February was always going to be the shortest month of the year, but boy does it feel like time has been racing on by.
Nonetheless I’ve managed to test, trial and wear a great number of new bits and pieces in that span of time that are now firm favourites in my life.
And where would we be if we didn’t share?
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From the best sales website I’ve been scanning for daily deals to what swimwear I’m adorning when I hit the beach, these are the seven favourites I’ve accumulated in the space of just a few weeks.
1. Metallic swimwear from Minimale Animale
Hailey Bieber introduced us all to chrome nails but metallic accents are having a moment in our swimming costumes too.
Minimale Animale’s range is notoriously cheeky but with summer still raging on in Australia it might be time to invest in a chrome bikini top and bottoms, if not for now than for the European summer months ahead.
There are multiple chrome pieces on the website that range from very cheeky to far more subtle and you’ll certainly stand out from the crowd on the beach.
For something brighter I’m looking at Luli Fama’s range, which is available on Revolve, and swim can be mixed and matched with the brand’s adorable cover ups.
Slate Swim’s Lennox swim in the shade stone is a hot contender for one piece of the year, and despite not coming with straps manages to balance over the chest perfectly.
Ditto Bondi Born who has just launched its latest swimwear and ready-to-wear collection called Anthurium.
FAE Swim’s cowboy-inspired collection and TJ Swim’s Sundancer collection were made for the sun seekers, with brown colourways scattered elegantly throughout.
And I can’t forget SAME Swimwear that only late last year became available to shop in Australia.
The rosette features are so gorgeous and perfect for upcoming hens parties by the pool or beach.
Don’t let the hot weather pass you by without investing in a new piece of swim I say.
2. Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray from Rogue Beauty, $59
It’s not often I’m so wowed by a hair product that it almost reinvents the wheel in my routine but this volumising mist from Oribe takes the cake.
I’m already a religious Oribe disciple— I use the Resilience range of shampoo and conditioner — but when it comes to preparing for an event or special occasion I want to give my dead straight hair some lift.
After washing my hair and adding some leave-in conditioner in, the Sun Catcher one from R+Co is elite, I’ll then mostly dry my hair with the Dyson Supersonic before flipping my head upside down and spritzing in some of the Maximista Thickening Spray.
To activate the formula, you then need to properly blow dry it from root to tip, I use the Oribe Resin Round Brush to help with this, and the results are immediately obvious.
Your hair will be sky high and with a light spritzing of hairspray — this one from IGK is a winner — you’ll be out the door and looking like a million bucks. It’s such a hardworker in my tool kit now.
3. ECCO Women’s Classic 15 Pumps in Andorra, $269.95
Corporate styling is back in a big way and while I still love wearing my square toe Havaianas to walk to the office I find myself changing into these maroon heels when I get to the other side.
When I tell you the leather on these ECCO pumps in soft… I mean, seriously luxurious. Walking on a cloud levels.
I’m so used to ending up with blisters and red marks after wearing a pair of heels but these are comfortable enough to wear all day with ease, and in a statement, ever-trending red shade.
I’ve been pairing them with my Silk Laundry blazer and skirt in the shade midnight on days where I know I want to wow.
I also own a pair of ballet flats from ECCO in the same leather — they’re here if you’re interested — that I can wear to work and beyond.
These will be a favourite year-round but I’ve been really putting them through their paces in February.
4. BareMinerals barePRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation, $67
When I tell you I’ve tried some foundations, I have tried them all.
For someone with perpetually oily skin it can be hard to find something that will stay on all day and well into the evening but this BareMinerals foundation is unbelievably foolproof.
I went to Mecca to get shade matched a few weeks ago and took number six and number 11 with me to trial. I used both little pots up before committing either way and decided that the 11 oxidised to be too dark on my skin. Six it is.
I’d describe it as medium coverage but with the ability to be made full with further application. I barely need a concealer to go with it.
If I’m not using the barePRO it’s Chantecaille’s Future Skin foundation on my face. Equally as light and with a high percentage of water in it I actually find it acts like skincare and makeup simultaneously.
I wore the Future Skin to a wedding last weekend and with a light powdering, also from BareMinerals, it stayed matte all night.
Special shoutout mentions have to be made to Chantecaille’s range of liquid bronzer, blush and highlighter which are so subtle it looks like your skin has a natural glow and flush.
5. Khaite Uma strapless wool-blend felt midi dress from The Outnet, $1,861
The Outnet has been a recent discovery of mine and it’s all thanks to a friend living in the UK sending me a Sandro dress from the website she wanted to wear to an upcoming wedding.
I noted that said dress was more than 60 per cent off the original price and I couldn’t believe how reduced it was.
Khaite ensembles will always be on my wishlist but this dress in particular is such a failsafe option and just perfect for those black tie events that crop up out of the blue (and you never know what to wear to).
Despite my choice being a very demure option, The Outnet has a broad range of brightly coloured Mardis-Gras approved outfits at seriously reduced prices as there is currently an up to 80 per cent off sale on hundreds of products.
Staud is screaming my name with its rainbow-coloured knitwear although they don’t have my beloved Tommy Bags (you’ll have to head to NET-A-PORTER for those ones).
6. Recreation Beauty Undone perfume, $119 for 50ml
I’ve actually spoken about Recreation Beauty’s iconic launch in a separate story but I felt like it was worthwhile repeating because I have been non-stop spraying this beauty everytime I leave the house.
Not only do I love the ethos that espouses Recreation Beauty — the fragrances are all extremely natural and won’t give you a headache — but the scents are so easily mapped to a mood.
Feeling light and ready for a day outdoors? I spritz on This Love of Mine. Date night? Head straight for At Night We Dance. These are the main three I’m swapping in and out of my beauty cupboard.
I have to give a special mention to Aerre Perfume’s Red Theory ($39) which sits on my desk at work because it’s so bold and bite-y it’ll last all day on your clothes, skin and in your hair.
There is something so nostalgic about it, like taking your grandmother’s perfume — made new again.
7. Ultraceuticals UV Protective Daily Moisturising SPF 30 Mineral, $79
I’m just squeezing the very last bits of cream out of this Ultraceuticals cream after using it as my daily facial moisturiser for the past few months and I’ve got nothing but good things to say about it.
The pump is easy to use, it doesn’t get messy and for a mineral sunscreen it doesn’t dry down instantly making makeup difficult to apply.
When it’s finished I’ll be subbing it out for the Medik8 Physical Sunscreen just because the SPF is slightly higher at 50+ but overall there will never be a time when I’m not applying some form of sunscreen to my face — winter or summer.
To go to the beach or out on a walk the We Are Feel Good range has been my ride or die this month and I’ve been rotating the Kakadu Plum Sunscreen with the Signature Sunscreen.
They don’t feel greasy and I’ve never been burnt while wearing it, which is always an excellent sign.
