Ann Vincent

I think beauty can be many things or appear in many forms. I think of beauty more as something you radiate. Personally for me it’s when I feel at ease mentally.

When my stress levels are low, when I eat well and get enough sleep, I feel good and this is noticeable on the outside.  I used to scrub my face off and use a thousand skincare products, thinking that was the only way to look beautiful, when of course it made everything worse.

As I’m getting older I do believe less is more. And it sounds cliché, but what you put in your body really does show on your skin. Stress is really bad for your skin, something that frustrates me because I have a lot of it.

I’ve always had reactive and sensitive skin and I have to be mindful of what I put on it. When I find something that works, I tend to stick with it for a long time (I don’t want to wake the beast).

I have tried many things and tried many steps in the past but now my routine is rather simple and I like to stick to the essentials. In the morning I use Garnier Micellar Water (the pink bottle) and the Fresh Soy Cleanser to cleanse my face.

I have been using the Typology D31 serum after, which calms reactive and red skin. After that, I usually use a Vitamin C serum. I have used and love the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum, the Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum, and the Versed Stroke of Brilliance Serum. Then I moisturize with Versed Dew Point (in summer), or the Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturizer (in winter). Of course, I always use sunscreen. I use La Roche Posay Anthelios UVmune 400 Hydrating Suncream SPF 50 or the Supergoop Glow Screen SPF 40.

At night I use the same products except I add the Versed Press Restart Retinol and the Versed Retinoid Eye Balm, 3 times a week I combine this with the Ordinary Azelaic Acid to battle any redness. Lastly, I apply The Ordinary Lash and Brow serum.

Twice a week I gently exfoliate with either the La Roche Posay Ultrafine scrub or Versed Doctors Visit instant resurfacing mask.

On weekdays I don’t really wear make-up, but on the weekends, If I go to dinner, or have evening plans I really enjoy taking the time to do my make-up. I think it’s my favorite part of going out and a real self-care moment for me.

I start with moisturizing, and after I use the Bare Mineral Complexion Rescue in vanilla, I mix this with a bit of Hyaluronic Acid. This gives me a nice glow and hydration. Then I use either the Glossier Stretch Concealer or the RMS Uncover Up Concealer to conceal any blemishes or redness, I use my fingers or the Real Techniques concealer brush. I tend to blend for a long time because I feel the product really melts into your skin and looks more natural this way.

I then use the Milk Matte Cream Bronzer Stick in the shade ‘baked’ to bring some definition and warmth to my face. I also use a bit of the same product on my eyes.

For blush, I use the RMS Lip2Cheek in the shade ‘beloved’. To set my eyebrows I use the Benefit Clear Brow Gel. Lately, I have been using this on my lashes as well – I know you shouldn’t do that but I just haven’t found a good clear mascara yet (I like to tint my lashes and use a clear mascara). Sometimes I’ll use brown mascara too.

On my lips, I use the same RMS product as for blush, which I apply with my fingers. Sometimes I use a lipliner (Mac subculture) to subtly enhance my lip shape. More often I just use a tinted lip oil – I love the Typology one. Doing my makeup is something that comes very intuitively to me, it feels like a bit of finger painting really.

I go on a walk every day, somedays 5 minutes and somedays 2 hours. I really need this – even if it’s miserable weather – it is important for my mind. I think that is my daily meditation.

Baths are also very soothing to my mind. I don’t own one, but I long for that day very much. I guess standing in the shower also is a moment of relaxation for me, and it strangely also is the moment where I get a lot of creative ideas.

Everything becomes more clear in the shower. I love to use the Aesop Redemption Scrub. I sometimes put some in the palm of my hands and breathe it in for several minutes, the smell is so good! It transports me to a beautiful pine forest where everything is calm and peaceful. Probably looks very strange – but I love it, and it can really transform my mood.

I’ve been wearing Molecule 01 on a daily basis and I’m sure I’ll wear it until the end of my days.

It’s so good on its own, and it’s also a great base to combine with other fragrances. I love to combine it with Aesop Tacit or Hwyl.

For the right occasion, I love Le Labo Santal 33, but there is a special time and place for that fragrance as it is quite heavy.

I swear by tinting my eyelashes and brows, rather then filling them in or using mascara.

Homeoplasmine tube, way too many lipsticks (right now: typology lip oil in Rouge rubis, Elf putty blush in shade Maldives, Dior addict lipstick in shade 8), Aesop herbal Deodorant, and Caudalie beauty elixir.