Battling with ‘Winter Face’? Here’s How to Fix It.

I believe it was Alexa Chung who coined the phrase ‘winter face’ in a Lisa Eldridge video a few months ago (watch it here). You know what she means: that dry, lackluster, grey skin that seems to surface as soon as the temperatures drop. Gone is your spring/summer luminosity, radiance and clarity, and left in its place: flat, one-dimensional skin. Bleugh. Despite loving winter and the accompanying roaring fires, jerseys and general cosiness, I loathe what it does to my skin. The good news is that even though winter face will try and stake its claim, you can avoid it…

Quick Reviews #27

Some (very) quick reviews on a few drugstore launches… LÓreal False Lash Superstar X Fiber Mascara This latest release from LÓreal promises both extreme length and extreme volume using not one, but two, separate brushes. The first brush, the primer, is designed to thicken the lashes and add volume. The second brush, which contains fibres, extends the length of the lashes. Apparently if you want a: Natural False Lash Look: Apply one coat of the primer, then one coat of the fibers; or Volume False Lash Look: Repeat application 3 times; or X-treme False Lash Look: Repeat application 5 times (who…

SkinCeuticals Art of Mixology

As Jules so succinctly put it: there are certain skincare brands that I feel 100% comfortable putting on my face for the first time because the brand trust is so strong, and SkinCeuticals is one of them. SkinCeuticals have spent the past forty years developing ground-breaking formulations and creating products that are unrivaled in their efficiency, firmly establishing themselves as the leaders in advanced skincare. Yes, the price points might be a little bracing, but given that all of their products are scientifically verified, you have the comfort of knowing that you are slathering your face with the best of the…

Photos & Swatches: Urban Decay Afterdark Palette

Urban Decay Afterdark Eyeshadow Palette

I vividly remember the first time I saw this eyeshadow palette. I was in Miami on holiday and had let myself loose in Sephora for one last hurrah before flying back to SA. They had a large display of new products just inside the entrance to the store, and, like a moth to the flame, I had been browsing this particular section for a few minutes. My eyes landed on the iridescent purple packaging of the Urban Decay Afterdark palette which had just been unpacked and lit up immediately. Inside were ten shimmering jewel tones in the signature UD formula…

Review // Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette in ‘Beauty Glow’

This is the third ‘Instant Look in a Palette’ instalment from Charlotte Tilbury, and I think it’s her best work yet. For the uninitiated, the premise behind these palettes is to simplify your makeup routine by offering an easy-to-follow product sequence which ensures a perfect makeup look in 5 minutes or less. The first two palettes (Natural Beauty and Seductive Beauty) piqued my interest, but I didn’t feel compelled to buy either of them. ‘Beauty Glow’, however, was different story altogether – the rose gold and bronze tones reeled me in and I purchased it as soon as I saw it launch…