September was definitely a great ‘beauty trial’ month for me and my skin. It was a really hectic month and it gave me that extra push to evaluate key products that I needed to change up in my routine that just weren’t working any more. I was gifted some items over the last few months which I’ve been meaning to test out properly so the week before Fashion Week I went through various product through trial and error. There were some great pieces I’ve mentioned on my Snapchat but these are pieces that I definitely felt I needed to go into with more detail. They proved to be really important go to’s in my beauty kit and while some of them might appear basic, I’ve found over the years as a model if your skin isn’t prepped correctly nothing else will work no matter how much we try to layer on our skin.
Armani Prima Skin Perfector
First up, Armani Prima Day Long Skin Perfector for trouble zones. Now in all honesty I’ve never been a primer kind of person. I’ve invested in a few over the years and they just tend to over mattify my skin. Working in the heat in New York there was no two ways about it, I needed a base that would help keep my foundation on and smooth out my pores. This worked really well and very little was needed as the consistency spreads wonderfully while leaving a weightless feel. I’m an Armani fan anyway so it seems to really suit my skin type. It works beautifully with Armani Luminous Silk Foundation as well as Mac Studio Fix. Coming into the cooler months this would be great for those in big cities in particular if you tend to be going in and out of temperatures. There’s nothing worse than getting off the tube in London which is really clammy and warm to then be hit with cold weather as soon as you leave the station. Before you know it your foundation goes patchy or you look like you’ve put your makeup on in the dark! Giorgio Armani ‘Prima’ skin perfector here for E.U readers, and here for USA readers
The Tan
When it comes to fake tan I’m a very picky sort of person. I like to have something that’s quite natural and that’s easy to apply. I like to mix up the brands I use and I found B Bold recently to be a great addition to my tan favourites as it’s very easy to apply and has really similar qualities to premium end tans like Fake Bake which I find gives a natural finish. This is the B Bold spray, it has a great applicator and is dark in colour so you can see where you are applying your tan. It dries really quickly too and without any sticky fake tan feelings. I find if I apply it before bed then wash it off the next morning I have a natural sunkissed glow without looking over the top. It comes in both medium and dark shades, the medium is definitely buildable but if you prefer something a lot darker then you have that option too. I’m always open to new brands so be sure to let me know who your Autumn tan favourites are too!
For both E.U & US readers you can find it here.
The Mask
One thing you probably didn’t know about me is I’m secretly beauty mask obsessed. I’ve really sensitive skin so when I find one that really works I just latch onto it. I bought an Image travel Vital C set a few months ago just to try the brand out as I had heard a lot about it, and thankfully my skin immediately took to it. It felt really hydrated but also noticeably brighter. While as a result I do love so many of their products, if there is one key thing I’d recommend to invest in it would have to be this Hydrating Enzyme Mask* I got it in the full 2oz size for my trips. Travel is a key thing that ruins your skin but also if you suffer from PCOS, or hormonal issues and you really need something to boost your skin this will do just that. It’s definitely up there now in my beauty mask favourite list along with Glamglow & The Body Shop Rose Mask. Where to find it? As it’s an American brand you can get the brand in selected salons in the U.K, Ireland and Europe but I also find Amazon to be quite useful – link here
The Translucent Powder
When I was in New York I realised I totally forgot a translucent powder. I’ve had compact styles in the past but the majority of makeup artists I work with tend to use more loose powder styles. Of course being in New York there is no shortage in Sephora’s so I took my time and browsed various brands until I came across this particular one from Makeup Forever. The consistency was really light but also I loved the packaging. There’s a light thin vent layer so when you put your brush to it, powder is released meaning that even if you were to topple the whole jar over, you would only loose a very small amount. I won’t lie that was probably the main selling point for me as I’m so clumsy!
It’s been a brilliant find and one I’ve been using every day since then, together with the primer you’ll find your makeup will stay in place all day and night. If you prefer to go without primer though this will definitely help prevent any shine from foundation that might build up throughout the day. Opting for translucent also means that it won’t change the colour of your foundation in anyway and it will work over absolutely any foundation and skin shade. I tend to use it in key areas especially the T-zone area that might become shiny throughout the day.
Find it here for EU readers and US readers here
The Liner:
Black eyeliner is always in my handbag wherever I go. I tend to go for styles like this that have more of a felt tip for control and ease of applying ( shaky hand!). The tip of Urban Decay’s Perversion Fine Point liner is so precise meaning you can access even the corner socket of the eye without it transferring. Having the thin felt tip gives you a light and quick day liner look or layer more to have a thicker liner feel.
Waterproof styles is something I try to go for all year round because it means you are covering yourself for all beauty eventualities whether you live in hot or wet climates you won’t get any transfer with this.
Eyeliner found here for E.U readers, and here for U.S.
Lou xx
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