spruced by marlene

My birthday is coming up very soon. Okay, tomorrow. I made a crack in the dinner invitation about the fact that I will then be the same age as George Clooney was when it all started happening for him. I don’t know what Clooney’s beauty routine looks like. He so rarely invites me around his house to snoop around the bathroom. I imagine it involves slapping ice-cold water on his face and looking at himself lovingly in the mirror. Then he thinks about his friend Brad Pitt’s Chanel No 5 ad and laughs and laughs and laughs. If that’s it, it really works for him. The man has aged ridiculously well.

My beauty routine looks slightly different, but in celebration of tomorrow I’ll share some of the products that make me feel confident like Clooney. Some of them are recent discoveries, others long-time favorites, most of them I use every day. They come recommended by friends and professionals and through my own experience of trying a lot of stuff over the years.

Dr. Hauschka Powder Duo Summer Impressions in Cool Breeze – A compact bronzer powder for a nice summer glow that’s not in the least bit orange. I love the powdery smell, too. Unfortunately, Dr. Hauschka seem to have discontinued this product, adding one more to my list of beauty products that I want back. But I can recommend the Benefit Hoola bronzer just as much.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Mont Blanc – I was looking for a foundation that gives great coverage, but does not cake the skin, goes on lightly and gives a fresh dewy look. I found this one. Perfect.

Dr. Hauschka Eyeshadow Solo in Graubraun – I use the eyeshadow in Golden Earth every day. This one’s a bit more dramatic. What I like about the Dr. Hauschka eyeshadows is the soft shimmer. Plus, they last all day.

MAC Eyeshadow Matte in Omega – I actually use this on my eyebrows, a trick I learnt from my last visit to the MAC store. My eyebrows are blond, so a pencil would be too heavy. Instead, I stencil in the brows with a brush, using this matte eyeshadow.

& Other Stories Body Mist in Moroccan Tea – I took one sniff of this and got the body wash, the hand wash and the body scrub, too. Moroccan Tea smells like summer at the beach. I use the body mist for days when a perfume feels too heavy.

& Other Stories Lip Colour in Calamanco Coral – Another & Other Stories buy. A poppy pink lip color that will look even better with a light tan.

Chanel Le Vernis in Dragon – Ignore, if you can, the fur-lined sandals in this picture and focus instead on the deep red pedicure. I’ve been looking for a colour like it ever since I saw pictures from this Céline collection and found it at Chanel.

Essie Top Coat Good To Go – A reader tip – thank you Nora, thank you Katy! – and the reason my manicures now last longer than five minutes.

Clé de Peau Concealer in Beige – Can I blame the snake charms of the lady at the beauty counter in Barneys for spending this much on a concealer that I can only buy in the USA? Still, this is by far the best concealer I’ve ever used. Creamy, blends in perfectly and stays where it’s supposed to rather than creep into the creases around my eyes. It has even – gasp! – replaced Touche Éclat for me.

Erborian BB Crème au ginseng 5-in-1 in Clair – I was probably the last person to hear about BB creams, but when I did, I went all in. After a lot of research, i.e. reading dozens of beauty blogs, I settled on the one by Erborian with the „baby skin effect”. Yes, I’m that easy. And a big fan of this tinted moisturizer, which is great for days when you don’t want to wear foundation but still prefer something a little more than bare skin. The Erborian website seems to be down at the moment, but the good news is that & Other Stories are collaborating with the brand and will offer it from their online shop soon.

Boots No. 7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum – I bring back something from the Boots No. 7 range every time I visit. This serum absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave that rubbery feel on the skin that some serums do.

Petersen ikat bag The world is yours. For all the beauty essentials that I carry in my handbag every day.