When it comes to beauty treatments, my most-loved might just be a really great cleanse. There’s nothing like that really clean face feeling, especially if it’s been a busy one, and I just want to wash the day off. There’s nothing worse than the feeling of makeup after a full day dashing about – and despite wearing pretty lightweight makeup, my skin can sometimes feel a little clogged by the end of the day.
When I stopped into Chantecaille’s new Harvey Nichols counter last month, I was very kindly gifted a bottle of their Purifying and Exfoliating Phytoactive Solution. Designed to refine skin, minimise pores and give skin a glow – this is one of those products I love to use once or twice a week. After cleansing, I saturate a cotton pad, and run it over my face and neck. It’s perfect for beating winter dullness, and thanks to its innovative cocktail of ingredients and 10% AHAs, the formula works to visibly brighten, resurface and balance.
Despite having sensitive skin, I don’t get red or irritated when I use it, and it primes skin wonderfully for my serum and moisturiser too!
Chantecaille Purifying and Exfoliating Phytoactive Solution is priced at £76 and is available from Harvey Nichols here.
Hi – it’s me. Apologies for the radio silence on here – work has (thankfully) gotten incredibly busy recently, which means that every single second has been spent doing that, and less of this. Which is annoying. So despite today’s to do list sitting at 50% completed I thought I’d share this gorgeous find which I’ve been loving recently.
Over the past year or so, I’ve really been on a bit of a hair health kick. I’ve ditched my usual highlights regime (thanks Lockdown) and I’m now the nearest I’ve been to my natural hair colour since I was 13. I’ve also overhauled my product stash, ditching everything with silicons, paragons and sulphates, and honestly, my ends haven’t felt this healthy in a long time.
I feel like each and every product from Christophe Robin’s line could be classified as a favourite, but if you’re in need a once a week treat – the Aloe Vera Express Mask is the one. Formulated to hydrate, plump strands and emphasise shine, I slather it on every Monday after using the brands Sea Salt Scrub.
The result is hair which feels soft and silky, and it’s super shiny too. Since ditching the bleach, I don’t have to worry about broken baby hairs which frizz at the slightest touch of heat or humidity, and my hair feels so much thicker too!
Christophe Robin’s Aloe Vera Express Mask is priced from £15 and is available here (UK) and here (US).
When Glossier released their new Ultralips a few weeks back, I just knew I’d love the new formula. Described as the lipstick equivalent of a cashmere sweatpant, the idea of a comfortable, easy slick of colour for my daily makeup felt like perfect timing. Over the summer I’ve been giving my daily products a bit of a refresh – powders have been swapped for creams, and I’ve been really simplifying what I reach for, so the release felt like perfect timing.
Packaged in the cutest pink, minimalist tube, the Ultralip has quickly become one of my most reached-for products. One of nine available shades, Lucite is a soft, cool-toned pink which Glossier describe as ‘peony’. It’s my favourite kind of daytime lip colour – subtle colour with a flattering sheen. It’s hydrating too, so lips are never left feeling parched, even when I’m on the go.
With a formula which includes Hyaluronic Acid, three hydrating oils and buildable pigment, has quickly become a real daily staple. I’ve been grabbing it for everything from coffee runs to zoom meetings and everything in between. It’s super comfortable to wear, and it’s ultra flattering too! I guess that’s why it’s called Ultralip!
Glossier Ultralip is priced at £14 and is available here.
New to Glossier? Follow this link to receive 10% off your first order!
When it comes to summer travels this year, it was obvious that we weren’t going to be getting away anywhere too exotic. Even though you’re technically allowed to travel again, I worry way too much to be able to enjoy a break with every possibility that you’d have to up and head home at any moment. Plus, spending time on a plane with a mask doesn’t sound ideal. So instead, we decided to head down to The Cotswolds. It’s an area we go to pretty regularly, but we’d never been down during the summer, and I had a hit list of places to head to – top of which was The Wild Rabbit.
Part of the Daylesford Group, the Wild Rabbit is the absolute dream of Olde English Inn realised in the stunning village of Kingham. I’ve been wanting to check-in for a while, but it’s always fully booked, so, back in March I got our reservation in, and confirmed the Mouse Room for a few nights away. Depending on your needs, The Wild Rabbit have a variety of accommodation options which range from the cosy (The Mouse) through to multi-bedroomed cottages perfect for family breaks away. A number of them are pet-friendly too!
We knew booking that the Mouse was the smallest room on offer, but honestly, I fell in love with it. Cotswolds stone took pride of place with a beautifully lit feature wall, and although it was small, everything was so well thought-out. A bathroom, with full bath, came stocked with luxe Bamford toiletries, whilst the bed itself was the comfiest of clouds, super king in size, and decked out in crisp white linen sheets.
Throughout the Wild Rabbit, you’ll find Hugo Guinness’ charming Lino cuts, and each room comes with its own, specially designed motif. In a really cute detail, you get a postcard version to take home.
Breakfast comes included with your roommate, and it would be a crime to miss it. A mix of pastries, yoghurt and cooked options, they really cater for everyone’s tastes. We’re not big breakfast people, but it was still lovely to start the day with a bit of scrambled eggs and sausage, and the Daylesford coffee is always delicious!
We actually ate at The Wild Rabbit twice during our stay, and due to the steak being so delicious, we had it both times! With a seasonal menu which changes regularly, it was such a treat getting to enjoy such local produce, and the touches like the amuse bouche and warmed bread were seriously appreciated!
A ribeye is never going to be the most photogenic of dishes, but this was, without a doubt, one of the most delicious steaks I’ve ever had. Flame-grilled with a sprinkling of pepper, and perfectly rare inside, it was absolutely divine. Served with perfectly crunchy fries and rich hollandaise sauce, it was a Last Supper-worthy.
When it comes to this time of year, I cannot tell you how clean I want my face to feel. Truly, wearing a face-full of heavy makeup as the temperatures start to rise feels like an absolute nightmare, and I’d much rather spend my days in tinted moisturiser than have to worry about thick or powdery formulas. I’ve also been switching up my skincare routine to keep my skin as happy as possible too. Now that salons are back open, I’ve resumed my routine of a microdermalbrasion facial every six weeks, which means I don’t need to worry too much about exfoliation, and I’ve been wanting to switch up my cleansing routine after powering through my last tube.
I stumbled on a bottle of Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser a couple of weeks ago, and honestly, I’d forgotten how much I like it. It’s easy to write-off Glossier as a fad brand, their marketing and packaging is a bit of a love-it-or-loathe it (I fall into the former category), but their products tend to work well for me. I love the easiness of them, and the cleanser is no different. A light, jelly-like consistency with the merest hint of a rose fragrance, it’s super cooling on skin, and if you’ve been in the sun, it feels like a bit of a godsend. It doesn’t foam as such, and it doesn’t sting your eyes either. Instead, it just leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed rather than stripped. For skin that’s in need of a little TLC, this is a must-have.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is priced at £15, and is available here.
If you’re new to Glossier, make your first order here, to receive 10% off
