Colour Crush - Summer Nails

Treating myself to a mini manicure the other day, a bright sultry coral-red captured my attention on the overflowing shelves. 

Essie Escapades £9.95 - DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free 

  

This colour is a combination of hot pink, bright coral and flaming red, all key colours in this years  spring/summer catwalks. The texture is creamy with a glossy shimmer free finish. Escapades works really well on pale skin tones, this is unusual for a coral colour, what’s more now 6 days in and it is still going strong with minimal chips around the edges.  Since first adornment I can't stop looking at this colour and compliments have been many. The perfect accessory for summer escapades!  

Available at www.lookfantastic.com 

Top Tip

‘Always paint the free edge of the nail, as this is the part of the nail that takes the most impact!  It’s even better if you can paint behind the nail as then it is completely coated and protected’   

Jessica Vartoughian,founder of Jessica Nails 

A London Gem

Walking along the lovely cobbled Avery Row just off South Molton Street, you will stumble across 

Avery Fine Perfumery.

This little perfumery is one of a kind, selling niche perfume brands from Italy and France. With bird inspired décor that meets boudoir glamour you will be surrounded by singing birds and beautiful odors, that take you on a journey to discover your true scent. Feathers to smell with coffee beans in-between to cleanse the palate, the whole experience is pleasurable and fun. 

Avery top tip: 'take your time to discover your true scent, never rush a purchase' 

I fell in love with the Nez A Nez Fiques et Garcons (100ml £105 30ml £42). A gorgeous fresh but deep scent with topnotes of grass, fig leaves and petitgrain, heartnotes of fig and Kiwi with cedarwood, sandlewood and  musk as basenotes.

Avery Fine Perfumery, 27 Avery Row, W1K 4AY averylondon.com 

Top Tip- Protect hair naturally this summer

'Never go into the sea without wet hair! Chemicals in pool and salt water stick to the hair making it dry/brittle and also giving your hair a dull greyish/green cast. Rinse hair in fresh water immediately before and after swimming to prevent this, as chlorine and salt won't absorb when hair is already wet’.  

Lisa Shepherd Haircare Expert

Touch v Touche

Having carried the world-renowned Touch Eclat around with me for years, it has been very interesting trying its recent archrival, only to find surprising differences between the two... 

Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat Complexion Highlighter £ 20.41- 2.5ml

It’s the texture of the beautiful brightening product that makes it such a pleasure to apply. The silky smooth liquid glides on your face, perfect for adding a touch of light or banishing shadows and signs of fatigue from the eye area and to highlight the contour of the lips, the sides of the nose, cheekbones and chin. It is always in my handbag and used most on a night out to instantly revive that dreaded tired look.

Pros: Gives a radiant finish, conceals tiredness and helps contour the face, it is not heavily pigmented, so won’t leave a cakey finish.

Cons: A highlighter rather than a concealer so won’t cover blemishes sufficiently

Active ingredients: Volatile Silicones and Crystaline pigments, light reflecting particles and mineral extracts to eliminate imperfections, blurring fine lines and creating an even glow to your complexion.

How to use: Apply on bare skin or over make-up, then blend with the fingertips.

Available in 4 shades at: www.johnlewis.com

Touche Veloutee by TERRY £33.00 6.5ml

A bit more expensive, but the size means it will last you 3 times longer than Touch Eclat.  It is slightly thicker, however still has a lovely feel and smooth texture, an added benefit is that it gives great coverage and can double up as a concealer, in fact I have used it on blemishes and fine lines and find it gives a better and more subtle coverage than most concealers.  Like Touch Eclat it is great for tiredness under the eyes, however I haven’t found it as good as a highlighter. I will always remember my first use of this product before a night out, I applied it with the brush then my fingers like I would with Touch Eclat and was horrified when light whitish lines where coming up across my face in photos, these hadn’t shown up in the mirror earlier, so for any flash photography I would strongly recommend you work it a little deeper into the skin with a brush.

Pros: Gives fantastic coverage, doubles up as 2 in 1, better value for money.

Cons: Needs to be thoroughly blended into skin to avoid a streaky look, doesn’t quiet get the glow of Touch Eclat, but is the best product out there to get close…

How to use: Apply using either the brush or the fingertips and sweep product over the eye contour and areas required, I recommend a little extra blending in. 

Active ingredients: Little holly, extracts of Liquorice to erase dark circles and eye-bags. Centella Asiatica and extracts of Oriental Berries to protect against oxidative stress. Hyaluronic Acid Filling Spheres to smooth wrinkles and fine lines.

Available in three shades at: http://www.spacenk.co.uk

Spot the difference...

Suffering from blemish prone skin from my teens and still well into my twenties I know a thing or two about what works in the spot busting department.  Here are my favorites for breakouts.

Top Pick

Origins Spot Remover – Anti blemish treatment gel £10.00

This little miracle gel really does do what it says on the bottle, after dabbing on the problem area with a cotton bud it dries into the skin straight away making the blemish less prominent instantly, great while on the go as you can use it under or on top of make up. When used over night your spot will be literally be gone by the morning.

Key ingredients include: salicylic acid, oregano and clove

Available at: www.origins.co.uk

                                            

Surprising discovery

Sudocrem – Antiseptic Healing Cream £2.80

Typically known as a nappy rash cream I was extremely surprised when a friend recommended this to me, but willing to give anything a try, I had a go and have not looked back. It feels extremely soothing when put onto the skin and works wonders on any redness, instantly calming irritations. If you feel a spot coming, dab it to the area and it will not develop. The only downside is that it is white, so noticeable when applied. Cheryl Cole is rumoured to be a fan!

Key ingredients: Zinc Oxide and Balsam of Peru 

Available at: www.boots.com

Natural choice

Nelsons – Pure & Clear Blemish Gel £8.39

I love the way this gel feels on my skin, it is so refreshing and smells good too, it soothes skin irritations and calms breakouts gently. This gel takes more time than the above to for results, but still visibly reduces spot size and redness and feels very healing.

Key ingredients include: Arnica, Tea Tree and Calendula

(Paraben and fragrance free)

Available at: www.hollandandbarrett.com

For on the go

New Witch – Naturally Clear Blemish Pen £5.10

This is a great one for the handbag, as it is a pen and clear gel its easy to apply on the go, like Nelsons it takes longer to be effective, but stops spots developing and soothes straightaway.

Key ingredient:  Witch Hazel

Available at: www.superdrug.com

Hand Saviour On the Go

While rambling along La Rambla on a city break in Barcelona this weekend, I came across the prettiest L’Occitane shop in an early 1900's Art Nouveau building. Barcelona is full of beautiful architecture, everywhere you turn you see something unique.  I just had to pop in and buy my handbag essential.

  

L’Occitane on Rambla Catalunya Barcelona

L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream £17.50 

I don't know about you, but when travelling my hands get totally parched.  I always make sure I have a  mini version of this hand cream to hand. Beautifully scented this cream sends me drifting to the south of France,  with extracts of honey, almond and coconut oil blended with 20% shea butter the texture is so rich and luxurious even the driest of hands are instantly softened and smoothed, to top it off it sinks into the skin really quickly, in fact I have never noticed any trace of residue or grease.  For general use I find one application lasts a whole day, for super soft hands use twice a day.
Available at:  http://uk.loccitane.com

Beauty Sleep & Relaxation - Product of the Week

The award winning Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil £37.00

This is one of my all time favorites, as soon as you smell this amazing bath oil you feel a sense of calm. I use it to soak away a long day or simply to unwind and instantly feel peaceful and relaxed. Often finding it hard to get to sleep I and have tried various homeopathic remedies to help with no avail. A small dab of this wonder oil on my pillow and I am sent into a deep peaceful sleep almost straight away. It is truly remarkable! 

The Deep Relax Bath Oil is made with a pure blend of intensely therapeutic essential oils that include: comforting sandalwood, grounding vetivert and soothing camomile.



Available at: www.aromatherapyassociates.com

Facial Magic with Acupuncture

Rumoured to be a treatment popular with celebs such as Angelina, Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, facial acupuncture is fast becoming a facial trend. I recently tried a treatment and was very impressed. Post treatment my face felt thoroughly invigorated and had a radiant glow.

Benefits: Cosmetic facial acupuncture helps the skin regenerate its natural tone as it stimulates collagen production and encourages healthy cell growth. It is relaxing and holistic alternative to more invasive treatments and claims to clear persistent spots/blemishes, reduce redness, lessens and fine lines. The main reason I tried it is to clear persistent spots around my jaw line and to also help prevent fine lines that are appearing across my forehead.

Procedure: Extra fine needles were gently placed on key points across my face as well as certain body organs such as the liver to aid detoxing. I was then told to relax for 15mins, during that time my face became warm and tingly the sensation was of blood rushing to my cheeks. Once the needles were removed my face was massaged quite deeply, to encourage circulation, this wasn’t a relaxing massage, but felt extremely invigorating.

Results: The whole procedure was relatively painless, I could feel a slight tingle here and there when the needles were being inserted and removed. My skin was glowing for a whole week afterwards and generally felt more plump and firm, my spots have been a lot better since, however I can’t notice much difference on my forehead yet.

A course of 6 treatments is usually recommended. I have already booked my next one and will keep you posted on how I am finding them.

Available by www.hannaevans.co.uk at http://www.fulhamosteopaths.co.uk - prices start from £65 for 45mins

Blitz Rouge

You can't go to a blitz party without the all time 1940's beauty sellout, red lipstick. The one handbag essential that achieves instant glamour. While preparing my friends hen at the fabulous ‘Blitz Party’ in Shoreditch this weekend, I came across a few rouge beauty essentials. 

Lips: A Bargain Find

Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick Crimson - Boots £1.99

Having never worn red lipstick before with the belief that my lips wouldn’t carry it off, I decided to buy the cheapest lipstick on offer for a one off use. This lipstick is amazing, it felt soft and smooth on my lips, gave off lovely shine, texture and colour and lasted all night,  such a fab find for a small budget. I have now been converted with my red lips to the ready…

   Nails: A classic must have

Jessica Classic Beauty – Jessica Nails £9.75                 

I am a big fan of this colour and have worn it for many years, it gives of a lovely rich subtle flash of colour and works with any outfit. Slightly on the pricey side, but lasts forever especially if you keep it in the fridge. I have found that Jessica polishes don’t tend to chip for the first 4 days and have a gorgeous luxurious smooth texture.