The Luxe List

I know I tend to bang on about how much I love baths, and really I do, but on a daily basis, I only have time to hop in the shower each morning and night. Despite being time-poor, I love my showers to feel as luxe as possible, which is why I’ve been loving Sanctuary Spa’s new Shower Burst Shower Foam.

A nifty take on shower gel, the foam is a creamy mousse which feels indulgent to use. I’m obsessed with the ‘invigorating’ scent – the mix of Orange Blossom and Green Lemon is super fresh and uplifting. It’s perfect for perking up early mornings, and I feel so fresh and clean after using it!  After using it skin feels clean, but still soft, and it smells divine – it’s the perfect way to beat the increasing black mornings!

Sanctuary Spa Shower Burst is priced at £7 and is available here.

It feels like it’s been weeks since I’ve seen the sun, and the result is skin which needs a bit of help. There’s nothing worse than winter skin, so, in an attempt to look a bit healthy, I’ve been experimenting with some fake tan. One of the quickest and easiest tans I’ve tried has been Model Co’s Tan Airbrush in a Can.

After a good exfoliation in the shower, I’ve been using Model Co’s Tan Airbrush in a Can – an absolutely genius product which leaves skin looking beautifully glowy. Using the product couldn’t be easier – just mist the tan on (it’s easy to reach tricky areas thanks to the spray) and once it’s on, I buff everything in using a mitt. The result is a beautifully even tan, which looks seriously believable – it doesn’t leave skin looking or feeling scaly, instead I just look like I’ve been somewhere exotic!

Model Co Tan Airbrush in a Can is priced at £15 and is available here.

I know we’re only in October, but it’s just over ten weeks until Christmas. I’ve started looking for present ideas which feel fun and a bit unusual, and the new Unicorn Milk Gift Set from Being by Sanctuary seriously fits the bill!

Coming packaged in an uber-cute reusable tumbler, the Unicorn Milk Gift Set has everything you need popped in it to enjoy a chilled evening in.

For an uber luxe shower experience, there’s a shower pouf as well as a tube of Cloudberry & Lychee Blossom Body Wash. Fresh and delicately fruity, it’s a perfect morning pick-me-up which leaves skin delicately fragranced all day.

There are post-shower treats too, in the form of Cloudberry & Lychee Blossom Body Lotion and Body Mist. Now that the weather is getting a whole lot cooler, I’m making sure to moisturise each morning to keep skin looking and feeling healthy, and I’m loving the soft fruity scent of the line. The Body Mist is a great option to stay smelling good all day too! It’s great for casual days when I’m running errands or popping to the gym – it’s portable size is perfect for popping into a handbag, or for travel too!

Being by Sanctuary Unicorn Milk Gift Set is priced at £15 and is available here.

When it comes to makeup, winter usually means a heavier coverage foundation, but I feel like a formula which is too heavy can look, and feel quite ageing, so I’m clinging to my Glossier skin tint for as long as possible. Since it has the coverage of pretty much water (in a good way) I’ve been finding ways to keep my skin as clear as possible.

To combat any weather-related dry skin, I’ve been turning to The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution for a once per week treatment. Incredibly affordable, and dramatic to use (you’ll look like an extra from a horror film) the Peeling Solution is the easiest cheat to smooth, glowing skin.

After a thorough cleanse, I pat my skin dry, and then apply a few drops of the solution to my face, neck and chest, and gently rub it in. The formula is a bright, cherry red, so it’s easy to see where you’re applying, and within a few seconds you’ll feel it too. The Peeling Solution is one of those products you definitely feel working – it tingles to the point of stinging, and I usually have to distract myself for a minute or two, until it dies down. The Ordinary warn not to leave it on skin for more than ten minutes – after which I like to wash it wall off with a tepid damp flannel. The difference in skin after using the product is dramatic – skin feels ridiculously soft and velvety smooth, and the Solution somehow eradicates every little bump you want to get rid off. Afterwards, I smooth on a generous whack of moisturiser and head to bed.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is priced at £6.30 and is available here

Now that winter is well on the way, (we’re bang slap in the middle of Storm Callum in the UK as we speak) I’ve been loving a return to deeper eye look for both day and night. Rather than a sheer shimmer, which has been my go-to all summer long, it feels almost comforting to retreat into a chocolatey smokey eye.

The Too Faced Natural Eyes palette is an absolute dream for neutral makeup lovers like me. A revamp of an earlier release, the nine shadows are a mix of satin, shimmer and glitter finishes, and all are stamped with the most beautiful lace design. They also have been scented with a coconut fragrance, which although quite strong at first, does dissipate with use (I admit, I left my palette open overnight to let it fade a little).

The mix of shades and finishes are my dream combination – neutral enough for everyday, with enough dark shades to choose from for evening looks. On a daily basis, I tend to buff Silk Teddy over the entire lid, blending a little Push Up into the lash line. The result is a beautifully sheer shimmery eye which looks polished, but not over the top.

Evenings mean I can delve more heavily into the shimmer and glitter shades. Honey Pot is a warm copper shimmer, which looks molten dabbed into the centre of the lid. I’m also obsessed with Chocolate Martini as a liner – the glittering brown really makes hazel eyes pop, and the texture is as smooth as butter.

All of the shadows are infused with coconut butter, which means the formulas are super smooth and easy to blend, and none of them have any sort of dust or fall out. I’ve been wearing the shadows without a base or primer, and I easily get eight to ten hours of wear before I see any sort of fading. If you’re looking for a new palette to see you through the season – Too Faced’s Natural Eyes might just be it!

Too Faced’s Natural Eyes is priced at £34 and is available here (UK) and here (US)