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!!

Get your Springtime GLOW on: 3 Blushers to go!

Has Spring arrived, has it sprung?

Surely its heading this way soon so why not get some colour on your cheeks with my 3 latest flush on and go favourites!

Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush 'In Bloom'  

Longer days means a lasting blush which Smashbox have cleverly crafted into their nifty containers.  The 4 shades are all 'ready for Spring' hues; 'In Bloom' is such a sumptuous pink that will give you that all important blush for your buck! Out TODAY!!

Benefit 'Fine One One'

Is it a bronzer?  Is it a highlighter?  Or is it a cream blush?

All three in fact and what a way to get your glow back with a 'true' dewy tint for cheeks in an easy sweep.  Thanks to Benefit's twist up applicator all you have to do is glide along the cheek contour in a crescent shape, then blend the trio of colours for a natural delight with 'benefits'.

Une Beauty 'Breezy Cheeks' 

Finally, this is by no means new but worth a mention because, well, I just can and I love it to bits.  The 8 shades of Une's Breezy Cheeks achieve super natural hints of colour to cheeks with a compatible mirrored compact for easy storage at home or on the go.  I wear this myself and its so comfortable and I love, love, love that 'barely there' blush. 

Whole lotta love for M2 Beaute!

I was almost beside myself when I read a recent M2 Beaute press release from my darlings at Flipside PR about their latest additions, one of which is M2 Facial, an oil-free Eye Make up Remover; ideal if you've sensitive eyes, a lash extensions wearer or if you're following the M2 Beaute rituals with the M2 Lash Activating Serum.

The other product made me actually 'hola' at my screen and jump for joy, no lie!  I saw a lash tool design I had thought up and designed (sketched in a notepad) about 8 years ago and showed to a well known lash and brow company's PR but to no avail.  

M2 Tools Eyelash Comb have it spot on and huge applause for this as some lash comb features seem more treacherous instruments of torture with a high fear factor than useful beauty gadgets, however, because the precise steel teeth are set firmly in a curve upon a long grip handle, you could not go wrong as there is only one way to position the comb which is upwards through the lashes (a direction we want lashes to go anyway) , surrounding the contours of the eye shape to allow a clean, thorough sweep and even coat of mascara or M2 Lashes Revitalizing Gloss! 

Available now from Harrods and www.m2beaute.com 

Backstage shot!

I worked on a jewellery shoot a few weekends ago so I'm just going to tease you with this for now...the model, Diana was lovely to work with, so too were the whole team!

I tonged Diana's hair and set in barrel curls, then did a gentle cleanse before applying Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, then I smoothed on two shades of Chanel Vitalumiere Fresh & Hydrating Cream Compact then generously sculpted using my Neve Blushissimi Palette and highlighted with a old yet trusty Givenchy Matt and Metallic Prisme Compact.

Brows were defined and lengthened using Suqqu Balancing Eyebrow set to create a late 50's siren arch, then New CID i-colour in Crystal Quartz was daubed onto eyelids for a neutral shimmer, no eyeliner was applied, however a generous row of Ardell Individual Lashes  to upper lashes, (see below).   To finish, lips were carefully painted on with a concoction of OCC Lip Tars to match the corally orange dress for the shoot.

This image was photographed for a second look; see how lashes were placed across the upper lash line to create a full effect of definition.  I look forward to revealing the finished campaign soon!

More Miraculous Oils!

Just a quick reminder that Melvita's L'Or Bio is out NOW and a miraculous solution for Spring time pampering for hair and body, which incorporates a blend of 5 oils such as Argan Oil from Morocco (a favourite of mine) and Kendi from Indonesia. Spritz your way into Spring!

Beauty 'Love' Alert: Mineral Mousse Make Up!

I love minerals and have done for almost 10 years now; I've written a lot about them as fan and expert plus I've been lucky enough to test out a number of brands over the years, with one brand in particular being seen as 'THE mineral brand', I beg to differ, there is so much choice though some companies have been misleading us down a grainy, gimmicky path claiming to be the purest and the best.  If you want 'pure' then research the ingredients, you will be surprised to still see irritable ingredients such as Bismuth Oxychloride in some.

I was introduced to Vitage recently, very much a respected skincare brand that decided to go one step further into 'pure enhancing tools' without losing out on quality or their heralded expertise on skin!

Natural Daily Perfector is not really make up as such, more like a pigmented complexion enhancer used to smooth pores and prime skin.  Depending on the quality of your skin you could stop right there or opt for their medium coverage Colour Minerals Natural Mineral Foundations in 4 shades both of which are made up of very few ingredients including these protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ones, Brazilian Green Tea and Golden Seaweed extracts.

And the texture?
Unlike anything mineral based I've ever seen before; unique mousse formula whipped to a lightweight veil, you will not feel a thing and available in 3 universal shades (Natural Tan, shown above) there is choice enough for all from this 'hero' product which can be applied using Vitage Taklon Brushes effortlessly.
Knowing Vitage comes from a skin specialists background the added reassurance is there, its pure and simple.

Available from Cosmeceuticals and soon on Beauty Bay

Handbag essentials: Melvita 3 Honeys Nectar

I've decided to offer up some handbag essentials and my first is Melvita 3 Honeys Nectar, a sweet pot of a soothing, nourishing balm, ideal for unsightly cuticles, dry, chapped lips or any dry patches for that matter.  I cannot describe the smell to you but you'd simply want to eat it (though I wouldn't recommend it) though this reliable pot delivers on versatility.
This addition to the Apicosma skincare collection also brings the active patented synergy of 3 Honeys along with anti-inflammatory alpha-bisabolol, who knew?!
£9.50 for 15ml of deliciously nurturing handbag sized love!

Tanning made easy peasy!

Ever wondered what Make Up Artists' use on set to achieve an even, instant tan without the worry of colour transferring onto those super stylish clothes?
I am sure many have their favourites; I personally would always rate Clinique's Body Tinted Lotion which creates an instant bronzing effect plus effectively gradually tans so beautifully.  And I wouldn't dismiss some other brands I have found as trusty additions to my kit but I must give Model Co Tan Mousse a mention as a prime example of easy peasy tanning!
The fluffy light mousse is easy to apply, ideal for 'I've no time at all' tanning moments and yes, this does leave skin looking sunkissed so naturally though obviously if you'd rather go all out Essex you could apply more (and more).
Top tip: I say a light spray of Model Co Shimmer Airbrush Illuminator over the top, you're party ready as you'll ever be!

If you'd like to check this out and more Model Co products they're  available online or at large Boots stores too!