Morgan's Skin Journal
the fifth journal
Hello, hi there and a very warm welcome to the fifth edition of the journal! Thank you for coming back, we have some super fun beauty talk ahead of us.
Today we have a recap on some products that I’ve tried this week, skincare for the changing season and a look at the blush series I’ve been sharing across socials. My skin feels like it’s currently on the verge of a full blown eczema flare up (I blame being blasted with wind + sand on the Gold Coast last weekend) so I have a feeling that next newsletter will be a little lighter on the product trials.
Enough chit chat; let’s talk beauty!
Doing your skincare….but your skin doesn’t care?
Autumn is officially here!
Where I live that seems to mean lots of rainy humid days and evenings that are starting to cool off properly. Transeasonal skincare can be so hard to nail down, getting the right balance of still dealing with warm days but needing a little more support. Here’s a little lineup of an easy to follow routine with textures to give you that extra oopmh before we move into winter (whilst still holding up in this sweaty weather).
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser: this has a yummy creamy cleansing texture that feels like it’s giving back to the skin as you use it. But don’t worry, it’s still going to get your skin clean.
Frank Body Super Ceramide Barrier Oil: if you’re after something a little richer at night, this is it. It features squalane, which is so nourishing and suitable for a range of skin types, as well as ceramides and antioxidants to help boost and strengthen the skin barrier.
Go-To Skincare Very Lightweight Moisturiser: this during the day is the ultimate balance of a super lightweight texture + awesome ingredients to nourish and soothe the skin. A ticket straight to juicy skin, even under makeup - I just restocked this one myself.
Beauti-Fltr Feather Light SPF 50+: I’ve been through multiple tubes of this because it’s such a reliable and comfortable SPF formula. It works into the skin easily and dries down to an invisible finish, perfect for a natural finish or under makeup.
Beauty Video of the Week
This is the part where I normally spotlight a viral beauty moment or video that’s trending and popping up everywhere but tbh I don’t really have one for this week. Instead here’s a little curation of my fave content from my fave people 🫶🏻
My girl Bekky showcasing yet another stunning Rare Beauty blush shade, isn’t this one stunning on her:
Hattie showing off one one of my absolute fave beauty brands and ultimate glow getters, Holme Beauty:
Grace with this gorgeous re-creation of a vibrant pink look straight off the Melbourne Fashion Festival runway. What a slay:
Fun Things I Tried This Week
Trinny London BFF All Day Foundation - I have a soft spot for Trinny formulas and how well they work skincare ingredients into their base products. This one has ceramides and niacinamide, big yay from me. It’s like a soft matte style finish and very comfortable on the skin. Medium coverage and so easy to work with, it’s definitely going into my base rotation.
Mecca Max Brow Guru Power Brow Strong Hold Gel - ok this took a couple of attempts to understand how to apply it without absolutely lathering on the product, but when I did, wow! You can really manipulate your brow hairs into place and then the hold is incredible, they are not going to move, trust me. Could be a really great option if you love that super pushed up, laminated look.
Benefit Play Tint - it’s cute, it’s a fun pink shade and easy to work with. It gives an incredible natural looking flush to the cheeks and can also be used on the lips for a pretty monochrome moment.
Fresh Beauty Lotus Youth Preserve Resurfacing Dream Serum - I was so excited to hear about this one when it was released. Fresh always formulate so well and my skin especially loves their Rose Deep Hydration range. This is so easy to use, applying two pumps across your skin before moisturiser. Even with my more sensitive skin, I had no issues using this and woke up feeling like I had smoother, brighter skin.
Ultra Violette Lil Pout Protectors - Vi recently reformulated the Sheen Screen, which is their lip balm SPF formula. I got this little trio to try out some of the new shades and it absolutely does not disappoint. It feels super hydrating and lush on the lips, you can’t taste the SPF and the shades are so pretty! Bejewelled is my pick of the bunch, a pinky-gold treat.
The Blush Series
In case you missed it, the blush series is back! For every day in March I’ve been showcasing a different blush formula and shade, swatching it and then applying it to my cheeks. To try and keep things consistent, I’ve been doing the same base makeup so you can really see how the product applies.
Blush is probably my favourite step in my makeup routine and for that reason I own a lotttt of different options and it’s hard to share them all, but I’m trying my best! Here are a few of the formulas I’ve posted about so far.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Dream Pop:
Saie Dew Blush in Cutie:
Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm:
Mecca Max Off Duty Liquid Blush in Rosy:
Let me know if you have a favourite! Or if you have a blush you’d love to see me try on next.
On The Wishlist…
Do I have enough beauty products to last me a lifetime? Probably.
Do I still have a few things on that wishlist waiting for pay day to roll around? Definitely! Here’s a little peek at what I’ve got my eye on…
Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint
Let’s be honest, these just look super cute and fresh and fun and such an innovative texture! The shade Spritz looks like my kind of vibe.
Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting Gel
All I’ve heard about this brow gel is rave reviews, like seriously everyone seems to love it. No white flakes and holds all day? Sounds good to me.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Pop Eau De Toilette
If there’s one thing about me, I will always go a little crazy for Marc Jacobs fragrance packaging and this one is no exception. So there’s actually three bottle designs and fragrance as a part of this Daisy Pop launch, but this one, with notes of grapefruit and musks truly stands out to me.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these and if you think they’re worth it!
The Big Three
Ok, you know how you have your big three in astrology? This is just the beauty product version of that, and yes I think I’m pretty clever thank you very much. The Sun will be something that’s going on my face on the daily, Moon is for the nighttime routine heroes and Rising is for the newcomer or rising favourite of the week.
SUN: TOWER28 MAKE WAVES MASCARA
The obsession with this mascara formula is so so real. It goes on easy, doesn’t budge or smudge and lasts all day. My favourite part is the lift and definition I get from this formula with literally zero irritation to my very sensitive eyes. It’s water resistant too, but still easy to remove with your cleansing balm at the end of the day. The wand shape is also quite unique, with a curve that hugs the lashes and helps coat each one evenly.
It’s currently available in classic black, or in a rich brown shade that I absolutely need to get my hands on.
Shop it here.
MOON: AVENE CICALFATE RESTORATIVE PROTECTIVE CREAM
Since I found out I have eczema, I’ve been through about 7 or 8 tubes of this goodness. It is my go-to when my skin is feeling damaged or fragile and I love to lay it on thick overnight. It is 100% formulated with restoring the skin in mind, to help heal even cracked and super irritated skin. Ingredients wise, it contains copper sulfate and zinc sulfate, along with pro-biotics and a patented post-biotic ingredient.
This is a holy grail product for me and I will never be without a tube of it in my house/beauty bag/any time I travel anywhere, even just overnight.
Shop it here.
RISING: MECCA MAX OFF DUTY LIQUID BLUSH IN ROSY
Unsurprising that I’m doing a blush series and falling in love with every new formula or shade I try, but this one is something special. It’s a super creamy, liquid formula that packs a punch with pigment so you only need to start with a small amount to get such a pretty finish.
Rosy is a true rose pink shade with built in luminiser for that super glowy, radiant finish. Bonus points for skincare ingredients! Plus this lasts on the skin so well so you can keep that blushed up glow going all day.
Shop it here.
And with that, we’ve reached the end of the fifth edition of Morgan’s Skin Journal! If you’ve made it this far, I hope it means you’ve enjoyed it and would consider sharing with a friend who might like it. There’s so much beauty goodness to come in 2024 and I hope you join me for it.
I’ll play myself out with my song of the week and see you all for the next journal 🩵
Love, Morgan