Across the Pond....

Mahogany Teakwood

I love America. Vegas is one of my all time favourite places. And America sure does beauty bumf well.

Today it is all about Bath & Body Works.

I have long been a fan of their super cute purse friendly hand sanitizers, but when my parents ventured across the pond this Summer it was a candle that was top of my list.

Mahogany Teakwood is described as a cozy blend of mahogany, cedarwood and oak, highlighted by delicate lavender and geranium notes.

Sounds lovely doesn't it. TBH my nose and sense of smell isn't too sophisticated. One thing I do know for sure, this is Abercrombie in a bottle. 

B.E.A.Utiful

Close your eyes and smell the candle and you could be in Abercrombie (we all know how dark it is in there, so it really isn't that much of a stretch!). 

A candle that smells like a hot sexy man? Yes please!

I have three of the mini candles, and it does take quite a while for the smell to spread around the room, and I live in a small flat!

So the 3 wick candle is #1 on my Christmas list at the moment.

Available from Bath and Body Works 

And for those stuck in the UK, good ole' trust Ebay

Back to Basics

Beauty Myths

Wives tales; the industry itself; things our mothers taught us; things our grandmas taught us. There is such a plethora of so called beauty ‘truths’ floating around it’s hard to keep track. So, I'm here to dig a little deeper into these myths and clear up some commonly held misconceptions.

1. Oil likes Oil

TRUE

One of the worst things you can do to oily skin is to strip it. It will simply rebel and produce more oil. The high street is a big culprit in this one. Those ‘anti acne’, ‘anti blemish’ foaming cleansers they like to push are not good for your oily prone skin. Put the bottle down and step away. These harsh stripping cleansers destroy the acid mantle which protects your skin, thus making an alkaline environment on your face- a breeding ground for spots. Whilst using oil based makeup products may make your face shiny throughout the day it is a-okay to use oil in parts of your skincare. A general chemical rule of thumb is that like dissolves like. So oil will help dissolve the daily oily grime that can build up on your skin. This is where balm cleansers rule the roost. I would recommend using an oil based cleanser and night time oil treatment but oil-free moisturizer and makeup, if you have oily skin. Good, light, plant oil won’t clog your pores, will nourish and hydrate your skin and won’t break you out. Not all oils are good oils though. Avoid mineral oil. 

2. You need to cleanse, tone and moisturize

FALSE

Again we may have the industry to blame for this one. Or our mothers. Toners were traditionally used to remove the last scraps of makeup cleansers left behind. This was back in the day when cleansers weren’t adequate enough to do the job by themselves. They were meant to ‘tone’ the skin. In reality this meant the high alcohol/witch hazel content dried out the epidermis and tightened the skin. But times have a changed. So in the old school sense no you do not need to tone. But now there are plenty of new and exciting ‘toners’ that you should be adding to the mix. The new kids on the block have three main functions; balancing, exfoliating and hydrating. A good toner will reset the balance of your skin. Exfoliating toners are my personal favourite. Containing acids (glycolic, salicylic or lactic) they gently chemically resurface the skin. This is the most effective way to unplug pores without the use of tangible beads, such as apricot kernels. Note: No one should be exfoliating with apricot kernels. A hydrating toner will attract moisture from the air and trap it in the top layers of the skin. And no a water spray will not do the same thing. Our bodies cannot absorb water on their own, or baths and showers would be pretty dangerous to us. In fact water sprays (like the one produced by Evian) actually dehydrate the skin further as the moisture in the air attracts the moisture on your skin and pulls it away. So no, you don’t need your mum or grandma’s version of a toner, but the 21^st century ones? They’re pretty good.

3. You can’t be oily and dehydrated

FALSE

A huge false. Somehow an idea has spread that oily skin does not need to use moisturizer. Not quite sure who to point the finger of blame on this one. But it is just simply not true. At all. I can’t stress this enough. Oil and moisture are not the same thing. The number one skin condition is dehydration. We are almost all dehydrated yet many of us don’t know it. Be it the good ole’ British weather, central heating, air conditioning, lack of hydration, whatever, dehydrated skin plagues most of us. Whereas oily and dry are skin types (generally something you are born with) dehydration is a skin condition that can affect any skin type. Skin may look oily and be breakout prone but can still feels tight and dry. Makeup can go patchy throughout the day; this is because the skin is so thirsty that it absorbs water wherever it can, even from your foundation. My advice would be to use a hydrating serum and oil free moisturizer. Simples.

4. It is possible to shrink your pores

FALSE

Pores are not doors. I love that saying. But you cannot open and close them. They are not muscles. They are what they are I’m afraid. They may look more ‘open’ or ‘closed’ depending on the level of gunk that is inside them. Dirt, dead skin and oil can build up making the pores appear larger. Regular exfoliation will help keep the follicle nice and clean, meaning the pores won’t appear so large. Salicylic acid is key here. Look for it in your cleanser, toner and masks. Brands who claim to leave you poreless are lying. Pore size is genetic. Oily skinned kin I’m afraid we are stuck with them. As we age the skin around the pores loses its firmness. This lack of support from the surrounding tissues may make the pore appear larger. Despite what your facialist, or mother told you, steam will not open your pores. It will simply help shift the layer of dirt. So you can’t banish them completely. But you can control and disguise them with a good skincare routine.

5. Beauty products have an expiration date

TRUE

Just like the food you keep in the fridge your skincare and makeup products have a shelf life. The expiration date depends on the products. However, unlike your groceries cosmetic brands generally don’t put ‘use before’ stickers slap bang in the centre of their products. But they are there. While there’s no hard and fast expiration date rule most products carry an icon that looks like a little jar or tube with a number in it. That number refers to the number of months the product is considered safe after opening. For things like mascara that can be as little as three months, whereas skin care products can last for twelve. Sunlight and heat can shave the time off a product’s life. Top tip- keeping your products in the bathroom may have ease of convenience but all that heat and moisture degrades the ingredients. Many products can expire even while in their original, sealed packaging, and once you first tear it open the clock is ticking. To keep things as healthy as possible use cotton buds instead of your fingers to retrieve product, keep in a cool, dry place and if something seems dried out or has been in your stash for longer than you can remember throw it out. As with any relationship you have to know when to say goodbye. Excuse me, I need to go to a bit of spring beauty cleaning.

Spotlight On...

Antioxidants

In many ways antioxidants are like the super heroes of the skin care world. They kick (neutralize) free radical ass, those wrinkle-causing bad guys produced by sunlight, stress, air pollution and other environmental factors. Think of what a cut apple looks like after being left out for a few minutes. 

Antioxidants act like a squeeze of lemon juice.

If you think that 90% of ageing is caused by Antioxidants you get the gist of their importance.

They are heralded in the industry for both their preventative and reparative powers. We are encouraged to slather them on both our skin and salads. The ultimate skin food.

Some researchers have even suggested that Antioxidant-based products are more important than SPFs in fighting ageing and cancer. Vitamins A, C and E are earning their stripes as the skin care big guns.

While there’s no shortage of research and results illustrating the benefits of Antioxidants the issue is more problematic than it seems. Scientists are arguing that for Antioxidants oxygen is their kryptonite. According to some the moment you open your jar of moisturiser or pump your cleanser and the product comes into contact with air the potency of the ingredients are lost.

Revolutionary new skincare range Radical also argue that multiple Antioxidants are required to fight the numerous types of free radicals. According to them there are five types of Free Radicals and using the one or two Antioxidants present in most products is simply not enough. Furthermore, they claim that when Antioxidants are combined with reparative ingredients in skincare they break down and lose their power, rendering them mere humans when it comes to protecting your skin from Free radical assault. Radical have pioneered a new technology named Trylacel™ which effectively encapsulates the Antioxidants preserving their potency. Radical products are jam packed with 15 Antioxidants. Their hero Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum was tested by a USDA lab and was proven to be 300% more potent in antioxidant protection than leading brands. Its effects on sun damage certainly make it worthy of a cape and a sidekick. However, the moisturizers are in jars- not exactly air tight (they say that the Trylacel protects the antioxidants so they don't need air tight packaging).

For the time being all of this is still speculation. The exact details are still being argued out by the masterminds (scientists). In the mean-time by all means carrying on using your products but don’t put your skin’s life in the hands of these creams. Be skin care savvy. A very common myth skincare companies have spread is that Retin-A makes skin more susceptible to sunlight. The truth is Retin-A degrades in the sun- making the product ineffective. That is why they are not recommended for daytime use.

Companies would have to jump many a hurdle to rebrand their products into airless packaging- watch out and applaud the ones who do. Don’t give up on proper sun care; it is your best hope for long reigning happy skin. And remember, beauty does come from within- even if their effectiveness in skincare is being questioned antioxidants are still essential – satisfy your snack attack and keep your skin healthy in one, eat them.

And if you can afford the purse crippling prices give Radical products a go they are Ah-mazing.

Available from Space NK.

Bargain Beauties

Maybelline 24 hr Colour Tattoo

After yesterday's ode to the opulence that is By Terry, I thought today I would share with you a little cheaper choice.

Maybelline's Colour Tattoos are pots of cream/gel goodness.

The colours really do pack a punch and are pretty fool proof to apply. The thick and creamy consistency is long wearing and doesn't crease. 

I wear my personal favourite, On and On Bronze, on a daily basis, to add a little polish to my otherwise just rolled out of bed look.

Simply buff into the lid with your finger. The Lazy Girl's guide to makeup.

I recently also picked up Pomegranate Punk and Timeless Black.

Now, I'm not normally one to go for a black smokey eye, I prefer me some bronzey, brown hues. I use Timeless Black as a base for my powder shadows, and boy does it amp up the volume, helping add a vibrancy to other colours. However, if you are a fan of a dark, dramatic smokey eye this could be right up your street! It is worth noting that this colour does apply a little patchy, which was fine for me as I tend to use it as a base, but if not it can take a little time to build up the colour and I would suggest using a brush not your pinkies for this one. 

Pomegranate Punk is a metallic plum/crimson colour that looks amazing underneath a few of the shades in the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, YDK, Toasted and Hustle I'm looking at you. I am tres excited (how sad am I) to get more use of this come Autumn/Winter. If you have green or blue eyes you need this in your life! 

Whilst they are the creme de creme of highstreet cream eyeshadows they are not quite as sophisticated (or special) as By Terry's offerings. 

Whilst the three I own sure have surpassed my expectations with flying colours I'm not going to lie some of the other colours look quite scary and I've heard the ease of application and level of pigmentation depends on the shade. 

Still, a perfect purse-friendly purchase to perk up those peepers. Oh alliteration how I love thee.

£4.99 Available from Boots and Superdrug 

Luxe Love

By Terry Ombre Blackstar Review

'All night long, all night, all night, all night long'

Trust me, you won't be able to stop yourself waxing (or singing) lyrical about today's little beauties.

By Terry is one of my favourite French Fancies. The brand oozes opulence. Terry de Gunzburg launched By Terry in 1998 after 15 years as Yves St Laurent’s makeup designer (it was she who designed the eponymous Touche Eclat). Oh la la. 

Cream eye shadows in stick form that last all night. Seriously, they'll out last anyone one of you in the party stakes. The longest wearing cream shadow I have ever tried, you get the gist. 

As easy as 1,2,3...twist up the bullet, swipe and blend and you're good to go. I do love me some effortless beauty. 

Buttery soft, check

Blends like a dream, check

Pigmented, check

(Did I mention long lasting? Anyway that too is a check)

Forget finding the man of your dreams, this is the shadow stick of your dreams. It glides on the lids, not pulling or tugging. It can be used all over either as an intense colour or soft sheen and can also be worn as a liner. 

I have three colours; Beyond Gold, Velvet Orchid and Misty Rock

Beyond Gold is exactly what it says on the tin, a beauts gold foil-like colour

Velvet Orchid is a deep, dark, delectable plum colour

Misty Rock is a pinky/purpley mauvey colour with a GORGEous metallic finish

I have blue/green eyes and all three of these colours make my pupils pop. But Terry's treasure trove of shadows will have your back whatever your eye colour.

Can anyone say swoon?

These sticks are definately worth the splurge, I for one can't stop serenading these babies, so why not treat your lids to a bit of luxury. 

At £27.50 a pop let your eyes flash the cash.

Effortless beauty 101 complete.

Available exclusively from Space NK

Back to Basics

Water, Water everywhere 

....nor any drop to drink.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Sending any shivers of terror down any English A level student's backs? One of the most wrongly quoted quotes and tediously long poems.

Anyway, I digress.

I was fortunate enough to meet the American Dermatologist who has products to solve any concern your complexion is facing, with the perfect prescription for pretty skin.

And what he was saying was really skinnnovative (haha).

Dr Muard made me do a complete 180 on what I thought about water and hydration. To cut a long story short after a trip to Ayia Napa in year 13 (shout out to any of my Briggstowners reading this) when I was convinced I had sun stroke and had to drink enough water to flush it out my system (in reality I was probably just hung over), I have been obsessed with water.

Me and my best friend have coined the phrase 'the point of no return', the horrific headache you get from not being hydrated enough. To me hydration is my first litre of water upon waking up, my second by lunch time and my third by the time I go to bed.

8 glasses? Blah, more like 20.

The fact that I am constantly needing to pee aside I don't always feel that hydrated, I can still get headaches and my skin still suffers from dehydration.

According to Dr Murad the recommended 8 glasses of water originated from a study in the 1940s- so it is in more than a little need of updating.

Dr Murad claims (in his lurvely American accent may I add) that you should eat your water not drink it.

Think of it like a plant (my analogy here- so sorry Dr Murad if it's not quite right). Give a plant with that dry, cracked soil you get from negligence to plants (guilty) a whole lot of water at once, and it may soak it in like there's no tomorrow but, it won't change the texture of that soil. 

What i'm trying to say is that downing glasses of water mostly leads to incessant trips to the toilet. Get your hydration from fruit and veg for a more sustainable source, plus you'll get all the other benefits from veggies, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to name a few. Cucumber and watermelon are both 97% water so great thirst quenching, skin saving options. 

Dr Murad has studied the science of cellular water and he believes that the key measure of health is the cell's ability to hold water. Ergo, if we build stronger cells, through hydration, we can fight disease and reverse the signs of ageing. 

Hydrated cells will help with everything from dryness, fine lines and wrinkles to blemishes and scarring.

Hydration. The fountain of youth. 

Time to go stock up on the watermelon I'd say.....

The Non-NK Negotiables

Origins Out of Trouble Mask

I’m not sure how many of you know this but I currently work part time at Space NK. This is very dangerous for my bank balance, working there is quite literally like being a kid in a sweet shop. Give a kid a very generous discount and they are going to use it. Whilst my teeth may not be rotting the same cannot be said for my Natwest statement and my bathroom cabinet is well past morbidly obese.

Before starting at Space it was my favourite destination for beauty. A real treasure trove. It is rare for me to buy anything beauty related from anywhere else (the discount helps sway this but the quality of the products speak for themselves, and the 40 something looking faces of our 60 something customers). So you know when I make a non-NK purchase it is a good one.

Topping my list is Origins Out of Trouble face mask.

I have a bit of a weakness for face masks. And this little number is the best of the bunch.

Jam packed with Zinc Oxide, Sulfur and Camphor (you can definitely smell the camphor) this mask is a god send for troublesome skin. According to Origins you should use it to ‘steer skin clear of slippery situations, refine rough texture and pull the plug on troublemakers to oust potential outbursts.’ And Origins I have to say I agree.

The mask is a very thick white creamy paste, which dries on the skin. This one  might just be me, but I tend to face mask (yep I just made it a verb) in the bath. However, the hot steamy (Aromatherapy Associated filled- if you must know) water combined with most masks tends to irritate my face- not this one though. It tingles slightly when applied but nothing uncomfortable.

The mask doesn’t tighten on the skin like a clay mask- which may be why it doesn’t itch me in the bath. After 10 minutes I wash it off using a muslin cloth and whatever pickle my skin has been in seems to be fixed. Any redness is diminished, any angry spots seem placated, my skin feels baby soft, super clean and super glow-y. I don’t have particularly dull skin so I never really notice the effects of any glow-givers, except this one. I can really see the difference. Used regularly it helps control excess oil and is generally a perfect prescription for pretty skin.

For £22, sorry Space NK but this is a non-negotiable. 

Spotlight On....

Once Upon An Inci....

Hands up who honestly reads the ingredient list and understands it before purchasing a product?

Anyone? Didn't think so....

In Europe and the US, among other countries, manufacturers have to use the International Nomenclature for Cosmetic's Ingredients (INCI-List).

The purpose of the system is to overcome country and language barriers. That is why all INCI lists use Latin, botanical names. This way, say if you are allergic to an ingredient your doctor can tell you the official INCI name, making it easier for you to avoid it.

Using the INCI system does mean that ingredient lists can look rather technical, even in the case of the simplest ingredients, such as salt (sodium chloride) and water (aqua). However, many good companies want you to understand their ingredient list and will put both the INCI name and the commonly recognized name.

E.g. Vaccinim Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil

The FDA directs that ingredients be listed in concentration by weight. So the first listed ingredient is the most concentrated ingredient in the product. If water is the first ingredient on the label, it is likely that upwards of 75% of the product is compromised of water. Preservatives are always necessary if water is present to keep the product form spoiling. However, peptides, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants and a host of other active ingredients are extremely effective in  small percentages.

It is impossible to determine exact amounts of each though, because divulging that would reveal the company's formula.

Creating a skincare product is little bit like making a meal. First of all you need to go shopping. It all starts with the scientists. Often by accident. Scientists, with eye watering budgets, spend millions researching how to say cure blindness and inadvertently realize the test subjects may not be able to see but they are showing reduced signs of ageing. So, I completely pulled that example out of my a** but you get the gist. It's how it happened with San Francisco brand Algenist- a bunch of nerdy types were researching alternate sustainable fuels, algae to be precise, and realised the Alguronic Acid from the algae was not only extremely hydrating but also anti ageing. The team behind Algenist not only have an incredible range of skin care products they also flew a commercial jet across America, impressive huh.

So the scientists then do Clinical Studies on their ingredients and state that X at say 5% reduced wrinkle depth by 50% in two weeks. Companies then go to the 'shop' and buy X to use in their product. HOWEVER, they do not need to put X at 5% into their product. They can put it in at 0.2% and not tell you. Sneaky. Don't just trust Clinical Studies, see if the company has also done Consumer Trials- where the finished product is tried on volunteers. Companies have no idea when they spend thousands mixing ingredients together that they will work in synergy with each other/ at the percent they have included. To be honest it is all a bit of a gamble.

Check back for what ingredients to look out for, what they mean and why they are included.

Detox Delights

Detox

When it comes to eating healthily and going to the gym I have been a very naughty girl this year.

I was never a huge gym bunny, despite the fact my mother is a fitness instructor, until my second year of uni. Freshers fifteen really caught up with me and I decided to put my free gym membership (from working at Virgin Active) to use. I worked out 3-5 times a week, ate well (if you ignore the occasional cheesy chips) and wasn't as excessive with my drinking as first year. Over my second and third year I lost about a stone and a half. 

Not only did I have a free gym membership, I worked out with two of my best friends (one who had a car, making the weather an inexcusable reason not to go to the gym), and I had motivation. Holidays. My month long trip around Vietnam last summer with my teeny tiny best friend was a huge motivator.

Fast forward to this year. I lost my free gym membership, live with my I-only-excercise-if-it's-tennis-or-swimming-in-my-garden boyfriend and have developed a penchant for take away. Nawt good. The fact that I have only drank alcohol about five times this year, rarely drink a drink that isn't water and on the whole eat rather well has meant my weight hasn't ballooned too much. 

I have put on about five pounds that keep coming and going as they please. I can feel it on my stomach, back of my thighs and my ever disappearing slash reappearing collar bones (my favourite body part). 

Something needed to be done.

So I detoxed. David Kirsch's 48 hr detox. For 48 hrs cheating was chewing. I drank his ready made pink lemonade for three meals a day and lost 5 pounds. If anyone watches The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (guilty as charged) the Super Charged Cleanse is quite similar to Yolande's master cleanse. 

It claims to leave your feeling slimmer, healthier and more energized in just two days, without feeling hungry or fatigued. I'm not going to lie it wasn't a walk in the park (I don't think I could have mustered the energy for a walk in the park). A friend of mine attempted the detox but got so delirious she gave up and ate a Mcdonalds at the end of day one. 

I was fine on the first day. I spent most of the day shopping. Zara has always been a good hunger distraction. Drank my detox and my bubbles as well as lots of white tea- I found drinking hot drinks tricked my body into feeling full. I woke up on day two with loads of energy and I am not a morning person! I worked on day two, probably not a good idea. The sardine packed commute to work was hell. At around three I felt really faint and couldn't concentrate much on my work. I powered through, drank my bubbles and went to sleep at about 9 that night. The next morning it was over. I felt slimmer, healthier and more energized but it would be a lie to say I didn't feel hungry or fatigued.

Well worth a go if you are looking to embark on a health kick. After two days of food deprivation it makes you think twice about that slice of shortcake. It is also harder to lose weight when you have toxins residing in your body as the toxins grab hold of the fat. However, it is not the answer to quick fix weight loss loss. A couple of weeks have passed and slowly but surely most of the weight has crept back on.

One thing I was impressed with was the Thermo Bubbles.

I supplemented the drink with Kirsch's Thermo Bubbles. Another pink lemonade flavoured drink that works to boost your energy levels, increase your metabolism and curb your appetite. There is no way I could have survived the detox without these. 

In an attempt to rid myself of those pesky five pounds for good I have recently started the 5:2 diet. Coined the greatest diet revolution since Atkins it seems like everyone and their uncle are trying it. The idea is to eat what you like five days a week and restrict (or fast) for two days. 500 calories if you are a girl, 600 if you are boy. Apparently you should lose on on average 1 pound a week from this intermittent fasting, as well as seeing improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol. 

I have tried many a fad diet (often influenced by my mother) - Dukan and Grapefruit spring to mind. And whilst I don't think I will stick to fast dieting for the rest of my life it is reconditioning my thinking about how much food my body actually needs. I seem to be surviving just fine on my 500 calorie days. Yes I feel hungry but it is nothing unmanageable. I have been having asparagus and a egg for breakfast, edamame beans for lunch and salmon and greens for dinner. I have to say the recipes in Mimi Spencer's Fast Diet cook book are delicious. I have to admit (and I'm not sure if this is cheating or not) but I have been relying on my Thermo Bubbles to get me through my fasting days. On one of my 'normal' days last week I tried to eat healthily  probably around 1,500 calories, but didn't drink my Thermo Bubbles. I felt more hungry than my fast day with them.

I like the knowledge that I have rid my body of a huge built up of toxins and that thought it may be hard I don't have to eat that whole tub of Ben and Jerry's in the fridge.

If you are looking to detox/change the way you think about food/shift those extra few pounds I cannot recommend David Kirsch or the 5:2 diet enough.

I am finally getting my eating under control....now just to start hitting the gym. Might as well put my new Nikeys to use.

Check out fast dieting here: http://thefastdiet.co.uk/

Spotlight On

Hope

One of the things I love about the beauty industry is its power to empower women. Sometimes all you need is a slick of red lipstick to make you feel like you can conquer the world.

Cosmetics can make us feel beautiful and confident, yes, but they can also make a bigger difference. With a simple act you can transform your daily beauty routine into a ritual that empowers others lives.

Project hope (healing through opportunities to pursue enterprise) is a social enterprise project which works with women who have suffered at the hands of trafficking. They want to make the worlds first sustainable safe house.

Empowering women in the best sense of the word.

Hope have released a range of body care products focusing on ingredients made by those affected by poverty in Africa.

The innovative students behind Hope set up a Shea Butter Cooperative in Nigeria. The Shea Butter they make is shipped back to the UK to use in the products.

The Shea Butter is roasted and boiled and an optimum point- a discovery by one of the engineers behind the products, making it one of the finest grade Shea available on the market.

Shea Butter is a superfood for the skin. The Shea tree is considered sacred because of the bounty of goodness it can do for your skin. hair, beauty and health.

Shea Butter is deeply moisturizing, strengthening and protecting the skin as well as hydrating it. It stimulates collagen production, making the skin more supple and younger looking. Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory it can help decrease the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and scars. Plus it smells amazing.



Neroli and Vanilla Lip Balm £4



Vanilla Body Butter £11



Coconut and Shea Sugar Scrub £8

The Whole set is available for £20

The Hope range will be sold at Spitalfields Market tomorrow for the one off Unipopshop event. All proceeds go straight back into the project to help further fund a sustainable safe house for victims of human trafficking.

A purchase of these little beauties will leave you not only looking good but feeling good too.

Follow them on Twitter @sifehope

What cosmetics do you use to empower you? #BeautyEmpowers

Spotlight On

Exfoliators

I may be going against the grain (excuse the pun) on this one, but I hate traditional exfoliators. 

In the words of the great Sali Hughes, 'Until you remove dead , flaky skin all moisturiser will do is paste it down.' 

You can not underestimate the power of a good exfoliator for chomping off those pesky dead skin cells So let's get down to the nitty gritty (sorry I couldn't help myself). They deep cleanse the skin, dislodging build-up in the pores and helping to break up white heads and black heads. They will also help smooth and refine the skin's texture, giving it a soft and supple look. Lastly, it enhances blood flow to the face, giving the appearance of a fresh glow. They do wipe away many a problem.

 Whilst I may not be the biggest fan of the old school granular (read: itchy and irritating) exfoliators I am fully embracing the new kids on the skin care block; exfoliating toners, masks and pads.

Liquid Exfoliants look like traditional toners but bring a lot more to the S(kincare) club party. They're applied in the same way- on a cotton wool pad, swept across the face. Can be used once or twice daily, depending on how sensitive your skin is, and to gradually get your skin used to the intensity you can wet the cotton pad first. My skincare (and all round life) guru Caroline Hirons recommends using acids daily in the form of these toners. Keeping the PH of your skin acidic will help avoid breakouts, increase the thickness of the dermis and keep skin plump and juicy. One swipe skincare? Liquid Exfoliants are one of my faves.

Pads work in a similar way to liquid exfoliants except they are already pre-soaked in glycolic, salicylic or lactic acids (they decrease in strength in that order). They will help to sweep dead cells out from under the rug, reducing fine dry lines and blocked pores, leaving a smoother more radiant complexion. Can be used once or twice daily. These are the best.

Masks are perfect for when your skin needs a little extra ooomph. They range from gentle 'slougers' to at -home-microdermabrasions. These peels contain natural (such as fruit) acids, enzymes or chemicals to resurface without irritation. They're easier to use than 'scrubs', not scratchy and work on a deeper level. A little tingling is normal, make sure to protect your skin with a high SPF in the following days (new skin will be more prone to sun damage) Use one or twice a week.

Don't get over-excited and start over-exfoliating. Check whether the toner or pads are recommended for once or twice daily, and take a break on the days you decide to use a mask. 

Check back for more in-depth exfoliator reviews

Rant or Rave?

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Muse

Pucker up beauties you're in for one hell of a ride with this little number.

I have to admit I'm rather partial (read: half of my makeup is from there) to Hourglass. It has to be my favourite makeup brand I've discovered this year. High accolades indeed.

A LA based brand the products are designed to meet the oh-so-discerning needs of those Californian babes. 

I can't stop lapping up the lippie. Especially Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick.

They say: The proprietary blend of advanced polymers in this liquid lipstick delivers intense, vibrant color with exceptional longevity. Skin-conditioning emollients, antioxidant fruit extracts, cili fruit, goji berry, and vitamins A, C and E help to protect the lips throughout the day.

Sounds a bit fancy schmancy to me. One thing for sure it is richly pigmented and dramatically matte. One swipe and you're good to go. 

They claim that it lasts 14 hours of continuous wear without flaking or dryness. Here is wear it gets a bit sticky up in here (figuratively speaking, literally the texture is very balmy). Whilst it does work its little butt off you must, I repeat must apply to dry, 100% clean lips. There must be NO lip balm, Vaseline, Baume de Rose, you name it in a 5 mile radius of your lips. For the formula to really work its magic it needs to be adhering to naked lips, not a slip and slide. Whilst the Vitamin E does create a softer texture than your traditional matte lipsticks it is not the most forgiving to dry lips. Exfoliate the night before and lather on the balm and it won't act like a beacon to your chapped pout. Secondly, you must allow it a few minutes to dry before eating or drinking. I ignored my own cardinal rule on holiday and the lipstick was completely gone after dinner, leaving a not so attractive ombre effect.

Lecture aside if you follow the rules this little number will stay as long as you can play. I can't remember much about my birthday but I know my lipstick looked good! Gone are the days where you could tell which glass was mine by the bright coloured rim my lipstick left or whose boyfriend was mine by the territorial cheek print. Pros and Cons.

My personal favourite is the coral-red Muse. A very bright, traffic-stopping colour, it is less neon, and more wearable, than it's Femme Rouge counterpart. Whilst it looks scary in the tube, it really perks up your face, and looks ahhhmazing with a tan.

So pucker up, and kiss who you want, you won't be leaving a mark....not that I advocate that kind of thing....

£23 available here

Slightly more expensive than your drug store purchase, but you'll be reapplying a hell of a lot less- so it'll last a lot longer. Price Justified. Gotta love my beauty logic. 

Kiss, Kiss xx 

Rant or Rave?

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

When it comes to painting my nails I'm not such a chip of the ole' block. My mothers obsessive base and top coat strokes of genius have not been passed onto me in the genetic lottery- hence why my nails, well, chip a lot.

Half-on, half-off nail varnish is not a good look. For anyone. Which is why Seche Vite Dry Fast is the top coat to top all others. I take my (top) hat off to it, I will never be without it again.

They Say it is specially formulated to penetrate through varnish to the base coat, forming a single solid coating over the nail plate for a much more durable finish. 

Sounds like a bit of a mouthful to me. However their claims that it is resistant to chipping and peeling I can vouch for. I had a rather horrible experience with a certain Essie polish the other week. Sans top coat part of the polish peeled off into my eyeball when I was rubbing my eyes. It took the meaning of pink eye to a whole new level.

All I can say is, if you haven't got Seche Vite yet get your (probably chipped) hands on it now. A week later my varnish has only just started to chip, and I think that is more to do with my nails growing. My talons were coming up trumps compared to my mum and sisters manicured pair. It dries super quick, making me change my 'nails take all day to dry' belief (but don't tell my boyfriend- I'll still use 'but my nails are wet' as an excuse to not help wash up). It doesn't drag or streak the wet polish underneath, and dries down to a high gloss, could be mistaken for Shellac, finish. 

What more could you ask for?

A week later, still going strong

A much needed lick of paint

£9.00 Get It Here

Do you think Seche Vite have nailed the top coat polish?

Rant or Rave?

Emma Hardie Natural Lift Moringa Cleansing Balm

My name is Frankie and I am a balm-a-holic. Once you go balm you never go back. My face just doesn't feel as clean using a gel or milk based cleanser as it does with a luxurious buttery balm. 

The newest one I have been trying is Emma Hardie's Natural Lift Moringa Cleansing Balm. And I love it. So much I'm half tempted to throw away my Eve Lom so I can start using it daily. I would have to check myself into a mental institution if I did this though, I ate baked beans for weeks to afford my latest pot. 

Whilst I loved Eve Lom's rich, heavy texture in the Winter now that the sun has (finally) come out I want to get into the Spring swing of things with a lighter consistency. Emma Hardie is a dream to apply. The balm feels like freshly churned butter, takes off all my makeup and throughly cleanses my face, without weighing it down with an oily film. Just rub a pea sized amount between your fingers, massage into your face and remove with a flannel or muslin cloth. Simples. I sometimes even leave it on my face for 10 minutes when I'm in the bath for the ultimate hydration boost.

The ingredient list reads like a botanical buffet for the face; Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and wild sea fennel to name a few. And no mineral oil (Eve Lom I do still love you but mineral oil is one of THE cheapest filler ingredients around). It smells divine too. All spa like and lovely. 

The all natural ingredients make the balm a perfect partner for any, even sensitive, skin types. 

It leaves my skin feeling soft, hydrated and clean, oh so clean. Can you tell I'm in love?

And at £34 pounds it's £21 cheaper than my Eve Lom, sorry Eve.

What's your favourite balm cleanser?