All that glitters

In the US I also came across 'butter London', a Seattle based nail brand and one the first companies to sell non toxic nail polishes. Highly respected within the US for their 3 Free (non-toxic) nail lacquers all spared from harmful ingredients such as Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP or Parabens.

I adore this glittering red colour called 'Chancer', a gorgeous rich ruby red that is lifted with sparkling shimmer particles, it reminds me of Dorothy's Ruby shoes in the Wizard of OZ, I will most certainly be wearing this one for a bit of razzle dazzle at Christmas parties this year. 

It is smooth and easy to apply, gives an even coat and holds well on the nail and while some glitter polishes can become dull when dry, this one retains a good shine. I would recommend 2 coats for the perfect coverage.

Still relatively small in the UK with limited stockists   that include lookfantastic.com and Debenhams, butter London is one to look out for: http://www.butterlondon.com

Sugar & Spice...

While in the US I came across this delicious gloss by Mac, it is part of the New winter Glitter & Ice collection launching in the UK this month. Dazzleglass Dressed to Dazzle is an gorgeous translucent soft pink gloss with glittering pearl light reflecting particles that exude a brilliantly glossed hot three dimensional look.

Non sticky and light weight it glides on you lips effortlessly leaving them feeling soft, full and brilliantly dazzling. 

Available at in 17 shades at: http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk

PS: it smells of yummy vanilla 

An Autumn Palate

As winter comes upon us my eye palate seems to have automatically gone into an autumn bronze frenzy. A favourite find is this new gorgeous Laguna eye shadow quad by New CID. Consisting of 4 complimentary colours, packed with ultra-soft pigments that offer lovely rich smooth light reflecting colour. Love the way you can achieve both subtle and sultry with just this one palate.

                             i-tip: after applying i-shadow mix the darker shade with a little water to create a matching liquid liner! 

£21.50 Available at www.newcidcosmetics.com

New in town

Wow, check out the stunning brand new Aromatherapy Associates boutique and treatment rooms just opened in the heart of Knightsbridge. 

The boutique reveals a window for the entire collection of Aromatherapy Associates, famed for their Bath & Shower Oils, body oils, creams, skincare and gifting collections. Set against a decadent background of warm grey tones, mirrored walls and quirky touches that include a chandelier designed on the iconic Bath & Shower Oil bottles, the boutique provides a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere where you can browse, try mini-treatments and generously sample products.

Downstairs offers luxurious but cosy treatment rooms, where you’ll find a results-driven treatment menu, offering classic and deeply powerful aromatherapy massage techniques for the body and radiance-inducing facials for the skin.

Hair Wonder Mist

I have just discovered Phytomist an instant hydrating conditioner and I'm loving it! This all in one wonder-mist containing Lotus flowers to help hold in moisture and Hydrolyzed Keratin to coat and repair hair, is designed to preserve hair colour, hydrate hair fibres, restore suppleness and add shine, to top all that off it has a natural sunscreen derived from sunflower extract. My hair isn't thick but I have lots of it, so brushing through it when wet is a nightmare, I also don't like to apply too much product as find doing this makes my hair heavy and sometimes greasy. What I love about Phytomist is that it is such a light spray yet so effective,  with just a few spritz's I can glide my brush through my hair effortlessly, it is protected when blow dried and feels light, smooth and soft for the rest of the day. 

For best results: 

• Use on clean towel dried hair.
• Spray liberally over your entire head 
• Phytomist can also be used on hair ends between shampoos.
• It is a leave in conditioner so doesn't need to be rinsed off.                     

 £14.50 - 125ml Available at:  http://www.lookfantastic.com

When in Ibiza...

Last weekend the man and I went on a little trip to the beautiful island of Ibiza, for a relaxing break in search of some late summer sun. We had also arranged to have our engagement shots. Slightly extravagant I know, but as our photographer convieniently lives there part of the year, we simply couldn't resist! More to come on the shoot in later posts, but firstly I have to share this little gem, The Giri Residence - Ibiza Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa. 

A new gorgeous boutique hotel and spa on the stunning north side of the island, set in serene countryside just backing on to the lively but tiny village San Juan,  this retreat is exquisitely designed with 5 beautiful suite rooms, a super relaxing spa, amazing service, (no children allowed) and a generous daily replenishment of lovely Ren products. The ultimate quick getaway for an indulgently relaxing weekend. 

   

http://www.thegiri.com

New in stores next week

Hitting stores next Tuesday, Eve Lom's new super triple action Eye Cream designed to help to lock in moisture, diminish dark circles and reduce puffiness to the delicate eye area. I have been lucky enough to try this gorgeous cream and must say it is a pleasure to use. Rich and silky in texture, yet it absorbs into the skin immediately and feels extremely soothing. My eyes have looked less tired and definitely felt more nourished. I am looking forward putting the rest of the pot to good use, which judging by its generous size will last a rather long time. 

Key active ingredients  include:

* Sodium Hyaluronate helps to

improve hydration

* Polysaccharides extracted from

Larch Trees moisturises the

eye area

* Jiaogulan helps to enhance

blood circulation and reduce

puffiness

* Age defying Peptides help firm

and tone the delicate eye area

* Extracts of Swiss Garden Cress

help create an even skin tone
£48.00 for 20ml Available at: www.evelom.com

Anti Age Event

Recently I attended a very interesting evening event on anti ageing by Dr Andrew Douglas a non surgical specialist in anti ageing, who also works for the NHS on reconstruction patients. Whilst he works a lot with botox and fillers, it was very refreshing to hear that he believes less is more with the approach that anti-ageing treatments should be used subtly to slow down the ageing process, rather than trying to look 10 years younger all in one go. While Botox and fillers don’t really appeal to me at the moment, I was fascinated with the DermaRoller treatment, also known as skin needling. Using medical hand-rollers covered with micro acupuncture like needles, it is said to effectively and naturally stimulate collagen production leading to visibly reduced wrinkles and scars, as well as increasing skin firmness. One I am keen to try in preparation for my big day, let the countdown begin… 

For further information on Dr Andrew Douglas visit: www.andrewdouglas.md

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 (2^nd 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

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.

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

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.

Myth: Oil based products congest the skin – True or False

People with oily/combination complexions tend to be scared of  using oils within their skincare regime. I most certainly was, thinking they would make my skin oilier, clog pores and cause spots. Well, its time to hold off that oil ban as certain essential oils prove to have quite the opposite effect, actually benefiting problematic skin. 


Geraldine Howard founder of Aromatherapy shares her wisdom to break this myth, revealing the true benefits: 

“In reality oils can have the opposite effect. During my years of working as a therapist, I have found that facial oils containing certain essential oils can be extremely effective in helping to actually regulate oily skin and heal outbreaks. You  simply have to be clever when choosing a product.

While Oils such as wheatgerm, evening primrose, avocado and peach kernal are all rich and nourishing, they are better for dry rather than oily skin. Instead choose products that contain jojoba oil, which is technically a wax and can be used to gently cleanse and remove natural oils and dirt. Equally essential oils such as lemon have an evaporative effect on the skin, drying the skin by drawing moisture out, while binding sebum and helping to dispense of it. Lavender essential oil has both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which are excellent for oily skins prone to outbreaks. When combined with ylang-ylang essential oil, which helps regulate the level of sebum produced by your skin, these oils are highly effective skin care products for oily skin

In many ways, oil based products are a far better way to deal with oily skin than soap based cleansers which are too harsh as they completely strip it of its natural oils, when this happens the skin strived to replace it, causing sebum production to go into overdrive making the problem worse.”

Goodbye Brass - Hello Blonde!

Having had highlighted hair for many years, I desire cool fresh blonde tones, which are usually achieved on leaving the hairdresser. Sadly though this colour never lasts, disappearing after a just two weeks and turning into a brassy mess. As a rescue measure, a trip to the hairdresser for a toner has sometimes been necessary, again this wouldn’t last and wasn’t cheap. I am delighted to share my recent colour rescue discovery, a duo that actually work and can be used at home whenever necessary. 

The Aveda Blue Malva Colour Shampoo (£23.00) and Conditioner (£18.50). Containing natural blue malva pigments to take out yellow tones, they work on all hair colours to neautralises brass (yellow/orange tones). Used together just twice a week you can say goodbye to brass and hello to clean, cool, bright blonde!

Other blue pigmented shampoos have also been tried, while they work to brighten blonde, I have found they make my hair very dry and brittle. Over years of trial and error I have found Aveda Blue Malva to be the only blue pigmented product to brighten, nourish and add moisture all at the same time. Not only is it a colour fix it leaves you with lovely soft locks. 

For best effect: 

Apply the conditioner to your hair that has been shampooed with Blue Malva. 

Comb through.

Leave in hair for 2-5 minutes.

Rinse Thoroughly.

Available at: http://www.shoprush.co.uk/brand/Aveda who currently offer up to 25% off Aveda products 

Gold Finger - New Chanel Peridot

Check out this super glam shimmering gold polish launching in the UK this month by Chanel. Part of the new 2011 Autumn/Winter Illusions d’Ombres Collection, Peridot  is a super reflective fusion of gold with gorgeous green undertones that captures the light beautifully exuding a soft irridesent sheen. With a smooth light texture it doesn’t gather or clump, so unlike most metalic polishes Peridot gives great even coverage in just one coat.

The perfect colour to brighten up a winter outfit and flash some glam at Christmas parties this year!

Priced around £17.00  -  for stockists go to: http://www.chanel.com/en_GB

Sun Protection - A Natural Alternative

With the lovely natural Dr Hauschka sun care range permanently off our shelves due to new EU standards, it’s hard to come across a good natural sun cream these days. I have however finally found a replacement that is just as good, if not better.

Green People SPF 25 Organic Sun Lotion Water resistant offers UVA/UVB protection. It is a medium level natural sun care for fair complexions and offers 96% protection, a great cream for day to day use over the summer months.

With Titanium dioxide, natural Cinnamic acid and Edelweiss extract for UVB and UVA protection, Green People lotions also contain antioxidants and anti inflammatory ingredients along side skin vitamins A, C and E (Green Tea, Olive, Avocado and Rosemary extract) to help support the skin's immune system and protect against cell damage while retaining moisture for a long lasting tan.

Free from parabens, lanolin, phthalates, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals and colourants, that can cause clogged pores, prickly heat and skin reactions the lotion suits all skin types, even those with allergies.

I went natural a few years ago as my skin would sometimes react to high street sun-creams with a hot red rash on my chest and unpleasant spot break outs. When I first used Green People I found it a bit thick in texture and was worried it would leave a white film on my skin, however if you take your time and rub it in well it will melt into the skin without leaving a trace. While using the SPF 25 I have never burnt, but still achieve a nice light golden tan and as it feels so nourishing I have sometimes even used it in replacement to my normal daily moisturizer. It has a soft delicate fragrance, but make sure you keep it out of heat and direct sunlight, as it can go off quite quickly, you can usually tell this by the smell becoming slightly musty.

Directions: Pour 30ml sunscreen into your cupped palm then apply to body 30 minutes before exposure to sun then every 2 hours or after swimming.

Did you know:

‘SPF30 sunscreens do not offer twice the protection of SPF15... Applied properly, SPF15 filters out 93% of UVB rays, while SPF30 filters out 97%. Even the highest SPF100 only offers 99% protection against UVB rays. “It is far more important to apply sun lotions regularly and liberally.” Green People

Price £17.95 Available at: www.greenpeople.co.uk