I’m always a bit reluctant to write about makeup on my blog because I don’t really know all that much about it and don’t quite feel like it’s always a productive topic to discuss. I often find myself backing away from it because there isn’t much constructive dialogue that can be had about makeup as there can be with topics like mental health or work. However, after suffering from a painful ankle sprain during the second last week of November and not leaving my house for 6 days straight, it suddenly hit me why we as women (and also some men) lean on makeup and find confidence in it at times when you might not be feeling your best.
Once I was able to start walking normally again I was hit with the urge to dress up and play around with a few of my products as a way of signifying my metamorphosis from limping couch gremlin to confident woman, ready to take on the world. So, for today’s post I wanted to discuss a few of my favourite makeup and skin care products during autumn as a means of proving to myself that it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom in order to be a constructive conversation.
Pond’s Moisturizer
I have been using this moisturizer for about 2 years now and it’s still my go-to repurchase. It never fails to leave my naturally dry skin super soft for hours after use without a strong, overpowering scent. Up until the first time I purchased Pond’s I always assumed moisturizers had to be expensive in order to get the best results, but this drugstore brand has truly proven me wrong. I recommend this product to anyone that says they are looking for a new moisturizer without hesitation and I know that I’ll be repurchasing it for years to come.
Glossier Stretch Concealer
I was pretty hesitant to get into this brand at first, mostly because there was so much hype around it and not a very big range of shades and tones to the makeup itself (in my opinion), but because Glossier focuses on skin first and because I love the Boy Brow and Haloscope, I cracked and bought the Stretch Concealer as well. I wasn’t super into it at first because of its pink undertones (I have yellow/gold undertones), but after a bit of use I realized that it contrasted my dark circles pretty well without being incredibly heavy or drying on the skin. Now I reach for it every time I’m planning to do a light makeup look and it never fails me.
Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick ‘Pillow Talk’ Lipstick
This lipstick was quite the splurge, but I couldn’t help it, and now it’s one of my favourites in my collection. From the chic and elegant packaging to the soft matte formula, I can’t get enough. I went with the shade Pillow Talk because I almost always reach for a nude lip and let myself have a bit more fun with my eyeshadow colour, and it’s been working perfectly for just that. I’m hoping to pick up a few more shades in the range, but again, it is quite the splurge and I already have a few lipsticks in my collection that I should use up before that.
Glossier Cloud Paint In ‘Dusk’
This product is a bit tricky for me to use, but I always love the way it looks so I just put up with its messiness. The liquid blush comes in a small tube with a fairly inconvenient cap, but I make do. I’m hoping they’ll fix the packaging like they did with the Generation G lipsticks and make the cap easier to open and close when you have the product on your fingers. The colour itself is a beautiful dusty rose and blends in with my skin seamlessly while also adding a nice glow. I reach for it whenever I’m planning to wear less on my lips and eyes and have the contours of my cheeks be the primary focus.
Laroche-Posay Cleanser
I picked out this cleanser when I first moved to London out of complete necessity. I couldn’t find my usual cleanser in the UK so I decided to go with a brand that was a staple in most skin care blog posts and articles I’ve read. I used to use Laroche-Posay years ago, but fell out of love with it, as you do when you discover new products. But I have to admit that this cleanser has been great at removing all my makeup at the end of the day without completely drying out my skin. While it does leave me with a slightly oily residue, my face doesn’t feel like the Sahara after only a few minutes without moisturizer.
NARS Eyeshadow Duo in ‘Alhambra’
This was another fairly pricey purchase, but I just couldn’t resist the beautiful sparkly shades and smooth formula of these eyeshadows. There’s a reason why NARS is so popular and this duo has proven it to me. I do want to try a few more of their products in the future, but as for now I’m having fun adding a bit of shine to my every day autumn eye look.
Becca Backlight Priming Filter
I didn’t expect to ever own this product, but I picked it up randomly in the checkout line at Sephora just to give it a try. I don’t know that I would wear it all over my face, but it is a great base to add on my cheekbones and nose just to kick my highlight up a notch. I usually wear it on days that I don’t want to wear a full face, just applying it to those highlight points, and then using my Stretch Concealer for any dark circle and blemish cover up.
Garnier Charcoal Mask
Charcoal masks have changed my life! That sounds like an overstatement, but it’s true. I don’t remember what I did about my hormonal acne before I was able to apply a thick layer of activated charcoal all over it and watch it disappear within a day. I first started using the Origins mask and that worked wonders, but I didn’t want to keep spending that amount of money, considering how quickly I went through a bottle, so I decided to give Garnier a try and it works just as well. The only difference is that the Garnier mask can also be used as a scrub, so it has some fine grains in it which can be a bit tricky to wash off. But, I would still highly recommend this to anyone who suffers random acne outbreaks—it’ll have your skin clear in no time.