It's that time of the month again. Time for my Beauty Cupboard series, that is.

Think of this as my monthly "Beauty Favourites" but with a twist. Instead of listing off a bunch of beauty things I'm currently loving, I select a killer beauty brand I've discovered from around the world that I think you, my dear beauty-junkie-in-crime, will fall in love with too.

And as you may have gathered from the Gram, I've racked up a hefty amount of air miles recently, so my beauty cupboard (or should I say travel toiletries bag) is filled with an assortment of global beauty brands I've picked up on the road. I honestly think my travel makeup kit is probably as diverse as the stamps in my passport.

So March's go-to brand is *drumroll please*  from Peru. (I guess that's not too surprising given my last four posts.) I discovered Esika on a quick 24-hour jaunt through Lima. Which, for the record I plan to return to simply to eat more of the best sushi I've had in entire life. And for some more city exploration of course.

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Based solely on appearance, Esika is not a beauty brand I'd normally gravitate towards. I found the shop itself (located in one of Lima's incredible shopping centres) both a bit flashy and a bit dramatic for my taste, so I assumed the beauty products wouldn't be to my liking either. (What can I say. I'm a true sucker for all things white and Scandi-chic.) But I kept an open mind and popped in anyway, keen to see what the Peruvian beauty scene had to offer. And before I knew it, I was being swept into a chair for a makeover by one of the very friendly Esika staff. Soon, I was sampling eyeshadows, blushers and lipsticks that were beautifully suited to my olive skin and darker features. 

Esika's range includes makeup, skin care, body care and perfumes. So it's a one-stop-shop for all your beauty needs. However, I think the brand's makeup line is the real standout, with an incredible selection of shades and tones that are particularly suited to Latinas and /or women with olive skin tones. Given that the brand is based in Lima, I guess this should come as no surprise. But because so many mainstream beauty brands still fail to create a sufficient range of makeup shades and colours for every type of woman (yes, even in 2018), it was exciting (and frankly, refreshing) to find a shop chock full of products so suited to my features. 

It took some serious willpower to walk out of Esika with just one new lippie - in a shade aptly called Rosa Latina (Latin Rose). And I can confirm that it's the only lip colour I've worn for the last two months. It's the perfect creamy your-lips-but-better shade. And when I say it lasts ALL DAY, I mean I'm wiping it away when I’m taking my makeup off at bedtime. Plus, it looks fabulous in combination with those orange-y eyeshadows that are currently all the rage. 

So if you're in the mood to mix up your beauty cupboard, particularly if you have more olive or darker skin and want some colours that will really enhance or add drama to your look, check out Esika. Head to their website; it's in Spanish but there's always Google Translate. I scoured Amazon and found a few Esika products there too! But if you're more of a bricks-and-mortar kinda girl, then make sure you visit one of Lima's luxurious malls during your visit to Peru for the full Esika experience. 

And let me know which products you fall in love with most in the comments below. 

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