Fresh Summer Face

After sharing a ~fire selfie~ on Instagram a few weeks ago, I had some comments asking for a post about my makeup routine. I’ve never been particularly experimental with my makeup – I know how I like it and I’ve perfected my methods over the 15 (!!) years that have passed since I bought my first Rimmel Hide The Blemish. I’m pretty loyal to the products I love but I do like trying new things, especially in summer when colours are brighter and skin is bronzed.

When Urban Retreat got in touch and asked if I’d like to choose a couple of products from their site, I thought it’d be a great chance to add something new to my routine. I’ve recently starting buying more beauty products online – living outside of London means it can be tricky to get hold of the lesser-known brands, and even though there’s a Space NK in Leeds it rarely has brands like Hourglass or Sisley in stock. After an enjoyable hour of browsing the Urban Retreat site, I finally settled on something brand new – the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush and an old favourite I find hard to get hold of – Laura Mercier Pressed Mineral Powder.
My choices were shipped super speedily, arriving nicely boxed and ready to use. I spent a few days incorporating my new products into my routine until I was ready for my close-up…

First off, the Hourglass blush is probably one of the most beautiful I’ve ever used. It’s so finely milled and glides on smoothly for a really natural finish. The blush is mixed with Hourglass’s infamous Ambient Lighting Powder, which adds radiance and brightness to the skin – I really struggle with ‘radiance’ as a concept for my skin as I’m usually battling to keep shine under control, but this gives me just the right amount of sheen.

I’ve used the Laura Mercier powder before and found it can be quite heavy, but after reading the description on Urban Retreat I realised that it’s designed to be used as a foundation alone, not over the top of something else. I’ve been wearing a tinted moisturiser rather than my usual foundation, and this adds that extra coverage – perfect for days when I want to look polished but not too ‘done’.

I’m really pleased with my new products – they give my regular routine a little something new without changing my overall look (perfected over 15 years, remember!). I’ll definitely be purchasing more from Hourglass – I’ve got my eye on the Ambient Lighting Palette and the Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes are to. die. for!

Face
Benefit The Porefessional, NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Alaska, Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Fair Golden, Laura Mercier Pressed Mineral Powder in Soft Porcelain, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ambient Flush, Topshop Bronzer in Mohawke.

Eyes/Brows
Naked Basics Palette in Venus and Faint, Benefit They’re Real Mascara, Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Thunder, Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium.

Lips
Topshop Lips in Infrared.