glossier – Le Beauty Journal

Little Things #1

I’ve been a bit busy lately, but the good kind of busy. Still, I haven’t been super present on the blogging front, so I’m hopefully making it up to you with today’s blog post. I’m coming back with an article about those little things that make life better, you know? It could be something you read, your new mug purchase (hint hint) or buying yourself some flowers. Little things #1 will be a series because there’s never too much things to be inspired by I think and here’s the first episode. Oh and I’d love it if you shared yours in the comments actually!

1. Glossier Cloud Paints

A friend of mine recently hooked me up on some Glossier goodies which I am SO thankful for! I got boy brow in brown, stretch concealer in light, the Glossier You solid perfume (which I’ll tell you about soon) and two Cloud Paints, one in Puff which I’m almost finished of so I needed (yes I am using that verb, because I truly need this stuff) a new one and I also got the shade Haze, a dark flamboyant pink which I LOVE. The formula is still excellent, and the pigmentation is unreal, you only need the tiniest amount. I also really love the finish on lips with lip balm underneath, glossy and deeply pink.

3. Old Hoop Earrings

I got these like 10 years ago at a flea market, but I’m falling in love with them again. They’re simple hoop earrings, they’re not gold plated or anything though they seem to last pretty well over years. I love pairing them with a pair of white jeans, sneakers and a boxy t-shirt. Or with a dress if I’m feeling extra fancy. Great and simple style addition if you ask me!

2. Marc Maron WTF Podcast

I’ve written an entire post about my favorite podcasts, but I have to reiterate on this one because it’s so brilliant. Today for instance, I listened to the episode with Jason Alexander (from Seinfeld amongst other things) and it was great. Marc Maron is a great interviewer and though I don’t listen to all the episodes because I don’t know all of his guests, I often just click randomly on the list of shows and am never disappointed. I find that this podcast simply is the best destination for smart and inspiring conversations!

4. Vichy Mineral 89 serum

Now, this serum is so good to my skin it’s the best discovery I’ve made in months. Vichy Mineral 89 is packed with water, 89% of mineral water actually which to be honest made me a tad sceptical at first. Paying 20 euros for water? No no. Still, I wanted to give it a try because I was looking for a good hydrating serum with an affordable price, suitable for my extremely sensitive skin. This one only has 11 ingredients, and a really watery texture. Yet it works on my skin and it might be because it also has hyaluronic acid and glycerin. My skin feels more hydrated and soft (also it never got irritated because the serum is fragrance-free which is a huge plus for me), and I have to say, I feel like it’s giving me glow! I’ve been using it for 5 weeks now every single day, and I highly recommend it!

5. The Office Mug

I mean, do I even have to explain why? I LOVE The Office (US version, need to watch the original UK series) and I miss it from time to time, I need to watch it again actually. In the meantime, I got this mug, and it just makes me so bloody happy it’s insane.

Blogging On A Budget And The Tyranny Of New Releases

The other day I was telling someone “I don’t know what to write about on Friday. I want it to be a beauty-related post but it’s not that easy to write because I’ve already told the readers about my all time favorite products and my budget doesn’t really allow me to get new stuff constantly“. That’s where I thought, here’s a post idea!

I buy the products I use myself and to be honest, I’ve been really into fashion recently, so my pocket money goes into dresses, jeans, and I’ve been trying for ages to find sandals that actually are comfortable and look good, not an easy task let me tell you! So there’s nothing new for me at the moment, makeup or skincare wise. And guess what? It’s fine. Especially because, I have a few articles all about what I use and love, and maybe you haven’t read them yet…

Buy new stuff turns into new discovery, turns into research online, turns into “oh I did not know that product, oh what’s the brands, oh it sounds like it’s going to change my life”, turns into well, buy new stuff.

Ha! Also, truly, it’s fine because why would we always have to get new stuff you know? I have a friend who’s as fund of makeup and skincare as I am, and we text and talk about it a lot. It’s great, it’s like when I was a kid, playing, it’s SO MUCH fun to get to share this passion. We both get really excited about new releases, new trends, makeup items, skincare discoveries. But I think it’s fair to say how aware we both are of how much of a “vicious circle of consumption” it can be.

That’s how it works for me : Buy new stuff turns into new discovery, turns into research online, turns into “oh I did not know that product, oh what’s the brands, oh it sounds like it’s going to change my life“, turns into well, buy new stuff. That’s one of the reasons why I loved skincare more than makeup when I first started to get into the beauty world. So many products feel like they’re going to make you bloom into a new version of yourself.

I remember back in December, having a couple of weeks where I felt quite down, and all I could think about was buying skincare. (…) I kept ordering stuff that I couldn’t wait to try, but hey, breaking news, I was still depressed, with a little less money in my bank account.

A version with a glow, healthy looking skin, fuller brows, plumped lips, smooth legs and bright under-eyes. I still deeply believe that skincare does actually change the way your skin looks and feels because there’s so many amazing products out there. Still, when you find a routine that works for you, that you sometimes switch up a little but mainly stick to, what’s left to talk about, when in the meantime, the beauty industry releases new products almost every single day? Honestly, I’ve completely screwed up my skin at some point because I was trying everything under the sun so I’m done doing that. Here’s the thing as well, I’m into this new trend thing, that you might have heard about… saving money!

I remember back in December, having a couple of weeks where I felt quite depressed, and all I could think about was buying skincare. I guess in a way I wanted to take care of myself, not just on the outside though. The action of applying skincare products really relaxes me and comforts me. That’s when my skin freaked out in a major way. I kept ordering stuff that I couldn’t wait to try, but hey, breaking news, I was still depressed, with a little less money in my bank account. Sometimes I buy a serum, I research it a lot, take the time to think about whether or not I’m going to buy it and I get really excited about the product, the idea of using it, the action of using it, and usually, I love the result. But when feeling down, it simply doesn’t do the trick. Regarding makeup, it’s a game I LOVE to play, but I simply can’t spend more of what I’m able to on it, and I have to stay wise, you know? Also, I’m quite low-key with makeup. I don’t wear tons, and for example, one eyeshadow palette is all I need. However, blush? It gives me life and I could buy a new one every week.

I just thought I’d share my view on this here because maybe you’re feeling the same or maybe you think this is old news, either way I’d like to know your point on view!So, let’s review the situation here : I don’t need anything at the moment skincare and makeup wise, because I’m all set, got a nice routine at the moment , AND, because I only buy stuff when I finish a product.

Regarding skincare, the last thing I bought was the Clinique Take The Day Off balm because it’s great, doesn’t irritate my skin, it’s basically a safe purchase that I “needed” because I have just finished my Oh My Cream Cleansing Balm. My last makeup purchase is from Glossier, I got the Haze Cloud Paint Blush thanks to a friend who brought it back for me from the US, but I don’t have my hands on it yet. The other stuff I got from Glossier? Well, old favorites. A Milky Jelly Cleanser, Boy Brow in Brown, the Glossier You solid perfume which will be a new discovery, and Cloud Paint in Puff that I already own but have almost finished.

I have a few skincare discoveries in the making but I haven’t been testing them for long enough to tell you about it. Though I do mention what I’m using at the moment on my Insta Stories if you fancy watching that! Do let me know your thoughts on this topic and let’s start a conversation, shall we?

Thoughts on highlighters

This morning as I was finishing my makeup I noticed something was missing. Something that I wasn’t even aware of a few years ago. Something that I now think about as the finishing touch that I would not miss, really. Highlighter.

So many questions popped in my head when I realized that. Why ? Since when ? Why ? Did I mention why ?

Yet, I want more glow.

I’ve always been a huge fan of cream blushers, and let me tell you, they give a good amount of glow. But at the time of discovering cream blush, I was not even that into the whole glow thing. I just found it easy to apply, I liked the finish, there was no real intention apart from trying to find makeup that would make me look better, and most importantly, creating a “natural” makeup look. I still use cream blush, though I also love powder ones, and ok, I’m getting older, but my skin’s not dry, or especially lifeless you know. Yet, I want more glow.

Of course endlessly scrolling through Instagram and Youtube seem to have created a need. I guess also, that natural makeup look means fresh healthy looking skin. So yeah, I now use highlighter almost everyday. I don’t put it on the tip of my nose like I’ve seen so many people do on Instagram, because why the hell would I want to to that!

But I do apply it on the bridge of my nose, on the cheekbone, and on the brow bone. The one I use is Glossier Haloscope in Quartz which is the perfect subtle item to add a touch of shine, without glitters which I highly appreciate. It’s in a very handy stick and a little goes a long way. I even sometimes apply it on eyelids when I’m feeling extra fancy. Though again, dewy eyelids ? Why ? I don’t know but I love it.

Do you use highlighters ? Which ones ? I might want to add a few items to my super small collection…

Face brushes 101

A few of my friends have asked me questions about brushes, and it seems like it can be a whole unknown world so I decided I’d tell you all about the ones I own and why ! I don’t tend to wear eye makeup, and when I do I usually apply products with my fingers. I might use one or two brushes but to be honest, I’m not at the stage where I feel I can’t you give advice on that yet. Today’s article is about complexion a.k.a bronzer, blusher, setting powders, concealer, that’s it.

First off I think – if you don’t own any brushes – to get a good base to work with, you should definitely check out Real Techniques. That’s what I did. Created by the makeup artists sisters Sam and Nic Chapman, they are great, well priced, soft, and super well made brushes. I got the “Core Collection” featuring all the essentials : contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush and a buffing brush. I only really use the contour brush to, well, contour but also to set concealer with a little powder and sometimes to blend concealer (works nicely). I also like the buffing brush to apply concealer all over the face, or blend a CC/BB cream, though I have to admit I truly prefer using a beauty blender to seamlessly blend the product. Real Techniques is simply the perfect entry point to your brushes collection.

Now, let’s get more into this. Here are the only brushes I use day to day. Oh also, they have names and are meant to be used for this or that… I don’t really care for that.

Actually lots of makeup artists, Sam and Nic Chapman included, say that you should use them how you want to. Brushes are versatile, don’t be put off by the name and think “oh this is a foundation brush, I can’t use it for bronzer then”. Just give it a try and experiment !

Real Techniques Powder brush

I use this big powder brush to diffuse bronzer all over my face, or to set my makeup with a light powder with not much coverage. It’s a quick and easy brush, great for all over, not so much for precision.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

I would not necessarily use this brush for blusher, because it’s a bit too big for my cheeks. I love it for bronzer though, like the Nars Laguna, and I do use it for blusher that are super pigmented because the bristles on the brush diffuse pigments in a light way which is perfect if you don’t want to look like a clown with red cheeks.

Real Techniques Stippling brush

This one is amazing for cream and liquid blush. I put the product on the back of my hand, swirl the brush in it, and then gently dab on the cheeks for a super fast and gorgeous finish. I’ve recently discovered how good it is for foundation. Its super soft bristles really distribute the product evenly and it gives a soft finish, with good coverage because it does not drink up all the product. Perfect combination with Daniel Sandler’s watercolor liquid blushers and Glossier Cloud Paints.

Real Techniques Powder bleu Soft Finishing Brush

I LOVE this new addition to my brushes collection. It’s perfect for powder blush, AND bronzer if you want to be quite precise with your application and slightly contour. Extremely soft and amazingly gentle for my sensitive skin.

Eco Tool Precision Blush brush

Again, good for powder blush, if you really want to go for it. Its bristles are densely packed so the brush does give a good amount of pigment, better to use with a blush or a bronzer that’s not too pigmented or too bright. I love it with the Max Factor Cream Puff Powder Blushers.

Kiko Face Stippling Foundation Brush

This is my go-to for bronzer, because of the two levers of bristles on it : it gives a lovely light yet noticeable result. It has stayed really soft and is gorgeous to use if you want to build up a healthy glow with something like Chanel Les Beiges Powder.

Beauty Blender

This is my go-to to blend liquid or cream base products like Glossier’s stretch concealer, the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC cream, the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer. I run it under water and keep it quite wet, so the product really melts into the skin. It gives a flawless finish and really ties the complexion together. It’s the one thing I would not dare to imagine myself without.

Do you guys use brushes ? What are you favorites ? I’d love to know !

Foundation : A Story Of Denial

When I was younger, I was not into makeup. I must add, I was proudly not into makeup. Things have changed, I now am passionate about the beauty industry, and I strongly believe that it’s not frivolous and it actually means a lot to me. It’s how you present yourself to the world, it’s taking care of yourself and others, it gives power to know how to use them… Anyway, there will be an article on this topic coming soon for sure because I have a lot to say about my beauty journey.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve bought BB and CC creams, concealers, skin tints, but never a product that is actually called foundation.

I’m telling you this because, the fact that I was so proudly not into beauty, meant that I eased my way into it slowly, and still to this day, have never purchased a foundation because, meh, I like a natural makeup, I never know what shade to choose…

These are all lies. You know why ? I think it’s because I still can’t completely accept that I wear proper makeup. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve bought BB and CC creams, concealers, skin tints, but never a product that is actually called foundation. It feels like a big step. Buying foundation would definitely mean that I’m not wearing some sort of skincare item which improves the skin and color corrects it. It would definitely mean that I’m not pretending to wear minimal makeup. It would definitely mean that it does not have any benefit for the skin, it’s simply makeup.

Foundation, to me – and I can’t stress this enough, in my opinion – used to be something you’d put on to hide your skin, and let’s be honest, it took a turn a few years ago but I grew up thinking it was simply not good for the skin, and definitely not looking good either ! It sure has changed : now it’s all about the dewy, natural, healthy look. But back in my days, when a friend or someone on the tube wore foundation, it’d be looking dry, somehow orange, and would accentuate fine lines, pores, blemishes… I thought it was terrible !

This feeling stuck with me for years. Now it’s time for a change. I still love BB creams, but with the rise of glowy/light coverage foundation, I’m sure there’s something in the market that would suit me. As a matter of fact, the other day I really wanted to buy my first ever foundation, which I’ve decided is going to be the Chanel Vitalumière Aqua, because it’s so cult and sounds right up my street, but they did not have the shade I wanted (B10), so I’ll have to try again soon !

In the meantime, here are all the bases I wear at the moment :

Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme CC Cream : This is a funny one. I like it because it gives the most insane glow. It feels really luxurious, has a gorgeous smell and is super hydrating. Unfortunately, having quite fair skin, it is a tad too warm for me at the moment. It’s a cream that changes color when you rub it into the skin, and because winter’s been dragging on, I feel like it might work better when I’ll have a bit more color on my face. But if you have dry, dehydrated skin and desperately want glow, this product is for you ! It’s lovely in lieu of a moisturizer. The item provides a super sheer tint, has SPF 10 and claims to improve your skin. I don’t wear it often enough to confirm it does but it certainly feels like skincare.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in 31 Ivory : I like this drugstore CC Cream because it’s a light coverage base that you can easily build up. I apply it with a beauty blender if I want more of a sophisticated look a.k.a, full face of makeup. I recommend you watch this tutorial by Lisa Eldridge. That’s how I discovered it because it looked gorgeous in the video which is all about fresh, well slept beauty makeup. Who would not want that ? It did not disappoint when I first got it. This is my second bottle ! I just spread it with my fingers for a more natural finish. It’s not expensive, lasts for ages and I enjoy how versatile it is.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer in Ivory : Sometimes, when my skin’s being good, I apply concealer where needed and blend it with a brush or a beauty blender. This one is not good for spots because it looks dewy and really brings light to where you apply it. Does exactly what the name suggests !

Glossier Skin Tint in Light and Glossier Stretch Concealer in Light : I use these two together because the Skin Tint really does not have much coverage, and having quite dark circles under my eyes, I often find that I need some kind of light otherwise I really look super tired. The concealer is my favorite at the moment. I just bought a new one and completely finished the previous pot. Hydrating, illuminating, great to apply on the go. Full review of these products here, but I thought I’d mention them in this article, because I use them all the time !

Do you wear foundation ? Or, are you in denial ?

The most gentle cleanser I’ve ever tried

Ok, so I’m assuming you’ve read the title of this article. Now, this product is not new in the beauty game, and I’ve heard plenty of people talking about how amazing it is. But wow, it seriously is.

I’ve told you all about my new favorite balm cleanser the other day, today I want to share with you the second step of my double cleansing routine. I’ve been looking for something extremely gentle, though the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is great for my sensitive skin, the gel-like texture made my skin feel a little bit tight, especially with the crazy weather we’ve had over the past couple of weeks.

REN is a brand I’ve loved for quite some time. They were possibly the first brand I got really into when I first discovered my passion for beauty. It was hard to get hold of at the time but I remember telling all my friends about this super cool and not too expensive brand that you could trust because of how transparent it was, and still is ! Furthermore, I really appreciate the fact that it’s a clean skincare brand. Meaning, no sulfates, mineral oils or petroleum, no synthetic colors or fragrances. Which to me is the equivalent of “No Bullshit”. I’m all for that !

So when looking out for a new cleanser, I thought I’d give the Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk a try.

It is lush. The scent which I could not really describe (I’d say fresh and calming) is out of this world. The texture is a dense milk, almost like a cream, and one pump is enough for my entire face. I massage it on dry face, and really take my time. Then I use a hot cloth, and remove it gently. My face feels clean yet protected which is not a sensation I see that often after cleansing because of how sensitive my skin is.

I LOVE it. It’s 22€, and is aimed at, quoting REN here, “Sensitive and/or delicate skin. Skin affected by pollution (city life, smoke).” I mean, it has my name on it. And potentially yours !

Brows 101

Brows. Where to start. Too much plucking, drawing them in a weird shape, using a brow product that actually looks red because the shade is not right at all… I’ve done it all ! Yesterday my mum told me, in her own words, how she really did not like the square brows thing you can see everywhere. Oh and she’s not on Instagram, bless her. So I thought, I agree, but I do know what it’s like to not know what to do with your brows.

I remember very distinctly going to Sephora one day and asking a saleswoman if she knew of any pencil that would be the right shade for me because I knew it was not looking great. First of all, she had an idea but they did not have the pencil in stock, but then, she said, “the shade you’re wearing is just so wrong, this brown pencil looks red, I can see it in your brows it does not look good“. So, thanks ! To be honest, I was a bit offended, but not too much because I F*****g knew it already. Ha. That’s why I love the beauty blogging industry, because it helped me to understand what suits me without feeling judged.

fullsizeoutput_25cf — This is my good brow by the way. And me collecting coffee mugs all over the place.

ANYWAYS. Here are my three hero brow products, hope it can save you some time !

Glossier Boy Brow. I know, everyone loves it, but for a good reason, it’s simply extraordinary. The texture is like nothing else I’d tried before. It’s waxy but not slippy, the colors are great and it is the only brow gel that actually keeps my unruly brow hairs in place all day. I brush my brows with a clean spoolie brush, then apply bow brow from the end of the brow to the front, basically brush them the wrong way to build the texture and redefine the arch. Then I brush them down the right way, and let it set. A few minutes later, usually after finishing my makeup, I come back with the spoolie brush and brush upwards to diffuse the product in the brows. Why you may ask ? Just because there’s sometimes too much product on the Glossier brush, especially because mine is brand new, so using the clean spoolie allows me to diffuse the product thanks to its amazing flexible texture, and just set my brows exactly in the shape I like. I have the shade brown.
Fleur de Force Eyelure brow define. When I do feel like I need some definition, and brows that are stronger, I find that this double ended brow pencil is perfect. The shade range is great, I personally use the medium one which has a lighter color perfect for the front of the brows or if you want a more natural result, and a darker shade if you really want to go for it. I sometimes use this and Boy Brow, or this alone, or Boy Brow alone, depending on my mood ! It’s quite remarquable.
Tweezerman tweezzers. When the lovely Anna from The Anne Edit mentioned them, the tweezers I had were doing fine so I did not think much about it. And then I lost them. And freaked out like anyone would. Got a Sephora one in a panic, was not super happy with it, but could not justify the price of getting the tweezerman. But a few months later, wandering on the Feelunique website, with a 25% off code, I thought ok, let’s do this and give it a try. I love them. I guess I’d say you have to get use to it, they’re so precise and sharp that at first I just did not know how to make them work. Maybe because I’ve always had bad tweezers ? I’d rather not think about it… Also, once on a trip to London, realized I’d forgotten them, got the travel size ones : as good and cheaper, so consider it !
Let them be. Nowadays, I tend to leave them alone a bit more. I do use my tweezers, but not too often, and I find that by doing this, it allows them to grow much more than when I was plucking or even checking ~~and slightly plucking~~, almost every day. So for example, I often don’t touch them for a month, and see what’s been growing, and then decide if a few should stay because they add to the shape, or not. I did got them threaded at Blink Brow Bar in Liberty, but because I don’t live in London though I go there all the time, I’d say I go to Blink maybe twice a year. My skin reacts quite badly to threading, and the skin above my eyebrows ends up covered in red marks, and sometimes tiny little spots, so I’m not so keen anymore. And now I know the shape I want really well, thanks to the lovely ladies at Blink, therefore I don’t think I’ll need it !

Glossier : My Top Picks from the Cult Brand

I’m sure you’ve heard about Glossier at some point in the past few months. The brand appeared one day on Instagram, and as you may know, I’d been reading Into The Gloss for many years – it is the website, Glossier’s CEO, Emily Weiss, created way before she launched the skincare and makeup brand. When I first came across this website, it was a real slap in the face, like I told you here. Needless to say, Glossier was a brand I could not wait to try. And for once, I was more excited about the makeup. I’m also trying to streamline my skincare routine so, I choose to focus on makeup.

Unfortunately, they don’t ship to France yet. So when the “oh so famous Colette store” was still open, I got a few products when in Paris. I loved all the stuff I got, though I could not get much because the majority of the products were pretty much sold out. So, feeling a bit frustrated, I thought “Wait a minute, it’s now launched in the UK, that could work !” I’m lucky enough to have lovely Londoners friends who then received my Glossier order and gave it to me on NYE when I went there to spend the holidays.

I had seen Glossier products all over the internet for years when I first got my hands on some items. In Colette, I got really… starstruck when I first got to see them IRL. Ha, the power of good storytelling !

Anyway, you might wanna hear about the products now, am I right ?

So, here are all the products I’ve tested and love. Disclaimer, I haven’t tested the entire range. Also, there are only two products I did not get along with. The first one is the priming moisturizer which is not featured in the pictures for that reason. It made my skin react and go a bit red. As soon as my skin does anything like this, I stop using the product immediately… You now know how sensitive it is, so I don’t use this moisturizer anymore. The other one is the balm dot com, which I like, but that’s it, whereas the other products mentioned I love !

As I told you before, I don’t buy lip balm anymore. Still, I bought this one, ha ! I mean, the coconut scent is insanely nice, even if I usually hate coconut scented stuff. The balm dot come is alright, but I feel like it hydrates my lips for the time it’s on them, but after a few hours, they feel a bit drier that they were before I applied it. It’s actually something I tend to notice whenever I use anything else that my trusty balm.

Digression is my specialty. Now, the products ! Let’s keep it quick and useful.

Stretch Concealer

Probably the best concealer I’ve ever tried. It is stretchy, and works with the skin not against it, you know what I mean ? This concealer is hydrating and dewy. It does not have much coverage but I don’t mind that as it’s buildable. I’d love it if Glossier came up with a foundation version of this !

Boy Brow

Wasn’t much into it at first, now love it. What I do is brush against the hair, and then brush the right way. Doing this makes the brows have texture, color, and hold. It’s natural enough, but does make the brows look fuller in the nicest possible way. I use the shade brown, and would love to try the clear one ! Also, when it gets dry, it gets better.

Cloud Paints

I’m obsessed with blusher and these certainly don’t disappoint. I had lost my favorite at the time of taking the pictures : it’s the shade Puff. A gorgeous true pink. I also enjoy using Beam which is more of a coral-y shade, that I often mix with Puff. I’m not that into the shade Dusk because I love a pink blusher, but it’s lovely to add a bit of warmth to the face, and I’m pretty sure you could lightly contour with it. Also, good on eyelids !

Haloscope in Quartz

It’s the first time ever I’m actually using a highlighter almost everyday. The texture is very creamy, but not greasy, and the Quartz version is simply the perfect champagne yet subtle color to add some light. I put it on the bridge of my nose, on the high points of the cheeks, and under the brows. Oh and also, on the cupid’s bow. Yeah, pretty much everywhere !

The Generation G Lipsticks

The texture of these is something I had never seen before. It’s matte and sheer which sounds weird but it’s the perfect combination to make your lips look full, defined yet a bit out of focus, sort of blurred in the best enhancing way. I have all the shades except for Like. The ones I love the most are Jam a hot pink, Crush a deep berry shade and Zip, on which I’ve wrote an entire article, a true poppy red.

Milky Jelly Cleanser

I won’t go on about this one as I’ve dedicated an post to it. It’s gentle, effective, smells of roses and feels luxurious even if the price point is quite affordable. I have already use two bottles, and have one left… I dread the day it’ll be empty !

There you have it, my full point of view on Glossier ! Have you tried any of Glossier’s products ? Do you think I’m missing out on some products ?

The super easy and super chic rouge lipstick

The first time I wore red lipstick was a few weeks ago. I’m 29 years old and for the first time ever, I not only wore red lipstick, I also went out without wiping it off right before heading out. Have you ever done that ? It’s funny how I could go out with a look that could be described as “interesting” on a sunday for example (velvet trousers, enormous jumper, and rain wellies ?), but to be seen in red lipstick is just something I’d never been able to do.

Because if not now, when ?

I always think I have teeths that are too big, or a mouth that moves too much when I talk and smile, and I have such dark features I did not want to draw attention to my face with a red touch. Also don’t you find it difficult that you have to pick a shade that’s not too orange-y or too blue, and also sometimes wear lip liner, and check it does not smudge…

BUT, inspired by the beauty journalist Sali Hughes amongst others, who sort of always encourages women to wear the makeup they want and not be scared of it because it’s fun, I guess it made me want to be more dare-ish. Because if not now, when ?

Then Glossier Generation G in the color Zip came along. And it’s really good. I mean, really perfect to me. It’s matte and sheer which sounds weird but it’s the perfect combination to make your lips look full, defined yet a bit out of focus, sort of blurred in the best enhancing way.

It’s a true red, not too orange, not too blue, quite bright and uplifting. Glossier website describes it as a poppy red, that’s exactly it.

I have to say it stayed on really well even through a meal, and the best thing to me is that it fades out beautifully. Which is crucial ! I’m not one to reapply all the time, so I like to not be stressed about the way my lipstick looks after a few hours. You know how sometimes you just end up with a lipstick line around your mouth and no product left on your actual lips ? Yeah… I do not want that. Especially not with a lipstick that I’m more self conscious about. But this Glossier one just fades out in the most beautiful way, leaving a soft stain. Oh and the Generation G applies really nicely without a lip liner !

I could not recommend this enough if, like me, wearing a red lip is something only others can do but still every time Christmas season rolls around you fell left out.

Here is a link which could be useful if you’re interested in wearing red lipstick but don’t know where to start : This video by Lisa Eldridge is the ultimate guide to red lipstick, extremely useful. Also, how chic and lovely is Lisa ?

Do you feel confident wearing red lipstick ?

Three makeup items to cheer me up !

You know how sometimes you have a crappy day ? You had stuff planned, and did not do it. You wanted to go out and did not. You said to yourself, I’m going to be productive, do this and that, and bake, and clean my office and… When you basically have scrolled down Instagram too much and feel like you too ~~could~~ should have that kind of life ? (more on that later, what kind of life is that ?)

Anyway, that’s the kind of day I had today.

First, what I do, is put on Franck Sinatra on my Spotify app. Either “Young at heart”, or “I’ve got the world on a string”. Joy. And if I have any, I light a candle, and make myself a tea.

Then, what I find I do all the time, but actually only realized it today, is, I put on a bit more makeup as I sigh looking at myself in the mirror. You know when the night’s falling, but it’s not time for diner yet, but your workday is over and you don’t know what to do with yourself ? Well, I often end up in my bathroom, and look for stuff that could potentially help to lighten up my mood. Makeup.

Not like a red lip or anything because I don’t often wear that much makeup. But I often end up using these three products :

Glossier Stretch Concealer in light

It’s amazing. It is actually stretchy, and is great to reapply on top of makeup. It’s very moisturizing so it does not amplify the lines around the eyes or make your face caked up in product. It’s soft, smart and sweet. Instant pick-me-up in a jar.

Chanel Adrienne

I don’t know why, but I reach for this nude with a satin finish all the time. Especially after a hard day, it makes me feel put together and chic, though it’s quite subtle and does not have an amazing lasting power. I love the color, a really well balanced nudy-pink, and it goes well with my fair complexion. Also, I sometimes use it on my cheeks. Just dab my finger on my lips and blend it on my cheeks. It helps with my mood for sure !

Brush my brows

I’ve had the same spoolie for years. It’s from Hema, random, and it was so cheap. But you know what ? It’s actually the best. It has the perfect angle, and I’m just so used to it, I even prefer it to the ones you can find on double-ended brow products.

So yes, I brush my brows. To beef them up a little. I also sometimes add a bit of Glossier Boy Brow or even pencil them in a bit more with the Fleur de Force Eyelure Brow Define in medium. And that is the final touch to lift my spirit.

What do you do to cheer you up ? Is it related to makeup in any way or not at all ?