When it comes to beauty I have always been more spit and polish than polished… and I probably frighten far too many people with my no makeup appearance on a daily basis. But when I do decide to make an effort I have managed to get the routine down to a finely tuned and super speedy act. I have also been busy trying some new products for the season to help with that Wintery transition to am desperate to share the products that work with you…
skincare
I suffer with horrid hormonal acne around my chin and sometimes it creeps elsewhere, feel I am constantly battling with my spots but these products help. The face wash was my skincare discovery of the year, it has totally changed my skin I wouldn’t be without it. Tea tree oil is a god send and sometimes will stop a spot in its track. And this Origins spot remover works well with smaller less hormonal spots.
After fighting the breakouts I can be left with quite dry skin so moisturisers are really important. I have just started using the Elemental Herobology products and so far so good. The eye elixir has been fantastic in helping around my eyes and those fine lines. I probably use far too much of the REN oil but I’m obsessed with how it makes my skin feel, its like I literally feeding it with moisture. Then I finish with the oil free moisturiser from Peter Thomas Roth.
Makeup
I’ve raved about the Chantecaille future skin foundation before I am still totally in love with it. Worth getting colour matched if you can get into a stockist as its pricey but lasts a long time. On my eyes I absolutely love the new shades from Chantecaille for this season – their pallette below is perfect for the Winter. During the day I smooth on a bit of Macs paint pot in groundwork. Both the eye colours look great with a tan – so I cheat and cover my face in the Benefit Hoola bronzer. Charlotte Tilbury does the most amazing mascara I discovered last year and haven’t looked back. Her brow pencils are fantastic too – I use Cara D which is quite dark but I like my brows defined.
On my lips I like to either dab some Eve Lom kiss mix on or use the Chantecaille lipgloss in Love for a soft pink colour.
Hair
My absolute favourite hair product is the Hair Xpertise argan oil serum. It transforms my hair from a frizzy mess to easy to style locks in an instant. So I wanted to try the brands other products too – a conditioner and shampoo. Both were beautiful on my hair and I’ll definitely be using them again. I normally use Aussie and swear by the three minute miracle conditioner so I was nervous about using another product. I have linked them all below for you to try.
Body
This is another new product I have been desperate to share as its gorgeous! The Eco by Sonya salt scrub: Body Scrub you use it dry before you turn the shower on, although I’ve forgotten before and use edit mid shower and it still works a treat. I think exfoliating in the winter is so important. Nothing worse than dry cracking skin.
Body wash I spend a little more on as I love the luxury of a good smell that lingers long past the shower. I usually squish it into a puff for extra bubbles.
Afterwards, when I have the time, I like to cover myself in a good moisturiser. The Jo Malone and Laura Mercier body butters are my favourite. I usually carry a Laura Mercier hand cream in bag for on the go too. And when I am less flush Body Shop body butters always come up trumps. The Nuxe dry body oil is a favourite of mine all year round and its great when you’re in a rush.
I always think the beauty should be a pampering experience, whatever it is. Especially when you’re a mum – time is so precious. So if that means spending a little more on a nice cream that makes you feel amazing when you smooth it on then so be it. Pick and choose how you spend your money – costly most certainly doesn’t mean it works. Take the hair serum for example – I really would be lost and frizzy without it and its a fraction of the price of some I have used.Ashley x