Lark + Linen - Beauty Favourites

Let's kick off a week of guest posts with one of my favourite bloggers - Jacquelyn Clark of lark & linen. Jacquelyn, an interior designer based in Toronto, has a beautifully written, beautifully presented blog featuring all the good stuff - photography, tasty recipes, interiors and general snippets of life. I'm a huge fan! ...

I’m beyond thrilled to be here on Sofia’s behalf while she’s off on vacation! I may have squealed when she first approached me about contributing to her wonderful blog. To be here is such an honour! You can generally find me over at lark & linen blogging about life as an interior designer, but today I thought I’d share something a little different. And so here I am presenting some of my very favourite, tried, tested and true beauty products. I am by no means an expert, but I have been playing around with my regimen for the better part of the last decade and have amassed a lovely little army of products that I keep in my beauty arsenal. You can find any and all of the following in my medicine cabinet at any given moment:

1. Essie Nail Polish: This is a given. It applies smoothly, evenly and dries before you have a chance to ruin your newly manicured fingers. Lately I’m especially drawn to Turquoise and Caicos, Muchi Muchi, and Chinchilly, which is the perfect colour to transition from summer to autumn.

2. Mac Zoom Lash Mascara: a little on the expensive side, but well worth the extra few dollars if you consider the incredible lashes you get as a result. Easily one of my favourite products on the market.

3. Mac Eye Shadow: my go-to shades are currently Satin Taupe and Patina. They're both perfect for day or night use, depending on how much is applied.

4. Bare Esscentuals Bronzer: applies like a dream and makes you appear to have just stepped off the beach, even in the dead of winter.

5. Smith’s Rosebud Salve: it’s been around since 1892 for a reason! It transforms your lips (with a perfect dewy glow), dry skin (hello sore, cracked elbows) or relieves minor burns almost instantly. Bonus: its sweet vintage-looking packaging looks great atop your nightstand.

6. Palmers’ Cocoa Butter Chapstick: not exactly the most glamorous product on the market, but I swear to you, one swipe and you will be hooked. It is so wonderful that you won’t even mind when people stare while you use it, since it does greatly resemble a glue stick. They’ll understand, too, once they get their hands on it. 

7. Abba Shampoo & Conditioner: The first vegan/sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner I’ve found that not only does its job (and does it well), but smells great too. The minty scent is an instant wake-up for those early mornings, and your hair is left shiny, soft and incredibly manageable. Bonus: I’m convinced the minty-ness stimulates my hair follicles and promotes faster hair growth. I have no scientific evidence to support my theory, but I swear it’s working! And my hair dresser said "that's definitely possible" so that has to count for something, right? 

8. Moroccan Oil: I’m sure this product is not news to you (especially since Sofia herself is a moroccan oil advocate), but I swear by it. A tiny dollop before (or after) blow-drying your hair does wonders.

9. Aveda Paddle Brush: every girl needs a good paddle brush in her arsenal.

10. Burt’s Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile face wash: incredibly gentle, yet thorough. My skin has seriously never been better.

11. Almond Oil: a good friend of mine has recently introduced me to almond oil as natural a moisturizer for my face. It’s ridiculous inexpensive (especially in comparison to the natural moisturizers on the market these days) and its incredibly nourishing. I’ve been using it for about 6 months now, and my skin is much happier now. When you first apply it, don’t be alarmed as you will look slightly oily, but after a minute or so it seeps into your pores and gives you a lovely glow. I swear by it! 

12. Sea of Spa Hand Cream: a friend gave me this hand cream as a souvenir/gift from her recent trip to Israel. I never leave home without it.

Thank you so much Sofia! It’s been so much fun sharing a few of my tricks and tools with all of you.