The Luxe List

It’s been a good couple of weeks since I’ve even thought about wearing mascara, but it’s always nice to have something to look forward to. If you’re in the mood to treat yourself to a little treat to enjoy once life gets back to ‘normal’ then Fenty’s new Fun Frontal Mascara is a good bet.

As you might expect from the brand, this mascara packs a punch. Designed to give lashes volume, with lift and curl, this this a mascara that’s made to be noticed. Definitely not for just throwing on (I’ve worn it to the gym, and it didn’t end too well) this is the perfect choice for evenings when you want a bit of extra drama.

Rather ingeniously, Fenty Beauty’s Full Frontal Mascara, has redesigned the mascara wand – one side is big and bushy, to give lashes a dramatic sweep, full of volume, whilst the other side combs through the lashes, leaving them long and fluttery. It’s a dramatic effect, which is perfect for faking that wide-eyed look. I love it paired with a little liner and taupe eyeshadow for an upgrade to my usual day look. If you’re after something a little more dramatic, the mascara builds easily, without caking or flaking, and I love how opaque and black the formula is.

Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Mascara is priced at £21 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

When I got a few tape-in extensions last year, I had no idea how much of a difference they’d make – used for a little extra oomph and thickness, I wouldn’t be without them now, and although I’ve needed to make a few changes to my daily routine, the results have been more than worth the extra effort.

One of the biggest adjustments I’ve had to make is generally being more gentle with my strands. Shampoos have to be sulphate-free, and I can’t just throw some oil on it and hope for the best. Ironically, it’s meant my own hair is in better condition than when I started getting extensions, and one of my favourite extension-friendly finds has been WetBrush’s Shine Enhancer.

A clever mix of plastic and boar bristles, the Shine Enhancer detangles hair gently, without snagging, pulling or stretching ends, and it leaves them visibly shinier too. After getting out the shower, I apply a liberal dose of heat protectant onto wet hair, then brush through using the Shine Enhancer. I blow dry my hair using this hot brush, then use the Shine Enhancer alongside my trusty GHD straighteners to smooth everything out. It’s truly one of the only brushes which has never snagged my extensions – I love it so much, I’ve gone out and bought anther 2 of them, just so I have one in my car and in my handbag.

The WetBrush is priced at £12.99 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

The last few weeks, have, obviously been spent pretty much entirely indoors. You’d think it would be good for my skin – but I’ve noticed it’s felt drier than usual. I think it’s a combination of stress, central heating, and when I am out, it’s been colder than usual, which doesn’t help matters. I’ve also finally had time to enjoy some at-home spa time, which has included dermal rolling, and there’s nothing I find quite as effective to finish a rolling session than massaging a few drops of this serum into skin.

Even on evenings when I’m not playing about with beauty tools, the Alpha-H Hyaluronic 8 Serum is perfect for pepping up dull and dry skin. Much more than your average hyaluronic serum, Alpha-H’s take contains different molecule sizes and weights to allow hydration to effectively penetrate skin – leaving it looking plumper and firmer than before. I’ve seen the serum described as a ‘filter in a bottle’ and they’re not wrong – once my skin has absorbed the serum, it looks much fresher than before – it’s perfect to apply pre-moisturiser to create the perfect base for makeup too.

I love the texture of the Alha-H Hyaluronic 8 Serum – it’s not sticky or greasy, instead, it just sinks into skin quickly and easily, leaving it looking and feeling 100% better than before. If you’ve got dry skin like I do, the serum is a bit of a godsend – one of the 8 ingredients is a new molecular complex called Patch20, which is clinically proven to swell the skin’s moisture reservoir on contact and provides a sustained level of hydration for up to 48 hours, while lumicease, pollushield and cureberry extract work in synergy to protect the skin from environmental aggressors.

Alpha-H 8 Hyaluronic 8 Serum is priced at £38 and is available here (UK)

When it comes to life right now, it’s a case of making the best of everything. Rather than having to travel to meetings a few times a week, and scheduling work time in between, I’m now able to spend a day working away completely uninterrupted, and get ahead of the curve. It’s also meant I’ve managed to get a few hours to myself, where I’ve been able to enjoy giving myself a bit of a tan.

My current tan of choice is the St. Moritz Spray Tan in Medium – perfect for getting rid of my winter pastiness, not only does it look really natural on, but it’s so easy to apply too! When I’m in the shower, I make sure to give myself a thorough exfoliation, and then once I’m out I make sure to moisturise, paying particular attention to trouble spots like elbows, knees and ankles.

Once everything is suitably hydrated, I get to work with the tan – rather handily, this one comes in a spray tin, meaning you can achieve a professional-level spray tan at home! One I’ve sprayed I buff the formula in using the St Moritz mitt using long strokes. It’s an easy way to protect against streaks, and it helps the drying process too. Then, I head to bed, and wake up looking naturally tan in the morning!

St. Mortiz Spray Tan is priced at £12.99 and is available here