The first thing I would suggest, before any beauty products, is staying hydrated, eating fruit and veg (who can resist a hearty winter soup?) and taking any vitamins or supplements your diet is lacking. With so many bugs going around, the heating on full blast and the stress of getting organised before the holidays, it can be easy to miss your body’s signs that it needs some TLC.
So without further ado…
Nothing works faster for my very disobedient hair than Hair Doctor by Lush. It’s a fresh, stimulating hair mask made from seaweeds and mud. I have an extraordinary amount of hair and I get at least three uses out of one tub within the four-week recommended time frame that it’s kept in the fridge, so its £6.95 price tag is definitely worth it for a course of several treatments depending on your hair type. I’ve found that it really does soften and tame my hair, but it’s also really pleasant to use in the bath, it tingles slightly making it really invigorating for your scalp too.
There’s no need to spend a fortune on your lips – good old Carmex is £2.95 at Boots, comes in a range of flavours (strawberry and mint are my favourites) and works just as well as the most high-end product. Many make-up artists that I know use it as a standard lip balm in their kits and I don’t go anywhere without mine – not a chapped lip in sight.
Yes, the price tag on this product is steep, but I promise you if you put a 15ml jar of all about eyes by Clinique on your wish list (£25) this year and Santa is nice enough to leave one in your stocking, it will last you ages (you only need a tiny bit each application) and it will eliminate any post boozy Christmas party bags under your eyes. A pro tip, apply all about eyes just above your eye socket, rather than directly under your eyes.
Dr Hauschka is one of my favourite beauty brands, and this hand cream is a winter staple. It’s thick and rich without being oily, which makes it really nice to use, and as with all Dr Hauschka products, the hand cream has that gorgeous, natural scent that makes you really feel pampered.
Another eco-friendly brand with biodynamic and organic ingredients, Weleda is one of my all-time favourite beauty secrets and Skin Food is, in my opinion, their best product. It’s ideal for very dry, winter skin – so if you have combination skin like me, a little bit on problem areas like cheeks and your forehead should make all the difference. In fact, you can use it all over your body. Loved by celebrities like Adele, this is an award-winning simple but effective winter face cream that will last you ages and keep your skin glowing and beautiful.
]]>
♥ Surprisingly, ladies still test foundation on the back of their hand. This skin is very different to the skin on your face and you should always test foundation on your jawline. If it disappears into your skin it’s the right colour for you.
♥ Isn’t it frustrating when applying mascara when a little blobs onto your eyelid? Don’t panic and instantly rub it off, as this can leave a nasty mark. Wait a couple of minutes for it to bond to your skin and, using a cotton bud, gently twist and lift the mascara off the skin. Hey presto the mascara comes off leaving your skin clean!
♥ Don’t buy expensive eye primers, just use a little foundation. Make sure you sweep a light dusting of loose powder across the lid to take away any shine before applying your eyeshadow.
♥ Spritzing toner from a distance will help set your make up. Don’t overdo it…. this is especially great to add instant hydration to the skin during the winter months.
♥ If you run of out of brow gel and need to tame those brows Cara Delevingne style, use a little hairspray on a clean mascara wand and brush as normal.
♥ Use Vaseline on your eyelids as a base for your eyeshadow to get a wicked glossy look just right for the party season.
♥ Using a highlighter just under the arch of your brow bone can give an instant ‘lifting’ appearance.
♥ A teabag on a cold sore will help to heal it and quickly reduce redness.
♥ It’s not just a myth! Use toothpaste on spots to dry them out.
♥ If you get stuck somewhere without your make-up bag but you have a small pot of Vaseline, you can use it as a make-up remover, then use a small amount on your lips, lashes and brows to freshen up your look.
♥ Always pluck your eyebrows after a shower as your pores are open and it will be less painful.
♥ Always dab concealer under your eyes never smear it across with your fingers as this will just take off the product and foundation underneath.
Image © Helen Rushton Photography
♥ If you love the sheer illuminating look for your skin, find the lightest neutral coloured eye shadow (make sure it’s shimmery) that you have in a palette. If you swipe your finger over the colour and put it on the back of your hand you can mix it with your moisturiser and apply to your face. This will give you a luminosity that you will see if you apply lovely sheer foundation over the top.
♥ If you’re doing smoky eyes for Christmas, apply a liberal amount of loose powder under your eyes, this way when you apply your darkest colours, any ‘fall out’ on your cheeks can be swept right off with a large brush.
♥ Want smoky eyes but with a dramatic defined sharp edge? Get yourself some dressing tape from a chemist and lay in along the outside edge of your eye. Imagine a line from the tip of your nose, to the end of your eyebrow. You don’t need the tape all the way from your nose but you can start the line just under your eye. Apply your eye shadow right up to the edge of the tape, then when you peel it off you get a dramatic straight line. This can also help with a dramatic thick eyeliner look.
♥ When you apply your concealer if you have any left don’t wipe if off, run it along the top of your cheekbones and down the centre of your nose, this will give you a lovely defined look after your have applied your foundation. You can top it all off with your highlighter. We want those cheekbones to pop!
♥ Clean your personal make-up brushes with a cheap 2in1 shampoo and conditioner, as although they aren’t the best for your hair, the chemicals will clean your brushes and also soften them.
♥ For a quick blemish treatment, crush an uncoated aspirin tablet in your hand with a few drops of water and apply the mixture to the blemish. Leave a few minutes and wash off. It will reduce swelling and redness.
♥ Nail varnish takes longer to dry on hot hands so is more likely to smudge. Soak your hands in cold water before applying nail varnish.
♥ The skin on your hands age faster than your face so to avoid the tale-tale signs of ageing, use a hand scrub weekly and moisturise daily with a cream containing SPF.
♥ Brides, don’t forget about your arms and chest on the wedding morning. Have your make-up artist apply MAC face and body foundation to areas you will see to give an even finish.
♥ Use a cool (blue toned) lipstick to make your teeth look whiter.
♥ If you run out of dry shampoo you can use a small amount of white rice flour or talc on your oily roots. Apply some to a small make-up brush and brush into the roots.
♥ If you suffer from oily skin and have tried every oil control primer product out there but nothing works, consider trying Milk of Magnesia to keep pesky oil at bay. Use a cotton ball or pad to apply a thin layer onto the areas that are most prone to oil. Do not apply moisturiser in those same areas. Only apply where you are more dry. The Milk of Magnesia will dry within a few minutes and you can then proceed with applying your make up. If there is any residue just gently wipe away with your fingers before applying your make up. Always do a patch test prior to applying on your face to see if you have any reaction.
♥If you are prone to excessive facial sweating apply a thin layer of clear deodorant over any area that tend to sweat such as your upper lip and forehead. Always do a patch test prior to applying on your face to see if you have any reaction.
♥ For puffy eyes consider keeping a bottle of witch hazel around. Chill the witch hazel in the refrigerator for 20 minutes then apply the witch hazel to a cotton ball or pad and press gently into your eye area for several minutes to soothe and de-puff. The cool liquid will help minimize or completely get rid of puffiness, and the astringent will help tighten and refresh the skin. Always do a patch test prior to applying on your face to see if you have any reaction.
♥ Have a shattered powder, blush or eye shadow? Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the compact and use a butter knife to smooth the powder back into shape.
♥ Keep your lips well scrubbed. Use either a good lip scrub (Lush make great ones, and you can lick them off!) or scrub your lips with your toothbrush. This will leave lips soft and plump for applying lipstick.
♥ Spray hairspray over your face to set your make up (make sure you shut your eyes and do a patch test first!)
♥ You should always change your mascara every few months to avoid infection, but if you’re desperate and can’t get to the shops, add water to your mascara when it’s running out, pump up and down to get it going again.
♥ Apply loose powder to your eyelashes before applying mascara to make them look fuller.
]]>This Christmas we’re in love with sparkle, beaded gowns, little black dresses, blush and nude tones and lush lace. Here are some of our favourite high-street party dresses for the 2013 festive season. Which one is your favourite?
L-R Boutique Amy sequin wrap padded shoulder dress, £45, gold sequin playsuit, £35 and gold sequin shoulder dress £45, all boohoo.com
Clockwise from top left: scoop back dress, £200 by Debut at Debenhams, lace sequin dress, £150 by Diamond by Julien MacDonald at Debenhams, nude sequin dress, £60 from Lipsy and bottom left from George at ASDA.
L-R First two dresses, House of Fraser, Sabrina lace dress, £350 at Phase Eight
Clockwise from top left: Embellished halterneck dress, £55 from Jane Norman, lace panel dress, £40 also Jane Norman, Cassie lace mix dress, £140 from Phase Eight, and Frock and Frill diamond sequin dress, £120 from JOY
L-R Sunny dress in pearl grey, £65 from Komodo, black and white lace pattern dress, £60 from Lipsy, lace cream dress £65 at The Vestry.
L-R white lace dress, £70 Lipsy, Alice metallic dress £150 from Phase Eight, Chatsworth Beth Bugle bead dress, £99 also Phase Eight.
Clockwise from top left – Nancy tunic, £139 at Monsoon, Beatrice long sleeved dress, £139, also Monsoon, Nataiya tapework dress, £175 from Phase Eight and floral placement dress, £65 at Oliver Bonas.
L-R Sienna gold maxi, £199 at Monsoon, Arielle shimmering sequin full length dress, £295 at Phase Eight and Callista sequin dress, also Phase Eight, £350
L-R Charlotte, Cosette and Nina dresses, all £395 at Phase Eight.
Clockwise from top left – teal dress £35 from boohoo.com, Butterfly by Matthew Williamson at Debenhams, £85, Lucy battenburg dress, £275 at Phase Eight and Frock and Frill tiered sequin dress, £125 at JOY.
All three dresses, £35 – £50 at boohoo.com
Clockwise from top left – House of Fraser, Sandra lace gown, £350 at Monsoon, sequin fringe flapper dress £89 from M&Co and sequin bust dress from House of Fraser
Clockwise from top left – lace dress, £55 at Lipsy, printed maxi, £48 at Lipsy, lace v-neck dress, £55 at M&Co and waxed lace feather dress, £115 Lipsy.
]]>
In February 2013, I lost my father. I won’t go into details here, it was a difficult illness and I, along with other family members, gave up my work for a period of time to look after him. The process was devastating and stressful, and it had one completely unexpected consequence.
Mourning was heavy and unbearable – and in addition to the many ways it affected me, which I won’t go into here, the toll it took on my face was astounding. Looking at pictures from my wedding day, two weeks after his diagnosis, and looking in the mirror one year on last August, I felt like I had aged about ten years. My skin was dry and blotchy in places, greasy and clogged in others. My eyes were constantly slightly puffy and watering, my forehead was playing host to some rather pronounced fine wrinkles, and there were angry red lines between my eyebrows from frowning in my sleep. Yes, you can frown in your sleep.
I’m not a particularly looks-focused person. I’d always been happy just to dash on a bit of mascara or lip gloss when I went out, but suddenly I didn’t want to show my face anywhere. It wasn’t just because I felt less attractive, it was because the grief on my face was palpable. Strangers would come and ask me if I was OK, people always thought I was scowling at them. I felt utterly contorted and, after a year of wearing this mask of grief, I decided enough was enough. This is a really hard picture for me to post, because it’s from a time when I felt (and felt I looked) that awful, but here is the “before” picture of me with a bare, just-cleaned face.
I rang up an industry contact, Clare Pinkney, a make-up artist with a brilliant portfolio and reputation, and booked in a two-hour make-up and skincare lesson. Maybe I felt sad, but I didn’t have to wear it on my skin for everybody to see.
Clare sat me down and asked me what my concerns were. I told her about the changes my skin had been through in the last year given my circumstances, she was just wonderful. She started with skincare, talking me through products and routines that would help slowly bring my skin back into line!
We then went through how to apply the make up itself. I was worried I’d forget it all the minute I got home, but Clare handily had a sheet, complete with a diagram of a face, on which she recorded everything we used and how to replicate it at home.
At the end of the lesson, I felt like a different person was staring back at me in the mirror. I’d come in feeling deflated and vulnerable, I left feeling confident again.
I decided to go out and invest in the products that had worked for me, and since then, prepping my skin and doing my make up has become my morning ritual. It helps to centre me and prepare me for the day, and knowing that I’ve done my make up properly and haven’t got a horrible foundation line around my face or clumped up mascara means I can relax and focus on whatever goals I’ve set.
As I said earlier, make up isn’t for everyone. I certainly don’t think anyone should be pressured into it and many people genuinely look better without. I will say that if you do like to wear make up and it does help you with your confidence, then learning how to do it properly is essential.
I hear so many people say that someone they know wears “too much make up” – I think it’s more the case that they’re wearing colours and products that aren’t compatible with their skin type. If it looks like too much, it’s probably just the wrong stuff.
So if you love to dress up and need a little boost, I’d highly recommend investing in a make up lesson and good kit – you’ll never look back!
]]>
L-R: Mint and white Regina dress, £84 Eucalyptus Clothing, Blue polka-dot dungaree dress, £14 at Primark
Mint green polka dot Mary Swing dress, £78, Friday On My Mind
Renee dress, £78 by Eucalyptus Clothing – I love that it’s available in 3 different pastel pretty colours! Perfect for a laid-back bridesmaid line up.
L-R, Verity Mac, £135, and Posy Collar Dress, £75, both by Eucalyptus Clothing
Mary Shirt Dress, £66 from Friday On My Mind
L-R: grey sequin tee and “live the dream” slogan shirt, both from Matalan, retro look My Little Pony print crop tee, £6 Primark
Broderie Anglaise top, £10 and Lace Peplum Tee, £12, both from Peacocks
Pink crepe peg trouser, £12, Primark, Courteney Pearl Mesh Midi Skirt, £15 from boohoo.com, pink jeans from George at Asda
L-R from top left: mint green jumper, £48 from Eucalyptus Clothing, grey printed top, £32 from Lipsy, grey polka dot jumper from George at ASDA and lilac heart print jumper, £35 from Lipsy
L-R from top left: embellished pink jumper, George at ASDA, blue bobble polka dot jumper, £14, Primark, peach round neck wool jumper, £19.99 at New Look, pink short-sleeved crop shirt with Peter Pan collar, £12, Primark
L-R from top left: pale blue blazer, Matalan, pearl detail knit jumper £20 at Primark, Sophia sequin jacket, £99 from Monsoon, pink oversized cableknit jumper, £14, Primark
L-R from top left:Cable knit boots, £19 at Accessorize, Glitter cat ballerina (oh my God three of my favourite things in one shoe) pumps, £17, Accessorize. Angora kitty ears hat, £15, Accessorize, hat, £12 from JOY.
L-R Princess wool coat, £85 from Lipsy, pink collarless coat, £49, Marisota, pale pink crombie, £32, Primark
]]>