Currently Loving…

I haven’t done an About Face post in a few weeks so I thought I’d post some of the make-up items I’m loving at the moment to, you know, keep you guys in the loop. I’m currently settled on my sofa clean faced, nursing poorly, painful kidneys, so excuse me for sneaking a few non-beauty faves in there too. Here’s the breakdown:

Beauty:

Nars Sheer Glow I have ummed and ahhed about this foundation for months. Having heard reports that it’s not all that sheer, despite the name, I’d steered clear. I’m not a massive fan of fuller coverage bases, and the medium to full finish Sheer Glow threatened to cause trouble with my chronic dry patches. Lately though, due to a few skincare changes, my face is feeling a lot more supple and hydrated, so I figured I’d trial it for possible wedding-wear later in the year. I chose the shade Gobi which pulls pretty yellow and does well to neutralise the pink undertone of my skin. The foundation lasts all day without a primer and without powdering leaves a dewy finish that nicely side-steps shiny.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream This baby has gone unloved in my skincare collection for a very long time. The toffee-like texture and pungent scent was enough to put me off the first time round, but recently in my sickness, it’s the only product I’ve been reaching for. Perfect for dry patches on elbows or hands, it’s a great intensive treatment for any healing boo-boos or grazes, as well as a moisturising overnight treatment for lips. Just hold your nose as you apply it… yuck. I’ll be buying the fragrance free version next time.

No7 Natural Cream Blush in Romantic I’m slowly reaching the conclusion that cream blush is all I want to use on my cheeks. I love the glowy finish it leaves and all my favourites from my blush collection are the soft, easily blendable kind. No7 is usually a brand I would go to for a budget skincare item, not usually somewhere I’d go for make-up. But those pesky £3 off Boots vouchers play havoc with my spending bans. Romantic is a colour unmatched in my collection, a muted pink a little rosier than Nars’ Penny Lane. It’s soft, creamy and super easy to apply with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Stick in 006 Paranoid Purple I spoke about Tempting Turquoise in my latest About Face post, but I’ve fallen for it’s much more wearable cousin. The simple way I’ve been wearing this is along the lower lash line for a pop of colour, perfect for summer, but it works just as well all over the lid for a more intense evening look, or rimmed around the eyes for the base of a smokey eye. These sticks are seriously underrated, they’re waterproof, long-lasting (maybe not quite the 24hrs they promise, but a working day and out to dinner after, for sure) and the rich colour is difficult to get from other formuals without a lot more time and effort.

Non-Beauty:

Justified Now my beloved Game of Thrones has finished for the year, I’ve been browsing Netflix for a new series to watch. Justified follows a US Marshall after he is transferred back to his native Kentucky. The characters are charismatic, the story-lines interesting but easy to follow and, personally, I’m a sucker for anything based around the Deep South. Plus, Timothy Olyphant is, like, the most dreamiest of the dreamy. Throw in Steve from Sex and the City and we have a winner.

Topshop Joni Jeans I am IN LOVE with these jeans. Generally, I don’t buy my denim from Topshop. Their Jamie’s give me serious drop-crotch and anyone who doesn’t stock my size needs to readjust their view of what a “normal” British woman looks like. BUT the Jonis are just stretchy tubes of wonderment. I bought them in 2 colours (Vintage and Pink Acid) about 3 weeks ago and have barely worn anything else since. They’re comfortable (I can fit in them cuz they’re stretchy – wahoo!) and they’re super flattering. Plus at £36, they’re pretty reasonable by Topshop standards. It’s love.

What have you been loving recently? Do you have any recommendations for products or TV shows for me to try?