My Obsession: By Terry, Baume de Rose

I now refer to my life in two parts - life before I purchased By Terry's Baume de Rose, and life after I purchased By Terry's Baume de Rose. You know that feeling of finding something that you love so much you just can't imagine what you did without it? Well that is me and this lip product. I was amazed to find that this product is 10 years old. What the? How have I not known about this sooner?

I am an avid user of lip balms and cannot go to sleep at night unless I have some on my lips. I have tried many in the past, some that were expensive but just meh (Hourglass Lip Oil i'm looking at you), and I was reluctant to spend this type of money in case this wasn't good. When I visited the By Terry store in Paris (which you can read about here), I finally decided to take the plunge and invest. 

So why is it so good? It is quite a solid balm that you have to work up a little to get from the jar on to your fingertip. Due to the fairly solid consistency, you can still feel it on your lips when you wake up in the morning. And for the first time ever, my lips are hydrated enough to wear matte lipsticks without feeling awful. You only use such a small amount that a jar will last a long time. It smells amazing, as all the By Terry products do. 

It is not often I fall for something this hard! You can buy this here if you are in the UK, and here if you are in Australia. Once again, I am totally blown away by the Australian price tag on this compared to the price you pay in the UK. £35 versus $84 just doesn't make sense to me ....

Monthly Favourites - January

Since putting myself through a month long ban on any makeup purchases which I (almost) stuck to, this months favourites are all about skin care. Travelling from one side of the globe to another this past month definitely put a strain on my skin, but luckily I found some amazing products to help with the transition.

Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Instant Treatment Eye Mask

I attended my 20 year school reunion while I was in Sydney and there was no way I was going to that with bags under my eyes. These are so easy to use. You just pop them on for 5-10 minutes while you get dressed and do your hair, and by the time you are ready for makeup you just remove them and delicately massage in any excess. I think they did pep me up a little and gave me a perfect base to go in with my corrector and concealer. £ 59.00 here.

Sanctuary Spa Thermal Detox Mask

I picked this up in a mini travel sized sachet in Boots and took it away with me. I was so impressed with it that I purchased the full size last week while at the Sanctuary Spa. What makes it different from other deep cleansing masks is that it heats up once applied to your skin. The heat feels amazing! It is so reasonably priced and has been really good for my combination skin. A definite thumbs up. £10.20 here.

Kora Organics Hydrating Mask

I have been using this in tandem with the detox mask above. I use this one on my cheeks, forehead and all other areas of my face that are not congested while I use the detox mask around my chin area. Living in London in winter with the dry heating being pumped through the house makes your skin so thirsty and this mask does a good job of replumping the skin. £37 here.

By Terry Or de Rose Blush Prestige

I picked this up for half price while at the By Terry store in Paris in December and have been using it constantly. There are a few ways to use it, but my favourite is to add a pump to your foundation to give your skin a radiant glow. If I have any extra left on my hand, I lightly dab the remainder along my cheekbones for some added highlighting. Did I mention it was half price? 

By Terry Baume de Rose

I finally took the plunge and purchased this late last year. It is so good that I am dedicating an entire post to it so stay tuned. £38.00 here.

By Terry in Paris

As you know last week I was in Paris, the makeup addict's shangri-la. Aside from running riot in Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, I also made a special pilgrimage to the By Terry store in the oh so beautiful Galerie Véro-Dodat. It is located just off Rue St Honoré near the Palais Royale and if you going to Paris, it is worth a look. 

Makeup, makeup everywhere!

The original By Terry store is within the arcade and is now used as a laboratory. The makeup is now sold in a larger store within the same arcade. The eye shadows you see above are made in the laboratory you see below!

The original shop front, now a laboratory

I went in on a mission. I had been wanting to try the new Terrybly Densiliss foundation even since it was launched a few months back. I had myself colour matched, and while I was there, was given a beautiful mini-makeover by one of the fabulous By Terry makeup artists. I had been on the streets shopping since 8.30am so I was in need of this. 

The foundation is good. I really like the texture - it reminds me a little of the Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation, but it seems to give more coverage and less glow, which is what I need having combination skin. The packaging is great as it comes in a nicely sized glass bottle with a pump dispenser which is always good for travelling. I was matched to the colour 5 - Medium Peach.  

Once that was covered, I picked up a couple of extras such as the infamous Baume de Rose which is a heavenly rose-scented lip balm. Anyone who knows me will attest to my obsession with lip balms. I'm so in awe of it that I haven't even opened it yet. 

L-R: Terrybly Densiliss foundation, Touch-Expert Advanced Concealer, Ore de Rose Blush Prestidge and Baume de Rose lip balm.

I also found that one of my favourite ever products, the Rose de Rose liquid blush came in a 24 carat pink gold version - AND IT WAS HALF-PRICE! I'm not even making that up in case my husband is reading this. It is the truth. 

I was so very well looked after and once I told the lovely staff that I had made a special trip to see them, I was given lots of lovely samples and goodies to try ... and quite frankly, you know what that means. More By Terry will most certainly be making its way into my collection. I can't wait!

Lots and lots of lovely samples

By Terry is available in both the UK and Australia. In the UK you can see the range at Space NK, and in Australia it is available at Mecca Cosmetica. 

I will be travelling to Sydney this week so communication may not be as regular as I take a well-earned Christmas break for the next month. 

Come Fly With Me - My Realistic Long Haul Flying Routine

Throughout the year I do my fair share of flying, but it is usually short hops within Europe with the odd trip to NYC thrown in. However, once a year I fly home to Sydney and that flight puts the LONG into long haul. For those British readers who are unaware, to get to Sydney you must endure two flights, each of which are between 8-12 hours. Your entire body is confused, your stomach wants a steak at 6am and no amount of coffee or alcohol can make you feel better. This joyful experience is happening to me and my family next week and the only way I can cope with the thought is by planning a few little in-flight skin treats to look forward to.

Once you have taken off and got your little ones settled, slip into the bathroom and do a quick cleanse of your face. I think this is one of the only times that Caroline Hirons supports the use of facial wipes, so go for it. They are easy to transport and cost effective. Take off all your makeup as if you are going to bed. Then it is time for some moisturising action. If you can't get to the bathroom, you can even do this step in your seat.

I picked up these masks in Boots recently on a 3 for 2 offer. The Moisture Boosting Mask is the one i'm going to use on-board. Once my face is cleansed, smooth this on and like it states on the back - 'leave on overnight for an extra moisture injection'. Apply some really good lip balm, I am using the Malin + Goetz Mojito one which you can read about here, and I will continue to reapply this incessantly throughout the flight. Now sit back and relax.

Face masks by The Sanctuary Spa, available at Boots

Before you land, slip back in to the bathroom and wash off the mask with water. Apply a layer of Hydraluron (you can read more about this wonder product here), then apply a generous layer of moisturiser. For this purpose, i'm using my Keihls Ultra Facial cream (details here).  

If you want to take it one step further, I recommend a quick application of tinted moisturiser and concealer before you disembark to pep you up. Slide on some lip gloss and you are good to go. As a good friend once advised me - 'you've got to touch up before you touch down' !! 

I'm also slipping this little multi-purpose balm 'Coiffette' by Jao into my carry-on, the makes of the fabulous Goe Oil. It moisturises cuticles, hair and skin and smells lovely.

My Cold Weather Survival Kit

It is only October but already temperatures have plumeted, central heating has gone on and it feels icy and bitter. I shudder to think that we have another possible 6 months of this. I arrived in London in January of this year and my mood and my skin took a little bit of time to get used to our new surroundings. This year I am going in to Winter armed with particular products to help me make it through. 

The Lip Scrub by Sarah Happ in Brown Sugar - a brown sugar flavoured exfoliating treatment for dry, wind ravaged lips. £19.00 from Beauty Bay here.

Malin & Goetz lip balm in Mojito - I received a sample size of this on a Qantas flight once and had to buy the full sized product it was that good. A clear gel which lasts for hours. I wouldn't be without it. £10.00 from Space NK here or $18 from Mecca Cosmetica here.

Clinique Deep Comfort Hand & Cuticle Cream - not until I lived in such a cold climate did I understand the need for hand cream but come February this is an absolute must every day. This is one of the best I have found. £18.00 from Clinique online here (UK) and here (Australia).

Hyradluron by Indeed Labs - a transparent gel that you apply under your regular moisturiser to super-charge your regular moisturiser. Caroline Hirons swears by it (her review here) which means the rest of the world follows suit. £24.99 from Boots here and $34.99 from Priceline in Australia here.

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream - I picked this up before a ski trip earlier this year and was delighted to find how quickly it absorbed and how nourishing it felt on my skin. £24.00 from Kiehls here (UK) and $34 here (Australia).

Kora Organics Hydrating Mask - A Friday night in winter just isn't complete with a bath and a facial mask. This is the first product from the Kora range I have tried and i'm impressed! £37.00 from Netaporter here.

I'm really thankful that I will be having a Winter break and am heading home for a month for Christmas and New Year. Sydney - i'm coming for you!