Skin Smart 002: Salicylic Acid vs. Benzoyl Peroxide

Woohoo, another Skin Smart installment! Sorry it's taken me so long, but I try to really do my research for these posts and my month has been insane. I've also been having a bit of trouble with breakouts this month, probably due to stress. So, in this post, I'll be talking about the differences between and benefits of Salicylic Acid vs Benzoyl Peroxide.

Salicylic Acid is a BHA, or Beta Hydroxy Acid, aka the the hydroxy part of the molecule is separated from the acid part by two carbon atoms. This means that it's more oil soluble, and can penetrate your pores. It has the ability to exfoliate both inside the pore lining, and on the surface of the skin meaning it can help clear breakouts like blackheads and whiteheads. The exfoliation works by breaking apart desmosomes, which unclogs pores and can reduce sebum secretion (all the nasty gunk up in there). It's also derived from aspirin, so is an anti-inflammatory and soothes the skin, calms redness and helps to even out skin tone. The anti-inflammatory properties mean it's great for people with sensitive or already irritated skin. Chemical exfoliators are great for clearing skin, but if they often lead you red and splotchy try switching to a salicylic acid product!

Benzoyl Peroxide is antibacterial, so it can get into pores and literally kill the acne-causing bacteria. This means that it works on all types of acne, including cystic. A lot of doctors also say that you can see results of benzoyl peroxide faster, but I think that's more case by case (as evidenced by my fave products below). The downside of benzoyl peroxide is that it can cause redness, stinging, peeling, etc. especially if you have sensitive skin. On the upside, because it actually kills acne bacteria, it's much easier to fight inflammatory acne (ie cystic). It also doesn't induce antibiotic resistance, meaning your skin can't build up a resistance to the actual medication. If you do have sensitive skin, try using the product only two or three times a week so that you can build up a tolerance to the dryness. With both Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid, be SURE to wear sunscreen. Exfoliating products expose your skin to the sun even more than usual and you must, must protect it.

Unfortunately, there's not a "this ingredient will be better for you" answer here, as it totally depends on your skin. I used benzoyl peroxide with the Clinique Acne Solutions Emergency Gel-Lotion with okay results for a while. It wasn't until I switched to the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and saw ridiculously amazing results that I realized it wasn't doing too much for me. I tried this miracle liquid via recommendation from Emily Ferber (of Into the Gloss) and holy moly. I literally saw a change in my skin overnight. It's incredibly smooth in both texture and tone, my existing acne quickly went away, and my acne scars are fading much faster. I will never, ever stop using this.

Do you guys use any SA or BP products? Are you loving them, or a little meh?
x

The Single Eyeshadow Edit

I love palettes, but single shadows are the best. I feel like they sort of force you to be creative because you mix and match (unless you only use one, oops). But, not all single shadows are made alike so these are my favourites!

NARS Shadows in general are one of my favourite formulas, but the singles are just so dang cute! I recently picked up Coconut Grove, which is the perfect dark dark dark brown. I talked about how I wanted to do smokey eyes but couldn't find a dark enough brown without using a black. This is the darkest brown ever, and is super smooth so blends really well. The Hardwired Eyeshadow in Stud is also gorgeous. It's a shimmery silvery-bronze that shifts quite a bit in different lighting. Anastasia Beverly Hills make some amazing palettes, but I loooove their singles (althought the palettes are really a better deal). They're super creamy and pigmented pretty much across the board, which is rare. They make a million colours and I definitely need to pick up more, but my favourite are Topaz and Smoke.

I've loved Bobbi Eyeshadows forever, and I'm not sure why they aren't hyped up more. They are a little more expensive, but also 2.5 g worth (Most are 1-1.5g). Bobbi's are also amazing across the board (pretty much all of her products are), they're super finely-milled and buttery and last forever. MAC Eyeshadows are definitely hit or miss, but some are amazing. Cork is one of my all-time favourite transition shades, and I also love Kid, Patina, and Nylon. Pigments from MAC are kind of a pain in the ass to use, but sooooo beautiful. Vanilla and Deep Brown are gorg. Inglot Eyeshadows are some of the best out there, they're inexpensive as heck and super pigmented. I couldn't get any out of my palettes to show you (struggle bus), but I have posts about them here and here!

Do you guys prefer palettes or singles?
x

Makeup Medley No. 3

If you've ever worked retail before, you know Thanksgiving week is definitely not a break (wah). Extra long shifts mean I've switched up my normal lightweight makeup for some longer lasting products that need no touching up (ain't got time). I haven't done a Makeup Medley post in a while so I thought I'd go through the products!

You guys know I've been pretty much nonstop wearing the pur~lisse BB Cream, but this week I stepped it up a few notches in coverage. I've been mixing the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer with a drop of the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops. This makes your skin look totally perfect, but not caked on. It also means I sell lots of the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation (lol). This combo doesn't reaaaally need setting, but I have been dusting the highpoint of my face with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light because it makes your skin look extra beautiful. For actual highlighter, I've been sticking to the Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder in Moonlight because it is the best EVER. It gives a gorgeous silvery-champagne glow.

I've gone back to using the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade in Soft Brown instead of the Brow Wiz, as I think it does stay on a little better. It's also easier to get a bolder brow with less product using the pomade. I've abandoned the red lip in favour of nothing, or a little of the MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl to define my lips. I tried out the Estee Edit Barest Contour Lip Liners the other day and they're also beautiful!

What makeup have you been wearing lately?
x

Winter Reds

I've been wearing red lipstick A LOT lately. Which is pretty odd as I'm really lazy, but this colder weather just gets me in the mood. Reds are so festive! There are three that I've been reaching for, so I thought I'd do another lip edit.

My favourite red of all time in the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella. I don't think this will ever change, it is the perfect classic red. It's a super comfortable matte that lasts alllll day, I never have to worry about this. It is quite blue toned which I love, but if you like warmer reds, try Walkyrie.  The Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Colour in Parisian Red is VERY different from me. The Luxe Lips are a super moisturizing, comfortable, creamy formula that are prefect for nudes. I never ever wear reds in formulas like this, but the warm orangey red was calling out to me. It's a super chic red that really does make me feel Parisian (oui?). They're super pigmented, and actually last really well. It's obviously a lipstick that requires a little bit of maintenance, but mostly just to make sure it's not on your teeth. For a darker lip, I loooove MAC's Sin, which I talk about a lot. It's a gorgeous cool burgundy, not too brown and not too red. You can change it quite a bit depending on which lip liner you use, so it's really versatile!

What are your favourite red lip colours? Anything I need?
x

Sephora VIB Sale Haul 2016

Hello my loves! My Sephora VIB order fiiiiiiinally arrived, so I can show you what I got! I made a fairly small order this year, as I'm definitely on a budget at the moment but I saved some pennies to treat myself.

I cannot resist NARS, and wanted to add a new Velvet Matte Lip Pencil to my collection. I went for Bahama, which is a gorgeous neutral somewhere in-between rose and mauve. I love that it's not too warm, or too cool, and doesn't lean pink on me! The VM are probably my favourite lipstick formula ever, but I usually go for bolder mattes so this is a nice change. You can wear it super built up for a darker, almost statement lip, or sheered out for a lovely everyday shade. The formula is suuuuper comfortable, and fades really nicely (even after eating!). I also picked up the NARS Single Eyeshadow in Coconut Grove, which is the perfect matte dark brown. And it is DARK. I've been attempting to do some smokier eyes recently in an effort to actually wear all of the eyeshadows I own, but I can never get them quite dark enough without black. So I bought a new one. Logic? Anyway it's gorgeous and I'm glad to have it in my collection!

I was debating whether or not to buy a full-sized Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, but I decided to go for a mini in Ethereal Light. I'm glad I did because I can't see myself ever getting through the big one. In case you've been living under a rock, the Ambient Lighting Powders are finishing powders that add a natural glow to the skin. Ethereal Light is a "cool white," which is perfect for setting my highlight points (I'm pale). I'm not sure how I feel about the shimmer, or how it functions as a setting powder, so I'll get back to you once I've properly tried it.

Did you guys get anything in the sale this year?
x

Pur~lisse

Hi lovelies! I've been trying out some goodies lately that the lovely people at pur~lisse have sent me, and today I'm gonna talk about the few things I'm already in love with. The other products are things like serums that I need a little longer to test out, but these three are amaaaazing. pur~lisse brings together Chinese beauty rituals and French skincare technology to produce these gorgeous products.

The BB Tinted Moist Cream is my new favourite thing ever. In case you couldn't tell from the halfway flat bottle. I'm generally someone who uses a different foundation every day, so it's impossible to get through them. But this, this is amazing and I've been using it every day. It's a beautiful light weight, surprisingly medium coverage formula that looks so beautiful on the skin. It's also good for you with pur~lisse's Asian Herb Extracts complex, chamomile and artemisia to soothe skin, and sugar maple to retain moisture and improve skin's appearance. A lot of BB Creams I've tried have felt like I have something on my face, but this is totally non-greasy and somehow lasts alllll day. It does only come in three shades, but I can see them working for a variety of skin shades as they're quite neutral.

The Blue Lotus line contains blue lotus (obviously), which is a powerhouse antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties meaning it's great at fighting free-radicals. The 4-in-1 Cleansing Milk is a gorgeous blend of soy milk, whole oat, and white tea that leaves my skin feeling cleansed, but also incredibly soft. I find I like this best at night, as I prefer something with a little more kick in the morning. As a second cleanser at night, my skin feels super hydrated and not stripped. I've also been LOVING the Blue Lotus Balancing Moisturizer. I really really hate wearing moisturizer in the day as I find my makeup slips and slides around, but this leaves my skin nice and hydrated without any residue. This is also amazing at night because it just sinks in, and I don't wake up with my skin feeling gunky. It's also got my beloved Hyaluronic acid, as well as vitamin E, white tea, and French marine plants (fancy).

I'm loving all three of these and will definitely be repurchasing the BB Cream when I run out! I'll also update you guys on the serums in a favourites post once I've had time to properly try them out. Have you tried anything from pur~lisse? Let me know!
x



*Products mentioned in this post have kindly been sent to me for consideration. This post is not sponsored and as always all opinions are my own. Also, I had planned on today being a VIB Sale Haul, but it didn't arrive on time, so I apologize for two similar posts in a row!

Onomie Beauty 101

On my quest for natural-looking makeup that's actually beneficial for my skin, I came across Onomie Beauty*. This (gorg) brand was created to 'simplify beauty and maximize the benefits of individual beauty products, for women who recognize that beauty should not be complicated.' They name their shades after female geniuses (awesome) from history, and work with non-profit organization She's The First (awesomer). They're also really transparent about their formulas and results, which you can find on their website!

Onomie sent me their three gorgeous products to test out and talk to you about, and I'm mega-impressed. The Powerful Priming Serum is the newest addition to the line and is an all-in-one treatment and primer. It helps even skin and even exfoliate (chemically obvs) for smoother skin. This smoothness helps your makeup go on better and it also lasts longer! Ingredients like Willow Bark, Daisy Flower Extract, and Blackjack Botanical treat the skin. Willow Bark is one of my favourite ingredients at the moment as it helps increase cell turnover and make your skin super glowy!

The next two products are in the eye category, and first up is the A.C.E Illuminating Eye Treatment. This is another cool two-in-one as it both highlights and treats. I have the shade Lovelace, which is a gorgeous pale pink. This one was a little unusual to use, as I at first used it all over my undereyes. If you like a lot of glow, you'd be okay with this but it was a little shimmery for me. Instead, I took Kelsey's que and applied it in a c-shape around my eyes. Then, I still get a lovely highlight but also get the wrinkle and fine-line correcting benefits of vitamins A, C, and E (get it? ACE?).

The star of the show for me are the Bright Concealing Elixirs. If you only purchase one Onomie product, GET THIS. Not only is it one of the (if not the) best concealers I've ever used, it's also a skincare product that helps to reduce dark circles over time. It includes Night Sleeper Extract to increase blood circulation, Egyptian Lupine Extract to limit dehydration and regenerate the skin's barrier, and Alfalfa Extract which is anti-inflammatory. The concealing aspect is literally magic. It's super creamy and blends out effortlessly, but somehow completely covers and brightens my underlies while looking totally natural. It stays crease-free (unheard of for me) and looks gorgeous all day. It also comes in 11 shades that cater to a wide variety of skin shades and tones (yay!). For reference, I have Germain and Trotula. Germain is perfect (I'm pale), but Trotula was a little dark so it went to my mama. I'm interested to try their newest shade, Shikibu for some extra brightness!

In case you couldn't tell, I'm pretty obsessed with the brand and can't wait to see what they come up with next! Have you guys tried any Onomie products yet?
x



*Products in this post were kindly sent to me for consideration. This post is not sponsored and as always all opinions are my own!

Function of Beauty

If you know me, you know I'm not really big into hair products. At all. If my hair looks halfway decent I'm okay with it. But a few weeks ago I saw Function of Beauty's gorgeous packaging on Instagram. And then I discovered you could customize them. And there's nothing I love more than pretty, customizable things.

Function of Beauty is a company that totally caters to you hair needs, based on the answers you give them in a "hair quiz." First, you select your hair type, structure, and scalp moisture. Obviously you would answer these yourself, but for reference I have wavy, medium hair with a dry scalp. Next, you select your five 'hair goals': deep condition, replenish hair, fix split ends, strengthen, hydrate, lengthen, volumize, color protection, thermal protection, anti-aging, anti-frizz, curl definition, shine, straighten, nourish roots, soothe scalp, and oil control. I chose deep condition, strengthen, volumize, shine, and soothe scalp. You also get to choose the colours and scents, which is arguably the most fun part. I obviously went for blue and green. For scent I chose Sandalwood Violet at a medium level. It smelled super strong when I first opened them, but isn't that strong when using and doesn't linger so I may try stronger next time.

I was super psyched for these to arrive, they came beautifully packaged with my name on the box (coolest thing ever). AND the actual product itself has my name on it. I die. The bottles are see through, which is really awesome if you're blind like me and can't read the names on bottles while in the shower. They also come with pumps! I will say that the pumps aren't super strong, they dispense a tiny amount of product. So if you have really long hair, you're probably better off squeezing out of the bottle.

I have definitely noticed a vast improvement with my hair since using these. It feels healthier, looks nicer, and is waaaaay less frizzy. I think next time I'll switch from deep condition to something else as I can't go quite so long without washing my hair (I'm lazy). I also wish the shampoo was more sudsy, but that's something you can actually request from the chemist, so next time I'm loading up on alllllll the bubbles. Function of Beauty also uses mostly (98%) natural ingredients which is awesome for you and the environment. Honestly, the true test of these is that I'm excited about them. Like I said before I'm not at all interested in hair stuff but these have me pumped!

If you guys are interested in trying out Function of Beauty, you can get $5 off using my referral link here. This also gives me a $5 credit towards my next purchase, so if you're not about that you can use the link at the top or just google! :)

What hair care products are you guys totally in love with? I might start to branch out now!
x

The Glossier Black Tie Set

If you know me, you know I'm a Glossier fangirl. So when they launched their Holiday 2016 set I snatched it up. A lot of people on social media were kind of meh about this launch, so I'm here to walk you through the products and tell you what I think! The Black Tie Set comes with the Haloscope in Moonstone, No. 1 Pencil in Graphite, Lip Gloss, and Nail Polish in #GlossierPink all to complete your holiday party look. They also market the black silk ribbon as something you can wear, which is fun but pretty silly (as a lot of people said). 

Moonstone is definitely the star of the set, people are familiar with the Haloscope formula and this new opalescent-white shade piqued a lot of interest. As of now it's only available in the set, but it is GORG. Hopefully if we annoy the G-Team enough they'll release it separately! (EDIT: All of the products have now been released separately!)  The No. 1 Pencil in Graphite is a gorgeous, creamy gunmetal. If you remember way back when, Glossier released liquid liners. This pencil blows them away. It's a lovely formula that can be smudged across the lash line or create a wing if you have more talent than I do. It sets down after a minute or so and doesn't budge! I haven't tested its waterproof abilities, but it wasn't awesome on the waterline.

The Clear Lip Gloss also got a bit of side-eye from the beauty community. People assumed it would just be a boring old gloss like we wore in middle school. But ya know Glossier wouldn't do that to us!  It's full of conditioning polymers so it's smooth and glassy, and Vitamin E to hydrate. I literally never ever ever wear gloss, but they've somehow gotten me to wear this. It's nice and shiny but doesn't feel too thick or too runny, and somehow manages to stay on my lips for several hours (but, it IS still just a clear gloss). I was super psyched about the #GlossierPink Nail Polish. When I got it, it looked MUCH brighter than I thought it would, and because I'm so pale it's not quite the baby pink of my dreams. It IS a really nice pink colour, not something I'd usually wear but I think because it's quite cool-toned I'm warming up to it (puuuuuuns). The formula goes on well, despite a sort-of-large brush and dries fairly quickly. I'm on day three with no base-coat and no top-coat with a few chips. I have one quite big chip in the middle of my index finger (no idea how that happened) but I have been pretty rough on my hands this week so that's my fault. It's a good formula, not mind-blowing, but with a proper top coat I think it'll be lovely!

I hope you all love this mini photoshoot, I can't help myself when it comes to Glossier. How sick is that shadow in a shadow?? Loving it. So overall, I think the Black Tie Set is a super fun addition to your Glossier collection. Do you NEEEED it? No. Do you want it? Of course, or you wouldn't be reading this post (read your mind there didn't I?). Definitely excited for the 2017 launches, it sounds like some star products are coming!

Don't forget to shop through my rep page, glossier.com/reps/amelia to get 20% off your first order and free shipping over $30!

x

The Glowy Skin Edit

On days that I feel a little lackluster (most days at the moment), I turn to super glowy skin. This is definitely a trend at the moment, and I'm happy we've moved on from the matte look to something a little more natural.

Obviously skincare is super important when trying to achieve perfect skin, but I'm mostly focusing on makeup in this most so I just want to mention a few things quickly. The Complex Beauty Rose Glow and The Godmother face masks are both excellent and leave your skin looking radiant. I'm testing out  the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant at the moment and it is unreal, more to come soon. And finally I absolutely adore Glossier's Super Glow under makeup, it provides a beautiful canvas.

There are tons of foundations out there that can provide you with a glow, but I find mixing a glowy primer into a foundation I already love yields better results. The Cover Fx Illuminating Primer gives a gorgeous sheen to the skin without being over the top disco ball (no one really wants that look). I've been mixing it with both the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint and Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. If you know me, then you love I adore both of these products but they're especially beautiful mixed with the primer. Glossier's Tint provides almost no coverage, but leaves the skin looking naturally radiant. On days I need the coverage, Bobbi provides it while still looking like skin. I think one of the most important parts of having a glowy base is that it looks like your skin (skincare, people!).

The fun part comes with highlighter. Here, you can use a ton of different formulas; liquid, cream, powder. I love the Glossier Haloscopes, but I do tend to stick to powders on an everyday basis. My all-time faaaaaave is the Balm's Mary Lou-Manizer. It's a gorgeous frosty gold that's still warm and looks magnificent on your cheekbones (or all over your face). This is my one true highlight-love, and one that I think all skin tones can use. Recently, I've also been using the Cover Fx Perfect Light Highlighting Powder in Moonlight which is magical on lighter skin tones. This is an almost silvery colour that really packs a punch, but goes on super smoothly and melts into the skin seamlessly. Setting/hydrating mists can also help all of these products meld together. I use the MAC Fix+ usually, but I've got my eye on the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist.

What do you guys use to achieve a glowy look? Let me know!!

Also, sorry if this post doesn't sound super fun and upbeat. In light of recent events, I find it hard to joke around. Talking about makeup seems pretty trivial, but I thought perhaps I could add some positivity or at least a distraction. Remember, we can still make small differences every day. Be kind to yourself and especially to others. Love you guys.
x

Complex Beauty Masks

I am a face mask fanatic. I probably apply them. far too often, but they're just so relaxing! Recently Complex Beauty reached out and asked if I'd like to try their new face masks so of course I said yes! They're a new brand (launching this month, yay!) focused on making people look good so that they can feel good, and in turn spread that positivity. I love these beauty brands that are more of a movement in helping people love themselves. So refreshing! They're releasing the six face masks I'm talking about today, as well as a lip mask and a face mist. make sure you sign up for their mailing list to be the first to hear about the launch here!

The Godmother is a pumpkin enzyme mask, meant to make your skin brighter, softer, smoother, and clearer. It does have glycolic acid in if so if you have quite sensitive skin be wary. I don't have sensitive skin and it tingled quite a lot. Pumpkin actually helps reduce free radical damage and well as promoting new cell production and moisturizing (and a plethora of other things). The mask also contains Vitamin E, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Vitamin C, Organic Bilberry, Organic Sugar Cane, Organic Sugar Maple, Organic Orange, Organic Neem Seed Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Cinnamon Bark Powder, Ginger Root Powder, and Nutmeg Powder. I've only used this once so far so I can't comment on scars, but it did make my skin feel lovely and soft afterwards.

Smooth Operator is an antioxidant mask that helps fight free radical damage. It also contains Glycolic Acid, but has ingredients like Aloe, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Castor Oil, and Coconut Oil to retain moisture. This one made my skin feel amazing, and is probably my favourite as it's a real do-it-all mask. It also contains Sweet Almond Oil, which is really high in antioxidants, so hopefully I'll start to see some skin repairing!

Baby Face is a charcoal purity mask to help with breakouts. It contains activated charcoal to clarify the skin, but again contains ingredients like Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitamin B5, and Hyaluronic Acid to keep skin conditioned. Vitamin B5, Hyaluronic Acid, and Niacinamide are some of my favourite skincare ingredients as I have actually seen a difference in my skin since using them. This ones great if charcoal masks usually dry you out, but you want to get rid of that acne!

Thirst Quencher is (obvs) a hydrating mask. This one also has Organic Aloe, as well as Vitamin B5, Organic Oat Extract, and Hyaluronic Acid to keep skin plump and smooth. This blend of oils and acids penetrates your skin's upper layer to provide deep down hydration, rather than just on the surface. I'm excited to continue using this once winter rolls around as my skin gets quite dry and tight.

Ocean Potion is a mineral mask full of ingredients to calm and heal distressed skin. This one is perfect for me as my skin is just getting over a huge bout of stress breakouts. It leaves skin dewy, hydrated, and nourished. Its ingredients includes Kelp, which is high in iodine and antioxidants to help moisturize, smooth, and remove toxins from the skin. It also contains Vitamins B5 and E, Spirulina, Irish Moss, and Rice Bran Oil. Complex Beauty's Ocean Mineral Complex is a blend of 92 ocean minerals that activate enzymes necessary for cellular function. These replenish and protect skin from outside damage. I will say my skin felt a bit tight after washing this off, so if you have dry skin moisturize properly right away!

Rose Glow is last, but not least, a glycolic mask. This is another one to be wary of if you have sensitive skin, but left me with the smoothest, glowiest skin EVER. Glycolic Acid is a BHA that exfoliates the skin (chemically) and can reduce scars over time. It also contains Rose Water, which helps maintain skin's pH balance and helps hydrate. It has a weird gel texture, but does dry down and is super easy to remove. I love this one, but probably wouldn't use it more than once a week.

Don't forget to sign up for Complex Beauty's mailing list to get early access to the launch!
x


*Products mentioned in this post were kindly sent to me for consideration. This post is not sponsored and as always all opinions are my own!

Signature Jewelry

A little bit of a different post today, but I thought I would tell you guys about some of my favourite jewelry pieces! These are things that I not only love, but also literally never take off. They're so dainty that I shower and sleep in them and don't notice (I'm very lazy, people). This also means that they're super quality because if you've ever showered in jewelry, you'd know it generally end with green skin.

Most of my finds are from Etsy, which is basically a treasure trove of minimal pieces. These gorgeous baguette diamond studs (obvs not real diamonds lol), are from a store called SerendipityinSeoul. They were super cheap, and considering I have really sensitive ears very good quality! I'm a bit obsessed with baguette diamonds at the moment, the shape is so pretty. I also got this ear cuff for my second hole from the same shop. I like that this one is a bit thicker than my other hoops and adds a bit of interest! I haven't pictured my hoops here because I can't be bothered to try to get them out of my ears. BUT, they're from GraceEarrings, and are easily my favourite thing ever. They're super dainty and incredible quality. I also wear this tiny evil eye necklace from TatianaKatzoff. I've been wearing evil eye necklaces for around 7 years now, and I think they're beautiful. This is one of my favourites!

My rings are actually custom made by one of my mum's friends, but Etsy is a great source for these too. I really like the textured/hammered look, but the plain old smooth one are gorgeous too. Vrai and Oro and Mejuri pieces are on my wishlist next. Their pieces are a little more expensive, but so beautiful and made with great materials. This diamond band is absolutely gorgeous, and I of course love this baguette one. This teeny tiny diamond necklace from Mejuri has been on my list for a while, I'm itching to pick it up! And this initial one is super cute as well (Vrai and Oro also makes a gorg one).

Do you guys love minimal jewelry? Are there any pieces you wear every day?
x

Updated Base

Recently I've been reaching for the same base every day, mostly because I'm lazy ya feel? Thanks to some new skincare bits and pieces, my skin is looking pretty fab, but I also have some acne scars from my skin freakout last month. So rather than cover up the rest of my skin with a full coverage, I've been multi-basing (multi-masking? multi-basing? No? Okay).

I've been using the Cover Fx Illuminating Primer and loving the way it makes my skin look. It gives you a really healthy-looking, glowy complexion without being over the top. I think I'm pretty picky with primers and often just skip them all together, but this one really improves the look of what you put on top. You all know I'm having a little moment with the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint. It just really, really makes your skin look beautiful without trying. However, it obviously covers nothing. So, instead of concealing like a normal person would, I've been using the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer around my jaw. I'm usually one for advocating spot-concealing, as I think covering up with heavy foundations is pretty bad for your skin. But since I have quite a lot of scarring spread out over a big area, it's easier to use something like this. The great thing about this foundation is that it has a lot of coverage, but feels really light on the skin and spreads out super easily.

Since summer never seems to cease in the South East, I always have to set my foundations. But rather than using my Mac Studio Fix, I've been reaching for the Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder. This keeps your makeup locked in without adding cakiness or coverage and I bliimin' love it. Obviously can't resist a good highlight, it makes your skin look a million times better! This Cover Fx Perfect Light Highlighting Powder in Moonstone literally blew my mind when I first used it. It looks fairly average in the pan, but on the skin it's this bright almost warm silver that catches light amazingly. It's a lovely silky texture that never looks powdery and has literal pearls in it (pretty damn cool).

That's it for my recent base routine, what have you guys been sticking to? Or are you always switching it up?
x

5 Brands I Gravitate Towards

It's no secret that I own a LOT of makeup. I'm constantly trying out new brands and new products, but there are also brands that I can't seem to stay away from. These are brands that I love virtually everything I've tried, but I'm also going to tell you my favourite things! Also, if you read my blog often (thaaaaanks), you could probably write this post for me so sorry if it's a bit boring!

I never shut up about Glossier, so I'll talk about them first. When they first launched two years ago, I didn't pick anything up. I think part of that reason is that I didn't think I fit their demographic. But when they launched the Phase 2 set, I snatched it up and haven't looked back since. I'm a full convert and totally believe that ANYONE can use their products. My faves are the Milky Jelly Cleanser (clouds in a bottle), Balm Dot Com (I own five), and newly the Perfecting Skin Tint. I think using these products as a system has been really beneficial for my skin and also the way I apply makeup. I've definitely gotten more comfortable with not wearing a full face on the reg. Speaking of skin, Kiehl's is the love of my skincare life. Everything they make is full of beautiful ingredients and I've actually seen a difference using them. I love everything from the Ultra range, but especially the Ultra Facial Cream.

Bobbi Brown is one of my favourite all-around brands. I don't think there's anything from them I haven't liked. A lot of brands are really great at one or two things (i.e. MAC at lipsticks), but Bobbi makes wonderful products in all categories. Her bases are out of this world, the skincare is great, lip products are awesome, her eyeshadows are unreal, literally everything rocks. My favourites are the Skin Foundation (post here), Matte Eyeshadows, and the Sheer Finish Pressed Powder. If I have nail polish on, 9 times out of 10 it's Essie. There's something about the formula and that perfect little brush that really nails it (LOL that was an accidental pun) for me. My all-time fave shades are Find Me an Oasis, Lady Like, and Topless & Barefoot. Last but certainly not least is NARS. This brand is freakin' beautiful, and they also do a lot of things really well. I love both the Velvet Matte Skin Tint and Sheer Glow Foundation, but my favourites are the Eyeshadow Duos and Velvet Matte Lip Pencils (specifically Cruella).

What are the brands you find yourself drawn to? Let me know!
x