Tuesday 27 September 2011

Distinction Drawn

Absolutely loving the New Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner collection, designed to offer a rich yet structured finish that lasts, this gorgeously creamy smudge proof eyeliner is true to its word giving a bold concentrated colour that stays put all day long.
Available in 9 beautiful shades £17 each, I fell for Via Appia (2nd from right), a beautiful coppery brown with shimmering gold under tones, one to suit all eye colours. The perfect accessory to give a bit of shimmer and lift to this seasons smokey eye.

Available at: narscosmetics.co.uk

Monday 19 September 2011

Dehydration = Oily Skin

Last week a friend and I had a very indulgent evening at the Mandarin Oriental Spa, where we treated ourselves to the gorgeous Soothing Ritual, an uplifting full body exfoliation and ultra relaxing yet tension busting massage followed by a soothing Aroma Facial. One hour and fifty mins of pure bliss… 

A Very Interesting Tip By My Therapist 
When asked my skin type I instantly said oily as lately it seems to have been getting worse spreading from the t-zone area. My therapist explained that this is because I am dehydrated, I have always associated dehydration with dry skin, so questioned her about this, she explained how the skin becomes oily when dehydrated as the oil production increases to rehydrate the skin.  Apparently dehydrated skin is through lack of moisture, while dry skin is from a lack of oil production to keep it moisturized.
I have looked into this further and indeed found that the amount of oil your skin produces is directly tied to the hydration of your skin. In short, all skin types, including those with oily or normal skin, are susceptible to dehydration. More concerning is that dehydration contributes to ageing, increasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!

If you have oily skin this doesn’t mean you need to lather your skin in moisturizing products, to rehydrate, as that will simply clog your pores and cause breakouts, still stick to products that are oil friendly. With the winter months drawing in and central heating looming, the key is to hydrate internally and make sure you have plenty of moisture in the air around you.
5 Top Tips  
How to Keep Skin Hydrated At All Times:
1. Drink at least 64 ounces of water each day to retain moisture and to hydrate the body internally so it moisturizes externally.

 
2. Apply a moisturizer to the skin after a shower to help lock in moisture and water.  
3. Limit the skins exposure to factors that will dry it out such as hot showers, heating, sun and  extremely dry weather.
4. Use a humidifier especially during cold winter months when the skin is exposed to central heating and if you have electric heaters, which are a key culprit, always pop a bowl of water underneath them to ensure there is still moisture in the room.
5. Avoid ingredients such as Mineral Oil, Petroleum and Petrolatum in your moisturizer as they can suffocate the skin and clog pores.

Monday 12 September 2011

Happy Feet - Nibble, Nibble, Giggle, Giggle…

At dinner last week a friend was raving about a fish pedicure and how her feet had never felt so soft etc, etc.  To my amazement my fiancée immediately jumped into the conversation with "I want to give it a go", must have been all my nagging about his not so soft feet!  Not sure if he was serious, but thinking it would be fun,  I booked us a Sunday foot nibbling session.

Fish therapy dates back to the 1800’s originating from Turkey, where they were discovered in naturally occurring hot springs and spa pools. Belonging to the carp family these fish have no teeth and are renowned for their ability to find and feed on dead or damaged areas of the skin. Fish nibbling treatments claim to naturally exfoliate the skin leaving it softer and smoother, improve circulation and alleviate eczema and psoriasis.

The Experience:
Plunging our feet into a tub full of hungry fish didn’t seem quite right to begin with, as soon as your feet hit the water they start nibbling! I have never been ticklish, but on this instance the giggles overcame me,  my fiancée on the other hand took it all very seriously and was surprisingly calm and relaxed. After about 5 minutes you get used to the sensation, it actually feels like a soothing foot massage, which I  would describe as small but powerful water jets being aimed at your feet rapidly.  The fish seemed to favour one foot over the other, so I took one out now and then to entice them to the other. Once my 25 minutes were over I actually didn’t want to leave this lovely warm water pool full of fish massaging my feet.
Tips:
To target the heals more intensely I would recommend dipping your heals in rather than the whole foot for a good 5 minutes, this is something I didn't do enough, but will definitely be trying next time. I also noticed that it helps to move your feet around now and then, as they can get a bit lazy and drift off, so this encourages them back to the area.

Results:
The bottom of my feet didn’t feel as smooth as expected, a thorough file and exfoliation tends to work better on me, however it worked really well around my nail beds and cuticles, where dry skin was looser and more accessible, my feet did however feel extremely invigorated and refreshed. I had a Fab Fish Pedi Treatment costing £48 for 55mins that included a leg/foot massage, file and polish, so on leaving the lovely Fab Fish salon with gorgeous Essie Lollipop adorning my toes, my feet felt and looked damn good!  This treatment is the perfect prep for post flip flop feet, sending them pampered and preened into winter boot hibernation.

Available at: http://www.fabfishandbeauty.com who offer 10% off  treatments from Tues-Thurs

Friday 2 September 2011

My Handbag Essentials

There's a reason I have such a big bag....




From the left:  
Eve Lom Hand Cream SPF 10 £22.00 -  Nourishingly rich, yet easily absorbed, for silky smooth and protected hands.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne £36 30ml -  A divine mix of patchouli, frankincense and spicy woods. Seductive and utterly compelling , my new favourite scent!

Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat Complexion Highlighter £ 20.41- Instantly revives a dull face, adding subtle glow while hiding signs of fatigue.

Dr Hauschka Pure Care Cover Stick £16.95 - A must for quick cover ups, natural active ingredients  also help heal imperfections.

Laura Mercier Baby Doll Lip Glace £18.50 - Just the right dose of colour, for a brilliant gloss and a touch of sparkle. 

Clarins Gel Eye Contour Gel  £20.99 - A truly amazing gel that refreshes a visibly and de-puffs the eye area, diminishing circles. Can be re-applied over make up during the day.

Origins Spot Remover £10.00 - Stop an outbreak while on the go with this transparent super spot zapper. 

Eve Lom Kiss Mix £14.00 - Inject a moisture boost for a gorgeous shine and kissable, soft, protected lips.

Central: 
Clarins Blush Prodige, Miami Pink £24.00 - A brush of warm soft pink providing a much needed glow, comes with a very handy compact mirror and brush.