Beauty Alert: Yes to it all!

Since the Summer, I've been using some Yes to products, after a long break of literally no use on myself or my kit, though they recently popped back into my life randomly and I realised then how much I had missed it!  You cannot beat the smell of Yes to Cucumber, its cool, fresh and its a scent that works for me when it comes to skincare and now too is Grapefruit!  It has never been my favourite fruit of choice but for face and body care, oh yeah!!!
And of course, Carrots for nourishing hydration is a 'no-brainer'.
Now that Autumn is here, think beyond your 5 a day and look ahead at the awful weather we are likely to suffer soon, up to 6 months of it and prepare oneself, ones skin and say Yes to this feast which has been foraged for all skin types from head to toe.

My obsession with Melvita lives on!

I hope you can join me in my obsession with Melvita and what I love the most is that they focus on customer needs without getting gimmicky!
Not much to say other than these are two recent additions to the range and are simply worth adding to your toiletry bag...

Plumping Radiance Cream is aimed towards the fruitfully youthful who should be aware that one day they will age and are able to most gratefully and gracefully if they start now!

This is another delight which in my opinion smells fantastic and makes my skin feel well protected, firmer and cared for.

Search and get obsessed 

http://uk.melvita.com/

I'm not fooling you, Oh Lief is here to stay!

When I get my hands on beauty products, which after a few times of use, has me thinking, 'Great!  It does exactly what is says on the tin!' I get pretty excited and need to share. Some of you may have seen the odd tweet from me mentioning the newest natural brand, Oh Lief which has me elated and guess what?  Some of the products actually do come in a tin AND out perform some of the very latest, premium body care products on the market.  Oh yes they do!

I'm a bit lazy when it comes to my lips, not with colour, I adore a bright lip but tending to dry lips is a really bad habit of mine.  I keep tubes and jars in my purse but only when its getting to cracking point do I slather on balm.  I am trying to get out of that habit so on my recent trip I delighted in keeping Oh Lief Lip Wax with me at all times and apply before even the slightly sign of dryness appeared.  The scent is soothing and texture is, well, balmy without the greasiness and it does last hours on my lips.

I'm all for steering clear of dry skin on my body not only to keep it hydrated and nourished but to avoid unsightly marks and blemishes which is why I apply cream, lotion and now Oh Lief Body Wax,  all part of my beauty ritual from such a young age, so much so that I feel odd if I don't perform it.  The scent blows me away, no, really! Grapefruit is so refreshing and as much as I'd be hard pushed to eat a grapefruit, its a pleasure to inhale the citrus notes every time I apply it.  More than this, your entire family can use these products, there is no fear of males thinking its all 'girly' smells.  Oh Lief even have a Baby range worth checking out, without doubt

Top Tip:  In addition to applying the Body Wax try the Natural Body Oil, yes, the winter months, central heating and certain materials against our skins take their toll which results in dryness and even more dryness therefore, occasionally opting for a boost with oil will have you truly moisturised and your skin ready for unveiling this Summer!

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!

Get Streetwise in 2013!!

New Year, new you! Isn't that what they say?
And time to rethink your hopes and dreams for 2013 including your skincare routine.
By now you know I quite like a brand with a conscience and a method in application (see Emma Hardie for a reminder) which is why I am bowled over, leaping with joy about Orico London, an organic skincare brand to suit us city types who demand 'kind' ingredients which deliver speedy results at affordable prices!  We're asking for more for our money these days, even when it comes to organic produce and Orico have delivered with a range starting from £11 up to £29, remarkable pricing!
I'm yet to try every product in the range, which incidentally covers Baby care and Gift packages too, though I was immediately drawn to the Hydrating Make Up Remover, why?
Its has a balm-like texture so I knew it would leave my skin feeling supple but would it remove all the grime from my daily urban grime?
It did so, effortlessly cleansing away my eye make up, blush and lip colour (a hard to budge bright red) and the method was clear, 'Gently massage a small amount over the face and eyelids with upward, circular strokes...and remove with a damp face cloth.'  And the message I appreciated the most, 'Inhale the relaxing aromatherapy blend...'  The aroma is calming which puts you into a 'zen' state of mind, an ideal message for those of us with busy, active lives.
If you want to start the new year on a 'be good to yourself' path then step into 2013 with Orico London!

Renewal, Rebalance, Replenish!

Skincare brands offer all sorts of claims, I've heard the bizarre to the ridiculous and the odd intriguing ones which makes me raise an eyebrow, though when the words 'Renewal', 'Rebalance', 'Replenish' are mentioned as a 3 Phase system to protect, condition and restore skin promoting "the living energy of the natural ingredients it contains" , I have to know more!
I was introduced to AEOS (Active Energised Organic Skincare) some months ago and on first impressions I was liked that it was organic and bio-dynamic, secondly their philosophy of using recycled paper etc., keeping their carbon footprint low and they are scented so beautifully to the point where I believe I could enter a certain state of mind.

Travel sized AEOS set, L to R: Phase 1 Renewal - De-Maq Oil Cleanser, Dew Facial Wash, Gentle Exfoliant
Phase 2 Rebalance - Energising Conditioner, Refreshing Hydrating Mist
Phase 3 Replenish - Enriching Moisturisers (Blue and Pink)

These are the products I've tested and what a handy size for my upcoming work trip which reassures me as I need all the help I can get as I'm sensitive to jet-lag and stress!
I love a holistic approach to skincare more importantly if they have a method of application, they don't necessarily promote a 'technique' but the sensual aromas of each product does have a calming, almost nurturing effect on my very thorough routine; I now enjoy each and every part of my twice daily ritual whilst taking stock of each and every scent, the Blue Enriching Moisturiser being the most appealing.  Not only this, my skin loves the range with the most love for the Energising Conditioner which "encourage hydration and moisture back in the skin", this it does and if my skin needs an extra boost of nourishment and care I spritz on the Refreshing Hydrating Mist, then apply the moisturiser which leaves my skin looking radiant and quite sensational with lasting moisture levels too.
If you tend to go organic for organics sake consider AEOS which enriching skin with a little bit more than a certified stamp.

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!

Lines, wrinkles and creases!

There isn't a day that goes by without someone stating 'they are beyond repair' or 'in desperate need of cosmetic surgery'.  We all have moments of insecurity, some more than others, though the majority of women I come across put themselves and their looks down along with declaring themselves old and adamant they want to turn the clock back as fast as they can by any means.
Well, hold on a minute!  I've been thinking quite hard about my process of ageing and yes, I believe I have aged somewhat, more so in the past two years but as I take a closer look and study my eyes, the new creases and open pores, I have no feelings of dismay, not one. Why?
It's the process taking place and I really cannot do an awful lot about it without surgery, plus I feel quite proud of getting older and certainly prouder of getting a little wiser.  Yes, I admit, I could recommend myself a stockpile of award winning anti-ageing beauty creams, serums and potions as I do others, after all  they are not a complete waste of time and money, 'every little helps' as they say and a product that blurs, smooths and fills in is welcome in my beauty bag but I don't think lines, wrinkles and creases are to blame for appearing older nescessarily.
What am I banging on about?
When I accessed my ageing process, especially after my recent holiday, it boiled down to one factor, sleep!
I slept for 9 hours every night whilst I was away, undisturbed, unbroken sleep, pure and utter bliss and a darn shock to me after being an insomniac since my teens and serial bad light sleeper.  After 2 weeks of 9 hours sleep my eyes refocused to appearing brighter with less fluid retained under my eyes whilst the new and even newer creases seemed less noticeable as I looked fresher...younger even!
I know some of you may be reading this thinking, 'yeah, yeah, whatever', 'where's the product mention and has she lost her marbles?'
Quite simply, we all pat ourselves on the back at times for achieving a great deal in a short amount of time, for working till late, having no time to wind down and then moan about what little sleep we've had.  Of course, I am one of those types too and yes, it can't always be avoided but seriously, as well as that very boring beauty tip of drinking 1.5 litres of water a day (which works), allow yourself a good nights sleep, it will do you the world of good in terms of concentration, energy and your ageing process, plus this is the crucial time for skin to repair and replenish itself.
For those women with deep enough wrinkles to bury hidden treasure in, sometimes life is cruel but we can be pretty cruel to ourselves too and maybe genes haven't been so gracious to you but I am sticking to this, sleep has the X factor and I shall remain optimistic that I shall never endure another 20 years + of insomnia again.

The Science of Organics.

Here's a little bit of background before I tell you about the actual products.  The name is Acquizhen, it is certified organic and sustainable skincare from Germany, which combines 'accurate science with the best of nature', something I find appealing and reassuring when the brand has been developed by Dr. med, Erich Schulte, an advocate of a holistic and traditional approach to skincare.  The term 'organic' gets a mixed reception these days and seems less of a buzzword, either customers declare they 'only ever use organic' due to their choice of lifestyle or perturbed customers grimace saying, 'I've tried so many and nothing works for me'. 

I'm unsure which camp I'm in, I certainly feel that as a Make Up Artist I am quite toxic from high use of beauty products so a little of what nature has to give is a bonus, though I do expect high performance from skin products, organic or not.

I have applied upteen organic products to my skin in the last few years and would admit to about 50% of them achieving some sort of remarkable effect, though all I am asking for most of the time is good hydration and to be truthfully organic.  What I mean by that is, some associations don't expect 100% organic, which is a tall order in any case but if you don't read labels well you might only be applying a product with only one organic ingredient.  Misleading and confusing, huh?

 Now, moving back to Acquizhen, I thought I'd tell you about the 'unsung heroes' and often the most unremarkable items in an organic range, firstly, Gentle Exfoliating Mask.  There are some exfoliators I have used in the past which have tended to be so gentle they make no difference or are too abrasive as they contain 'rustic' grains or seeds of some sort. Acquizhen Gentle Exfoliating Mask has a texture I was familiar with, it actually reminded me of Aapri, which I'd last used in the 80's, the texture was grainy but not harsh, the results were beyond my expectations.  I don't know about you but some 'gentle' exfoliators take a fair bit of elbow grease to clear debris, dead skin and eventually quite a few layers of skin which defeats the object but this products did kindly exfoliate, removing blackheads and blocked pores that riddle my skin from using hair products at work.  I'm impressed with my skins refreshed appearance and texture after use, one hopes this has something to do with Argan Seeds, Papaya and White Tea extracts among others active ingredients.  

I hadn't sampled many organic Night Creams so I was willing to bypass my usual routine for a few weeks and see what effect, if any, Nurturing Night Cream might take. The texture is that of a cream making me a little concerned I might wake up a little puffy as I am used to serums at night, but alas, this weightless cream was comfortable and absorbed well without leaving a saturated surface.  My skin woke up feeling soft and replenished, just as I'd wished and by looking at the list of ingredients I see Hyaluronic Acid, which is proven to be the great hydrator and Blackberry leaf, the unfamiliar extract 'which play a significant role in skin aging', I'll have some of that!

As much as I'm jubilant at discovering this well rounded brand there is one thing that impresses me a great deal and that is the high percentage of natural origin, vegetable ingredient and organic farming.  I am 100% impressed.