Beauty Rummage and the Cult Products I Can't Live Without

 & #WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. I won't lie to you, it has not been an easy week.  I lost my devoted companion Molly seven days ago and the grief has been intense. Last week I threw myself into work - blogging and cleaning. But the last few days have been more difficult.  I sent J to collect her ashes, which we will scatter on the garden on a sunny spring day. 

I jettisoned plans for an outfit shoot today when it started raining again.  Instead it's a good time for a periodic rummage in the makeup bag and a look at the products I consider indispensable. Plus the cult products I can't live without.  These would surprise the young beauty bloggers and social media managers I suspect. But we like to surprise them, don't we? 

I love the word "rummage." It always makes me smile. In my early days as a trainee reporter, we used to set each other dares. I was dared to use the word rummage in a story.  I managed it in a picture caption of a jumble sale  (remember those?). 

My actual make-up bag is a clear plastic one that was included with a Look Fantastic beauty box. So what's inside the bag?

• Erborian Super BB cream (cult product #1)
• Too Faced Papa don't Peach blusher
• Eye of Horus Goddess Eye Pencil, Purple
• Max Factor Facefinity All Day Concealer in 3038
• Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift in Deep Brown
• MAC Brow Set
• Eyelash curlers
• Suqqu Waterproof Mascara (cult product #2)
• Code Beautiful Lid Lift Enhance 

Erborian Super BB Cream in Nude:  Wowzers!

I read about this in India Knight's Sunday Times column.  Inevitably it sold out on the day she talked about it.  I must have asked to be told when it was back in stock because several weeks later, Look Fantastic did just that.

I am getting low on foundation so I figured it was worth a try.  Plus you can order a small tube to see if you like it. It arrived today. This is my first time using it. And it had its work cut out.  My eyes were red with dark circles and I looked generally pale and wan. It came out in a bigger gloop than I would normally have used (below). 

Erborian, which is a Korean brand, says the BB cream is half skincare, half makeup. "It effectively camouflages and clears imperfections without feeling caked on," it says.  Well, they are not wrong! The effect was miraculous, dark eye circles and pigmentation concealed and my skin a uniform tone.  Next time I will apply a little less as I don't like foundation to be too obvious.  But really, very impressed.

Before applying makeup I use a serum or occasionally Pat McGrath Divine Skin Rose 001 The Essence (cult product #3).  I love the (faint) rose fragrance but I don't think the results are as spectacular as her marketing would have you believe.

I'm still using Strivectin R&R Eye Cream and Vichy Neovadiol lifting day cream (originally gifted, but have since replaced it). 

The two newest products in my eye makeup are the Suqqu Waterproof Mascara and MAC Brow Set. The latter is a clear gel that keeps errant eye brow hairs in place. It was in my Christmas MAC Advent calendar.  The mascara is Japanese and a cult buy.  I am SO impressed with it. It stays on all day. The colour looks weird  (red?!) but gives a very natural effect. Buy it from Cult Beauty or Selfridges.

I must tell you about my Nomad eye shadow palettes, cult product #4.  I love shades of light green, purple and blue, but  you can't always get these very easily. Most eyeshadows are muted shades or, it seems, pink or red.

Nomad, a US brand, name their palettes after places, and the shades reflect the locations.  My palettes are Whistler and Tokyo (shown).  The colours are deeply pigmented and don't fade. Their latest palette, launched this week, is Royal Europe. I'm very tempted!

Other Favourite Products

These are products I always replace before I get to the bottom of the bottle or tube. I sometimes have difficulty sleeping, so my two Go To products are a) Horlicks or Ovaltine (!) and b) This Works Deep Sleep Body Cocoon. This is a heavenly lavender-scented body and hand cream. I prefer it to their pillow spray, and it leaves skin very soft. 

I like to use a standard liquid cleanser at night, to remove makeup. I tried a small bottle of Caudalie Vinoclean Cleansing Almond Milk and loved it, so have now bought the 400ml size. It's very effective, smells beautiful and has a nice "slip" - it doesn't feel drying like many cleansers. When I bought the cleanser, from Look Fantastic, it came with a free 30ml tube of Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser. I hoard small tubes for holidays.  Finally, I'm trying their Deep Cleansing Exfoliator. Not used it yet, will report back.

My favourite hair products remain the Davines Heart of Glass range. Davines is an Italian brand which my hairdresser has used for years:  the products are sustainable with no nasty sulphides, and smell wonderful. The products are not cheap, but for highlighted hair like mine they work wonders.

I am too impatient to leave the Intense Treatment on for the time specified, but I find it works very well if you rinse it right away without waiting. I'm also impressed with the Sheer Glaze, which is a great multi-tasker. It protects from heat, promotes hair elasticity and extends the duration of my blow dry. 

So there you have it, my latest beauty faves.  All were bought with my own ££s and no affiliate links were used.  Have you tried any of these?  Any other recommendations of colourful eyeshadow palettes?  Although I shouldn't ask because I'm a bit of a collector where these are concerned.....!!  Do tell all in the comments.

Back on Friday with #WhatsBeenOnYourCalendar.

Sharing this post with: On Mondays We Link Up at Glass of Glam, Weekday Wear at Away from the Blue, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Rena at Fine Whatever, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Confident Twosday at I Do Declaire, Style with a Smile at Stylesplash, Talent Sharing Tuesdays at Scribbling Boomer, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness  and #Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee on the Edge,  Thursday Fashion Files at Doused in Pink, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style,  Traffic Jam Weekend at Marsha in the Middle,  Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, Curated by Jennifer (Wednesdays). 

Now it's time for the #WowOnWednesday link-up, where readers can find new blogs to read and bloggers/vloggers can find new readers! I feature the 3 favourites each Wednesday on Instagram, and my five or six top picks at the weekend on Twitter and Facebook. 

Last Week's Favourites

Hello Again! And a look at three of my coats by Penny of Frugal Fashion Shopper

It seems coats are still on our minds, thanks to the poor weather.  You also loved My Favourite Spring Coats by Alison of Midlife and Beyond. 

Is This Mutton's Non-Fashion Pick

Posts about travel, beauty, food or gardening are very welcome in the link-up.  I loved A Visit to the Berkeley Rose Garden by Adventures in Weseland. I don't know much about this blog except that it's the work of a Californian gentleman.  And you are very welcome sir. Roses are my favourite flower, and I'm looking forward to seeing mine in bloom in May.  Sometimes a rose is out in time for St George's Day, April 23, but it's very unlikely this year. Everything is late. 

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