Kenyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer

I’ve never liked any foundation I’ve tried for a variety of reasons, but it comes down to basically two things– 1, it doesn’t look natural in daylight and/or 2, the real kicker, it feels disgusting on my face. I can tolerate some tinted moisturisers or BB creams, but foundation without fail will leave me gagging to wash my face after an hour or so.

Not so with the sensual skin enhancer. This stuff is a little weird, but it’s genius. The first thing I should probably mention is that the pot is nearly $50 and it is so tiny that I wondered if I was sent a sample size by mistake. After trying some, though, my fury abated a little as I realised it is insanely thick and concentrated, so it’s going to go a very long way. I did a bit of Googling and found many reports of the pot lasting one year or more with regular use. So, that’s not so bad.

The application process is a little different to ordinary foundations, which you can obviously just slap on and blend a bit and you’re done. This stuff goes on very thick, so you definitely need to moisturise thoroughly and maybe prime your skin before applying (actually, since this foundation seems to be a little drying– which is my only real criticism of it– a good rich moisturiser is best). I find that just touching a finger lightly into the pot to get a tiny amount of product, and then rubbing it between my fingers to warm and thin it out a little, then applying it to my face works well. I start on my nose and under my eyes, then work outwards, blending all the way. Finally, I add a little extra moisturiser to make sure everything’s perfectly even.

Something magical happens when this skin enhancer stuff is properly blended in. When I first put it on it looks all kinds of wrong– super thick where I first slapped it down, typically, and thin in others. Yet, with a little blending and perhaps the warmth of the skin, it soon all kind of vanishes in an EXCELLENT way. My face is left feeling like soft warm cashmere, and it looks as perfect as I’ve ever seen it, but natural. Here’s a photo for demonstration purposes– it’s a bad one, and I’m sorry about that, but it gets the point across:

On the right you see freckles, tiny spots, and under eye shadows. ON THE LEFT YOU DON’T. Hooray!

In this photo I’ve blended some very lightly with a lot of moisturizer over the right side of my face (left, in the photo), making the skin enhancer function sort of like a highly pigmented tinted moisturiser. For more perfect coverage, you can easily just up the ratio of skin enhancer. I’ve even used a tiny bit without any moisturiser on a big red blemish, and it covered it up like a dream.

One other thing worth noting is that buying the right shade online can be tricky, and I definitely got the wrong shade for my skin. I originally chose 07 (for light skin with yellow tones), but it’s a little dark and too yellow for me. When I first put it on the difference in tones is very noticeable, but after a minute of blending it all just sinks in and evens out, and overall looks pretty good. I’m not saying that you should throw caution to the wind and just order whatever (in fact, definitely buy this from a physical store if you can, as with all new foundations), I’m just noting that I got a tone that was slightly off for my skin and it actually wasn’t a disaster. I’ve now ordered 04 (light skin, slight yellow) as well, and am planning on using the lighter and darker versions for face contouring and also to adjust for skin tone changes throughout the year.

Having used it the Sensual Skin Enhancer a week or so now, I don’t mind at all that the pot is tiny and pricey. I love how it feels and looks on my skin, so that makes it completely worth it to me. Quite seriously, for the first few days of having this stuff I actually bounced out of bed early, excited to put it on. No makeup product has ever done that to me before! So, yeah, I recommend it big time.

PROS: Feels good on skin, looks natural, adjustable coverage. Very versatile– can cover under eye darkness and blemishes as well as acting as a general tinted moisturiser/foundation.

CONS: Expensive, drying, slightly difficult to apply.

(Clockwise from top left) County Road faux fur jacket; Topshop fedora, Samantha Wills bangle, Helmut Lang draped top, Baxter of California candles, Modern Vice “The Officer” leather boots, Karen London Gypsy Soul studs, Alexander Wang Rocco bag (I’m still waiting on a Shopbop discount code that doesn’t exclude Alexander Wang!)

The Outnet is currently featuring an awesome 60% off sale on T by Alexander Wang pieces! This brand is everything to my wardrobe, I don’t know what my life would be without a good quantity of slouchy T/AW basics. Although the sale is most definitely not limited to basics! I’m definitely not going to miss out on that red silk crepe dress ($134 down from $295) or those incredible leather paneled pants ($198 down from $525). There’s also a range of satin jersey tanks (the best basics of all) for just $39 down from $95. It’s all too good for words. Now I just need to find the Rocco bag on sale somewhere…

So, in honour of this launch of sorts, I’m doing a special giveaway– a rad Push by PUSHMATAaHA rose gold plated skull necklace (pictured left), and your choice of a £20 ASOS or Topshop voucher. Winner takes all! Usually skulls weird me out a bit, but I love this little guy so much; he’s perfect for adding a tough twist to an outfit, wearing as a simple stand-alone statement, mixing with other necklaces, anything. And of course, we can all always use an extra bit of cash at ASOS.

I’ll cover shipping to anywhere in the world, so you’re all warmly invited to enter! Simply check out one of my new social pages for Twenties Project- Pinterest, the Facebook page, or Bloglovin’ - and follow, like or share to enter! The winning entry will be drawn at random using Random.org on the 8th of May, and I’ll update this page to notify the winner. (Or, if you’d like me to email you directly, please leave a comment below and include your email or URL in the comment form!)

Thank you for reading, and best of luck! xo

UPDATE: The draw is now closed and the winner is entry # 14, Jessica S! Congratulations Jessica! I’ll be in touch to arrange the delivery of your haul shortly

Thank you so much to everyone who entered. I would love it if you would like to come back and join future giveaways! If you ever see something that catches your eye, all you’ll need to do is comment on that giveaway and remind me that you’ve already followed one of my social accounts. I’ve posted a sneak peek at my next giveaway here.

Love,

L

I’m on a big fat jewellery high this afternoon thanks to an irresistible combination of gorgeous jewels and a 20% off welcome code from Karen London on my first purchase! The code is, literally, WELCOME. I snapped up the gorgeous ebony and gold Gypsy Soul Studs (pictured left), as well as the Shiraz cuff (pictured right), and the classic Alexandria ring, an organic gold design which I’ve had my eye on for a while. I’m loving the welcome discount! More stores should definitely do this, amiright? (I’m right).

First off, some slouchy printed pants, to be worn with my myriad of black t-shirts, messily tucked in. These lounge pants and harem pants by Staring at the Stars fit the bill perfectly! Then also this adorable tie lace tank top by Ecote, in green and cream, since Ecote’s lace things are the best and I need to stop wearing so many black t-shirts. And finally the Sparkle & Fade harness neck cami in black, because any order of mine without a black item would surely be a harbinger of the apocalypse. Just looking out for you all, y’know.

Image from By Charlotte

When I first saw this little image in the cover pages of Australia’s Harper’s Bazaar (the January edition, with superminx Kate Bosworth on the cover) my heart skipped a beat and demanded to know what that little gold half-circle pendant was, where it was from, and how I could get it. Weird that such a tiny detail should invoke such an urgent NEED IT NOW response, especially when I couldn’t even see the damn necklace properly and am not even particularly into fine gold jewellery.

By Charlotte is the brand responsible for my fervour, and the necklace I fell for in Harpers is the lotus gold necklace. But there’s more! Charlotte sells several riffs on the lotus motif in various shades of gold and silver, plus jade, mother of pearl, and ruby, and each piece seems more beautiful than the last.

What I love so much about this collection is the way that global inspirations have been translated into pieces that are truly elegant, dainty and timeless. When I shop overseas I tend to wonder what I was thinking by the time I make it home to unpack; what exactly was it about that big silver-and-turquoise pendant that thrilled me so much in a market in Ubud? At home in Perth, I have no idea– the magic is lost, and my trinket seems overpriced and gaudy.

These necklaces, however, ooze elegance and subtlety while whispering “I’ve been places,” which is EXACTLY what I want my accessories to ooze and whisper. I don’t know if fine jewellery gets any more perfect, unless we’re going to talk about  Claire Kinder’s bateau ring, but that’s a story for another day.

At $24 USD from Sephora (you don’t even want to know what they cost here in Australia… but I’m telling you. $36. Horrible! Ridiculous!) these beauties aren’t cheap, but I’ve come to think that they’re worth it. All Bite beauty lippies contain food grade ingredients and loads of antioxidants, creating a natural lip product that is as delicious– literally– as it is beautiful to wear. I find their health claims just a teeny bit hard to believe, because their lip pencils (as well as the lipsticks and lip tints, but that’s another story) are SO gorgeously pigmented and flattering, possibly the nicest I have EVER used anywhere, so if they can do it without any parabens and petrochemicals then what in sweet heavens are the other cosmetics companies doing? Just putting in petrol and lead for LOLs?

(Probably for valid things like staying power. If BITE lip pencils have one failing, it’s that they need to be re-applied rather a lot. But it’s cool, they’re luxurious and fruity, I enjoy it).

To cut a lot of gushing and enthusiasm short, what makes these pencils for me is the (a) truly vibrant and highly, highly pigmented colours, (b) the super moisturising matte finish that make my lips feel ultra lush, (c) the fact that they all taste a bit like a healthy, vaguely fruity candy and (d) that they don’t contain anything I don’t mind ingesting. Rhubarb (pictured left) is my favourite shade for everyday wear- it’s a soft and pretty plum rose colour that flatters and suits just about any makeup  or outfit combo I care to throw on. My favourites for night are Bramble (a gorgeous deep black current red) and Pomegranate (a vibrant bright red).

 
Check ‘em out:
 

Bramble

Pomegranate

Rhubarb

So, The Outnet are giving us their FREESHIPSPRING discount code, which is valid until 9:30am EDT Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013! Here’s how I’m spending my 250-

Halston Heritage jersey dress

CURRENT/ELLIOTT the ankle printed low-rose skinny jeans

T by Alexander Wang cropped stretch jersey tank