LUXOMME

On one hand, I want to sleep. On the other, I want to stay up as late as possible to do things that I can't during the day, like binge watch Scandal. Which, let's be honest, a lot of us do.

One of my guilty pleasures (while binge watching TV) is my bedtime routine. It's the time of day I really set aside for myself to just relax. I try not to do anything 30-60 minutes before my bedtime, just
to have a chance to wind down and prepare for the day ahead.


As the Autumn months are finally here, so is the Winter dryness that absolutely ruins my skin. I prevent the cracking and flakiness by slathering on a plethora of different products. Excessive? Yes, but absolutely necessary.


I've tried a lot of hydrating mists over the years, but my favorite has to be this H2O Oasis Mist which contains wakame, sea lettuce, and sea fennel etc. It honestly sounds more like a salad I'd order at a Japanese restaurant than something that does anything for my skin, but it's refreshing and I always wake up with glowing skin the morning after.

I can live with that, who am I to argue with glowing skin.


For my difficult lips, NUXE Reve de Miel. Nothing beats this. Not even Biotherm, which I rave on and on about on this blog. I learned about it during a quick trip to the pharmacy in Paris last Summer. Didn't even know how much hype surrounded this little tube when I bought it. Now I regret not buying more.


My friend Lawrence sent me this Hada Labo serum a while back.

Actually, I asked him to buy it for me and then send it over. I haven't actually gotten around to using it till now, and it' part of my routine now. I'm not sure what it does actually, but my skin looks better when I use it, so I do now. It's pretty thick and sinks in well.

More moisture! More Cream! More hydration!




After I've done all that, I begin focusing on my hair. If you're like me, sometimes my hair will wake up a little wimpy and sad looking. I googled up solutions for this, and found that a spritz of dry shampoo before you go to bed really wakes it up in the morning! I've since come to love batiste, which does the job better than higher priced ones I've tried. It's disappointing to spend $30 on a bottle of product which does nothing for you.

$5 worth of gold here. Even if your hair is never dirty.


The perfect end to my day doesn't really lie in all the products though, I could do without all of that and be fine. The REAL relaxation comes with everything else.


I've always loved songza, but it's almost like I've rediscovered it these last few weeks. I went through a smooth jazz phase, a la what you hear at Indigo, but have now found myself back in the Chopin section. I have a really soft spot for Chopin.

My best night is simple. All I need is a candle, a warm cup of hot cocoa or tea and a steady stream of Chopin drifting through my bedroom.



It seems as though all the leaves have decided to change color overnight. I'm really loving this Fall weather we are having right now, it's the perfect combination of breezy and warm. Really excited for some Fall events in these upcoming weeks ahead!

But for now, it's time for me to unwind and get ready for another beautiful day tomorrow.

What is your bedtime routine like?

naomi

If you haven't already noticed, I tend to use multiples of the same product. For instance, I have three different types of foundation here, and that's what I love about make-up. It's all so versatile. I like to use the Missha BB cream as a base and the other two darker colors for contouring and bronzing.



I highly recommend the Rocket Mascara if you can get your hands on one. I am addicted to drugstore and Clinique mascaras. These are the ones that work best for me.



I used to bring a whole train case with me when I went on holidays, but then I realized that not only was this not practical, it was also unnecessary. I've since whittled my must-haves down to these 18 products. I like going on ebay sometimes to buy samples of my must-haves so that they are more travel friendly. It definitely beats lugging around a whole bottle of toner.

I've found American and Korean sellers to be fairly reliable. Sephora also gives out random sample bags, but if you can't find a sample online and it's part of your must-have staples, it's always worth a shot at the store to see if they have any. I've found SA's to be very generous with samples if you ask nicely.