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.
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
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
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
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.