Each week I sit down to write and the wealth of fearful and disturbing world events provide untold dark treasure for any journaling, I wish it were not so. Easter Sunday was a delight in our household, a baby chick in our midst, other little chicks with high octane energy and sweet imagination sat at the table for lunch and I was reminded of the exceptional life we share. It’s beauty. Purity. Humour. Blessing. So this week I step away from dire troubles for a moment and focus on the light and the frivolous. The sugar coatings and I give an aching heart rest to reset and galvanise. Let’s take care of ourselves. Join me in the pic ‘n mix aisle. Hope there’s something you like in the bag.
I’m always keen to learn about new products. Make up and skin care are of particular interest. Think it stems from having a mum who paid attention to her appearance. Not in a vain way, but having a natural glamour she worked and ‘dressed’ with the best she could afford. So I became acutely aware of her dressing table. It’s femininity and complexity. The scent bottles: Blue Grass, Memoire Cherie, Youth Dew. Her skin creams, body oils and dusting powders. Nail polish and lipstick. The smells of these things, the frosted glass bottles and large pink powder puffs were very much a part of who she was and I adored the whole theatre of it. My love affair with cosmetics had begun.
I’ve always had a skin care routine, from my teens to the present day. A discipline of cleaning and protecting this incredible outer casing we all have as it holds everything in and protects our bones. Starting as a girl shopping at Boots and the myriad of potions and lotions on offer. Fullers Earth face packs in a sachet. ‘Cucumber’ slices on my eyes. Rose water for toning and Ponds cold cream to moisturise. Aqua Manda fragrance by Goya, my scent. Life was very simple back then. I progressed to Vichy, LaRoche Posay and on to Clarins. Rive Gauche and Princess Marchesa. Arpège and Dermalogica. Always experimenting. Changing. Upgrading. Adapting to the needs of my face and body through puberty, working girl, the dust and damp of old houses and early married life, motherhood, peri menopause, menopause and right now.
There are many brands in my toiletries bag but my first ‘pic’ and recommendation is a new face cream I started using earlier this year. A sample given by a hairdresser was enough to encourage a purchase and I absolutely love it. Entirely natural and made from propolis, thank you dear bees. Thank you Therapi - only needs a very small amount warmed between the fingers and patted onto the face. Make up sits well with it and this old face looks instantly better. Definitely worth a go. It becomes increasingly difficult to ‘glow’ these days, but honestly this little pot of cream gives radiance to the skin that’s not greasy or too shiny. The feel of it is slightly tacky on your fingers, so you have to get past that because I think the warmth of finger tips and the patting, altars the texture on the face. It doesn’t disappear either and I like that. At £44 a pot it seems pretty reasonable to me - mid range - I was using a Chanel hydrating cream previously which honestly is delicious but ineffective and a lot more expensive. Sorry, not sorry Chanel….
I watch @sandrasalin on YouTube sometimes. She’s a fabulous older lady who loves make up and has achieved an enormous popularity for her make up endorsements and online real-time tutorials. She’s sweet, American and funny. Forgets what she’s going to say mid sentence (it’s an age thing) but because of her I now use a blending brush when I’ve applied my make up and can’t believe the difference it makes. Thank you Sandra. She has fun with it all. Has been ill and still found humour and grace around taking care of herself during treatments and medication and all within the public eye. We see her sans maquillage and we see her with full face applied, both lovely because here we have a woman comfortable in her own skin. That’s really something. Her make up isn’t a hiding place. It’s her playground.
My second pick comes in the form of a probiotic mouth wash by Truthpaste. I’ve been having some issues with my mouth as faithful readers will be aware. Oral hygiene has become paramount as I wage war on potential abscesses. This mouth wash is without doubt the best I’ve ever used. There is no alcohol in it. Teeth and mouth look and feel exceptionally fresh and clean. I ordered it online after seeing an ad for it on Instagram. Can honestly say I’m impressed and delighted. I hate mouth washes normally. Ive always found them excessively aggressive and their purpose is surely to terrorise the mouth into submission. Truthpaste loves your mouth. It comes with a dinky metal measuring cup. I will be reordering as and when and can only say that if you’re into mouth health, kissable breath and squeaky clean teeth, this is your new best friend. The name alone is worth a pop, I know a few politicians who should sloosh with this in the vain hope of cutting out the b*&#$%!t…
Third pick in this mix is a mascara from Refy. Not a brand I knew, but as I mentioned I’m constantly curious and wanna be down with the kids….or at least interested in what’s happening outside of the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream regime. This mascara is lovely. It coats and lengthens without clogging the lashes. I like it, but I’d be fibbing if I said I found the brush a breeze… I’ve poked myself in the eye more times than I can shake a stick at…. shaky hand notwithstanding. WARNING - old joke alert: How do you make a Venetian blind? [Poke him in the eye]. I did warn you. The mascara wand is a very specific shape to ensure even coating of inner and outer lashes. Clever. I haven’t mastered the inner lash deal yet and have ended up with at least one blood shot eyeball every time. Not one to give up, I shall persevere and hopefully get the hang of applying to all lashes without further injury. I’ll be the one walking down the High St with an eye patch after a visit to A&E.
I only discovered Refy through the daughter of an old friend, of whom I am very fond and follow on Insta. She ‘follows’ Refy and I thought I’d take a look. Hey presto that mascara jumped right into my basket and was quickly winging its way to my address. It’s a good product particularly if you want lashes to look better and natural. Check out the brush in the photo and decide for yourself. I’m not sorry I bought it. Trying new things is what keeps us fresh and stops stagnation from setting in. Keeps conversation going when friends ask about your eye….
Fourth and final pick are Caviar sticks by Laura Mercier.
https://www.lauramercier.co.uk/products/caviar-stick-eyeshadow-matte
They are very good indeed if you have older eye skin. I read a good review of the mini handbag size by Sarah Jossel of The Sunday Times Style magazine and good old Sandra S. (mentioned above) recommended them in one of her tutorials. So both sides of the pond find favour and so do I. Two shades grace my eye kit: Amethyst, I use for an evening eye. Vanilla Kiss for day and it completely opens up these bloodhound hooded lids, no eye lift required. They are super easy to apply. Lovely to use. The mini version comes in at £14 and full size are £28. They’ll see me through the year or possibly next decade because I don’t do eye makeup every day or even that often, but I do sometimes like to switch it up a little and surprise my own face in the mirror. It’s great when something really works. 5 stars.
My cosmetic bag is like a dressing up box for my face and I love playing - I’m not the best at all this stuff - have never mastered the eyeliner flick and always wanted to… don’t use a lip brush or blot… we already know I stab my eyes regularly with lash work, but I do love how it all feels. The process reminds me of getting ready for a night out when I was 17 or ready for work in my twenties or dinner with friends in my mid thirties…. I’m transported. Always looking for the perfect product, which of course doesn’t exist, but hopeful nontheless. That’s what Easter’s all about isn’t it… hope, newness, resurrection and life. Perhaps there is something in each of us, beneath skin level, that is an innate living hope. That despite the worst we’re confronted by, the harsh reality of ageing, the grim face of war, the impending doom of death (nothing more certain) we push on knowing there’s something better. On that note I’m off to put my face on. Till the next time,
A
PS. Watch this space, new Sea Moss gel by Re-me-di, currently residing in our fridge. New product that helps clear unwanted mucous, hope you’ve had your breakfast, will let you know. Aren’t we told beauty begins on the inside?
PPS. Heads up on tinted moisturisers - met with my sister today, whose skin looked wonderful. I had to ask and she shared the secret of No 7’s Shield and Defend tinted moisturiser in Fair. ‘No make up’ look but a beautiful even complexion and a natural tone. This is the ‘pic’ that didn’t make it into the bag, the one you pop into your mouth before reaching the till. Know what I mean. Your bonus for ten. Btw I’m not advocating shop lifting….simply, this added post script is an unexpected extra. You’re welcome.
Oooh thank you for this treasure trove of goodies. Have made copious notes and will be ordering 😊👌🏻❤️