Georgina Swan

Make up and perfume and skincare, oh my! Whilst I don’t consider myself a huge cosmetics junkie, I am a pretty big fan of most things the beauty industry has to offer (apart from fake tan and bronzer, but that’s another story!). I rarely buy beauty products on a whim – I will hit the web (usually Make Up Alley) to read reviews, and any stories of life-changing delight – or tremendous disappointment! With a little bit of background information I’m able to make informed choices about what to buy and what to leave. In the past few months alone, I’ve discovered some great products – here are my top 5!

Paul & Joe Creamy Matte Foundation
To be honest, I wasn’t too sure about this foundation when it arrived – in the cute little vintage-style pot, the 00 “Alabaster” shade I had chosen (the lightest available!) looked way too dark for my skin. I apprehensively dipped my foundation brush into it and applied a light layer to my entire face, checking up on it throughout the day. It’s actually a pretty good match! Remember when I wrote about shopping for pale foundation and learning that most women like to add a bit of colour? This foundation does exactly that. It will be brilliant to use over the summer, when my skin has a touch more colour to it, plus it has an SPF of 20, which is great. Even better, the liquid-to-matte formulation sits perfectly on my skin, right up until I wash my face in the evening. And did I mention the adorable packaging?! It’s a winner! I bought mine from ASOS, and at the moment they still have some selected shades available at a discounted rate. Hop to it!

Nude Skincare Advanced Eye Complex
My eye area is difficult to contend with! I have some fine lines already (weep!), and it seems as though no matter how many hours of sleep I get or how many ice cold camomile teabags I rest on my eyes, they’re always puffy and tired-looking. I’ve used many eye products in the past, to no avail, but Nude’s Advanced Eye Complex is different. It’s incredible! It has a tightening (but not at all uncomfortable) feeling when you apply it – you can feel it working its magic! I’ve been using it for a couple of months now, and my whole eye area appears brighter, more youthful, and completely refreshed. You can’t expect any eye cream to work miracles, but this is the best I’ve found so far – and believe me, I’ve tried plenty! Like most eye treatments, this product is expensive, but I was lucky enough to pick mine up – brand new and boxed – for less than half price on eBay. Have a look and see if you can find a good deal!

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File
I’ve always used cheap, disposable emery boards to file and shape my nails, but as a hardened minimalist, I decided to buy a high quality nail file that I could keep and use for years. After doing a little web research, I decided on this crystal nail file by Leighton Denny. It arrived packaged in a protective case and instructions on how to use it. This nail file is great, because you can file backwards and forwards and it won’t damage your nails at all! Brilliant. It’s easy to clean, too – all you have to do is soak it under warm running water for a minute or so. I love using it, and my nails are looking better than ever. Thanks, Leighton Denny!

Palmer’s Dark Chocolate & Peppermint Lip Butter
Last month, I kind of went a little overboard while shopping for a new lip balm. There were so many different scents and flavours that I ended up buying a whole bunch! Easily my favourite though is this delicious lip butter from Palmer’s. I mean, dark chocolate and peppermint! What could be better? It smells exactly as you would imagine – sublime! – and tingles just slightly when you apply it. It isn’t thick or heavy at all, and leaves a light gloss on your lips. I love it!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+
For a pale and interesting girl like me, a low sun protection factor just won’t cut it! I had to do a double take when I stumbled across this Neutrogena product – it has an SPF of 100+. One hundred?! Plus?! (Yes, it’s true! This product does really exist!) I once read that any sun protection over a factor of 30 is unnecessary, but I don’t see how it could hurt. The best thing about this product, though, is that it has a “lightweight, clean feel” – it’s perfect to wear on your face, even if you have oily skin. This stuff acts as a mattifying lotion as well as a sunscreen, and even behaves itself under foundation. A cosmetic dream come true!

What beauty discoveries have you made lately?