The Luxe List

Is it just me, or does blogging about a MAC lipstick feel weirdly nostalgic? Remember when everyone used to get excited about Teddy Girl? I don’t usually head for the MAC lipstick stands when I’m out, purely because I always have a handful of empty MAC packages which I can use to exchange for a freebie.

I’m always on the hunt for the perfect nude lipstick though, and when I caught sight of Bosom Friend, I couldn’t resist (despite my 5 lonely empties sitting at home). Despite the current trend for tawny browns, I really can’t get behind it – it feels too 90s, and who need to worry about teeth looking yellower? So I’m sticking with the pinky nudes.

Originally launched as part of a Nicki Minaj collaboration, Bosom Friend is a stunning cool-toned pink which is the perfect all day lip colour. It’s a cremesheen formula, so it’s not too trying to wear – it can be applied direct from the bullet, and I love it tapped on top of a balm for a subtle touch of colour.

What I didn’t realise when I bought the lipstick, was that the shade is part of MAC’s new Inclusive Nude Lipstick Collection. Shades range from deep chocolates to pearly nudes, so no matter what shade you’re looking for, it’s a good shout to head to your nearest MAC counter.

MAC Bosom Friend is priced at £17.50 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

When it comes to eye makeup, it pays to be picky. There’s nothing worse than shelling out far too much money on a single product, which leaves you looking like a racoon by lunch. Even worse? Those products which fail to leave so much as a mark, no matter how hard you try. Happily, Benefit’s newest offering – their BADgal BANG! 24 Hour Eye Pencil is the stuff of dreams – smooth, buttery and full of pigment which stays exactly where you put it.

Released a few weeks back, there are four shades to choose from (black, brown, blue and plum) and they’re all surprisingly wearable. I opted for Deep Brown since it’s a bit softer looking for day wear, and I’ve become more than a little obsessed with the pencil. Each morning, I’ve been lining my upper waterline with the pencil, smudging a little into the lashline using the handy little smudger. The effect is soft, pretty and subtle i.e. my dream makeup look for day, and I love how much colour comes from such a fine tip. If, like me you hate the mess of sharpening pencils each morning, Benefit has you covered with this one – it’s got a twist-up tip which always stays sharp, and mess free.

Once I’ve applied (and smudged) the liner to my lining, I give it about a minute, and that’s it set. No matter how hot or bothered I get during the day, the liner doesn’t move or fade – it’s like magic, only disappearing when the makeup remover comes out at the end of the day. Benefit promised this lasts a full 24 hours, and I believe them. It’s the perfect accompaniment for their BADgal BANG! Mascara (reviewed here) and has found a new home in my everyday makeup rotation.

Benefit BADgal BANG! 24 Hour Eye Pencil is priced at £18.50 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Is it just me, or do Monday mornings always feel like a little extra effort? As a rule, I try to avoid booking meetings or anything too important for Monday mornings – I’d rather tackle my inbox and schedule my week so I can start my week on the strongest possible foot, so multi-tasking beauty products on busy mornings feel like a real lifesaver.

Whilst I work through my inbox, I apply a generous layer of the Rose Flash Balm and let it get to work – it’s a clever 3-in-1 formula which moisturises and brightens skin, whilst prepping skin for makeup application. It’s a gorgeously silky cream, which feels super-hydrating and nourishing. If you’ve had a busy weekend, this really amps up skin, making it look and feel gloriously healthy.

Unlike some rose products I’ve tried in the past, the fragrance of the Flash Balm is perfect – it’s not heavy and overpowering, instead it’s beautifully light and fresh. Since the formula is so hydrating, it can be used in place of your regular moisturiser too – so it’s perfect if your skin needs a little extra help as we head into autumn and winter.

Pixi Beauty Rose Flash Balm is priced at £26 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

A few weeks back, I bit the bullet and got my very first hair extensions – nothing dramatic, or even too noticeable, but just a few tapes which give my ends a bit of oomph, and volume. I’ve been amazed at the positive difference in my hair, and even though I’m enjoying all the benefits, I’ve been careful to give my haircare routine a bit of an update to make sure my hair stays as healthy as possible.

Since getting the tapes fitted (I’ve got eight of them) I’ve had to completely change the way I treat my hair – no more daily washings (these can weaken the tapes and mean you need them refitted more often) and since dry shampoo is my new best friend, my ends can feel dry after a day or two. To combat the dryness, and keep split ends at bay, every second night I’ve been applying four to five pumps of Cocosolis Hair Oil Mask to my lengths and ends. My hair absolutely drinks the stuff up, and I love the soft coconut scent.

The formula is chock-full of great-for-hair ingredients including coconut oil, hemp oil, camellia oil, argan oil among many others. It’s also enriched with Vitamin E, which is known to stimulate hair growth, prevent breakage and work to prevent split ends. If you’re heading to the beach during October half term, it’s an easy way to prevent chlorine or seawater damage. I also love using a pump of the oil on wet hair, applied before I start heat styling. It feels lovely and light, and really smoothes hair and keeps it soft and manageable (which I really need now that I can’t wash it each morning). It’s such a handy product which really works to condition hair from the inside out.

Cocosolis Hair Oil Mask 3in1 is priced at £29.99 and is available here

Ok, so I can’t quite believe we’ve hit September already. 2019 is absolutely flying past, and we’re quickly heading straight into autumn, which in Edinburgh, means dropping temperatures which can play havoc my beauty regimes. I’ve already started using a slightly heavier moisturiser, and to keep my hands intact, I’ve been using Leighton Denny’s Anti-Aging Miracle Oil on my cuticles daily.

It’s a seriously hydrating formula, which includes Rosehip Oil, Vitamin A and an innovative Timecode™ Complex, all of which work together to hydrate and to nourish nails and cuticles. It’s quite a lightweight formula which sinks in easily, and doesn’t leave fingers feeling greasy. There is even Tea Tree Oil to soothe skin – a must for cuticle pickers like me!

If you’re looking to keep your fingers looking and feeling their best – I’d seriously recommend investing in a bottle of Leighton Denny’s finest. I’ve been keep my bottle on my office desk so I keep my fingers hydrated all day long.

Leighton Denny’s Time Repair Anti-Aging Miracle Oil is priced at £12 and is available here.