Azza

Speaking of beauty, I just wanted to share this Top Shelf with Vogue Hommes International fashion editor Azza Yousif. I really like the way she talks about beauty and she is so lovely herself.

“…You put little drops wherever you want to highlight—and if you’re not wearing eye shadow, you could put a little bit in the middle of your lid and then let it sink in and it just gives a tiny bit of shine. It makes you glow. If I’m going out and my shirt is open, I even put it on my collarbone.

(…)

Lately, I’ve been feeling like it’s more chic to not wear nail polish. I’ve also wanted to feel healthier, so that may have something to do with it—I feel like it’s more chic to be able to take care of your nails and for them to be clean and not hide them behind something….”

I find these beauty interviews so nice. Just the idea of girls sharing these (sometimes even intimate) secrets.

(image: Into The Gloss)

Rouge

(images: selfservice magazine)

Red is the classic lipstick colour, and it’s also one of my favorites. It’s an instant flash of femininity, bold or subtly enhanced, depending on the texture and shade. Over the past years the beauty focus seems to have shifted from (smoky) eyes (the term really wore out it’s welcome) to bright, colourful lips. During the spring of last year I suddenly noticed more and more girls wearing bold lipcolours, such as pink and coral and it felt so much more youthful and modern.

My personal favourite is the soft red lipstain, for being classic and super flattering. While I admire those who can pull off vinyl red or hot pink, too much gloss and saturation looks harsh on my features, especially as a day-look. A somewhat smudged lip stain, however, enhances them while looking effortless. This look is perfectly complemented by an otherwise bare face and well-groomed eyebrows. I also love the way the flash of colour works against tailored wardrobe pieces in dark colours like grey or black.

Skincare

(image of Kim Noorda by Viktor Vauthier)

I never used to care much about skincare, other than face wash and moisturizer. A couple of years ago, however, I was under a lot of stress and my skin became very sensitive. This incident made me more aware of importance of proper skincare. I started paying more attention to my eating habits and how they reflect on my skin.

After cutting back on sugar and developing a habit of drinking enough water (as well as green tea, fresh mint and nettle), I also found the perfect products which have since become a part of my skincare routine. With Kiehl’s Ultra Facial cleanser and toner I immediately noticed the difference as my skin tone and texture improved and started to feel more comfortable. I also began using their Abyssine + eye cream, after receiving a sample with my first purchase. What I really love, aside from the obvious quality of product, is their simple and straightforward look. Nothing fussy or overly girly (which would look out of place in my bathroom).

For moisturizing I use Dr Van Der Hoog’s Hypo-allergenic Cream, which is very mild and once a week I use their soft Purity scrub creme as well. As far as body lotions go, my favourite is Burt’s Bees lotions, especially Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey & Orange Wax, which is a perfect fit considering my penchant for soft citrussy smells.

What do you use?

…
PS; I love this picture of Kim Noorda because it reminds me there is almost nothing better then curling up between fresh cotton sheets and getting a good night’s sleep.

Hair, just so

image via: Miss Moss and 3bigmamas

I love beautiful hair that looks slightly undone and not too perfect. The best looking hair, in my opinion, is the morning after hair. Not trying too hard to compete for attention and never overwhelming the person. Like the owner did their hair last night before going out and forgot the brush it in the morning after sleeping in. Hair as almost an after-thought. Haircut that is not a haircut. Overly coiffed hair often just reminds me of soap actresses or hollywood award shows.

One of my favourite looks is long, ever so disheveled hair on a girl wearing a masculine suit – perfect balance of feminine and masculine aesthetic. Something like a redhead in a grey flannel suit.

The Beauty List

images: foudre.co, the-waste-land

I used to love experimenting with makeup, and it is how I found out what works best for me. Over the years and periods of cat eyeliners and burgundy lip stains I have settled into a makeup routine that I believe works for me and enhances my features without being obvious and I still get to look like myself. It also saves time in the morning, as I can get ready in ten minutes without giving it much thought.

My favorite beauty feature is healthy looking skin. I myself have had occasional problems with my skin in the past, usually due to stress (and negligence to take care of it properly in hectic times). These days my skin looks good and doesn’t need much. It probably helps that I don’t eat sugar these days, which always made my skin react.

image from: la mignonette

Products aside, I have found that the true and tested way to good skin is enough water, sleep, nutrition and of course a happy fulfilled life. Then there are always ways to subtly enhance your strengths and conceal the flaws. Here are some of the products that I find will do the trick:

Moisturiser – to keep the skin looking fresh and hydrated. I prefer mine with SPF 15 and up, to prevent sun damage at the same time.

Concealer – to camouflage imperfections without looking made up when used sparingly and blended well. Also works wonders when used strategically to brighten up eye area, (or even around the nose and corners of lips). You can also choose one concealer to brighten up and one for cover-up. (A tip: as concealers usually come in tiny tubes, using it straight from the tube ends up messy and you always end up with more product than needed, which ends up wasted. I load up on those tiny plastic pots from Sephora and label them, then use a brush to apply the precise amount and blend with my fingertips. This way it’s also easy to build up and distribute the product evenly.)

Loose Powder – dust on lightly to matt skin. It also helps to set concealer. Choosing a good brush is just as important, by the way! My own skin tends to be shiny and oily on it’s own, and a touch of loose powder makes it look just that much more polished, again without being obvious.

Blush – for a healthy glow. I’m usually very pale and a touch of colour on my cheeks and sometimes on brow bone, makes all the difference.