Gently does it!

If you're anything like me and aware that your eye area is becoming more and more delicate these days, then attempt to remove eye make up without pulling or dragging the skin, only to find you've got to use a little bit more pressure than you'd like, then go through the process more times than you'd care to to remove every trace of residue, then you may want to know about this gentle Organic Eye Make-Up Remover by Neals Yard Remedies; steeped in White Tea and Aloe Vera.
What with all these new sturdy mascaras on the market, I am constantly trying to discover a remover with gusto and conditioning ingredients, plus something that smells pleasant and doesn't leave my eyes looking stripped of all hydration.  Well, here it is 100ml for just over a tenner and Soil Association Certified too!

Obsessive Summer Lips!

I've become a little obsessed with OCC Lip Tars, from Cocktail Cosmetics, you may have noticed this on Twitter and thought, 'she's a bit slow on the uptake!'
I probably am, as I do have foolproof products I have loved for years, even decades, therefore these obsessive findings are a triumph and should be much hailed for their density, staying power and unbelievable 'I hardly feel a thing' texture.
I first tried them on this shoot by mixing a bit of Digitalis and Belladonna together, which in turn picked up on the floral shades in our models dress.
Any thoughts?  Are you obsessed too?

Tints of Nature Highlights, naturally!

From a very young age, I've been experimenting with my hair; never too extreme, oh there was this time I shaved my hairline, but from time to time I would snip here and there to get a look I felt most comfortable with, rather than the sharpest look from a Professional Hairdresser.  When I eventually indulged my virgin hair to colour I played with L'Oreal Experte, a home permanent colour kit, which not only created all over hair colour but highlighting too for 'multi-tonal' hair. Perfect! I had fun with that for many years and created some great results.  I recall a shoot working with, one of the great Masters of Hair, Nicky Clarke who asked who had coloured my hair.  I hesitated, not sure on whether I would offend and get thrown off the shoot but I eventually revealed the true colour provider via a trip to Boots.  He was astonished but praised me highly on the results.  

Like all good things, typically L'Oreal discontinued this home kit, why? 

I don't know but it meant I gave in and went Pro making regular visits to a salon for my 'Sunkissed' hair.

After a few loyal years to a very good salon using Davines (98% natural), I decided to grow out the colour as my most recent haircut was shorter, sharper and just didn't cut it any more!

Could I try a home kit once again?

But which one would get the highlight I wanted without being harsh, I began asking around for more natural solutions.  

Like the Goddess of Green Beauty she is, Louise Dartford kindly recommended the site Tints of Nature who stock 'Highlights' for Blonde results naturally, for Dark Brown to Blonde Hair.  I ordered this straight away on-line and received it a few days later.  All excited to give my hair a another dimension, I readily began the colour prcoess!

I am under no illusion, I know I have very dark hair, so anything with Hydrogen Peroxide shouldn't be taken lightly (no pun intended), plus I was aware my past colour had not fully grown out and I was keen not to stretch the quality of my hair; I just wanted a highlight at the front, at both temples which would also give my hair some lift.

I must stress, if you are contemplating this, then always read instructions carefully and do a patch test!!!

Because I feel confident and know my hair and skin sensitivities, I didn't use the pierced cap provided as I required the luxury of choosing the strands and sections.  

Above is how I sectioned my hair, aiming to highlight around my hairline only.

With the gloves provided fully on, I mixed up the solution of Ammonia-Free Lightening Powder and Cream Activator into the mixing tray with the tinting brush, then gently brushed along  small sections of hair, starting at my parting.

Ok, doesn't look pretty, some of you may think I am mad to be using this method but I have done this before and prefer the way it flatters how my hair naturally falls.  

I left the cream solution in for about 10-15 minutes, watching the lengths of hair and roots carefully for colour alterations.  Once I was convinced I had enough of a transformation I carefully washed my hair to remove the solution, then shampooed and conditioned with the Tints of Nature sachets included, which by the way, smells and feel sensational!

You may think I've gone backwards here, no, I dried my hair where you can see some lighter strands, then again, went through the process of highlighting the partings for an additional lightening effect.

After waiting less then 10 minutes, I followed the rinsing, washing and drying process yet again.

I must apologise for these 'after' photos, the quality is not good but I'm sure you notice the results.

Here's another (cross eyed) view where the highlight is more visible.

All in all, I am really pleased and loving the condition, which is such an added bonus to most Highlighting kits where can literally feel like straw.  Of course I'd use this colour system again with the comfort of knowing its Ammonia-Free, has protective conditioners and gentle.  I know I threw a few of the instructions out the window (which I wouldn't necessarily recommend to those not adept to home kits) but sometimes it works well for the individual to do this and make it your own!!

What do you think?

Would you and have you tried home colour kits?

Body and Shine Shoot!

Sometimes less is most definitely more!  I am a great believer in that.  I am not known for outrageous statements, more a painterly style and more often for great skin.

I recently worked on a beauty shoot with one of my favourite Photographers, Karan Kapoor.  We have collaborated before, most recently the Painted series and again we were keen to work to a brief.

We chose 3 models, one being Shumi, a lovely Asian girl with adorable skin and she was set to cover our body brief!

Minimal prep work for Shumi's hair, make up and body but that's not to say it took a few minutes. I prepped skin with Vichy 3 in 1 Cleanser, then mixed a dusky shade with Iman Luxury Radiance Liquid Make up Foundation, which has a subtle golden hue allowing skin to appear luminous.  I really wanted skin to look like skin, so the foundation was literally a veil of coverage.  To create the wet shine I patted on  Shiffa Beauty Balm, a unique smelling versatile balm; ideal as cleanser, nightime balm and handy body and lip balm too.

I was keen to create a ribbony texture with Shumi's hair. It's long and dark which could appear dense and lifeless on camera therefore I used products which actually made it feel quite sticky, as well as shiny such as Tigi Bed Head Candy Fixations Sugar Shock sprayed into wet hair, then Brocato Shimmer Gold Spray for a glisten.

The results were perfect...I was close to finishing at this point, some more water/glycerin needed to be sprayed onto her body in order for hair to adhere to the body around the neck and shoulders, to appear like tree roots and a last minute decision to change the parting, as it appeared as a harsh line on camera.

I know it might not be a look you'd want to achieve for a night out though the burst of shine is something I'd like to achieve this Summer.