Urban Retreat - Immaculate Manicure and Pristine Pedicure

For my mum’s birthday this year, my boyfriend and I decided to treat my mum to a few beauty treatments at Urban Retreat, Harrods. Mum and I went last Saturday for a Pristine Pedicure and Immaculate Manicure each.

These treatments were held at the Nail Loft overlooking the glamorous beauty paradise of the Urban Retreat at Harrods. When we arrived we were asked to select the colours of our choice, after which we sat down to soak up the atmosphere of our surroundings.

The Immaculate Manicure is made up of a one-on-one consultation, where your nails are cut and shaped, cuticles are soaked and tidied followed by a hand massage. In addition to this, we both received an exfoliating treatment, to remove any dead skin, followed by a rich cream based massaged over our hands which were then placed into hot mitts for a deeply nourishing treat. To finish I opted for a French manicure, I adore the look but haven’t the patience to do it my self at home.

Leighton Denny French Manicure

After our manicures we went over to the pedicure chairs, which look like huge racing car seats that have massaging rollers installed in the back. While our feet were soaking we decided to treat ourselves to a glass of champagne!

Our feet were soaked in the luxury foot spa and a small consultation is made. Our toenails are cut and shaped, and any hard skin is removed using a foot file and exfoliation to leave our tired feet smooth and soft. Cuticle work was then carried out, followed by a foot massage. This was my first ever pedicure and it was so funny! I have very ticklish feet and when the exfoliating action was going on I couldn’t help myself from constantly jerking and squirming. For the Pristine Pedicure, you also have a massage using a rich cream applied over the feet, which are then wrapped in cellophane and placed into heated booties. This deeply moisturising treat helps with very dry feet. The treatment is finished off with a massage to relax the feet and a toenail buff.  For my colour I chose a fabulous dark red from Leighton Denny called Passion.

Passion - Leighton Denny

We were in the Nail Loft relaxing and chatting for about 3 hours, and then had to wait a little longer for our toes to dry, as we foolishly didn’t bring open toe shoes with us!

If you are looking for a girlie weekend activity or treat for some one special, Urban Retreat is the place to go! It isn’t pretentious or snobby, as you may assume from a Harrods salon/spa. The staff are highly attentive and polite. It really is a beauty haven!

Ax

Get The X Factor

Right, let me just set this straight, I do NOT like the X Factor, but I DO like Jamie Stevens! 30-year-old Jamie Stevens is one of the most up-coming stylists of the moment. Having worked with the likes of Beverly C, Daniel Hersheson and now Errol Douglas; Jamie has a client list to make your mouth water. Celebrity fans include; Kylie, Stella McCartney, Elle Macpherson, Eva Herzigova, Myleene Klass, Hugh Grant, Christian Slater, and Gok Wan to name a few.

Jamie Stevens

For the first time, X Factor introduces a Style Team, giving viewers the lowdown on the contestants’ hair, make-up and clothes transformations. Along with Jamie Stevens as the show’s resident hairstylist the X Factor has enlisted stylist Laury Smith and makeup artist Natalya Nair show. The teams task is to transforming the final 16 contestants in preparation for The X Factor live shows, the Style Team will bring direction, expertise and ingenuity to carve the individual stylistic personas of the UK’s freshest new talent.

Jamie said: “The X Factor is the biggest talent makeover contest in the UK and having my name affiliated with the Style Team is my biggest honour to date. My goal is to educate people on hair; why I'm colouring it red, why I'm cutting it in such a way, 90% of a makeover is hair. Transformations are already under way now, with BIG things to come for the live shows. Exciting times ahead."

Jamie comments on the looks he has been creating;

‘We’ve given the girls a real style overhaul. We have coloured Janet’s naturally curly hair a beautiful rich copper, a colour she has always wanted to go. We have embraced her curls and left them natural for the moment but that is not to say we won’t be straightening them in the weeks to come. We have dyed Sophie’s hair a lovely deep chocolate and given her hair a really strong ‘era’ feel by giving her a smooth top knot and front roll. We will continue with this vibe throughout the series. Misha B is a hairdresser’s dream, I’m really enjoying giving her a different look every week and she gives me free reign with her hair.’

‘The boys all had very strong looks to start with so we have worked with that to create some really amazing hair. Marcus is a hairdresser himself so we only tweaked his look, cropping the back and sides, going for a military fade but maintain some length in at top to almost mould into a flat top. Frankie’s big, voluptuous messy head of hair is his signature so we made sure we cut it in the right places so we could maintain his cool, rocky persona. Craig is on an amazing journey in this competition and we have kept the length in his cut because he has a long round face shape but we have given him an undercut, which is shorter at the back and sides. We will incorporate quiffs and new styles over the following weeks.’

‘I’ve also been doing all the hair for the dancers. Watching the show you don’t realise how manic the show is. We have 10 male and 10 female dancers and they have to look different for every act. For the opening show we had six changes to negotiate and we only have 7 minutes on average to turn the looks around.  So we had to go from a high pony with clips, to a high pony to down and messy and then back up again with hoods. Then finally we went from wigs to 1940s victory roll buns! We have to co-ordinate this as well as the acts but it all adds to the excitement of the shows!’

So if unlike me you are a fan of the show and want to recreate these looks – go for it, because it always good to play and experiment! Add your own personality and give your look the X Factor!! I’ll be watching Strictly!

Ax

Beauty School Tryout speaks to The Makeup Box Studio

We were lucky enought to get some tips from makeup artists Karen Loraine and Paula Rixon from The Makeup Box Studio.  Here's what advice they gave us for when using black and brown eyeshadow (but you can use other eyeshadow colours to match your clothes!) to achieve one of the big trends for Autumn Winter 2011; smokey eyes;

• To start, apply concealer and any other products that you normally use. My recommendation is Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind concealer. Curl eyelashes before getting started with this look. Also, make sure to apply your eyeshadow primer, to make sure that everything stays on and doesn't run.

• To get started, grab a small makeup brush and some white eyeshadow. Get some eyeshadow from the inner corner of the eye to the bottom of the brow bone. The idea with this is to create a fading pattern from white to black, with white near the center of the face, and black on the outside, at the ends of the eyelids.

• Using the same brush, apply grey eyeshadow to the middle of the eyelid, slightly overlapping the white eyeshadow from the last step. Finally, apply black eyeshadow to the outside of the lid, overlapping the gray eyeshadow. You should now have three bands of eyeshadow, lightest nearest your nose and darkest at the outside edges of your eyes.

• Use a blending brush to blur the transitions between the three eyeshadows, pulling the eyeshadow into any creases in your eyelids as well. Move the brush back and forth across the eyelid to make a smooth, seamless blend. You now have a nice fade pattern across the lid, and you just need to add a bit of natural colors to complement it.

• Add a brown shadow above the eyelid crease. Apply lightly, blending as you go. The brown should extend slightly outside of the black shadow on the outside of your eyelid. Use your blending brush to smooth the brown into the black, gray, and white eyeshadows below. If you don't blend everything smoothly, it ends up looking awkward!

• Contouring makes this look stand out even more! Grab your white eyeshadow again and apply to the brow bone, smoothing as you go. This makes the smokey eye even better, as it draws attention to your eyelid makeup.

• Apply black eyeliner to darken the eye, and then add mascara to complete the smokey eye look. It's important to use the brown (or some other color) because using just black, gray, and white ends up looking too monochromatic and unnatural. The brown helps the outside of the smokey eye blend into your natural skin tone.

• When you're done, you should have a nice gradient across the eyelid, again with white toward the center of your face, and black on the outside edges of your eyelids. With the remaining colors defining a contour for your eyes and brow, you'll have a very polished, beautiful look.

• You can also match this look to the clothes you're wearing, by switching the black and white for colors that match your clothes. For example, if you're wearing a bright blue dress, you could use blue for the outside color, and a skin tone for the inside, creating a dramatic look that highlights what the dress.

K x

Volume WEN You Need It

As you may have read before, big hair is my thing and what I strive for daily. So when I was given the chance to try WEN Volumizing Treatment Spray, I jumped at it. Created by celebrity stylist Chaz Dean, this new product is designed to add volume and extra body to any style. It has a gorgeous sweet almond mint scent. I have been using it everyday for over a month now simply sprtiz into wet hair comb through and style, easy as that. It makes your hair feel thicker and look shiny. Volume lasts all day and for extra height I have used a large round brush to blow dry and lift the hair from the root.

I love it and it leaves my hair smelling so wonderful after. ALSO, it is great at keeping hair looking fabulous all day even after the wind has blown my hair about on my way to work!

Better still…The WEN range contains no SLS and is packed with herbs including green tea, botanicals and provitamin B.

WEN Volumizing Treatment Spray

Ax

The best handcream ever!

It’s the time of year now where I carry my hand cream with me everywhere I go as my hands do need a little extra TLC.

I was once lucky enough to be given a Clarins gift set which included their hand and nail cream – and since using this, I’ve been hooked.

Clarins hand and nail cream is honestly the best hand cream I ever used.  It contains extracts of Seasame, Japanese Mulberry and Myrrh which not only smell amazing but leave you with soft hands and stronger nails without leaving your hands feeling greasy like some creams can.   It also protects against chapping and irritation. 

Although Clarins hand cream is a little pricey, it is worth it as you only need to use a tiny amount each time and you don’t have to frequently reapply so it does last a good while. 

And to keep your hands extra soft and moisturised, I lather my hands in hand cream and then put on my moisturising hand gloves for a few hours.  It’s not only good for your hands but also for your nails! 

K x

Stop Being So Sensitive...

Sorry I wasn’t being rude, just honest! Most of us have from time to time felt that our skin needed a little more TLC than normal and with the winter months making an obvious return its time to start really considering what we are using on our skin (again!)

Dr Perricone, world renowned anti-ageing expert, found that 80% of women report that they have sensitive skin and that sensitive skin can age quicker as it will experience more damage from the sun and the environment and external aggressors. This is a shockingly high statistic and sensitive skin can be hard to treat.

Dr Perricone has some valuable advice on the best way to treat sensitive skin:

Keep your routine simple - choose very mild cleansers and use treatment products and moisturizers that are antioxidant rich.

 

Try to avoid heavily fragranced products and cosmetics more than 3 months old.

Avoid ingredients such as alcohol, glycolic acid and fruit acids.

As is expected from Dr Perricone, diet plays an important role, top sensitive skin foods include

Healthy fats such as cold water fish (e.g. salmon) nuts, avocados, olives and extra virgin olive oil.

Quality protein at each meal so that the cells in the body can repair themselves.

Avoid pro-inflammatory foods such as sugar, sweeteners, flour and pasta. 

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in anti-oxidants.

From his findings, Dr Perricone has created a new, easy-to-use four piece skincare range – Hypoallergenic.

Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Range

Hypoallergenic contains the rare and powerful molecule of the Olive Oil Polyphenols group which have been combined with advanced multiple hydration factors. The result - they rapidly soothe sensitive, dry, and irritated skin restoring it to a luminous and youthful vitality. 

So now you have nothing to moan about - lovely soft UNWRINKLED skin is here!

Ax

Hair News – Michel Mercier Detangling Brush

So it looks, as thought there is a lot going on in the hair care world at the moment and this is the place to find the latest information. Last week I was invited to the launch of Michel Mercier’s new product launch. How many times have you spent hours preening your hair, making it look perfect, step outside to face the world, then, whoosh! A gust of wind – which equals tangles! Do you remember those mornings where your mum or dad tried to brush your hair ready for school and the results was tears and screams of fighting to get the knots out! I remember when I was about seven and had long hair, the laborious time spend with my mum brushing my long blonde hair. Our American friends came to stay once and Jennie, who is 18months older than I, so was 9 at the time had rather long, curly hair. I remember in horror the tears running down her reddened cheeks just trying to brush her hair when it was wet. So since all that I’ve not had long hair! I learnt my lesson a long time ago…or so I thought!

Internationally acclaimed hair stylist Michel Mercier was also struck by these problems whilst brushing the hair of his 12-year-old daughter. Aware that this discomfort was not confined children alone, Michel set about creating a brush that would make daily brushing a more pleasant experience and less damaging to hair.

The Michel Mercier Detangling Brush is uniquely designed a made up of 428 bristles positioned at different heights with a unique geometric distribution, helping to disperse the pressure placed on hair during brushing. Of course no one head of hair is the same and Michel Mercier has ensured that everyone can benefit from this innovation by creating three colour coded models, each one designed to suit a different hair type: fine, normal and thick.

The Michel Mercier Brush works perfectly with all hair types, from dry colour damaged hair to thick European, Afro and Asian hair textures, and is especially gentle for children’s hair brushing regime. It can even be used on wet or dry hair, curly or straight, and is even gentle enough to tackle hair extensions and real or synthetic wigs.

Michel Mercier shares his key tips for keep your hair and scalp in top condition:

‘Daily brushing with the Michel Mercier Detangling Brush improves the blood flow in the scalp and strengthens the hair follicles. It also dramatically reduces hair loss and in the long term will improve the density of hair.’

‘In order to untangle your hair effectively and without damaging it, start with the lengths and gradually work your way up to the roots.  This will prevent the hair from breaking.’

‘For shiny locks spray an oil-free serum on the Michel Mercier detangling brush before brushing, and work your way through the lengths of the hair.  This will create a shiny, sleek and frizz free look.’

‘If you have very curly hair, try adding some moisture crème onto your locks before washing. Brush the crème through the hair and leave for a few minutes before washing and conditioning as usual. After blow-drying your hair, add a serum and brush through with the Michel Mercier Detangling Brush.  This will leave your curls glossy and full of bounce.’

‘If you’d like to create some beautiful curls, shampoo your tresses as usual before applying a hair mask. Next, cover your hair with cling film and leave on for 10 minutes. Then gently warm your hair with a hairdryer on a low heat, before removing the cling film.  Wash off the hair mask and drain away any excess water from the hair, before adding some moisture crème and hair mousse. Brush the hair while it is still wet and divide it to sections across the head. Use your finger to curl each section before allowing it to dry naturally.’

‘If you suffer from oily hair, wash your hair with shampoo which has been specifically developed for oily hair and then rinse with cold water. The cold water shrinks the skins pores and repeating the process for some time will prevent the scalp from producing excess oil.  Apply your conditioner to the mid to ends of the hair only and gentle brush through with the Michel Mercier detangling brush before rinsing thoroughly.’

The end of an unhappy hair childhood is here!

Ax

It's a Revolution! Frizz Free Hair!

It’s that time of year now where after styling your hair, you head off to work only to be greeted by rain, wind or snow.  And so by the time you’ve made it into work, the hair style you so carefully created only a short while earlier resembles a frizzy bird’s nest.  But fear not girls, because I have discovered a treatment powerful enough to calm the wildest of thick frizzy hair and keep your hair smooth, shiny and in peak condition.

Keratin Revolution is a new service that promises a long lasting solution in the battle to beat the frizz.  This is not simply a conditioning treatment, nor is it a chemical straightening service.   It is like “Skin care for your hair” and unlike other salon services, the more you treat your hair, the healthier it becomes. With each treatment the build up of Keratin makes your hair:

• Softer & silkier
• Straighter and shinier
• Faster and easier to blow-dry
• Reduces daily styling time
• Less maintenance – close to being “maintenance free”

Further, the hair keratin therapy encases the hair follicle with a keratin bond to promote healing and to help keep toxins in the environment, such as smoke, pollution and UV rays, from entering the hair.

Keratin Revolution infuses Keratin deep into the hair cuticle eliminating up to ninety-five percent of frizz and curl from the hair, leaving the hair soft, shiny and luxurious.

The process:

Your hair is shampooed and the shampoo is then left in your hair for about 10 minutes so that your hair cuticles open and will then absorb the Keratin.  The shampoo is washed out and the process repeated again.  Once the shampoo has been washed out the second time, the Keratin is evenly applied over your hair and then sealed in with straightening irons to close the cuticle very tightly giving it more shine and enhancing your colour.  This is then left in for 72 hours. 

The in-salon service takes approximately 2.5 hours from beginning to end and there are some rules that you should follow during the first 72 hours after your Keratin Revolution treatment:

• Don’t wash your hair or get it wet.  If for any reason your hair gets wet during the first 72 hours following the treatment; blowdry and flat iron hair as soon as possible.
• Wear hair down at all times.  Don’t tie your hair into a pony tail, wear hair clips or hair bands or place your hair behind your ears.  This could result in 
• Use Keratin Revolution sodium-chloride free shampoo and conditioner after the 72 hour waiting period to guarantee the ultimate result.  I have also been using the serum which is great for adding extra shine.

Please don’t worry about having to leave it in your hair for 72 hours though as you can’t tell by looking at it that you have product in it.  When I touched my hair, it felt like I just had a little excess product in it, but no one else can tell and I had so many compliments on my hair in those 72 hours.

Although this is a rather costly salon treatment (prices start from £250), I have to say that the results are amazing.  My hair drying time has definitely shortened and I am finding it so much easier to style my hair.  My hair is naturally wavy and prone to frizz so it’s been great to be able to style my hair both straight and curly without having to worry about frizz. 

So if anyone is after healthy salon locks, I would definitely recommend going to the Fordham Soho Salon and having the Keratin Revolution treatment for revolutionary results!

K x

Trend Alert: Hair Art

I have blogged a few times about nail art recently, and although many celebs such as Alexa Chung and Katy Perry are still embracing nail art, it would seem that a new trend is emerging: hair art.

Nicki Minaj recently stepped out with leopard print spots graffitied on her hair and the trend hasn’t stopped there.  It has hit the catwalks too as Betsey Johnson stamped henna tattoos on her models’ hair.

It’s certainly a fun new trend and a beauty wave that’s definitely getting bigger and bigger!  Not entirely sure that I can pull off this trend though!

K x

House Of Holland Spring / Summer 2012

House Of Holland has always been a forerunner when it comes to fashion and the same goes in terms of beauty.

This year the creative team chose opted for effortless chic. Damien Carney discusses how to get the look at home.

JOICO International Creative Director, Damien Carney

“Layback, effortless and chic; this season hair from the House of Holland show is easy to wear and simple to replicate at home. The key is to create a fuss free look which focuses on shine and health, rather than looking technically difficult."

House Of Holland Spring / Summer 2012

"To create this look at home, start by washing your hair with a high gloss and sleekening shampoo and conditioner duo like JOICO® Silk Results Shampoo (£11.95) and Conditioner (£12.95.) Next, spritz Silk Results Thermal Smoother (£12.95) through the mid length of hair and blow-dry using a radial bristle brush to create a silky smooth finish. Once dry, apply a little serum through the ends, and roughly tie back into a lose pony tail using a paddle brush. Don’t worry about flyaway hairs or if the pony isn’t smooth, this look is all about creating something that is relaxed and unstructured. Finish with a spritz of Brilliantine Spray Glaze (£10.95) and you’re good to go!”

JOICO Silk Results Thermal Smoother 

Ax

Chanel's Spring Summer 2012

Karl Lagerfeld’s stunning spring summer 2012 collection for Chanel was themed around an underwater sea world with gossamer-light frocks in a powdery palette of cream, blush, peach sherbet and white parading the runways, with every look from dresses to boxy jackets studded with pearl buttons, as were the ear-lobes and spines of the models gliding down the catwalk.

Creative Director of Chanel make-up Peter Philips said on his inspiration for the show; "The focus was on luminosity, purity and a touch of humour. I did pale, glowy skin with a pink/coral blush, a wet shiny eyelid finished with black eyeliner, slightly glossy lips and randomly placed pearl piercings. Some girls had a pearl spine."

 

Unveiling the colour for their highly anticipated spring summer 2012 nail lacquer, Peter says: "I created a white, pearl nail polish exclusively for the show and for the more "colourful" passages I used three nail polish shades called April, May and June. All three shades come out next spring."

And sharing his top beauty tips for the season ahead, Peter advises: "This is a very accessible, wearable look that is easy to apply and flattering for most women. The balance between shine and matte, topped with a hint of colour, is a perfect way to float into spring 2012."

A while ago, I discovered some gorgeous nail colours from My Face Cosmetics and they have launched some more colours including the lil’bling Diamonds and Pearls shade - which if you can’t wait until next Spring for Chanel’s – I think would be perfect for creating this look!

K x

SPIKKERS EN SPIJKERS Spring/Summer 2012

Spikkers En Spijkers has long been a favourite of mine at fashion week. Ever since I worked back stage dressing models for the show I have followed their progress with unfailing enthusiasim. This season, luckily for me, short hair sees an injection of texture and movement. Styles draw inspiration from 1920’S inspired waves and crops, whilst dramatic dishevelling brings the look fully into the 20th century.

Spikkers En Spijkers S/S 2012

JOICO® International Creative Director Damien Carney notes;

“To get this look at home, start by spraying Structure Foundation (£9.95) through damp hair to help detangle, tame and prepare hair pre styling. Whilst hair is still damp, work Structure Twist Styling Gum (£10.95) through the mid-lengths and ends of hair to create added texture and body, whilst leaving hair with a soft shine. Rough-dry hair before tonging random sections to create defined curls and extra body. Next, roughly pull hair up into a high pony tail, offsetting it to the right side of your head. Twist into place and secure with Kirby grips. Allow for the rest of the pony tail to fall just above your right eye and mould into shape. Once you’ve created your desired shape, secure firmly with Kirby grips and finish with a spritz of Structure Finish (£9.95) for an all day long hold.”

Joico Structure Finish 

Ax

Vivienne Westwood's Spring/Summer 2012 Show

One look that I couldn’t not talk about was the very ‘Avant Garde’ look that MAC make up artist Val Garland created for Vivienne Westwood’s Spring/Summer 2012 show in Paris.

The make-up was inspired by an 18th Century painting of a lady but Val Garland wanted to create a very childlike interpretation of that so she used lots of different colours - pink, yellow, gold, orange - to create a doll-like, haphazard make-up.

 

The models' skin was turned porcelain white with MAC White Face & Body Foundation ad MAC Modern Mandarin Blush (a bright orange) was used on the apples of the cheeks. On their eyes, she used MAC Ochre Colour Corrector from lash to brow and then painted MAC Gold Pigment mixed with Water Mixing Medium through the crease and through the eyebrows. MAC Chrome Yellow eyeshadow was added under the eyes on the inner and outer corners and MAC Genuine Orange Chromographic pencil was applied in the centre lower lid, with MAC Orange eyeshadow on top. The Gold Pigment was used again under the eye, with each make-up artist doing it slightly differently to highlight the unique shape of each model's eye. On the lips, MAC Vino Lip Pencil was used all over to create a rounded shape, the MAC Full Cover Foundation in White was whisked over the top with a fan brush and the high points of the lips were accented with Gold Pigment.

 

About five models at the Westwood show had a totally different make-up - bright blue graphic shapes drawn onto lips, brows and beneath their lips to create a kind of warrior look. The inspiration for this look was black and white photos of wood carvings as Val Garland wanted to create something that looked very strong and powerful and picked up the cobalt blue colour used in Vivienne's collection.

To create this second look, MAC Marine Ultra Paintstick was painted under the eyes to create a graphic 60s shape and MAC Electric Eel Eyeshadow was applied on top of the Paintstick to set it and add extra intensity. The same Painstick was painted onto the brows, creating clean, acute, square box-shapes. Again Electric Eel Eyeshadow was applied on top, and the same two products were used on the mouth to draw a squared-off shape that left the outer edges of the lips bare.

Although not looks that I could pull off on a night out – they are certainly very impactful and amazing to look at!

K x

Unconditional Spring / Summer 2012

More Fashion Week news and trends to report, this season myface cosmetics teamed up with Unconditional to present the hottest looks for Spring / Summer 2012.

Make up artist Gemma Smith-Edhouse notes the following from the gilded modern day Mid- Summer Nights Dream-esque show:

“It’s a little punky and androgynous after the character Puk, with an ethereal polished beautiful edge provided by the myface BLINGTONE blended all over the hollowed eyes at the end.”

Gemma Smith-Edhouse creating the hottest look for S/S 12

Follow her a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this look.

Step 1 – firstly the lashes must be curled, and then powdered with MYMATCH POWDER – this will take the grease off the eye area and build up on the lashes to thicken the, Pat MYCOVER CONCEALER all over the eyelids, up to the eyebrows, and under the bottom lashes again, set liberally with powder.

Step 2 – with a HIGH DEF EYE PENCIL (use black for dark hair and brown for hair fair) scribble and press the liner in between the upper and lower eyelashes as many times as needed to create desired density, don’t come too high on the lid, just very focused and layered also covering the base of the lashes themselves.

Step 3 – the upper and outer corner of the eye socket should then be marked off with the BROWN HIGH DER PENCIL. With your little finger blend BLINGTONE SP’ICE’Y over the pencil keeping it in the socket. Above the socket blend BLINGTONE MOROCOCO up to the brows. To finally pop the eye, liberally apply BLING TONE EYESHADOW GILT-Y over the center of the eyelid.

myface Sp'ice'y

Step 4 – to strengthen the eyebrows, scribble matt brown eye shadow from the EYETOUCH TRIO IN A WHOE LATTE LOVE back and forth on the eyebrows. To finish off push brows in the opposite directions and set with a dot of hairspray on your fingertip, which also makes them glossy.

Step 5 – using UPLOAD LASHES MASCARA, go into the base of the lashes easing inner lashes inwards, the middle lashes upwards, and the outer lashes outwards, using the end of the wand if necessary. Leave the ends fluffy for next seasons look, and as they are drying press lashes up and out with fingertips.

Step 6 – use MIYMIX FOUNDATION to lightly work around the outside of the eye are, and over the rest of the face. Then using your ring finger, pat a slightly lighter shade of MYCOVER CONCEALER into the inner corner and outer edge of eyes, under nostrils, center of the chin and forehead to flatten out the T-zone. To finish press a little MYMATCH POWDER on center of the forehead, outer edge of the nostrils, edge of lips and center of chin.

Step 7 – using HIGH DEF LIP PENCIL in NUDE for FAIR colouring of BAIGE for darker complexions, draw over the edge of your lip line and fill up the whole lip. Then with the matching lipstick in VINTAGE PINK or SWEET DREAMS fill it in the center of the lips, patting any excess onto the upper outer apple of the cheek.

myface Sweetdreams 

Step 8 – to add the final GILT-Y shine, put a dollop of ONE HIT WONDER LIP GLOSS in GILT-Y In the center of the lip and the lid.

Ax

Top Make up and Beauty Tips

Celebrity make-up artist Karen Mason answers some of the most frequently asked make-up and beauty questions with some fantastic tips and tricks.

I need concealer but it seems to look dry and cakey after I’ve applied it.

I prefer to apply concealer before foundation. After you’ve prepped skin, brush concealer wherever you have darkness or discolouration. Then add your foundation and blend the two using a foundation brush. Concentrate most of the colour in the centre of the face and fade out towards the sides. This will give you a seamless finish that looks more natural.

My eye make-up always ends up in creases. I’d like to try the new cream shadows but know where they’d end up!

I guarantee that any of the colour you apply in the morning will last all day if you prep your skin properly with foundation and powder, then apply eyeshadow and blush. Make-up needs something to hang onto and foundation plus powder is the key!

I’d love to wear eyeliner but I can’t manage a pencil or a liquid without lots of mess and wobbles. Where am I going wrong?

Don’t stress over liquids, they’re really good if you’re Amy Winehouse but the rest of us are better off with pencils. The trick is how you hold it. Don’t aim the pencil point at your eye. Use it ‘sideways’, parallel to the eye and run it close to the lashes from inner corner to the outer, widening it slightly as you go. You should almost be able to do this without looking, if you really feel the pencil right up against the base of those lashes.

What’s the best way to apply lip pencil to prevent lipstick ‘bleed’?

I’m not really a fan of lip liners. If you’ve prepped your face properly with foundation and powder, lip colour will hold without bleeding.

K x

Mulberry Spring / Summer 2012

With the madness of fashion week over, it’s time to take a closer look at what actually happed over the month of over indulgence, extravagance and schmoozing.

As with every season, Mulberry never fails to deliver. This year layering is key, with the use of lightweight fabric on pretty pastels and khaki tones. Mulberry has also opted for graphic prints teamed with high waisted skirts.

Mulberry S/S 2012

Martyn Holmes, Fudge ambassador, talks us through the hair trends emerging at this years show.

“Undone, natural, beachy hair was given a makeover at Mulberry this season. Teaming tousled tresses with ‘Bridget Bardot’ volume and soft, ice cream tones, this trend has finally received its long awaited re-vamp to take it into a new era.”

To create this look, start by washing hair with volumising shampoo and conditioner before applying, opt for Philip Kingsley Body Building duo, Martyn adds, ‘apply Fudge’s Body Builder Booster through damp locks, to help thicken hair and add body. Next blow-dry using a medium radial brush, focusing more on the roots to really create volume.  The mid-lengths can be rough-dried to create a messy finish. Once dry, create a horizontal parting from the top of your crown and heavily back-comb to create height, before smoothing the hair over and clipping into place. Finish with a spritz of Salt Spray through the ends for a sexy, effortless texture.”

Fudge Body Builder Booster

Fudge Salt Spray

So now that we have the hair sorted, next we must consider the nails. This year the nail tone complemented the fabric shades and Nichola Joss opted for Mavala’s Rose Dust to create the pretty and demure look this season.

Mavala Rose Dust

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