Nars Mini Haul

Despite loving everything I’ve tried from Nars I only have a handful of Nars products in my makeup drawers. When I got an email from Space NK saying that my N.Dulge birthday treat was a mini Nars Satin Pencil in Rikugien I couldn't help but see this as a sign from the Makeup Gods that I needed to treat myself to a couple of products.

Nars Blush in Doucheur - I originally bought this soft pink brown blush to use as a more subtle contour colour but it’s so pretty on the cheeks on its own. It gives a bit more warmth and looks really nice and natural, I can see this quickly becoming my go-to everyday blush.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine - I’ve heard such great things about these little lip pencils and I was certainly not disappointed. This colour is a classic your lips but better but with a bit more mauve. I’ve had this on every day since I bought it - it seems to go with everything! It feels comfortable on the lips despite it being a matte finish and the staying power is great. My only issue is the fact that you need to sharpen them, it’s great that it’s more hygienic than the likes of Clinique Chubby Sticks but it just seems a bit more of a faff and I feel as thought you would be wasting more of the product.

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien - What an amazing little gift! It’s very clever that marketers are offering gifts and discount codes for birthdays but I love how this little offer wasn’t exclusive to making a purchase - definitely makes me feel as though they’re interesting in giving great service on a more personal level as opposed to just making a sale (I’m aware that that is obviously their end goal but it least it didn’t feel as pushy). The satin version of the Nars lip pencils leave the lips more hydrated and give a balm like finish. Colour wise it is actually quite similar to Sex Machine although this leans more on the rose toned side of the your lips but better scale. 

What do you think about exclusive birthday offers? What’s your favourite product from Nars?

Autumn Wishlist #2 - Candles

As much as I firmly believe that candle burning is a year long affair, in Autumn I definitely up the ante. Fruity, woody, spicy or sweet, I don’t discriminate but at this time of year you really can’t beat something a bit richer. When it comes to variety, John Lewis is one of the best and when it comes to candles it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It stocks everything from Jo Malone and Diptyque to Yankee Candle and Cowshed so there’s something to suit everyone. I’m normally pretty loyal to Jo Malone for candles but after spending a lot longer than I’d care to admit browsing through the candles on the John Lewis website, I’ve managed to whittle it down to a top 5 which I’ll be keeping an eye out for next time I’m in store. 

First things first, Diptyque was the brand I was originally looking at before I got side tracked. I’ve heard so much about the Figuier scent and although it sounds lovely, it was the Ambre candle that made my finger twitch at “add to basket”. With eucalyptus, bark and crushed leaves it sounds as though it would be the perfect addition to a dark autumn night. 

 I was a big fan of the Neom Tranquility Candle, I sometimes find lavender scented candles to be a bit too sickly but it balanced well with the sweet basil and jasmine so I would be excited to try out some of their other scents. The Christmas Wish Organic Scented Candle caught my eye with it’s mandarin, cinnamon and tonka bean scent - definitely christmas in a jar. 

Although I always admire the Molten Brown gift sets I’ve never actually tried anything from the brand. The Yuan Zhi Forte scented candle caught my eye, not for the name, but for the indian ginger, tangerine and cedar wood scent. 

I’m not familiar with Tom Dixon but I really like how these are something a bit different from the typical glass jar. This gift set contains 3 different scents - London “smell of red brick and London parks with crocuses and nettles, and the salty smell of the Thames at Dagenham”; Royalty “reminiscence of tea time with a pot of Earl Grey, scones with strawberry jam and the drive home in a ‘52 Bentley with tatty leather seats” and Orientalist “faint memory of an Indian wedding with rose petal garlands- giant cinnamon sticks on the beach stalls and the musky smells of the Chinese herbal market”. 

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir is my all time favourite candle so I really couldn’t miss this one out - “rich fruits, white flowers and elegant woods into the air, you can bring to life a mood that is intimate and comforting”. Perfect description. Need I say more? 

Do you have any other candle recommendations?

5 Product Face - Work Edition

I really like sleep. It's one of my favourite things in the world. Unfortunately having to work tends to get in the way of my relationship with sleep (the full being a grown up thing causes so much hassle). Lately, without even realising it, I've whittled down my basic makeup routine for work to 5 products helping me get those extra 5 minutes in bed. Although I still work in fashion and beauty, working for an online company means that I no longer have to show up to work with a full face of makeup (which my skin is definitely thankful for) so I tend to keep everything natural.

1. Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser - perfect for throwing on with fingers to even out skin tone. Although it has a light coverage the staying power is decent.
2. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink -  as an oily skinned gal, I find that cream blush lasts a lot longer on my skin than powder, so for work I tend to opt for Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge. This pink colour gives a subtle flush to the cheeks and is perfect for every day wear. I pop a little on the apple then blend using a Real Techniques Stippling Brush. This can also be used on the lips as a stain although I tend to just use a tinted lip balm.
3. Benefit Gimme Brow - I'm still on the hunt for that perfect brown pencil but in the meantime, Benefit Gimme Brown is great for giving my brows a bit of colour and some added definition.
4. Mac Eyeshadow in Patina - I blend this into my crease with a Mac 217. Although it's subtle I feel adding a bit of eyeshadow just makes me look a bit more put together (and hopefully gives the impression that I have spent more than 3 minutes doing my makeup).
5. Lancome Hypnose Mascara - lengthens and defines without looking too overdone (although it layers really well and can definitely keep up with the best "big lash" mascaras).

What's your makeup routine like for work?