In the beauty industry there are constantly new formulations and ingredients on the market. In the last 10 years, the biggest new influence in the industry is the influx of natural or botanical products. As we are becoming a more environmentally aware world, consumers are wanting to get back to nature to truly find out what it has to offer.
Naturally derived products were the origin of cosmetics (think back to Cleopatra lathering her face and hair in olive oil every day and taking milk baths), yet it is only in recent times that we have come back to this and moved away from the once scientific focus. With the introduction of these natural and botanical products, specialized companies have been appearing throughout department stores all over the world to fulfill this consumer demand.
These products tout many things including, organic, 100% natural and botanical which gets consumers believing that what they are buying is going to be better for their skin as well as helping the environment. What many aren’t aware of is that although many love the feel and smell of these products, there can be draw backs. Here is a list of the positives and negatives of natural and botanical products for you to consider next time you’re looking to try something new.
Positives:
They smell heavenly
They focus on the basic necessities of skin care without all the added marketing hype of anti-aging, skin lightening, etc.
They are better for the environment with some companies such as Cargo even encasing their products in environmentally friendly packaging.
Some people find they react better with their skin than chemical based products.
They are generally cheaper as they don’t have expensive ‘fillers’ that take a lot of time and money because of the scientific research needed.
Negatives:
· They don’t have as long a shelf life as there are little or no preservatives (many even need refrigeration)
· Many naturally derived extracts, such as lavender, are irritants to the skin. Many people believe that just because a product is natural, it won’t irritate the skin, but this is not true.
As with any product there is always going to be positives and negatives to it’s benefits. When it comes to choosing between chemical or botanical based products, it mostly comes down to personal preference. Some consumers like the idea that hours and hours of research has bee conducted in a lab and their product contains every new anti-aging ingredient possible (whether it works or not!). Others prefer their cosmetics to provide them with a holistic experience and are more focused on the smell of the product and the idea that it is derived from nature in all its beauty. It is worth trying products from both these sources to make your own decision, yet be aware that no matter the origin of the product, there is still the possibility that you may have an adverse reaction. As with most products, try on your jaw line and neck for three days to see how your skin responds.
If you are interested in trying some of the natural and botanical products available, here are the leading brands to look out for; Aesop, Jurlique, Est., Natural Instincts, Dr.Hauschka, Aveda and L’Occitane. If you have read my articles in the past, you’ll be aware that I personally love natural products as I find the experience of putting on and removing them refreshing and luxurious and a process I look forward to morning and night. So if you have the tendency to be a little slack with your beauty routine, maybe try finding some products that you truly love, and you’ll be more inclined to stick with it.
Monday 2 July 2007
Monday 25 June 2007
“Who really runs the beauty industry, the manufacturers or consumers?”
On many of our beauty products, we see the recommended use-by-dates that tell us how often we should purchase replacements for them. This is quite a controversial topic with two main opinion camps. The first camp believes that consumers should adhere to these recommendations for health and safety reasons and the second camp believes it is purely an industry driven marketing ploy to con consumers into purchasing more products than is really necessary. So which do we believe? Well, personally I believe that it depends on the product.
Moisturizers generally have a recommended use-by date of 12 months and are usually in container sizes which should last about 3 months. So if you don’t use your product up within 12 months, will you have a horrid reaction and be disfigured for life? The general answer to this is simply, no. After 12 months, many of the active ingredients in products are de-activated due to exposure to oxygen, this does not result however, in a rancid product. Unless it smells off, and trust me when I say that you will know when this has happened, your moisturizer will still provide you with moisture and protection from the elements, so there is no reason that you cannot continue using it.
This is generally the rule for all cream based products; unless they smell rancid, they are still effective in their primary objective, providing moisture. The added ingredients in products which claim to have the extra benefits such as anti-aging, are the ingredients which have a use-by date and may lose their efficacy over time. One thing to be aware of is that natural, botanical products tend to have a shorter life span than chemical based products as they have less preservatives. Yet once again, you will be able to smell when they have gone off.
Mascaras are also a big product of concern when is comes to use-by dates. Some people believe that you should replace your mascara after one month, some after three months and other simply believe that you should throw it out when it is finished. Firstly the key thing to note is that if the beauty manufacturers were truly concerned with the damage a mascara could do after one or three months, then why aren’t they making the tubes a smaller size that only contain a months worth of product? I believe that you can use a mascara until you have used it all up, as long as you do not share it with anyone else. Any products which you use around the eye area should never be shared between friends or family as there are many contagious infections which can be spread through shared products.
On this topic, many believe that the beauty industry leaders are just out to bleed as much money as they can out of this lucrative market; so a few tips have emerged to make sure you do not become a victim to the sometimes ridiculous demands of product re-purchasing.
Problem: Dried up, clumpy mascara.
Solution: Place just boiled water into a mug and place your mascara tub in the mug so that the water comes up to just below the opening of the tube. Leave to sit for a about 5 minutes (the tube may warp slightly from the heat, but this wont affect the product adversely). Then remove the mascara tube and you will find that the product has loosened away from the edges and un-clumped. This will give you months more usage out of your product.
Problem: Nail polish drying up in the bottle.
Solution: Add a little nail polish remover to the nail polish bottle and shake well. This will water down and thin the product slightly and give it a new lease of life.
Problem: Foundation has separated.
Solution: Simply shake or stir the bottle to mix together. This tends to happen more in products with a higher oil content, yet if after stirring or shaking the product continues to separate, return it to the retail outlet as it is most probably faulty.
When it comes to your products, as long as it is only you who is using them, generally you are the best judge of if they need replacing or not. You will be able to smell if they have gone off, feel if the consistency has changed or are not getting the same sensation upon application. If you simply pay a little attention to your products, you will know when the time is right to go out and re-purchase. Try to be aware, however, when cosmetic companies have their sales and gifts-with-purchase, and time your shopping around these to get the most value for you dollar.
Moisturizers generally have a recommended use-by date of 12 months and are usually in container sizes which should last about 3 months. So if you don’t use your product up within 12 months, will you have a horrid reaction and be disfigured for life? The general answer to this is simply, no. After 12 months, many of the active ingredients in products are de-activated due to exposure to oxygen, this does not result however, in a rancid product. Unless it smells off, and trust me when I say that you will know when this has happened, your moisturizer will still provide you with moisture and protection from the elements, so there is no reason that you cannot continue using it.
This is generally the rule for all cream based products; unless they smell rancid, they are still effective in their primary objective, providing moisture. The added ingredients in products which claim to have the extra benefits such as anti-aging, are the ingredients which have a use-by date and may lose their efficacy over time. One thing to be aware of is that natural, botanical products tend to have a shorter life span than chemical based products as they have less preservatives. Yet once again, you will be able to smell when they have gone off.
Mascaras are also a big product of concern when is comes to use-by dates. Some people believe that you should replace your mascara after one month, some after three months and other simply believe that you should throw it out when it is finished. Firstly the key thing to note is that if the beauty manufacturers were truly concerned with the damage a mascara could do after one or three months, then why aren’t they making the tubes a smaller size that only contain a months worth of product? I believe that you can use a mascara until you have used it all up, as long as you do not share it with anyone else. Any products which you use around the eye area should never be shared between friends or family as there are many contagious infections which can be spread through shared products.
On this topic, many believe that the beauty industry leaders are just out to bleed as much money as they can out of this lucrative market; so a few tips have emerged to make sure you do not become a victim to the sometimes ridiculous demands of product re-purchasing.
Problem: Dried up, clumpy mascara.
Solution: Place just boiled water into a mug and place your mascara tub in the mug so that the water comes up to just below the opening of the tube. Leave to sit for a about 5 minutes (the tube may warp slightly from the heat, but this wont affect the product adversely). Then remove the mascara tube and you will find that the product has loosened away from the edges and un-clumped. This will give you months more usage out of your product.
Problem: Nail polish drying up in the bottle.
Solution: Add a little nail polish remover to the nail polish bottle and shake well. This will water down and thin the product slightly and give it a new lease of life.
Problem: Foundation has separated.
Solution: Simply shake or stir the bottle to mix together. This tends to happen more in products with a higher oil content, yet if after stirring or shaking the product continues to separate, return it to the retail outlet as it is most probably faulty.
When it comes to your products, as long as it is only you who is using them, generally you are the best judge of if they need replacing or not. You will be able to smell if they have gone off, feel if the consistency has changed or are not getting the same sensation upon application. If you simply pay a little attention to your products, you will know when the time is right to go out and re-purchase. Try to be aware, however, when cosmetic companies have their sales and gifts-with-purchase, and time your shopping around these to get the most value for you dollar.
Monday 11 June 2007
“Sex appeal is fifty percent what you’ve got, and fifty percent what people think you’ve got.” -Sophia Loren
Sexy, Sultry, Rock‘n’Roll and Classic, the ‘Smokey Eye’ is one of the most highly sought after make-up designs I find as a Make-Up Artist. Donned by style icons all over the world, such as Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Nicole Ritchie and Mischa Barton; the ‘Smokey Eye’ can suit most women no matter what their colouring. Many women, however, tend to be scared of applying it to themselves, even though it will no doubt enhance their undeniable sex appeal.
Most women don’t realise this, but the ‘Smokey Eye’ is actually one of the easiest designs to achieve as it follows the natural contours of the eye using only 2 to 3 colours. What many women also don’t realise is that the ‘Smokey Eye’ design isn’t limited to blacks and greys. In fact you can use almost any colour you wish, simply following the same application technique. So here is your step by step application guide.
1) Apply a base concealer to the eye lid such as Ultima II Crease Not Fade Not for $26. This will even out the skin tone of the eye lid, as well as providing a base for the shadow to adhere to so it will last longer throughout the day.
2) Apply a base eye shadow colour such as an Ivory or Cream tone from the lash line all the way up to your brow bone (try Estee Lauder’s Ivory Box Shadow). This light colour will also act as your highlighter on your brow, creating a more ‘lifted’ eye area.
3) With your chosen ‘Smokey’ colour, (whether it is a traditional black or maybe something a little brighter such as a purple); using a dome eye shadow brush, apply the colour on the mobile lid. The mobile lid is the area from your lash line (following your lashes from the inner to the outer corner of your eye), up to your socket line (which is the ‘crease’ of the eye lid where the eyeball ends).
4) After you have applied the eye shadow colour; using a clean, blending brush, blend the edge of the colour so it fades into nothing. Simply run your blending brush along the line edge line you have created with your colour to diffuse it out. This should result in a look of the ‘Smokey’ colour blending seamlessly into you chosen base colour.
5) Now line the eye with an eyeliner pencil; MAC Powerpoint Liners are great because they last fantastically throughout the day and have a great colour range. The eyeliner on the top of the lash line can either run from the centre of the eye and outwards, which creates an open, lifted looking eye; or running all the way along the lash line, from the inner to the outer corner, for a more dramatic effect.
6) Follow this with liner on the bottom lash line (under your eye), running the pencil from the inner to the outer corner of the eye. To make this last longer, set the pencil line with the same coloured eye shadow over the top of the liner with a small liner brush. For example, if you have lined your eyes with a black liner, once you have achieved the line you want, set the pencil with some black eye shadow directly over the top of the pencil line. This will give you a more intense colour and longer lasting liner.
7) You can also follow this with liner on the inner rim of the eye, however, if you have sensitive or extremely small eyes, avoid this step.
8) To complete the ‘Smokey Eye’ Look, lashings of black mascara on the top and bottom lashes are needed. This will open up the eyes and pull the whole look together with a beautiful dramatic effect. My favourite dramatic mascara is MaxFactor 2000 Calorie in black for 300% more volume.
As with any new make-up look, practice makes perfect; so try this design again and again to master it. What is imperative for this look to work, however, is the blending of the colours. No matter what colours you have chosen, you do not want people to be able to detect where one colour ends and another one begins, so blend the line away. To achieve this, a blending brush is essential, and I love the Napoleon Perdis ‘Deer Foot’ blending brush. An odd name, granted, but it will make sense when you see its shape. This makes the blending process much easier and is a must for any make-up kit.
So next time you have an event to go to, or just want a sexy new look, try the ‘Smokey Eye’ look. If you are still a little apprehensive, however, book yourself in to a MAC or Napoleon counter for a make-up consultation. Both these companies guarantee all of their staff are qualified Make-Up Artists, and during your lesson watch the step by step application and ask as many questions as you need so you can re-create the look at home.
Most women don’t realise this, but the ‘Smokey Eye’ is actually one of the easiest designs to achieve as it follows the natural contours of the eye using only 2 to 3 colours. What many women also don’t realise is that the ‘Smokey Eye’ design isn’t limited to blacks and greys. In fact you can use almost any colour you wish, simply following the same application technique. So here is your step by step application guide.
1) Apply a base concealer to the eye lid such as Ultima II Crease Not Fade Not for $26. This will even out the skin tone of the eye lid, as well as providing a base for the shadow to adhere to so it will last longer throughout the day.
2) Apply a base eye shadow colour such as an Ivory or Cream tone from the lash line all the way up to your brow bone (try Estee Lauder’s Ivory Box Shadow). This light colour will also act as your highlighter on your brow, creating a more ‘lifted’ eye area.
3) With your chosen ‘Smokey’ colour, (whether it is a traditional black or maybe something a little brighter such as a purple); using a dome eye shadow brush, apply the colour on the mobile lid. The mobile lid is the area from your lash line (following your lashes from the inner to the outer corner of your eye), up to your socket line (which is the ‘crease’ of the eye lid where the eyeball ends).
4) After you have applied the eye shadow colour; using a clean, blending brush, blend the edge of the colour so it fades into nothing. Simply run your blending brush along the line edge line you have created with your colour to diffuse it out. This should result in a look of the ‘Smokey’ colour blending seamlessly into you chosen base colour.
5) Now line the eye with an eyeliner pencil; MAC Powerpoint Liners are great because they last fantastically throughout the day and have a great colour range. The eyeliner on the top of the lash line can either run from the centre of the eye and outwards, which creates an open, lifted looking eye; or running all the way along the lash line, from the inner to the outer corner, for a more dramatic effect.
6) Follow this with liner on the bottom lash line (under your eye), running the pencil from the inner to the outer corner of the eye. To make this last longer, set the pencil line with the same coloured eye shadow over the top of the liner with a small liner brush. For example, if you have lined your eyes with a black liner, once you have achieved the line you want, set the pencil with some black eye shadow directly over the top of the pencil line. This will give you a more intense colour and longer lasting liner.
7) You can also follow this with liner on the inner rim of the eye, however, if you have sensitive or extremely small eyes, avoid this step.
8) To complete the ‘Smokey Eye’ Look, lashings of black mascara on the top and bottom lashes are needed. This will open up the eyes and pull the whole look together with a beautiful dramatic effect. My favourite dramatic mascara is MaxFactor 2000 Calorie in black for 300% more volume.
As with any new make-up look, practice makes perfect; so try this design again and again to master it. What is imperative for this look to work, however, is the blending of the colours. No matter what colours you have chosen, you do not want people to be able to detect where one colour ends and another one begins, so blend the line away. To achieve this, a blending brush is essential, and I love the Napoleon Perdis ‘Deer Foot’ blending brush. An odd name, granted, but it will make sense when you see its shape. This makes the blending process much easier and is a must for any make-up kit.
So next time you have an event to go to, or just want a sexy new look, try the ‘Smokey Eye’ look. If you are still a little apprehensive, however, book yourself in to a MAC or Napoleon counter for a make-up consultation. Both these companies guarantee all of their staff are qualified Make-Up Artists, and during your lesson watch the step by step application and ask as many questions as you need so you can re-create the look at home.
Monday 4 June 2007
"Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success." -Christopher Lasch
The current celebrity culture is one which is overwhelming and disturbing on so many levels. We are constantly bombarded with images of celebrities, and seem to have an insatiable appetite for knowing every little thing about them. We constantly compare ourselves to them, admiring their polished and refined looks. Yet do we really need to spend thousands of dollars a week to achieve this picture perfect look?
Not many of us can afford the time to work out for 5 hours a day, 7 days a week to get that killer body; as well as having personal chefs to provide us with calorie controlled meals 3 times a day. Although I’m also sure we would all love to have the celebrity treatment of a facial, manicure, pedicure, blow dry, massage, body polish, lash tint, brow wax, body wax and spray tan, at LEAST once a week, for most of us, time and money will not permit it. So it’s no wonder these celebrities are setting the expectations for females so unrealistically high, that we are constantly feeling cheated in comparison.
There are, however, ways to get that celebrity glow of a laid back, luxurious lifestyle on all budgets. The first key is to put yourself first with a little self pampering. In our busy lives, most of us don’t have the time or money to go to the day spa weekly, yet we still want some sort of a ‘time-out’. Why not then, make an appointment in your diary for 2 hours every week (Sunday is ideal), for some much needed R&R time at home?
The celebrity polished and refined look begins with a flawless complexion and one key to obtaining that glowing skin is to relax. Our skin reacts poorly to stress which then inevitably leads to added anxiety about the tired state of our skin. A cruel cycle I know. So why not give your self a weekly facial? Turn on your favourite relaxing music and have a bath to warm up and soften the skin, and while you’re in the bath, this is a perfect opportunity to get that body exfoliation underway; try MOR Jasmine Tea Whipped Body Scrub $ 29.95. After your bath, treat your body to a beautifully luxurious body balm which can be matched to your body scrub; try MOR Jasmine Tea Body Butter $29.95 which smells heavenly, and wrap yourself in a fluffy bath robe. For the face, all you need is your skin care products from your daily routine, plus a masque which has similar benefits to your moisturizer, yet in a higher concentration, I love Jurlique Intense Recovery Mask 125ml for $100. Simply cleanse, tone and exfoliate as usual, and then liberally apply your face mask, massaging the skin as you go. This usually needs to be left on for 10-15 minutes, so why not sit and read your favourite magazine to catch up on the latest fashion trends and Hollywood gossip? Then wash off your masque and apply your normal moisturiser, and leave your face free of make-up. Let your face breathe and be fresh and enjoy the clean sensation your facial leaves.
Now for your manicure and pedicure. Many don’t realise this, but your nails tell people a lot about yourself. Chipped polish with dry, cracked cuticles looks messy and un-kempt; which leads to other questions about your personal hygiene. Once a week is a minimum for a manicure, and this may just mean a quick file and base coat. If you do decide to add a coloured polish, one of my favourites is Chanel Le Verins in Ballerina $37, you must remove it or touch-up as soon as it chips. This goes the same for you pedicure, however you’ll probably find that your pedicure lasts longer than your manicure.
Other tricks to maintain that celebrity polished look throughout the week include:-
Moisturise your body every day either with a body lotion or body oil such as The Body Shop Massage Oil. This comes in a variety of sizes and they allow you to add your own choice of fragrance to the oil.
Scrape dry cracked heels and follow with a rich moisturizer. This works really well at night if you then put on cotton socks and go to bed, allowing the moisturiser to sink in throughout the night.
Give your hair a treatment masque; RPR Repair My Hair with Aloe and Coconut Cream $17.95 has a lovely summery scent and leaves hair feeling silky smooth.
We should all exercise at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes and eat as healthily as possible as these will also help promote a healthy glow, but we do still need that treat occasionally! Also remember to maintain your waxing appointments every 4 weeks and if the budget will stretch, a facial at a day spa once a month.
We all compare ourselves to the celebrity images we see day in day out, yet what we need to remember is that they have the finances and time to be able to HIRE people to keep them looking polished and refined. If you remember to look after yourself no matter how hectic your life may get, you’ll always be one step ahead. People will admire your ‘effortless’ style and you’ll feel less stressed because you’ll look less stressed. So if you give yourself a little ‘me-time’ you’ll be on your way to getting that celebrity refined and polished look of a laid back luxurious lifestyle. Yet you also need to remember, in the media you will NEVER see a photo that has not been altered in some way, so what you see in the magazines is not necessarily how they look in reality!
Not many of us can afford the time to work out for 5 hours a day, 7 days a week to get that killer body; as well as having personal chefs to provide us with calorie controlled meals 3 times a day. Although I’m also sure we would all love to have the celebrity treatment of a facial, manicure, pedicure, blow dry, massage, body polish, lash tint, brow wax, body wax and spray tan, at LEAST once a week, for most of us, time and money will not permit it. So it’s no wonder these celebrities are setting the expectations for females so unrealistically high, that we are constantly feeling cheated in comparison.
There are, however, ways to get that celebrity glow of a laid back, luxurious lifestyle on all budgets. The first key is to put yourself first with a little self pampering. In our busy lives, most of us don’t have the time or money to go to the day spa weekly, yet we still want some sort of a ‘time-out’. Why not then, make an appointment in your diary for 2 hours every week (Sunday is ideal), for some much needed R&R time at home?
The celebrity polished and refined look begins with a flawless complexion and one key to obtaining that glowing skin is to relax. Our skin reacts poorly to stress which then inevitably leads to added anxiety about the tired state of our skin. A cruel cycle I know. So why not give your self a weekly facial? Turn on your favourite relaxing music and have a bath to warm up and soften the skin, and while you’re in the bath, this is a perfect opportunity to get that body exfoliation underway; try MOR Jasmine Tea Whipped Body Scrub $ 29.95. After your bath, treat your body to a beautifully luxurious body balm which can be matched to your body scrub; try MOR Jasmine Tea Body Butter $29.95 which smells heavenly, and wrap yourself in a fluffy bath robe. For the face, all you need is your skin care products from your daily routine, plus a masque which has similar benefits to your moisturizer, yet in a higher concentration, I love Jurlique Intense Recovery Mask 125ml for $100. Simply cleanse, tone and exfoliate as usual, and then liberally apply your face mask, massaging the skin as you go. This usually needs to be left on for 10-15 minutes, so why not sit and read your favourite magazine to catch up on the latest fashion trends and Hollywood gossip? Then wash off your masque and apply your normal moisturiser, and leave your face free of make-up. Let your face breathe and be fresh and enjoy the clean sensation your facial leaves.
Now for your manicure and pedicure. Many don’t realise this, but your nails tell people a lot about yourself. Chipped polish with dry, cracked cuticles looks messy and un-kempt; which leads to other questions about your personal hygiene. Once a week is a minimum for a manicure, and this may just mean a quick file and base coat. If you do decide to add a coloured polish, one of my favourites is Chanel Le Verins in Ballerina $37, you must remove it or touch-up as soon as it chips. This goes the same for you pedicure, however you’ll probably find that your pedicure lasts longer than your manicure.
Other tricks to maintain that celebrity polished look throughout the week include:-
Moisturise your body every day either with a body lotion or body oil such as The Body Shop Massage Oil. This comes in a variety of sizes and they allow you to add your own choice of fragrance to the oil.
Scrape dry cracked heels and follow with a rich moisturizer. This works really well at night if you then put on cotton socks and go to bed, allowing the moisturiser to sink in throughout the night.
Give your hair a treatment masque; RPR Repair My Hair with Aloe and Coconut Cream $17.95 has a lovely summery scent and leaves hair feeling silky smooth.
We should all exercise at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes and eat as healthily as possible as these will also help promote a healthy glow, but we do still need that treat occasionally! Also remember to maintain your waxing appointments every 4 weeks and if the budget will stretch, a facial at a day spa once a month.
We all compare ourselves to the celebrity images we see day in day out, yet what we need to remember is that they have the finances and time to be able to HIRE people to keep them looking polished and refined. If you remember to look after yourself no matter how hectic your life may get, you’ll always be one step ahead. People will admire your ‘effortless’ style and you’ll feel less stressed because you’ll look less stressed. So if you give yourself a little ‘me-time’ you’ll be on your way to getting that celebrity refined and polished look of a laid back luxurious lifestyle. Yet you also need to remember, in the media you will NEVER see a photo that has not been altered in some way, so what you see in the magazines is not necessarily how they look in reality!
Tuesday 29 May 2007
"People don't notice it's winter or summer when they're happy." -Anton Ceckhov
With winter knocking at our door, we need to start changing our skin care and make-up routines to suit the climate.
Winter is particularly harsh on our skin as it assaults us with all extremes; the bone chilling cold outside, heart warming heating inside as well as winds, rains, and the never forgiving suns rays of our Australian climate.
So what does this mean for our skin? Protection.
In winter, our skin tends to get dryer from both the cold outside and the heating inside. Both of these have negative affects on our exposed faces, and can results in dry, flaky, uncomfortable skin. No matter what your skin type, winter tends to call for a slightly richer moisturizer to help retain hydration through all conditions. For example, if you usually don’t wear a moisturiser due to oily skin, maybe look at a light lotion or gel for winter. Normal / combination skin which may be used to a lotion may look at a cream for the winter months, and dry skin which is used to a cream, may need to think about an addition such as a face oil to combat the weather.
Most importantly though, is to remember that although we are heading towards the overcast, drizzly days, sunscreen is still vital. The suns rays are comprised to two major levels which affect our skin. Firstly UVB rays, which are the rays which causes the skin to burn in prolonged exposure. Most sunscreens on the market protect against this and the product is rated with the SPF rating. However, UVB rays are not the only ones we need to be wary of. UVA rays are ever present; they can even assault our skin through windows. UVA rays do not burn the skin, and offer no indication that exposure is present. Theses are the rays, however, which cause 80% or aging in the skin, and what we need to protect against the most. Although there is no rating for UVA like there is for UVB rays in our products, there are two main ingredients which you can look for when buying products to make sure you are protected. In a sunscreen product, you need to look at the ingredient listing for either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Even though you may not see the sun in winter, UVA rays are still present, so it is imperative we continue to take care of our skin through these months with a sunscreen everyday.
When it comes to make-up in the winter months, most women need to change the foundation colour. Ideally women should have their foundation colour re-matched twice a year, once in summer as we tend to have a little more colour in our skin, and once in winter, as most of us don out winter white faces. If you have one colour which takes you throughout the whole year, chances are that the colour will never quite match, as in summer it will be too pale, and winter, too dark. So head to your local cosmetics counter and get re-matched for your colour. You may also want a slightly heavier foundation in winter, once again to protect the skin from the dehydration our winter climate causes on the skin. If however you are extremely diligent, as we all should be, with protecting your face from the sun, chances are you are like me, and are ghostly pale all year round, so changing your foundation colour isn’t really relevant. No need to worry though, that’s what bronzers are for, so we don’t look like walking corpses!
Whether you are inside in the heated luxury, or out in the chilling cold, remember, your skin needs protection. Be aware of your skin and its changes, because no one knows you skin like you do.
Winter is particularly harsh on our skin as it assaults us with all extremes; the bone chilling cold outside, heart warming heating inside as well as winds, rains, and the never forgiving suns rays of our Australian climate.
So what does this mean for our skin? Protection.
In winter, our skin tends to get dryer from both the cold outside and the heating inside. Both of these have negative affects on our exposed faces, and can results in dry, flaky, uncomfortable skin. No matter what your skin type, winter tends to call for a slightly richer moisturizer to help retain hydration through all conditions. For example, if you usually don’t wear a moisturiser due to oily skin, maybe look at a light lotion or gel for winter. Normal / combination skin which may be used to a lotion may look at a cream for the winter months, and dry skin which is used to a cream, may need to think about an addition such as a face oil to combat the weather.
Most importantly though, is to remember that although we are heading towards the overcast, drizzly days, sunscreen is still vital. The suns rays are comprised to two major levels which affect our skin. Firstly UVB rays, which are the rays which causes the skin to burn in prolonged exposure. Most sunscreens on the market protect against this and the product is rated with the SPF rating. However, UVB rays are not the only ones we need to be wary of. UVA rays are ever present; they can even assault our skin through windows. UVA rays do not burn the skin, and offer no indication that exposure is present. Theses are the rays, however, which cause 80% or aging in the skin, and what we need to protect against the most. Although there is no rating for UVA like there is for UVB rays in our products, there are two main ingredients which you can look for when buying products to make sure you are protected. In a sunscreen product, you need to look at the ingredient listing for either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Even though you may not see the sun in winter, UVA rays are still present, so it is imperative we continue to take care of our skin through these months with a sunscreen everyday.
When it comes to make-up in the winter months, most women need to change the foundation colour. Ideally women should have their foundation colour re-matched twice a year, once in summer as we tend to have a little more colour in our skin, and once in winter, as most of us don out winter white faces. If you have one colour which takes you throughout the whole year, chances are that the colour will never quite match, as in summer it will be too pale, and winter, too dark. So head to your local cosmetics counter and get re-matched for your colour. You may also want a slightly heavier foundation in winter, once again to protect the skin from the dehydration our winter climate causes on the skin. If however you are extremely diligent, as we all should be, with protecting your face from the sun, chances are you are like me, and are ghostly pale all year round, so changing your foundation colour isn’t really relevant. No need to worry though, that’s what bronzers are for, so we don’t look like walking corpses!
Whether you are inside in the heated luxury, or out in the chilling cold, remember, your skin needs protection. Be aware of your skin and its changes, because no one knows you skin like you do.
Monday 21 May 2007
“The moment you cheat for the sake of beauty, you know you’re an artist.” -David Hockney
Last week, I went through my basic skin care routine as in my profession, I find it is the most common question, “what do I use?” This week, I have compiled my basic make-up routine. This is what I use every day, using the looks that I personally love and find the most natural and flattering. In weeks to come I will go more into detail about other specific make-up looks for other occasions; but this week is my everyday look which is also perfect for beginners.
When compiling your basic make-up collection, it is best to start small and build gradually. Make-up formulations are constantly changing, along with the fashions, so going out and spending potentially thousands of dollars on the here and now of cosmetics is foolish. It is only when you start actually using make-up everyday, and exploring your needs first, that you’ll truly realise what YOU need. So lets start from the top.
The basis for any clean, natural make-up is a flawless base. Although we would all love to be airbrushed every day before we leave the house; for most of us, this is not an option. One cardinal rule to remember when creating your flawless base is that less is more. I have to say I am a convert to this idea, as when the acne prone teenager trying to cover those horrid blemishes, I swore that the more the better. But trust me, it isn’t. No matter what skin conditions you may have, less is more. The reason behind this is simple. As soon as you start covering things up by piling on the cake foundation and heavy concealer, people will see you are trying to do exactly that, cover something up. This leads to the inevitable zoom-in to what you are trying to conceal.
When creating a flawless base, you best option is a dewy one (unless you are exceptionally oily, in which case, chose a matte formula as your natural oils will seep through as the day wears on, to give you a slight gleam.) as this is what looks most natural. If you already have a good complexion to start with, I would simply opt for a tinted moisturiser. This will give you a bit of colour, a little coverage, and ideally, sun protection. I highly recommend Megan Gale Tinted Daywear Invisible Zinc SPF30+ retailing at $21.95 for day time, as it gives a dewy finish, a healthy glow, and best of all, gives SPF30+ protection. For night time, and for those who are after a little more coverage throughout the day, I recommend an oil based foundation. Most women are scared of oils, but don’t be. An oil based foundation tends to have more ‘slide’, so you have more control when applying. It gives you the option to put on a thin layer, or powder and repeat again for a heavier coverage. And it WILL stay on throughout the day as long as you powder it properly. I would recommend Estee Lauder’s Futurist Foundation SPF 15+ retailing at $69. Although it is marketed at a mature skin, all this means for this foundation, as well as mature skin foundations on the market, is that is an oil based foundation. Having a higher oil contend ultimately leads to a dewy finish and hydration for a dryer skin.
After you have your base, simply conceal where you need that little bit of extra coverage, for example, under the eyes or a blemish. I would recommend Bobbi Brown for concealers as they are a great consistency and give good coverage without going flakey. Remember, however, to powder both your concealer and foundation, as this will stop it creasing, fading, wearing off, and even out shine.
For a natural, basic, everyday make-up look, all that is left to do is add a lick of mascara and blush. Both are essential as mascara will open up your eyes, and blush will put a desired flush back on your face that foundation takes away. These both result in a healthy, awake look. For the daytime blush, I would recommend a cream blush, and MAC have a fantastic range. Mascaras, however are harder to pinpoint. The range is huge, and for around $12 you can get some fantastic ones. If you don’t already have a favourite, start with Maybelline or MaxFactor. Both are widely used by make-up artists, have a great reputation, offer various consistencies, and don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Before you walk out the door, however, I would recommend one more step, Lip Gloss, and I am so excited to tell you about my latest find. At the supermarket for $4.95, you can get the new Nivea Lip Care Gloss in natural. It last well, gives a great, non sticky shine, and is perfect to finish of your new natural look.
When compiling your basic make-up collection, it is best to start small and build gradually. Make-up formulations are constantly changing, along with the fashions, so going out and spending potentially thousands of dollars on the here and now of cosmetics is foolish. It is only when you start actually using make-up everyday, and exploring your needs first, that you’ll truly realise what YOU need. So lets start from the top.
The basis for any clean, natural make-up is a flawless base. Although we would all love to be airbrushed every day before we leave the house; for most of us, this is not an option. One cardinal rule to remember when creating your flawless base is that less is more. I have to say I am a convert to this idea, as when the acne prone teenager trying to cover those horrid blemishes, I swore that the more the better. But trust me, it isn’t. No matter what skin conditions you may have, less is more. The reason behind this is simple. As soon as you start covering things up by piling on the cake foundation and heavy concealer, people will see you are trying to do exactly that, cover something up. This leads to the inevitable zoom-in to what you are trying to conceal.
When creating a flawless base, you best option is a dewy one (unless you are exceptionally oily, in which case, chose a matte formula as your natural oils will seep through as the day wears on, to give you a slight gleam.) as this is what looks most natural. If you already have a good complexion to start with, I would simply opt for a tinted moisturiser. This will give you a bit of colour, a little coverage, and ideally, sun protection. I highly recommend Megan Gale Tinted Daywear Invisible Zinc SPF30+ retailing at $21.95 for day time, as it gives a dewy finish, a healthy glow, and best of all, gives SPF30+ protection. For night time, and for those who are after a little more coverage throughout the day, I recommend an oil based foundation. Most women are scared of oils, but don’t be. An oil based foundation tends to have more ‘slide’, so you have more control when applying. It gives you the option to put on a thin layer, or powder and repeat again for a heavier coverage. And it WILL stay on throughout the day as long as you powder it properly. I would recommend Estee Lauder’s Futurist Foundation SPF 15+ retailing at $69. Although it is marketed at a mature skin, all this means for this foundation, as well as mature skin foundations on the market, is that is an oil based foundation. Having a higher oil contend ultimately leads to a dewy finish and hydration for a dryer skin.
After you have your base, simply conceal where you need that little bit of extra coverage, for example, under the eyes or a blemish. I would recommend Bobbi Brown for concealers as they are a great consistency and give good coverage without going flakey. Remember, however, to powder both your concealer and foundation, as this will stop it creasing, fading, wearing off, and even out shine.
For a natural, basic, everyday make-up look, all that is left to do is add a lick of mascara and blush. Both are essential as mascara will open up your eyes, and blush will put a desired flush back on your face that foundation takes away. These both result in a healthy, awake look. For the daytime blush, I would recommend a cream blush, and MAC have a fantastic range. Mascaras, however are harder to pinpoint. The range is huge, and for around $12 you can get some fantastic ones. If you don’t already have a favourite, start with Maybelline or MaxFactor. Both are widely used by make-up artists, have a great reputation, offer various consistencies, and don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Before you walk out the door, however, I would recommend one more step, Lip Gloss, and I am so excited to tell you about my latest find. At the supermarket for $4.95, you can get the new Nivea Lip Care Gloss in natural. It last well, gives a great, non sticky shine, and is perfect to finish of your new natural look.
Monday 14 May 2007
"All my possessions for a moment in time." -Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603)
The most common question I get asked as a Make-Up Artist and Beauty Editor is ‘what products do you use?’ This question seems strange to a certain extent as a skin care and make-up regimen is so unique to a woman’s personal skin type and style, that the products that someone else uses may not suit you. However, I do also understand the logic in this question. With the overwhelming beauty industry out there, people want a sense of security that if they follow exact suit in what I am doing, that they will somehow be on the right track.
So it is with that thought that I am going to offer you my idea of your basic skin care and make-up needs. This will not only include the products that I have personally tried, tested and loved, but also those which I recommend for various skin types.
I personally have extremely dry skin, partly hereditary, and partly due to the fact that I used to suffer from Acne, and subsequently dried my skin out in a bid to stop break outs. Due to the age old tradition that we always want what we can’t have, therefore, I am on the constant search for products that are going to give me that lovely dewy look to hide my dry skin.
As the list is fairly long, I am going to break it down into two weeks. This week is Skin Care.
Step 1 of your basic routine is Cleansing.
This should be done morning and night and my personal favourite for all skin types is Cetaphill Cleanser. This product not only removes make-up and dirt, but also lathers slightly to give that lovely clean feeling. You can use it with or without water, and is fantastic for sensitive skin. Cetaphill is available widely from pharmacies for $11.95 for 500ml. Some follow this step with a Toner, however, personally I don’t believe that toners do enough for the skin to justify this extra step.
Step 2 is Moisturizing.
Anti-Aging, Hydrating, Oil Control, Collagen Boost, Lifting and Firming. These are all claims of moisturizers on the market aimed at different age group and skin types, however, my personal view is that only one of these is necessary. Hydration. This is the key to nearly all our skin concerns, and is also a key in the fight against aging skin. Dry or Oily, skin needs hydration, all that varies is the level of moisture. I love the idea of natural products for a moisturizer. I find that they smell and feel luxurious and tend to cost less than scientific based products as they are cheaper to make. In my experience, the companies that offer some of the best natural products are Australian owned Jurlique and Aesop. All of their products are very reasonably priced and smell amazing. I am currently using Jurlique Day Care Face Cream, retailing for $82.
As I stated earlier, I have extremely dry skin, so I also find that under my moisturizer I need a face oil to boost hydration. This is only necessary for dry skin, and my favourite is Fabulous Face oil by Aesop for $49.
Step 3 is Sunscreen.
This is by far the most important step of all. Summer AND winter, a sunscreen needs to be worn, and personally I believe in our harsh climate it should be SPF 30+. Most women’s main concern is aging; little do they know however, that only 20% of aging is chronological. This leaves 80% to the environment! This is astounding yet fantastic news. This means that we have control over 80% of our skins potential aging. Research has shown that the number one cause of skins aging is the sun, especially in our climate in Australia. This is why sunscreen is imperative. I love Megan Gale’s invisible zinc SPF 30+ for every day over my moisturizer, under make-up. This product protects us from UVA and UVB rays, which is important, yet lacking in may products on the market. It is available at David Jones and selected pharmacies for $28 and has lasted me well over 6 months. It does however leave the skin fairly white. So if you don’t wear any make-up over the top, I would suggest Sun Sense Matt formula SPF 30+. This is around $8 in pharmacies and the cream is a skin tone colour, so you don’t look like a ghost after applying it.
Finally Step 4 is Exfoliating.
Depending on the texture of your skin, this should be done 1-3 times a week. Exfoliating is simply a gentle scrub designed to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin to promote a silky feel, even tone and clarity in the skin. If you are prone to break outs, it will also help unclog your pores. I personally love this step, as it is one step that you’ll really notice an immediate different in the feel of the skin. I also love it because it is one of the cheapest steps possible. All that is required is your cleanser, water, and some Home Brand Table Salt and I bought some the other day for 91 cents! All you need to do is to make a little mixture in the palm of your hand with the cleanser and salt. Rub it on your face gently in a circular motion for about 1 – 2 minutes, and then rinse with water. So easy, yet so effective.
This is my basic skin care routine which I stick to religiously (even on those late nights when all you want to do is go to bed with your make-up still on. DON’T!). Next week I will cover Make-up and ill show you once again that you don’t need to go into debt to get that celebrity, glowing skin. Just be diligent and you’ll see results.
So it is with that thought that I am going to offer you my idea of your basic skin care and make-up needs. This will not only include the products that I have personally tried, tested and loved, but also those which I recommend for various skin types.
I personally have extremely dry skin, partly hereditary, and partly due to the fact that I used to suffer from Acne, and subsequently dried my skin out in a bid to stop break outs. Due to the age old tradition that we always want what we can’t have, therefore, I am on the constant search for products that are going to give me that lovely dewy look to hide my dry skin.
As the list is fairly long, I am going to break it down into two weeks. This week is Skin Care.
Step 1 of your basic routine is Cleansing.
This should be done morning and night and my personal favourite for all skin types is Cetaphill Cleanser. This product not only removes make-up and dirt, but also lathers slightly to give that lovely clean feeling. You can use it with or without water, and is fantastic for sensitive skin. Cetaphill is available widely from pharmacies for $11.95 for 500ml. Some follow this step with a Toner, however, personally I don’t believe that toners do enough for the skin to justify this extra step.
Step 2 is Moisturizing.
Anti-Aging, Hydrating, Oil Control, Collagen Boost, Lifting and Firming. These are all claims of moisturizers on the market aimed at different age group and skin types, however, my personal view is that only one of these is necessary. Hydration. This is the key to nearly all our skin concerns, and is also a key in the fight against aging skin. Dry or Oily, skin needs hydration, all that varies is the level of moisture. I love the idea of natural products for a moisturizer. I find that they smell and feel luxurious and tend to cost less than scientific based products as they are cheaper to make. In my experience, the companies that offer some of the best natural products are Australian owned Jurlique and Aesop. All of their products are very reasonably priced and smell amazing. I am currently using Jurlique Day Care Face Cream, retailing for $82.
As I stated earlier, I have extremely dry skin, so I also find that under my moisturizer I need a face oil to boost hydration. This is only necessary for dry skin, and my favourite is Fabulous Face oil by Aesop for $49.
Step 3 is Sunscreen.
This is by far the most important step of all. Summer AND winter, a sunscreen needs to be worn, and personally I believe in our harsh climate it should be SPF 30+. Most women’s main concern is aging; little do they know however, that only 20% of aging is chronological. This leaves 80% to the environment! This is astounding yet fantastic news. This means that we have control over 80% of our skins potential aging. Research has shown that the number one cause of skins aging is the sun, especially in our climate in Australia. This is why sunscreen is imperative. I love Megan Gale’s invisible zinc SPF 30+ for every day over my moisturizer, under make-up. This product protects us from UVA and UVB rays, which is important, yet lacking in may products on the market. It is available at David Jones and selected pharmacies for $28 and has lasted me well over 6 months. It does however leave the skin fairly white. So if you don’t wear any make-up over the top, I would suggest Sun Sense Matt formula SPF 30+. This is around $8 in pharmacies and the cream is a skin tone colour, so you don’t look like a ghost after applying it.
Finally Step 4 is Exfoliating.
Depending on the texture of your skin, this should be done 1-3 times a week. Exfoliating is simply a gentle scrub designed to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin to promote a silky feel, even tone and clarity in the skin. If you are prone to break outs, it will also help unclog your pores. I personally love this step, as it is one step that you’ll really notice an immediate different in the feel of the skin. I also love it because it is one of the cheapest steps possible. All that is required is your cleanser, water, and some Home Brand Table Salt and I bought some the other day for 91 cents! All you need to do is to make a little mixture in the palm of your hand with the cleanser and salt. Rub it on your face gently in a circular motion for about 1 – 2 minutes, and then rinse with water. So easy, yet so effective.
This is my basic skin care routine which I stick to religiously (even on those late nights when all you want to do is go to bed with your make-up still on. DON’T!). Next week I will cover Make-up and ill show you once again that you don’t need to go into debt to get that celebrity, glowing skin. Just be diligent and you’ll see results.
Monday 7 May 2007
“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his. “ - Oscar Wilde
May 13th is Mothers Day, a commercially drive celebration for us to thank our mothers for all that they do for us. My mother, like most I’m sure, believes every day should be mothers day, but if this were the case, our efforts would be taken for granted as it would simply become the norm; and we cant have that. That being said, as it is only one day of the year, we need to make Mothers Day extremely special.
By the time we reach an age where we actually begin to respect our mothers rather than resent them for annoying us; and are contemplating what to get them for this occasion, they usually have everything they need plus more; and if my mother is any indication, are trying to downsize their accumulated possessions. So do they really need another present?
The questions remains year in year out, what do our mothers deserve? Can we put a price on what they do for us? Enduring the pain of birth and bearing the brunt of every complaint in our lives as we inevitably need to blame it on our mothers. What do you give to someone who has every thing?
When I think of what my mother does, I am in awe of how she achieves so much yet receives very little in return. Of course, she has me in return, which I believe is the greatest gift in the world! Yet when I look at her life and try to think of an appropriate gift, what I notice the she needs most is a break!
It has often been said that the greatest gift is something from the heart, a gift that money can not buy; and I believe this whole-heartedly. So when it comes to Mothers Day, think twice when running to the shops the day before to pick up that bottle of Chanel No. 5, or some flowers on the way to brunch.
As women, we need our pampering time. This is instinct to us, and an urge which must be fulfilled. However, time is often of the essence. So this Mothers Day, take the day off, and make that time for your mother. Why not have a girly afternoon of pampering?
The gift of pampering is easier than most think. It’s as simple as running a bath for your mother, sprinkled with Lilac bath confetti $80 from Iris and Hazel, insisting she take a book and a glass of wine and relax for half an hour. Light some scented candles and spray the room with Cote Bastide Rosemary room spray $55 from Studio Imports. Then provide her with some beautifully scented soap and body lotion, such as Bloom French Lavender Scented Soap & Body Butter Gift Set $19.95. Heaven for any woman.
Follow this with a manicure. Start with a soothing hand massage with Crabtree & Evelyn’s Lavender Hand Therapy 100ml for $21.95, which is luxuriously rich cream. Continue with O.P.I Original Nail Envy nail strengthener $30, as our nails start to get brittle and weak as we get older, and follow with her favourite shade of polish.
Then, to finish off the afternoon, hire a DVD, The Devil Wears Prada is a personal favourite of my mother and I, and cook some lovely iced cupcakes to enjoy with a cup of refreshing chamomile tea.
This ‘forced’ time-out is my guess at what our mothers need most and they would never think to do this for them selves. Yet to be honest, my guess is that any woman would love to be pampered like this for a day!
So if your struggling for gift ideas for that incredibly important woman who gave you life; think about giving your time, as in the rushed era we life in, it is time that is most precious.
By the time we reach an age where we actually begin to respect our mothers rather than resent them for annoying us; and are contemplating what to get them for this occasion, they usually have everything they need plus more; and if my mother is any indication, are trying to downsize their accumulated possessions. So do they really need another present?
The questions remains year in year out, what do our mothers deserve? Can we put a price on what they do for us? Enduring the pain of birth and bearing the brunt of every complaint in our lives as we inevitably need to blame it on our mothers. What do you give to someone who has every thing?
When I think of what my mother does, I am in awe of how she achieves so much yet receives very little in return. Of course, she has me in return, which I believe is the greatest gift in the world! Yet when I look at her life and try to think of an appropriate gift, what I notice the she needs most is a break!
It has often been said that the greatest gift is something from the heart, a gift that money can not buy; and I believe this whole-heartedly. So when it comes to Mothers Day, think twice when running to the shops the day before to pick up that bottle of Chanel No. 5, or some flowers on the way to brunch.
As women, we need our pampering time. This is instinct to us, and an urge which must be fulfilled. However, time is often of the essence. So this Mothers Day, take the day off, and make that time for your mother. Why not have a girly afternoon of pampering?
The gift of pampering is easier than most think. It’s as simple as running a bath for your mother, sprinkled with Lilac bath confetti $80 from Iris and Hazel, insisting she take a book and a glass of wine and relax for half an hour. Light some scented candles and spray the room with Cote Bastide Rosemary room spray $55 from Studio Imports. Then provide her with some beautifully scented soap and body lotion, such as Bloom French Lavender Scented Soap & Body Butter Gift Set $19.95. Heaven for any woman.
Follow this with a manicure. Start with a soothing hand massage with Crabtree & Evelyn’s Lavender Hand Therapy 100ml for $21.95, which is luxuriously rich cream. Continue with O.P.I Original Nail Envy nail strengthener $30, as our nails start to get brittle and weak as we get older, and follow with her favourite shade of polish.
Then, to finish off the afternoon, hire a DVD, The Devil Wears Prada is a personal favourite of my mother and I, and cook some lovely iced cupcakes to enjoy with a cup of refreshing chamomile tea.
This ‘forced’ time-out is my guess at what our mothers need most and they would never think to do this for them selves. Yet to be honest, my guess is that any woman would love to be pampered like this for a day!
So if your struggling for gift ideas for that incredibly important woman who gave you life; think about giving your time, as in the rushed era we life in, it is time that is most precious.
Monday 30 April 2007
“The desire for gold is the most universal and deeply rooted commercial instinct of the human race.” Gerald M Loeb
When we think of gold, we naturally think of timeless, elegant jewellery, tough enough to truly stand the test of time. These days, however, gold has found itself a new market, the beauty industry.
Making stellar appearances in both make-up and skin care, gold is the must-have for this season.
With the southern hemisphere on the brink of winter, praying for the rains to come, the dewy, bronzed looks of summer are no longer applicable. Not completely out the window, however, the ideas of dew and shimmer have been re-worked and transformed into the looks for the winter season.
In the make-up world, the strong looks this season are the metallics. Seen all over the world on the latest catwalks, metallics of silver and gold are everywhere. The strength of this trend is apparent when seen gracing the catwalk at Chanel’s Spring/Summer ‘07 collection. Chanel’s make-up looks for the past few seasons have been the strict black and white to echo what we see from Karl Lagerfeld’s designs. This year, however, in a bold move, we saw the eyes lined with the golds and silvers of the season.
From strength-to-strength, this trend also forms the basis of Revlon’s limited addition range available for the whole year of 2007. The range features luminous metallics throughout its collection; in their foundation, face powders, liquid and powder shadows and liners.
It is, however, the skin care industry that is truly capitalizing on the luxurious sense that gold embodies.
Swiss brand La Prairie has just released it’s Cellular Radiance Concentrate Pure Gold Serum, retailing at $930 for 30ml. Not for the faint hearted, granted, but fascinating to see the properties of gold being used in such a form. The serum is a member of the anti aging revolution, with the flecks of 24-karat gold said to take care of the skins radiance. As we get older, the natural ‘glow’ in the skin diminishes, so any little helping hand to give that youthful glow back to our complexion is always welcome. If , however the monthly budget doesn’t quite stretch to give you a spare $930; no need to fear, there are other options.
To get that optimum radiance of the skin, it is recommended that we eat plenty of foods rich in omega-3’s. These foods are rich in natural oils which promote healthy, glowing skin, nails and hair. Yet the cosmetic industry also has an answer, to apply a light reflecting product topically. Many creams available will have luminous particles in them to some extent, but if your moisturizer doesn’t have these, then a primer is what you are after. A Primer is used over the top of your moisturizer, but under your foundation. The key job of a primer is to even out the tone of the skin, and help to bind your foundation to your skin so it will last longer thoughout the day. As well as this, in may cases, a primer will also have luminous flecks in it to reflect light and give your skin that healthy glow we all desire. In a more affordable price range is MAC’s strobe cream, retailing at $55 for 50ml and gives a beautiful, silky, radiant finish.
In a shock appearance though, gold is seen not just in the beauty industry, but also in the chocolate industry! Available at Chocolateria San Churro in Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Melbourne, is a truffle containing 70% Venezuelan single origin chocolate, Moet & Chandon Vintage champagne, encrusted in 23-karat edible gold. If luxury is what you are after, then this definitely ticks all of the boxes; however, you will need a spare $490 for four of these little delicacies!
So, to get the seasons latest make-up looks, sciences latest findings in the fight against aging, or the taste of luxury in your mouth, look no further than the apparent multi-functional properties of gold. Though some may feel more comfortable just leaving it to the experts who use gold for what is known best, and wearing it in a stunning piece on the wrist, neck, ears or finger!
Making stellar appearances in both make-up and skin care, gold is the must-have for this season.
With the southern hemisphere on the brink of winter, praying for the rains to come, the dewy, bronzed looks of summer are no longer applicable. Not completely out the window, however, the ideas of dew and shimmer have been re-worked and transformed into the looks for the winter season.
In the make-up world, the strong looks this season are the metallics. Seen all over the world on the latest catwalks, metallics of silver and gold are everywhere. The strength of this trend is apparent when seen gracing the catwalk at Chanel’s Spring/Summer ‘07 collection. Chanel’s make-up looks for the past few seasons have been the strict black and white to echo what we see from Karl Lagerfeld’s designs. This year, however, in a bold move, we saw the eyes lined with the golds and silvers of the season.
From strength-to-strength, this trend also forms the basis of Revlon’s limited addition range available for the whole year of 2007. The range features luminous metallics throughout its collection; in their foundation, face powders, liquid and powder shadows and liners.
It is, however, the skin care industry that is truly capitalizing on the luxurious sense that gold embodies.
Swiss brand La Prairie has just released it’s Cellular Radiance Concentrate Pure Gold Serum, retailing at $930 for 30ml. Not for the faint hearted, granted, but fascinating to see the properties of gold being used in such a form. The serum is a member of the anti aging revolution, with the flecks of 24-karat gold said to take care of the skins radiance. As we get older, the natural ‘glow’ in the skin diminishes, so any little helping hand to give that youthful glow back to our complexion is always welcome. If , however the monthly budget doesn’t quite stretch to give you a spare $930; no need to fear, there are other options.
To get that optimum radiance of the skin, it is recommended that we eat plenty of foods rich in omega-3’s. These foods are rich in natural oils which promote healthy, glowing skin, nails and hair. Yet the cosmetic industry also has an answer, to apply a light reflecting product topically. Many creams available will have luminous particles in them to some extent, but if your moisturizer doesn’t have these, then a primer is what you are after. A Primer is used over the top of your moisturizer, but under your foundation. The key job of a primer is to even out the tone of the skin, and help to bind your foundation to your skin so it will last longer thoughout the day. As well as this, in may cases, a primer will also have luminous flecks in it to reflect light and give your skin that healthy glow we all desire. In a more affordable price range is MAC’s strobe cream, retailing at $55 for 50ml and gives a beautiful, silky, radiant finish.
In a shock appearance though, gold is seen not just in the beauty industry, but also in the chocolate industry! Available at Chocolateria San Churro in Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Melbourne, is a truffle containing 70% Venezuelan single origin chocolate, Moet & Chandon Vintage champagne, encrusted in 23-karat edible gold. If luxury is what you are after, then this definitely ticks all of the boxes; however, you will need a spare $490 for four of these little delicacies!
So, to get the seasons latest make-up looks, sciences latest findings in the fight against aging, or the taste of luxury in your mouth, look no further than the apparent multi-functional properties of gold. Though some may feel more comfortable just leaving it to the experts who use gold for what is known best, and wearing it in a stunning piece on the wrist, neck, ears or finger!
Tuesday 24 April 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to Blonde Breeze. My name is Ally and it is my aim to bring to you, all the details you need to know about the Beauty Industry.
I hope viewing this page will soon become a part of your weekly routine. I will be posting my thoughts in a weekly review, and it will be here to tell you all you need to know to become the Glamorous lady you really are.
Not only will I be reviewing products, but I will also be notifying you of special deals, gifts with purchase and tips and tricks to make that all important morning routine that little bit quicker!
Naturally, this has to be a general overview of the industry and products, that will appeal to the wider audience, but for your indervidual needs, don't worry, I have them covered too.
Please feel free to email me and questions you may have. I will answer them as quickly as I can. But even more so, soon I will be launching a service called your Personal Beauty editor.
I will keep you updated about how to become involved, and more details on that will be available through my website www.blondebreeze.com.au.
Also, for more information about me, please read my Biography.
Enjoy, and i hope i bring to you that little extra piece of Glamour, Sparkle and Luxury to your life!
Enjoy!
I hope viewing this page will soon become a part of your weekly routine. I will be posting my thoughts in a weekly review, and it will be here to tell you all you need to know to become the Glamorous lady you really are.
Not only will I be reviewing products, but I will also be notifying you of special deals, gifts with purchase and tips and tricks to make that all important morning routine that little bit quicker!
Naturally, this has to be a general overview of the industry and products, that will appeal to the wider audience, but for your indervidual needs, don't worry, I have them covered too.
Please feel free to email me and questions you may have. I will answer them as quickly as I can. But even more so, soon I will be launching a service called your Personal Beauty editor.
I will keep you updated about how to become involved, and more details on that will be available through my website www.blondebreeze.com.au.
Also, for more information about me, please read my Biography.
Enjoy, and i hope i bring to you that little extra piece of Glamour, Sparkle and Luxury to your life!
Enjoy!
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