Wonders of Rosehip

Like many things in life, my skin is fickle. As soon as I even start to think that things are under control, it likes to prove me wrong in its classic red, angry and sore fashion. Be it my acne or the patches of eczema on my forearm, nothing keeps it under control for long. That is, nothing except rosehip oil. I went through an entire bottle of the stuff last year, but forgot about it, favouring flashier so-called miracle products. I can't think of another product, however, that works so well as an overnight treatment for my skin. Any inflammation is quickly reduced, spots are considerable calmer and my skin feels generally more balanced, especially when paired with a hydrating serum. Even my eczema, which is triggered by a potent mix of disinfectants at work and stress, looks and feels better after one or two uses. Quite how this magic takes place, I'm not entirely sure, but the results are unique. 

Fresh Start

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So, you remember how I said I was going to try to start posting more often? This is pretty much my solution to re-motivate myself: I'm starting afresh. Sophie Makes Up was feeling quite stagnant, partly because (oh, shock horror) I wasn't really happy with the name, amongst other things. Fresh content deserves a revamp to match, surely.

Enter: Girl Meets Blogg.

Getting Back into Blogging

Things have been a little bit slack around these parts for a couple of months now, but (should all things go to plan), posts will be more frequent.

Since I last posted, the Boyfriend & I have got our own flat above the pub where we work, and as such, I have a lot more space to take the photos I want to take and more freedom to go in the direction I want to follow with Sophie Makes Up. I'm not promising miracles by any means, but hopefully better quality posts, more often.

Blogger MIA // The Morning Face

To get it out of the way quickly; I apologise for the lack of posts of late. Time is a bit of a luxury for me at the moment and, unfortunately, eating and sleeping come before blogging on the list of priorities. However, I'm back to just the one job soon, so I should have more time for writing. Hopefully.

And now, on to the good stuff... What I've been slapping on my face in the AM. Ideally, I want a routine that is hydrating, but that won't suffocate my acne-prone skin, that won't take a massive chunk of time out of my morning (because sleep is greater than skincare) and that sets my face up for a long day. 

The routine I have on the go at the moment is actually working really, really well for me, through sheer coincidence. It's all about layers, it seems, as (without wanting to jinx anything, of course) my skin is the clearest it's been in almost a year. *Cue angels singing*

To start things off, I cleanse with my current favourite: the Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream. This works beautifully with some Avène Eau Thermale in the morning, as it's very gentle and yet powerful. A definite repurchase it's all gone. I tend to follow with an exfoliating toner if I'm in a Caroline Hirons-esque mood, and reach for the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads. I bloomin' love these, and will have a post dedicated to them up as and when I can make myself have the time to write one. I feel that these prep my skin for my serums and help prevent the build up of sebum. Love 'em. I then move on to my eye cream, which is currently the Caudalie SOS Morning Eye Rescue. This is a slightly meh product for me, but it's nice enough to use up and it feels pleasant in the mornings, so it wasn't a waste of money by any means; it just doesn't cut it on the anti-puff front, which is my prime concern. Next up comes the Balance Me Skin Saviours Congested Skin Serum followed straight away with the Caudalie Vinosauce SOS Thirst Quenching Serum. This combo is absolutely killer for my skin, providing a whack of hydration with an anti-blemish hit to boot. To top this lot off, I use the Origins GInZing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser and whichever SPF takes my fancy (I opt for either a factor 25 or 50, depending on what else is going on my face that day and how much sun I think I'll get). I picked up the Origins moisturiser on a whim, in order to get a free sample pot of their cult High Potency Night-A-Mins (which is awesome, by the way) but I'm actually really impressed with it. Everything else from Origins hasn't impressed me that much, but their moisturisers are absolutely on point.

So that's the prep done, ready for the day.

Balms for Days

Even though they're only on your skin for a minute or so, I think that a good cleanser can make such a big difference to your skincare routine. Whilst I do prefer a cream cleanse, the Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm is a new favourite of mine. It's a much more solid balm than its Emma Hardie equivalent, with pieces of oatmeal thrown into the mix for a hit of exfoliation.

This cleanser would be idea for facial massage, which I have found to make a massive difference to the look and texture of my skin. It's not the easiest to wash off, and I have found it to leave a slight residue if I'm not careful to wash it off thoroughly with a flannel. However, it makes for a wonderful second cleanse and the ingredients list is cleaner than clean. What's not to love?

Coming Up Roses

First things first: apologies for the lack of posts over the last couple of weeks. This is my first day off work in about three weeks so time has been a bit tight for me. When I can post, however, I shall do my best to do so.

Back on topic... Over the last couple of weeks, I've not been able to turn down rose-hued makeup. Slightly dusty, off-pink tones have always held a strong appeal to me, but I think that they're just perfect for Spring. These products are easy to wear, manage to look relatively effortless (yeah, right) all whilst flattering my olive-y skin.

The obvious centre piece for this edit would be the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. If rose is your thing, you need this in your life. The quality is astounding, the matte shades are as appealing as any of the shimmers (if not more so, in my opinion) and creating an entire look for both the day and the night couldn't be easier. For a two minute day look, I wash the two darker mattes, Limit and Nooner, all over my lid, through the crease and under the lower lash line, add liner and finish with mascara. To add some shimmer, Liar is a good option, as the rose hue is made more complex in this shade.

On the cheeks, NARS Douceur is a wonderful option. I keep raving on about it, but for a good reason. This stuff is good. It has your warmth and contour sorted in one fell swoop, so is great if your pressed for time. I don't find longevity to be an issue, and considering I sometimes start work at 9 and don't finish until 11 at night, this is saying something. The tone of this blush negates the need for bronzer, whilst complementing any rose tones on the eyes.

My lips are actually quite rosy naturally, but a splash of Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Lipgloss in the shade Cranberry never goes amiss.

I really like this sort of look for easy, pretty chic wash of colour that requires minimal effort. You in?

Extra-Comfort Cleansing

Things are pretty busy for me at the moment (hence the abysmal lack of posts this week, and a brief post today). Between working two jobs, making time to see my family and the Boyfriend and going to the gym -I know, I know - I haven't really had any sort of time off in a while, really. As such, I need a darn good cleanser on rotation just to ensure that there are minimal delays between me and my bed. And here's a secret for you: I love my bed more than I love skincare.

Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Crème has been doing a bloomin' good job of this. The rich and creamy formula feels amazing on my skin at any time of day, making it ideal for both morning and evening use, but also after I've been to the gym. It doesn't dry my skin out in the slightest, keeping my acne-prone areas calm, but does a right number on makeup/grime removal. Used regularly, the benefits are only becoming more visible.

So if you're in the market for a creamy cleanser that isn't going to make congested skin worse, that will add moisture and that works well for facial massage, I think that you're going to love this.

Makeup Collection & Storage #1

Half the joy of having a relatively large collection of makeup is finding a good way to store it. My collection isn't enormous by any means, but it certainly is larger than your average makeup bag... But I'm guessing I'm in good company here. I'd say that I've gradually been hoarding my makeup over the last three years or so, and, out of necessity as much as anything else, have come up with a way of storing it that works for me. You name it, I've probably tried it... From drawers (forgot what I owned, ended up with about three of the same nail polish), to boxes (too flimsy), to good old fashioned makeup bags (pre-morning coffee, it's too difficult to find what I'm looking for), I've finally settled with my MUJI acrylic storage. Beauty Blogger cliché galore, yes, but I bloomin' love it. 

In a dark corner of mine and the Boyfriend's bedroom (he had no idea what he was getting himself into, I can assure you) I keep one drawer for tinted moisturisers, BB creams and foundations, with come concealer and an illuminator (or two) thrown in for good measure. This isn't my ideal way of storing them, but I've just bought a new desk organiser from Rymans that I may well use for this purpose. Below that are my NARS palettes, blushes and the single eyeshadow that I own, and with them I keep my MAC powder and the four eyeshadows that I own. That brings us onto the lipstick drawer, AKA my happy place. All of my lipsticks can be found in here, and in here they fit very nicely. Again, I'd like to find a lipstick stand for them, but I don't really have the space in which to keep one. 

To the right of this set, I keep my smaller drawers. I'm not such a fan of these, as I always find they're just a little bit too small for what I need, but maybe I'm being picky. The first two drawers are dedicated to eye makeup; the top for all things in a pencil form or tube, and below it some single eyeshadows, a couple of smaller Inglot palettes (that don't get nearly as much love as they should) and my eyeliners. Then we come to yet more single eyeshadow pans - because a girl can never have too many, y'know - and finally my single blushes, mostly from Bourjois and Benefit. Then we have the overspill that takes the form of my Urban Decay Naked Palettes... But let's not dwell on those.

What's your preferred way of storing your makeup? Any suggestions?