It’s been around a while, but I still want to shout about Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush from YSL. It has helped me so much to combat jet-lagged models’ or hungover actors’ dull complexions. Put on top of your moisturiser and under your base - it instantly picks up your skin giving it luminosity. A good beauty investment!
I recently came across the Make Up Store in Westfield (there’s also one on Carnaby Street) on one of my long BBC lunchbreaks.
I love this shop; it’s well laid out, tactile and inviting - you’re encouraged to touch and try the makeup. At the moment they’re giving a way a lovely glossy magazine packed with inspiring makeup looks and practical makeup tips.
I absolutely love the bright pink, blue and purple goat-hair brushes and eye dust in Perfect (purple). I also love the glitter in Scorpio (black), which you can use with their mixing liquid so it doesn’t drop.
Sun has been out and my legs were day glow white, can’t remember the last time my legs and arms saw daylight so had a panic buy of fake tan. I was pleasantly surprised when i used L’oreals new Nutri Summer Body Expertise. It was easy to use, didn’t make me look like an Umpa Lumpea and smelt really nice, not the normal gerbal piss smell. It’s half price at Superdrug at the moment!
Are you feeling like your skin is dull and grey, much like the winter skies? Well worry no more girls, Giorgio Armani have come to the rescue with Radient Pigments in 18. A liquid blush that leaves the skin with a gorgeous, fresh glow. You wont be disapointed!
Forget au naturel. Good Old Hollywood Glam make up is back (hooray), well for evenings at least. Think Scarlett Johansson - Hollywood with a dash of what’s hot now!
Keep base soft & flawless, this can only be acheved with a brush, try Unruly’s Oval Foundation Brush £9.50. Eyes must be feline and sexy, wash a metallic eyeshadow (metallic is still big for Autumn) on the eye lid. Use a liquid eye liner on the top lid with an upwards tick from outer corners. Lashes must be big, 3 coats or more on the outer lashes using tip of wand to elongate eyes, if your lashes aren’t up to it, stick on Mister Mascara false eyelashes available at Boots.
Keep blush light and fresh using a cream blush like St Tropez by Nars. You can also use your Unruly Foundation Brush to apply colour. Lips must be bold, line them with a soft nude lip pencil then fill wth red lipstick.
Glad to see the feline flick keeps making a comeback or perhaps it never really disappeared?
From the bright neon and glitter flick, as worn by Lily Allen to Amy Winehouse’s big brash beatnik or Dita Von Teese’s glam screen goddess flick, this idea to accentuate the eyes takes many forms. It also takes alot of practice and the right tools to get it right.
I like to use MAC Fluidline or their glitter eyeliner or Chanel’s Intense Liquid Eyeliner (all of which are fab) with an angled eyebrow brush or a pointed lip brush.
How to do it:
1 It is easiest to do this at a table, with elbows on the table to steady hands. Look into a mirror that is either on a stand (like a shaving mirror) or one that is lying flat on the table. This angle also helps check the flicks are even.
2 Put a finger at the side of your eye and pull skin taut.
3 With one smooth stroke of the brush, draw a line along your upper lid as close to your lashes as possible - from the inner corner of your eye for a retro look or two thirds along your eye for a more natural look.
4 If you can’t do it in one, stop the line at the outer corner of your eye and then add that extra flick which goes beyond - patch any gaps.
5 You also need to check your face from the side to make sure the flicks look good from all angles.
Going on that last mintue hoilday if you’re a make-up addict you dont want excess weight on your baggage to cost more then your flight ticket. Only the compact and vital beauty aids will do.
MAC Blot Film to de-shine.
Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF 15.
Espa Face Spriz to freshen up skin.
Nars Mutiples a range of gorgeous sheer shades for lips cheeks and eyes, love South Beach & Cannes there’s always room for your Tweezermans and Mister Mascara Heater Eyelash Curlers.
Get your eye lashes tinted with Nadia at Unruly and for the evening Inmitable Waterproof Mascara Chanel
Murad Pomagranet Sheer Lip Tint adds a lovely gloss as well as SPF 15.
Use Muji Stacking Pots to down size all your beauty must haves.
Love the Chanel Purse Spray so you can smell glam whereever you go.
Ok so you’ve probably been wondering why yours truly has been M.I.A for the last 3 weeks….well I’ve been having some well deserved fun in the sun.
While everyone else had to endure nightmare storms and floods, I was enduring scorching 40 degree heat and mini earthquakes in sunny Cyprus!
Normally I don’t do tanning (for fear of the sun’s skin damaging and aging qualities) but somehow this year I gave in to peer pressure and decided that I had to come back a brownie as was expected. While I wanted a lovely golden brown tan I realised that it didn’t have to mean frying myself and risk skin damage or worse……wrinkles! Yikes!
If you’re gonna do it you might aswell do it sensibly, boring as it may sound I know I’ll thank myself one day!
So here are my tips for tanning naturally and safely.
1. Start off by staying in the shade using nothing less than factor 30 - under a tree or umbrella. You can still get a great tan even if you’re not in direct sunlight as the sun’s rays can still catch you (and yes you can still develop a gorgeous colour with factor 30). Never think you are safe in the shade - afew years ago I didn’t use any sun protection and got badly burnt even after sitting under a brolly!!!
2. After a couple of days your skin should be a little more used to the sun. You can reduce your SPF to 25 or 20 depending on how dark your skin is.
3. If you have to expose your skin to the sun do it after 3pm when the rays aren’t so harsh. Remember if your shadow is smaller than you the sun is at it’s most dangerous.
4. Reapply Sunscreens every 3 hours and especially after swimming even if it claims to be waterproof.
5. Use After Sun on your body religiously! Apply at the end of the day especially after showering. This will prolong your tan and replace lost moisture. Use it even when you are back home.
6. For the face only use products specific to the area to avoid too much grease which is more than likely to cause break outs.
Recommended products are Murad’s Age Proof Suncare range, they are oil free but intensely moisturising. Also in this range is the amazing Pomphenol Sunguard Dietary Supplement using the powerful qualities of pomegranates will boost your skin’s natural defenses and help prevent free radical damage.
For the face I’ve been using Murad’s Essential-C range formulated to diminish the signs of extrinsic aging ie. damage to your skin from sunlight exposure, smog, pollution and everyday living. Luckily I purchased the entire range - which includes a cleanser, a toner, 2 treatments, day moisturiser, night moisturiser and an eye cream with SPF 15 - just before I went away. It helps prevent pigmentation and uneven skin tone aswell as keeping wrinkles at bay.
Without these tips and products I’m sure my tan would have faded away by now!
Spots. Inconvenient little buggers aren’t they? Always pop up when you least want want them to; 10 minutes before a hot date, the second you unexpectedly bump into the ex, the day of that all important job interview…..the morning of your best friend’s wedding….grrrrrr
Short of getting a scalpel and cut them off you’ve probably tried everything to get rid of the glowing, little red mountain growing on your chin. I know I have - from walking around with toothpaste smeared all over me, to tea tree oil that stings like a bee, to overpriced spot creams - nothing seemed to work until I tried Murad’s amazing Blemish Cover Gel.
Yeah I know I always go on about how great Dr Murad is but that’s because the man is a genius!
I normally stay away from foundations as I have never found one that didn’t make my skin feel suffocated. This is perfect as not only is it translucent and super light but it’s just enough to give you a flawless finish!
With SPF 15 you get protection aswell as perfection!
