The Tuesday Face : The Dolce Vita

Remember when I confessed being somewhat lazy in the eyeshadow department ? I made my case by raving on and on about what fabulous inventions cream eyeshadows are (no brush needed aka no blending skills needed either, get it ?) and as much as I trust they'll always remain an essential of mine, I do love to jazz things up from time to time when I don't have to get ready at the crack of dawn. There are thousands of eyeshadow palettes available out there and I could write endlessly about the many, many, (too) many ones I own and adore, but today I'll focus on the beautiful number that is the Dolce Vita from Charlotte Tilbury, part of her eyeshadow palette line. As you would expect, the range is truly brilliant. There's a palette for every woman out there, whether you're a neutral-matte or smoky-sparkly kind of girl. The Dolce Vita is a warm, rusty yet neutral toned 'gem that would magnify any eye colour. The palettes are designed in such a way that all the hard work is already done for you; instead of having to face a multitude of shades and struggle to make the tough call and choose, the four shades displayed are more than enough to create a variety of different looks and obviously work like a charm together - you cannot possibly do it wrong. The formula is divine, pigmented enough and buildable to your liking, the colours are vibrant and universally flattering. Admittedly, you'll have to give yourself an extra couple of minutes to get ready as brushes are mandatory (one brush will do, girlfriend, chill), but I can assure you it will be worthy of your time. Applying eyeshadows has never been so easy - nor glamorous, who could say no to such rose-gold goodness? Brace yourselves, fellow eyeshadow-struggler, Queen Tilbury and her terribly chic palettes will undoubtedly convert you to the art of shaping, smudging and blending in the blink of an eye - to say the least. 

Base: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation in 2, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light, Hourglass blush in Mood Exposure, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow, Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder Eyes: Charlotte Tilbury palette in The Dolce Vita, Tom Ford eye pencil in Metallic Mink, Charlotte Tilbury mascara Lips: MAC lip liner in Whirl, Suqqu Creamy Glow Moist lipstick in 06

Pretty Honest

You may wonder, why on earth would I own two copies of Pretty Honest ? I could easily answer that two are always better than none and quite frankly, I'd proudly own a thousands more if I had the room and money. There is however a funny  embarrassing story behind the rushed acquisition of my second pink cover. A month ago, I was lucky enough to fly back to London for the week-end and go to the Stylist Live event. The first and quite frankly the main reason I was so desperate to go, was that Sali Hughes and Lisa Eldridge were to give a talk and, well, need I say more? I'm sure most of you will be familiar with Lisa Eldridge, a very insightful, talented a lovely woman and make-up artist indeed. But I must say the real urge for me was to meet Sali Hughes. I'm not much of a fan-girl type of girl, I can honestly (understand proudly) say I've never plastered my room with ridiculously huge posters of anyone, not even during those ugly early teen years and I've never felt the unbearable need to see some band, singer, actor or celebrity in the flesh before. You can then imagine how confused I was to feel my eyes water at the simple glimpse of Sali entering the room when the time of her talk came. Truth is, this was predictable. I've been a fan (God, do I hate that word) of the woman for years, watched her Youtube videos more times that I can count and forever devour every piece of her witty and painfully smart writing (check out her articles on The Pool and The Guardian websites, it's worth the read).  We all have our idol, I don't think there's anything wrong or shameful about it. I feel like I've learned everything I know beauty-wise from this woman, and I probably did. Truth be told, I've learned way more from Sali Hughes than a couple of beauty tricks. It's only fair then, that her book is one of my favourite and more so, that I own not one, but two copies. Back to the story of this mysterious second acquisition, I randomly discovered that after the talk, both Sali and Lisa would give a book-signing session. I've honestly considered taking my original copy of Pretty Honest with me on the trip, in case I could get her to sign it but then brushed that thought away knowing that would never happen and that it wasn't worth damaging my beloved and spotless book (nor my back, it would have been seriously heavy to carry all-day-long, not 'gonna lie), so I left it at home. Sure thing, I felt childish to spend some money on yet another copy (even if it doubtlessly was some well-spent money) just to get the lady to sign my book. How childish is that ? Was it childish ? I eventually realised I would never forgive myself if I were to walk away, so I swallowed up my pride and my anxiety to meet to woman, and bought the damn book. So, there I was, running to the counter as Sali's time there was almost up, grabbing the very last available copy (I wish I was making this up, but nope, it literally was the last, unpackaged, pre-used one. Argh.) to buy it and then stand awkwardly in front of the woman who indirectly taught me everything I know and love about beauty. I was itching to tell her that "No, I did not just buy your book for the first time, I promise I already own one and have read ten times over, but left it at home, clever girl that I am" but I guess my good senses didn't completely gave me up. Instead I just stared, mesmerized at how actually gorgeous she is in real life and could barely articulate the name of my lipstick when she asked what I was wearing. Clearly, I lost it and had no time to get my act together, but that's okay, as expected she was lovely, smiled sweetly at me and made my year with an autograph. Who knew ? After seeing her in the flesh, I can tell you the verdict is out, Sali Hughes is officially the most badass, awestruck-ing beautiful, smart and successful woman out there I've ever had the chance to lay my eyes on. She's also one hell of a writer and journalist, and it's fair to say I'd be thrilled to be one day half as talented as she is. 

I was going to write a thourough review of her book Pretty Honest, but I think it would ruin the magic of it. Instead, I probably bore you with this post that turned out to be more personal that I intended, but in the same way there's nothing wrong with looking up to people and admitting it, I guess it is acceptable to open up from time to time, you know, from a human being to another. The only review of Pretty Honest I can give you is that its pretty damn good (duh!), that it contains everything you could possibly need to know about beauty, that it will surely answer those questions you never dared nor considered asking and bring down a good deal of the overwhelming amount of beauty myths we've had to endured and believe in for too many decades. Finally, it is a book that celebrates womanhood and undeniably empowers women no matter their age in the the wittiest, cleverest and sure enough, the most honest way possible.  Every woman should own a copy - in fact even men could learn a thing or two. Get involved, get a copy.  I'm wholeheartedly convinced that in one way or another, Sali Hughes will change your life like she did mine. 

The Tuesday Face : New Moon

Base: Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet in 10, MAC Pro Longwear concealer in NC15, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Eyes: Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in New Moon, MAC eyeshadow in Swiss Chocolate, Charlotte Tilbury mascara Lips: MAC Whirl lip pencil

I have a confession to make. You know how very (ridiculously even) fond of make-up I am and there are very few things I like to do more than play around with cosmetics and, well, paint my face. I could spend hours, hell, days applying a bit more concealer here, a touch of highlighter there and mess around with the natural curves  and the bone structure of my very own as well as other people's faces. But I was never that keen on eyeshadow-ing  . Don't get me wrong, I know my basics - your girl has learned the hard way how to blend, 'till your wrist begs you no more. I can do a trick or two, 'aint half bad at it - but I don't thoroughly enjoy it as much as, say, doing my base. Right, base make-up is my real gem'. So whenever I stumble across an eye product which can make me gain a few precious minutes of sleep and give my aching wrists a break, I'm all up for it. If you too can't be bothered to go all arts-y on your eyelids when the sun hasn't come out yet but feel like you need to put something on there to feel and hopefully appear that bit more awake, then cream shadows are your best mates. There are some pretty awesome ones out there, but today I'd like to talk about the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre - and more specifically, the beauty that is called New Moon. This shade was released as part of a limited edition two years ago and I can't begin to tell you how very upset and heartbroken I was not to get my hands on it on time. Then, some miraculous day, it came back out of nowhere, like a godsend. It was a no-brainer, I wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers again and went out to buy it (literally) as fast as I could. I wasn't able to find out whether it is now permanently a part of the line or not, but if you have a Chanel counter nearby I'd highly suggest you make the splurge asap.  Sure thing, the formula is incredibly lovely, it stands between a cream and a mousse and my favorite way of applying it is, conveniently enough, to use my fingers. You got it, no need to faff around with a number of brushes - that's goals. All I can say about that shade is that it is bloody beautiful. It does have some serious sparkles running through it, so if you're not much of a fan of that sort of sheen during the day, you may want to save it for the evening. New Moon truly is magnificent and will only take you about ten seconds to apply, another ten seconds to pop on a transition shade in the crease if you're feeling fancy, a coat or two of mascara and voilà, you're eyes will be ready to do all of the talking. 

The Tuesday Face : Khaki Everything

Base: Bourgeois CC Cream, Charlotte Tilbury concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused Light, Hourglass blush in Mood Exposure, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Eyes: Charlotte Tilbury cream shadow in Veruschka, Stila Kitten eyeshadow, MAC Buried Treasure eye pencil, Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara, Suqqu brow pen Lips: Mac Whirl lipliner

I used to love khaki. It can be both elegant and edgy, its green undertones makes it a proper color that stands out nicely from your basic black yet it still belongs to the neutrals category - that reassuring, fail and fool-proof neutral category. I used to wear it a lot but it somehow gradually disappeared form my wardrobe when grey took over. If I used to love khaki clothes and accessories, I also collected it in my make-up draws -  because if you haven't tried it yet, khaki looks good on the eyes, too. As the winter months made their way back, so did my crave for smokier, grungier eye looks. As I was doing some serious damage at the magnificent beauty counters in Selfridges only two weeks ago, I found myself itching for a new eye base, something deeper than just a brown, softer than black, less daunting than green; something khaki. So today's star of the show is a gem from the dreamy Charlotte Tilbury make-up line, her "Eyes to mesmerise" cream shadow in Veruschka. It is a stunning khaki indeed, very flattering on brown and hazel eyes - but then, I'm pretty sure it would look good on anyone. I'm truly glad to have some khaki back into my life, so much that I am now forever drooling over some khaki boots, bags, sweaters - khaki everything. In fact I could almost go as far as to say that I feel whole again but that would be over-dramatic (but then, when am I not ?).  Let us keep the violin down for once, shall we ?

The Tuesday Face : Dressing Up

Base: Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet, Mac Pro Longwear conealer in NC15, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused Light, Chanel blush, Nars Laguna Bronzer, Illamasqua Gleam in Aurora Eyes: Urban Decay Naked palette, Charlotte Tilbury mascara, Suqqu brow pen Lips: MAC Russian Red lipstick and Burgundy lip liner

A red lipstick is the little black dress of any make-up bag; always chic, a bit glamorous, definitely timeless - you can never go wrong with a scarlet lip. It is also the quickest way to dress up any outfit. I was lucky enough to head back to London for the week-end and go to the Stylist Live event. I wasn't sure what to expect nor what to wear, but when in doubt there's nothing like the good 'ol classics to avoid any faux-pas. I kept the base and eye make-up fairly simple yet glow-y and, as often, chose to focus the look on the lips. A red lip is incredibly personal, it's up to you and only you to find the shade that suits you the most. It can be tricky at first but once you've pintpointed the one, you'll be amazed at how much you can rely on it and crack it anytime you feel like dressing up. My personal favorite is MAC Russian Red, which is rather cool-toned. I darkened it up slightly using MAC Burgundy lip liner, mostly at the outer corners to mimic an "ombré" effect that gives the illusion of a fuller pout. Now, if you're going to an event where you intend to have a few drinks (I know I did) it's better to be safe than sorry and go for a matte formula, just so you don't have to check yourself out in your phone glass after every sip. Other than that, don't be frightened to wear a red lip, even if you decide to have a burger for dinner; there's nothing prettier than a woman reapplying her lipstick. Red lipstick is a powerful tool that should be worn with pride and is meant to be a showstopper - use it.

Spotlight : Le Blanc de Chanel

Chanel surely knows how to create an icon - from the very glamorous Les Beiges compacts to the ever-so-timeless N°5 fragrance, splurging on some Chanel beauty products feels like collecting gemstones really. The Le Blanc base is one of those fairly popular products that the brand is known for that to my opinion doesn't get enough real love. Chanel addicts will surely own it, others will drool at the price tag and pass. To me, everyone should give this base a go, regardless of its name and reputation . It completely confused me at first as it is one of those product that definitely makes you look better but you can't quite put your finger on how nor why. If you look at it closely, it doesn't seem like anything special, except that it smells nice - as anything Chanel . It says "illuminating" base on the pot, yet doesn't have a trace of shimmer like most other illuminating primers on the market. It's white, but sheers out as you apply it on your skin and disappears. So what does it do ? Nothing and everything. Nothing you can see right away like you would with a tinted primer or a silicone product that significantly fills up your pores. However once you have applied your foundation on top, you realize a magic trick has been played on you - sort of. You definitely look more awake and glowy-er than if you hadn't used it, yet won't ever risk the disco-ball effect that you might get with other primers. It truly gives you that lit-from-within look. I also like to mix it with some of my foundations if I want to sheer-out a formula and go for a more natural finish (think Estée Lauder Double Wear). It's also excellent at priming your skin, no matter your skin type; it'll add some moisture to cuddle dry skin types without greasing up oiler complexions. It somehow smoothes everything out and allow your foundation to glide on effortlessly. I know, seems a bit hard to believe, but give it a go and see for yourself - it's magic in a bottle. Expensive magic, granted. The only flaw I can think of is that despite the fact that I adore the very chic glass bottle, it doesn't come with a pump - hence the pouring can get a little bit messy if you decide to go wild and not use the tiny spatula it comes with (*spoiler alert* don't do that. Be a doll and use the damn spatula). There's nothing quite like Le Blanc on the market, it is unique in the way it somehow works for everyone and can cheer up any complexion on a bad day as it can glam up your look and make you feel fabulous when you want to dress up. 

So, yeah, it's pricey, it's pretty to look at, it smells lovely, it's satisfying to own and hold - it's Chanel. But don't buy this one for its fame nor its name; buy it for it's game-changing properties. This one is so much more than an icon. 

The Tuesday Face : Vampy All The Way

Today's look had to be a vampy one; with Fall coming our way, it was only matter of time before I went back to the dark side (not that I ever left it really - vampy shades are my everything all year round, no matter the season). It's no news that I can't get enough of bold lipsticks, especially vampy shades. We all have that one magic trick up our sleeve that can make a really sh*tty day instantly a bit more bearable, whether it's a pretty dress, a pair of heels or a kick-ass lipstick. Nothing makes me feel more put together and powerful than a dark lip. People do stare, but that's expected with any statement you may make - and quite frankly, I do love the made-up and slightly unapproachable look a vampy lip arms you with. It screams a "don't-you-dare-talk-to-me" for you on those days you just cannot be bothered with small talks - or any talk. 

Base: Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet, MAC Pro Longwear concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused Light and Mood Exposure blush, Nars Laguna bronzer, MAC Soft and Gentle Eyes: Urban Decay Buck eyeshadow, MAC Soft and Gentle, Charlotte Tilbury mascara, Stila Kitten eyeshadow, Suqqu brow pen Lips: MAC Vino lip liner

I kept everything pretty simple with a wash of colour on the eyes and a natural-ish base, and then threw on some Vino lip liner which looks so good on its own I didn't even have the heart or need to add anything else on top. Bonus ? Lip liners last forever and are the handiest if you somehow manage to mess it up during the day and need to touch up. Easiest look e-ver for those days when you want to look decent but seriously couldn't be bothered to make an actual effort. 

What Men Want

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe.

I've been meaning to write an article about make-up tips and tricks to go on a date for months. I had it all planned and I believe I had some pretty good advices up my sleeve. I've had my fair share of experiences and disasters, heard and told enough to come up with a pretty solid list of sensible recommendations. I was going to tell this funny story (not so funny back then) about that time I went on a date and had the not-so-brilliant idea to slap on a brand new foundation I had never tried before, because it was from a good brand and was meant to make me look fabulous right? Guess what - it was a total catastrophe. I never felt stickier, cakey-ier nor more suffocated with foundation in my entire life. Oh, and obviously the color match was hopelessly off. I was a total wreck and had no time to start over. So, yeah, I was young, inexperienced, messed up big time with make-up and was anything but confident when the time came and I had to sit in that guy's car. Was it the worst date ever ? No. Did I wish I had known better ? Sure. Do I believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of the relationship ? Absolutely not. Which is why I don't feel comfortable writing that post after all. I swear it seemt smart to me at first and all I wanted to do was to spare you the many embarrassments I myself and fellow women suffered. I wanted to give you some safe tips and an approachable guideline to make it easier for you and help you feel good about yourself on those nerve-racking rendez-vous.  But I came to realize how pointless the whole idea was. There's no book nor rules when it comes to what men want and thank God there's no such thing as a "What Women Want" textbook either. I'm all for that girl-power which, whether we're willing to admit it or not, make-up provide us with to some extent. But hell, make-up shouldn't be a concern when it comes to relationships. I'll gladly advise what make-up look to wear on an interview, everyday at work or even for a wedding or any other type of occasion that calls for careful planning, but not for a date. You can't plan a date and quite frankly shouldn't even try to, no matter how tempting. Don't wear make-up if you don't want to. Wear a full-coverage foundation if you feel like it. For God's sake, go all out with some falsies and your favourite red lipstick if you want to. You do you, is the best and only advice anyone could ever give. Don't lose yourself and start betting on you . And please, remember that if a little make-up -  or none at all - scares him off, he wasn't the one anyway. 

The Tuesday Face : What's On Your Eyes ?

What's on your eyes ? was without a doubt my most asked question this summer - from classmates to friends, to make-up artists on beauty counters, even random strangers in bars and in the tube. Everyone seemed fascinated by the bold metallic sheen of what was proudly dressing up my eyelids for a month straight. So, yeah, this post was bound to happen. If you too are wondering what's on my eyes, keep reading darling.

Base: Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder and blush, Illamasqua highlighter in Aurora, Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting powder. Eyes: Nars Dual Intensity eyeshadow in Himalia, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Buck, MAC Swiss Chocolate, Stila Kitten and Charlotte Tilbury mascara Lips: Suqqu lipstick.

Meet Nars Dual Intensity eyeshadow in Himalia, the star of the show. The Dual Intensity eyeshadows launched last year and were a hit, for good reasons. The meaning behind the name of "dual intensity" is that those shadows are specifically meant to be used both dry and/or wet. Now, it's no news that you can use your eyeshadows wet to get a better pay-off and more dramatic effect, but it is true that not all shadows are designed to be mixed with water and in some cases, it can truly ruin them. Worn dry, the Nars' shadows deliver a beautiful sheen and a buildable pigment. The real magic happens when you use them wet; they can truly surpass any pigment. I personally like to use MAC Fix + on my brush and then dabb it into the pan, but any type of mist would do - hell, water would do. Once I laid down the color, I like to set it by using my finger and some of the dry shadow. This will also add some extra sparkle. There's nothing you can't do with this shadow. I particularly like this shade as it is a lovely golden-y bronze neutral that goes with everything and can be dressed up or down depending on the time of the day (hint hint, it looks f-a-b with big lashes and a bold lip on a night-out). I'm not going to lie, the price of this baby is outrageous - 21£ or freaking 50 swiss quid for one shadow seems impossible to justify, so much that I myself, a make-up-alcoholic, had a hard time to make the move. I can't begin to tell you how glad I am I did. If you decide to take the plunge, I'd suggest healing your financial wound by reminding yourself that a little bit of this fairy dust goes a loooong way, so if your credit card's lucky she won't have to go through this traumatising process again. Just sayin'. 

Spotlight: Mac Studio Finish

Spotlight aims to draw attention to those behind-the-scene products that make daily life - or more so daily make-up application - much easier yet often remain in the shadows, and give them the love they truly deserve. Some will be unexpected while others may come as no surprise, but I promise they'll all be fabulous. As thrilling as it is to keep up with the never-ending list of brand new innovations and as much as I love to discover, try and share my thoughts on the glamorous products of the moment, I feel like we all have those staple products we always go back to no matter what, to the point we forget we even use them - which sounds sadly unfair. I hope to bring back to the front scene some of those hero-products through Spotlight while asserting my love and gratitude for those little gems that somehow always find their way back into my make-up bag.

If there is one product that makes absolutely anyone look better, it's concealer. I don't care who you are, concealer will change your life too, if it hasn't already. We're all human beings here, we all have imperfections whether it's dark circles, redness, spots, scars, hyper-pigmentation, you name it - and truth is, there's nothing wrong with getting a little help sometimes. That's the job of a good concealer. I found the MAC Studio Finish in my draw a few months ago, amongst the fancy and much hyped Urban Decay Naked and Nars Radiant Creamy concealers and felt ashamed for abandoning it for so long. I took it with me to London and literally reached for it every-single-day-since. I still love my numerous other concealers, but I remembered how this one did it all then, and sure as hell can do it all now. It's thick, waxy and a bit odd to work with at first, granted - but once you get the hang of it, believe me you won't let go. It's full coverage, does not budge or get cakey, ever. The best and in my opinion only way to use it is with your fingers. I do like to place it with a brush (because I'm a freak and can't get my head around dabbing my fingers into the damn thing for some reason) but I always blend it with my fingers, so the warmth of my skin melts the product and make it look seamless. It's honestly genius; it can cover pretty much anything, you don't need any unnecessary tool and it's so tiny you can take it everywhere with you so it can have your back at all times. Ladies, it's a keeper. 

The Tuesday Face

Welcome to The Tuesday Face, a new column that will be featured   on  *you guessed it* Tuesdays on Drop The Mask. I find FOTDs (aka Face Of The Day) quite enjoyable as they offer a quick review of a couple of products, suggest a way to use them and most importantly deliver a straightforward swatch en pleine action. You know I can be a bit - or a lot - wordy, so this will offer you a break and hopefully remain short and sweet. I'll try to be as creative as possible and feature different type of make-up looks, from your typical on-the-go looks to bolder, more evening-appropriate ones. I hope you enjoy them !

Base: Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder and blush, Illamasqua highlighter in Aurora, Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting powder. Eyes: L'Oréal infaillible eyeshadows in Amber Rush and Bronzed Taupe, Stila Kitten eyeshadow, Charlotte Tilbury mascara, MAC Teddy eyeliner. Lips: Suqqu lipstick and Charlotte Tilbury lip cheat in Pillowtalk. 

I kept it fairly simple for the first Tuesday Face and came up with a soft warm smokey eye and a fresh base. As summer is coming to an end and knowing I'll have over four months to bore you with grungier looks and vampy lips, it felt only right to celebrate the warmer months one last time. To do so, I reached for a light base, used as little concealer as possible and generously applied a cream highlighter on the highest points of my face. What really inspired the whole look was two drugstore gems that I was itching to use for quite some time but somehow never got around picking out of my stack. Silly, silly me, I had no clue of how good they are. The L'Oréal infallible eyeshadows are epic in many ways; beautiful shade range, incredible pay-off, extra long-wearing, easy to work with and such a bargain ! I used Bronzed Taupe all over the lid and Amber Rush on my crease to warm up the look. I also used it on top of Bronzed Taupe for some extra sparkle, and voilà ! If you don't own those already, I'd highly recommend picking them up sooner rather than later because trust me, you're missing out on something big here. 

A Signature Scent

It's safe to say that perfumes are some of the most beautiful and satisfying objets to collect - after lipsticks, obviously. There's something irresistible about those oh-so-chic glass bottles that instantly dress up any bedroom. I've noticed during the past few years that most women do love indeed to build a perfume collection to then pick one from the lot every morning as one choses an outfit. As much as I admire those collections and sometimes feel a bit frustrated myself for my lack of it, I chose to remember one of the many advices my Mum gave me ; a perfume is your signature. It is partly what people know you for, sometimes why strangers will notice you on the streets, how your loved ones recognize and remember you. We all ought to have a signature scent. Some women prefer to wear several, some chose a few different ones depending on the time of the day or the seasons. I like to have a second perfume for special occasions such as nights out - my scent of choice is the very dark and sexy Tom Ford Velvet Orchid - but most of the time I remain faithful to my one true love, Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. I've worn this perfume for as long as I can remember and even though I sometimes struggle not to succumb to the very daunting perfume section in department stores and adopt a new one,  I wouldn't give mine up for the world. 

What is your signature scent ?

xxx

M'

A Word On Sun Protection

Now that summer is just around the corner I thought it would be appropriate to touch on an essential subject; sun protection. The very fact that most people only reach for a sunscreen during the summer months is a first issue. I'll admit the whole science behind sun protection factors and ultra violets can be a bit confusing, but I'll try my best to give you a quick recap of what you really need to know and hopefully make it clear once and for all that we all need protection from the sun, all year round. 

There are two types of damaging rays; UVA and UVB. There are both radiations from the sun that can damage your skin to different levels. Long story short, UVA rays are associated with the aging factor as these are the rays that are responsible for, you guessed it, aging and wrinkling your skin. UVA are nasty because until recently they weren't talked about that much and people tend to forget they're there when in fact they're everywhere; they easily pass through the ozone layer, clouds, glass and even clothing. In other words, if you're taking a road trip this summer on a hot and beautiful sunny day thinking that you're all safe in your car, you're wrong, as it does penetrates through glass. UVB rays, more acknowledged by the mainstream public, are associated with burn; they're the ones responsible for sunburn. They're also known to contribute to skin cancer, although more and more researches seem to come to the conclusion that UVA rays do too. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor found in our sunscreen products and gives you an idea of how long you can stay in the sun before your skin starts to burn. For example, if you take an SPF 15, you'll be able to be exposed to the sun for 15 times longer than without protection, same goes for SPF 30 and 50. The one thing to keep in mind when purchasing a sun protection, is that most do not offer protection against UVA. Sunscreens were first designed to protect against UVB rays only, as UVA rays were once thought to be harmless. You now know better, so when you go out to shop for sunscreen, look for "broad spectrum protection" which refers to the protection of the full range of UVA and UVB. Application-wise, know that you should wear a sun protection every day and that it is the last step to your skincare routine (apply it right before your make-up). Now, you do not need and SPF 50 on a daily basis, especially during the colder months when you're less likely to hang out under the sun or when your routine consists mainly of going from home to work and back - for that an SPF 15 or 20 will do just fine. Enough of the science, let's move on to what you really want to know; which one should you go for? Granted, sunscreen weren't always glamorous. Until a few years ago, most were still those thick, heavily fragranced pastes that make you look white and clogged your pores. They were a real nightmare under make-up, too. Lucky us, nowadays brands come out with genius SPFs everyday. There is one for everyone really, some are more moisturising than others, some mattifying, even light reflecting but always light. I haven't tried them all, obviously, but here are a few I'd recommend:

• If you have oily skin: Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 this is a great one if you struggle with a shiny T-Zone. However, you should use a higher SPF for the summer months.

• If you have dry, normal to combination skin: Kiehls Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 an awesome product, I've converted many people to that one. As its name suggests, it really is ultra light and leaves no residue whatsoever, works beautifully under make-up too. While it is light, it is also pretty moisturising so I'd say that if you have oily skin, use a mattifier on your oiliest patches and you should be good to go.

• For all skin types: Radical Skin Perfecting Screen SPF 30 on the pricier side but it is a genius product that adds a hint of tint and radiance to you skin, does a wonderful job as a primer and is even gorgeous on its own for when you're feeling the no make-up/make-up vibe.

It kills me that still to this day I meet so many people who have no clue about what SPF, UVB and UVA stand for. Actually, most people I meet on a daily basis have no idea, or do but chose to ignore that knowledge. It kills me because sun damage is something we can prevent, something we have some kind of control on. Skin cancer is no joke, it is very much real and should not be overlooked. There are thousand of other diseases we cannot prevent, heal or even explain. I'm not saying sun damage is the only factor at the origin of skin cancer, but it is one of them. And if this doesn't sound scary enough, then think about the aging factor. It's pointless to spend hundreds of quids on anti-aging treatments of all kinds if you spend your summer burning at the beach. Wearing a sun protection on a daily basis is the first move to keep those deep, nasty wrinkles at bay or at least to prevent them from appearing prematurely. Dark-spots and discolorations ain't no fun either, if you ask me. So next time you leave the house without your sun protection on thinking you're all ready for the day, think again - you're smarter than that. 

xxx

M'