Kindred Fashion

Aftershaves are always a failsafe gift for the man in your life. Whether it’s your dad or other half, when it comes to Birthdays, Christmas or other special occasions; aftershave is a great gift. I know Stefan always appreciates when I buy him a new aftershave. There are some great men’s aftershave on the market and I thought I’d share three which Stefan has been loving this year and would also make awesome gifts for men.

Hugo Boss Unlimited

There are so many different Hugo Boss scents which I’ve bought for Stefan but the Unlimited aftershave is one I had to include. The Hugo Boss Unlimited scent has notes of Sandalwood, Musk and Rose. The fragrance is marketed as being perfect for those seeking an energetic and charismatic signature scent that truly knows no limits. Hugo Boss Bottled is also another favourite which is worth mentioning.

Gucci Guilty

The second aftershave I want to mention is Gucci Guilty Pour Homme. This fragrance was launched last year, so it’s a pretty new addition. The sleek bottle makes it a great accessory on the dressing table. Gucci Guilty Pour Homme is aromatic woody fragrance with notes of amber. This one is a personal favourite of mine and Stefan really likes it too.

Calvin Klein Obsession

Calvin Klein Obsession has been a long favourite for Stefan. The scent is long lasting and generally, it’s usually pretty affordable. It truly is a timeless classic. Obsession for Men has notes bergamot, lime, vanilla and aromatic nutmeg. It’s quite woody and masculine and like I said, it always goes down well with Stefan. He uses it as his everyday scent.

Did you know that July 29th is National Lipstick Day?! Yes, that’s right they have created a whole dedicated to lippys! Lipsticks are a great way of expressing yourself and completely transforming your make-up look. It’s safe to say I have a HUGE collection of pretty much every shade, finish and brand under the sun. I thought I’d take this opportunity to do a post dedicated to some of my top picks of Lipsticks for National Lipstick Day. All of these Lipsticks can be found on Notino.

MAC Cosmetics

It’s hard to talk about Lipsticks and not mention MAC Lipsticks. Growing up, it was my life mission to grown my collection of MAC Lipsticks. They are an iconic staple for the brand with some shades of lippy being icons of the beauty industry. The quality of MAC Lipsticks have always been incredible and it’s guaranteed that’ll you’ll find one or three in the bottom of my handbag. Here are some shades which are the ultimate must haves from MAC Cosmetics and true icons for the brand.

• Ruby Woo – The Ultimate Red Matte
• Velvet Teddy – Everyday Nude Matte
• Peach Blossom – Sheer Nude
• Brave – Darker Nude (Excellent for Autumn)

NYX Cosmetics

NYX Cosmetics is another brand which I LOVED collecting their lip products. The Soft Matte Lip Creams changed my life. These are the easiest products to apply. Their staying power isn’t the best but their colour range is 10/10. Each shade is named after a city around the world and I’ve got to say that Stockholm was my ultimate fave, here’s a few which you NEED to pick up.

• Stockholm – Great Pink/Nude Shade
• Amsterdam – Staple Red Shade
• San Paulo – Pretty Pink

Anastasia beverly hills

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks are another staple in my make-up bag. These liquid lipsticks do not budge once applied. I think I might have the whole range of shades at this point. However, I want to give a special mention to the Anastasia Matte Lipstick (not liquid) in the shade Coconut which was a limited edition shade – This is one of the best shades I’ve ever owned but it’s not available to buy! I literally only have a mini I keep only for special occasions! However, here are some of the ABH Liquid Lipsticks you actually CAN purchase and they are all available on Notino.

• Crush – My Ultimate Favourite, it’s the perfect Pink/Nude Shade
• Naked – Another great Nude, this one is more Beige
• American Doll – A great deep Red shade
• Veronica – Perfect for Autumn

It’s safe to say that if you’re going to buy three lipsticks they should be MAC Cosmetics; Ruby Woo, NYX Cosmetics; Stockholm & Anastasia Beverly Hills; Crush. What shade will you be rocking this National Lipstick Day?

In today’s fast-paced world, self-care is essential for our overall well-being. While splurging on beauty treatments at a salon can be a lovely indulgence, there’s something special about the comfort and convenience of transforming yourself in the privacy of your own home.

If you love the satisfaction of coming home feeling like a new version of yourself, read on. Here, you can get tips and ideas for different beauty treatments that you can easily try on your own.

Why pamper yourself?

There are many reasons why you might want to take some time to treat yourself to a beauty treatment. Maybe work’s been full-on lately. Perhaps you’ve had enough of trying to manage life admin. Whatever it is, you must take the time to look after yourself. It can be good for your physical and mental well-being.

How to do DIY beauty

So, what beauty treatments will you try at home? Here are some ideas:

• Let’s talk brows

Brows have witnessed an evolution of trends throughout the years. From the thin, arched brows of the ’90s to the fuller, natural-looking brows of today, they play a significant role in framing the face. Today, there are some new brow looks to inspire you – and achieving well-groomed brows can be done at home with a few simple techniques.

Threading, a method of hair removal using twisted thread, can help shape and define your brows. Alternatively, soap brows, a recent trend, involve using a bar of soap to create a feathery, fuller look.

For those seeking longer-lasting results, a trip to the salon for microblading might be an option. While this is possible to achieve at home, it’s worth heading outside to see a professional as there is a risk with this technique.

• Be your nail tech

Professional nail treatments can be pricey, with some clients spending up to £160 per month. However, you can save money and achieve beautiful nails at home with the right tools.

Invest in a good-quality nail kit that includes nail clippers, files, cuticle pushers, and polishes. Regularly trim and shape your nails, push back your cuticles, and indulge in a relaxing DIY manicure or pedicure. With practice, you can achieve salon-worthy results and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of self-care.

• DIY teeth whitening

A bright, white smile can enhance your overall appearance. While professional teeth whitening can be effective, it can also be costly. Thankfully, there are options for at-home teeth whitening that can deliver noticeable results.

Whitening toothpaste, strips, and trays are readily available in stores. Additionally, using a water flosser with a whitening agent can help remove stains and promote oral hygiene.

It’s important to consider your individual needs and consult with your dentist for guidance on the best approach to teeth whitening.

What at-home beauty will you try?

Once again I have been influenced by the beauty enthusiasts of TikTok. The Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Concealer was first mentioned about a year ago when I decided to give it a go. Since then, it has been a firm favourite in my make up bag. I thought I’d give you the low down on why this is such a great concealer.

One of the standout features of the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Concealer is its incredible coverage. It effortlessly hides imperfections, including dark circles, blemishes, and redness, leaving behind a smooth and even skin tone. It’s highly pigmented formula ensures that a little goes a long way, allowing for buildable coverage without the risk of cakiness. Where the product really excels is the under eye coverage though, it just works so well and hides the dark circles. I don’t seem to have any problems with the product creasing and it always sets well.

I’ve also found that the concealer is great when it comes to longevity. Once applied, it stays in place throughout the day, resisting fading, creasing, or smudging. It’s also worth mentioning that the concealer does have a few skincare benefits with their formula that helps to hydrate and nourish the skin, ensuring that it remains healthy and radiant.

The only issue that I’ve had with the concealer is their colour range. I’ve picked this up in 01 Beige Albatre & 02 Lys Rosé which are two of the palest shades and they are still a tad too dark for me. I’m by no means super pale either! They both do work a lot better in the summer when I have a slight tan. However the shade match isn’t totally terrible and I can still work with it.

I’ve never actually used a lot of Lancôme products in the past so this is maybe the push I needed to try out a few other things. I’d be certainly interested in to seeing how the foundation from the same line works with me.

Have you tried anything from Lancôme? Have you tried the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Concealer?

Summer is imminent. Barring the occasional spell of wet weather (which, in the UK, is par for the course), we can look forward to weeks of glorious sunshine. While this might seem like an unequivocally welcome development, it presents a few downsides. The sun has the potential to inflict considerable harm on our skin and eyes, especially if we don’t take steps to protect ourselves.

Why does skin protection matter?

As well as radiating visible light, the sun also produces wavelengths that go beyond the visible spectrum. We can’t see wavelengths shorter than around 400 nanometres. Once light reaches this threshold, we call it ‘ultra violet’ – which basically means it’s gone beyond violet, the highest-frequency kind of visible light.

You might have heard that ultraviolet radiation is bad for your skin. But the precise frequency we’re talking about matters. The experts split UV light up into several categories. These are UV ‘A’, UV ‘B’, and UV ‘C’.

The last of these, category ‘C’, we don’t need to worry about, since the oxygen in the atmosphere blocks it. UV ‘A’ and ‘B’, however, can present considerable problems.

UV ‘A’ represents the majority of UV radiation that reaches us on Earth. They have higher wavelengths (between 315-400), but less energy. They can cause premature aging, and certain kinds of skin cancer.

UV ‘B’ rays can’t penetrate the skin as deeply, but they can cause most skin cancers, and damage the DNA directly. The key difference here is that UV-B doesn’t cause immediate sunburn – there’s a delay. This is why you might find that you caught the sun worse than you initially thought. The solution here is to plan ahead and protect yourself.

How to care for your skin during summer

There are a few steps to take to protect yourself against the harmful effects of UV exposure.

The first is to limit your time in the sun. Seek the shade when the sun is strongest, especially around midday. By taking a break, you’ll give your skin a chance to react to the UV-B you’ve been exposed to. If it looks like you’re burning, it’s time to stop.

You might also cover yourself with clothes, sunglasses and sunblock.The factor of sunblock you choose will determine how much protection you get. If you’d like to build up a tan, then it makes sense to opt for a lower factor – but you’ll need to be careful.

It’s important to bear in mind that your complexion will make a big difference to how easily you burn. Dark-skinned people have more melanin, which you can think of as a kind of naturally occurring sunblock. With that said, don’t assume that you’re safe from the sun just because you’re dark-skinned – UV light can still drive rates of skin cancer.