Though the crisp fall weather I love seems to be stubbornly avoiding LA (as usual), my mind’s already gone to the magical colours of the season. All in, this is a pretty tame fall look – no burgundy eyeshadow, whaaaat? – but perfect for the still-sort-of-summer weather we’ve been having.
This look features some of my favourite copper products, and while I wore it with a sheer gloss here I’m already dreaming of recreating it with a dark vampy lipstick (like Bite Beauty’s Black Truffle) once the days get even the slightest bit cooler. Don’t ask why I’m adverse to wearing dark lipstick in hot weather – it’s just a weird hangup that I’m going to blame on advertising and general consumer brainwashing. For some reason I just can’t bring myself to wear anything but sheers and brights when it’s warm out. Anyone else?
Despite my love for glitter and all things bling, my favourite things about this turned out to be the softly luminous base. I have naturally oily skin, so maintaining an even glow that doesn’t turn into oil slick requires striking juuuuust the right balance in mattifying/illuminating products.
And I think I might finally have found just the blend: a combo that starts with CoverFX Mattifying Primer, and ends with their Illuminating Setting Spray, sandwiching a natural-finish foundation and setting powder between them. I know it sounds like a lot of steps, but I think it’s worth it your desired finish lasts all day…and in this case it did!
Face: CoverFX Mattifying Primer, Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation in G20, CoverFX Perfect Setting Powder, Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray // Cheeks: Hourglass Diffused Bronze Light // Eyes: MAC eyeshadows in Amber Lights and Antiqued (from the Burgundy Times Nine Palette), Stila Glitter and Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Kitten Karma, Chanel Beauty Inimitable Mascara // Brows: Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Brow in #40 // Lips: Fenty Beauty Lipgloss in Fenty Glow
This post contains affiliate links.
Sponsored Post
A little while ago, Clarins Singapore invited me to undertake a skincare challenge: use their famous Double Serum for 40 days and log my results throughout. I immediately said yes because I appreciated their realistic time-frame*. It really does take a while for you to see results from most skincare products, and I respected them for not wanting to rush or pressure me to fake my experience in any way.
*Even their free samples (which you can get here) include a 7 day supply of the serum.
My journey started with a skin consultation at the Clarins boutique at ION where I was advised on how best to use it, based on my travel plans and skincare routine. I actually picked my sample bottle up the day before leaving on a 2 week trip to Australia and New Zealand in the winter, and I really torture-tested this serum. Our travel plans put my skin through facing icy winds, dry outdoor air, even drier indoor air, and some very acidic volcanic steam for good measure.
For those of you who haven’t encountered Clarins Double Serum yet, it was developed by Jacques Courtin-Clarins in 1984, and has been one of the brand’s signature products ever since. It features 20+1 plant extracts (that’s 20 plant extracts, plus activating turmeric) suspended in two separate serums – one oil-based, one water-based – that target fine lines and boost skin radiance as well as hydrate and firm. The serums are kept separate and are intended only to be mixed just before application to maximize their effectiveness.
Even if you have heard of it before, there’s still new benefits to be discovered – the formula has been constantly improved upon over the course of the brand’s history, and with this 8th generation version the focus has been on stimulating skin cell receptors to fully maximize the benefits of the serum’s active ingredients. The newly improved formula also comes in a revamped bottle that lets you dispense either a small or large pump of both serums, in the perfect ratio, at the same time. This feature has been super useful to me on my travels – I like that I can dial up my dose when my skin needs some extra hydration, and go lighter when I’m in hot, humid weather.
Since photos only show so much, here’s a video diary I made over the course of the 40 day trial period where I checked in with updates and observations on how my skin was responding to the serum at the 1, 7, 28 and 40 day marks. One thing I forgot to mention in the video is how good this serum smells: it’s got a lightly floral fragrance that is incredibly soothing and refreshing at the same time, which really does make it a pleasure to use.
Even though my 40 day challenge is over now, this is definitely a serum I’ll continue to use and although this bottle was a sample, it’s a product I plan to repurchase. But enough with the spoilers…on with the show!
Since filming this video, my bottle of Double Serum has become a staple in my skincare routine…but even more so, a total must-have for travel. So far I’ve carried it onto 8 flights across 5 different countries, and I have no plans to stop using it! Again, if you’d like to try it for yourself, just click here and you can register for a free skin consultation and a free Double Serum 7-day trial.
I’ve been a fan of Laneige eyeshadow for years and years. I got my first quad when I was working at a society magazine, and it was something I carried with me everywhere so I could easily change my makeup after work for evening events. I don’t remember what it was called (it was limited edition and long gone now), but I have fond memories of the smooth formula and beautiful shimmer textures in it.
It was a blast from the past when Laneige sent over some things from their new Ideal Eyeshadow range. Pink Maroon looks so similar to the quad I used to love! But now that I’m no longer working in an office and bound to neutrals, my eyes went straight to Red Fox Fur.
Admittedly the red shade is what initially caught my eye, but the dark shimmery brown was a beauty too, and reminded me of another long-lost eyeshadow love: a similar (in my mind) Red Earth eyeshadow single I used to adore when I was a teen. It’s funny how much nostalgia this collection triggers for me. I love it!
I finished up the look with Make Up For Ever Artist Acrylip in Raspberry Red, a true red that I have been loving even more now that I’ve lightened up my hair. I’m still trying to nail the right makeup for my new colouring, but in the meantime the old beauty adage has proven true: you really can’t go wrong with red lipstick.
Face: Make Up For Ever UV Bright Cushion in 117, Cle de Peau Concealer in Ivory, Cle de Peau Loose Powder // Cheeks: Laneige Ideal Blush Duo in Woodblossom, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure // Eyes: Laneige Ideal Eyeshadow Quad in Red Fox Fur, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara // Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Dark Brown // Lips: Make Up For Ever Artist Acrylip in Raspberry Red
This post features products that were provided as press samples, however all opinions and observations are my own and not influenced by the brand or its PR team. This post contains affiliate links.
