The peeps in the skincare know, squabble over all kinds of issues, but there’s one point that they can all come to some agreement on – the importance of SPF; the biggest culprit of ageing and a factor we’re exposed to every bloody day. For the full sun protection lecture I’ll leave it to the professionals, but the long and short of it is slap it on daily, be overzealous in application and stick to ones that offer broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection; heads up: both my picks do. After my recent pact to slather on the good stuff each morning I’ve been on a mission to find formulas that didn’t bring back memories of my Mum greasing me up on seaside resort holidays with thick, white sunscreens that transformed me into a sand magnet and in my debut round of testing I’ve found two which pass the tacky-texture-free test:
When it comes to blusher I don’t sit on the fence. I’m either in full blown love with the stuff desperately memorising the name of the entire Revlon Blush collection and happily dabbing it on each morning or it’s a product I shun completely for a duo slick of bronzer and highlight. Sometimes I just find my complexion so naturally ruddy that I don’t wish to add to my flushed-up face, but when my skin’s cooperating and looking a little bit calmer I’m happy for my apples to get a dusting of colour. And seeing as it’s a step that I flit in and out of whenever I do go back to blush I mark my makeup as just looking a little more ‘done’. So I thought I’d drop in to announce that the blusher switch is turned firmly to ‘ON’ at the moment, so here’s what has made it onto my chops in recent weeks…
When it comes to trains, I’m well travelled. My commuting days stand me in good stead and I can recite the timetable home from work, along with never needing to peek at a map. It’s all up here. But one thing I never really mastered on my daily journeys was gauging the right levels of beauty stuff to bring along; too much and I began to resemble a cosmetics camel, too little and I sat there (if I was lucky enough to get a seat) looking a little sad and dull like the chips that hawkers sell. But after some contemplation and a revision last weekend to test my theory I think I’ve got the balance just right, so here’s my en route edit for beauty movers and shakers:
My lip lovin’ roster reads a mixed bag at the moment and I’m being a bit of a floozy when it comes to formulas, refusing to be pinned down to a certain category. Bolds & nudes, here’s what I’m currently kissin’ and crushin’ on in the lip department…
I know they say that bigger is always better, but somethings are just more pleasing to the eye in miniature. Case in point: makeup. Often frequenting the ‘gift with purchase’ category, accompanying a set with their dainty features or just available in straight-up travel size, I have quite the adoration for the little things and try to stifle back an audible ‘awwww’ whenever one comes into my possession. Perfect for lobbing in the handbag, on holiday, hey – even popped in your pocket if you’re a tote-free kinda gal here’s the petite picks from my stash. Note: ‘awwww-ing’ mandatory…
For the meantime I’ve put the pinks on hold and am turning my talons to a more monsoon congruous colour – blue. Who doesn’t love a good blue? Well actually my best friend A doesn’t, stating that the only two colours that shouldn’t be sported on nails are greens and blues – say what? But she has been known to quote that ‘shimmer nail polish is against her religion’ and I can vouch for a glitter nail or two so I think we’re just going to have to agree to disagree on that one. She’s bloody hilarious my A and has some funny takes on beauty; I’m currently in the process of bullying her into featuring on the blog. But back to blue and there’s five in my stash that I turn to when a passion for blue arises…
Recently I’ve been harbouring quite the love affair with pink nail polish. Note: this has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that one of my girl crushes, Deepika Padukone, is never spotted without a set of perfectly pinked up talons. Promise. But there’s just something about a smooth slick of the stuff on the nails that makes me feel sophisticated, polished and a little bit ladylike – and trust me that’s some feat. I don’t half pick my moments – it may not be the most seasonal choice right now but there’s been not a hint of nude that’s graced my tips for weeks now. Shocking, I know; so welcome the cream of my pink polish crop…
