I recently bought the Dyson Air Wrap in the hope that it would help me to smooth out my curly, frizzy hair and achieve a sleek blow dry.
Here are some thoughts on how I’ve found it. I like it, but I don’t by any stretch love it. If you have frizzy hair, I’d recommend that you thoroughly smooth the roots before continuing to style the rest of your hair.
For years now, my favourite ever eyeshadow has been Antiqued by MAC Cosmetics.
The reason why I love it so much is that I think it flatters every eye colour and skin tone. This chocolatey bronze will make every eye colour pop, as I think you’ll see in this video.
Here’s a simple, fresh make-up that I’ve been wearing a lot for the past few weeks.
I love teaming a glowing, fresh skin with bold lips so that there’s one really statement part of the make-up look. There are a few new arrivals used in this look, like some Trinny London products and the Victoria Beckham priming moisturiser co-created with skin expert Augustinus Bader.
Today I thought I’d share a quick video with some ideas on how to use highlighter drops.
Highlighter drops are available from lots of beauty brands, and you can mix them into your make-up or skincare to add luminosity to your make-up.
Here’s a look at the Lancome Custom Highlight Drops.
Here are some of my favourite lip make-up recommendations. I’ve put three key words or phrases next to them to make them as easy as possible to navigate.
They all serve different purposes, so have a Google and see which one seems right for you. If you are trying to work out which is best for you, visit any of these brand counters and ask someone to help you. A quick Google image search of the product you like the sound of will most likely bring up some blogger reviews and photos of that product so you can see it in real life.
By no means are these the only products I recommend, there are so many brilliant options on the market. But seeing as I get asked for recommendations a lot, I wanted to create one guide so that when people ask me “which product would you recommend for me?” I have a starting point for them.
(A note about my own preferences: I work with IT Cosmetics on an ongoing basis. More about IT Cosmetics here. All of the below products are things I have personally tried and enjoyed both on myself and on make-up clients.)
Creamy Lipstick
MAC Cosmetics Cream Sheen lipstick: comfortable, lasting, will have every possible colour you need on the counter
Lancome creamy lipsticks: elegant, powdery fragrance, buttery
Doll Beauty lipsticks: creamy, pigmented, plumping
Estee Lauder Pure Colour Envy lipsticks: comfortable, pigmented, rich
Charlotte Tilbury lipstick: flattering, plumping, effortless
Tom Ford lipstick: luxury, elegant, long-lasting
IT Cosmetics Pillow Lips creams: pigmented, skincare-infused, long-wearing
Matte Lipstick (a note: all matte lipsticks are going to be dry to the touch. That’s the nature of them. But these are dry without feeling drying)
NARS Powermatte Pigment: longest-wear, thin liquid texture, dense colour
MAC Cosmetics matte lipstick: rich in colour, long wearing, will have every possible colour you need on the counter
Lancome matte lipsticks: velvety, thick, dense in colour
Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte Lip Colour: long-wearing, dense in colour, featherlite texture
IT Cosmetics Pillow Lips mattes: pigmented, long-wearing, skincare-infused
Lip Gloss
MAC Lip Glass: dense, lasting, variety of finishes from sheer to opaque
Peaches and Cream lip gloss: dense pigment, comfortable, buttery
Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip: medium coverage, buttery, comfortable
Charlotte Tilbury lip gloss: flattering, medium coverage, soft finish
NARS lip gloss: dense, variety of finishes, ultra glossy
Lip Liner
MAC Cosmetics lip liner: matte, lasting, wide colour range
Charlotte Tilbury lip liner: firm but creamy, lasting
Peaches and Cream lip liner: creamy, glides on, stays put
Here are some of my favourite lip balm and lip care recommendations. I’ve put three key words next to them to make them as easy as possible to navigate.
They all serve different purposes, so have a Google and see which one seems right for you. If you are trying to work out which is best for you, visit any of these brand counters and ask someone to help you. A quick Google image search of the product you like the sound of will most likely bring up some blogger reviews and photos of that product so you can see it in real life.
By no means are these the only products I recommend, there are so many brilliant options on the market. But seeing as I get asked for recommendations a lot, I wanted to create one guide so that when people ask me “which product would you recommend for me?” I have a starting point for them.
(A note about my own preferences: I work with IT Cosmetics on an ongoing basis. More about IT Cosmetics here. All of the below products are things I have personally tried and enjoyed both on myself and on make-up clients.)
Lanolips 101 Ointment Fruities: thick, glossy, stays tacky
La Roche Posay lip balm: sheer, easily absorbed, fragrance-free
IT Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi: tinted, buttery, comfortable
NARS tinted tip balms: flush of colour, velvety, subtle
Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint: flush of colour, densely hydrating, lasting
Suqqu lip balm: rich, lasting, repairing
La Mer lip balm: minty, refreshing, light
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: multi-purpose, thick, timeless
I am so pleased to share that this month I’ll be joining Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Festival.
I love Fearne’s Happy Place podcast so this project feels extra special to me. She has just launched a full programme of events which kicks off on June 12th for a whole month. All of the activities are free – things like talks you can listen to, meditations to follow, yoga classes to join – but if you wish to make a voluntary donation she is sharing proceeds between a number of charities. You can find everything on the website and ‘subscribe’ to the actives you want to take part in.
Mine is going to be a Self-Appreciation exercise, hosted on Saturday 27th June at 3pm. I’d really love for you to join. When you visit the Happy Place website, you navigate the site-map a bit like you’d find at a music festival. You can find me in the Wellbeing Garden and subscribe to the event.
Looking forward to seeing you there! In the meantime, do have a listen to Fearne’s Happy Place podcast if you haven’t already. It is really lovely. X
Before we begin: I advise that you seek professional medical advice when treating rosacea. These are a series of products that have worked in my personal experience but everyone is different. The best thing for you to do when managing rosacea is seek personal, professional guidance from a doctor or dermatologist. In order to find the perfect regime for you, this professional will ask a whole host of questions that I simply can’t scratch the surface of in an Instagram message.
Here is a list of products I personally recommend when dealing with rosacea. The lists are roughly written in order of least expensive to most expensive, making things easier to navigate depending on your budget. One isn’t necessarily better than the other; I think they work if they’re on this list. I would suggest using a cleanser and moisturiser twice a day and SPF every morning. From there, add more products or steps as you wish.
Cleansers (all of the below will also remove make-up but I would use a separate eye make-up remover)
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser: lightweight gel
Curel Cleansing Gel: lightweight gel
La Roche Posay Effaclar H Cream: creamy lotion for combination skin
La Roche Posay Toleriane Cream: creamy lotion
Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser: creamy, milky, soft
Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser: like a rich moisturiser that helps to remove any dead skin
Kate Somerville DeliKate Cleanser: rich lotion
Moisturisers
Cerave Moisturising Lotion: rich, leaves a balmy residue, deeply hydrating
Cerave Facial Moisturising Lotion: rich, deeply hydrating, slightly lighter in texture
La Roche Posay Toleriane Sensitive Fluid: very lightweight lotion
La Roche Posay Sensitive Rich Cream: rich, creamy moisturiser
La Roche Posay Citaplast Repair Balm: very rich moisturiser, when warmed between hands melts to a balm texture, intensely moisturising
Avene Rich Skin Recovery Cream: rich, creamy, deeply moisturising
Kate Somerville Goat Milk: lotion texture, helps to remove any dead skin
Kate Somerville DeliKate: rich buttery moisturiser, hydrating but absorbs quickly
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2: moisturising, dense, rich
Eye Cream
CeraVe Hydrating Eye Cream: simple, hydrating, velvety
Curel Eye Cream: simple, creamy
La Roche Posay Toleriane Eye Cream: simple, hydrating, creamy
SPFs
La Roche Posay Anthelios: lightweight, runny, absorbs instantly
Kiehls Aqua SPF: lightweight cream, absorbs quickly
Vitamin C Serum
Oskia Super-C Capsules: velvety, smoothing, brightening
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic: runny, wet, very brightening
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid: thick and sticky
Pestle and Mortar Hyaluronic: lightweight and runny
Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic: very lightweight and runny
SkinCeuticals HA: dense and comforting
Other additions worth mentioning
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid: helps to reduce texture, has a silicone feel
La Roche Posay Micellar Water: removes all make-up including eyes, feels like water (I would recommend following up with a proper cleanser and water)
Kate Somerville Delikate serum: no active ingredients, comforting, helps to reduce redness
SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair: an intensive treatment for use on areas of redness to repair the skin barrier, thin, dense fluid
Zelens ProBiotic Mist: calming, hydrating mist for use through the day
For more rosacea resources, visit this blog post about Rosacea Frequently Asked Questions.
Here are a few general skincare recommendations. I’ve put three key words next to them to make them as easy as possible to navigate. If you specifically want to know about rosacea, this isn’t the post for you. Read my rosacea recommendations here instead.
By no means are these the only products I recommend, there are so many brilliant options on the market. I simply wanted to create one quick guide so that when people ask me “which skincare would you recommend for me?” we have a starting point. There are so many fantastic products I have used on myself and other people for many years. What you see below is simply a cross section of a few ideas that came to mind for each purpose. For full transparency, please bear in mind that I work with IT Cosmetics on an ongoing basis. I have included some products of theirs in the below line-up entirely of my own accord.
Example skincare routines
Basic and effective: cleanse twice a day, use a moisturiser twice a day, and apply a separate SPF every morning.
Intermediate: cleanse twice a day, use a moisturiser twice a day, apply a separate SPF every morning, and use a serum to add your desired effect (e.g. maybe a vitamin c to brighten your complexion, or a retinol if you are concerned with the first signs of ageing).
Investing more time: cleanse twice a day, use a moisturiser twice a day, and apply a separate SPF every morning. Then, identify your main skin needs, and address them using ingredients focused on those things. Add the likes of serums, oils, toners and exfoliants to your routine.
Skincare Recommendations
Cleanser
The Body Shop Cleansing Oil: removes make-up, cost effective, quick
La Roche Posay Effaclar H Cream: gentle, nourishing, creamy
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser: big-bottle, gel-texture, cost effective
Toner
IT Cosmetics Miracle Water: rich, hydrating, quick
Clinique Moisture Surge: hydrating, cooling, comfortable
Pestle and Mortar Balance Mist: simple, cooling, soothing
Serum
Pestle and Mortar Hyaluronic: thirst-quenching, lightweight, easily absorbed
Kate Somerville DeliKate: simple, nourishing, gentle
Murad Retinol: targets fine lines, powerful, potent
Lancome Genefique: all-rounder
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair: all-rounder
Oils
Decleor Aromessence Serum in Oil: comfortable, intensely hydrating, rich
Herbivore Botanicals: rich, calming, comforting
Zelens Z-22 oil: timeless, easily absorbed, fail safe
Masks
Origins Drink Up Mask: quick, hydrating, softening
Zelens Transformer Mask: instant, brightening, splurge
Moisturisers
La Roche Posay: lots of options suited to different skin needs
Pixi Beauty: lots of options, affordable and effective
CeraVe: rich and simple, unlikely to irritate
Kate Somerville Dry Skin Saviour: richly hydrating, absorbs quickly
IT Cosmetics original Confidence in a Cream: all-rounder
Murad Water Charged Gel: lightweight, hydrating, no residue
Exfoliators
Pixi Glow Tonic: brightening, smoothing, gentle
Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads: instant result, reduced-texture, radiance
SPF
La Roche Posay Anthelios: runny, easily absorbed, light
Kiehl’s Aqua Gel: lightweight, thin, hydrating
Here are some of my favourite blusher, bronzer and highlighter recommendations. I’ve put three key words next to them to make them as easy as possible to navigate.
They all serve different purposes, so have a Google and see which one seems right for you. If you are trying to work out which shade is best for you, visit any of these counters and ask someone to help you or feel free to try something on. A quick Google image search of the shade you think you will be will most likely bring up some blogger reviews and photos of that product so you can see it in real life.
By no means are these the only products I recommend, there are so many brilliant options on the market. But seeing as I get asked for recommendations a lot, I wanted to create one guide so that when people ask me “which blusher would you recommend for me?” I have a starting point for them. Please note that I work with IT Cosmetics on an ongoing basis. I have recommended some of their products below entirely of my own accord.
Blushers – Cream
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge: creamy, luminous, youthful-looking
Pixi On the Glow Sticks: quick, creamy, hydrating
Stila Cream Blusher: pigmented, rich, buttery
Glossier Cloud Paint: luminous, dewy, fresh
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush: fresh, lightweight, complexion-enhancing
Lancome Blush Sticks: portable, creamy, vivid
Blushers – Powder
NARS Blusher: classic, velvety, sexy
Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic: sexy, polished, luminous
NYX Sweet Cheeks: fresh, velvety, long-wearing
IT Cosmetics Confidence in Your Glow: warm, multi-use, easy
Bronzer – Cream
Peaches and Cream Cream Contour: creamy, hydrating, easy
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate: luminous, dewy, rich
Giorgio Armani Maestro Drops (summer time only): dewy, fresh, mixable
Bronzer – Powder
NARS Bronzing Powder: matte, velvety, rich
MAC Cosmetics Bronzing Powder: velvety, buildable, lightweight
Peaches and Cream Bronzing Power: velvety, dense, rich
Doll Beauty Bronzing Powder: matte, buildable, rich
Tom Ford Gold Dust: shimmering, luminous, blendable
Bobbi Brown Brozing Powder: matte, versatile, long-wearing
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer: shimmering, luminous, sheer
IT Cosmetics Sunshine in a Compact: skin-like, velvety, buildable
Highlighter – Cream
MAC Cream Colour Base: radiant, buttery, like highlighter for those who don’t like highlighter – just looks like good skin
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid: high-shine, lightweight, hydrating
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: buttery, luminous, balmy
Highlighter – Powder
Peaches and Cream Pigment in Pearl: iridescent pink, lightweight, ethereal
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector: lightweight, high-foil-shine, glamorous
Doll Beauty Highlighting Powders: high-shine, glamorous, pearly
MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Highlighter: shimmering, polished, pearly
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow: timeless, easy, luminous
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick: multi-use, pigmented, shimmering
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Highlighter: soft, ethereal, like highlighter for those who don’t like highlighter
You may find this video helpful – it’s a guide to where to best place your blush, bronze and highlighter.
Rose Gallagher 