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Dior Bird of Paradise Collection

2013-05-17T13:36:00.003+01:00

Dior's new summer look is called Bird of Paradise. It's a mix of tropical colour blocks that are inspired by Latin America.
Every tone of blue seems to have been incorporated into this collection from aqua through to peacock blue whilst the lips are more natural hues of juicy pinks and coral.

DiorSkin Nude Tan BB Cream SPF15

Summer collections always see the launch of a product to give our skin a sun kissed glow. For this collection Dior has adapted its current Dior Skin Nude BB Cream and given it a tanned twist.
Does the normal work we would expect from a BB Cream of smoothing out an un-even skin tone and giving a sheer veil of cover however this is infused with a bronze pigment to warm up the skin.

The colour is sheer but has a very peachy/orange tone so if you are lighter than around a medium skin tone or NC35/NW30 (in MAC terms) then I would blend a tiny amount in with your regular moisturiser to give you a tint of colour. If your skin is darker than this then you will be able to smooth it over the skin on its own.
Texture is creamy but dries to a matte finish. Would be suitable for a normal/combination skin. Maybe a little to matte and drying for a dry skin type.
Has an SPF15 however ensure you are still using a normal sunblock underneath when lying out in the sun.
This comes in just the one colour and is £30.00

Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo

Combination of blusher and bronzer in one mirrored compact make this a good product to pop in your makeup bag for your vacation this summer.

We sampled the colour in Pink glow but there is also another colour option of coral glow.
On the left half is a combination of soft peach and beige bronzer. Powder gives a radiant finish but with no glitter thank goodness. I am not a fan of a glittery face in the sun.
The bronzer side is has a natural colour payoff so would be suitable for a fair skin tone and could also be used to contour. These colours also look great swept through the eye socket also for definition.
The right half are two shades of a vibrant peachy pink. This however does have a fine gold glitter running through it.
Colour comes out much stronger so only a small amount on the apples of the cheeks would be needed.
Comes with a Kabuki brush for application.

Nail Lacquer Duo
I really like the idea of having two mini nail lacquers in one set. The idea is one goes on your toes and one on your fingers. Kind of like a mix and match bikini.
This duo is an indigo blue and fuchsia pink set called Bahia but there is also a turquoise and mint set called Samba .
Each set is £22.00 and the size is slightly smaller at 7ml.

Jelly Lip Pen

Ilhabela Jelly Lip Pen

Chunky, twist up pencil style lip balm in 4 shades. Slightly less pigmented than other similar style products I have used. I tried the colour called Ilhabela, which is a baby pink infused with glitter particles in peach and gold.
I love the gel/balm texture of this pen but didn't like the glitter particles. Found they got stuck on my constant dry lips!
Because of the sheer coverage you would need to top up regularly throughout the day also.
These are £19.00 each.

This collection is already available exclusively at www.harrods.com and nationwide from 17th May 2013.

Bourjois Cream Blush

2013-05-15T10:28:00.002+01:00

It’s great that Bourjois have recognised that although we may love the fresh face, peachy cheek that a cream blush gives we hate the tacky feeling a cream blush can sometimes have.

These 4 new shades from Bourjois in a small, flat 2.5g pot with a mirrored lid are creamy to the touch but dry to a more matte finish whilst still giving you the finish of a cream.

Has enough playtime to be able to blend but sets to give a soft tint of colour that has a silky powder feel.

Shade 01 would be lovely on porcelain to fair skin tone. The perfect apricot tint.

Shade 02 is a more vibrant with a coral peach tone.

Shade 03 is a peach toned soft pink and has a very fine silver pigment fleck running through it

Shade 04 has a more matte finish with more of a warm brown/pink tone.

Colour is buildable and goes on very true to how it looks in the pot but I did find after a few hours it had sunk in and I needed to re apply. The small handy sized pot does make it easy for re application though.

I found best application method was tapping the product into the apples of my cheeks with my fingers.

Also has a pleasant soapy scent.

Each pot is £7.99 and available from www.selfridges.com from 8^th May 2013 and from 15^th May 2013 available at www.boots.com www.superdrug.com www.asos.com

ESPA The Sensitive skin remedy

2013-05-14T16:28:00.001+01:00

We are so blessed to live in the beautiful city of Norwich in the heart of the Norfolk.

Discovered by the Romans, Norwich has the best of small city life whilst only being 40 minutes from the beach and 2 hours from London.

Elm Hill, Norwich

One of the oldest areas of Norwich is called Tombland. Here you will find cobbled streets, a cathedral and many shops and houses that wouldn't be out of place in a Charles Dickens novel.

The picture above was taken on my stroll to possibly the quaintest, cosy beauty salon I have visited.

Nestled amongst the higgledy-piggledy streets this oasis of calm and tranquillity offers a huge array of treatments to cater for all your beautifying needs.

The Beauty Room is a first for Norwich being the only spa that uses and stocks ESPA products.

ESPA takes its influence from Asia, European and Ayurvedic philosophies and not only do the ingredients benefit the skin but the scents and textures of these products make you feel like you could be on a retreat in Bali!

All ingredients are 99% natural and only the finest, raw ingredients are used. You may even find the colour varying between products as ingredients are sourced from around the world at different times leading to natural colour variation.

No parabens are included, products are vegetarian and all formulas and ingredients are cruelty free.

If you have an allergic/sensitive skin then you would need to check the ingredients listing to ensure your particular allergen is not present.

The spotless trolley at the end of the treatment is a sign of a great therapist!

The Beauty Room owner Danielle told me how she wanted only the best, experienced therapists for her salon and my therapist Louise was certainly that.

From my initial consultation through to her fluid techniques and application of product I could tell I was in good hands and even dozed off for a bit!

I experienced a back, face and scalp treatment which began with a back exfoliation and massage using scented oils that I had chosen through a sensory test. Sensory testing is applying different oils to your skin for you to choose your favourite. Nothing worse than laying in oil that you can't bear the smell of!

Now I like a firm massage with no tickles so I experienced firm pressure, elbows and lots of crunching shoulders. Just the way I like it but if you're a little more delicate than your desired pressure will be applied.

Next was the facial part. All of the products Louise was going to use on me had been decided and discussed before hand and the reasons behind them explained.

My skin is normal/combination but also hormonal which means I get hard lumps under the skin each month that eventually disappear.

For those of you who have had facials you will understand that the treatment process and the order of products used gets forgotten as you relax so after my treatment Louise gave me a debrief about my skin and recommended products (no hard sell, just advice).

She explained that my skin is actually pretty balanced and that it's just a little stressed out and sensitive with quite a bit of dehydration.

I have slight pigmentation on my chin from old blemishes so she advised products that would help speed up the cell renewal of my skin so that it would heal quicker and feel rejuvenated.

Lots of products were used on me however these are my key products that would fit into my weekly routine...

Hydrating Cleansing Milk- £22.50, 200ml

Great for all skin types but because my skin is a little stressed out this has Marshmallow and Chamomile to soothe and moisturise.

To be honest I am more of a foaming cleanser kind of girl but this milk felt luxurious and creamy and lifted all of my makeup off without dragging or rubbing. Smelt amazing and left my skin clean with no residue.

Louise used hot mitts to remove this but you could use a damp, warm flannel or cotton pads.

Regenerating Face Treatment Oil-£65.00, 28ml

Now this is a pricey oil however when it comes to looking after a more sensitive skin then sadly the more refined ingredients are always better and unfortunately these will cost you!

I like to use an oil at night so that it has time to sink in and work, if I use an oil during the day then I will be a greasy mess by lunch but if your skin is dry you can use a tiny splash of this pressed into the skin under your moisturiser.

What I love about this product is when you read the ingredients listing every single ingredient is derived from a flower, plant or herb. No crazy sounding scientific names!

This oil is nice to use once a week as a facial massage treat.

It hydrates intensely and my skin looks plumped.

The next day my skin is so soft and calm. Avocado and Jojoba are anti oxidants and help to repair damaged skin so great if you have acne scarring or sun damaged skin.

Repair and Restore Moisturiser-£38.00, 25ml

I never really though my skin was damaged but over the last few years as I have entered my 30's more moles are appearing and my skin doesn't seem to recover as quickly.

As we age and our collagen starts to weaken we need skin boosting ingredients.

This moisturiser is lightweight and sinks in easily so if you are oily it will absorb quickly.

Again the line up of ingredients in this sound more culinary than medicinal.

Evening Primrose reduces water loss to help hydration levels, Rosemary stimulates the circulation to help push nutrients to the skin and help it repair itself whilst Bitter Orange acts as an anti-inflammatory.

I would highly recommend this range if you are seeking skincare to help correct and benefit an inflamed, sensitive skin.

I used these particular products as they were advised to me however ESPA have a massive line of products so there will be something to also target your specific needs.

My treatment at The Beauty Room was £59.00 for a Back, face and scalp treatment however there are many different facial and treatment option at varying prices.

To check for what would work for you, you can view all of ESPA products on their website at http://www.espaonline.com

To book a treatment and get expert skincare advise from The Beauty Room visit their site on www.thebeautyroomnorwich.co.uk/

Kate Moss for St Tropez

2013-05-10T09:56:00.000+01:00

All the hundreds of blogs we have and we have never really spoken much about St Tropez.

It is one of those cult brands that speaks for itself but over the years it has developed a massive product line up that we thought we would take a look at.

Kate Moss is fronting St Tropez’s campaign this summer. We were lucky enough to be sent a press release book that contains a video showing the shoot St Tropez did with Kate featuring Val Garland.

Kate decided she wanted to front this campaign simply because "it's a cool brand".

She goes on to say how having some colour to her skin makes her feel more confidant and loves the natural tan St Tropez gives rather than something orange.

You can watch the behind the scenes shoot below.

Self-tan can be a disaster and over the years I have been victim off this, however I have nailed it now and pride myself on my tanning abilities!
Self-tanning is something that requires planning, careful application and maintenance, not slapping a bit on while you wait for your taxi.
Being a typical girl, if I have a special occasion coming up I like to apply my tan two days before. I always feel like the next day it’s almost too strong but by day two its perfect.
I have used St Tropez numerous times and although I don’t particularly favour the scent, it is one of the best I have used.
If you can see past the bog monster green it makes you on initial application then you will emerge from the shower like Ursula Andress in Dr No (that’s what I think I look like anyway).

So to get the perfect tan you must put in the groundwork. This means scrubbing your body from top to toe focusing in on the elbows, ankles and any other dry patches the eternal winter has punished us with.

St Tropez Tan Enhancing Polish-£10.00 for 200ml
Huge tube of creamy exfoliant that contains tiny spherical man made beads rather than super scratchy grit.
I like to stand in the shower and use this before I turn the water on. This way I can scrub and all the exfoliant will just fall into the shower basin. I feel when I use it on my dry skin it scrubs dead skin away better. If you have sensitive skin maybe dampen your skin first so it doesn’t feel so abrasive.
This polish can also be used during the week whilst you have your tan on to help freshen up any areas of tan than may have clung or gone patchy.

The Tan
This is the important bit. Depending on the texture of product you prefer there are a few options.
I always advise using the St Tropez mit to avoid the tell tale orange hand.

Bronzing Mousse-£20.43 for 120ml or £9.99 for 50ml
My favourite as it’s foamy, lightweight and I find easier to control. Also is easier to scrape up off your beige carpet (never tan on a carpet!).

Bronzing Lotion-£30.64 for 240ml or £20.43 for 120ml
A little more of a richer texture, may feel nicer on a dryer skin. Does also come up slightly darker than the mousse so may be better for an advanced tanner.

Bronzing Spray-£20.43 for 200ml
Spraying is really easy however I find it is quite difficult to control and also if you are doing it yourself it’s easier to miss bits that you can’t quite reach. This is also the messy option, as you can’t control the spray in the air so you may find you have a bronze silhouette on your bedroom wall.
The can however sprays at any angle which helps.

All three of these products come in the classic range, which gives you a medium golden tan.

If you like it stronger or have naturally darker skin then all three are available in a dark range.They come in a black bottle.

I use this as I naturally tan very well so I can handle my tan looking a little darker. The colour is much deeper and slightly more of a red undertone.

If your skin is sensitive then they have recently launched their sensitive range. Does all the jobs of the classic range but is made from naturally derived tanning ingredients that are better for a delicate skin.
I found the colour to be just as effective although it is priced a little higher. Mousse is £28.00 and Lotion £28.00.

I normally use the regular tan on my face however they make a lotion for the face (£22.00), which is not quite as drying and feels much lighter.
The classic places where tanning goes wrong is around the wrists, hands and ankles. I like to mix a little body lotion with the tanning product to help sheer it out a little so it isn’t as intense.
I have heard of many people applying tan and then heading straight out. This is a fatal tanning error. St Tropez is meant to be applied, left for ideally 8 hours, and then showered off. Don't leave it on for any longer than 8 hours as it won't get any darker after this stage.
Please wash your tan off, don't be that bronzed god/goddess at the bar smelling like biscuits (that's what I think it smells like) because you still have your tan on!

Post tanning you need to keep your body moisturised to ensure the tan doesn’t go patchy or dry out.

Tan Enhancing Moisturiser-£10.00 for 200ml
Lightweight and smells like holidays! Sinks in quickly and helps revive the tan after it has been on a couple of days.

Use morning and evening, especially after showering.

Tan Booster-£15.00 for 200ml
This is a great little secret weapon for when colour is fading and you don’t have time to re apply more of your normal tan. It moisturises and adds a tint of colour to a fading tan.

After seeing all the latest press launches about St Tropez I have fallen back in love with St Tropez and although I’ll never look like Kate Moss I can rival her in the bronzing stakes.

You can get your hands on all St Tropez has to offer from http://www.st-tropez.com

TWO Magazine Palm Springs Tour

2013-05-08T15:05:00.002+01:00

Last month I headed off to Palm Springs, California with Ruth Crilly from amodelrecommends in the hope of creating four beauty/fashion stories for TWO magazine amazingly we actually managed five!
You can see the first story High Plains Drifter in full in this months TWO. Here are a few of my highlights though.
I love, love, love this Jumper from Hush and the snakeskin dress below (also from Hush).
The boots are just perfect from Durango

Check out our behind the scenes vlogs below.

Team:
Model: Ruth Crilly
Stylist: Electra Formosa
Makeup & Hair: Me

Here are Ruth's vlogs from a models perspective.

Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact

2013-05-02T11:51:00.001+01:00

Skin doesn’t naturally tan all one colour so it’s nice to see a bronzer that picks out different shades for a more real tanned skin effect.

This beautiful limited edition bronzer comes in a red plastic compact that is slightly transparent to reveal the product within.

this compact is quite large so will take up a good amount of space in your makeup bag.

The bronzer is embossed with a South American style motif with intricate carved shapes.

Around the edges are soft beige wedges that provide a lighter colour for a paler skin tone. The bulk of the colour is a golden tan and the central circle is a light peach with a soft shimmer.

Swish your powder brush all over for a mix of colour or pick out the individual colour to create your individual tanning requirements.

Powder has a light-optimizing complex that gives a subtle radiance to the skin without an obvious shimmer.

Powder feels soft and silky to touch and does not crumble or drop down.

This bronzer is also infused with a fresh summer scent that I could still smell on my skin at the end of the day. Scent is not over powering, but a lovely edition that makes this powder feel even more luxurious to use.

This is available from April 2013 and costs £30.00

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream

2013-05-02T11:50:00.001+01:00

So we have had BB creams, now we have CC creams!

Sounds like it’s all getting a bit confusing doesn’t it but don’t panic, the CC stands for the old familiar colour corrector.

I wasn’t sure if this product was classed as skin care or as colour cosmetics but I guess it sits somewhere in the middle.

In a nutshell it’s a hydrating colour corrector that will even your skin tone whilst providing a sheer, natural coverage.

If you think your skin is sallow (yellowish), red undertones, ashy, sun damaged or just uneven then this may be a good buy.

The word hydrating in the title may scare of the oily skinned ones amongst us but to be honest I found it to soak in quick and felt more matte once blended in.

With an SPF of 30 this is particularly good for sun damage or those who just like a bit of extra protection (do not use as a sun cream replacement).

The cream uses dual layered colour correcting optics to scatter light over the skin to help even tones and brighten.

Feels nice and light even though it is a cream and doesn’t feel greasy even though it is hydrating. Skin has a soft sheen and looks glowy.

I did feel like this may flash back slightly under camera flash due to the high SPF so be aware of this and test it first if you’re thinking of it for your wedding day.

I applied this after my moisturiser but before my foundation.

My skin is slightly red in places and I did feel like it toned it down naturally. This is a sheer product so this alone will not mask and conceal but softly tone down and smooth un-even colour. You can then apply your foundation over the top to cover or you can obviously just wear this on it’s own if you don’t wear foundation.

This comes in 6 shades from very light through to deep. Pick the shade, which is closest to your natural skin tone.

I tested this over a scar on my arm that has purple/red undertones and even though the sample I was testing was slightly too light for me I thought it worked well at toning down and brightening the skin.

Before applying CC cream

After applying CC cream

This is available exclusively from Friday 5^th April from John Lewis and is £28.00

http://www.johnlewis.com/beauty/clinique/make-up/c700005010

Clinique Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skin

2013-04-26T15:51:00.001+01:00

Apparently, we touch our eyes around 200 times a day un-knowingly and according to Clinique, occasionally eye irritation, facial rashes and dry skin around the eyes can be traced back to allergies caused by our nail polish!

Clinique pride themselves on being 100% fragrance free so after six years of testing ingredients they have developed a range of nail enamels especially for sensitive skins.

There will be 12 shades that will stay in line and 9 limited edition shades that will only be available for Summer 2013.

For some reason I expected a nail enamel for a sensitive skin to be of a lower quality. Similar to how low-fat food doesn’t taste quite as good as full fat.

The reality is that it goes on with the same fluidity of a any good quality nail enamel, doesn’t streak and has a good colour density.

Two coats are best and all the colours I tried had a high glossy shine to them.

Lasted really well on the nail and only really started to get a bit worn around the tips after 5 days wear.

Topcoat and base coat would lengthen this wear time also.

The Limited Edition colours look like this...

The regular basic line look like this...

Here is a selection of enamels we had to test

We love the green colour in Hula Skirt.

You can see Nic wearing this in her recent tutorial below where she made Jamie Oliver up like 80's Madonna!!

Nic was blown away by how long this polish lasted on her nails.

The nail enamels are available exclusively online at www.clinique.co.uk from 25th April and Nationwide on counters from 31st May 2013.

Billion Dollar Brows

2013-04-26T10:03:00.000+01:00

Billion Dollar Brows are an American company that’s origins were born out of helping men and women achieve a conditioned, fuller brow.
Their first product was called Brow Boost, which is a conditioning product that contains natural conditioning ingredients to help increase the fullness of the brow over time.

The products we sampled from this company were their Brow Gel, Brow Duo Pencil and Brow Brush.

The Brow gel is a 3ml clear gel with a mascara wand style applicator brush.
This does exactly what you would expect. Rigid brush styles brow hair, helping to separate the hairs and give them texture. Really nice product as it’s not too gloopy and wet but liquid enough to set and hold the brow hair.
Once dried hairs remain looking natural and not hard or shiny. I did find the the scent of this was a little chemically smelling but once product sets the smell disappears.
This is $15.00

The Brow Duo Pencil is a double-ended pencil. One end is a concealer to help even skin tone and even out perfections around the brow area.
The other end is a highlighter to use underneath the bulk shape of the brow to enhance the natural shape of the brow.
Both ends are creamy and easy to use. A large holed pencil sharpener would need to be purchased also to ensure you keep a firm tip for precision.

The concealer is very peach toned so would be good for people who suffer ashy tones around the brow. Often areas which are frequently plucked have a grey undertone so this will help to even the colour.
Unfortunately this colour would only be suitable for people with a medium to olive skin tone. This colour would not be suitable for a fair or dark skin tone.
The highlighter equally would suit similar skin tones.
This pencil is $18.00

The Brow brush is double ended. A soft angled brush with a combination of synthetic and natural fibres.

When used with a powder it creates a soft, natural finish.

The opposite end is a mascara wand style brush. Brush through the brows with this to soften the added colour. This brush is $15.00

If you are into your brows then these are a good brand to check out with something to suit all your brow needs.

Check out their website on
http://www.billiondollarbrows.com to purchase and view more.

Katima'a Stardust Body Oil

2013-04-25T15:14:00.003+01:00

Argan Oil is everywhere at the moment.

It’s basically a plant oil produced from the kernel of the Argan tree, which grows in Morocco.

It’s selected for cosmetic use because of it’s nourishing, soothing and softening effects on hair and skin.

Katima’a Stardust body oil is a dry body oil that is infused with golden, copper and mother of pearl shimmer.

Shake the bottle well and apply all over the body to give a moisturised, sun kissed gleam to the skin.

Even being an oil it does dry off quickly so there is no fear of transfer onto your clothes.

It sinks in super fast so doesn't leave skin feeling greasy.

I would avoid using this on the face though as the shimmer wont be flattering.

The golden shimmer enhances an existing tan or gives a subtle colour to fairer skin.

However as this has no SPF it and should not be used as sun protection.

The fragrance is quite floral, which is not un-pleasant at all, but not for everyone.

Available from http://www.katimaa.com for 24.00€ (£19.95)

GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Mask

2013-04-24T16:57:00.002+01:00

We've all used masks and to be honest, i've never been the biggest fan.
The GlamGlow Super-Mud Clearing Treatment is priced at £39.99 ($69.00)
I thought this was a hefty price to pay for a 34g pot of mask and it is, however you definitely get what you pay for.

GlamGlow claims this mask will fight all common skin concerns and has active ingredients, which act as a deep pore vacuum to draw impurities from the pores and clear them.
Sounds a little gross having excess sebum drawn out of your pores but if you take a look at my 'attractive' picture you can clearly see that there is a more oily residue appearing as little dots from my pores.

It contains lots of scientific sounding ingredients with some familiar names such as Glycolic and Salicylic acid to improve skin texture.
Pyruvic acid helps overtime to reduce old scarring and Azelaic acid helps fight breakouts.

This mask goes on a creamy grey lotion texture and dries off to a hard clay finish.
GlamGlow advises to leave it on for anything up to 20 minutes. I only managed to keep it on for 10 as it began to feel tight on my skin and as I can't stop talking it cracked and felt a little itchy.
However, you can use on individual spots as a treatment, if you hate the feeling of wearing a mask.

Once on it fells slightly tingly and fresh but not unpleasant.
The smell is a strong liquorice and Eucalyptus scent.

It's pretty aasy to wash off, I used a muslin cloth.
Afterwards my skin felt super soft and smooth. I did moisturise immediately as my skin felt tight.
Sometimes I will breakout after using masks but as yet I haven't, so fingers crossed!

For people who suffer breakouts or blackheads or for people getting their skin in order for a big occasion I think you would really appreciate this mask.
It's a real investment and if used as a full face mask you can expect around 17 uses but if just using on individual spots you can get up to 1000 uses!
It has a shelf life of 9 months but hopefully you won't have 1000 spots in that time frame!

To purchase go to http://www.feelunique.com or http://www.glamglowmud.com

New Dior Addict Gloss and Nail Polish

2013-04-05T13:16:00.002+01:00

Brighten up you makeup bag this spring with Dior’s new Addict gloss and nail polish.

24 shades are split into 3 categories of shimmer, pearly and pure.

All formulas have a gel like texture with a mirror shine.

The gel formula is full of hyaluronic acid, which plumps and hydrates, the moisturising ingredients help this gloss to feel comfortable on the lip.

As it wears off it fades rather than clinging to the edges of the lip and leaving that horrid white line.

The standard tacky feeling of a gloss is still there but it doesn’t feel gloopy.

The shimmer shades fall under the category Glitter Fever.

They are infused with fine glitter particles that give a 3d effect. Glitter particles are a mixture of warm gold’s, silver and lilac depending on the shade.
As the colour wears off you are left with a little of the glitter residue so you would need to touch up with this gloss to keep it looking flawless.

The Colour is slightly transparent and colours appear less vibrant than you may think from looking at the packaging.

Top: No. 732 Paradise, Bottom: No. 662 Rose en Diable

Top: No. 732, Bottom: No. 662

The Pearly shades fall under the category of Dolly Pearly.

They contain a mother of pearl finish which appears almost two tone.

They have a high pearl shine that again is quite sheer and your natural lip colour shines through.

It lasted well on my lips and wore off evenly with no clinging or dryness.

Top No 333 Bal d'ete Bottom No 453 Dolly Pink

Top No 333 Bottom No 453

The Pure shades fall under category called Pur Manifesto.

These are creamy, translucent colours that give a mirror shine but with no glitter or shine particles.

They look and feel creamy on the lips and creates a wet look shine.

Your natural lip shines through but with a lovely tint of colour from the gloss.

No. 853 Rouge Defendu

No. 853

Accompanying these are 4 shades of nails in soft nudes, vibrant pink, warm coral and a vibrant coral red.

Finish off the nails with a slick of the gel coat. A clear polish that gives a gel coating to protect polish underneath and give a high shine.

You could also wear this on its own for a natural gel shine finish.

Dior Addict Gloss is £22.00

Nail Polish is £18.00

Gel Top Coat is £18.00

These are all available nationwide from April 5th 2013

No7 Lip Stain and Lip Crayon

2013-04-04T10:33:00.000+01:00

Lots of brands are following in the footsteps of Clinique Chubby Sticks and bringing out lip crayons, here's the No7 offering.

Chunky crayon with a tapered end. Twists up to just under 1.5 inches of product, twists back down also which is helpful! (FYI, exactly the same size as the Clinique and MUA versions)

As you would expect these are creamy and moisturising and give lips a natural shine finish. The gloss is not sticky or tacky but balmy and smooth.

Colour payoff is sheer and each tone provides a soft veil of colour.

You could wear this over a lipstick if you wanted more intensity.

Because these are very sheer products with a sheen they are not the best at staying on and will transfer onto your glass of wine!

Great for those who prefer a quick and easy slick of natural colour that requires no fuss in application.

These are £9.00 each and some colours are available now although these new colours are available from 20^th April 2013.

New colours from 20th April 2013

If you prefer something with a bit more longevity and vibrancy then opt for No7 Stay Perfect Lip Stain.

Marker pen style applicator that you literally draw straight onto your lips.

The sponge tip dispenses the lip colour. Once on the lips it dries quickly and the colour is instantly strong. Be warned, As the name implies, it stains! be careful not to draw outside of the lip line.

Colours appear quite a bit darker than you think so be aware of this when choosing your shade.

You would need to ensure to keep the lid on as these dry out very quickly. No7 have cleverly given it a double cap so when the lid falls off in your makeup bag there is another plastic cover protecting the nib.

Once dry the colour lasted well with just a couple of touch ups needed during the day. The colour is buildable so will look stronger the more layers you apply throughout the day. The other end contains a lip balm which is essential when using these stains as the product alone makes lips feel very dry. This helps to even out the colour too.

These are available now and are £9.95 each.

Available from www.boots.com

Eyeko Mascara Wardrobe

2013-04-03T19:09:00.000+01:00

The type of wand in your mascara holds the key to how your lashes look.

If you can't decide which is best for you, then go for them all and get hold of Eyeko Mascara Wardrobe.

The box holds one 6ml mascara with three different and swappable mascara wands.

The mascara is glossy and jet-black. Contains Pro vitamin, Shea butter and Keratin to moisturise and protect lashes. It lasts well and isn’t cakey or flaky.

The three styles of wand are …

Define Brush - A gently curved brush with soft bristles that look fluffy and spaced evenly.

The curve helps to lift the lashes in the centre of the eye whilst the spaces help to separate.

Curl Brush - A three sphered brush with separated soft bristles.

Adds curl at outer edges and centre of the eye by bending the lashes round the spheres.

Volume Brush - Largest of the brushes with a wide end and tapered tip. This picks up lots of product and coats evenly whilst helping the lashes to appear denser and volumised.

The define brush is already inside the mascara and the two extra wands come in their own plastic brush covers.

You can swap brushes over depending on the look you are going for.

After use just wash out the brush before you put it into its case and it’ll be fresh and ready to go for your next use.

The mascara wardrobe is £21.00.

Purchase at www.asos.com www.qvcuk.com www.eyeko.com
www.sephora.com
Check out our previous post on different mascara wands to find out which is perfect for your lashes.

My skin is Sensitive......

2013-04-02T12:34:00.001+01:00

I get a lot of emails from people suffering with sensitive skin and wanting advice on the best products for them.

It’s always tricky answering these types of queries simply because there are so many reasons someone may have sensitivity.

The obvious reason is an allergic reaction to a product or ingredient.

If this is the case then the best advice I could give is to visit a dermatologist and get them to do a patch test for you. Hopefully this will pinpoint the ingredient you are having trouble with.

If your skin has been exposed to extremes of weather or daily pollutants this could also lead to sensitivity or sometimes it's due to plain old genetics.

How do you know if you have sensitive skin?....

Although not exclusive to one skin type, sensitive skin is often dry, sometimes flakey and can feel tight after washing.

Occasionally skin may have a bumpy texture and usually has a pink or red undertone. The redness may be patchy.

Try to avoid any products, which contain fragrance or alcohol. A lot of products do contain these but the lower on the list of ingredients, the less they have in them.

With regards to colour cosmetics, over the years I have found people are more often allergic to colours pigmented with red or purple. Something in these colours makes the eyes water or puff up, most likely it is an allergy to the red pigment Carmine. If you prefer to wear these colours you can try a mineral or organic makeup range but it may still irritate.

When using mineral or iridescent eyeshadows consider that Mica can often irritate eyes. Therefore avoid cosmetics that are highly frosted.

Many brands are more skin sensitive aware these days and everyone seems to be opting for more natural, refined ingredients.

Here are some brands you could try if you suffer sensitive skin.

Ren

This brand uses only 100% plant and mineral derived ingredients and is free from synthetic ingredients.

They avoid known allergens and is made with a range of bio actives that help to train sensitive skin to be less reactive.

Dermalogica

Dermalogica have been around for over 25 years and invest a lot of time in researching skin conditions and the best ingredients to suit skin issues.

They have a specific range targeting redness and sensitivity.

Clinique

Clinique have always been one of the leading brands to recognise skin conditions and the effects of ingredients within products.

Their redness solutions covers all area of skin care and also foundation.

Bioderma

BIODERMA has seven product ranges adapted to each type of skin problem.

Which products work for you?

Celena Hancock and The Saturdays

2013-03-28T15:21:00.002Z

We were really privileged to interview fabulous British girl band The Saturdays recently for Daily Mix (coming soon on http://www.youtube.com/user/DailyMixTV)

The girls chatted to us about all of their favourite makeup looks and products so we felt inspired to re create a look for each beautiful member using key products they like, applied with their style of makeup in mind.

Normally The Saturdays have their makeup done by makeup artist Celena Hancock.

Celena has a long established career in the industry. She has created looks within all the major mag’s including Glamour, Esquire, Cosmopolitan and Hello.

She has also worked her magic on many personalities within the music and television industries ranging from Aerosmith, Marilyn Manson, The Wanted and for shows such as Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Jonathan Ross and X-Factor.

Celena’s website is full of beautiful images of her work which you can view by heading over to

http://www.celenamakeup.com

Nic has created a look for each member of the Saturdays which you can view below.

Sara Happ The Lip Scrub

2013-03-25T12:06:00.000Z

Tired of hearing “exfoliate your lips with a dry toothbrush” Sara Happ wanted to create an exfoliating product for her lips that was as effective as those she used for the rest of her body.

As someone who also suffers with extreme flaky lips and who has also used various methods of removing this annoying flaky patch on the most prominent part of my face I was keen to try it out.

Sara Happ’s products hit the shelves in 2008 and since then she has developed more products within the range.

The line up today includes lip scrub in various scents, lip slip balm and gloss and now a body scrub.

Most of us get dry lips, especially in the winter months and although using lip balms is a great remedy they are not always the only solution. You need to eliminate the rough skin and gently exfoliate it away and regular body scrubs can be too abrasive on the delicate lip.

The lip scrubs each come in a cute little box containing a 30g pot of scrub.

The scrubs are mainly made up from sucrose (sugar), Grape, seed oil, jojoba and flavourings for the scent.

The scrub texture feels oily and the scrubbing particles are very fine. When massaging in the texture is softly gritty and does not feel harsh or particularly abrasive. The oil it contains helps to make the exfoliation comfortable and moisturising whilst sloughing off the dry skin.

Obviously try not to ingest this product but it doesn’t have an unpleasant taste and you because the sugar particles dissolve you are not left feeling like you are chewing on stones!

The varieties you can choose from include Blood Orange (my fave), Brown Sugar, Vanilla Bean, Crème Brule, Pink Grapefruit and Green Apple.

They will all give you the same result, just depends on your personal preference for the scent with regards to which one you go for.

As with the body, once you have scrubbed you need to moisturise.

The Lip Slip one luxe balm provides the same style pot but contains a thick, creamy balm to put the moisture back into the lips.

Containing sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba and Macadamia nut oil this feels creamy rather than sticky and lips feel silky with a soft gloss like finish.

No real colour once on the lips and you can wear it alone or over the top of your favourite lipstick.

If you prefer not to dip your fingers in a pot you can opt for the tube version that you can squeeze directly onto the lips.

A really simple, easy to use range that does exactly what you expect it to do and packaged so perfectly you don’t want to use it.

I would recommend you use the scrub twice a week for maintenance or each more for severely dry lips.

The balm I would slather on at every opportunity.

Each lip scrub and the lip balm are £19.00 each and the Body Scrub is £36.00

For more info on Sara Happ products check out their website on www.sarahapp.com

To purchase in the UK you can purchase from http://www.beautybay.com

Tweezerit Tweezers

2013-03-21T13:03:00.003Z

I’m a sucker for cute accessories, tweezers are always a 'must have' in my makeup bag.

Tweezerit Tweezers are made from high-grade stainless steel and won’t rust or tarnish.

Each are coated with a different pattern and colour to suit your aesthetic needs and have a sharp angled tip.

They grip well and being angled they sit nicely on the skin without pressing in uncomfortably.

The angled tip also makes them great to use when applying false lashes.

Each style has lots of different colours so check out their site to pick your favourite

Examples of each category can be seen here…

I love the slimline feel of Pearl and the grip of curve.

Which tweezers do you use?

Vintage

£21.49

Safari

£21.49

Pure

£18.00

Pearl

£23.00

Glitterati

£23.00

Glitter Me

£23.00

Curve

£25.00

Colour Splash

£21.49

These are available from http://www.tweezerit.co.uk

Dior at Harrods

2013-03-19T15:15:00.002Z

Between 16th March- 16th April 2013 Dior are celebrating their influences in British Fashion by releasing an exclusive range of limited edition products at Harrods Department store in London.
To celebrate this they are also hosting various events including a personalised skincare consultation, a make over by a Dior consultant, personalising your favourite perfume with an engraving or even picking your favourite design from Dior's latest show and have an artist replicate the pattern onto your nails.
For these events limited spaces are available and a redeemable fee against Dior beauty products will be charged.
You can book your space by calling +44 (0) 207 754 0444 for details and to book.

The Lady Dior Bag Inspiration

The limited products include a face palette and brush called " My Lady"

Inspired by the Lady Dior Bag with its cane work lattice that was named in tribute to Lady Diana.

This 10g illuminating powder is encased in classic silver mirrored lid packaging.

The lattice is a mixture of three shades of pink.

The base a white/pink powder and the crosses are a soft baby pink and a slightly brighter candy pink.

Gives the skin a natural radiance with a slight silver glitter pigment.

Great to use as a highlighter on a medium skin tone or a radiance powder to use all over the face on a very fair skin.

On a darker skin this may look a little ashy.

This is priced at £48.00

The two nail lacquers that come in this collection are called Diorling and Windsor.

Diorling is a very sheer, soft pink with a natural shine.

Windsor is gunmetal grey with a metallic finish.

Each nail lacquer is £18.00

Get this collection at Harrods between 16th March- 16th April 2013 while stocks last.

View www.harrods.com for info.

Laggridore Powder Perfume

2013-03-11T16:28:00.000Z

As a teen I tried cream perfumes whilst holidaying overseas. Often coming in a intricately painted pot but I had never heard of a powder perfume before.

I'm not sure if this is innovative but Parisian company Laggridore have launched four compacts each holding a different powdered scent.

The four styles of compact are for the four seasons and the images embossed on each reflect an image of that season.

A red velvet, taffeta purse holds each compact. The compacts are 24 carat gold gilding and look and feel very expensive. They have that weighty feel that screams luxury.
Inside is a peachy toned pressed powder that feels very silky. The powder gives off no colour although I would be interested to see if it shows as ashy powder on a darker skin tone.

We took a look at the spring powder featuring a cherub like face and spring flowers embossed on the cover in gold.

The fragrance of the spring powder is very floral, green and slightly powdery.

For me personally this scent is a little overpowering but if that’s how you like your fragrance then it's definitely one to check out. It would make a beautiful, luxurious gift for your mum too.

To apply dab fingers into powder or use the tiny puff that accompanies it.

A really positive point to mention is that the powder contains no alcohol or parabens so would be suitable to people who have a reaction to the ingredients often present in standard liquid perfumes.

This would also be good for your handbag, pocket or when travelling.

It states a shelf life of 18 months and I think it would take this long to use it up. Once finished you can purchase a refill.

Each powder is €85 and available from http://www.laggridore.com/

The Hand Made Soap Co.

2013-03-07T11:12:00.001Z

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L €14.95 R €9.95

The Hand made Soap Company was founded in 2009 by Donagh Quigley and Gemma McGowan.

Whilst travelling around Australia, Donagh visited a market selling handmade soaps and felt inspired to create a range of home made products upon his return to Salne, Co. Meath, Ireland.

All products are 100% natural, free from parabens and petrochemicals.

We are blown away by the beautiful packaging these products came in.

Beautiful quirky drawn images detailing the amazing scents within. A very simple concept that draws you in immediately.

The brand is categorised into three main scents of Grapefruit, Lavender and Rosemary and Cedarwood and Lemongrass.

They also offer a shaving range for ladies and gents and a gardeners range aimed at hands that are more used to pulling up weeds and ingrained dirt!

€22.95

For our dry skin the Body Butter with Shea Butter and essential oils of Grapefruit and May Chang was heaven scent.

In a glass 200ml tub this obviously smells amazing but massages into the skin leaving a luxurious dry oil like finish.

Kernel oil, Almond oil and Sunflower oil nourish and rehydrate a dry skin type whilst Aloe Vera soothes a sensitive skin.

€9.95

The shower gel we tried was a 300ml pump action gel infused with Cedarwood and Lemongrass. The plastic bottle was also labelled with the same beautiful images and writing.

Often Lemongrass scented products can smell clinical or remind you of insect repellent but the Cedarwood really cuts through the citrus and gives it a more baked aroma.
It smells like it would taste amazing!

€4.50

I maybe crazy but there is something very comforting about a good old bar of soap. Having been warned my entire adult of the drying effects of soap it’s a luxury that I feel has become quite antiquated.

Bring back the soap I say, especially when they look and feel as lovely as this one.
110g bar of waxy feeling soap where extracts of the ingredients are visibly infused inside.

I wouldn’t use this on my face however but for your hands and body it is just as moisturising to use as a shower gel.

They also do minature kits that have a selection of products in perfect mini 50ml sizes.

There is something very old fashioned and comforting about this range and you can tell that brand and ingredients were born out of a passion to create natural, great quality products.

To get your hands on these and much more from the range check out their website on www.thehandmadesoapcompany.ie

Winter Glow Makeup Tutorial

2013-03-06T15:29:00.000Z

Recently, I worked with Heart Radio and No.7 trying out their Matchmade foundation service.
It seems the cold weather is with us for a little longer so if you need a pick me up try this winter glow tutorial.

Products used in this video are as follows

Airbrush Away Primer-£19.50

Instant Radiance Foundation-£12.50

Instant Radiance Concealer-£12.95

Blemish Concealer-£8.50

Skin Illuminator-£11.00

Natural Blush Creme-£8.00

Loose Powder Perfect Light-£10.50

Mosaic Bronzer-£11.50

Extreme Length Extended Mascara-£12.95

High Shine Lipgloss-£8.50

We also filmed a series of web chats to answer commonly asked questions. (I really like the thumbnail for this one). If you want to see the rest of these web chats check out the Boots YouTube channel

Koren Zander Pro Brush Soap

2013-03-05T15:29:00.000Z

Brushes can be an expensive treat so they deserve to be taken care of.

It’s always amazing how much makeup and dirt comes out of your brush when you clean them.
To ensure your tools are performing to their optimum and are free from breakout causing bacteria you need to clean them regularly and thoroughly.

We have been trying out Brush Soap by Koren Zander.

These soaps are Koren embossed plain soap on one side and a loofah style surface on the other.

Each soap is suitable for both synthetic and real hair brushes.

They come in fourteen different scents including Lavender, Melon, Pearberry, Tangerine.

There is also scentless if you prefer no fragrance to your brush but I recommend Mango, it smells sensational and left my brushes with the same gorgeous scent.

Each soap has some seriously moisturising ingredients such as Argan Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond, Maracuja Oil and Jojoba.

This cocktail of ingredients helps to soften and condition brush hairs helping promote a longer life for your most important tools.

Image of Koren and his makeup brush embossed on each soap

Be aware of the Almond Oil if you have nut allergies.

To use simply dampen your brush and massage over the smooth soap side using gentle back and forth movements.

Once lathered then rub over the loofah side to help remove stubborn makeup.

Rinse, reshape the brush fibers and leave to dry flat.

You can also purchase a handy little plastic travel jar to pop your soap into until you’re ready to use again.

Plastic protective case

Each soap is $6 and available to purchase from http://www.enkoremakeuponline.com

M.A.C Mineralize Moisture SPF Foundation

2013-03-05T12:13:00.002Z

M.A.C Moisture SPF 15 is the new foundation offering within the Mineralize line.

Providing a medium to full coverage this foundation would be perfect for a normal to dry skin, which I think, is an area M.A.C have struggled to accommodate effectively in the past.

Shade is NC35

It’s heavier than the Mineralize Satinfinish foundation but will still give you the fresh radiant glow that we expect from the Mineralize range, albeit a slightly more flawless finish.

This foundation is quite similar to the Mineralize cream foundation but obviously in liquid form.

It contains SPF15 which often causes flash back but having tested this under camera flash and it doesn’t seem to bounce light.

Unfortunately the colour we have isn't correct for any of us, once we have the right colour we will do a review on YouTube so stay tuned.

This foundation is £26.00 and available from M.A.C stores.

Estee Lauder French Nudes Nail Polish

2013-03-04T15:26:00.002Z

Estee Lauder Makeup Director Tom Pecheux chose these muted nudes as he felt they would suit every women's skin tone and personality.
The recent Oscar's saw the typical beauty looks with the worlds most glamorous getting back to basics with the nude palette on their face and nails, it certainly seems to be a massive trend for this season.
Tom Pecheux stated this collection was 'like foundation for the nails."

L to R Diabolique, Vain, Nudite, Ballerina Pink

There is a colour to blend in with all skin tones from this collection and each shade is simple, understated elegance.
Use two coats for an opaque finish. Each colour has a natural shine finish with no pearl or glitter, which is quite refreshing.
The standard 9ml Estee Lauder bottle with long slim brush costs £14.50

Using Diabolique and Nudite

Use one colour or have a bit of fun and use more than one on each nail!

Available from March 2013 at Estee Lauder counters and www.esteelauder.com