Friday, 14 December 2012

Top picks: 3 clay based masks....review!



Question:  In a nutshell what does clay do?

Answer: 
1. Detoxes - Its strong negative charged ions pull and hold positive charged ions (toxins) through adsorption and absorption.2. Balances - Clay is homeostatic. It brings the body into balance.
3. Alkalizes – It has a 8.5-10.0 pH.
4. Stimulates – It draws blood flow, oxygen and circulation for cellular
repair. 

So.... what does that mean in terms of what it does for the skin, it brightens dull lacklustre skin, keeps skin clear & clean, it helps absorb excess sebum (keeping skin matte) but the below clay masks I like because they do not leave skin *tight* or uncomfortable, they all leave skin very healthy and glowing. The below are masks that I personally use and find them to be ultra effective and do not irritate nor break my skin out,



Best super quick mask- 3 to 5 mins:


Sisley Radiant Glow Mask- 60ml aound £60.00

What they say: An absorbent express mask that perfectly and gently cleanses the skin’s surface for a quick beauty boost.

The highly absorbent power of red and white clays, combined with botanical extracts (Carrot, Red Vine and Rose-Hip), and essential oils (Rosemary and Chamomile) helps to get rid of impurities that dull the complexion and very gently deep-cleanse the skin. 
In just 5 minutes, this mask absorbs excess sebum, providing radiance and clarity. Its soft, supple, non-drying texture avoids all tight-skin sensations and is gentle on the skin’s hydrolipidic film. 
Key ingredients:

  • White Clay: helps to absorb excess sebum
  • Red Clay: helps to absorb excess sebum
  • Carrot: revitalizes
  • Rosehip: tones
  • Vegetable Glycerin: moisturising
  • Chamomile (Oil): calms
  • Rosemary (Oil): purifies
  • Red Vine: boosts surface microcirculation

  • Why I rate it: It is soft and creamy does not *dry* on the skin, is amazing for all skin types and I even have this mask in my kit as a pick-me-up for any skin that needs some TLC, it softens and brightens and does it in the miraculous time of 3 minutes, it leaves skin very soft and smooth, with a gorgeous healthy glow.


    Best *pure* clay mask it is 100% white clay only:



    SHEATERRA Organics-  Madagascar white clay- $24 59ml
    What they say:Women of Madagascar have brilliantly flawless skin. Largely living under the poverty line, not being able to afford expensive washes, masks and beauty creams, how come their skin is often more beautiful than people who spend thousands to look good? Their secret is in the mask. Exotic pictures of the Malagassy people often pop up here and there with their white painted faces. This is not voodoo or animism. This is a beauty ritual that dates back thousands of years.
         The Malagassy women of Madagascar apply to their faces a special white clay that they source from the wild of their island nation. They wear the mask to protect their faces from the sun and to maintain flawless skin without the use of sometimes hard to find and or afford soaps. The clay draws out impurities in the skin bringing them to white heads which can then be extracted. Unlike many white clays, the white clay of Madagascar does not dry out skin. In fact it leaves the skin pleasantly soft.
    Ingredients: simply 100% Madagascan white clay

    Why I rate it: I was given this by a friend in the US and she swore by it. I mixed it into a paste and applied it to clean skin and left for 10 minutes (you can leave up to 30 minutes) and then rinsed off- WOW!!! My skin looked clear and refreshed literally *alive*, it is so pure and the complexion feels very soft after using. Beg a friend in the US to order 1 for you or purchase 1 from Amazon, it is that good!
    N.B: With it being Madagascan Clay I obvs had this mental picture of the Ring tailed Lemurs chilling with clay masks on  (I know, I know) :)

    Best multi tasker & hi tech mask:


    GLAMGLOW- 50 ml £39.00
    It contains & what they say: 
    Teaoxi™ – The patent pending formula is GLAMGLOW’s time-release technology. It delivers Super-Squalene, EGCG Super-Antioxidants and Polyphenols directly into the mud from real pieces of Tea Leaf. TEAOXI™ brightens the complexion and protects against free radicals while hydrating and balancing oil levels in the skin.
    Volcanic Minerals – These ancient rock minerals exfoliate and stimulate microcirculation, brighten and awaken the skin, reduce puffiness, detoxify, reduce under-eye circles and smooth fine lines while softening the skin’s texture to reveal a more youthful complexion
    French Sea Clay – The French Sea Clay – when combined with TEAOXI™ creates a tingling sensation – 12 hours of Collagen Synthesis and increased circulation is the result. French Sea Clay absorbs impurities and toxic substances reducing pore size and helping to look younger by reducing the appearance of fine lines.
    Why I rate it: It is very deep cleansing, is double duty as it exfoliates the skin when you remove in circular movements, it does  have a cooling, tingling sensation and skin looks very bright and refreshed afterwards, I leave this on personally for about 5 minutes, skin looks clear and accepts any moisturiser more readily .



    Monday, 10 December 2012

    Hair and make up work for music video for: Dunk N'Alien


                          Artist: Dunk N' Alien, Director: John Brown, Production Company: Just a Little

    Dunk N' Alien are a house music duo from Italy and this is their latest track *Deliver Me*, the story in the video is quite self explanatory and was great fun to shoot.  Make up & hair when filming has to be quick sometimes you have 15 minutes max for hair and make up for a character so you have to work fast and you have to mindful of continuity from scene to scene- no pressure at all :)

    Lashes... UPDATE with the Boots No7 Fanomenal Lash serum.

    So, I have used the serum solidly for about 3 weeks in my upper and lower lashes and through my brows. and I am very, very happy with the results so far, I don't feel my brows and lashes are darker but lashes are noticeably thicker and definitely *framing* my eyes more but the result in the brows has been tremendous. The brows are thicker and fuller and I am so happy with the progress.
    My brows were too thin, over-plucking and being 40 I have definitely noticed that they were thinning a little and this can be very ageing as we all know how great brows *frame the face*
    If I felt that there was very little change I would definitely  have given up but....I am going to persevere for the full 8 weeks as I have been so impressed.
    PS: Sorry for so many pictures of my phizog/visage but I thought that I would show the progress with some different combinations :)
    Bare lashes and brows.
    Groomed brows, clear mascara & liquid liner
    Groomed brows and 1 coat of No7 Fanomenal lash mascara & eye pencil blended out.

    Some behind the scenes shots of my work SS13 trend looks.

    Flawless skin with defined eyes.

    Soft, Spring Summer trend look.


    Spring Summer 2013 trend look

    Contouring to accentuate the fabulous bone structure of Hannah

    Vintage YSL feel with very *rouged* lips.



    Juicy lips with defined eyes

    Red Matte lips with bronzed eyes SS13 trend look.
    It has turned freezing cold but I have been experimenting with some SS13 looks which has been so much fun, contouring to really enhance the bone structure very flawless and velvety smooth skin. Bronzed eyes and very *statement* lips. The models are the gorgeous Hannah and Pia.

    Wednesday, 5 December 2012

    Actor:Rupert Evans shoot- Wall Street Journal

    Rupert Evans  Photographer: Andrea Vecchiato  Grooming: Me
    This shoot with Rupert Evans was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal.

    To read the accompanying interview the link is below:

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324352004578136991851129384.html

    A recent editorial shoot.

    Photographer: Charlotte Stone,Model: Lucy Cates, Hair: Peachy stylist, Stylist: Stephanie Wedge, Make up: Me
    I wanted to create a flawless porcelain base, contour the cheeks, lips were kept quite subtle but eyes were stronger and defined.

    Tuesday, 27 November 2012

    Redken Sheer Straight 06 review.........lazy girl's blow dry in a tube.

    Redken-Sheer Straight around £12
    OK, I have been a bit naughty and not used this exactly how it is meant to be used.... you are meant to take a coin size amount, work it through damp hair and blow dry and then run some straightening irons through the hair afterwards (if needed), ok there is a flaw in the above, blow dry, I have not blow dried my hair whilst using this as I frankly never blow dry my hair, I let my hair dry naturally and an in this instance took some straighteners through the front of my hair and that is it.I even tried it without doing *anything*  just brushing it through and letting it dry naturally and it gave me silky/smooth waves (think Veronica Lake-ish) very, very loosely *ish* as in I wish :) but it was lovely and smooth.

    My hair left to dry naturally without a styling product. A bit *fluffy*.
    As you can see my hair is definitely wavy pretty much all the way through the length, I don't *hate* it but I do love having relatively sleek hair every once in a while.
    After using the Redken Sheer straight 06, no blow drying but straightening irons through the front.
    My hair had dried so much straighter and was without  the conspicuous *wave* that it normally has, so straightening irons just slid through my hair and I definitely looked more *groomed* than normal without having to succumb to a blow dry. I have used it several times now and I am impressed with the results as it actually feels very lightweight and has little to zero *faf* factor as in great for lazy people like me, that pretty much just washes their hair uses minimal styling product and heads out the door with soaking wet hair.
    I will try it whilst blow drying my hair ( when I have time) ha ha ha.

    Saturday, 24 November 2012

    Barely there skin tints/bases, top picks NARS, Perricone & Cosmetics A La Carte!

    To some people the very, very sheer base that literally has little to absolute minimal coverage must seem like the Emperor's new clothes of make up, in the respect that the base *does not show* and ironically the absolute best are not exactly cheap. But.........I do believe that these are worth it (sorry no reference to L'Oreal there at all just merely coincidental) cackle, cackle!
    Perfect if you want a natural,sheer base!


    NARS- Sheer glow- £29.50/30ml 20 shades

    A cult favourite, very light textured, blends seamlessly to create a bare skin look, a fantastic array of shades, very natural slightly dewy finish. It is very sheer, but is buildable if you want to achieve more coverage. This base creates a barely there finish but it is almost like a delicately perfected version of your own skin.
    Perricone MD- No Foundation Foundation £45.00/30ml 1 shade- SPF30
    This is a richer texture to the other 2 as it has a more of a *treatment* base, it is 1 shade that blends into the skin the actual shade is a neutral mid tone, so will not be great for the very palest and the deeper skin tone, but will work for most Light to Medium/Deep skin tones, texture wise it has a beautiful *creamy* feel but it is not greasy. It evens out the skin tone, tones down redness and gives skin a beautifully radiant finish.
    Cosmetics a La Carte Moisture Tint Foundation-£36.00/30 ml 11 shades and option of custom blend shades SPF 25.
    Feather light, sheer formula that looks invisible but creates a beautiful, glowing finish that truly looks like a 2nd skin. Very *comfortable* on the skin and disappears, evens out skin tone and gently reduces redness. It is the perfect minimalist base.
     
    A sheer/glowing base- my work.
    A sheer base for a natural beauty look-my work.
    Buzz kill I know- but my 40 year old skin with a sheer glow base (not just for models).
    Gone BUT NOT FORGOTTEN- this was the original *real skin* base.

    Or you can *sheer* out liquid foundations with a drop or 2 of facial oil like Nude ProGenius mixed into your regular base, just mix on the back of your hand or in a mixing tray which will give you an idea of whether this look is for you.

    Thursday, 22 November 2012

    Davines....hair *miracles* MELU shampoo & conditioner!

    MELU shampoo with Spinach extract
    MELU conditioner with apricot butter 
    Sensitive skin can mean a sensitive scalp which means some of the most *high end* but over perfumed products can create a sore/itchy scalp. But some of the traditional *green brands* are just not effective when you have coloured/fragile or very dry hair. This leads me to Davines a brand that uses fantastic ingredients, has an extensive range with something for all hair types, some amazing treatments and styling products. I have been using the MELU shampoo & conditioner for some weeks and I have been so impressed. It is developed for fragile hair especially longer hair that is prone to *breaking* which is very much my hair.
    This duo leaves hair very soft, shiny and hydrated, my hair definitely feels stronger. My scalp feels very clean but not irritated at all. There is a light *fresh* fragrance and very textures are creamy and sumptuous.