My Beauty: Alexandra Grant

This month’s My Beauty features the creative gal behind To Vogue or Bust, Alexandra Grant. She’s honest, gorgeous, stylish, hilarious on Snapchat and if you don’t follow her on Snapchat you must! I’ve been following her lifestyle blog for sometime, reading her great travel guides and getting in some style inspiration.

She’s another local Vancouver blogger, whose blog is meant to empower women to find a fulfilled, stylish, fun life!

When I started this series, I reached out hoping she’d participate or just really answer my email 🙂 I would have been thrilled either way, so least to say I was excited she did both! Read her My Beauty answers below and find out her secrets!

What is your daily skincare routine?
I wash with a gentle cleanser, apply hyaluronic acid facial mist to my face and then a moisturizer—at night, I do the same but just add in makeup removal (usually an oil) and sub the hyalyronic acid for a Vitamin A serum instead!

What are your morning and nightly beauty routines?
See above—I use Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser, alternate between Derma E Hydrating Mist and Episilk Facial Mist, the Dermaviduals DMS Base Cream in High Classic and Osmosis HD Calm Serum in the evening. I use Aveeno face wipes for makeup removal or coconut oil depending on how much makeup I have on or the season! In the summer, I also mix some Suntegrity sunscreen (SPF 30) with my moisturizer.

Do you have any other non-beauty rituals that help you feel great?
Drinking a ton of water and eating well, sweating and getting outside, and I also try to meditate as much as possible and usually log about 7-8 hours of sleep!

Do you have a game-changing product?
Finding the right moisturizer—my facialist Amanda Hlatky at Glow Dermal Therapy got me set up with products that my reactive skin loves.

Do you have any unexpected physical traits that you love?
I like having green eyes! Not too many of us out there.

Do you have any beauty “splurges”?
All my products are pretty pricey for the most part but I use them sparingly and for me, skin care is absolutely key so it’s a splurge I’m happy to make!

Do you have any stories of regrettable beauty moments or experiments-gone-wrong?
I used to cut my own hair for years and that was pretty much always a bad call.

Do you usually wear makeup?
Not if I’m working out, hanging out at home or just running errands, but if I’m out for meetings then yes I like to have a bit on!

Is there any other makeup you use every day?
I do my brows whenever I do my makeup—that’s absolutely key. Currently loving any of Charlotte Tilbury’s products. I also always need a lip, whether it’s a tinted balm or a full matte lip. I’m currently obsessed with Glo Mineral’s Suede Matte Crayons. Finally, I always like to even out my skin tone, so either use Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Foundation for a more full-coverage look or I put some Glo Minerals primer on and just conceal where necessary.

What your makeup routine for day and a night out?
Day: even out skin tone (usually a skin-loving primer and concealer), dusting of blush and bronzer, define my brows and a swipe or two of mascara, finished off with a lip.

Night: usually add either smudged kohl liner in dark brown or a flick of a cat eye with a liquid liner and intensify my lip, plus a dusting of translucent powder (Glo Minerals is my favourite) and a highlighter (love Charlotte Tilbury’s contour kit).

Do you have any weird little tricks that you swear by?
Know your face! I can’t do a heavy eye—it just doesn’t suit me. Learning how to really work the angles of my face instead (just a delicate cat eye or really knowing how to bring out my cheekbones, which are a favourite feature) makes for a more minimal impact and suits me more. Take time to figure out what angles work best for you, shapes, etc.

Are there any items you’re always on the lookout for?
Brow products! Think I might tattoo mine soon because I really love having them defined (mine are quite light naturally otherwise!).

Do you have any other beloved drugstore finds?
My Neutrogena Naturals cleanser.

Do you have any showering rituals?
I dry brush beforehand and always finish with a cold rinse.

How do you change things up for special occasions?
I usually spend more time prepping my skin even if the lip/eye is kept pretty basic to make it a bit more glowing.

Do you have a signature scent?
I go between Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess and Givenchy Dahlia.

Over the years, has any product stood the test of time?
Carmex!

What are your favourite lipstick colors?
I like everything but for day, love a neutral rose, and for evening always love either a darker rose tone or red.

How do you style and care for your hair?
I don’t really! My hair is very low-key. Shampoo and condition, maybe some oil sometimes, usually air dry.

Do you do any DIY treatments?
Just a clay mask sometimes (bentonite clay and water/apple cider vinegar).

Are there any foods or drinks that help you look and feel your best?
Loads of water, lots of leafy greens, fruit and I love carbs too but the more satisfying, good-for-you kind (oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, etc).

From start to finish, what would be your ideal food day?
Typically I start with overnight oats, have a quinoa and kale salad for lunch and some sort of lean protein with greens and grains in the evening (salmon and salad, turkey tacos, etc). Usually finish off with either dark chocolate or some fruit (tropical fruits are my fave).

What about five basics every girl needs? 
Leather jacket, skinny jeans, a good white T, a simple leather tote and basic flats.

Do you always believe in less is more, or are there exceptions?
Completely depends on the person and what suits them best.

In your opinion, what makes a great brand?
Brands that focus on the female form and that have a mission in designing their pieces.

Advice to women looking in the mirror and getting dressed in the morning?
To be accepting! Easier said than done some days but really, just to accept and be happy with what you’ve got.

What’s always in your bag? What won’t you travel without? 
Lip products (lip balm, tinted balm, lipstick), headphones, portable charger, my Kobo and a note book.

Words to dress by?
Wear what makes you feel comfortable.

What are your favourite cities for food?
Galway, Lisbon, anywhere in Crete and Paris.

Where do you love to travel? What won’t you travel without?
I go to Ireland a ton, love going to Paris as well as much as I can! I also head up to my cabin on the Sunshine Coast and Whistler nearby as well. I’ll never travel without my contacts because then I would be blind.

Best beauty product to travel with?
Lip balm, hydrating mist, moisturizer, water.

Advice to those wanting to start a personal style blog?
Be authentic!

What’s your personal definition of good content? 
Content I’m excited about—if I like it, then hopefully others do too.

Last but certainly not least: do you have an overall beauty philosophy?
Invest (or if you’re budgeting for beauty expenses, then really do your research).

Thanks Alex for being part of this month’s My Beauty! Follow Alex on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Youtube for more style, travel and life inspiration!

And check out the previous My Beauty series with Mich & Emily!