Beauty Alert: Anti-Ageing Elixir

There has been much discussed, written and praised about Argan Oil, it seems to be the ingredient of the moment, after all I have recently written plenty about this super beauty oil, but let us not forget it has been a hidden beauty secret for centuries and on past trips to Morocco, I regretted not haggling for tank loads of this gem.

As an Argan Oil devotee I just had to tell you about this Anti-Ageing Elixir from terre d'Oc which is unusually smooth and light for an oil, especially Argan as it's qualities are often more oily and full bodied.  This elixir has a lightweight texture and has the additional ingredient of Prickly Pear, which has soothing qualities, a must for sensitive and mature skins as this protects the skin to the max.

As with most oils mixing can them into other formulations is an advisable way to boost moisture and I've been adding the odd drop into my Argan based moisturiser for a subtle glow on my dry skin resulting in 24 hour hydration.

If you don't want to take my word for it, the Beauty Shortlist has just awarded it as the winner of the Best Serum!

Shine, shine, shine on!

Every few years a new ground breaking nail system is created, costing more each time we visit our local nail bar but we've gotta try it!  Some time ago, I was regularly getting Bio Sculpture nails applied to assist my bad habit of anxiously picking at dry skin around my nails.  I know vile but sometimes I wouldn't even realise I was doing it.  By maintaining my nails with Bio Sculpture I was constantly aware my nails were immaculate, therefore, resisting picking at them.  Good job, it worked but it suddenly seemed too much of a luxury to keep up and consumed my time as each session would take up to 3 hours to soak off, tidy cuticles, then reapply and set in the hand machine. In addition, my nail plates were becoming less and less attractive when natural and this bothered me, what damage was being done and was this really the answer to my stress related habit?

A few months ago, a good friend of mine who is friends and a regular at the salon, Maximiliano Centini, New King's Road, Fulham, showed me her new Geleration nails made by Jessica Nails, 'a hybrid between gel and polish giving fantastic colour', artistically applied by Jessica Centini, wife of Max and nail expert at the salon and director of The Nail Lounge.  My first impression was, 'Really?  They don't appear as thick as the other type of gel nails!'  

This is because technology and formulations have moved on and thank goodness, it takes about an hour from start to finish.  

Above are my nails after my first visit about 3 weeks ago with the French manicure, what do you think?

I think fantastic!  I love the finish and short length with a light cream base (very natural) over a white tip for an ultra natural appearance.

I visited Jessica's colleague at The Nail Lounge again this week.  My nails had grown quite a bit though they remained so shiny and only I noticed they didn't appear as immaculate as before. They had only one chip by this second visit and seeing as I use my hands a lot for work, they were impressive results after 3 weeks.

The soaking off period wasn't as painstaking as I'd experienced with gel nails, it took half the time and with no damage to my nails as you can see this is because there is no filing to the nail bed as an oil-free formula is applied to adhere to the chosen colour.  

During the soak off, I was deciding on whether to go for colour or back to the 'french' manicure.  Last week I would have chosen colour such as the bright coral 225, it was sunny and bright but now the weather has changed back, I contemplated 529, a rich metallic purple but being someone who never opts for dark on my nails, ever, I couldn't do it, so...

...half and hour later I had the shimmery, pale peach 952 shade, a pretty nude and good compromise.

Finally the price which varies on nail technician, the maximum being £40 for full colour and £45 for a French manicure finish, costing on average £14 every 3 weeks.  I find this economical as your average manicure can cost £30 a week, plus I would rather not endure the chipping and fading of traditional polish, I'd rather go au natural.

Have you tried other gel nail systems and have you opted for Geleration?

5 Make Up and Hair Looks: Fashion Press Event!

Its not often I can show you my work live but on April 4th, I tweeted my work as it happened for a sumptuous Fashion Press Event at Quo Vadis for designers Suzannah, Rebecca Street and Edwina Ibbotson to name a few!

The Salon model was Rebecca Pearson from First Model Management, very beautiful and great fun to work with.

My make up kit is vast but I literally kept it to a minimum with a few staples from myface cosmetics, mainly mymix foundation, mycover concealer, Blingtones, R&B Blush and Lip Pop all kindly supplied that very afternoon and they didn't let me down.

My hair kit is stacking up with some fantastic products and appliances, namely Enrapture Extremity Heated Hair Rollers and...

...Operation Glam and Lee Stafford.  These are the only two hair products I used, yep, I told you I was going minimal!

Hair was setting nicely with the Enrapture rollers, which has to be said are so quick to heat, easy to roll into hair sections and so secure with firm grips.  After applying the base (mymix, Fair 01 and 03) and concealing lightly (mycover, Fair 111) around Rebecca's eyes I started applying the wet look Blingtones to the eye lids and into sockets as well as along the lower lash line. 

Hair beautifully curled in no time!

Hair brushed through to create a bouncy wave and gently sprayed with Lee Stafford Hair Spray to finish.

Finishing touches to eye brows, Rebecca is looking gorgeous even in her boyfriends jumper but now the finished look...

Sultry and seductive waves with hot cheeks with Paradiso Pink and a reddy pink Lip Pop gloss to add colour and stand up against the stunning Absinthe dress by Suzannah.

Seeing as I was challenging myself with many looks I decided small tweaks to hair and make up here and there would work with all the dresses to be worn by Rebecca.  The second look had intensified sockets with myface Blingtone Bellbotton Blues and cooler lips and here is the end result...

Just a hint of drama!

Later I began the third look with more intensity of the Blingtone blue shadow adding depth to the sockets and around the eyes, then softened slightly by blending with the brown Blingtone.  My lovely assistant finished off with a pale Lip Pop while I hastily created a new hair style to flatter the next dress.

As well as this alteration to eyes, I backcombed the ends of the hair then secured into the nape with grips to create a shortened, fuller version to achieve volume then a touch of hair spray to retain the shape.

Look number four went back to a fresher style.  I applied a thick eyeline of the silver Blingtone to brighten eyes, then another pop of luscious Lip Pop with Bleeding Love Lip Stick.  Hair back to something smooth and sophisticated.

And finally another elegant look with hair speedily waved with Enrapture Jumbo Waver then pinned up to one side to show off Suzannah's showstopping dress.  A hint of definition in the sockets using a charcoal eye liner pencil (a quick tweak) and to finish a cool pale lilac Lip Pop was added on top of the previous red lips.

And there you have it, 5 looks designed and applied with a few essentials and a really enjoyable fashionable evening!

Find out more about myface at http://www.myfacecosmetics.co.uk/home

 Lee Stafford products at http://www.leestafford.com/ Lulu's Operation Glam products at http://www.lulusplace.co.uk/operation-glam and Enrapture Hair Appliances at http://enrapturehair.com/  and Suzannah http://www.suzannah.com/

NB: Images are a mixture of my own and supreme snapper, Antonio Salgado.

Soaking away the stress!

Now might not be the time to discuss hot baths, what with this balmy weather but if like me, you have aches and pains all the time and love the comfort of a hot, hot bath of an evening to ease muscles and release some tension then read on.  I was introduced to Ila recently and although its a brand I have known about, I have never looked into it much until now.  The ingredients are sourced with care and the holistic approach really appeals as we all have busy lives but to actively stop, take a moment to recoup mentally and physically is something we don't do enough of.

My bath times are just this, I can take a breathe, mull over my list of things to do but most of all, leave the stresses behind me and soak away the stress.  Ila Inner Peace has added another dimension to my bath times due to the warm and captivating scent of the crystal mix of Rose Otto and Sandalwood, very musky and stimulating in the most soothing way possible.

The rich salts, shown here, make bath times extra special and the name Inner Peace certainly sum up the active nature and aim of a good bath.

The beauty behind science and nature!

'Science and nature', we've most definitely heard that combination before but who is balancing the two well enough to assist towards healthy skin. ar457 follow the notion and 'fuse an ancient beauty secret and cutting edge cosmetics using the latest discoveries to enhance and refine a natural miracle' and I think they have nailed it quite frankly.

I was introduced to the brand last year and wrote a post about the Metaserum Elixir, a truly overwhelming serum with the powers of Argan oil and new technology. I was converted then a there, I wanted to test more.

ar457 have been generous in allowing me to discover the entire range, which I can wholeheartedly say has been a unique experience as formulations consist of textures from rich, balmy creams to grainy emulsions and yes, predictably oils.  I'm not going to tell you about all the products but the ones I am most impressed with.

I began with the Skin Cleanser, a good place to start.  I know there are popular oil cleansers, some award winning but my skin has never like these much, however, the almost dry oil formulation removed every trace of daily grime remarkably well, though not to be used to remove eye make up.  Skin Cleanser left my skin ultra soft with no sign of breakouts (something that has happened in the past).  Using this day and night has kept my skin feeling subtle and never dry or stripped of its natural oils.


 I found the boost from using the Regenerating Care after cleansing the ultimate in hydration!


I do love an eye cream, I don't expect it to banish lines but one that keeps my eyes puff-free in the mornings. I was sceptical with Long Lasting Eye Contour because it pumps out a light emulsion not a gel, which can be more soothing but I needn't have feared a thing, it left my eye area dewy, hydrated with no signs of additional water retention.


Finally, for the body, a spray oil, Silky Oil, a welcome surprise and what a scent.  I can't quite put my finger on the aroma but I adore using this after a shower to lock in moisture.  One would think it might feel oily, sticky or slippery on the skin, no, it absorbs well with no signs of staining clothes for those of you who might be unconvinced. This is a firm favourite!

There is plenty more to say about the range but I would love to hear from those of you who have tried ar457 or keen to experience this exceptional fusion of science and nature.

All kinds of smoky eyes!

If you consider Givenchy more a fragrance brand than a make up one then please think again!  I've been using Givenchy for almost a decade and time after time my heart melts for the Prisme's, quadruplets of colour in the shape of blushers, pressed powders, 

powder foundations and eye shadow quads and mono's.

The mono's are available in the perfect 'smoky' alternatives, greys, plums as well as these, shown above,  Casual Khaki on the left, Dressy Indigo, the right, are clever quads of the same shade, which some might think a bit of a waste but look again, they are all kinds of textures.  I say, this is genius on many levels especially as we tend to fall in love with a shade that suits us over and over again,  therefore this is a super solution where one can really experiment and nail that up to date smoky eye.  For a matte effect, choose Mat on the bottom left and top left for a Light Pearly finish, not too shimmery but enough to create a soft focus effect.  Top right is an Intense Pearly finish which reveals a great smoky shade on its own and lastly, bottom right has all the shimmer, sparkle complete in Sequined, multi-faceted colour.

1 colour, 4 finishes and 1 immensely happy Make Up Artist!

Shhhhh! Debenhams have included them in their current sale!!!

Operation Thick, Voluminous Hair!

Countless clients ask about haircare products to give their hair a helping hand to appear thicker, it is an all too common problem these days but there are solutions.  I have written much about hair loss but which products really do have the glam-factor when it comes to styling?
Lulu's Operation Glam, High Profile Thicken & Lift Spray has been doing the trick for many of my clients in assisting their hair to retain hold and lift at the roots, as many of us are aware, roof lift is essential in disguising weak, sparse areas, especially around the hairline.  I love this product.  It smells good and yes, I am a snob when it comes to haircare fragrances; not only do we want our locks to smell nice but we spray these formulas in close proximity to people and often badly ventilated rooms therefore, it has to be an inoffensive odour.  This thickening solution is not heavy nor sticky, so comfort is a bonus and with added value, it does as one would expect, lasts for hours, leaving hair looking natural with a volumising effect.
Read and shop here.

Poker Straight Hair Alert!

 
Small, pink and a handy hair product for those of you aching to keep your hair slick without humidity getting in the way....Lee Stafford's Poker Straight Dehumidifier spray is a new must-have in my hair kit, saving me time on set and keeping unwanted frizz at bay.
Available in Boots NOW!

The Dual Bio Effect!

Bio Effect Daytime has finally arrived.  The creamy pot of EGF 'natural' goodness, made from Barley Protein works in tandem with the award winning, Bio Effect Serum, so that by day your skin bathes in a light formula of moisture with an undisclosed amount of EGF and at night swims in a more potent serum efficiently replenishing skin whilst you sleep.

I thought I'd set up a challenge for Bio Effect, seeing as I was the first person to test the super serum in the UK and very much applauded its sensational results instantly, by using the two products as suggested, for 2 weeks!  Here are my findings...  

Day 2, left side of my face - my skin is lightly peppered with blemishes (note the one on my upper cheek) which I could not banish whilst on holiday in the sun.  My pores are looking too open for my liking and skin generally tired. 

Day 2, right side of my face - similar texture here with open pores and a few unsightly marks (note the one close to my ear) from stress and hormonal spots I'd gained late last year.  I am wearing a dab of cream blush in both pictures; its not rosacea but Une Breezy Cheeks!

1 week, left side of my face - pores appear refined and blemishes less prominent, especially that annoying one on my upper cheek.

1 week, right side of my face - a noticable reduction of pore size with skin appearing more taught along with fading blemishes I'd longed to get rid of. There is a touch of natural radiance too, which is very much welcome!

Two weeks, left side of my face - I hope you are as impressed as I am. Need I say more! Not only have I had countless friends, clients and colleagues ask me what I've been using but the odd beauty expert too. 

2 weeks, right side of my face - my skin, without doubt is oozing luminosity and is almost blemish-free. 

What do you think?  Will you be the next Bio Effect convert?

I hear there is more to come from Bio Effect in the form of two revolutionary products, though that is a while away, in the meantime, these two skin saviours must be hailed as the 'dynamic duo of skincare' and I have no doubt they will win more nominations for best beauty awards, they get my vote!

Sweet Honey Lips!

I love tinted lip colours, not only because they are a quick sweep of colour in a sheer finish or that they feel light, non sticky and unfussy but they leave lips looking natural and can accompany neutral to smoky eye make up so well.
 Clinique have just launched Almost Lipstick, an array of slim and sweetly packaged shades.  I have 4 to show you:

I was a little stuck as to show you these colour in true form, so opted for a fingertip swatch.  These shades of honey create a syrupy shine from nude to deep aubergine.  From top to bottom: Tender Honey, Flirty Honey, Lovely Honey and Chic Honey.

Then finally a paper swatch from left to right: Chic Honey, Lovely Honey, Flirty Honey and Tender Honey.

These are a welcome addition to any make up kit or handbag if you like shine and the 'Almost' coloured lip look.