Whether it’s makeup or skincare, we all like to make sure that our skin is looking good. The one thing we aren’t always so diligent about is if the product has expired yet or not. It can be very challenging to know if your favourite cream that you’ve been savouring or that perfect shade of lipstick has gone off but I’ve gathered some great tips to help you tell. There is a lot of debate about whether makeup and skincare really expire but trust me it does; depending on the ingredients, you might have a bit of an active reaction or, more likely, it just won’t work at all for your skin and that totally defeats the purpose of having a beauty routine. So, here’s how to tell when to throw away / replace those beauty products.
PS: If you want to see what beauty items I just can’t do without during quarantine, click here.
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All beaut products have an expiry date. Turn the item over and around until you find a little symbol that looks like a pot with a number in it. It will say something like 12M or 6M. This is the best before date of this product and you should aim to finish using it within that time. I would follow that date so that the effectiveness of the product doesn’t wear off! With makeup you might have a bit more room before it starts to go off but more on that later.
It’s All In the Smell
When a product starts to smell off, that’s when you really know it’s off. This applies to makeup and skincare! I can always tell when it’s time to say goodbye to a loved lipstick when it starts to smell a bit funky. Another great way to test the product is with the texture of it. You’ll notice a change in it and that’s when you know you need to replace it!
Be Aware of Active Ingredients
Anything with active ingredients, Vitamin C or Vitamin A, are products to watch. Be aware of the date you opened it, the use-by date and the feel of the product over time to make sure that it is still effective and not go off as these products can sometimes wear off faster.
Usual Dates
As a little guide, here is how long most make up products last:
Mascara and liquid eye liner: 3 months
Liquid foundations and concealer: 6 months
Lip gloss, cream products, brow products: 12 months
Lip sticks and liners: 18 months
Powder products: 24 months (store in a cool dry spot)
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I would say that this birthday has been a very different one. I never imagined that I would celebrate a birthday in quarantine during a worldwide pandemic but I suppose life has a way of surprising you. It’s been an odd few days with some sad news for our family however Shiv wanted to celebrate my birthday regardless – the reasoning being that now more than ever it’s important to celebrate every special moment in whatever way we can. This year, if anyone would ask me what I really want for my birthday is for there to be a tangible solution to what the world is going through right now.
I still make it a point to maintain hope and positivity that we will find one soon. I wish for lots of positivity and hope to spread to everyone and for us to come together and be there for each other. It makes me so sad to see the spread of negativity and fake news which just spreads fear – I hope that we can all be more understanding and more conscious of our choices.On a lighter note – a little retail therapy on your birthday never hurts (don’t worry we are sanitizing everything) and here are a few fun things you can add to your closet OR gift the Aries in your life.
As we are all settling into work from home life, a lot of you have been struggling with how to be productive during this time. It can be so difficult to resist the temptations of the sofa and Netflix. Luckily for you, I am no stranger to the work from home life and through all my years of experience, here are my top tips for staying at home, being productive, and still feeling as good as you possibly can through this time (for more on feeling good, check out my must-have beauty products that I stocked up on for lockdown)
Photos by Michaela Efford
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One of the biggest things about working from home is feeling like you’re always working. That’s why I DON’T work on the sofa unless I’m really not feeling my best. Instead, I have a spot on the dining table (different than the spot I sit on for dinner) where I set up my laptop and notebooks and work from. It’s my little makeshift home office and it helps to create boundaries between work and home.
Get dressed in something that feels good.
For some, it’s really cute loungewear, for other’s its proper outfits. For me, it’s a mix of the two depending on my mood but either way, I always make it a point to set my alarm for the same time every day during the week, get ready, even put on some concealer and wear an outfit that is NOT pyjamas! You can find a whole dose of outfit inspiration over on my Instagram for what I’m wearing during the lockdown. If you want some cute loungewear for this time instead, check out my favourites here!
Limit your phone time
Try to keep to a schedule like you would if you were at work. That means not taking constant breaks to look at Instagram (unless you want to look at mine, hehe! I joke!) A great way to do this would be to write out a little to-do list for every day and try to tick everything off in your given working hours. Working with deadlines helps to keep you productive!
If you need time for you, take it
After all of these tips, my biggest tip would be to do this when you are ready. Everyone is different – some of us have been able to jump right into work from home life while others are still processing the situation happening around us. It’s okay to take some time for yourself, to get yourself in a good headspace. Just remember, this too shall pass. Things will be okay and we will come through this!
Self-care in a time of coronavirus…not something I ever thought I would be thinking about! I cannot stress how important it is to take care of ourselves right now and for a lot of us, a big part of our self-care routine is being able to treat our skin and hair well. Today, I wanted to share with you my total must-have beauty products for keeping your hair and skin healthy and glowing through this totally crazy time. How do you know they are must-haves? Because I’ve gone out of my way to order each of them so that I don’t run out at all during this lockdown! Here is what I ordered so that you can get these products too.
I was surprised when I went through this process because there were products that I love, that I realised I just didn’t need. It really showed me what was essential and what I could live without which means I have a much more streamlined beauty routine! I do have a few new bits to try out as well, but stay tuned for what I think of those and whether they make it into my essentials! You can keep an eye on my Instagram stories for that! Here is what I ordered so that you can get these products too. Comment below if you have any questions about these!
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This page contains affiliate links. This does not affect your experience or my editorial decisions in any way.
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There is no doubt that there has been a lot of uncertainty, confusion and anxiety in the last week. There is no way that I can write this post on here and ignore the current global situation but what I really want to say is that there is always light at the end of the tunnel We will come out of this period, stronger, more together and hopefully more thankful for all that we have. I urge each and every one of you to stay home and follow the rules and advice laid out by the authorities for us so that we can slow the spread of this virus. I will be posting on my website more often now so as to offer a little bit of inspiration, happiness and escapism during this time and of course, will continue to be active on my social as well.
So now that we’ve established that we are all staying home – we all want to look cute doing it too right? If you’re on the hunt for the cutest loungewear sets and pieces out there in every budget, I’ve created a list for you guys below. I know that my eye immediately darts to all the colourful pieces and maybe I’ll treat myself to more than one with my birthday coming up!
Stay tuned for some more tips on how to work from home and stay sane coming soon as well as lots of other content to keep you smiling during these times!
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Photos by Sarah Ellen
I know that for a lot of my friends, colour blocking is intimidating. Why reach for colours when you can just opt for black, Right? Wrong! I might wear a lot of black and white but I am a sucker for colour and cool combinations.
Colour blocking is a really easy way to make your outfit look more fashion-forward and add that point of interest to your look, especially when spring is around the corner. (Don’t worry you can colour block with your WFH looks too!
When delving into the world of colour, I always think it’s nice to start with pastels. Since it’s a bunch of similar shades of different colours, mixing and matching with pastels is much easier. You don’t have to overthink it! Lemon yellow and Lavendar? Works! Lavender and mint? works! Every combination works a treat! Go for it.
Keep It In The Family
When you think of colour blocking you think of contrasts (see next point) but one of the coolest ways to inject colour into your look is by working with colours in the same family (warm and cool). Think about it – pink and orange or pink and red are all warm colours but work amazingly when you colour block! For my outfit, I kept it cool (literally and figuratively? hehe!) I went for blue and green!
Contrast With The Colour Wheel
Like I said before, colour blocking does involve a bit of colour contrast! When trying to understand what colours work well together, think of what colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel. Purple and orange, for example, work well together! With this look, I added a touch of magenta to my look with my shoes! The day before my shoot I shared an image of the colours together and you guys were not feeling it but when I wore the outfit, you can see how well it comes together!
2020 may have just begun but we are already well on our way to welcoming everything new season for the spring-summer collections of 2020. With fashion month in full swing as well there is no shortage of outfit inspiration for a new season, but it’s also a great time to see which trends have stood the test of time. Investing into a luxury designer handbag is no snap decision and with so many options it can be hard to figure out which one is worth your buck. Is it a timeless purchase? Will I love it a year from now? A few years from now? How much wear will I get out of it? These are all valid questions to be asking yourself and to make the process so much easier, I have created the ultimate guide to all the handbags of 2020.
I’m outlining for you which ones are worth snapping up, and which ones you need to leave on the shelf. I will be updating this page regularly as well so don’t forget to check back and if you’re considering a bag you don’t see on this list, then leave me a comment below and I’ll be sure to give you some personalised advice. Stay tuned as well for my list of the classic bags that are always worth investing in, no matter what year it is. Until then, let’s see what’s currently hot in the fashion world.
THE CHANEL 19 BAG
The Chanel 19 took the fashion world by storm to be the latest “classic” release from the brand. Inspired by the original 2.55 classic, this piece is a similar shape with the diamond quilting but is meant to be “freer” in its shape. It has a gold chain as well that can be used to hand-carry the bag, making it particularly versatile. It comes in four different sizes; belt bag, original, large and maxi.
Now I’ve seen the bag in person and I had some mixed feelings about it. I’m a classic 2.55 girl and I found that this shape was a bit pillow-like and in certain finishes like the classic black and white I didn’t enjoy the large quilting design. I will say though that I adored this bag in the tweed finish and the colours. So, with that said if you’re on the hunt for a classic with a twist, opt for the Chanel 19 in the belt bag colours or a tweed or fabric finish. However, with that in mind, is it really worth the price? If you’re out for a classic bag then leave this one on the shelf and go for either a 2.55 or the Chanel Trendy.
Bottega has made such a massive comeback in the last year with their dumpling bag and now with the Cassette bag too. There’s something about these puffy quilted bags that everyone is falling for this year and of all the options in this particular style, the Bottega Cassette bag is my favourite. It’s a super versatile shape which means you can style it for the day or for dinner in the evening too. I know it comes in a variety of colours but for a bag that you want to use all the time for every season, I recommend going for it in a neutral colour. Plus, in comparison to some of the other bags in the collection, it’s quite affordable for a luxury purchase nowadays. It’s the kind of timeless purchase that may go “out of trend” for a while but will always come back.
The Dior Book Tote isn’t new to 2020 but it is new in the sense that it now it comes in two new sizes (a medium and a mini) and in a bunch of new patterns as well. This bag has quickly become a fashion insider favourite simply because it is so easy as a carry-all. A great bag to travel with, to take with you on errands and generally for most things where you need a lot of space Now I’ll be honest guys, I’m not a fan of the mini. I know it’s every fashion bloggers favourite but I don’t think it looks as luxe in this size. Instead, opt for the medium or original large options. My personal favourite? The super colourful one from the S/S 20 collection!
So, this is a bag that everyone has fallen in love with over the last year. It’s got a vintage feel to it as the shape and design is a throwback to the Gucci archives but I for one am not a fan of this particular bag. Although the shape is nice and the bag does fit a lot, I find that it isn’t a forever piece. It’s easy to throw on with jeans and a tee but actually, I think this bag would be much more challenging to style outside of that realm than one would think. If you’re in the market for a super luxury purchase, I don’t think this is the one. If it’s the shape that you are after, because as we have seen from Paris Fashion Week, it’s about to make a BIG COMEBACK – then hold off and wait for the YSL version.
If you asked me to list my favourite luxury brands, Prada would rank very highly on that list because this amazing house never fails to show us something that is both classic and trendy at the same time. My Prada Sidonie is one of my most used bags! That being said though, The Re-edition is not my favourite from this house. Part of me felt like it was an answer to the high demand for the LV Multi Pochette (keep reading for my review on that one!). The house has so many other amazing bags that are so much more classic and that will stand the test of time more than this one.
VERDICT: LEAVE IT ON THE SHELF AND GRAB THE SIDONIE!
LOEWE BALLOON BAG
Firstly, a bucket bag is a classic shape. You cannot go wrong. Now if you’re looking for a beautiful, designer bucket bag, Loewe is your answer. The bag is durable and sturdy while still being elegant and comes in three different sizes; small, medium and large. The medium and large sizes also have an extra adjustable strap, which means you suddenly have more styling options too. Guys this is an easy win!
I was surprised at how much I loved the LV Multi Pochette when I saw it pop up on Instagram last year. I loved it so much that I pre-ordered the bag and it has become one of my most worn bags ever. In the classic LV canvas (It also comes in another colourway which is so cool!) with a choice between two straps (pink and khaki), you can wear this bag in a multitude of ways. The bag is made up of three parts that can all be worn individually or together and can be worn for any occasion! I love that it adds a bit of edge to my outfit when I want it too or I can make it super dainty and elegant. A bag that adapts to your style is a bag worth having!
In case you haven’t noticed, @thesilksneaker on Instagram is now @shloka and along with this name change, the start of the new decade is seeing a whole new revamp of my space on social media. As I asked myself what exactly I wanted to focus on and share with you all, I realised I was more than just a luxury blogger, but I was a “conscious luxury ambassador”, here to lead a mindful fashion and beauty revolution.
Right now, the words of Barrack Obama could not ring truer. “We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last who can do anything about it.” From strange seasonal changes to bushfires, you cannot ignore that the world is changing. It is so easy and simple to lose yourself in the glamour and charm of the fashion industry but it’s time to be more mindful and more aware.
Everything is a journey, everything is a process and I don’t expect fashion brands, you, or me, to suddenly wake up tomorrow and lead completely different lives with no bad habits at all. We are allowed to be beginners in this process, and that means being more conscious about the way we consume and live.
Just like you, I love a good Zara shop, I love to browse around and indulge in something and I love to try new beauty products. I have faith that brands of all sizes will catch up to this new sustainable revolution and I am willing to give them the time to make those large changes to their supply chains. It also means that I am going to enter this new decade being a more mindful consumer and communicator. It means that every recommendation you get from me, every item I buy, is going to be a more thoughtful process and one that is truly considered.
It also means that I will make an effort to highlight brands that are doing something incredible while focusing in on this luxury space. After all, we all want to learn how to save up for that beautiful designer bag right? And why shouldn’t you! You totally deserve it, and it’s probably going to be a much better purchase than that £25 pouch that you only use once.
I hope you guys are ready for this new space and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on all to come. This doesn’t mean that you’re not going to ever see a high street piece on here ever or that I’m suddenly too cool for Zara (hah!) but it does mean that I’m only going to show you the things I think are truly WORTH it, leading us to all make more mindful.
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Okay, funny story. You know I’ve always been on top of the trends, and have always loved sharing them with you (for my fall-winter trend guide click here!) but one thing that has taken me forever to embrace, is tights. When I moved to London I straight up refused to wear them. In the dead of winter, I would walk out for a night out, in my dress, without the tights. My friends were confused; a part of them was astonished that I managed and the other part was concerned because it was obviously not a very smart thing to do. Recently though, I discovered printed tights and the game has changed.
Your Christmas party outfit does not need to be ruined by tights anymore, instead, it’s about to get a whole lot chicer! Upgrade your little black dress with a fun pair of printed tights. You can create an outfit a la Katie Holmes in her YSL dress and polka dot tights, or you can try my way and go for a floral pair. Either way, they are an affordable way to make any outfit look that much more expensive!
