Christmas is a time when we want to look good and feel even better.
From spending time with family to seeing friends we haven't caught up with in a while - plus, all the extra parties and socialising, it's a season where we crave a little extra boost and some added sparkle to counter that midwinter feeling.
So I'm sharing my thoughts on those beauty bits that are adding extra gloss to my life right now - a couple of old favourites alongside some newly launched items.
Chanel Le Vernis | Rouge Noir
Some products become deeply beloved classics for a reason, and Chanel Le Vernis in Rouge Noir is exactly one of those.
This sophisticated dark burgundy red nail shade is impossibly chic, of course. It's festive, but not in an obvious way, with a rich, glossy finish.
I'm not a fan of saying people get 'too old' for anything, but one of the things I won't do anymore is black nail polish. Rouge Noir offers a much more flattering dark shade for nails that can give a few vampy vibes without looking incongruous. It's the ultimate femme fatale shade and perfect for parties.
Plus, the packaging is a little slice of luxe that makes me feel all fancy just painting my nails. A total must-have.
Physician's Formula Rose All Day Oil-Free Serum
At this time of year, I fall prey to something I call 'winter face'. Do you know the one? Pale, puffy and pinched-looking.
Something is most definitely needed to restore a bit of vitality and glow, and I think I've found that something in Physician's Formula Rose All Day Oil Free Serum.
The affordable American brand is now stocked in Boots here in the UK. This luminous, easily absorbed formula is perfect to pop on directly before makeup. It's packed with antioxidants to protect and soothe - rose water, Goji berries and Kakadu plum.
It promises an immediate brighten and tighten effect, and I think it delivers. The oil-free finish means no greasy residue to deal with, and it adds back a healthy glow to tired-looking skin.
A great winter-worthy prep step to brighten up your look.
Hourglass Girl Le Stylo | Lover
What would Christmas be without a great red lipstick?
It's the most Christmassy of beauty items, plus adding a dash of crimson to lips also helps to perk up your face and draw attention away from tired eyes. Win win!
The red that works for you is always highly personal, but I prefer punchy, orange-toned shades or more raspberry, almost pink reds for myself. Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo in 'Lover' is my current favourite red.
Bold shades can accidentally highlight dry lips, but this formula is packed with moisturising goodies like jojoba oil and shea butter to give a soft, hydrated pout. It has a silky feel with dense but luminous colour and feels really nice to apply.
I also love the crayon format, which makes it super easy to get a precise finish.
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP
Of course, feeling great means smelling great, and fragrance is so important for getting into a festive vibe - there's a reason that perfume is such a popular Christmas gift!
I'm pretty faithful when it comes to perfume and I tend to stick to a small handful of fragrances I really love. This party season, I've actually introduced something new to my lineup - Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb.
It's been around for a while, but I started noticing it on a friend of mine. Looking for something new, I spritzed a tester on me and instantly fell in love, which rarely happens as I can be quite picky when it comes to scent. And since purchasing this and wearing it to my work Christmas party and a couple of other events, I've had so many compliments.
Sambac jasmine, black tea, bergamot, orchid, rose petals and more combine in a gorgeously feminine but punchy scent. Love.
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer | Teddy
I've also recently gotten to know and love Cheeks Out Cream Bronzer from Fenty Beauty, which is only the second product I've ever tried from the line.
The bold looking octagonal gold compact drew me in, but I love the product, which is easy to apply and blend and creates a great looking dimension to the face. I also notice this is really long-lasting, which wins it major bonus points with me.
This shade is 'Teddy', slightly on the darker side as I wanted to use it to contour. It has a hint of flattering golden shimmer to it but still works well to define cheekbones. A fab little party season product.
L'Oreal Infallible Freshwear Foundation
For going 'out out' or any big meetings and events, I've been relying on Estee Lauder Doublewear for a while now. For me, it has proved to be one of the holy grail foundations, delivering truly flawless and budge-proof coverage. The one downside is the price, which means I don't wear it every day.
So when the internet pointed me me to L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24hr Freshwear as a credible dupe, I decided it was worth a try.
The verdict? This is a brilliant foundation. I have tried the Infallible Matte in the squeeze tube and although I liked the coverage, it was also very chalky and settled into all my fine lines. This new version is literally a breath of fresh air.
Like Doublewear, it's very liquid and runny but the coverage is excellent - not too heavy but still strong. It's a 'your skin but better' situation. The staying power is also excellent, easily clearing a full day, and transfer and water proof.
For me, this is a truly credible alternative to Doublewear for a third of the price, and a great discovery.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Lid Lustre | Chiffon
I've spoken about my love for Victoria Beckham Beauty recently, and when two new shades of the Lid Lustre launched this month, I couldn't resist trying one.
'Chiffon' is described as a reflective champagne tone with gold and multicolour pearl. I thought it was the ideal shade to do amped-up, party ready lids that were still nude enough to go with red lips, which I tend to wear a lot more at this time of year.
These pots of shadow are super soft, but add high shine brilliance that make an eye look pop. They are all infused with different crystals, this shade with Clear Quartz to apparently promote clear thinking and energy. I don't know if that's really true or not, but when I went to my work Christmas party I sensibly left fairly early despite the free bar, so perhaps there is something in it!
I don't think this shade lasts as well as 'Mink', which is the first one I purchased, but it's very wearable and on the subtle side of glamour.
Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love | Santa Euphoria
I'm always interested in products that multi-task, so I've been wanting to try Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love for a while now.
One of my all time favourite brands, CT can always be relied upon to bring the glamour, but also to create things that make it easy, like their brilliant Colour Chameleon crayons or the legendary lip liners (still the best I've ever tried).
This lip and cheek tint promised a sheer wash of colour infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin smoothing vitamin E, and it's a great product for adding a quick and low-key flush for natural look days.
Skin + Me Custom Daily Doser
At this time of year, skin definitely needs some extra love, and I'm big into giving your epidermis exactly what it wants. That's why I've been so impressed with Skin+Me, which offers customised, dermatologist-prescribed formulas at a really affordable price point.
Fill in a detailed questionnaire about your skin concerns and goals, upload some bare face photos, and you'll receive a month's custom supply of cream in your Skin + Me Daily Doser for just £19.99, delivered to your door.
I've been able to get prescribed a formula containing Tretinoin, a strong, prescription-only retinoid that is hugely effective for fighting ageing, combined with Niacinamide - an antioxidant that also fights lines and pigmentation, and Azelaic Acid to improve texture. Each formula arrives in a compact, fully recyclable aluminium tube with a mechanism that delivers just the right amount for one use with each twist.
Plus, if you have any concerns or issues, you can access skincare advice from the site's prescribers. It's a really nice system and a great way to access tailored formulas and high-strength ingredients without the expense of seeing a dermatologist in person.
These great finds have been giving me a little boost over the festive season - what have you found lately to love?
Post a Comment