Good Morning World!

I have to say it ... I'm gonna say it ... There is SUN!!! How depressing has this LOOOONG Winter been?  I feel like it has been forever.  Still the sun is out now, I have repainted my toes - in Vintage Blue OF COURSE and got out my oh so comfy, and just a bit cute Sandals.  I have even donned my lightweight Summer palazzo's I know!  Amazing!

A couple of things have changed since my last post - which was like a million years ago.  First off I have gone red, not auburn or ginger, or in fact subtle in any shape or form, but RED.  I love it!  I always seem to be drawn to black in Winter and Red in summer.  Although I was 'natural' for all Winter because my hair had just gone to total frizz so I thought I should give it a break, and it has thanked me for it by being bounteous in red curls!

 I am now in the 'Wholesome' stage of my Make-up year.  Gone is the flawless perfectly based skin, so are the dark liner swept eyes and sultry black cherry lips of Winter to be replaced with a lighter and more natural look for Summer. I am a larger lady and I tend to 'perspire' and ladies, let me tell you - there is NOTHING that makes you feel less sexy  than mopping your brow, looking in the mirror and realising you have a stripe of your natural skin tone across your otherwise perfectly based forehead ... yeah not good!  So I find embracing my natural skin in the sun is the way to go.  However this is not as laissez-faire as it sounds ... it takes WORK people and this is how it happens.

So usually I start around start of March, but this year I bumped it to April because of the hideousness that was the weather.  So this year the first of April I started my prep.  For my face I use Sanctuary Hot Cloth Cleanser.  I do it two times each time I use it, and I don't use the cloth they give you, I use a thick fluffy flannel which stay hotter for longer.  I do that twice a week until I start wearing no make-up, I then do it 3 times a week, in the shower is fine.  On my body I use my Botanics body brush, which is a lovely size, in upwards strokes to buff the skin, I try to do this every day but it is usually every other day.  I then use Boots shea butter mousse , it is very very light, but gives a lovely soft finish to your skin.  I finish it off with a quick squizz with a body balm, my favourite is Spa Paradisa Passionfruit Body Balm, it has a bit of luminous sheen action going on which I love.

When it comes to going bare faced, you have to be honest with yourself.  This starts with taking a real good look at your skin.  I have some eczema on my forehead which annoys me greatly, it clears up on its own usually about the 3rd week of good sunny weather but it still bugs the heck out of me as it leaves a red patch.  Of course wearing make-up makes  it a whole lot worse, but there you go!  So I start with this.  I rub a small amount of Raw coconut oil on the eczema (this works for all dry skin).  I do this at night before I go to bed.  You need a teeny tiny bit because it goes a long way, it clears it up and keeps it gone within about a week.  For any tone changes, so that is redness for me, under my chin and on my forehead and nose, I use a little bio oil morning and night.  On top of that I use a blob of PF40 (I don't tan, I redden!) mixed with Botanics oil free moisturiser, this is so silky and smooth and glides on beautifully, it sinks in really quickly too.  This moisturiser is great to prevents spots - I have quite prone skin - but if your skin is dry I wouldn't really recommend it on its own as it's not that moisturising.  As part of this routine it works fabulously though even on dry skin.   So that is 'maintenance' I do that every day throughout Summer and it makes my skin clear, even and beautiful - why don't I do it in Winter?  Erm because I can get away with not lol!  I really like pampering myself in Summer, in Winter it feels more of a chore.

After I have done 'the basics' I move on to the scant make-up I wear in Summer. I still pay attention to my brows which is detailed in an earlier post.   I like a good quality Waterproof Mascara, I like Rimmel Waterproof elongated lashes Mascara as it is a good deep colour whilst not being claggy which is a tricky ask from a waterproof .
I have a little discolouration on my eyelids which bothers me so a minimise this with a teeny blob of Rimmel perfect match concealer mixed with a tiny blob of moisturiser.I dab it on my eyelids and blend with my finger until it disappears.  it is barely there but it is just enough to take down the slight browning on my eyelids.  I dab on a little bit of No 7 Gel blush in Rose to the apple of my cheeks and add a slick of Carmex Pearl lip balm to add a bit of pale shimmer.  To ramp it up a bit, all I do is add a sweep of Ruby and Milly peacock green shimmer eye shadow to my top and lower lids and add another couple of coats of Mascara.

I like to change my perfume in Winter too, opting for a zestier scent.  In Winter I like a minimal dab of Diesel Fule For Life, in Summer I opt for a generous spritz of Amore Amore -  I love the grapefruitty tones.

:) Enjoy have fun in the Sun and remember - cover up or slap on the sun screen!