Beauty Alert: Illamasqua Hydra Veil!

No!  It's not a yummy jelly-fied dessert, it is a skin product new to the Illamasqua range and included in their Paranormal Collection and it is just that, something extraordinary!
Hydra Veil is a true innovation for skincare in terms of its formulation as it jelly-like texture, due to the marine algae (an anti-oxidant) is a cool, soothing gel which hydrates to reveal an effortless radiance to skin.  Plus its an absolutely good place to start if you are not keen on having to use an additional primer before your foundation, so it cuts of the middle man so to speak as it leaves you with the ideal base!  I love the cooling sensation and would imagine it would be kind to sensitive, flushed skins too, so, I am hooked.  Are you?

Pond's Institute repackages it's classics!

 I do love a classic beauty product and I hope you appreciate them too.  I'm always keen to be invited to events celebrating brands I grew up with and last week I attended the Pond's Institute launch of it's re-branded range at The Dorchester.
It was a swish affair in a beautifully lit room, just off the hotel's popular spa with canapes and fine drink in flow as I sauntered around the room bumping into many familiar faces.  Back to the re-brand, here is an example:

It was a delight to see some colour coding on the packaging, including the classic one of them all the Cold Cream.  This cream was hailed as the product to have for Make Up Artists' at my college when studying Theatre make up; it simply removes every last trace of make up leaving skin as soft and plump.  You can read more about my thoughts on my blog here.

The very talented Make Up Artist, Arabella Preston was stationed in a brightly lit area demonstrating the benefits of Pond's Cold Cream and as seen here how to carefully remove make up with a warm, damp cloth; just one of the handy tips she had to offer.  I noticed the model was having to have a 5 minute make up look  applied and removed throughout the evening and I noticed her skin didn't appear aggravated at all.

It was a joy to be in such great company, including PR's Iron Lady, Caroline Neville of Neville McCarthy who agreed that Ponds Institute has integrity, something that is an integral factor but can be found lacking in other brands on the market!

Finally, I absolutely loved the quotes from some of the leading ladies famed for their involvement in beauty such as Coco Chanel and Marilyn Monroe, which were laid out on the table too (and yes, the canapes were a delicious treat as well.)

Step by step!

 

If you find eyes the trickiest of all then why not use Cargo Cosmetics Essential Eye Shadow Palette to guide you through some smokin' looks!
At only £20 you can achieve an array of looks with ease, just follow the steps embedded onto each signature shade.  Handy when you know how!!

Beauty Alert: Givenchy Le Rouge!

I have an undeniable love for Givenchy that has been blossoming since the Summer of 2005 and it hasn't died off for me although occasionally I've missed out on what's new and wanted to kick myself for not being in the know about this sensational and innovative brand.  Givenchy launches are something I want aware of, as a Make Up Artist I believe they truly speak to us with their intriguing prismes of colour to help us contour, colour and explore.
This season Givenchy launch Le Rouge, 12 vibrant and classic, lip popping shades with immense intensity of colour; reds, pink, beiges and my favourite corals.  What more can be said than head out to your nearest department store to sample the demi-matte, lasting texture capsuled in the one of the most luxurious faux leather and silver cases you have ever seen!

Time to glam up that glow!

A few weeks ago I discovered I was on the last of my ar457 Argan Scrub, simply one of the best on the market.  How was I going to get the most out of this?
I looked at my pore refining clay mask jar by Ole Henriksen called Firm Action Mask and thought, this could be an exfoliating mask that firms, hurrah!  I went ahead and mixed the two 'heros' then massaged the mix gently over my face (avoiding eye area) and relaxed in the bath for 15 minutes.
POW! POW! It was an excellent concoction which sloughed off my tired, dull skin to reveal baby soft radiance.  But how could I concoct this excellence again or was there something already out there to exfoliate and refine?

Glam Glow Mud has been on my radar for sometime, yes, this tiny pot has been hailed as a real 'beauty discovery' and a 10 minute HOLY GLOW facial!
Why mud?
What's not to love about mud/clay as it draws out impurities more effectively, keeps those pores tiny and can be one of the most efficient elements to home facials therefore, I was screaming with delight (inside) when a generous PR popped it in my bag of goodies recently and now I can say I have finally tried it.
Yes, behind the celebrity hype is a very simple product, though I will not go into the science part of tea leaves, the Patent Pending 'Teaoxi', antioxidant qualities etc. but I will say that it does tingle a little as promised leaving skin feeling toned and refined, as well as nicely buffed due to the exfoliating motion when rinsing off.  All in all a good combo I like all ready for me in one little black pot of glow!

Best Beauty under £10!!

You'd be mad to miss out on these!  

Kiko Make Up Milano Water Eye Shadows which can be used wet or dry to create a wash or intense colour in an instant, available in a staggering 31 shades from the brightest of brights to wearable pale and deep neutrals for under £10 (currently on special offer via www.kikocosmetics.co.uk).  They all reveal a slight two tone effect and look nothing but stunning on peepers.  What a steal, they are almost giving them away!

Rebalancing Beauty Alert: Alpha-H Liquid Gold Anti-Ageing Cleanser

It's very clear I am a fan of Alpha-H, why though?  

They just get it right and focus on our skincare needs rather than develop products they 'think' we need *ahem* like some big companies!

Alpha-H HQ have been beavering away in past months (and years no doubt) with repackaging and a slick re-brand as well as defining the Liquid Gold collection.  If you've not heard about Liquid Gold then get clued up now here.  

It was bound to happen, they were going to entice us with a cleanser so that we could encompass all our Glycolic Acid needs.  I'm am personally going off the term 'Anti-Ageing' which they have used for their Liquid Gold Anti-Ageing Cleanser; I might allow it this time as I regularly see the results from my clients who have become Alpha-H converts, who declare their skin appears more youthful.  Ok, that is a good call but there is nothing wrong with ageing, premature ageing maybe but not ageing.   Anyway, back to this new addition, soon out in the UK, which will, *hand on heart* become a 'cult' product too as it makes perfect sense to have a cleanser with an the Liquid Gold 'overnight facial' to complete and benefit your night-time routine.  

The cleanser itself is of a light creamy lotion, best massaged to dry skin (avoiding eyes) then massaged again with warm water to emulsify to break down the daily dirt and activate ingredients.  Once remove with a warm damp face cloth or carefully rinse one finds skin rebalanced and hydrated with no squeaky dry skin feeling!

Find out more about Alpha-H at www.alpha-h.com 

Handbag Essentials: Sunbaked Glow!

Baked Mineral Shimmer

Love pretty packaging and this comes courtesy of Proto-col a mineral based cosmetics brand, who, by the way, do have a skincare line too but I'm talking 'sunbaked glow' here.  Yes, we all need some bronzing and this Baked Mineral Shimmer is spot on, bronzing and shimmer in one!

Baked Mineral Colour Correct

Minerals have been known to reduce the appearance of redness, even tend to rosacea so this Baked Mineral Colour Correct is like a handy solution to keep an eye on unwanted shine and OTT flushed cheeks on the go. 

You'd be half-baked not to try!

www.proto-col.com

Going beyond Bioderma!

Hands up who recognises this! 

Yes, many of you 'in the know' have been on the edge of your seats waiting for Bioderma Sensibio H20 to arrive on the shelves of your nearest pharmacy, well now it has at leading Pharmacists nationwide and Dermatologists, including John Bell & Croyden and Escentual.com

I know you are possibly ready to stop right there but hold on, there is much more, in fact very much more to the range, which I have to say, is SO affordable, this beauty above is only £4.50!

And these are not going to break the bank but (left and right) the green range, Sebium will deal with 'break outs' and the Atoderm in the centre tends to driest of dry skins and pink of course is sensitivity.

See! There is more to know, so don't just stop at Make Up Artists' favourite reliable cleanser with the pink lid, go beyond!

Handbag Essentials: Healthy Glow Sheer Powder!

Whenever a Chanel compact is revealed, we swoon a little, well, I do!  And I simply drooled over this 'off white', almost enamel looking case filled with Healthy Glow Sheer Powder SPF 15 from the Les Beiges collection by Chanel.
Of course, its not only the delectable packaging to get excited about but the finely milled, pressed powder too in shades that will have you re-shaping your face in no time.  They can achieve clever contouring, yes even with that flat brush by using more than one shade.  For instance, choose one shade lighter and one deeper so you can create subtle cheekbones as well as a delicate bronzed effect.  Or use one shade lighter than your skin tone to cheat a bit of natural glow to your upper facial features; browbone, cheekbones, bridge of the nose.  No more excuses if you can't quite handle liquids or creams, you can shade to your hearts content with these beautes!!