Autumnal Tones

I started November off with my nails in an unhappy place. They just weren’t the length I prefer them to be, and my solution when I’m not happy with my nails is to opt for nude shades. So far, this autumn has included a mixture of nudes, taupe, and grey and I rather like the lot.

On the taupe spectrum is my all-time favourite nail colour, Leighton Denny’s Supermodel. It’s a taupe with mauve undertones that's pretty much the brand's hero shade, and it compliments every single thing.

Bourjois’ So Laque Glossy nail polishes are insanely good also! The shade variety could be better, but the formula is so incredibly long lasting. I wash my hands far more frequently than is normal, so I generally avoid commenting on how long nail polish lasts on me. But two coats of Taupe Modele and my manicure usually lasts a good four days before it begins to chip, and longer if I use a top coat. As far as greys go, it’s a very flattering shade that doesn’t appear too flat because of its glossy finish.

My favourite nude is Nails Inc.’s Basil Street. It’s simple and perfect, and is a true nude. For a pink tint, Revlon’s ColourStay Gel Envy in the shade Perfect Pair is great. I’ve never used Revlon nail polishes, but the finish is lovely and glossy, although not quite gel-like if you ask me.

All of these nail shades share a few things in common. They’re thin formulas that apply effortlessly, and they’re all sheer in application. Two coats is enough for an opaque application, but I also like the slight undone look they give when sheer.

What are your autumn go-to nail shades?

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel

I’m probably one of the last people on this earth to try the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, but the hype eluded me.

I have oily skin so the second I hear gel, I think of those foaming kinds that further stripped my skin and sent my oily T-zone into overdrive before I knew better. It wasn’t until recently that I realised the Oskia gel isn't quite so simple.

It’s dispensed as a gel but once massaged into your skin, it turns into an oily. Then you add water, and it turns into a milky texture that you can easily wash off just like that. I much prefer to remove the excess with a warm face cloth. I feel like that’s a much better way of cleansing properly.

It gets the job done and removes every trace of makeup, without stripping my skin and leaving it feeling tight. It does irritate my eyes sometimes, although not too much and the sensation passes soon after.

Another bonus is that this tube is 100ml, so it’s hand luggage friendly! I packed this baby in my bag when I went to Holland recently, and even using it twice a day still kept my skin happy.

So I get the hype, and that’ll teach me to judge before looking into what a product actually does.

FeelUnique Haul

Do five products a haul make? I’m not sure, but humour me.

I had to restock a few of my must have products, which is thoroughly boring. But I’m also pretty happy to have certain things back in my life, like Dr. Dennis Gross’ Ferulic + Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum, Philip Kingsley’s Daily Damage Defence, and my favourite Joico K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor for Damaged Hair.

I also finally bought a Burberry Wet & Dry Silk Shadow I’ve wanted for forever, but that’s been sold out every time I’ve looked for it. It’s called Mulberry, and it’s the most beautiful shade of mauve. I’ll show it off soon, but it’s a great autumnal shade that would work so well with my all-time favourite eye shadow, Burberry’s Chestnut.

My brittle hair needed some TLC also, so I added Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense Treatment for Dry/Thick Hair to my basket and called it a day. So far so good! I haven’t used Kerastase in years but now that I’m getting along so well with this mask, I have a crazy long future shopping list.

Maybe my next FeelUnique jaunt will produce a haul worthier of the name.

REN Bio Retinoid Anti-Ageing Concentrate and Anti-Ageing Cream

As far as skincare goes, I’m still trying to piece together an evening routine I’m entirely satisfied with. It’s not easy, addressing your every skin care concern when you’re not sure which products to trust. But I figured I could start with a brand that works well for me, and that’s where REN came in.

I try hard to stay on the paraben and mineral oil free spectrum of skincare and I’m also trying to use more retinol based products. But I picked up both of REN’s Bio Retinoid Anti-Ageing products, because I was curious of the concept of “retinol-like results” without retinol itself. I wouldn’t normally buy two similar products, but the Oil Concentrate and Anti-Ageing Cream complement each other so well.

The oil is best described as a dry oil. It’s non-greasy and is packed with plant oil extracts such as cotton, flax, and soybean oils. Although it has added fragrance, it doesn’t irritate my skin. I also like the anti-oxidant aspect of it.

The cream on the other hand is rich and nourishing, made with rose water, flax, olive, and fruit extracts, and beta carotene amongst so many others. It feels like I’m feeding my skin with all of the good stuff with this one.

I’ve used both of these on and off for months, but recently I’ve used them consistently at least three or four times a week. Even when I’m extremely sleep deprived, or I haven’t been careful with my diet, my skin always looks healthier and radiant, plump and less lined. Maybe the latter is my imagination, but I’d like to think not. And as I like both so much, I’ll keep them close at hand.

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Natural

I’m one step closer to the contour of my dreams!

I’ve spent so long trying to find a powder that could sculpt my football face in a way I like, and 

Bobbi Brown’s Bronzing Powder in Natural is the one!

I find it a little amusing that Bobbi Brown recently said she hates contouring because it makes it look like dirt on the face, and yet one of her products is the best thing I’ve used to contour yet. I disagreed then, because that was during the height of my Kevyn Aucoin loving days. Now I can somewhat see her point.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder. It still does a beautiful job compared to other powders I’ve tried. But I just wasn’t satisfied with it anymore, and I could kind of see the whole dirt analogy, even though I don’t use much at all.

Natural is exactly that. It’s not too brown or too orange, and has a pink undertone to it. A little goes a long way, and I like to use it to add subtle warmth and definition to my cheekbones and forehead. I still use my Sculpting Powder, but I find adding this bronzer balances the look out.

Now, if I can just perfect my highlight and I’ll be entirely satisfied.