Pool Time

I’ve started swimming!
Oh, I already told you all that. Well, what I didn’t tell you was how I’m managing all that chlorine exposure, and what fills up my pool bag each time I head to my local swimming hole.
Gotta tell ya though, it’s only been two weeks but swimming laps has already made such a difference – I’m sleeping better, I’m thinking more clearly, and I’m just feeling better in general.





So first things first (I’m the realest) I’ve invested in a good, proper pair of bathers; a black Speedo suit with a zipper up the front, shelf bra support, and chlorine resistant fabric. It’s actually super comfortable, and the fit is really flattering. I’ve also bought new goggles (because my old ones are MIA) by Vorgee called the ‘Dorsal’ in pink (duh) that fit very securely and keep water out of my eyes better than any pair I’ve had before.

I don’t do the swim-cap thing, mainly because I don’t own one, but also they remind me of childhood swim lessons and I HATED those rubber domes of doom that would leave red raw marks and snapped painfully on my forehead. So for now they’re a no-go.
My actual bag is an oldie but a goodie, with three different compartments, the back two being foil lined and fairly waterproofed, perfect for wet towels, thongs and bathers. The middle compartment is where I stash my clear toiletries bag and other Very Necessary Swim Things.

At home, I cleanse, and pop on a little Bright Eyes eye treatment from Goldfaden MD, followed by Drunk Elephant Hydra-B Gel. Then I pat a HEAP of oil over my face (lately I’ve been favouring Goldfaden MD Fleuressence, Chantecaille Rosede Mai oil, and Flora by Sunday Riley) to act as a barrier against the pool water. Over that I pop on Mecca Cosmetica’s Mineral Gel SPF 30 and walk over to the pool.
Once I’m there, I jump quickly under the shower, and then smother my hair in Bumble& bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Conditioner and whack it up into a bun. I’ll then rub either Lucas Paw Paw or my Lanolips Multibalm into my cuticles to protect my nails and hands. It’s all about building barriers between my skin and the pool chlorine.
And then I swim!

As soon as I’m out I jump in the shower – priority is getting the skin as clean as possible. I cleanse with Glam Glow Thirsty Cleanse to try and give back the hydration lost in the pool, and wash my hair with the Bumble & bumble Hairdressers’ Oil shampoo and conditioner. I have a body wash from a hotel toiletry set, and a mini body lotion as well.  Believe it or not, the body wash doesn’t quite cut it and I often get home still feeling chlorine-y, so I’ll usually have another shower or scrub with some Frank Bod to make sure my skin is really well and truly chlorine free.
Once home I’ll also opt for a hydrating mask like Thirsty Mud, or a Karuna sheetmask, to really, properly apologise to my skin for stripping it in the pool. And of course, finished off with more facial oil, because it’s nice to feel nice y’know?
Should any changes come up with this pretty solid (thus far) pool routine I’ll let you know.

Until next time,
Tweet tweet xx



The January Edition

Hello

We’re eleven days into January and I’m pleased to report I’ve accomplished two of the things I really, really wanted to do in 2017.

First; Zoe Foster Blake acknowledged my existence via emoji and it was glorious. I posted via @beautybyasparrow on Instagram about aiming to complete more Teeny Tiny Acts of Love (#ttal) this year and the ethereal @ZoTheySay seemed to like that sentiment quite a bit. As you can imagine on the third of Jan I was pretty chuffed, borderline hysterically excited over it all. EEEEE!





Second, I finally did exercise that wasn’t incidental (i.e. wasn’t just me running for the train/running on the shop floor/squatting to reach into drawers) and swam laps at my local pool. Got myself some schmick new bathers from Speedo (chlorine resistant and a built-in shelf bra!) as well as cute new goggles and did the thing. The swimming thing. Swimming, swimming, in a swimming pool… breaststroke, sidestroke, fancy diving too, oh don’t wish you never had anything else to do but.. I digress.



Point is, both of these things have contributed to my overall idea for 2017 – not a resolution, or a goal, because they come with pressure and guilt and other shitty things – that idea being just to be healthy in 2017. Properly healthy! Not super fit or a clean eater or ripped body or any of that business, just healthy. In every way, too – I’m one of those people that get so caught up in whatever it is they're doing that physical activity, mental health breaks, and sleep, become second priority. I’m guilty of it especially when I’m studying or trying to do too many things at once. And maybe a teeny part of me didn’t feel like it mattered if I didn’t eat right or work out enough, because maybe I didn’t matter.

Well that attitude is staying the heck back in 2016. I like me (and I hope you like you too!) and I need to start treating myself a bit better. Beauty can be a handy shortcut to small acts of self-care. Each time you choose to take care of yourself, whether it be as simple as washing your hair, or as big as a full body massage, or even just painting a new colour on your tootsies, you’re deciding you’re worth looking after. And I sincerely hope you always feel like you’re worth caring for, and that your health – as well as your beauty routine – is a priority.

TO MORE FUN THINGS!









This month is already flying on by, and I’ve already had to repurchase some faves. “Which faves?!” you ask. “I’m telling you now!” I shout back, srsly guys learn to scroll…

HOURGLASS
Mineral Veil primer, because it’s been FREAKIN’ HOT and water resistant primer is your friend. Sweat can take a backseat to my foundation when I’ve got that guy on. SPF 15 because again, it’s been FREAKIN’ HOT, and light colour correction. Ah, the love I have for this primer!
I’ve hit pan on Luminous Light Ambient Powder (which is so totally devastating), so I went ahead and got the Ambient Lighting Wardrobe to replace it. Three more new Ambient Light Powders to play with, yay! Mineral based, glowing, and foundation setting. What more could a gal want?

URBAN DECAY
I went through my All Nighter setting spray so quickly in this heat, so I wasn’t surprised I needed a new one so soon. This time I opted for Chill, which is a hydrating setting spray that leaves the skin with a frosted sheen. Hoping it’ll be as make up securing as its predecessor.

FRANK BOD
Do I even need to tell you? Do I even need to explain how much I adore this scrub? And Frank knows I adore his body cream. I’m on my fifth tub. I think I’m going to have to stock up because if they ever stop making it I’m screwed.

BUMBLE & BUMBLE
Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Conditioner – for starters it smells like happiness. I bought the mini for my swimming bag (yeah guys I have a swim bag now, it’s a thing). The theory goes that if you wet, and then smother your hair in conditioner, chlorine can’t penetrate the hair shaft as easily, thus minimising the damage. I tried it at my last swim and when I got out of the pool my hair didn’t feel totally horrible and stripped, so I’m tentatively confirming the theory works?

And that’s all for me! What are you favourite, must-replace-ASAP-products? Tell me, let me snoop in your make up bags…
Until next time,

Tweet tweet xx

DECEMBER



Y’know how you watch someone do something you can’t, and aside from your first thought being HOLY SHITSNACKS THAT’S COOL, your next thought is, “Oh I wish I could do that”.

Well I get that every time I watch Natasha complete a make-up application.

So at the end of this year, after watching her (not in a creepy way, like, in an admirable/we work in the same space way) talents she asked if I wanted a make up shake up session and I said a wholehearted all capslocked YAS because I have zero chill (literally zero, ask Tash and all of my friends and family).

We picked a day and I went over to her studio/house and we ate pasta with bacon, and then got stuck into changing up the mug of mine.
Natasha created two looks for me; one that was signature Tash glow, and another heavier, smokier look.

I prepped my skin with Eve Lom Hydration Serum, followed by La Mer Soft Lotion.

From Natasha;
SIGNATURE LOOK


 

I’m all about glowy skin and have a less is more attitude towards coverage. To get flawless coverage that looked minimal I mixed 1 part Ellis Faas with 1 part Josie Maran Illuminator (half foundation half liquid gold TBH) applied with a Zoeva flat kabuki.

On areas that need more coverage such as the chin and under the eyes, I buffed concealer using a fluffy domed shadow brush – this allows you to  blend the edges seamlessly and make concealer almost undetectable, it just looks like skin.

The skin always looks fresher with cream and liquid products so I always like to work with cream colours first. Stila convertible colours are my fave because they keep their shine and don’t dry matte and for cream highlighter I can’t go past Copacobana (by Nars). Skin was set with Hourglass Diffused Light (on a fluffy brush applied very lightly), warmed up with Luminous Bronze Light and extra glowed with Mecca Enlightened.

My take;
I still can’t believe that Tash took products I already used and made me look completely different with them. Natasha also gave me a very soft, semi-natural, glowing bronze-based eye that I really loved. It wasn’t overly dramatic but it was a little more lined that I’d usually go for and I loved it. Thought we did have an almost hiccup – Tash forgot I’m allergic to Too Faced Chocolate Bar (I KNOW I’M SO UPSET) and almost came at me with it haha! Luckily we went for Too Faced Sweet Peach instead (palette returning soon, according to Snapchat!) which provided all the warm, rosy-bronze shades you see below. Natasha also used a Stila Smudge Stick along my waterline to create that super sexy, not-too-overdone look.

Natasha’s Take;
DRAMA EYE

 

Black smoky eye using MAC paint pot in Black Ground. It’s super pigmented and dries fast so use synthetic brushes – natural bristles just don’t cut it here. I applied this shadow all over the lid and pressed MAC Black Track shadow on top.

The trick to making a black smoky eye non-intimidating is to blend it out with brown, so I used a medium brown shade by Inglot and Too Faced Natural Matte (Sexpresso and Risqué – mostly under eye) on the border of the eye crease I used the orange shadow in that palette. Warm tones always soften it out and make it much more wearable. Use natural bristles here if possible!
Then I used a Stila Smudge Pot for the waterline and upper lash line – no flick, winged liner ruins smoky eyes and that’s when it becomes a glamour eye.

Amp up the skin with a deeper blush shade and add a bit of contour – Paloma by Nars here!

My take;
Not gonna lie, when Tash was getting her brush worked into the MAC black pot shadow I had a teeny tiny minor freak out because I’ve never ever ever EVER put black directly onto my own lid. Minor panic. Total faith in Natasha, but black is a tricky colour. And my version of a smoky eye almost always involves a wing (that was an interesting moment, I’ve never considered my make up style glam but whaddya know?). All of the layering, blending, dabbing, brushing, smoothing, buffing and smudging was incredible to experience. Natasha made it look easy as anything, never once faltering, even when my eyes pulled their “There’s-nothing-wrong-but-we’re-going-to-water-up-ANYWAY” trick. A favourite for every and any make-up artist I’ve ever had touching my face.

When she had finished I felt like a new woman. My eyes were a different shape, by far more sultry than anything I’d done before, and my wide, big eyes were actually a benefit here, because often smoky eyes lose half their effect when the eye is open. I was a bit chuffed to hear my big ol’ bug eyes were good for something.

Tash popped a Smashbox exclusive lip on me, Phil, a beautiful, perfect pinky-nude and that was beautiful too.

We did a bit of a photo shoot and I gotta tell ya that was probably the best bit. Tash told me to be serious and sexy and sultry and anyone who has a friend knows the minute you try pulling serious sexy faces this happens;



Ten minutes later we had some great shots and a cute Boomerang to boot.

WHAT I TOOK AWAY
I’m on the right track with Ellis Faas and Josie Maran. The way I apply my concealer has completely changed, and whilst I haven’t yet attempted the smoky eye on my own, I have tried the glowy bronze look and I found it easier to do after Natasha’s tips!

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME FOR THE 12 DAYS OF BLOGMAS! Enjoy Christmas and New Year’s, little birds, and I’ll see you for more beauty-ful adventures in 2017.


Tweet tweet xx

NOVEMBER

As it turns out, old birds can learn new tricks.



I picked up Zoe Foster-Blake’s book in the last weeks of October, gripped by post-thesis glee and living in oh-those-other-five-assessments-don’t-matter-denial. To put my excitement into context; I could’ve bought Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, or Amazinger Face – and I bought Zoe’s book. I am probably the biggest Harry Potter fan you’ll meet and I’d been itching to get my hands on the script… but I chose Zoe. I also made the foolish assumption that I’d be able to put this book down and focus on those pesky last five (FIVE. FIVE GUYS. I WROTE 15,500 WORDS AND STILL HAD TO DO 5 ASSESSMENTS) assessments.

I was wrong.

Amazinger Face hooked me in with its quirky page design and pretty aesthetic. The writing style is pretty close to how I talk to customers about beauty and skincare, and each page (pretty much) had something new that I hadn’t learnt or heard about before. It was the first book I read this year that wasn’t university or thesis related (aside from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but that’s different… I read that at least once a year #sorrynotsorry).

The book really is like a guide to beauty/haircare/sunscreen/skincare/bodycare/feet for dummies, but Zoe never makes you feel dumb for not knowing the things she’s telling you. It probably comes from her warm, self-deprecating sense of humour, as well as all of her years experience as a beauty editor. And it’s just so relatable! Who hasn’t picked up a How-To eyeshadow quad on sale and stuck to THAT for their entire make-up game for a year? (This girl here definitely did/has/might still do on occasion). The tone never gets too bossy, save for when Ms Foster-Blake discusses sun care, and that’s where I too toe the line. I have no time for people that ‘don’t burn, just tan’ or ‘don’t like sunscreen’. I don’t care, and you know who else doesn’t care? THE SUN. USE SPF. JUST DO IT.

The book is super easy to navigate as well; I used the index to flip through to the section on blow drying last night, actually, and woke up with hair that didn’t make me run away screaming, for once. Zoe has literally thought of everything, every possible disaster that can come up in the world of beauty.

If I had one qualm about the book (A SUDDEN GASP OF HORROR), it would be a minor one, and that is that it simply isn’t long enough.

Yup. That’s right. My one issue with the book is that there’s not enough book.
I understand that for readability and production and etc. etc. that the book is the way it is, but I really do enjoy Zoe’s style of writing, and I feel like there may be just a teeny, tiny bit more information to be squeezed out of that beauty-obsessed brain. That said, I can’t wait to see what title she gives the next updated version in 5 years’ time when we’re all using bra chicken fillets to apply foundation (that’s actually a thing, check this link).

Ms Foster-Blake, if you’re reading this (oh sweet flippin’ Jesus if Zoe Foster-Blake read my blog I think I’d actually jump for joy!) I toff my imaginary hat to you. While I might’ve gotten a degree in something obscure this year (yay for ancient stuff!), when it comes to breaking down the beauty game you da real PhD.*

Tweet tweet x


*I don’t have a PhD btw, I might one day but now really isn’t the time to be making that decision* 

OCTOBER

Keep it simple, stupid.



October arrived far too quickly for my liking this year. That said it was probably because October saw me submitting my thesis, my brain baby, a piece of work ten months in the making, without doubt one of the biggest, hardest things I’ve ever done.

So why oh why would I complicate one of the trickiest times of my year by having an overly complicated beauty routine?

By October I’d perfected the ‘I’m-maybe-wearing-a-bit-of-make-up-but-it’s-so-minimal-I-could-also-not-be’ face for uni, days in the library, and days where a full face wasn’t immediately needed.

For all my skincare picks, flip back to the last post of blogmas.
Following my Too Faced Hangover Primer (ultra hydrating coconut-water based make-up prep) I usually turn to the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette. 












Sometimes I’ll prime, sometimes I won’t; I go for a mix of the two matte shades, Heaven and Nudie, as I find they colour correct my purple-toned lids and the Heaven shade (a light cream) brightens my eyes so I look awake. Then it’s time for brows – lightly filled in with the Hourglass Arch in warm brunette. A waterproof wax pencil that makes them look a little less sparse and a little more Brooke Shields. 





The one thing I refuse to give up or compromise on, even on days off, is mascara. Nope, not happening, NOT TODAY SON – the bigger and bolder my lashes, the more doll-like, the better. Lately I’ve been favouring the Perversion Mascara by Urban Decay (star of blogmas July), as it is the blackest black mascara imaginable.

















After eyes, I use my fingers to apply Bare MineralsComplexion Rescue in vanilla. The formula is an oil-free gel cream that gives medium coverage with SPF 30+ UVA/UVB protection, and a really dewy finish. 

Always followed by an under eye concealer – my pick being the Smashbox CameraReady BB Cream with SPF 15 (all the SPF possible) which brightens and colour corrects under the eye. The amazing thing about Smashbox is that all of their products – even the ones with SPF – don’t give a flashback when photographed. 



If I’m having a bad skin day (common in times of extreme stress, like thesis submission) I’ll conceal with Nars Radiant Creamy concealer in vanilla. It contains turmeric which helps any blemishes to heal, as well as tone down any redness.







For cheeks, I pop on a little Stila Convertible Colour inPetunia. A bright, happy pink that always makes me smile. Over the top of this I blend – you guessed it – Josie Maran Argan oil Illuminiser along my cheek bones, a tiny bit on my cupid’s bow and the tip of my nose.














Everything is set with Luminous Light by Hourglass and that’s it! My simple face, daily, easy-as, glowy, hydrating and all-round “Yes I do that Natural Beauty Thing” appropriate.

If you can’t do something simply you can’t hope to master it!

Tweet tweet xx

SEPTEMBER

Skin4theWin



This is a beauty blog (obviously) but aside from real beauty coming from within, real beauty also comes from what’s underneath your make-up – your skin! If you’ve been following me for a while you’ll know these three commonalities of my skin to be true;

1.      It still breaks out, despite the lack of adolescence
2.    SENSITIVITY OUT THE WA-ZOO; if there’s a way to freak out about something, my skin will find that way and ACE it (I’m nothing if not a high achiever)
3.    It likes to be dry, and not the good kind of martini dry, just plain dry
So by September this year I’d managed to settle myself into a routine that my skin actually not only tolerated, but seems to still thrive from.

DAYTIME
First things first (I’m the realest) I use a creamy cleanser (Swisse is still a fave, as is Kate Somerville Goat’s Milk) to wake myself up and get my skin ready for the day ahead. I then use a nourishing eye cream (Kate Somerville AgeArrest, ah!) followed by a hydrating serum, Dr Dennis Gross’s HydrationBooster. So, so good. I then pop on my moisturiser of choice (September, Darphin Hydraskin Rich, today, Drunk Elephant La La Retro Whip Cream) and to seal in all that skin-fun-time-goodness, a beautiful oil. My pick? Goldfaden MD Fleuressence. A blend of eight different oils designed for acneic, pimple-prone skin, that dries into the skin super quickly but leaves it luminous and fresh. Topped off with an SPF and ta-daaah! Skin is ready, prepped and excited to greet the day!

NIGHT TIME
Firstly – take off the mask. AaaaaAAAaLL the make-up. All the SPF. All the good stuff from the morning. Take it OFF with Nude Perfect Cleanse Omega Jelly. It’s amazing to smear your face like a Picasso and then rub it all off. Following this, I’ll either use Dr Dennis Gross Ultra Gentle Peel Pads or Sunday Riley Good Genes serum – NOT together. That’s a triple exfoliation. Dat’s bad.
If I’ve used a peel pad, I’ll be popping on more Dr Dennis Gross Hydration Booster (more water less problems). If not, I’ll follow with my moisturiser, or sometimes as a treat-yo-self, La Mer Concentrate (AH!) because it’s regenerative, hydrating and just beautiful. Following moisturiser – all of the oil. Ok, well, not all of it, but enough to make a lovely little barrier for my skin and to keep it lush.

Gotta tell ya, this routine hasn’t changed much and my skin is all the better for it. I’ve swapped out my serums as the weather’s changed this December, but this routine – cleanse, gentle exfoliation, hydrate, moisturise, nourish – it hasn’t steered me wrong yet!
#skingoalsalways


Tweet tweet xx

AUGUST

Do you guys remember when I was all about mattes? Matte shadows, matte contour, matte base, matte lip (still loving those though) and matte everything, essentially?

Let’s all laugh together, shall we?

This year was the year I not only learnt how to strobe, but how to do it properly, and all the joys that come from having THE LIGHT OF APOLLO ON YO FACE.

Highlighters. All the highlighters. ALL OF THEM.

Liquid. Cream. Powder. Eyeshadow (hear me out) – you name it, if it gives the skin a glow, I’ve used it on my face. August saw me swapping my beloved Sheer Glow for the Nars Velvet Tint; a satin finish, medium-full coverage skin tint that made for the perfect base for all kinds of highlighting and glow. And it wasn’t something I restricted to a full-face kinda day – even study days saw me whipping out the Josie Maran Argan Oil Illuminiser, as the Argan oil base gave that bit more hydration and protection to my skin on long library days.

So here are my top fave highlighter/illuminators – for the time being, of course!

Josie Maran Enlightment Illunimiser – liquid crème with a rosy gold

NARS Illuminator in Copacobana, and Super Orgasm

NARS Dual Intensity Blush in Frenzy – used with a wet brush for a POP like you wouldn’t believe!

Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Incandescent Strobe light – silvery pink that sits beautifully with a blush, and best used with a sponge

Too Faced Candlelight Glow – Rosy Glow

Stila Kitten Eye shadow Single – when used with an extremely light hand, this is the ULTIMATE glow-getter. I’m obsessed. And a multipurpose product that’s so so easy to travel with? SOLD!

Stay tuned to @beautybyasparrow on Instagram for swatches and daily looks with these bad, bedazzling boys!

Tweet tweet xx
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