Most likely due to the beautyphile in me, I find that there is something so calming about scanning the drugstore beauty stands to find which new mascara or lipstick will adorn your face next. The purpose of it being to transform yourself into someone new if you wish to – or to bring you back to yourself with a familiar and comfortable look created with fresh, unused products.
This month, all of my daily makeup and beauty items hit pan at a similar time, so I decided to treat myself to some new products instead of replacing them like for like. I also popped into Lush for a new body wash, I feel pretty smug that I managed to make a 1kg bottle of The Olive Branch last almost a year…with daily use! Completely unintentionally, and quite mindlessly I have since realised that a large portion of these products are actually from L’Oreal, an upper tier drugstore brand I don’t normally sway towards. Perhaps I’ve graduated to another product level… I’m a long way since my Sabrina’s Secrets days! Whatever the reason, I’ve been trying them out, some good…some not so good but more on that later.
I love stick foundations, the easy of them make it so ridiculously quick and easy to simply draw some lines on your face and blend them all out for coverage. They are particularly good for areas you want to even out, for example, if you have redness around your nose or dark circles, but don’t want a heavy duty foundation masking your skin. The L’Oreal Infallible Foundation Stick is good, in fact, it’s really good. The creamy, blendable formula is available in a number of shades and flattering undertones. It’s pretty long lasting too and provides a matte finish, without looking chalky. Use it as a foundation, a concealer or a contour product, it really is super versatile.
I’m always keen to try new brow products and I’d say brows are the area of beauty where I am most fickle. The latest brow kit I’ve been trying out is the L’Oreal Paris Brow Artist Genius Kit in the medium to dark variant. Firstly, the packaging on this feels really high quality and the contents include a mini pair of tweezers and a small spooley – perfect for when you’re on the go! The pigmentation of the powder and settling wax isn’t too warm and covers sparse areas of the brow nicely. Nothing to write home about, but a nice little brow set all the same.
Eyes + Lips
When it comes to my preference of shower products, the more citrusy and herbally the better. I’ve never been one for sugary, sweet fragrances and that’s why Lush’ eye wateringly potent formulas really hit the spot for me. I love ‘The Olive Branch’ but was tempted to try a new fragrance. When I inhaled the sweet and punchy aroma of ‘Plum Rain’ I was unsteady on my feet, consumed by this utterly beautiful aroma! I actually look forward to my nightly shower, just to apply this deep purple goodness!
My favourite seasonal bath bomb is back! The Bewitched bubble bar. Firstly, how sweet is this gorgeous little cat and secondly, the blurb about it on the Lush site makes me want to give their copywriter a massive high five! I’m hoping that this is a lucky cat, god knows I need it but it is SO divine I cannot even tell you. The bergamot oils and blackberry sums up Autumn in a scent. Not to mention how soft it leaves the skin post bubble bath.
