Archive for May, 2010

Daily Shine Control by Elemis – reduce shine and rebalance your skin

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Elemis is the leading luxury British spa and skincare brand – the successful combination of natural active ingredients with cutting-edge technology has enabled Elemis to bring to market some of the most influential skincare products.

If you suffer with oily skin and you want to reduce the shine on your skin before your wedding day, the Elemis Daily Shine Control (RRP £38.00) is definitely a product to try.

Elemis Daily Shine Control is a purifying, treatment moisturiser formulated for oily and combination skins that minimises the appearance of shine and nourishes the skin without stripping it of its natural protective barrier. It contains a highly effective Anti-Seborrheic Phytoamine Biocomplex that contains Amino Acids, Great Burdock and Watercress to help regulate, refine and re-balance the skin. Absolutes of Lavender, Jasmine and Rose combined with the gentle soothing and purifying actions of Silver Birch help prevent breakouts to ensure a clear, shine free complexion and day-long matte finish.

I have combination skin (drier skin on my eyes/cheeks and oily t-zone), so I tested this product on the t-zone area of my face – the first thing I noticed is the divine fragrance of this product – think walking into a luxurious spa – it’s gorgeous. The texture of the product is light – certainly not greasy and is immediately absorbed into the skin, with a lovely matte finish (the last thing that anyone with oily skin wants is a greasy film left on their face)!

My skin stayed matte all day – after testing the product over a period of time, I have definitely had less shine on my t-zone. It is also a great base for makeup and helps prevent your makeup from sliding off during the day.

There are many mattifying products on the market – what it great about the Elemis Daily Shine Control is that not only does it prevent shine, it also re-balances the skin which helps prevent future blemishes.

Order online from www.timetospa.co.uk

Posted in Elemis, Moisturiser, Oily skin | No Comments »

My top tips for applying a self-tan

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

 

Many brides opt for a self-tan on their wedding day – a natural looking golden glow is beautiful with a wedding dress. If someone asks me for advice on this subject, I normally recommend that they visit a professional beauty salon so that a trained beauty therapist can apply the self-tan for them. If you decide to use a salon, I would still recommend a rehearsal before you commit – different salons use different brands and you may prefer one over the other. I would also recommend that you request a light natural glow, rather than a darker colour – remember, the tan will look darker against a light coloured wedding dress.

Another thing to take into consideration is that if you are applying your own makeup on your wedding day, you will need to make sure that you have the right colour foundation to match your tan. If you are having a makeup artist on your wedding day, let them know at the makeup rehearsal that you are planning on having a tan, so they can make sure that they have the right colour base on your wedding day (a good makeup artist should carry a selection of bases with them anyway).

If you do not have the budget to visit a salon to get your self-tan applied, or if you want to do it yourself at home, the first thing you must do is select the brand of fake tan that you want to use. Just as salons use different brands that may deliver different results, the same applies when using self-tan at home. Make sure you start trying different brands at least a few months before (my personal favourite is Fake Bake – I find this works well for me and my skin tone). This way, not only will you find the brand that works best for you, you will also have time to practise, so that when your wedding day comes along, you will be an expert at applying it yourself!

Here are a few basic tips for applying your self-tan:

PREPARE YOUR SKIN:

Exfoliate: It is absolutely essential that you exfoliate your skin well in the shower/ bath before you start. Concentrate on any rough/ dry areas and apply the exfoliator on circular movements over the skin.

Moisturise: Just before you apply your self-tan, apply a small amount of moisturiser to dry heels, feet, knees and elbows (this can be blended when the self-tan is applied .

APPLY YOUR SELF-TAN

Always wear gloves - this will prevent your palms becoming bright orange.

Apply self-tan starting at your neck, working down in small circular motions. Work down your torso, onto your legs, lightly glazing the product over your ankles.

Be sure to blend the product really well over the areas where you had previously applied moisturiser.

For your face, I personally prefer to use a self-tan specifically designed for the face – many major brands make these now and the ingredients are designed for the face and less likely to block your pores.

Wait about 15 minutes before you get dressed.

MAINTAINING YOUR TAN

My best advice is to keep the skin well moisturised with gentle products that are not harsh on the skin.

Photography: www.bdweddingphotography.co.uk , makeup by Sarah Brock

 

 

Posted in Body care, Exfoliator, Self-Tan | No Comments »

Dr. Brandt blemishes no more® spot blotter & concealer

Friday, May 21st, 2010

One of the most skincare common questions I am asked about by brides is how to address oily skin and blemishes.

I constantly give advice on oily skin products, but brides often say that they use the products at home, but then when they go out during the day, they don’t really want to wear foundation (as they want to let the skin breathe), but cannot go without makeup because they want to cover any blemishes they have.

I have found the perfect solution!

The Dr. Brandt blemishes no more® spot blotter & concealer (RRP £21.00) is an instant dual action spot blotter and concealer formulated with Dr.Brandt’s technologically advanced  blemish fighting complex ACTIVE IMPURITY SHIELDTM.

So, you can now cover up your blemishes whilst treating them at the same time.

How does it work?:

1) conceals and instantly improves skin imperfections

2) regulates sebum production and helps dry blemishes

3) prevents impurities from clogging pores

4) promotes faster improvement in the appearance of blemishes

5) Shields skin from future breakouts

What I love about the product is that it comes in a handy little pen size applicator that you can carry in your bag and re-apply throughout the day.

The product glides on to the skin (only apply a small amount) and doesn’t look obvious on the skin. Twist the applicator a small amount and apply a tiny amount to the blemish you want to cover and pat gently with your finger until the product is blended.

Read more about this product and the other product in the ‘blemishes no more’ range at: www.johnlewis.com or www.spacenk.com

Posted in Concealer, Dr. Brandt, Oily skin | No Comments »

Madeline Isaac-James Collection Preview

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Following on from my blog post a few weeks ago with behind the scenes photographs from the fabulous two day shoot for which I created makeup looks for the 2011 Madeline Isaac-James Bridal Collection, here is a preview of one of the campaign shots!

We shot different collections on each day – this shot is from the Starlet Collection, with a 1920’s/ 1930’s feel – it’s gorgeous. It appears here by special permission of the designer. All other pictures are under close guard until the collections’ launch – we shot 30 dresses over the 2 days, so there will be lots of other shots to show you and lots of makeup looks to talk about, but I wanted to share this gorgeous photo with you! 

There are amazing beauty shots which were taken by the fabulous photographer Jonathan ww.weddingsbyryan.com  and these will be the shots I use to break down the makeup looks when they are released, as you will be able to see the makeup ‘close up’!

View more stunning bridal creations at www.madelineisaacjames.com

Posted in Makeup | No Comments »

New Brandied Bronze – Clinique Summer 2010

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

 

New Brandied Bronze, Clinique’s newest Summer 2010 colour collection evokes the sexiness of hot summer days and nights. Cheeks of all skin tones are given a healthy glow without exposure to harmful rays while eyes sparkle in shades that are slightly pearlised and inspired by summertime. And, lips are kept moisturised to combat summer’s harsh heat and dryness. The look is effortless, fresh and in my opinion, perfect for a bride getting married abroad or for a bride getting married in the UK who loves a fresh, pretty look with a hint of colour.

Available at Clinique Counters now, the collection includes:

New Limited Edition Colour Surge Eyeshadow Palette
 (Available in: Brandied Bronze, RRP £22.50)

New Limited Edition Different Lipstick
(Available in: Bronze Leaf, RRP £14.50)

True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer
 (Available in: Sunkissed, RRP £20.00)

Cream Shaper For Eyes
(Available in: Chocolate Lustre, RRP £13.00)

Defining Liner For Lips
(Available in: Sugared Fig, RRP £12.50)

Long Last Glosswear
(Available in Sunset, Bonfire, Air kiss, Fireberry, RRP £13.50)

Lash Power Mascara
(Available in: Black Onyx, RRP £14.50)

For more details, go to www.clinique.co.uk

 

Posted in Bronzer, Clinique, Eye makeup, Eyelashes, Lipstick/ gloss, Makeup, Makeup brushes, Mascara | No Comments »

‘Time to Sparkle’ – a fun slumber party for hens!

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

With the wedding season just around the corner, what better way to spend the last few days of single life than being pampered to perfection at the UK’s original Eco Spa, surrounded by your best girlfriends and a glass of bubbly! Titanic Spa in Huddersfield offers just that with a specially designed Hen Party Package. 

The overnight ‘time to sparkle’package is the ultimate slumber party before a bride’s big day. Get the girls together and stay in one of Titanic’s luxury serviced eco apartments complete with private balcony, kitchen, dining area and plasma screen TV- perfect for chick flick screenings! 

After a restful night of gossip and relaxation, spend the day taking advantage of Titanic’s extensive range of spa facilities including Club Titanic (15m salt regulated swimming pool, hydrozone, steam and sauna rooms and a fully equipped gym) as well as the Titanic Heat experience. After a dip in the pool and a trip to the sauna and steam room, your tummy will undoubtedly be rumbling so head to Titanic’s Bistro for a delicious light lunch. 

As if that isn’t enough, you will then be spoiled to a target massage, a body polish or a taster facial! Leaving you feeling gorgeous and stress free for the big day! 

Prices from £145 Mon – Fri and £165 Sat – Sun. To be the first to hear about the latest offers from Titanic, sign up to their newsletter at www.titanicspa.com 

For bookings or further information on Titanic Spa contact 0845 410 3333 or visit www.titanicspa.com

Posted in Hen night package | No Comments »

GUERLAIN L’OR Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Every bride should wear a makeup base/ primer on her wedding day, to give your makeup the perfect canvas and to also help your makeup stay flawless all day long. There are many different primers/ makeup bases on the market – some are for oily skin and help keep the skin ’shine free’, some are richer for more mature skins and some contain silicone, which will help fill in fine lines and wrinkles.

One of my favourite makeup bases is the GUERLAIN L’OR Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold. Before you even use this product, when you open the box you will love the look/ feel of the bottle, it looks so luxurious – we all love gorgeous packaging!

Gold is the most precious of all metals. Pure, it reflects light in an extraordinary and unfailing way. To light up the complexion, Guerlain has chosen to include pure 24-carat gold in a hydrating smoothing gel. The gold has been fashioned into precious flakes using a unique time-honoured method, to integrate them magically into the gel. As though suspended in the air, the flakes sparkle to reveal their precious treasure: radiance. The complexion is immediately awakened, thanks to the formula’s extreme hydrating action.

Before applying your foundation, take a small amount of gel and smooth it over your face, working outwards from the middle in order to even out creases and smooth lines.

What I love most about this product is that you can achieve a beautiful radiance to your skin which is not greasy. Your skin will feel as though you have ‘overloaded’ it with too many products before you even start applying your makeup. It will enhance the longevity of your makeup on your wedding day and when you see the results it delivers, you will want to use this as your makeup base for a long time to come!

RRP £39 (30 ml) , www.guerlain.com

 

Posted in Guerlain, Makeup base, Primer | No Comments »

Age Management Gel by Dr BRAGI – clean, active, different

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

Many of my brides ask me about anti-ageing products. Some of us see the first signs of ageing before others and finding the right product can often be challenging as many anti-ageing products are designed for very mature skins and tend to be richer, as they are made for a drier skin.

You may be in your mid – late 30’s and want to start using anti-ageing products, but are not sure where to start. I myself like to use anti-ageing products, but because I have combination skin I can get blocked pores (especially on my cheeks) if I use a cream which is too rich.

I have found a wonderful product!

The Dr BRAGI Age Management Marine Enzyme Gel (RRP £120) 

is the signature product in a range developed to combat the signs of ageing. This is an oil-free but intensive moisturiser, which stimulates circulation and cell renewal and even helps to fade wrinkles. 

Anti-ageing products normally promise a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines.  With only one active ingredient, this is a fragrance, chemical and preservative free alternative to the complex cocktail of products often used to combat the signs of ageing. 

The unique anti-inflammatory formulation of Penzyme helps slow the signs of ageing by rejuvenating tired skin and adding moisture.  Radiance comes from within as blood flow is increased providing constant moisture & firmness.  Penzyme helps skin repair itself by encouraging the skin’s defence and regeneration mechanisms, making it suitable for all skin types – so you can enjoy the benefits of a powerful product, without the greasiness of an anti-ageing cream.

There are 3 main reasons why this product is special:

1) Clean -with no unnecessary added ingredients such as perfume, Dr. Bragi is a pure formulation only containing the active marine enzyme required for beautiful skin.

2) Active -scientifically proven marine enzymes really do work. This isn’t another skin care product based on the supposed calming effects of guesswork. After years of trials, Dr. Bragi is a formulation based squarely on science.

3) Different – the difference lies in the proof. You wont find unsupported anecdotal evidence here. Everything to do with the Dr. Bragi formulations is rigorously tested and proven to be beneficial to the skin. If it serves no purpose to the skin, it isn’t among the ingredients.

At last I have a found a gorgeous gel for the face which leaves my skin looking fresher, younger and has made a big difference to the texture of my skin, which looks and feels smoother.

The perfect product for a bride or mother-of the bride, this product will help your skin get into perfect condition for your big day.

Dr BRAGI’s pioneering Marine Enzyme Skincare range is available at www.victoriahealth.com, www.cultbeauty.co.uk and the Bliss Spa London.

Posted in Anti-ageing, Dr Bragi, Moisturiser | No Comments »