Tints of Nature made nice and easy!

Are you impressed by the new fangled home colour kits?

I am and I'm not.  I recently did an all over hair colour on my friend, Henrietta, with a new foam colour system, which absolutely made it less messy in terms of application; no splattering of colour up the walls or peppered stains on clothes for instance.  But and its a BIG 'but', it failed to control colour application around the hair line. As I dabbed the colour, I found it hard to gauge whether I'd covered the grey, outgrown roots or whether I was colouring her scalp.

I suggested that one day she tried an 'old style' version like Tints of Nature in Natural Medium Brown, a rich chocolate shade, where the solutions are mixed into a squeezy bottle, squeezed  along the roots then either rubbed or combed through hair and if more of a pro, mixed into a colouring bowl and brushed onto the roots and rest of the hair.  Hen agreed to this and decided to rub in solution whilst I combed the roots, hoping for the best results!

I totally forgot to take a before picture, I know, sort of defeats the object but I am sure when you see the outcome you will be impressed by the shine from the natural proteins and multi-tonal quality from this paraben, ammonia and resorcinol free Permanent Colour.

Here is the kit, very basic and unusually they recommend you wash the hair fully beforehand with their 'pre hair wash' to remove any residue and to increase longevity of colour to grey hair.

All washed an ready for the colour application.

Colour on by rubbing in and combing around hairline to ensure the most vulnerable roots get  covered and left on for 30-40 minutes with the attractive cap to allow the reaction to take place without making a mess.  Before you see the outcome, I have to stress that I pretty much raved about Tints of Nature to Hen as my favourite home colour system yet, as I had recently experimented with their Highlighting kit, of which I was truly impressed as my hair remained soft and hydrated, (never dry) with constant high shine and naturally too.

I haven't a picture to compare but Henrietta's hair remains as shiny as the day she coloured it, with unbeatable even coverage especially at the roots.  As much as home colour systems have moved on and are getting cheaper and easier to apply, the Tints of Nature one gets the lasting results I've not seen before.

Have you tried Tints of Nature colour kits?

New Body Treatment and Location for QMS!

Don't get caught out after booking your holiday by dreaming of sipping the local cocktails beside the pool and lounging in the sun in your swimwear unveiling unbuffed, winter skin.
We haven't had the best summer so far which has meant we've put the body treatments on hold and hardly given it a second thought for summer ready skin!
No excuses ladies and gentlemen, QMS Medicosmetics Flagship Skincare Spa, a few hops away from Sloane Square tube station, have introduced their Body Collection, a Lift-O-Firm Treatment (60 minutes £100) which rejuvenates the upper body even to the point of promoting fat burning   and lucky me, I experienced the Body Shape Treatment (60 minutes £100) to activate and increase circulation to my bum and thighs, an area peppered with cellulite and at times aching after long days standing and hauling my kit around.
The sensations of this treatment certainly ignited my thighs but it wasn't uncomfortable, even whilst the lovely consultant, Jasmin, performed a full facial with an Oxygen Treatment, while I was momentarily cocooned in cling film radiating so deeply, though not to touch, a very unusual sensation that lasted up to 2 hours after.
Both treatments ooze stimulation and contouring leaving skin smooth and ready for summer wear.

Hot off the Press! QMS Medicosmetics will be launching in Liberty London, 27th June 2012 where you will be able to purchase QMS Medicosmetics skin care in store; you are now never too far away from healthy, collagen boosted skin.

Beauty So Clean, very clean indeed!

 
If there is one thing I can nag about its hygiene!  My assistants hear me ranting on about dirty brushes and kits all the time.  Is there any excuse for that?  NO!
I will always have brush cleaner in my kit and always change brands to try out what's new but I don't always get on with all that I use.  Some fail to remove every last tinge of make up, others do not condition although this is an important requirement especially when an average brush costs £20 and you own over 100 of them!
Beauty So Clean Conditioning Brush Cleanser has been a speedy solution as it can be sprayed onto natural or synthetic brushes then make up residue and bacteria wiped off onto tissue; the smell is ok as these formulas go and its added conditioning ingredients, plant oils keeps brushes soft, dry and make up ready!
What more can be done to keep sanitized in speed?
Cosmetic Santizer Mist will refresh and revitalise eyeshadows, pressed powders, blusher or even cream concealers with a quick spritz and Cosmetic Sanitizer Wipes clean away build up and bacteria on mascara brushes, eye and lip pencils and lip sticks without disturbing the formulations.
Hygiene is a beauty no brainer and being thoughtful enough to lower any cross contamination risks when you're a Make Up Artist is our job.

Eclat Matissime Foundation.

I know, I mention Givenchy a lot, I hail it as one of my favourite brands so please bear with me when I must mention their latest foundation, Eclat Matissime, a matt base with a hint of radiance.  

Givenchy continue to get texture and finish right with the help of Nicolas Degennes, Artistic Director who has an eye and intuition for colour and mood which is simply very French and blinking gorgeous.

Most leading brands do not release all foundation shades in one country, this seems a bit unfair and a bit of a waste but at least Givenchy have launched some of their richer shades in this range.  For some reason I forgot to swatch 6 Mat Gold but I think you will get the gist!

The shades from (bottom to top) 3 Mat Sand, 4 Mat Beige, 5 Mat Honey, 

7 Mat Ginger and 8 Mat Amber

And blended! 

Note how effective the coverage is with a light, airy texture and matt-ish finish.

I have mentioned another recent love Chanel Perfection Lumiere on my blog and as much as both are light weight and of a matt nature, they are different!

  Chanel contains more alcohol so appears extremely matt which I like to use on combination skin, Givenchy's has matt, oil free undertones with a veil of luminosity; very intelligent and almost sculpting.

Have you tried any of the new wave of foundations?

A taste of things to come from Lily Lolo.

I tweet and update my FB page a plenty, so if you haven't read about my prep for a mineral make up campaign, where were you?
I haven't much to show you at this stage but I hope to be immensely proud when I do as I worked very hard to represent the kindness and approachable nature of Lily Lolo make up.  Above is a sneaky peek at my designs and product selections for eyes and cheeks for the photo shoot campaign and video tutorials being released in the very near future with some long awaited launches too (I can't say any more than that!)  
I have been a fan of the brand for about 6 years and although my kit changes for each job depending on the brief, type of job, weather conditions or season, I do go back to Lily Lolo's Award Winning Mineral Foundation for lasting speed with an airbrushed look and I will always express my admiration for their excellent shade selection; 18 comprehensive shades no less from the palest of pale skins there's Porcelain to the darkest shades with warm and yellow tones, Hot Chocolate and Cinnamon.
Enough from me, why not take a look yourselves and tell me what you use or would like to try? www.lilylolo.co.uk

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheers.

I mentioned Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer's last week after using them for a stunning Asian bride who had a natural even skin tone.  I use these a lot for photoshoots but weirdly don't hear about others using them much, although they must do, its an Instyle Best Beauty Buys Winner 2012!
Last weeks bride was not a make up wearer and when I say 'not a make up wearer', I mean to the point of owning about two cosmetics, so it was a challenge as she was out of her comfort zone to even book a Make Up Artist, therefore I chose the lightest yet most effective formulas, 3 drops of  Givenchy Eclat Matissime Foundation in Mat Ginger 07 being one of them mixed with 2 drops of 08 Fluid Sheer a rich golden beige to create radiance, natural coverage and smooth evenness with a highlight.
I find the other shades in rose, beige and golden tones very helpful when skin tones need only delicate and minimal coverage as well as for subtle sculpting.  Have you tried these?

Givenchy brushes up nicely!

These sumptuous beauties were handed to me last week, I was thrilled to say the least!

Thick, matte handled, mid-length Givenchy brushes are one of their latest additions to one of my favourite make up brands and very much appreciated too!

  Don't get me wrong, as brands go, Givenchy were always one of the best for adding mini accessories into their well compacted compacts or Prisme's as they are known; I recall tweezers, angled brushes and wide blush applicators.  But these comfortable-to-grip applicators are a delight to work with.  I like the stiffness and density of the powder and blush brush, seen above made of superior goat hair in the typical Givenchy signature style, plus the high quality synthetic foundation brush, for an easy to apply base.  If you are looking to improve your make up bag, kit or just easily persuaded into buying good quality cosmetics, then this would be money well spent at just under and over £30 each.