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. 

How to Pep-Up Tired Eyes

Isn’t December an exhausting month? Party after party, catching up with an endless sea of friends. Lots of late nights, lots of online Christmas shopping and lots of New Years Eve parties. I can always tell I am tired by the size of the bags and dark circles around my eyes. There are a few sneaky tricks you can do to minimize the damage.

• The flesh-toned eyeliner. Used correctly, this can be a little gem. Lining your lower water-line instantly gives your eyes a clear and awake look. I own a luxe version - the Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte and a budget version - the Rimmel Scandaleyes in Nude. The Nars is slightly more yellow-toned but the difference is minimal. 

Top - Nars

Bottom - Rimmel

• The magical highlighter crayon. Pep yourself up by adding subtle touches of light to areas of your face you want to stand out, such as your cheek bones the inner corner of your eyes and the cupid’s bow. Pixi Beauty make a double ended version called the Wide Awake Crayon Combo which covers points 1 and 2 in the one product – genius. You can read more about this product here.

• Correct and conceal. I suffer from very dark areas in the inner corner of my eye socket. If I take the extra time to correct them with a peach corrector (Bobbi Brown Corector in Light to Medium Bisque) first, then my concealer goes on like magic.

•  Brightening powders. Laura Mercier makes a product called Secret Brightening Powder and I am yet to find a comparable cheaper powder on the market. Basically it is super fine powder which sets your concealer in place and helps to stop it settling into your fine lines. It is not cheap, but it is really good. You can read a more detailed review of this product here.

I am currently holidaying in my home-town of Sydney, Australia so communication may not be as reliable as normal. Should you have a comment or question, please submit it below and I will respond to you when I get back from my swim :-)

My Favourite Things - November

As the weather turns even colder here, this is very a much a northern hemisphere centric selection. I can't wait to be in Sydney in a few weeks where my next month's favourites will no doubt be a lot more summery!

Bobbi Brown Rich Colour Gloss in Ruby Red - this feels and looks like a gloss but has a longer staying power so it wears more like a lipstick. The colour is like cherry-chocolate and looks good enough to eat. £18.00 / $44.00

Bobbi Brown Rich Colour Gloss in Ruby Red

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Rose

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Rose - a lovely all-in-one creamy blush and lip colour that comes in an easily transportable pot. It is more of an Autumn/Winter colour for me so I will be leaving this at home when I fly to Sydney in 12 days (not that i'm counting). £19.00 / $44.00

Jo Malone perfume - I needed a scent that was more wintery so I decided to go with Black Vetyver Cafe Cologne which is another favourite fragrance that Jo Malone is discontinuing**. My husband actually bought me this perfume just before we got engaged, so each time I smell it, it reminds me of being 28 and on holiday in Copenhagen. Lovely.

Pixi Beauty Wide Awake Crayon - top is 'Brighten', bottom is 'Lighten'

Pixi Wide Awake crayon - this is a double ended highlighting super-tool. One one end you have the 'Brighten' end which is a matt peach - this is great for using on the lower waterline and under the eye. The 'Lighten' end is a shimmer peach which is a lovely highlighter on the cheek bones, arch of brow and cupid's bow. Amanda Bell did a great mini-tutorial on using this which you can view here. £14.50 with free international delivery here.

Weleda Lavender Milk Bath - i'm trying to hold off investing in another one of my favourite Aromatherapy Associated bath oils as I felt I couldn't justify the expenditure right now. Instead I bought this from Ocado and had it delivered with my weekly groceries so it was practically free (right?). It is a lovely bath milk for the price and i'm enjoying using it on Friday evenings when my kids are in bed. I will probably go back to my beloved bath oils next time around, but this is a lovely alternative for now. £11.95 / $29.90

** I just tried to link this with the Jo Malone website and it appears this fragrance has already gone from the online store. Boo-hiss.

Lovely Makeup and Beauty Reads

Since I decided to pursue my dreams in makeup art, I have been emerging myself in beauty and makeup books, blogs and images. I am forever reading and researching - there is so much to learn and take in.

I have started a small library of beauty books. Here are my favourites -

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual - this for everyone, 'beginner to pro' and it is awesome. It includes really good, basic step-by-step examples. My favourite chapter is chapter 10 'Essential Equipment for the Professional' where it lists, item by item, everything you need in a pro makeup kit. But even if you are not  a makeup artist, it is still a book you will enjoy for the beautiful and very 'Bobbi' pictures alone.  £16.25 from Amazon.

Makeup, The Ultimate Guide by Rae Morris - this holds a special place in my heart as Rae was the first makeup artist I became aware of and this was the first makeup book I bought. It has a great chapter on colour theory and colour charts depending on eye colour. She also uses some more mature aged models in there which is great for anyone over the age of 30 .... £12.23 on Amazon.

Nylon Pretty, The Nylon Book of Beauty - this is a recent purchase and it was a good one. Produced by the good people at Nylon magazine, it starts with a list of cult classic makeup products then moves in to inspiration showing vintage references from everyone from Jean Harlow in the 1920's to Shannen Doherty from 90210 in the late 1990's. A great reference to have.  £12.55 on Amazon.

Helena Rubenstein, The Woman Who Invented Beauty by Michele Fitoussi - I'm not usually a fan of historic biographies but this book is making me change my mind. Her story is fascinating and inspiring and a bit of a rags to riches tale which starts in Poland, moves to Australia, then on to London and I am only a quarter of the way through!  £6.47 on Amazon.