We had the best time in Cornwall last weekend. Using Penzance as our home base, the charming seaside town was oozing with cozy cafés and snug pubs. Only a five hour train ride from London, we spent many hours roaming the small coastal town, stopping to enjoy coffee and sitting at the edge of the walled harbour to watch crabbers catch their dinner.
On our first full day, we fueled up at The Honey Pot for brunch (luckily… despite not having a reservation) before walking an hour along the Penwith Coast to Marazion and St Michael’s Mount (the previously mentioned tidal island with a castle). It was so beautiful and so reminiscent of home, we thoroughly enjoyed our day exploring, taking in the sights, salty ocean air and the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (luckily dodging the rain under canopies of palms and trees). That evening, we retreated to a pub for a couple of pints and fish and chips before making the long walk home. It was absolutely perfect.
Our second day saw us take the Penwith Coastal route in the opposite direction to Mousehole where we enjoyed no shortage of Cornish ice cream (I’m STILL drooling over the Salted Caramel and Honeycomb cone) and pasties. We later returned to Penzance after picking up souvenirs (I bought a print, ceramic salt pig and a plant pot!), and enjoyed another evening of drinks and seafood.
This little staycation felt so restorative and happy – just what we needed at a time when we were meant to be at home. While the majority of this weekend holiday was spent sans makeup, in the evenings, we did dress up for our dinner reservations which meant (for the first time in what felt like ages) I was reunited with some of my favourite makeup products. While the below routine isn’t that different from my usual makeup application, I do add on a couple of steps to give my look a bit of a nighttime boost.
Currently my makeup routine uses most of my all-time favourites and one newbie that I discovered days before London went into lockdown (naturally).
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector
Why I love it: I have NEVER been able to wear foundation. Whenever I’ve worn it, I get an almost claustrophobic feeling. My skin feels heavy, congested and unnatural. And before anyone tells me I just haven’t found the right one, trust me: I’ve tried a TON. One face product I can’t get enough of? this Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. It is so lightweight with a really beautiful sheer coverage. It balances out your skin tone with a light wash of colour. What I love even more is as a moisturizer, this Skin Perfector hydrates your skin with kukui seed and macademia oil. It also protects you from ‘environmental aggressors’ (crucial in London) and has SPF 30.
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder
Why I love it: I have been using this product for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried so many different bronzers in my life, but absolutely love this powder for its golden tone and matte finish. The perfect way to give your skin a bit of glow, I don’t go wild with contouring but rather use this on my cheek bones, jawline and hairline. It also sets like a dream with my beloved tinted moisturizer.
Bobbi Brown Blush Matte Cheek Colour
Why I love it: This is another forever product. I bought my first Bobbi Brown blusher when I lived in Toronto during university. I know most people think blush is a thing of the past in the contouring age, but I still love a bit of colour on my cheeks and think it helps me look more awake (and happy?). I especially love this blusher in Nectar with its matte finish and easy-to-blend formula.
Benefit Gimme Brow Gel
Why I love it: I guess I’m especially lucky that my mom didn’t let me hop on the eyebrow plucking trends of the late 90s, early 00s (as much as pre-teen Krista whined and cried about how all my friends were doing it). I’ve been blessed (or cursed…) with my dad’s coarse eyebrow hairs and, with the right maintenance, they manage to look okay most of the time. While I’ll never have the bushy brows of my dreams, this Benefit Gimme Brow Gel with fibres fills in the gaps and holds my hair in place for most of the day. Plus, you can use the tip of the brush to add length to your brows where needed!
Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Colour
Why I love it: This is probably not shocking to anyone who watched a YouTube makeup tutorial between the years of 2013-2020, but I LOVE the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Colour. I use the shade moonlight and its slightly golden undertones really compliment my eyes. Every time I wear it, I get comments on my eyes. I like to use a fluffy brush and my Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in my crease to create a bit of dimension, then I use the Caviar Stick. Also, this is likely a total faux pas, but I love to swipe this over my eyelids then blend with my fingers – it works and less tools are best in my opinion!
Charlotte Tilbury The Classic Eyeliner
Why I love it: I’m not a huge fan of eyeliner. I’ve never been able to master a cat eye (or even the kitten flick!). As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been much more fond of building a fine line along the lash line then blending it out slightly with an angled brush. This Charlotte Tilbury Classic Eyeliner is perfect for that with it’s almost powder-like consistency and velvet texture. Easy to apply and smooth, this liner is a favourite if you’re looking for something to gently enhance your lash line without reverting to your Avril Lavigne days.
Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara
Why I love it: I literally found this mascara days before the city went on lockdown. Forever on the hunt for new mascaras, my all-time favourite is Lancôme Monsieur Big. This mascara has been a firm constant in my makeup bag… but after trying the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara for half the price, I might be a convert. As someone who wears no-makeup makeup, I will forever wear nighttime lashes in the day. It’s the one part of my routine that I like to be dramatic about. This Max Factor mascara is so. good. 100% buildable, and no matter how many times you swipe, your lashes don’t clump, leaving you with ultra-black, fanned out lashes. I’ve already bought it to bring home for my mom and sister.
Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Highlight Powder
Why I love it: It is embarrassing how long I’ve had this highlighter for. I definitely err on the light-handed side of application which makes this dreamy highlighter seem to last forever (in fact, mine is in the old packaging!). As I don’t use a setting powder in my routine, I tend to only really need highlighter for the inner-corners of my eyes and on my brow bone. Sometimes I’ll dab a little on my cupid’s bow, but beyond that, I let my natural glow (from my obsessive skincare routine) shine through. I also love the slightly creamy texture and diffused glow this highlighter provides.
While that looks like a lot of products, it typically takes me about 10 minutes to do a full application. I think my next makeup investment will be one of the below cream blushes. I’ve always wanted to use a cream blusher but haven’t quite bit the bullet besides a very brief trial-and-error with Glossier’s Cloud Paint. I’ve got my eyes on the below cream blushes. Have you ever used any of the below? Or do you have a cream blusher you can’t live without?
Krista Thurrott 