costumes, and I was assigned to be the game master of the evening.  My sister and I decided to get our hair done accordingly, and went to the Hershesons blow dry bar at Selfridges.  It is a great system; you get to pick a hairdo from 12 different options, to which the stylists are specialised.  My sister chose the B-52, and I went for the Bardot, and we both loved it.  It takes only about half an hour for the stylist to create your hair, without any cutting of any sort.  It is recommended to make an appointment before hand so that you are guaranteed to get your style, especially if you need it for a special event.  Furthermore, if you are getting your hair up, then it is best not to wash it before, so that it will stay in place for as long as it should, and if you are getting any other styles, then they will wash it for you then and there.  All the prices are the same, and at £25 it seems to be a reasonable price, (you also get to keep the approximately 1,000,000 pins they put in your hair) although I don't have any other experience to compare it to.  

Nike Dunks

Bought these Nike Dunk Sky High black and white wedge trainers last week and have been wearing them almost every day ever since!  They are a great combination between sporty trainers and and edgy style, I really am happy that I found this colour combination, as I think it makes them look a bit more classy and it can be matched with a lot more clothes.  My favourite look to combine these with is a blazer or a long coat, something more conservative on top paired with these makes an outfit just that bit cooler.  They can be worn with an oversized tote just as well as with the a sleek black clutch, and offer a perfect transition from comfy day shoes to a marvellous night-time look.

Fab Conditioner

I have found a new hair obsession; Michael Van Clarke's fabulous Life Extending Conditioner!  There is a lot of press material on these products to be found, and so I finally gave into the conditioner at Selfridges, and was really positively surprised by the result.  Although it does not really have a great smell, very different to many other conditioners, my hair feels really strong and smooth and I think it is a great product to prevent any more of my hair getting damaged.  I am so lazy about going to get my hair cut, thus this product has really been a great addition to my hair care routine.  

Moisture Mask

I finally bought this highly anticipated Hydrating Mask by Kiehl's a few weeks ago, I had been waiting for it since before Christmas, as it was up on their website (where it was always out of stock), and apparently it never really got to the store.  So when it finally arrived I was very excited and tried it that night.  The facts are good, it is used overnight so that there is maximum exposure to the skin, and there are no parabens etc in it, making it good for sensitive skin, so I thought it would be perfect.  Once it is applied, it should be left on for 15 mins or so and then any excess should be removed with a cloth or something similar.  At first, it felt really great on the skin, however, I noticed that it formed this layer on my skin, that was really sticky and felt extremely uncomfortable.  This then continued the whole night, and the next morning my skin actually felt horrible, it was still super sticky and did not feel smooth or comfortable at all.  I cannot really tell you about any other results, as I have only used it one more time since, in order to test if perhaps I used too much of the product the first time...but there was no change.  Unfortunately, this product really is a let down for me, not what I was expecting.  Now I have this huge tub of hydrating mask sitting in my bathroom...

Aveeno Goodness

I came across this moisturiser a few months ago, and have come to the conclusion, that there simply is nothing better for my skin!  Aveeno has created a creamy oil, that "absorbs like a cream", and also looks like one, and has a lovely smooth consistency, and a tiny hint of almond scent.  It works with almond oil and colloidal oatmeal, and I have never had such smooth skin.  Usually, moisturisers for very dry skin are extremely heavy, and it can actually take hours before it feels like it has absorbed into the skin.  However, this product absorbs very quickly and does not leave an uncomfortable film on top of the skin, rather it just makes it incredibly soft.  I use it together with the Aveeno Bath and Shower Oil, which is also my favourite shower product now, as all other products, even intensely hydrating ones leave my skin dry.  Both of these products appear to be miracles!  They are on the more expensive side in terms of other shower gels or moisturisers that can be purchased at pharmacies etc. but in my eyes are worth every penny! 

Florabotanica Love

My latest addiction is Balenciaga's Florabotanica!  It is just magnificent, there really is not anything else to say about it.  It is, as the name says, drenched with floral scents, but it is not the typical, sweet, floral perfume, rather, it has a very edgy taste to it, making it pretty irresistible.  I have been getting numerous compliments for it, this special composition really attracts people's attention!  

Rehydrating Goodness

These two goodies are the newest additions to my skin care regime.  On the left is the Tonique Confort by Lancôme, that promises to rehydrate and comfort dry skin, and on the left is Dr Sebagh's Natural Replenishing Cream.  The Lancôme product could well be the best toner I have ever used.  The consistency is quite thick, not like many other toners, and this probably also explains the fantastic feeling it leaves on the skin, because it is like a gel that sweep over the face with.  Skin is left super smooth after that. However, as I have just started using it, I cannot really guarantee for the rehydrating properties that it is said to poses, yet, I am very optimistic.  

The moisturiser by Dr Sebagh is the first product I have bought from this brand.  I am aware of other products in this line e.g. the rose serum, that have had tremendous success.  The texture and smell of the moisturiser are fantastic, it feels great on the skin and is absorbed quickly, not leaving behind an oily film on the skin.  It is specifically said to replenish dehydrated skin, which is why I chose this one over richer creams, as I did not want to put additional oil on my skin, rather I wanted it to be infused with water.  I think this cream might be great in the summer or only as a day cream because it is a fantastic base for foundation, however, at night I feel like my skin just drinks the moisturiser up and there is not enough to it to replenish. Other than that, I will continue to use it in the summer, as well as using it in the morning, but I will perhaps go for another moisturiser for the night.

Golden Fingers

There is such great jewellery available at the moment, and there are styles for everyone available.  I am really enjoying gold at the moment, as I am desperately awaiting spring and the gold adds a little warmth to any outfit.  These four rings are a great combination, but they are also fantastic pieces to be worn alone.  The snake ring on the far left is by Aurelie Bidermann, and can be found e.g. at net-a-porter.com.  Snake rings can be found in both silver and gold, and often can become even more exciting with different coloured stones to accent e.g. the eyes in red.  The bone ring and the above-knuchle ring are both from Brandy Melville.  There is great, uncomplicated jewellery to be found there, and at very affordable prices.  There is a shop on King's Road in Chelsea, so be sure to check out their website brandymelvilleusa.com or check out their store!  The rings are very simple, yet this lets you experiment with building up different layers of rings, perhaps also combing gold and silver.  This works especially well with the above-knuckle ring with the cross and the small stone, as this will match silver really well.  The Rita & Zia ring is probably familiar to you by now, it is my absolute staple, have it in both gold and silver now and it immediately transforms a hand from being bare to being an eye catcher. Above all, I love gold and dark blue together, so really it is a given to combine these two together!  The colour is Midnight Swim by Shellac.    

Winter Skin

I am really struggling with my skin at the moment, it is completely dehydrated, but I still get really bad skin, so I thought I would switch to a soap free cleanser that does not foam, as this can really take water out of your skin.  Ren is a great brand if your skin is sensitive, there are no petrochemicals, sulphates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, synthetic colours, glycols, silicones, and several other additives.  It is available e.g. at Selfridges, but some well-stocked organic stores also sell their products!  I chose to go for the Ultra Moisture Cleansing Milk, which is specifically for dry skin, and is rubbed between fingers, then massaged onto the face, and finally rinsed off with warm water.  But initially hands and face are dry, so there is no foam lather, not even when the water is applied to the face.  The main difference that I can feel is that my skin does not feel tight anymore after washing it, which is really comfortable.  Other than that, it has a gentle smell.  

The moisturiser I am currently using is Darphin's Prédermine, a moisturiser made for ageing skin, to correct fine lines, and it contains hyaluronic acid.  In the evenings the feeling is great, it is very rich and my skin feels very smooth in the mornings, but my skin still is not completely hydrated, and in the mornings it takes a long time to sink into my skin.  I do not have that much after applying it, to apply my make up, and it feels heavy on the skin in the mornings, and makes it more difficult to apply my make-up, and my make-up does not last as long as before, as the cream is so rich.  The cream really is too rich to wear under make up during the days, but in the evenings it almost acts as a mask on the skin.  Perhaps a lighter day cream, also containing hyaluronic acid would be a better option.