Artdeco new summer 2013 collection – Tribal Sunset

June 19th, 2013

Artdeco BronzerThe latest summer collection by Artdeco is inspired by the strong colours, geometric patterns and burning sunsets of deepest Africa.

Everything about Tribal Sunset is rich, shimmery and bold. Base products include a range of pressed bronzers, shimmer creams and glowing blushers. If you love to rock a deep all-over tan in the summer months, then this collection is for you.

We love…

Artdeco Bronzing Glow Blusher

Decadent, ethnic and shimmering like a mirage, the Artdeco Bronzing Glow Blusher is the contouring product of the summer. Three varying shades will accentuate your cheekbones and add depth to your skin tone. Added vitamin C and E ensure your skin remains vitalised and smooth to prevent dryness, flaking and wrinkles.

The compact case itself features purple, red, brown and ivory patterns reminiscent of Kenyan art, making it a stunning addition to any make-up bag.

Artdeco Spray on Leg Foundation

It’s not just your face on display during those balmy summer months. If you’re an active woman prone to the odd bump and graze, you’re probably worried about what your pins will look like in that summer dress. Worry no more, because with Artdeco Spray on Leg Foundation you can cover up any bruises, blemishes or discoloured spots with a light, even coloured tan. This comes in three shades: Sand (light), Sun Tan (medium) and Desert Sun (dark).

Artdeco Tribal Baked Eyeshadow

These gorgeous shimmering Tribal Baked Eyeshadows from Artdeco are highly pigmented and multi-dimensional for an extra intense look. A special manufacturing process has been used for longer-lasting, richer colour that clings to eyelids all day long. You can choose from four vivid shades:

  • Marbled Brown
  • Marbled Green
  • Marbled Blue
  • Marbled Purple.

What they lack in imaginative names, they make up for in quality and colour. Mix and match different shades for a truly tribal look.

Did you know you can learn make-up tips from a professional? Find out more by visiting our Professional Make-Up page.

Five of the best body scrubs

June 14th, 2013

Scrub up on exfoliation for smooth and soft limbs this summer.

Last week’s gloriously sunny weather in the UK made many of us reassess our body-care routine quick smart. Revealing our legs and arms in cute summer dresses requires some preparation. Whether you’re preparing to fake tan or simply need to get rid of dry patches, investing in a fab body scrub is the only way to go. Exfoliating will not only remove dead skin, it will also speed up your skin’s renewal process for smoother, clearer skin. The following body scrubs will have you summer-ready in no time…

Cowshed1. Cowshed ‘Slender Cow Detoxifying Body Scrub’ (£34)

The micro-algae formula in Cowshed’s scrub helps to tone skin by minimising dimples and stretch marks while pink Himalayan salts deal with dead skin.

2. Soap & Glory ‘The Breakfast Scrub’ (£8)

Made from banana, honey and almonds this scrub is almost good enough to eat! We recommend you stick to using it in the shower though for a nourishing skin treat.

3. Rituals ‘Hot Hammam Scrub’ (£14.50)

Combining ingredients like ginger and eucalyptus with sea salt makes for a warming experience. Great for days when you need a lift, this scrub is like central heating for the soul.

4. Ren ‘Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish’ (£32)

The sugar in this formula offers great exfoliation, while the olive and almond oils moisturise. Top this off with a gorgeous rose scent and you get one decadent and effective product.

5. Elemis ‘Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow’ (£36.50)Elemis

This mineral-rich formula is like a holiday in a jar, combining Tahitian monoi and coconut oils with hibiscus for an exotic treatment.

Fancy treating yourself to a professional treatment? Head over to our Body Treatments page.

To discover more amazing body scrubs, take a look at the original Independent article.

Butterfly-inspired summer 13 make-up collection by Chanel

June 12th, 2013

Chanel Summer Collection 2013Luxury French fashion house Chanel is a world leader when it comes to colours, combinations and seasonal collections. Now we take a look at the latest offerings from the summer 2013 collection.

Last summer Chanel opted for a natural, earthy look with golden bronzers, brown and beige shadows and glossy coral lips. This summer’s collection captures nature in a wholly different light. Forget soft tones and naked beauty – this season is all about vibrancy, contrast and colour, colour, colour.

It’s no wonder then that Chanel have drawn inspiration from one of the most beautifully coloured creatures in the animal kingdom: the butterfly. The butterfly is an icon of beauty, freedom and transformation – everything Chanel embodies.

This collection urges women to break free from their cocoons, stop hiding their inner beauty and spread their pretty wings once and for all.

The most notable items from the collection include:

Inimitable Waterproof Mascara

As well as original black, this lengthening and curling Chanel mascara also comes in bright blue, mustard yellow, vivid green and soft aqua. The fine bristles on the mascara brush allow for precise application so you can coat them from the roots and even experiment with two-tone lashes (blue and yellow, anyone?) Not only is the formula strong-holding and long-lasting, it’s also soft and conditioning with added beeswax to boost shine.

Stylo Yeux Waterproof

Choose from jade, peacock blue, wine red, or pale yellow eyeliner pencils for a truly unique look. Apply this ultra-resistant formula along the inside edge of your lower lid for intensity, or blend into the upper lash line for a stunning pop of colour.

La Vernis Nail Colour

New to this range of varnishes is ‘Lilis’, a deep coral red, ‘Azure’ – an ocean green and Bel-Argus, a deep glimmering blue. All varnishes promise to care for your nails by strengthening and hardening them with bioceramides. The dermatologically tested formula comes in an ergonomic, non-spill bottle for easy use and application.

Discover all of the latest products from Chanel.

Fake tanning tips for beginners

June 8th, 2013

Fake tanning tips for beginnersDesperate for a summer glow but scared of fake tan? Take the plunge with our easy how-to guide…

If you have never used fake tan before, the prospect of trying it can be daunting – there’s the risk of streaks, patches and the dreaded orange palm syndrome. Nowadays however, there are so many different shades and formulas to choose from that us girls have more control than ever, meaning now is the best time to faux a glow.

So, for all those tanning novices out there it’s time to face your fears with our top tips for the perfect fake tan.

Hair removal

Aim to remove hair 1-2 days before you fake tan to allow the skin time to settle. Avoid shaving or waxing just after you tan as you run the risk of removing the colour along with your hair, resulting in patchiness.

Exfoliate

A good fake tan starts with an even base. To achieve this make sure you exfoliate to remove any hard skin and flakiness. Be sure to pay particular attention to dry areas such as elbows, knees and feet.

Moisturize

Prep your skin with moisturizer about 30 minutes before you tan (to allow the lotion to fully sink in). Just before you tan, apply another coat of moisturizer on your elbows, knees and feet again to prevent the tan sticking to dry areas.

Avoid deodorant

Ensure you shower to remove any traces of deodorant or perfumes before tanning as the chemicals can result in a green-tinged tan, not a good look.

Use a mitt or some gloves

Avoid orange palms by using a tanning mitt or gloves to apply your fake tan – just don’t forget to lightly tan the backs of your hands when you’re done!

Apply at night

Most tans develop over the course of a few hours so applying it before bed will give your tan the chance to fully develop.

Allow it to dry

Sounds obvious, but make sure your tan is dry before you get dressed, and when you do – opt for loose, dark coloured clothing to reduce any risk of staining.

Maintain

Keep your tan in tip-top condition by moisturizing regularly and exfoliating as it fades for an even look.

If you want to find out more about tanning, please see our Tanning page.

Be a beach babe – new summer collection from Paul & Joe

June 5th, 2013

Beach Babe Paul & JoeLife’s a beach in the world of Paul & Joe, the Parisian beauty brand storming the world with its hedonistic philosophy and on-trend cosmetics. 

This summer, the brand’s fun-loving, spirited followers are being taken on a jaunt away from the metaphorical street cafes and bustling markets of Paris to a tropical paradise full of fruity colours, cocktails and sunshine.Paul & Joe Nail Enamel

The new Beach Baby collection is an explosion of colour and quirk that epitomises Paul & Joe’s manifesto: ‘I like what I like, I’m full of curiosity, I’m free-spirited.’

The new nail enamel bottles in five retro shades are inspired by Art Deco hotels on sunny boulevards. Try pastel plum ‘Miami’ and raspberry ‘Bermuda’ on alternate toes; pair mint Caribbean with coral Rio in deckchair stripes, or stick with subtle ‘Mauritius’ for nude beauty.

It’s a sad fact that sun cream and flawless make-up don’t get on very well together. If you’re keen to preserve your smooth skin and avoid a lobster glow without smearing mascara or eye shadow all over your face then try the Paul & Joe Pressed Powder UV. This light powder protects the fragile skin on your face from UV rays whilst offering a long-lasting radiant glow. (Plus the floral leopard design on the compact case is a cute, girly spin-off of the classic Hawaiian shirt, making it a great novelty product).

Paul & JoeLet’s face it – here in England we’re not used to searing, sweaty heat. To deal with that clammy sheen you get on holiday, make sure you equip yourself with Paul & Joe’s dolphin print blotting paper. Not only does it come in an uber-cool dolphin-studded packet, but it also keeps your face sheen-free and perfect even in the balmiest of conditions. Practical and cute!

Make sure you have a good old sift through Paul & Joe’s 2013 summer collection before you head off on your next foreign jaunt – Bon Voyage!

Spring fragrances

June 1st, 2013

Update your fragrance wardrobe with these fresh, uplifting spring scents.

The UK has finally shrugged off any signs of winter and summer is fast approaching. This can only mean one thing for perfume lovers – a fragrance update! All those heavy, musky scents we adored over winter can feel a bit overpowering on sunnier days, leading us to seek out light, fruity and floral fragrances. The following four scents tick all of these boxes and more…

Marc Jacobs1. Marc Jacobs ‘Daisy Eau So Fresh’ (£48 for 75ml)

They say don’t judge a book by its cover – but this bottle from Marc Jacobs has totally won us over. The fragrance itself has top notes of strawberry, pink grapefruit and apple blossom all sat atop a base of rose and jasmine for a fruity-floral combo. If you are after something fun and feminine, this perfume is for you.

2. Vivienne Westwood ‘Flirty Alice’ (£38.25 for 75ml)

Flirty Alice is just as mischievous as it sounds, with a floral rose bud heart on top of a blonde wood and vanilla base. With top notes of bergamot and green tea, Flirty Alice makes for a feisty and feminine addition to your fragrance wardrobe.

3. Hugo Boss ‘Boss Orange for Women’ (£29.50 for 30ml)

A sensual yet light scent, Boss Orange for women is the perfect transitional scent. Combining fruity notes of orange blossom, apple and plum with heady notes of vanilla, sandalwood and jasmine, this fragrance is perfect for those wanting something with a little more body.

4. DKNY ‘Golden Delicious’ (£47.50 for 50ml) DKNY

An oldie but a goodie, DKNY Golden Delicious has become a staple spring scent for many. Crisp and clean smelling, it’s perfect for more casual and carefree days. With many of DKNY’s fragrances aimed at a younger market, Golden Delicious holds its own as one of the more elegant scents.

Brow gels are back – here’s our pick of the best

May 29th, 2013

Mac Eyebrow GelThanks to natural beauties like actress Kiera Knightly and supermodel Cara Delevingne, big brows are officially back.

Forget the permanently surprised look of the 90s; 2013 is all about those Cleopatra brows – dark, thick and powerful.

It’s time to reintroduce brow tools into your morning make-up regime, so make sure you reserve an extra three minutes before the coffee dash.

For big, beautiful brows, brow gel is your best friend. These tinted gels are like mascara for your eyebrows and allow you to define, style and thicken them to your heart’s content. But with all the big brands jostling for your attention, which brow gel do you go for? Here’s our pick of the best:

Eyeko Brow Gel

Marie Claire’s ‘buy of the day’ is Eyeko Brow Gel, boasting a ‘nano-brush’ (a small easy-to-use mascara brush) and a botanically-enriched formula with keratin protein designed to condition and plump each individual hair.

Benefits include:

  • no dryness, solidifying or flaking (not a good look)
  • long-lasting hold (your brows will stay luscious all day)
  • paraben-free.

You can buy Eyeko Brow Gel for £18.

MAC Brow Set

This brow gel from MAC gives you more for your money. It quadruples-up as a lash separator, sideburn groomer and, for men trying to cultivate a worthy moustache, a facial hair shaper – as well as an eyebrow gel.

Benefits include:

  • no flaking or stiffening
  • mulitple uses
  • comes in three different shades – clear (subtle), beguile (less subtle) and show-off (not at all subtle).

You can buy MAC Brow Set for £12.50.

No7 Lash and Brow Perfector

For those on a really tight budget, we suggest No7 Lash and Brow Perfector. This product is ultra soft and caring, giving your lashes and brows a good conditioning whilst whipping any unruly hairs into shape.

Benefits include:

  • inexpensive
  • doubles up as a lash shaper
  • caring formula.

You can buy No7 Lash and Brow Perfector for £8.50.

Cult beauty products

May 25th, 2013

Find out which beauty products are the nation’s favourites…

Cult beauty products are those that sell out in an instant, or those that are still going strong – years after they initially launched. The following list is your ultimate guide to the UK’s best cult beauty buys.

benefitMascaraBenefit They’re Real! Mascara (£19.50)

One tube of this incredible mascara is sold every four seconds around the world. Not only this – but it is officially the UK’s number one best-selling mascara.

BlushNARS Blush in Orgasm (£21.50)

This risqué blusher launched in 1999 and to date, a staggering 135 are sold every hour. A couple of years ago in 2011, and incredible 652,874 Orgasms were sold – that equates to about two Orgasms every minute (!).

Concealer/IlluminatorYSL Touche Éclat (£25)

One of these iconic concealers is sold every 10 seconds somewhere in the world.

NailsChanel Le Vernis in Limited Edition Jade

This limited edition nail varnish from 2009 sold out in a mere 40 minutes in Selfridges and had people queuing outside before the store even opened. Keep your eyes peeled for this season’s Limited Edition Le Vernis shades in Lilis, Bel Argus and Azuré (available from 31 May).

Hero balmElizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (£25) Elizabeth Arden

Currently one tube of this iconic, multi-purpose balm is sold every 30 seconds around the world.

MoisturizerNivea Crème (£3.99)

This classic formula is both effective and wallet friendly – no wonder four are sold every minute in the UK!

LotionClinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (£17)

One of the best in the bizz, one of these yellow bottles is sold every 4.87 seconds.

CreamElemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (£99)

Even though this product is a little on the pricey side, one pot sells every minute around the globe. In fact, it is so popular that Elemis have released a limited edition pot and size to celebrate their 10th Anniversary.

Brilliant celebrity beauty secrets

May 23rd, 2013

Brilliant celebrity beauty secretsCelebrities are in the business of looking good, so it’s no surprise that many of them have picked up some brilliant beauty tips.

Having spent hours in the make-up chair for various performances, celebrities know more than most about the ins and outs of beauty. The following tips come from those who are pretty much paid to look good – take note girls…

Salma Hayek

The stunning A-list actress goes against convention and does not wash her face in the morning – instead she focuses on a good cleansing routine at night.

“At night your skin is rebuilding oils that you need to keep your skin young. In the morning you can splash it with water but you don’t want to get rid of that.” she says.

Dr Sam Bunting (leading dermatologist) agrees, saying that sebum is nature’s best moisturiser, unless you suffer from oily or acne prone skin.

Cate Blanchett

Cate shuns high-priced exfoliation treatments and makes her own concoction at home. The star uses olive and macadamia nut oils combined with sea salt and a little grapefruit juice.

Dr Bunting approves, saying, “I think you can cheat when it comes to exfoliating the body.”

Beyonce

Queen Bey avoids coffee if she’s tired and reaches for the gold eyeshadow instead, “I put a little gold eyeshadow in the inner corners of my eyes, it’s more subtle than white but it makes you look more awake,” she says.

Celebrity make-up artist Nathalie Eleni says this is a great tip and to try a shadow with a little shimmer to help lift tired eyes.

Kelly Brook

The Celebrity Juice star uses a unique trick for contouring her face using concealer, “I do a whisker trick,” she says. “I apply it in stripes from the outer edges of my nose and corner edges of my mouth out on to my cheeks. Then I blend to brighten the front of my face. The lighter colour lifts sunken areas.”

Nathalie agrees this is a good tip, saying she often uses lighter coloured concealer from the corners of the nose to the smile lines and darker shades under the cheekbones.

Do you fancy being treated like a celebrity for the day? Why not have your make-up done professionally for a red carpet ready look? For more information, please see our Professional make-up page.

Six steps for a fast, flawless look

May 18th, 2013

makeupSpeed up your make-up routine with these six expert tips.

Everyone has one of ‘those’ mornings every now and then – you’ve snoozed through your alarm, you have an important meeting at work and now you’ve got just five minutes to do your make-up, nightmare! But never fear, the following six steps will give you a fresh, flawless look in just five minutes…

Step 1: Apply your base

To start with, prepare your skin with a layer of moisturizer and/or primer to help your foundation slide on easier. For the best results in a short amount of time, use a foundation stick and draw lines down your cheekbones, at the side of your nose and above your brows and then blend, blend, blend.

Step 2: Cover any blemishes

Use a creamy concealer to take care of any blemishes or under-eye circles. Be sure to use a colour that matches your skin tone, anything too light will have a highlighting effect. Set your base with a quick dust of powder.

Step 3: Add some warmth

When you’re in a rush avoid any shading or contouring routines with your blusher and simply apply a cream blusher to the apples of your cheeks. If you’ve applied too much, simply use powder/foundation to tone it down.

Step 4: Make your eyes pop

A wash of sheer, shimmery cream shadow topped with a bronze or gold hue will really help your eyes stand out, and as the colour isn’t too dark there is no need for a time-consuming application – just use your fingers.

Step 5: Create some definition

Line your lash lines with a dark brown eyeliner and apply a coat of mascara to help define your eyes.

Step 6: Get luscious lips

Complete your look with a bit of lip colour. Prepare the lips with a layer of lip balm before applying a soft pink colour with your fingertips for a subtle and pretty final result.

If you have an important event coming up, why not have your make-up done professionally? To find out more, please see our Professional Make-up page.