Month: September 2020

Posted on

These Are the Comforting Beauty Products I Get Out Every Autumn

It would seem that after a rather intense Indian summer, autumn is set to start rolling in next week. And, as we prepare for 10-degree drops and chilly winds, is anyone starting to feel a bit (dare I say it) excited? Trust me—I love summer as much as the next person, but there is something really quite wonderful about the few weeks that come after summer, before the beating winds and drizzle blow in when the air is crisp and cool but the sun is still shining.

And after six months of wishing that being outside felt a little bit more normal, I’ve never been more ready to baton down the hatches and get into full-blown nesting mode. Of course, in true beauty-editor style, while some prepare to throw themselves into home DIY projects and baking experiments, I’m getting stuck into planning my autumn beauty routine.

After a summer of often uncomfortable climes, I’m ready to start giving my body the TLC it deserves once more. If anything, for me, a drop in temperature at the start of autumn is simply an excuse to whip out the most luxurious beauty products I own and embrace a bit of self-care ahead cosy evenings on the sofa. With me? Keep scrolling for the go-to beauty products I love to phase back into my routine come autumn.

I always look forward to this release. In fact, it’s probably my favourite beauty launch of the year. The Body Shop’s Vanilla Pumpkin range smells sweet but not eye-wateringly sickly like so many other seasonal beauty offerings. To be quite honest, I spend the second half of August counting down the days until I can start cocooning myself limbs in this nourishing cream.

Anyone that knows me knows that this is in my top five beauty products ever created. However, come summer, I usually reach for a zesty gel over this skin-softening oil. The minute the mercury drops below 20 though, this stuff comes straight back out. It’s lightweight but nourishing and comforting in the best way possible. And it smells absolutely divine.

As we head into autumn, it’s normal for our skin to start drying out a little. While thick, rich cleansers are usually too much for my oily summer skin, there’s something so calming about treating my stressed-out complexion to a little facial massage with this melting cleansing balm before bed.

Speaking of stressed-out skin, the change in temperature wreaks havoc with my complexion. Adding a soothing serum into my daily routine is absolutely essential if I want to minimise redness and irritation. This year, Aurelia’s new CBD-infused serum is my reach-for. It’s wonderfully calming and feeds my skin just the right amount of hydration.

I love a bath all year round, but my soaks in the summer are usually short, cool dips. As autumn rolls around, I look forward to embracing long, luxurious baths once again. This creamy bath soak from Elemis not only smells delightfully fresh, it also leaves skin feeling impossibly soft.

Name me a better feeling that closing the curtains on an autumn evening and lighting the most comforting candle in your collection. Every year, I struggle to get my hands on Diptyque’s Limited Edition city candles (they only sell them in the boutiques of the relevant city and sell out online super-quickly). However, because of current circumstances, this year the entire collection is available to shop online from 17to 27September. I have spent years longing to get my hands on the New York scent, and this year my time has come. Trust me, the warm, woody but slightly spicy aroma was totally worth the wait.

My oily, sensitive skin doesn’t really lend itself to irritating, breakout-inducing facial oils, however that doesn’t mean I don’t want to revel in their beauty whenever my skin starts to dry up a little. This new formula from Willowberry, however, is specifically formulated with chia and rosehip for sensitive skin, and it could just revolutionise my autumn routine.

Although my autumn skin and bodycare routine might seem a bit extra, when it comes to makeup in the autumn, I take a much more laissez-faire approach. Glowing skin, fluffy brows and a hint of colour on my lips is my go-to look, but wooly jumpers/blankets and sticky lip products don’t tend to mix. Instead, my autumn lip collection consists of non-drying, budge-proof stains, much like this one.

Although I love the ritual of applying eye cream, I’m also prone to milia (those small, but stubborn, white bumps that often form around the eyes) and thick creams combined with excess oil production don’t help. Come autumn, however, my eye area starts to show signs of dryness and takes to product much better. This glow-boosting, non-greasy cream from Bobbi Brown is one of the richest yet usable eye creams I have ever come across.

It might seem obvious, but slathering on a super-hydrating face mask is one of my favourite things to do come autumn. This new launch from one of my favourite bodycare brands (it now offers facial skincare, too) contains hydrating milk, soothing oat and hyaluronic acid to help tackle dry skin, as well as a special complex to help skin renewal and barrier function.

I really love fresh, zesty fragrances, but come autumn there is definitely something to be said for a slightly headier, warmer scent. Each year, I opt for a different autumnal spritz. This time around, this deeply warming perfume is set to be my go-to. With delicately floral top and middle notes, its base comprises of ambrette, tonka, vanilla bourbon and cedarwood for a rich, comforting finish.

Not only does this face cream offer up sumptuous hydration, it also contains immortelle super extract to help combat signs of ageing, as well as natural antioxidant ingredients to help fend of damage caused by external aggressors. Having said that, it’s the soft, silky texture that makes it a winner for me.

After a summer in Birkenstocks, my feet are in need of some serious help. This incredibly rich cream contains a bunch of hydrators as well as acids to gently exfoliate. The best bit? It smells like an actual spa. Plus, it doesn’t leave feet feeling overly greasy.

My dry lips freak out at the best of times, but a sudden drop in temperature is sure to leave them cracked and uncomfortable. Recently, I discovered that my favourite Lanolips balm comes in a stick, ideal for when I’m out and about and don’t want to touch my face. It’s my new all-time favourite.

Just like the skin, hair has a tendency to dry out come autumn, too. A summer of fun has left my bleached strands absolutely frazzled. This super-conditioning hair mask only has to be left on for two minutes and it totally transforms my hair.

Finding new ways to amp up my glow is quite honestly one of my favourite pastimes. Come autumn, I always find myself reaching for a rich, moisturising primer. This new addition to my collection is set to become one of my autumn staples thanks to its plumping finish and rich, creamy scent. Up next, why this full-coverage foundation has cult status.

Go to Source
Author:

Posted on

Watch of the Week: Breitling’s Chronomat Celebrates the Legacy of Mechanical Watches

In the 1970s and 1980s, things weren’t looking so great for the tried-and-true mechanical watch. Compact, highly accurate quartz watches had flooded the market, and more and more people were taking a pass on the intricate craftsmanship of mechanical watches and opting for battery-powered options. But Swiss watchmaker Breitling wasn’t content to let the mechanical timepiece fall by the wayside. To celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1984, the brand launched the Chronomat, a mechanical watch that demonstrated a strong commitment to spring-powered watches, and it soon became an icon. Now the watchmaker has released the Chronomat B01 42, and it references everything we love about the original: It’s highly functional, offers refined styling, and brings some interesting history to your wrist.

Chronomat B01 42
Breitling

The Chronomat name actually goes back even further than 1984. According to a press release, Breitling first attached the label to some of its watches in the 1940s, and the word was a portmanteau of “chronograph for mathematics” (this was long before the Casio calculator watch appeared). The 1984 Chronomat recycled the name, but this time it referred to the watch’s self-winding, or automatic, movement—a notable departure from the quartz watches that were so common at the time.

“It was the watch that boldly proclaimed Breitling was staying absolutely true to its roots,” Breitling CEO Georges Kern said in a statement.

The 1984 Chronomat took design cues from a timepiece Breitling had previously created to honor the Frecce Tricolori, the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force. With its tachymeter for calculating speed and its rotating bezel, it quickly became popular with aviators, as well as Formula 1 drivers and boaters.

Breitling-Chronomat-B01-42
Breitling

Today’s Chronomat comes in a dizzying number of versions to suit every taste, but all stay true to the design heritage of the ‘80s original—or “modern-retro,” as Breitling describes it. The watch features a 42-millimeter stainless-steel case with an integrated Rouleaux bracelet for a sleek look on the wrist (there’s also a rubber bracelet available for a sportier feel). Like the original, the Chronomat B01 42 comes with a rotating unidirectional bezel with rider tabs. Although a small detail at first glance, the tabs serve an important purpose: They protect the timepiece’s sapphire glass, and the tabs at three o’clock and nine o’clock are interchangeable, which allows you to utilize “count down” or “count up” functions.

Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Bentley Edition
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Bentley Edition Breitling

We also love that the Chronomat comes in such a wide range of finishes, which makes it possible to nab a unique timepiece that also fits well with your wardrobe. For example, you can opt for a silver, copper, or blue dial with black contrasting chronograph counters, or a black dial with silver contrasting chronograph counters. There are also several options with striking red gold accents, and two eye-catching special editions: a Bentley edition honoring the famed British carmaker and a limited edition (only 250 available) honoring the Frecce Tricolori.

Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Frecce Tricolori Limited Edition
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Frecce Tricolori Limited Edition Breitling

No matter which you choose, you’ll get a very well-designed watch. Breitling’s Manufacture Caliber 01 movement powers every Chronomat, and each timepiece boasts a 70-hour power reserve. Plus, they’re water resistant to 200 meters, which makes them more than ready for the rigors of daily wear.

Over three decades after the “quartz revolution,” we’re happy to see that mechanical watches—especially the Chronomat—are still going strong.

[$8,100; breitling.com]

Get it

Go to Source
Author: Michael Charboneau