My Essential Perfumes

Whilst I don't own that many perfumes (except for all of the samples I've hoarded!) I have always found that three is all you really need. One for the summer, one for the winter and one which you can wear anytime, anywhere which makes you feel fantastic! So here are my perfume picks...

My Summer Perfume

In the summer I like to wear a perfume which is light, fresh and delicate and just adds a hint of scent without being obvious, for me the perfect summer perfume is GHOST Sweetheart. I have used this perfume for years because I just don't get bored of it. I am useless at describing scents but according to The Perfume Shop it has an oriental floral scent with heart notes of lemon, pineapple, spearmint, white flowers and sensual woods. Now I think "oriental floral" sounds quite heavy but it's really not, if I wear it people tend to say "Oooh, you smell nice" instead of "Oooh, what's that perfume?" which is exactly what I'm aiming for.

My Winter Perfume

This has got to be Jimmy Choo by Jimmy Choo, I absolutely love this perfume! It's a little heavier than my summer one but when I first tried it I just couldn't stop smelling my sample, it makes me feel warm and cosy, which is exactly what I want for winter. The notes include pear nectar, orange and toffee, making it distinctive but also giving it that warm, wintery feel. I like that it is a little stronger than my summer one, on the basis that normally it has to make it's way through a lot more layers of clothing! I sometimes use this one in the evening during the summer but generally it’s a winter day perfume.

My All-Year All-Rounder!

I only recently discovered this perfume, as it's new, but I am already totally in love with it (as is my boyfriend) and wear it all the time. It's Agent Provocateur Fatale and if you buy a 50ml bottle from House of Fraser, they currently give you a pair of Agent Provocateur hold-ups with it! This perfume is ideal for so many reasons, like Sweetheart it blends so naturally with your own scent that it doesn't smell like you are wearing perfume, you just smell lovely! My boyfriend is really picky about perfumes because they tend to be too strong but he can't really tell I'm wearing this one. When you first spray it on it smells quite citrusy and fresh but then slowly the base notes come through and you get a very sexy musky vanilla and chocolate smell, heavenly! I have found it works well during the day or the evening and I'll be wearing it in winter and summer whenever I want to feel special.

I hope you have enjoyed this post, which are your three must-have perfumes?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Moisturisers with SPF

As anyone with fair skin knows, SPF is an essential part of our skincare routine, but really it doesn't matter whether you burn easily or not, it is a good idea to protect your skin from the sun (especially at this time of year). I don't know about you, but I have always hated the feel and smell of sun cream so if I can find an alternative I am all over it! Quite a lot of moisturisers have an SPF in them now so I am going to talk you through some of my favourites.

On a Budget?

For me there are two contenders for this particular category as it depends on what you're looking for. The first is Simple Kind to Skin Protecting Light Moisturiser SPF 15, what you see is what you get, a basic moisturiser with a low SPF, it tends to be my go-to in winter when the sun isn't as strong and at £6.99 in Boots (plus they have a 3 for 2 offer on at the moment) it's very affordable. The second is The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF 30, which at £13 is twice the price but also twice the SPF… Tricky. I tend to use this one more in the summer because of the high SPF but also because I find it brightens my skin and has a slightly lighter texture than Simple's version making it more pleasant in the heat.

The Tinted Moisturiser

I have already discussed NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in my Summer Favourites post but it is worth adding it here as it is SPF 30 and is taking over as my daytime moisturiser at the moment. Although it is a little pricey at £29 it's well worth it for the colour match and effect on your skin as it acts a little like a BB cream and improves your skin over time, what's not to love?

Body Moisturiser

Again I have two which I tend to use depending on the season and the strength of the sun. The first (and easily my favourite) is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula SPF 15 Body Lotion, which happily is also on offer at Boots for £2.86 at the moment (normally £4.29). It is only due to the low SPF that this is my winter moisturiser, if the SPF was higher I would use this all year round and be a really happy bunny. I adore the chocolate smell, it makes my skin feel wonderfully soft and it also helps with stretch-marks and scars! Palmer's, if you ever read this, a higher SPF moisturiser would be amazing. As it is, during the summer months I am forced to use Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Protective Sun Lotion SPF 50. I'm aware that it is technically a sun cream and I'm cheating a bit by including it in this list but it manages to avoid the nasty smell by masking it with coconut and it does act as a good moisturiser. At £15 it's about the same price as an average sun cream but it smells better and doesn't add an extra-white tint to your skin.

I'm currently on the hunt for a new moisturiser for my evening routine. Any suggestions?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

My Summer Favourites

This year we have had an actual summer in the UK (hooray!) and this has meant a little overhaul of my old summer makeup, which was well past its best. Here are a few of the products I've been loving this summer.

Makeup

Most of my makeup collection can be used in any season but some of it is particularly suited to the summer months when I want to look a little more natural during the day (or at least have less of an ice princess look!) My summer must-have is NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in the shade Finland, it has a lovely light texture, blends flawlessly into my skin and is even SPF 30. If you have pale skin I can highly recommend NARS as they have a wide-ranging colour palette and an SPF is always very welcome as the lobster-look is not good no matter the season!

As a part of my more natural look I have found that bareMinerals READY Blush in The Whisper is perfect for adding a subtle healthy glow to your cheeks. It's easy to blend and removes the need for bronzer (which can be a difficult look to pull off if you're fair).

If I want to look super-natural I'll just apply Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm and leave it at that. It has been my favourite for a long time, I just love the chocolate flavour and the SPF15 is an added bonus for the summer. If I fancy adding a little colour though, L'Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash lipgloss in Lolita is my go-to for the summer months. Its lovely texture, cherry scent and staying power are second only to the gorgeous colour, I find it really shows off blue eyes. I originally looked into them because Fleur de Force (link to the post here) rated them as a good dupe for YSL Glossy Stain and she was right! So if you are looking for a cheaper option these are a good place to go.

Skincare

I had a bit of a haul at Rituals recently (I'm weak!) and have been really impressed with what I bought. Their Sensational Soft Cleanser is great for removing makeup at the end of the day and feels really lovely on your skin. It's also tailored to sensitive skin which is great for me as fair skin tends to come hand-in-hand with sensitivity.

I always follow my first cleanse with a cleansing water and I am currently in love with Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water, it's a must-have for me, despite being a bit of a mouthful to say. I have always been a big fan of cleansing waters and the peachy scent is heavenly.

My other skincare favourite is Rituals Intense Moisture Serum. My skin veers between combination and dry depending on what it's feeling like on the day and a lot of serums leave my skin feeling too oily, but not this one! It hydrates the parts of my skin which need hydrating but doesn't make my T-zone oily or sticky and I love its light texture, just perfect for summer.

Much love,

Sasha Monday x