Skincare on a budget.

This is a guide for when you’ve somehow run out of all your expensive skincare products simultaneously and need a more frugal regime to see you through for the foreseeable future. This is currently my main skincare regime, except I've still got my Lancôme Tonique Douceur and Exfoliance Clarté as additions, although the toner can be skipped and I have an excellent recipe for a replacement facial scrub, plus one for a weekly face mask that I currently use. This whole regime is very effective yet gentle on the skin (thank the absence of alcohol).

1. Cleanser  -  Dove Beauty Cream Bar 2-Pack, £1.15.

Normal soap is too harsh to use on your face, but this bar from Dove is made from ¼ moisturising cream and is actually dermatologically recommended for facial use.

2. Moisturiser  -  Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly 225g, £2.39.

Some of you may be concerned that using this product on the face but I have problematic combination skin myself and can safely say that this product certainly doesn't break me out - on the contrary, it hydrates dry patches while offering enough moisture to oily areas, removing the need for excessive sebum production (a major cause of spots). Apply a very thin layer to the skin and gently spread across the face without rubbing in too much.

3. Exfoliator (use twice-weekly)  -   Recipe:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• ½ cup sweet almond oil
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. ground oatmeal
• 1 tsp. nutmeg

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight jar for further use. Scrub face with mixture 2-3 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water, finish with a splash of cold to tighten pores, and pat dry.

4. Face mask (use weekly)  -   Recipe:

• ½ a medium ripe avocado
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1 tbsp. plain yoghurt

Mash ingredients together using a fork until smooth. Apply liberally to a clean face and leave for 15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water, splash with cold, pat dry.

Cocktail shorts.

Turns out I would actually quite care for some, having spotted this dusty pink silk pair from Topshop Boutique, £30 (oh dear, two Topshop posts in a row; not cool):

Image Source: Topshop

The perfect summer occasion dress.

Look no further than this lilac frilled number from Topshop Boutique, £120, as featured in the May 2010 edition of British Vogue below  -  it's couture without the hefty price tag or the back problems:

PS: Also in the magazine is the stunning Karlie Kloss. I just love this girl  -  her height, her ballerina body, her walk, her runway death stare:

Slouchy time.

Lounge wear complete with an element of style is very important to me for when I'm crawling out of bed to attend lectures and staying up till 5am writing essays. Intense comfort that still looks good (so that doesn't include my oversized baby pink university hoody) just makes education at unseemly hours so much more pleasurable. Hence I want a silk and modal t-shirt, £70, by Kain already:

Image Source: Net-a-porter

A loose yet perfectly formed fit, sheer fabric, and super-soft to touch. All three colours (black, grey and white), please?

Bad fashion day.

Urghh, so I failed to purchase anything yesterday at TheOutnet.com's birthday sale  -  I managed to get items into my basket a few times but the server just kept crashing a crazy amount and I could never get to payment, and this went on for over an hour. Bye-bye, beautiful 3.1 Phillip Lim cream high-waisted trousers.

Shortly afterwards, something horrendous happened: somehow, my dark denim shorts ended up in my delicate white wash and now my once pristine ivory Calvin Klein lace underwear set is virtually grey and looks absolutely ancient even though I've only had it for about one month.

All in all, a bad fashion day. However, I was slightly cheered around the midnight hours when I won this delightful Markus Lupfer sequined jumper on eBay, brand new with tags for about a third of the RRP:

Image Source: Markus Lupfer

Shoes, please.

I'm not a great fan of the whole luxe sportswear trend with one exception: the shoes. Quite simply, I need the fabulous Topshop and Kurt Geiger pairs (£130 and £160 respectively) featured below:

Image Source: Topshop

 

 Image Source: Kurt Geiger

Boudoir beauty.

Just thought I would share a two pieces of boudoir beauty. Firstly, I give you Dior ‘Creme de Rose’ Lip Balm SPF 10, £19:

 Image Source: Escentual

A slightly ridiculous amount to pay for a lip balm, granted, but this product really leaves lips super-soft and smells divinely of rose due to the precious damask rose essential oil ingredient. Plus the packaging is absolutely gorgeous, no? So simple, so chic, so French.

Next up is Paul and Joe Body Milk, £25. Initially striking is the beautiful box bottle the product comes in, followed by the bottle itself, complete with an ornate gold-tone top. When applied, the product has a delicate scent, absorbs quickly, and  -  enriched with avocado oil, almond oil, and honey  -   moisturises intensely.

 Image Source: Bohemia Design

PS: I have just added a new poll and would be very grateful if you could take the time to vote; the results could really help me improve this blog.

I ♥ Myla.

Myla is definitely one of my favourite lingerie / nightwear brands (even though they only have a few styles that come in the 30 back size I need), although I can only ever afford their stuff when there's a sale. Thankfully, there's 40% off everything online till Monday, so snap up some beautiful bargains, people! At the top of my wishlist:

 Petunia Padded Plunge Bra, £89 £53. 

 Matching briefs, £39 £23.

Images Source: Myla

Minted / skinted.

The leather sandals from Céline spring / summer '10 are undoubtedly one of the most sought after pairs of shoes this seasons:

Image Source: Céline

Their rustic elegance and simplicity is wholly appropriate for the general aesthetic that dominates this season, pioneered by Céline, which will be referenced for seasons to come. However, at around £650, the price tag for these shoes is less desirable. Nordstrom has the best high street match by far, and at only £86:

Image Source: Nordstrom

Get some gloves!

I adore the romantic neutrals of this season (especially when worn with Doc Martens or massive goth boots from Camden Market to toughen up the look) in addition to underwear as outerwear. However, nobody (well, almost nobody) wants to look like a sheep in their sartorial efforts, which can happen if everything you're wearing is straight out of the latest Topshop ad campaign. This is where the importance of accessorising becomes evident and so, for spring / summer '10 as well as next season, I am favouring the glove  -  that's the purely ornamental kind, mind you. Cornelia James, official glove manufacturer for the Queen, is the only brand to turn to when in search of such a garment. See some of the designs below:

Short black lace gloves, £35. Image taken from W, March 2009. Also available in ecru, pink and dark blue.

Image Source: Cornelia James

Elbow-length lace gloves, £38. Image taken from Look, June 2009. Also available in pink, black and dark blue.

Image Source: Cornelia James

Delicate pink lace gloves, £32.50. Image taken from The Sunday Times Style Magazine, October 2008. 

Image Source: Cornelia James 

Image Source: Harper's Bazaar (US) online

Perfect for making a statement at parties, no?

Back in London & new Chanel.

Apologies for update failure  -  I have been away for the past week skiing in Meribel, devoid of internet access.

Anyway, this is just a quick post about Chanel's new "it" polish, "Nouvelle Vague", £16, which hits the beauty counters in May. The polish has been released as part of Chanel's new summer '10 collection consisting of the aforementioned "Nouvelle Vague", "Mistral" (a soft yet warm pink with a slight sparkle), and "Riviera" (a vivid peony pink). "Nouvelle Vague" is a beautiful turquoise, unarguably vibrant yet muted enough to be classed as a pastel:

Image Source: Temptalia

I really do like the colour, although I don't think it's as unique or special as "Particulière"  -  China Glaze in "For Audrey" is very similar, and the colour in general seems fairly easy to replicate. Still, "Nouvelle Vague" gets my overall approval.