Desert Island Products - March 2015

I haven't reviewed any products on here for a long time. I get a little tired of the colossal amount of bloggers writing about beauty who have no actual experience with makeup or skincare other than the experience of putting it on their own face. It turns me off reading, and writing about it too! I do, however, absolutely love taking pictures of my makeup collection - the colours and textures make me so happy.

So I thought I would update you on what my desert island favourite products are right now. These are products I am using on myself. I tend to go a little more luxe on myself than I do for my kit!

Eyes - Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Mirage

This has a creamy mousse texture which makes it delightful to apply with your finger. It blends out really easily and is a perfect colour to give your eyes definition in one go. 

Cheeks - Nars Orgasm Blush

This colour really does suit most complexions. It is a cult product for a reason and it often sneaks its way into my kit as I know there is a 99% chance it will suit the model I am working on.

Lips - Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Stoned Rose

This comes close to being my all time favourite lip colour ever. Mac's Cosmo beats it by a nose but this one is pretty perfect for both day and night. The texture is great - nice and creamy yet long lasting.

Face - By Terry Terribly Densiliss Foundation

It's no secret that my skin hasn't been behaving itself very well lately and this has been the main product i've been using to camouflage my hormonal breakouts. It is a serum foundation so the texture is sheer and blendable. I apply it with my hands at first, then after blending with my fingers I go over it with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to make sure it is all buffed in properly. 

Next week - Desert Island Kit Favourites. What i'm loving and using a lot in my kit on shoots right now.

Sweet Samples

Beauty samples can be great or they can be difficult to access and annoying to use. I have uncovered a cache of very lovely beauty product samples in my makeup area. I have the tendency to hoard the good ones. I'm not talking about your usual vial of perfume here, but mini sample sized top shelf beauty products. Here are some of the best which I have vowed to use up in the coming weeks. 

I'm sorry I didn't photograph this before tearing it open and trying it out but such was my love for it. This came included in my online Sephora order and it is the YSL Vernis A Levres Rebel Nudes sample pack containing three beautiful colours and a mini lip brush. These lip stains are lovely and have gone straight to the top of my duty free wish-list. Ten points to YSL for the inclusion of the lip brush.

By Terry Nutri-Regenerating Firming Lift-Oil - how cute is this little bottle? This is a clear example of a skin sample which I will definitely use. I have almost been too scared to try the By Terry skincare. I love there makeup so much that trying their skincare can only lead to many purchases on the horizon. Watch this space.

By Terry Terrybly Densiliss Foundation. I was lucky enough to be given this sample in the exact match to my skintone by the makeup artist in the By Terry store in Paris. In fact, she gave me two of them. So handy for when you are travelling light and don't want to take entire bottles of product with you. I'm off to Paris in April and these will certainly be coming with me.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil. Once again a magical, easy to open bottle of goodness that is just begging to be used up. Perfect to throw in your bag for a weekend away. 

Transitioning from Sydney to London, Summer to Winter

Last Friday I flew back to London after my month long holiday in Sydney. These are the ways I transition my makeup from the highest high's of Summer to the deepest depths of Winter, so if you are Sydney based and planning a trip far north - i've got you covered!

It's amazing how everything changes as soon as you step off the plane. The first thing that is noticeably different is the light. The light in Sydney is just so damn bright. London in Winter has a certain, may I say bleakness to it. This means that colours read differently and even something as simple as the shade of foundation you wear may need a rethink as you travel between the hemispheres. After totally living in tinted moisturiser, I am now reaching for something with more coverage, and i'm switching for a more dewy finish to something a little more matt.

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser - £57.00 / $94

By Terry Terrybly Densiliss  Wrinkle Control Serum Foundation - £75.00 

After spending the past month using a nude lipstick shade, this suddenly looks way too insipid and I find myself reaching for berry shades to give my face some life. 

Paul and Joe Lipstick on Shade 207 - £19.50 (similar shades here)

Kiko Velvet Matt Lipstick in Cherry Red (609) - £6.90

I also tend to shelve the moral coral and neutral blush shades and go for something rosie.

Bourjois Cream Blush in 02 - £7.99

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Rose - £19.00 / $44.00

While you may feel like a goose wearing eyeliner and mascara on the beach, in London it is definitely the way to go so i'm going to go crazy. Lately I have switched it up and have been using a dark brown eyeliner rather than a black which still defines the eye nicely, but looks a little less severe. I am also upping the intensity, moving from a light wash of colour over the lid to something with a little more punch.

Clinique Chubby Stick for Shadown Tint for eyes in Lavish Lilac - £17.00 / $35.00

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Velvet Orchid - £28.00 / $62.00

There are a few things that stay the same no matter my location. I always use a broad spectrum sunscreen, even when it's 4 degrees and raining. My trusty black mascara is also a key product that I am never without. 

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.