Sophia is the fab writer and face behind her popular blog Tattooed Tealady. We caught up with her for our latest Morning, Noon & Night feature, to find out all about her love of skincare, make-up must-haves, the products she relies on for a pamper-filled night in – and of course, her favourite tattoo joint! She shares all with Grace:
MORNING
My first priority when I get up each morning is a refreshing wake up call for my skin. Skincare is my favourite aspect of beauty and if you’re aiming for that perfect make-up finish, skincare has to come first. Looking at the products I use in the morning can be daunting – there are quite a lot! – but my AM and PM skincare routines take no more than five minutes, start to finish.
First, I reach for the CosMedix Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser, a concentrated, exfoliating cleanser which has quickly become a hero product for me, followed by the super gentle Liz Earle Instant Skin Boost Tonic. My morning eye cream of choice at the moment is HealGel Eye, a cooling and soothing gel which leaves my delicate under-eye skin hydrated and plump. My morning serum is always the Antipodes Apostle – it keeps my usually uneven skintone bright and balanced.
Next up – oil. My favourite is the instantly hydrating Balance Me Rose Otto Face Oil, which I follow with the coveted Hydraluron for an extra hydration boost. I have dehydrated skin, so I use Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream, which I always follow with an SPF – KIKO’s Winter Sunscreen SPF30 is fab! Lastly, I turn to a lip balm to keep my lips happy too; my favourite at the moment is the Vichy Aqualia Thermal.
NOON
Make-Up & Hair
Working from home means I can do things at my own pace, so it’s usually midday before I even start to think about applying make-up or doing my hair. If I’m home all day, I like to keep it minimal. I use Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer to prep my skin and Benefit Erase Paste to conceal and give the illusion of a well-rested night. I’m really enjoying mineral foundations at the moment – Inika Mineral Foundation is by far my favourite.
I adore the HD Brows Kit in Foxy to enhance and define my brows, with Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner for a cat-flick finish and Bobbi Brown Intensifying Long-Wear Mascara for natural looking lashes with a touch of glamour. A subtle lipstick is perfect for any occasion, so I love turning to my ModelCo. Party Proof Lipstick in Kitty; a shade that would suit any complexion! I’m low maintenance with my hair so a quick spritz of the Number 4 Non Aerosol Hair Spray keeps my hair in place with a bit of oomph all day!
Treatments & Tattoos
My favourite and only place for tattoos is Ghost House in Derby – my tattooist is Vicky Morgan – and I always visit Samsara Skin in Birmingham for treatments.
NIGHT
I love an evening pamper and I take any excuse to give my face, body and hair a real treat. I double cleanse at night to ensure all make-up and SPF is properly removed, starting with the Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover and then using L’Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. For my second cleanse, I prefer balm cleanses – it’s a pampering way to ensure your face is clean and ready for night-time! I adore The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, which is a delicious cleanser to use and a great high-street find.
Next, it’s usually products not too dissimilar to my morning routine, but I’m a sucker for a good face mask! I’ve been using the Urban Veda Radiance Exfoliating Facial Polish to ensure my skin is smooth and ready to benefit fully from my chosen mask. Recently I’ve noticed how happy my skin looks and feels after indulging in the lovely Le Soin Purifiant Absolution, which helps keep my pores clear. I love delving into a hot bubble bath and my new favourite bath time treat is the Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Honey Bath – absolutely stunning! Afterwards, I’m ready for some beauty sleep, but not before pampering my hair with the Beauty Protector Protect & Oil and the NEOM Real Luxury Body Oil. Happy skin, body and hair, ready for the next day’s pamper…
We want to know the steps that make up your beauty routine – let us know in the comments below!