GLOSSIER (LONDON) SHOWROOM

These are just a few throwback shots I took from the Glossier London pop up showroom they had going on for a week in November last year (2017). 

If you know me already I am completely obsessed with Glossier, I just love everything about this brand. It's philosophy in makeup and skin is exactly what I embrace in life. I'm a big fan of the "no-makeup-makeup-look" and skin is where I like to put great focus on, it acts as a base for me over any full coverage foundation.

Glossier seems to have had great success since launching in 2014 and has yield a great amount of following and it continuously seems to be growing, with a few celerity clienteles seen wearing some of the products, from Beyonce to Miranda Kerr and the list goes on.  

The picture shown above is the first ever order I made from Glossier when the they started shipping to the UK, and since then I have made a few more orders. I have tried out nearly all of the products that have been created since and just recently they have released a mascara and a few cream eyeshadows that I am very excited to try out.

When I found out they were having a pop up store in London I just knew I had to go, the setup was exactly what I thought it would be like, girly, cool and minimal. They had an amazing flower display in every corner of the building (no joke) it was truly heavenly. They had their signature mood board up in the lounge room provided with some modern contemporary furniture and a cute fireplace display. There was almost a Parisian vibe to the whole thing, I love Glossier but sometimes I forget it was founded in New York, I just wished they incorporated that sense of connection and aesthetics into the brand sometimes. But I guess its hard to as the minimal makeup look truly stems from the Parisian women. 

I wasn't in there for too long but I did thoroughly enjoy touring the whole place. It only took me about thirty minutes and an added 10-15 minutes of chill time in the lounge room. There was talks of having a permanent showroom being opened in London, but time will tell when and where that will be, but I would be super pleased if it was to happen. 

Overall Glossier is what it says on the tin, it's all about sheer makeup and helping you achieve that glowy look. Despite criticism of it only being ideal "for those who already have nice skin", I still appreciate and love the ethos of this brand, it's not like any other makeup which you can find in any drugstore or high end stores, it's different and has it's own unique style of doing things, from packaging to promoting. 

I'll be sure to review products in the future, I also have a 10% off code that you can use via the link below, be sure to use it to get some pounds off your purchase!

10% off Glossier

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Anastasia Beverly Hills

This seems to be everyone's favourite eyeshadow palette and to be fair I am quite late to the party. When this palette was released (a 2016 summer release I believe) there was an amid storm of hype. Online beauty retailers such as Cult Beauty and Beauty Bay sold out of it instantly, everyone wanted a piece of it.

  

I am pleased to be an owner of one, finally, after many thoughts of whether it'd be a prosperous investment. I do think it's slightly expensive but at the same time a timeless palette, the packaging is simple and elegant. 

Some of the colours are quite vibrant but the deepness to these shades helps create some classy looks. The browns and the nudes make it more versatile. Overall the colours are amazing and apply smoothly and are easy to blend in. Also surprisingly the brush isn't bad either. 

However if you're like me and not sure about colourful eyeshadows then it can be quite daunting to how you could possibly start using this palette. But thankfully that's where Youtube steps in and comes to the rescue. 

The reason as to what finally gave me the push to get this palette was the weariness of my usual pick of shades. Being an avid user of brown nudes, coppers and golds etc (that side of the spectrum), this palette would be the stepping stone for me to incorporating some pink-ness into my eye makeup.

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My skincare routine - Including Kiehl's products

STEP 1. - Ultra facial toner

So is it useful to use a toner?... I would say so.

A toner helps restore the skins PH levels, which is useful especially after you have cleansed or exfoliated. Not only that, it also helps prepare your skin for moisturising. 

My skin feels that further bit refreshed when I use this after I've cleansed. This one is great for those with dry skin, it is gentle yet effective and it doesn't dry your skin out at all. 

This one has a non-alcohol formula, but be careful when choosing a toner, as most drugstore toners contain rubbing alcohol, which can be an irritant to the skin and can cause breakouts.  

STEP 2. - 

Creamy eye treatment (with avocado)

I use this as a daytime eye cream. I tend to put this on just before the serum. I use a gentle dabbing motion to put this on under eyes and and on top of the eyelids. It's so important not to drag your fingertips and pull the skin around these delicate areas.

If you suffer from under eye pigmentation, this won't fully eliminate the appearance of darkness as it tends to be hereditary. I don't personally suffer from darkness around my eyes, but I have found they can appear dark if I haven't slept very well. Also during cold harsh days the outer area can get dry and dehydrated and fine lines can appear and my concealer would crease a lot.

This has helped with hydrating my eyes and making them smooth and it gives it that glow.

Midnight recovery eye cream

I use this as an evening eye cream. This has helped with de-puffing my eyes. But the two together has worked wonders. 

The eye area is so delicate it is important to keep them well moisturised. This gives the added benefit of making sure they are protected from the ageing process.

STEP 3. - Hydro-plumping re-texturising serum concentrate

I've discovered how important it is to have a good serum. A moisturiser on its own is not enough. Imagine your skin as a wall, the moisturiser only moisturises the top layer, where as a serum penetrates further down moisturising the base of the wall. A serum helps fully nourish and replenish the skin.

I would highly recommend using this serum is you suffer from dry and dehydrated skin. It contains 15% of glycerin, which maintains water balance as it seals in moisture and can improve the appearance of the skin. This is not the only conceivable benefit it also leaves the skin soft and supple to touch.

It's lightweight but a little goes a long way, I use one pump of this in the morning and then one pump again in the evening. I have seen a major difference in my skin, it feels and looks more plumped and has helped brighten it hugely.

STEP 4. - Pure vitality skin renewing cream

Kiehl's offer a great range of moisturisers for the face, but the ingredients of this one made me gravitate more towards it, with red ginseng root and manuka honey, it states it increases vibrancy and helps build a stronger barrier. 

It is quite thick and sticky in consistency, which isn't surprising due to the honey. It's so easy to over do it, so I try to put a small amount on unless I really need a thicker layer. 

And going back to the skin being like a wall. Using just a serum is not enough if you have really dry skin. Using this as a top layer moisturiser has helped with keeping my skin feel super moisturised for longer. It has also helped with making my skin feel smoother and given it that extra bit of glow. It also smells amazing!

STEP 5.- Ultra facial moisturiser - SPF 30

Another factor to maintaining good skin is using SPF, even during winter, as UV rays from the sun can still damage the skin even if its not 35 degrees outside. 

This is a non-greasy moisturiser that contains an SPF of 30. The highest they do is an SPF of 50, but I have read that 30 is more than enough to protect the skin on a fairly warm day in Britain. Also the more higher the SPF means the higher the levels of comedogenic which can clog up pores.

I put this on after I've put my hydro-plump serum and skin renewing cream. I know it may seem like a lot of moisturisers to put on your face. But on most days I do feel it is necessary, but also I only put this on if I know I'm going out, other than that I wouldn't. Also lately I tend not to wear anything on my face apart from a bit on concealer under my eyes, just so i'm not overdoing it with products and clogging up my pores to an extreme.

Also with this moisturiser I find that makeup does not apply very well due to the SPF.

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I have collected these products over a span of a year and a half and they have benefited my skincare routine therefore I would recommend investing. These products have given me major long term results. I have found using these products has really helped saved my skin from dehydration. But coming up to summer I have adjusted my routine slightly, I tend to use a lighter moisturiser in the morning and then use the renewing cream as an overnight replenishing moisturiser.

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