The Luxe List

As much as I love autumn with all the pretty leaves, the pumpkin spice and the chance to snuggle up in scarves and sweaters, I despise what it does to my skin. Alternating between outdoor chills and indoors with the heating cranked up leaves me feeling absolutely parched.

I try to do as much as possible to keep everything smooth and hydrated, but this can be especially difficult when it comes to delicate areas like my lips. So, the chance to try Nugg’s new Exfoliating Lip Smoother couldn’t have come at a better time!

Packaged in an adorable (if impossible to photograph) little ball, the Smoother means that keeping lips soft  is now incredibly easy. Made up entirely of natural ingredients, the Smoother feels like a gritty balm to apply, which I tend to use every couple of mornings after cleansing. Once I work it gently into my lips, I remove the scrub with a warm washcloth and then finish off with a slick of balm. I am obsessed with the vanilla/birthday cake scent too – it’s so fun, and the little sphere is just adorable!

Nugg Exfoliating Lip Smoother is priced at £10 and is available here

When it comes to updating your makeup bag for autumn, is there anything better than a brand new red lippie? I certainly don’t think so! Especially when they’re as perfect as Clarins’ newest shade 754 Deep Red which has been released as part of the brand’s new Graphic Makeup Collection.

Packaged in the brand’s signature chic golden bullet, 754 Deep Red is everything you want in a statement lip. Like all lipsticks I’ve tried from the brand, the formula is rich and creamy, with an opaque finish from a single swipe of the bullet.

Applied straight from the bullet, the colour is rich and vibrant, and lasts well over four hours without drying or flaking. It’s the perfect red lip for fall!

Clarins Jolie Rouge in 754 Deep Red is priced at £20 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

When it comes to winter skincare it’s far too easy to concentrate on keeping moisture levels up, and let everything else skip by the wayside. I’m not sure about you, but the moment the central heating goes on and gets cranked up, my skin just gets more and more parched by the day. And dry skin leads to dull skin, so in an attempt to keep everything as soft and as glowy as possible, I’ve been reaching for my tub of Simply Scrub’s Soursop Body Scrub.

Simply Scrub is an American brand who specialise in 100% natural, organic and chemical free products. The scrubs are made up of coffee grounds (which are fabulous for working magic on cellulite) as well as dead sea mineral salt and brown sugar so they leave skin feeling looking absolutely incredible. The coconut oil in the mix really ups moisture levels, and the use of Soursop and essential oils smells fantastic. It’s a fresh, quite citrus-y mix, which is perfect for use in the morning.

Simply Scrubs Soursop Scrub Jar is priced at $13.99 and is available here 

Kiko’s Fall 2.0 collection has been a complete knockout for me. I’ve got lots of reviews lined up for you, but just know that you can’t really go wrong with it. It’s full of work-horse products which are real staples, the first of which is the 3D Lip Gloss.

Finished with the line’s signature knobbly blue packaging (I think it might be meant to resemble shagreen) it’s one of those glossed which I just keep reaching for. I love the subtle sheen it gives lips, and it feels incredible to wear – very creamy and not at all sticky. As you might expect, the lasting power isn’t the greatest, but it couldn’t be easier to reapply.

It’s also super affordable too – its £8.90 and is available here.

When Fenty Beauty launched last month, it felt like the biggest drop in beauty in, well, ever. I snuck into the Edinburgh Harvey Nichols store bright and early on a Friday morning to have a play with it, and by the time I was catching a cab at 8am, there was already a queue of people waiting to stock up in lines around the store.

Boasting 40 shades of foundation from alabaster-white to the deepest of chocolates, Fenty Beauty is a line which caters for all, and I could resist giving a couple of the products a go! The first of the lineup I tried was the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter.

One of two shades available, (the other is Trophy Wife, the goldest, glitteriest shimmer you’ll ever see) the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighters have been sung as one of the line’s hero products. I’m obsessed with the sleek understated packaging, and the soft, finely milled formula.

Like most of the original Fenty Beauty Line, the Kilowatt Freestyle Highlighter can be used in a multitude of ways. Swirled lightly on the cheekbones it gives skin a subtle glow – the white powder give skin a surprisingly natural sheen, and doesn’t look at all frosty. Instead, there is a pink / gold shift which is incredibly pretty.

Patted in the inner corner of eyes, it adds a beautiful touch of luminosity to eye looks, and I also love it buffed into the brow bone for a little added glamour.

The longevity of the Kilowatt Freestyle Highlighter was a happy surprise – it lasts throughout the day, and on evenings when I’ve gone out, after applying it in the morning, people have commented on it’s pretty glow.

Much like the whole Fenty Beauty line, I’ve been really impressed with the affordability of the products. The highlighters feel like they are really fabulous value for money – the pans hold an impressive 8g of product, so I think I’ll be enjoying a Fenty glow for a while!

Fenty Kilowatt Freestyle Highlighter in Metal Moon is priced at £24 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Now that nights are getting darker earlier, I’m spending far longer pampering myself each evening. There’s nothing nicer than treating yourself to a hot bubble bath on a dark night, and I’ve been experimenting with Lush bath bombs to add a bit of fizz.

The new Rocket Science bath bomb has become a real favourite of mine. Mixing the scents of lemon and bergamot, and leaving the water a vivid cobalt blue, it’s a fabulous way to while away an evening, and it’s incredibly soothing. Like all Lush bath bombs, Rocket Science 100% vegetarian, and leaves skin feeling incredible.

Lush Rocket Science is priced at £2.95 and is available here

So, what happens when your favourite nail salon is fully booked up for weeks, you’re headed on holiday and you have the nails of horror stories? You head to Superdrug and run to their false nail section, because ImPress by Kiss are the answers to all your problems.

Available in a wide range of colours and finishes (these neon ones were just too good to miss), the nails are meant to emulate the look of a gel manicure. They’re not as long or pointy as other nails I’ve tried, and as a result, look and feel far more like natural nails.

The packets come with a variety of statement nails too – so if you’re feeling flash you can customise your mani to suit you, or if you’d prefer, you can keep it simple. With ImPress nails, you don’t need to faff around with glues, and the dual layer technology glue keeps the nails on securely for days. I’m such a convert, and have already stocked up on a few boxes for in-between manicures.

Kiss ImPress nails are priced at £7.99 and are available here (UK) and here (US)

When it comes to cleansing, I know I can be a bit obsessive about the whole thing. Whilst my friends flop into bed after a quick wet wipe to the face, I fuss about in the bathroom with various lotions and potions for what feels like hours. And even on my quickest evenings I need to use at least three products to get my skin feeling squeaky clean.

The newest addition to my line up is Indemne’s Miss Ella Lotion. A cleansing lotion made up of floral waters and essential oils, it makes short work of makeup whilst cleansing and toning the skin. After using my regular foaming cleanser, I saturate a couple of cotton pads with the Miss Ella Lotion, and swipe over my face, neck and décolletage. It’s got a gorgeous light floral scent, and it really gets rid of any makeup which might have stuck around through my regular cleanse. Skin feels so soft and clean, without feeling parched or stripped.

Indemne Miss Ella Lotion is priced at £11.39 and is available here.

When it comes to the end of a busy day, there’s nothing nicer than taking off my makeup and slapping on a moisturising face mask. Since I spend what feels like 100% of my time in front of one screen or another, my eyes easily feel dried out and tired. So, when I got my paws on a jar of Christian Breton’s Anti Fatigue Eye Gel felt made for me!

Packaged in a dinky little jar, complete with spatula, I’ve been keeping mine in the fridge to really capitalise on it’s cooling properties. After cleansing, I dap a little of the gel under my eyes, and work it into the orbital area using my ring finger.

Straight out of the fridge, it’s a refreshing and soothing treatment, and works seriously well at targeting puffiness, dark circles and fine lines. If you’re looking for a lightweight, non-greasy eye cream, this is the one for you!

Christian Breton Anti Fatigue Eye Gel is priced at £45 and is available here

When it comes to skincare, I’m a big believer in treating yourself. There is something so special about applying an indulgent face cream every morning, and my current go-to has been 111Skin’s rather intriguingly named Space Anti Age Day Cream. Developed by the brand as a product to protect astronauts’ skin whilst in space, it’s the perfect product to work on cold weather-ravaged skin.

Packaged in a chic screw top jar, the Space Anti Age Day Cream comes with metal tipped applicator – I am obsessed with it! Rather than digging into the cream with my fingers, I simply dip the applicator into the cream, and then use it to work the formula into the skin. It’s fabulous for lymph drainage – and using it under the eyes, in the hollows of my cheeks, and around my jawline really works to prevent the dreaded puff.

The cream itself feels wonderfully lightweight, despite being deeply hydrating. Infused with vitamins, antioxidants, and Hyaluronic Acid, it’s perfect for protecting skin from colder temperatures and the upcoming winter. It leaves skin feeling plump, hydrated and primed for makeup.

111Skincare Space Anti Age Day Cream is priced at £150 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Since the nights are getting colder and longer, I’ve noticed I’ve started lighting candles far more regularly. They’re not getting saved for special occasions or for long indulgent weekend evenings. Instead, once I’m home and it’s dark, I’ve been popping one on whilst I get on with work and reading in the evenings.

Candles just make the evenings feel so cosy, and luxurious options like this one from Janjira are the perfect additions to my bathroom. I just adore the fresh, fruity scent, and even better than most – once the candle gets to the liquid stage, you can use the candle as a massage oil! Just pour a little of it into palms, and work into tense and tired muscles. The mixture of the heat and fragrance is so soothing and spa-like, it’s just what I need to forget the stresses and strains of the day!

Janjiro Therapy Massage Candles are priced at £32 and are available here.