MAC Haul

I tend to play it safe with my makeup choices most of the time - a sheeny brown shadow, a bronzey highlighter and contour combo on the cheeks complete with a nude lip. Well I've shaken things up a bit with these new additions from MAC.

 L-R: Gingerly Blush, Trax Eyeshadow and Cherry Lipliner

Gingerly is probably the most flattering blush I've ever tried, this peachy brown colour is warm enough to lift the complexion whilst looking completely natural on darker skintones. After dismissing shimmery blushes, I will be looking into more of the sheertone formulas as they are surprisingly easy to wear compared to more matte powders.

Trax is my consolation prize for not getting the Naked 3 palette. The golden shimmer in the purple/pink shadow gives it a rose-gold quality which adds complexity to those rusty brown eyeshadows I like to wear. I plan to wear this as a smoky eye with Satin Taupe on the lids and Trax in the crease to warm it up a bit.

Last but not least, Cherry lipliner is a firm favourite amongst beauty aficionados, but I do tend to be quite tentative with red lipstick -  using a pencil is probably the best way to ease myself into it. Also - true fact - one application managed to last through a greasy burger and a long shopping trip with only one touch up. This seems to be more flattering on me than Ruby Woo, so for me, this was money well spent! Now, when will I choose to bring out my inner Marilyn next?     

The Perfect Pair: Perfume

This will be the first post in a series called The Perfect Pair. No innuendo here, I just like how combining things can leave you with a better result than you anticipated, whether that's mixing different foundations together to create a different formula or simply layering on the skincare. This week, it's perfume and I do have an odd pairing that just seems to effortlessly work for transitioning from day to night.

Here we have Dahlia Noir by Givenchy and the well known Thierry Mugler fragrance Angel. For daytime, Dahlia Noir is the perfect rose scent - feminine and mysterious. The sandalwood and pink pepper notes are more apparent on me, so I like that it's not overtly sensual or overpowering.

Angel, however, is an entirely different story. The combination of rich chocolate with floral undertones is androgynous and intense. I picked up a refillable sample of the EDP at Boots and I only have to dab a few drops on the pulse points for a complex sensual scent. Love it or hate it, this is a fragrance of contradiction.

Together, this works well for nights out as Angel gives a masculine edge to the rosiness of Dahlia Noir without losing any sweetness. On me, the richer tones give way to a gentler floral vanilla scent over time. Working at a fragrance counter over Christmas made me crave so many perfumes, but layering two favourites is a good way to create your own signature scent.

Are there any tried and tested perfume combos that you like?

& Other Stories Eyebrow Pencil in Tamin Brown

As H&M's more eccentric older sister, & Other Stories should definitely be on your radar. They sell The Balm goodies as well as Dr Bronner's Castille Soap, things that aren't easy to find around these parts. But it was their eyebrow pencils that stole the show for me. Unlike most options for dark eyebrows, this near black shade Tamin Brown is cool toned and looks completely natural for a low maintenance girl like me.

    & Other Stories Eyebrow Pencil in Tamin Brown - £6 here

Would you look at that minimalist packaging! & Other Stories only have one branch in the UK, but if you're ever near Regent Street, this is definitely worth battling the crowds for a quick swatch. For just £6,  this pencil delivers more than you'd expect as the tone is perfect for those that don't suit jet black eyebrows, yet have black hair. The smooth texture allows you to build up the pigment, whilst leaving enough waxiness to tackle the odd stubborn hair that refuses to lie in place. Compared to other high street offerings, this is easily the best one I've come across - and it also comes in 3 other shades too. Grab them while you still can!

Hair Talk #2

This is a slight overview of things I have been trying recently. I bit the bullet yesterday and got my hair relaxed at the hairdressers after putting it off for 7 months. Usually, this is a big no-no, as the different textures (straight and afro) can cause the hair to break if not cared for properly. I was complemented on the condition of my hair, considering that having 4 months regrowth can be risky, let alone 7! I tend to use hair oils a lot, as shown by this post, but here are some new additions that I think have made a difference.

Ojon Rare Blend Protecting Treatment - £23 here 

After being seriously impressed by the Damage Repair range, I have been buying things direct form Ojon and this full size beauty was a gift with purchase. As my hair got more unruly, this with my Tangleteezer became a match made in heaven. It acts as a detangler and heat protector in one, with 7 rare oils acting to prevent hair breakage and damage from styling. For me, it was an excellent leave-in conditioner as it wasn't too heavy on the hair, but made styling a breeze due to the extra slip . The dual phase can be seen as a bit gimmicky in other rare blend products, but here it is executed perfectly. I still haven't decided if I'd pay full price for this, but it has made hair washing days much more bearable for me.

Philip Kingsley Elasticiser - from £15 here     

I really wasn't expecting this to do anything for my extremely coarse roots, but this is a dream to use as a pre-shampoo treatment and has displaced the Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment - a firm favourite. Left in my hair for 15 minutes this leaves my hair super shiny and much easier to manage. I have experienced less breakage in my hair during my 7 month stretch, and this is probably the reason why - immediately after washing there are fewer tangles and my hair feels a lot smoother. I am also trialling some Philip Kingsley shampoo, but the Elasticiser has now become a permanent step in my routine.    

Are there any hair essentials that you swear by? 

Coming Up Roses

Over the last few months, my skin has improved significantly to the point that persistent acne scars are fading and less foundation is necessary to hide any imperfections. The main cause is using products with rosehip oil, as it is known to help even out imperfections whilst soothing irritated skin. I've also gravitated towards the more natural offerings available, and this particular combination has done wonders for my dehydrated skin.

Melvita Milky Cleansing Oil - £20 at Feelunique

After a skin consultation at the Melvita store in Covent Garden last summer, I've been using this to combat my dehydrated skin. Now, my skin is left feeling plump and moisturised after cleansing, and it makes it so much easier to remove a full face of makeup in the evenings! I use 2 pumps and give myself a little face massage similar to this swimming motion before and after adding water. I have also noticed after using this that my skin is much brighter and I've stopped getting dry patches on my face. Ultimately, this is a real game changer for those with dry/dehydrated skin.

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil - from £14.85 at Feelunique 

A firm favourite during the winter months, this is pure rosehip seed oil which acts to improve the appearance of scars, stretchmarks and wrinkles. This is an all-rounder and has faded many stubborn acne scars over time, whilst giving the skin a little moisture boost. I like to use it as part of my evening routine in place of a heavy night cream, as it absorbs quickly into the skin and helps to clear any congested areas overnight. 

Are there any other rose products that I should try next?