This weeks style was gingham, oversized shirts and summer sandals. And even tho its now going into winter here, I'm dreaming about my wardrobe for when summer returns. 

 There is always some sort of makeup fad. Red lips, nude lips, highlight, no highlight. But the contouring one seems to have hung around ... thanks to the Kardashians. All that layering of highlighting and shading looks great in a photoshopped pic but often frightening in real life. Yet a little sculpting of the face to give light and shade can make the features really stand out. But is it something that we can only pull off if we're young?? 
The answer to that is no but we just have to be subtle about it. I am a believer that less is more as we age, so we only need to apply makeup lightly and with contour  only placed it where you need it. And for that you need to know what shape your face is . For example if you're like me and your face has become gaunt - my cheek bones are like lethal weapons when I kiss someone on the cheek these days - then you don't need to sculpt in cheekbones. But if you have a round face then shading in the area below the cheekbones and under your blush will give you a nice sculpted look. If your nose is wide then placing contour either side of the nose and blending in will give it definition and make it appear smaller. If you want a more defined jawline then applying it around the jaw will accentuate this area .See below .
The products you use can make the  difference between looking natural or looking like Halloween too. I use both creams and powders , often using bronzers to create a more natural look based purely on the colour of the product. Too dark and the contour appears unnatural. The aim is to make your face glow , but no-one can quite figure out how you have achieved it. Using a foundation stick that is a couple of shades darker than your skin works really well. Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Sticks are great for this. I also like Nars Laguna in powder form as the colour is subtle and blends well with most lighter colour skins. Applying with a beauty blender too can be really helpful to blend the edges in properly so it appears seamless with your foundation and blush. Also a lot easier to control than using the wrong shaped brush. If your skin is dry I would recommend a cream contour. 
See below for favourite products. :) x

Pic courtesy of Pinterest

Take inspiration from this simple Saturday look....perfect for casual lunching or shopping.

Pic: courtesy of @figtny

This week's style goes from the feminine to the masculine. Mens style suits for me never go out of fashion. This beautiful Dolce & Gabbana suit is stunning, acessorised with the flower. A perfect look for winter.
Isabel Marant's peasant style tops are also timeless. Worn with jeans or skirts, sandals or boots, the look is always stunning!

I'm back! I took a break for a while and worked on a project with someone else . Some of you might have seen it. , it was a great experience. I loved the journey of pushing myself out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there. And it made me realise that I am who I am , no apologies for that , and I became clearer about what it is I want to do.
So I am back to talk about beauty , and fashion and all things relating to ageing gracefully ... or disgracefully. Which ever you choose!

And today its about a new skincare range I have found that my skin seems to love more than anything else I have tried lately - apart from Codage, but that is another story for another time. It's called Drunk Elephant... not a name I would be drawn to in a skincare range normally but I saw that there was a Vit C and  Glycolic product in the range and I felt the need to give it a go. And am I glad I did, I love it. ​My skin is sensitive to a lot of skincare and I know within a couple of days if I can use it (or not) as I get breakouts around my chin. These products caused no breakouts or reaction, they just made the texture of my skin look glowing. Something that as I'm ageing is getting harder to attain. 
It is a brand founded by Tiffany Masterson, a Texan woman with four children.  "Drunk Elephant was born out of a desire to learn about toxic ingredients, the effect they have on skin health and get to the root of what causes sensitive skin." - Quote

Why such a strange name you might ask... it is said to be rooted in the myth that the elephant eats the fruit of the marula tree and it ferments in their tummies causing them to get drunk! The Marula oil , which is found throughout the range, is said to be loaded with fatty acids and antioxidants.... something we know is great for slowing down the ageing process . The products are all non-scented and non-irritating. And I can attest to that. Nothing has irritated my skin and I have now tried half of the range.

The standouts for me are the TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum , C-Firma Day Serum , B-Hydra Intensive Day Serum and the Shaba Complex Eye Serum. These are all very light products so the skin does not feel heavy when you apply them , and because they are so light I feel that they are penetrating deeper to work their magic. I also love that these products are sealed so no oxygen can get to them (this makes them lose their potency ). So you either twist the lid and pump it out or push the bottom and it comes out the end in a very small amount which is another great thing about these products... a little goes a long way. AND for a skincare that gives you results, you do not have to sell your first born to buy it! Winning all round really. :) x  

Clink on the products for more info...