Sarah Loves... Autumn 2024
Sarah’s switching up for Autumn with gorgeous earrings, a creamy natural lipstick, lash-loving mascara, a perfect concealer to brighten up the eye area and a fabulous feel-good fragrance
I love earrings with a passion – wear them every day and feel undressed without them. When I was working at the Mail on Sunday, I discovered Pomegranate, purveyor of earring gorgeousness – plus bracelets, rings and necklaces - in nearby Kensington Square. I still trek up from west Dorset to go there, recently to buy a birthday present for my sister-in-law. Trained gemologist Katie Bulatovic goes to Jaipur, India to have exquisite jewellery made to her designs. Many are one-off pieces, others made in limited runs. I always find treasure at Pomegranate, at very reasonable price points. And you can sit on the comfy sofa, quaff coffee and chat to Katie or her lovely knowledgeable staff. With Christmas coming soon, Pomegranate could be your bestie for presents… And deffo for you, too.
Pomegranate 8 Kensington Square, London W8 5EP or online here
Le Rouge Francais 035 (Le Nude Zaatar)
From a chic French organic and natural make-up brand, which Beauty Bible discovered at John Bell & Croyden on Wigmore Street, London comes this creamy lipstick in a soft rosy shade that’s pretty perfect for every day. And, super clever, because when you’ve finished it or want to wear a different shade, simply buy the refill and slot into the elegant ‘bio-based’ case, which comes in a red velvet sleeve (thinking Christmas here…). The ‘virtuous formula’ – love that – includes nourishing shea butter, plant-based waxes to soften and protect plus hydrating oils of jojoba, apricot, sunflower and castor. Green beauty at its best.
£39 - buy here
£24 for the refill - buy here
‘What ARE you wearing? It’s absolutely delicious…’ pronounced a close friend and scentaholic recently. Literally close, as her nose waggled around my upper half where I’d sprayed this makes-me-feel-very-good-indeed eau de parfum from Amy Christiansen’s Sana Jardin fragrance house. Award-winning Berber Blonde uses the power of flowers to influence your state of mind as well as make you smell, well, delicious... The name is a nod to the petals’ origins in Morocco. There’s neroli to leave you both calm and uplifted, with a warm enfolding duo of Moroccan orange blossom and musk ‘to ground you and invite inner peace,’ she says. I love it. Any time, day or evening. Anywhere, country or town.
£115 for 50ml - buy here
Trish McEvoy Lash Curling Mascara in Jet Black
Maybe it’s because it’s autumn after a bare-face summer but several people have asked me about mascara recently. After an exhausting foray for foundation in Selfridges Beauty Hall recently, I collapsed on the Trish McEvoy counter at the back, out of the main drag, where a lovely clever MUA (Sable - love the name!) set about redoing my make-up. The foundation and concealer were great (I bought them there and then) and the mascara (which I bought later) is brilliant. The tubular formula promised to 'curl' – tick – 'amplify' – er yes, lashes look thicker – and ‘wear beyond compare’ – tick, tick, tick. Also, it comes off in a trice when you soak lashes in warm water and stroke the little tubes away on a flannel. One thing: they recommend that a drier wand gives a better application – and this gel formula is quite wet – so do sweep the wand against the rim of the tube to remove excess before you apply; I also found the odd blob on the stem of the wand under the brush which you need to get off before it lands on your cheek. That might sound a bore but promise it takes two ticks and it’s worth the momentary bit of bother.
£22.50 - buy here
One of the quickest ways to perk up your whole face is to brighten up your eye area, not just shadows underneath but also those pesky dark nooks either side of your nose. I’ve been feeling and looking tired recently, partly post horrid virus, and thank goodness for this concealer from one of my favourite Nordic natural brands. The serum bit means that it hydrates as well as illuminating and you can build up the layers without it ever caking. Vegan, fragrance-free and wild-crafted, it’s uber virtuous as well. It comes in five shades – Medium suits me. Dispense it from the nifty applicator – stroke on and tap in – or do as I prefer to and use a little brush (easier on the inner eye corners). And don’t miss Lumene’s matching CC Cream, and Serum in Foundation – both excellent.
Serum in Concealer/£18.50 - buy here
Serum in Foundation/£39.90 - buy here
