BD Fast Five: Cassandra Thompson

You don't have to scroll far through Cassandra's Instagram feed to see she has a passion for all things beauty. An extension of her blog, you may have come across her feed of perfectly curated flatlays on your social media travels. But, Cass' blog is every bit as beauty-ful, featuring expansive beauty reviews ranging skincare, makeup, hair, body and nails, as well as life and style content. Get a glimpse inside the beauty blogger's beauty routine below...

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What inspired you to get into beauty blogging?

It was about five years ago now that I first hit publish on my first blog post, prior to that I found I was reading a lot of blogs in the UK/US and I couldn’t find much like that here in NZ. A lot of the reviews were of products that, at the time, we couldn’t buy here so I wanted to find someone local featuring products I could buy here or easily ship to NZ. I had a bit of spare time whilst also studying and had recently bought a DSLR (that I still use to this day!) and I loved the ideas of having a little space on the web to write and share things I enjoyed. It started off as a mix of lifestyle and beauty but over the years it has certainly crept more and more to being full on beauty.

Talk us through you’re A.M vs P.M skincare routine

I was lucky from a young age as a teen my Mum encouraged me to have a pretty solid skincare routine and that has definitely stuck with me. Nowadays with blogging, I am always trying new products so my routine tends to shift every few months. The products I am using currently though are really working wonders. In the morning, I always do a good cleanse in the shower with the Formula 10.0.6 Best Face Forward Daily Foaming Cleanser, and out of the shower I apply the Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic, the Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift, and the Eau Thermale Avène , which is ideal for the winter months when my skin is feeling a lot drier and dehydrated.

In the evening, I add in a few other products to treat my skin overnight. To remove my makeup I swear by for the face and the Maybelline Eye + Lip Makeup Remover for my eyes. To cleanse, I generally use what I’ve used in the morning or will reach for the Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant. I follow up with one of the Medicube Red Cleansing Pads (a great Korean beauty brand), a few pumps of the Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate, and my current favourite night cream is the Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon™. If I’m not using a night cream, I will tend to reach for a rich oil; Go-To Skincare and Antipodes have some great ones.

(Pictured: Cass is a fan of Dermalogica's Stress Positive Eye Lift - a Best in Beauty award winner)

What product have you repeat purchased the most over the years?

Each month, I share my product empties on my blog and review each one - there are always a few products that feature regularly. A couple of my ‘forever repurchases’ include the Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.

(Pictured: Check out Cass' empties section on her blog where she features her repeat purchases)

Name your ultimate luxury beauty indulgence and why 

A YSL lipstick is my idea of luxe and I am lucky to have a few in my makeup collection. From the packaging, the shades, and the variety of formulas, I think they are well worth the splurge.

When it comes to treating yourself – what is your go to beauty treatment? 

I definitely need to make more time for massages and facials but getting my nails done is one of my favourite treats. Bonnie at Index Studio does the most intricate hand-drawn designs.

Contact Cassandra now