Beauty Alert: Amazing Face? You got it!

If you still haven't quite opted for a skincare routine that includes full blown deep cleansing let alone double cleansing then I'd suggest you take a step in the right direction with a facial wash such as Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Foaming Cleansing Wash  We all have busy lives but beg for our skin to gleam in good condition, be grime-free and immaculate with little effort.

The foam is made up of essential oils to condition and balance your skin, yes, no feeling of your complexion being stripped dry, plus there are clever fruit enzymes along with the Moringa extracts which gently exfoliate leaving skin brighter, smoother and positively amazing.  Simply disperse a ten pence coin size to the palm of you hand, massage over you face, neck and decollete, then rinse off with warm water.  

Read more about Emma Hardie products on my blog here and get yourself familiar with super cleansing techniques including the dual action cloth; its an essential!

www.emmahardie.com

Beauty Alert: I spy something beginning with EYE!

I'm full of regret these days. As I get ever closer to my mid-40's *gulp* I recall moments of pure, unadulterated bravado and stupidity in my 20's.  "I won't get sucked into buying eye creams!" and "I will never dye my hair to cover the greys, that's so vain!!!"

  I am virtually slapping my face right now, like the scene in Airplane, when they all queue up to take turns.  What was I thinking, was I going mad?  

Since I've embarked on the path to parenting I pine for time and minimal effort to make myself appear less frazzled.  Eye creams for one have never taken on a huge role in my routine, instead, I have concentrated on the general appearance and quality of my complexion.  Roll on sleepless nights literally due to over-tiredness and I find concealer doesn't always cut it, although effectively disguises shadows but does little for the sunken eyes.

QVC is at times like being rocked to sleep by a soothing voice you can trust with the gravitational pull of easy payments and it was during one of those nights I was lured by the lullabies of the presenter who mentioned Joan Collins Timeless Beauty up next.  

I am a fan, not just of Ms Collins herself but I have reviewed her Divine Lips and Nail Lacquer not so long ago (view here) so I couldn't resist an eyeful of more luxury items to drool over.

I almost immediately received upteen text messages from friends and relatives watching our 'Joanie' on QVC that night (must have been a full moon) when her Timeless Beauty Contra Time 'Eyelift in a bottle' SuperLift aired and they pretty much all asked the same thing 'Do you think it really works?'

I was struck by the texture I saw glistening ever so slightly when she smeared the opaque formula onto the back of her hand.  There was only one way of knowing, I had to try it for myself!

Whether its the plant extracts or cermides (our friendly, waxy molecules) or the gentle tapping upwards around the eye area, Superlift leaves a healthy suppleness by de-puffing those delicate parts with the added bonus of brightening too. 

So yes, it does work and achieves much more.  I have more eye products I've spied and tested, plus some positively phenomenal skincare products to have you racing to my favourite beauty destinations...look out!

Post Party Beauty Alert: Make Up Eraser

You've spent time planning your look, 'should I go for RiRi, Swift or Kardashian?'
Then sourced high and low for those finishes touches and there's the ultimate finale, the make up!  Go glitter, colour splash or nude?
You're ready to party, then after a bonkers baubling night of fun-fueled festivities your 'party pleasing outfit' hits the bedroom floor (or hallway) then straight to bed.
Hands up if that's you?
Guilty, we've all done it and know why we shouldn't sleep with a full face, however, if only on those occasions I'd been kitted out with Make Up Eraser cloth, I would no longer be guilty of practicing one of the biggest beauty no nos.

Whether you're a gym freak, like to travel light, addicted to face wipes or just into the latest beauty must-haves investing in this wonder cloth is a good idea for swiping off lasting foundation and even the toughest mascara (yes, it does, I've tried it) in no time.  So, for those of you with a severe case of lazy-itis you will be in full recovery once you've added water to a section of the pink cloths short nap side and gently erased make up; you can even exfoliate using the other side.
At only £15.99, that's a great saving in cleansing products; although you don't get deep cleansing, I think this is a useful addition to my toiletry bag on those odd times I need swift make up removal whilst not laden with a heavy bag skincare.
Would you swap your cleansers for a facial cloth?

 Available at makeuperaser.co.uk and victoriahealth.com

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.

Beauty Alert: Timebomb keeps ticking!

That timebomb keeps ticking and we can't stop ageing completely but we can slow it down!
Timebomb line has developed into destination 'healthy, hydrated skin' with her new Complexion Cocktails bottled up skin tonics of boosting ingredients to suit your needs; from fatigued to stressed skins to parched there is an enriching toner for all, of which can be pressed onto a clean face with hands or applied with a cotton pad morning and night.
For tired, dull complexions select the cocktail with Vitamin B12 which will eventually reveal radiance, thank you Hyaluronic Acid and over time refine skins quality.  The shot of Chlorophyll, a nutrient found in algae and green foods, helps to rebalance stressed-out skin, ideal for those with combination skins.  The third cocktail shot of H2Omega is a favourite of mine as it smells delicious and good enough to eat as its blended with coconut and chia oil; all the moisturizing qualities you need for dry, dehydrated complexions.
I know for a fact these are selling out in Selfridges so be hasty and with Christmas around the corner, no doubt these make beauty-full gifts!

Beauty Alert: Melvita Plumping Radiance Duo.

The idea of a bi-phase product excites me, I champion them in skincare, mainly eye make up removers, after all they lift off the toughest make up.  Now imagine my delight when I walked into the Melvita Press Day about a month ago and clapped eyes on this, Plumping Radiance Duo.  It is true beauty, beauty dew and beauty nectar, right there!
This floral water and oil combo means softening and glow from the Damask Rose Oil, whilst the Damask Rose Floral Water hyrdates and soothes it continues to keep skin plump as the oil locks it in.  Et voila! Healthy, plump skin!
Its available to purchase as of this month and tis ideal for travel to far flung places in transit and as an After-Sun, it will lock in moisture intensely, something you will want if you are trying to keep your tan.
To use I would suggest a few pumps into the palms of your hand then press onto skin, however if you like a good 'after-sun spritz' you could spray generously over the face, shoulders and hair, at arms length, for a healthy sheen (and pretty envious one I should imagine!)

Superfood On The Go!

  

I'm not a fan of quick fixes, especially when it comes to health. You just have to make some sacrifices!   For instance, I know I am allergic to wheat, certain other grains and gluten, so do I chomp on a basket of bread during a lunch meeting, even though I know the suffering I will endure after?
NO!
Its not worth the discomfort for over 24 hours, therefore it has been a case of trial and error with occasional energy boosting snacks as I can't opt for a sandwich, sausage roll or any choice of chocolate bar out and about, I couldn't even pick up a Pret soup without double checking the ingredients first; its just not worth the aggravation to my gut which is why I've been hotfooting it around supermarkets, cafes, deli bars and foodie havens for a number of years to find sufficient 'on the go' boosters and at last I discovered Amazing Grass Chocolate Green Superfood which tends to my 5 a day needs, boosts my immune system and it's Gluten Free.
How do I take this Drink Powder on the move?!  I hear you ask, Amazing Grass have handy sachets, job done!!

Sensory lift from Aromatherapy Associates!

The weather may not be warm and humid quite yet but I still find I get flustered on public transport and by the time I stumble into a studio or on location armed with a heavy load of some of beauty's best, I am looking rather hot and bothered.   Since I was introduced to Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Mist, my new secret weapon, I spritz away and instantly cool down adding a sensory lift from the Damask Rose fragrance, plus I've found it very useful addition to my kit for those ladies with a hot flush or dry, sensitive skins, as well as a cooling and hydrating spray which sets make up like a treat!

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?

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!

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 

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!

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

Beauty's Healing Discovery!

Trust me! If you walked passed this papery packaging you'd immediately stop, ponder and take a closer look!  We are often pulled in by packaging and elaborate detailing but I'm sure, like me you'd be intrigued by the simplicity of the black/white screen print artwork, inspirational quotes and alluring 'sterling' silver and glass vessels.  In addition, you too would be captured by the name Gazelli with Azerbaijan written beneath it.  You don't often see Azerbaijan as a beauty destination for that 'secret' ingredient but why not?   From what I've seen in the National Geographic, media and otherwise women have even skin tones and are often naturally flawless.

We then welcome Gazelli skincare with open arms and rightly so!

Gazelli Discovery Set: Triple Youth Ultimate Firming Serum & Ultra Nourishing Saviour Mask.

Gazelli's story unfolds from a holistic place of nature and nurture, a high level of knowledge of unique local ingredients and with a name that derives from an Eastern form of lyrical poetry 'ghazel', hence the quotes,  which praises 'beauty, youth and love', plus it offers us that special discovery, the trademarked White Healing Oil, a powerful antioxidant of organic compounds sourced from the earth far, far away which is active, oxygenating and nourishing.

I recently popped the Discovery set into my hand luggage on a recent trip to Asia as I thought that would be a sure fire way to test out how nourishing the serum and mask would be on a 13 hour flight. I must be brutally honest, they delivered ten fold so began to use the mask as an After Sun treatment just before I would go out for dinner in the evenings and wore the serum at night for hydration and repair.  My skin loved them and I'm lucky to have a Skin Balancing Cleanser and Reviving Eye Cream to try next.

Have you tried Gazelli?  What are your thoughts?

Gazelli is also available at Urban Retreat at Harrods

Winter Skin: I do Udo, do you?

If you want good skin and health then basically you have to work at it.  It doesn't come from nowhere, takes a little planning and time but you will see results.  Every winter I dread the cold, dread trying to avoid getting a cold and dread trying to shake it off as quickly as possible although I do my best to prepare my body with sufficient supplements.  The same goes for my skin and that feeling its had the life sucked out if it as I go from my warm, cosy home out into the cold, then back to central heating to then find the most steadfast moisturisers on the market.  But what if I also focused on my diet, would that hydrate my skin even better?

I have a good diet, I have to, I've too many auto-immune 'this and that' conditions I simply have no choice if I want to feel well and active though I am always on the search for more ways to help myself and skin so since introducing Udo's Choice Ultimate Oil Blend as a daily ingredient my skin feels plump, radiant and has its lustre back!

You might think, it will make you fat...don't be silly now its all about balance plus we need good oils and less of the bad ones in our diet to assist our hearts, brain function, weight and of course our skin.  With it's blend of oils from flax seed, sunflower seed, coconut, evening primrose etc it primes our body with essential fatty acids, yes, those fatty acids like Omega 3, 6 and 9, they aren't called essential for nothing!

Back to skin...For the past few weeks I've been adding Udo's Choice to my daily smoothie and to anything I eat for lunch or dinner, usually soups, or a drizzle onto warm salads or meat/fish dishes with rice, that is all, as simple as that now my skin doesn't feel the desperate need for thick, rich creams constantly and I when I say skin, I mean my entire body, nails and hair too which makes sense as it is proven that for those with skin conditions of the inflammatory sort such as eczema, skin reveals improvement and that all important lustre so I've recommended it to some male friends who don't do 'beauty' but are willing to try this blend of oils to their diets...I shall report back, in the meantime are you willing it a try the Ultimate Oil Blend from Udo's Choice?

Bringing that Glo Back!

The beauty industry harps on about glow, radiance, blurring fine lines, protection and the big AA, Anti-Ageing, yes, I do too, it's what women want and its what Lulu has brought to you in a tube to apply over make up!   Miracle Glo is about multi-dimensional, multi-faceted glow and is what they call 'apres make up', a formula to buff on after your make up has been applied or as Make Up Artist, Gemma Smith-Edhouse suggests using it as you would a primer so that the glow peeps through foundation.  As a rule of thumb we don't apply cream or liquid over powder but guess what?  You can with this silicone-free solution.
The premise is that we all love how our skin appears after moisturiser, then when we've applied foundation we lose that 'pick me up' radiance that appears youthful as it accents our features with a dewy finish and with Miracle Glo applied over the top of our make up,we regain the glow.  I'd like to think its when our inner glow shines on the outside!
Used sparingly this will last some months, more importantly the winter months and at only £33 for a 60ml tube or £40 with the flat buffing brush you can get your glow on at a reasonable price!

Available on QVC and www.timebombco.com 

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.

Summer Loving Skincare: Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear

Sun is out, SPF on but which moisturiser to use?

Something light and non greasy yet nourishing with Hyaluronic Acid?  

With antioxidant barriers to protect skin?

And maybe leaving a subtle glow with Mineral Bronzing Pearls? 

Something like Alpha H Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear!

Extremely light-weight gel formula with glistening beads of bronzing beads for a naturally healthy complexion for under £40.

Firm Action Mask anyone?

Hopefully, I am not boring you with my love of skincare but I do believe wholeheartedly in striving for healthy skin, so then make up sits well, lasts longer and maybe I can wear it less and less, rather than more and more!
I am a huge fan of clay masks but over the last few years I have found there are less and less of them on the market with the last natural one I used being a Dr Haushska one.  Well, I was reeling with excitement when I was presented with paraben-free Ole Henriksen's Firm Action Mask, containing a combination of Lactic Acid, Kaolin (fine China clay) with Dead Sea Salt to suck out impurities in the skin effectively, whilst firming.
What I love the most about clay masks is that on contact I can feel it working with my skin and you can often see the colour of the mask change, noticing congestion, dehydration; all those skin issues being tackled at once with a simple, ancient beauty regime.  Then as soon as the clay paste dries, it tightens and refines skin working to deeply cleanse and better still you feel the incredible instant results of plumpness, smoothness and healthy skin.

Ole Henriksen is available from Selfridges and Harvey Nichols nationwide or www.feelunique.com 

Asian Beauty: Ginvera Whitening Marvel Gel.

If you're curious about the influx of Asian skincare recently and feel a bit BB Cream crackered out, then why not focus on Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel which sloughs off dead skin cells, rubs away blackheads and evens out the skintone with brightening ingredients that diminish freckles and pigmentation allowing your complexion to go 'back to skin you were born with'.

The gel acts fast onto dry pre-cleansed skin when rubbed in circular motions, flakes appear of skin debris especially when concentrating around a congested T-Zone. Once massaged in (around eyes if you wish) water can be applied to achieve a brightening effect to skin, then rinsed off thoroughly with more water.
They claim that when used daily skin feels 'baby' soft, clear of blocked pores and after long term use will lighten blemishes, though I would recommend using twice a week to begin with, then up to three or four times instead of an exfoliant or alternate with your regular gentle exfoliant for sensitive skins.

!!! Now available at www.gurumakeupemporium.com !!!