GLOW YOUR OWN WAY

      If asked about my favorite beauty slogan, I'd probably say "skin first, makeup second, smile always"; good job on that Glossier. Just like them, I believe that skincare should always come first, and you'll always be beautiful if you're rocking a smile. If you're using makeup to hide your imperfections rather than enhance your beauty, something is going wrong there. I understand that almost no one has perfect skin, I'm definitely far from it, but here are some of the ways I try to keep my skin healthy and glowing, and some sheer makeup products I use on the daily.

PREP

Glow Mud Cleanser (£18.00), Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream (£26.00), First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy (£22.10), Makeup Fixing Mist (£16.00)

      It's no secret that if you don't take care of your skin and prep it well, then makeup won't sit right. One of the first steps to taking care of yourself and your skin is to drink lots of water. Cliche? Maybe. But it's so so true. If your skin looks tired and sallow, or you're having more breakouts than usual, it could just be a case of dehydration. I feel like people in general are good at remembering to drink water when it's warm outside, but forget to in the colder months. Just get into the habit of taking a bottle with you everywhere you go; if it's constantly in front of you, you are much more likely to rehydrate more often.

      When it comes to skincare, when I think of glow enhancing products I immediately think of Pixi. I think that they do an amazing job with their skintreats range, and as you saw from my previous haul I picked up many things to try. I have been using their mud cleanser since that day and my skin loves it, as well as (of course) their Glow Tonic that I can't go without. I'm also really enjoying their makeup fixing mist either before and/or after I apply my makeup, as it sets everything in place while still leaving my skin looking hydrated.

      Other areas I like to prep are my lips with the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream, both before bed and in the mornings. My lips chap like no other, so this heavy duty lip balm is fantastic. I also like to keep an eye cream at the ready incase I didn't get enough sleep, or I'm having particularly puffy under-eyes. This one by FAB is indeed fab as it decreases puffiness and it's color adds a brightening effect under the eyes.

CREAMS

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream (£26.00), Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer (£34.00), Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo ($16.00), & Other Stories' True Bias Fuschia (£12.00), Kiko Contouring Pencil Set (£9.90)

      I have been going baseless a lot lately as I find my skin has been quite good, and having a tan blurs imperfections quite well. Little things that are always there, like acne scars, don't bother me too much. However, on days when I want some more evenness to my skin, I've been opting for the sheerest of the lot. My Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer in Fawn is a good color for when I'm tanned, so it's my go-to at the moment. Despite having the oil-free version, my oily skin can still look a bit greasy a few hours into the day. For that reason, I don't think I would repurchase this, but if you are someone who has drier skin I'd recommend checking it out. I've also been loving the Complexion Rescue by Bare Minerals in 06 Ginger, as the shade has the perfect amount of yellowness for my skin, and the texture is great. I do find it can sometimes cling to dry patches around my hairline though, so a good moisturizer is always needed underneath.

      Regardless of whether I wear a base or not, I also like to add color to my face to enhance the healthy glow. & Other Stories do fantastic blushes in general, and this cream one I have blends beautifully without any effort. I've also been experimenting with this Josie Maran lip and cheek oil, and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet as it's not so easy to work with. It can be a bit sticky at first, but once it dries down a bit it looks lovely, so I'll keep using it and see.

      I've also been pretty obsessed with this stick contour and highlight duo from KIKO. I have the lighter set of the two, and they blend into the skin so well. I was a bit scared to use a non-powder contour at first, but now that I have I might even prefer it. It gives the most natural shadow as long as you don't over draw it in, and even then you can blend it out so easily. I am definitely a fan.

POWDERS

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish (£33.00), Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow (£49.00), Hourglass Ambient Blush Palette (£56.00) 

      Now I know what you're thinking, powders and glowing skin don't usually go together, but that's not always the case. Here are some of my favorites for when I'm not feeling the fuss of cream products. Firstly, this Charlotte Tilbury setting powder is basically magic. It's great with or without anything underneath, and removes the grease without taking away the glow. I don't know what magic is in it, but I swear it's like airbrush in a compact. As with every other beauty blogger, I also adore the filmstar bronze and glow. Even though the bronzer is a bit on the warmer side, it still looks great as a contour for me, and since it's a bit shimmery it gives an inner glow and definition all at once. The highlighter in the set is also one of my favorites.

     The final product I have is the Hourglass blush trio which I have been addicted to since it's purchase. I definitely reach for it more than any of my other blushes, and the swirl of their ambient lighting powders with the blush pigment means it's give you healthy looking cheeks all day long. I love all the colors equally, and if you haven't tried out any hourglass products before, I'd definitely recommend a look at this one.

So those are all my tips, tricks and recommendations for healthy glowing skin on the daily, and I'd love to hear what your thoughts and recommendations are. 

SUMMER DAYTIME MOISTURIZERS

After an impromptu 2-month hiatus, I'm back! I was so busy with my last semester of Uni that I needed a little break from blogging to focus on work. Hopefully no unplanned disappearances will happen again, at least not anytime soon.

Whenever the seasons change, I have to adjust my skincare a teeny bit to account for the changes in weather. Granted, the weather in Dubai is almost always summer, with a week of 'winter' sometimes in January. Two weeks if we're lucky. But jokes aside, once June hits, it's scorching hot and beauty products have to be adjusted accordingly. Today's post features two daily moisturizers that I found are super lightweight, but still moisturizing enough for the hotter months.

The first of the two is & Other Stories' Tulle Day Cream (£15 £7). It's called a gel cream, and is targeted toward combination-oily skin, which is what I have. I don't particularly love this product, but there's nothing I hate about it either. It has a light powdery scent that I'm not a fan of but it's hardly noticeable, and a little definitely goes a long way (which I learned the hard way as it's very easy to squeeze out too much). It's lightweight enough to wear under makeup, and it doesn't bother me that it has no SPF as I like to use a separate product for that, or just get it from my makeup. I don't find that it helps reduce the shine on my T-zone at all, but it definitely doesn't increase my oiliness in any way. I definitely don't recommend this for anyone who has slightly dry skin as I don't think it will bw moisturizing enough for them. Overall, I think this is a good inexpensive product, but not a great one.

The second product I've been testing out is Kiko's Mat Fluid (£11.90). I picked this up on a whim when I was in Spain in January because I tested it out on the back of my hand and it felt amazing. I'm glad to say that after proper use this didn't disappoint me in any way. It has a fragrant scent which I love, and is so smooth to apply on the skin without being too heavy. I find it a bit more moisturizing than the & Other Stories one, while still being nice and lightweight, and giving my skin the perfect amount of moisture with or without makeup. I also like the packaging, and find that one pump gives me the exact amount I need for my whole face, so I never use too much product by mistake. Although I don't find it ultra-matifying, I do think it helps prolong the inevitable appearance of shine on my nose a little. 

Out of the two, I definitely think the Kiko moisturizer is the winner, and will probably repurchase it when I run out.

Let me know what some of your summertime skincare essentials are, I'd love to read!

LOVING LATELY #1

So I realize I haven't done any favorites on my blog so far, but given that I'm only posting once a week at the moment I don't think monthly favorites will be a thing. That being said, I do want to share some of the things i've been loving over the past few months.

BEAUTY

I have been obsessed with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (£9.99). I have the shade 54 Beige and I think it's a good match for me, but maybe a teeny bit too dark. I  wanted to pick up 53 Light Beige, but they didn't have it in stock, so next time I'll see if I can get that and hopefully it'll be a better match. I've also been liking the Kiko foundation I mentioned in my last post. I do get a bit shiny when I wear it, but I think it's because I've been using a very hydrating moisturizer in the mornings, so I'm going to switch to a less intense one and see how it goes.

Ever since I started really using my Lorac Pro ($42.00) palette 3 weeks ago, I haven't picked up any other eyeshadow since. The colors are neutral, but still so beautiful and diverse that you can create many different looks with it. They blend like a dream and I just can't get enough. Some of my favorite combos are Pewter all over the lid with Mauve in the crease, or Lt. Bornze all over with Taupe in the crease - both with Nude as an inner corner highlight - beautiful! I definitely understand the hype around this palette.

Next we have brows. I'm never exclusively a powder/pencil/pomade kind of gal as I rotate between them frequently, and will switch it up depending on the kind of look I'm going for. Over the past few weeks I have definitely been reaching for my Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown (£17.00) over the others as it's so quick and easy to use, especially when you're overdue for an eyebrow threading.

The final makeup product I've been reaching for a lot is the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Berry ($22.50). It's very nourishing and comfortable to wear, and gives enough color to make it look like you have something on. It's definitely going to be a handbag staple for a while.
The last two beauty related items I've been obsessed with are the Kiko Nail Lacquer in 511 Metallic Mercury Purple (£3.90) which lasts a good week with minimal chipping (score!) and the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product ($18.00) which tames frizz and keeps my curly hair super soft.

NON BEAUTY

This may seem very random, but my two non beauty items that I've been obsessed with lately are a pair of sport leggings, and some Quay sunglasses. I got these leggings from adidas a couple of months ago (can't find a link to them online) but I love the bright colors and they're super comfortable. Also, the print doesn't stretch out when you wear them which is a big plus in my book. They also came in a blue/green color which I want to keep an eye out for because the fit is just so nice.

Finally, my last favorite are these White Quay Invador Cat-Eye Sunglasses (£27.00). They're so cute and funky without being over the top, and I get compliments whenever I wear them. They're also quite inexpensive for relatively good quality, and in general I think Quay make awesome sunglasses.

Let me know some of the things you've been loving lately in the comments below, I'd love to hear. x

KIKO HAUL + REVIEW

While I was in Barcelona last week, I stumbled across a Kiko store. And of course being my makeup obsessed self, along with four other girls, we had to stop and take a look around (twice). I tried my best to resist the urge to swatch and buy everything, but still came out with a good range of products.

The main thing I wanted to look at going in was their Universal Fit Hydrating Foundation (£6.90). After hearing Lily Pebbles rave about it so much I wanted to try it out myself. I'm glad to say I was not disappointed. I usually have trouble finding foundations with the right undertones in the drug store (I'm quite yellow/olive), but I tried the color 06 Creamy Beige which turned out to be a perfect match for me. I have been wearing it everyday since and I can't get enough. It's light, but covers enough, and doesn't over greasify my combination skin. All of that AND it's inexpensive price? I don't know what could be better.

After perusing around the store I found a few more bits and bobs I wanted to try out. I REALLY wanted their Ace of Diamonds lipstick in the shade 27, but they didn't carry that line, so I opted for their Luscious Cream Creamy Lipstick (£6.90) in 515 Orchid instead. It's a lovely purply pink mauve shade that's very comfortable to wear. Next I got two of their Generation Next Crystal Eyeliners (£6.90) in 02 Technological Brown and 05 Hefty Sapphire. They swatched so vibrantly and all the colors were so beautiful I had to restrain myself to two only. I also took a look at their skincare range and was intrigued by their Mat Fluid Moisturiser (£11.90) so I picked one up to give it a go.

The next day we went into the store again as some of my friends wanted a few more things, so although I wasn't planning it I made a few more purchases. What caught my eye was something I'd missed the first time around - their colored mascaras range. They looked SO vibrant, and I've been on the hunt for a blue one after seeing a specific makeup look, so I got one Super Color Mascara (£5.90) in 07 Sky Blue. It's one of the only mascaras i've tried that's actually true to color once applied - so if you have dark hair like me and want a color that shows up, I definitely suggest giving these a go. And finally, I picked up two of their Nail Lacquers (3.90). I've been like a magpie to shiny things recently, especially when it comes to nailpolishes, so naturally the two I picked up are 511 Metallic Mercury Purple, and 530 Pearly Blue Peacock. I have yet to try them, but my friend has and she says they last a good week without chipping.

Let me know what you've tried from Kiko, and your opinions on their products in general, I'd love to read.