The Luxe List

I’m not sure that there is any beauty product more personal than your signature scent. I’ have  (rather ridiculously) felt almost offended to smell a favourite personal favourite on someone, so to avoid feeling like one of the crowd, I’m always on the hunt for niche brands. In my experience, they’re the ones formulating the fragrance which feel almost magical to wear. They’re the ones people will be chasing you down the street to ask what you’re wearing, and the ones which will spark memories when you give it a spritz.

The newest brand I’ve stumbled across is Memoize London, a fabulously luxurious company who celebrate the complexity of fragrance. Each of their perfumes comes packaged in the most fabulous black glass bottles, nestled in black and gold jewel box. It feels decadent even to look at.

The range of perfumes on offer from Memoize London is well curated, and focuses on rich, heady scents. Ones which feel special to wear. I opted for Avaritia, a citrus-tinged containing notes of musk and jasmine. It’s the perfect scent for summer evenings – the mix light citrus with deeper amber notes feels incredibly chic.

As the perfume heats up on the skin, if feels deeper and darker. Incredibly sexy, you only need a spritz or two to be delicately scented all night long. It’s incredibly alluring, and I can guarantee you’ve not got a fragrance like this in your collection.

Memoize London – Avaritia is priced at £177 and is available here.

When it comes to most things, I’m a creature of habit. I’ve got a routine which can feel pretty set in stone – I buy my coffee from the same cafes, I grocery shop in the same spots, and when it comes to beauty? Well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a taupe eyeshadow I didn’t immediately fall in love with. My hair is no different – it’s been pretty much the same since my thirteenth birthday, when I discovered the joys of GHD straighteners as well as a full head of blonde highlights.

I’ve never been one of those girls lusting after pixie cuts, instead I drool over long lengths, hoping that someday my hair will be as long, thick and lustrous as I dream about. So, in an effort to undo a little of the damage I wreak with the hairdryer and straighteners each morning, I’ve been using Kerastase’s new Bain Extentioniste shampoo and conditioner – a line of haircare specially developed to encourage hair to grow long and stay healthy.

Packaged in the brand’s signature packaging, this is a hair duo that smells seriously incredible. It’s all fresh and aquatic, and makes mornings feel a tad more bearable with such a luxurious scent. Since the shampoo has a clear formulation, I find it’s good when I need a thorough cleanse – it cuts through any post-workout grease or product buildup easily without stripping hair, and it foams up beautifully.

All the products in the Extentioniste line have formulas enriched with Creatine and Ceramides to help add strength to sensitised ends, and as the hair’s internal structure is rebuilt and sealed to provide greater protection throughout its growth. This also leads to shinier hair, so it’s a win-win all round.

Kerastase Bain Extentioniste Shampoo & Conditioner is priced from £13.05 and is available here

Keeping skin in tip-top condition over the summer can be hard work. Between keeping things hydrated, screened from the sun, and fighting grease, it’s easy for sensitive skin like mine to feel slightly overwhelmed. My skin gets even more sensitised when it’s been in the sun – so finding a way to exfoliate without irritation can sometimes feel next to impossible.

I was intrigued when Spa Technologies sent over their Flower Peel Serum. In the past, I’ve used serums to hydrate and brighten – never to exfoliate, so I was intrigued. The serum is completely Vegan and cruelty free – so it not only does it do your skin a whole lot of good, but it’s non-harmful to animals. Win win.

I’ve been using the serum each morning after cleansing, patting a pump or two into dry skin, and I’ve already noticed the my skin feels brighter and calmer. The ‘Peel’ element of the serum comes courtesy hibiscus flower acids and salicylic acid both of which provide gentle exfoliation and ‘slough’ off dead cells, leaving your skin looking and feeling like brand new. It’s a gentler, more hydrating way to exfoliate skin, perfect if you’re perhaps a little pink from all the sunshine.

In addition to providing gentle exfoliation, the serum also works to hydrate skin. There is a good amount of hyaluronic acid in the formula, and the base is made up from marine seaweed harvested off the coast of Iceland, works to lock in moisture and give skin a healthy glow. I’m obsessed with the balance between exfoliation and hydration, and it’s exactly what’s needed for perfect summer skin!

Spa Technologies Flower Peel Serum is priced at £25 and is available here.

There isn’t much which would make me set an alarm for a Saturday morning, but the opportunity to see Fenty Beauty’s new Moroccan Spice Collection in the flesh was just too good to miss. So yesterday morning, I found myself in the centre of Glasgow bright and early, sampling the newest products from Fenty Beauty, in the middle of an Urban Souk.

Part of the Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice tour ( which has previously hit New York and London, and is still headed to Belfast among other cities) was an Instagrammers’ dream designed to celebrate the new summer 2018 collection.

With a life-sized eyeshadow palette (yes, really), alongside shisha lounges and all the Fenty Beauty products you can imagine, and Rihanna pumping out the sound system it felt like the only place to be on a sunny Saturday.

I sneaked in before it got too busy (there was already a queue to get in before 9am!) and I’m so glad I did! With rows and rows of the Moroccan Spice collection, I got to swatch the new eyeshadows and primers at a leisurely pace, as well as add quite a few items to my wish list!

In addition to the new products, you could also get shade matched with the Fenty Beauty foundations and Matchstix (I’ve previously reviewed here) as well as get your makeup done. With makeup artists brought up from London, it was an opportunity too good to miss!

The party atmosphere plus such stunning products felt like the perfect start to the weekend, and I don’t think there was a person who didn’t leave sparkling with highlighter, and with an arm full of swatches! I was very kindly gifted the new Moroccan  Spice Collection – so expect reviews very soon. But in the meantime, you can pick it up here.

When it comes to summer beauty, my number one product is always going to be lip balm. No matter if I’m dressed up, or just out to grab a coffee, I will always have at least one on me – after all, there is nothing worse than the feeling of dried out lips. I’ve been a fan of Paw Paw ointments for a while, so when PapayaGold sent over their new Lip Balm which is enriched with Bio Active Manuka Honey, I couldn’t wait to give it a go!

Packaged in a dinky little pot, this is a balm small enough to fit into any bag – and for good reason! The balm itself has a smooth, lightweight consistency, which doesn’t feel too heavy or goopy on the lips. Instead, it provides a dose of much needed hydration which leaves lips feeling silky smooth.

I’m a long-term fan of Paw Paw balms, as I feel like they really work in healing lips in the longterm, as well as provide an immediate hit of hydration. The inclusion of the Manuka Honey in the formula is adds to this feeling of healing everything up. The balm works well as a base for lipsticks too – creating a smooth base for colour. And the best part? The balm is super affordable!

PapayaGold Paw Paw Lip Balm with Manuka Honey is priced at £3.69 and is available here.