It was around 10 years ago that I was first introduced the world of beauty. I was 14 and had acne prone skin that I just couldn’t shake. The combination of that alongside an influx of hormones is what kicked off my love of makeup and skincare. I started to find products that really made a difference, and ultimately improved my confidence.

I guess you could say makeup and skincare has become a part of my identity. My blog first started off purely focused on beauty because it’s a huge part of my life. Although I’m lucky enough to not contend with acne anymore, even simple things like having a beauty routine during the dark and gloomy mornings makes me feel good for the rest of the day. It uplifts my mood and it’s just something I don’t think my routine will ever be without.

A few weeks back I popped into London to Selfridges who are embracing the new decade and the joy of beauty. They have some gorgeous exclusive products and I’ve decided for the new year (and new decade) to push myself out of my ‘nude lipstick only’ comfort zone I seem to have put myself in. Essentially I was on the hunt for the perfect shade of red lipstick and to try some new bits in general.

I went for a lighter eyeshadow look using the Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes palette, then just applied as little mascara I could, just to make my lashes darker. Of-course the focus is the matte red lipstick. For me the perfect matte lipstick has to be long lasting, as comfortable and non-drying on the lips as possible and extremely pigmented. The YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick in 01 is all of those things combined. It’s the perfect classic red shade, makes my teeth look whiter which is always a bonus, and for the brand new decade there’s just something so uplifting about it!

For skin I’ve been reaching for the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer. The smallest amount goes a long way but it does the best job at really erasing any trace of being tired (I took these photos after 5 hours sleep the night before, trust me, it works). It also lasts really well throughout the day, so I love wearing it when I know I’m going out after work or I’ll be busy. I set it with the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder and that tends to stop most creasing and any transfer when I’m wearing mascara on my bottom lashes.

Honestly, I couldn’t be more thrilled with how this makeup look turned out, it doesn’t feel alien to me even with the red lip like I thought it could. I’ve definitely found sticking to the rule of just having a bold lip or bold eye look useful to find a balance when experimenting with different colours and shades.

So, here’s to all the beauty products that make us feel like the best versions of ourselves and stepping out of our usual comfort zones with makeup in 2020!

this post is in collaboration with Selfridges.