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Archive for the ‘Editor’s Secrets’ Category
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Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
 I was unsure about New CID Cosmetics i-glow when I first tried it. I have the Coral Crush shade, which in the pan is quite an intimidating hot pinkish coral shot through with loads of golden shimmer. It’s a baked product so the powder is very find, but it’s very, very sparkly and I was worried that too much on this would give me OTT glitter face.
Still, I decided to give it a go as the colour is very pretty, and used a big brush to sweep it onto the fleshy parts of my cheeks, with a bit of my usual Benefit Dallas swept below for contouring. I was surprised, looking in the mirror, how natural and pretty it looked. Rather than looking caked-on, it gives more of a soft glow. Because the baked powder is super-fine, I think most skins will be able to get away with all the shimmer particles , as it’s more light reflecting than glittery.
I was even more surprised on meeting up with friends when one – who sees me at least once a week – said instantly, “You’ve done something different with your makeup, you have something a bit extra, it looks nice!”
This was the best compliment, because my favourite kind of makeup is the stuff that makes you look better, but is hard to identify. I always call it ‘your face, but better’ makeup. It’s lovely when someone says “Your eyeshadow’s pretty,” or “I love that lipstick!” but even better when they think you look great but can’t put their finger on why (because then you can always just say “oh, no, I’ve just been eating well and taking care of myself” and pretend that glow is 100% natural!). So three cheers to New CID for taking something that looks scary and making it incredibly wearable. This is going straight to the top of my blusher pile for a quick skin fix!
i-glow Compact Shimmer Powder £24 at New CID Cosmetics
Tags: blush, coral, coral crush, glitter, gold, highlighter, New CID Cosmetics, QVC, shimmer, shimmer powder
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Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
 As the weather’s changed and I’ve been reaching more frequently for heavy SPF face creams, my skin’s reacted in the only way it knows how – blackheads, break-outs and general congestion. So in an attempt to keep the damage down to a minimum, as well as a twice weekly scrub and lots of deep cleansing, I’ve reached for Melvita Rebalancing Care, a skin oil that blends Cistus, Mandarin Orange, Lavender, Palmarosa and Benzoin essential oils with Apricot Kernel, Nigella and Tamanu plant oils to help keep oily or combination skin looking its best.
The concept of putting an oily onto already oily skin is always off-putting when you’ve never tried it before, but the joy of this blend is that it’s specifically created with essential oils that help skin to breathe, rather than clogging it up. The essential oils and blends are Melvita’s real hero products, and this one definitely lives up to the brand’s reputation.
Not everyone’s a fan of aromatherapy-based skincare and would prefer some hard science, but I think there’s lots to be said for the emotive side of it – how the right blend of oils can lift your mood and leave you feeling great as well as making a difference to your skin. Lavender is a known antiseptic, which is great on big angry spots, while the citrus oils have a refreshing, uplifting effect. I massage this into my skin every morning before applying foundation, and I love those few minutes of indulgence – as does my skin. It’s great for decongesting and would be lovely used in an at-home facial.
Melvita Rebalancing Care Oily Skin Treatment Oil £28
Tags: Melvita, rebalancing care, skin oil
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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
 Too many days burning the candle at both ends have led to my eyes looking a bit worse for wear of late. I have very thin skin and visible veins under my eyes at the best of times, but at the moment I need some serious help in concealing those dark circles and making me look a bit more alive.
Step forward Stila Cover Up Stick, which I recently spotted loitering at the bottom of a drawer, crying out to be loved again. I gave it C-shaped sweep around the inner corner of the eye and voila! It added about 5 hours sleep in seconds. Rediscovering this was like being reunited with an old friend. It’s a seriously thick, long-lasting concealer that’ll make even the darkest circles disappear.
But what I love the most about it is the colour. So many concealers are a bit too orange or yellow-based for me, but shade A is a much more neutral shade that works so much better on my pink-toned complexion. If you’re fair, I’d definitely recommend trying out these concealers as they’re beautifully textured and work wonders to even out skintone.
Stila Cover Up Stick £13.50 at Beauty Bay
Tags: concealer, cover up, dark circles, fair skin, stila, under eye
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Friday, March 4th, 2011
It’s only fair I follow up a hate with a love, so roll up Origins Make A Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment, which I’ve photographed above so you can see proof that I love it so much I’ve actually used up all but a couple of applications worth. This almost never happens with skincare – I have dozens of half-finished jars, pots, tubes and bottles floating about because I’m incredibly unfaithful (and also eager to try new things for the benefit of this blog).
But this stuff has a special place in my heart. Originally designed as an extra boost to be used underneath moisturiser, it’s a treatment for skin that’s had too much UV or environmental exposure, and works to counteract that leathery texture you often notice in older skins. Despite the fact I’m in my 20s and not too obsessing with ageing just yet, I find this is brilliant for boosting my skin’s radiance and giving it an extra treat after I’ve been out in the sun, wind or cold…
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Tags: cream, environmental damage, make a difference, Moisturiser, Origins, treatment, treatment for wind burned skin, UV damage
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Monday, February 14th, 2011
To give you an idea of how long I’ve had my box of Dallas by Benefit, and how many times it’s been thrown around my handbag / dressing table / suitcase, I thought I’d show you a picture. I like to think of it as ‘vintage’. Basically, it’s pretty battered…
…but that’s because Dallas is one of those old faithful products I forget about for ages, then return to when I want a quick perk-me-up without looking like I have a face full of makeup.
I love the tagline of ‘An outdoor glow for an indoor gal’. I once read the shade as being described as a ‘sunburn flush’, which I think is perfect. If you’re pale, this is a great alternative to bronzer, used on the cheeks and then down the brudge of the nose for a sun-kissed flush. This powder wakes me up and makes me look like I’ve been out in the sun for a while, even if I’ve really been stuck in an office all day. As I don’t really tan, this shade (which I will warn you does have quite a lot of pink/red in it) is far more natural than a bronzer on my skin, and you only need a tiny bit to see the glow. I think it’s one of the few products I’ll ever ‘hit pan’ on because while other blushes and bronzers will come and go, this will remain a firm favourite.
Benefit Dallas face powder £24 at Boots
Tags: Benefit, blush, bronzer, dallas, face powder, sun-kissed
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Friday, February 4th, 2011
For the first half of my 20s, I suffered from horrible patchy spots around my cheeks and jawline that really knocked my confidence. I tried all kinds of products to sooth them, but though they might have treated the spot itself, all those acidic, peeling, harsh creams also made the surrounding skin super-sensitive. Luckily, I now have the breakouts more or less under control, but occasionally I will get a reminder of those days gone by. And when I do, instead of grabbing the benzoyl peroxide, I reach for this stuff.
Darphin’s Aromatic Purifying Balm is a thick, waxy, almost solid product that melts on the skin to become a purifying overnight treatment. It may sound mad to treat spots with something oily, but it’s a huge misconception that spots (especially the hormonal type I was prone to) will instantly get worse if you put anything oily or greasy on them. The right oils – like the antibacterial tea tree and soothing lavendar in this balm – can do the opposite.
What I like about this as opposed to traditional spot remedies is that it doesn’t leave me with a dry, sore face once the spots are gone. It feels quite luxurious and smells amazing (strong, but amazing). My old cycle of treating a spot and then having to treat the skin underneath was broken the moment I found this stuff. You can even use it on spots elsewhere on the body.
A jar costs £36, which I know is a lot, but you need such a tiny amount for each treatment that it’ll last you ages. Get it at Feel Unique.
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Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
 I’m not a morning person, so I’m on a constant hunt for anything that’ll help me drag my carcass out of bed. Right now John Masters Organics Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Wash is doing a pretty good job. The knowledge that I’ll soon be washing with this little bottle of gorgeousness makes it’s much easier to leave the comfort of the duvet behind.
I am a sucker for beautiful scents, and this one absolutely blew me away. Usually citrus in body products seem a bit ‘meh’, but the combination of rich, tangy blood orange and warm bourbon vanilla really, really works. It smells natural, not synthetic, like a really, really good cocktail (you know the kind, £15 in a hotel bar and powerful enough to make you tipsy after two sips).
The organic formula is SLS free, which means you don’t get the masses of frothy lather of a traditional body wash. Instead, you get a small amount of thick, creamy lather which feels much more luxurious, but doesn’t need a bit more work to spread over the body. It’s worth it though – once you rinse your skin feel clean, but not stripped of all its moisture.
For the full whammy of that delicious scent, it’s best to top the body wash with the matching body milk, which is light and gentle and sinks in like a dream, leaving that same rich scent on the skin. I love, however, that once it’s settled, the scent isn’t super-strong and overpowering. It’s there, but it mellows quite quickly which allowed me to spritz on some perfume over the top.
They may be pricey at £18 each, but I honestly think as a treat they’re worth every penny. If you like beautifully scented body products, pop these on your wishlist!
John Masters Organics Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Wash and Body Milk £18 each at Feel Unique
Tags: blood orange and vanilla, body milk, body wash, bourbon vanilla, cream, john masters organics, lotion
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Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
 I go back to my parents’ house every Christmas, where I deliberately keep a bottle of Philosophy’s 3-in-1 wash in a festive scent, so I can have a Christmassy shower throughout the duration of my stay.
Sadly, my mother recently revealed to me that she’s been ‘using up what’s in the cupboard’ – that is to say my £18 bottle of Spiced Apple Cider wash has been disappearing down the plughole, unbeknownst to me, for the last month or so. Nice work, mom.
Luckily, QVC slash the prices on their Philosophy ‘Holiday’ sets quickly, meaning I can restock with some Egg Nog and Hot Cocoa for a bargain price. this set is now £22.58, and I can confirm that the bottle can easily be stored away ready for next Christmas!
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Friday, November 26th, 2010
Today on Facebook Susi asked if I had any recommendations for a magical product that’ll instantly perk up the skin and give that ‘glow’, even when hungover.
 As luck would have it, I discovered such a wonder product only a couple of weeks ago, and already I’ve worked my way through half a tube. The product in question is Soap & Glory Bright Here Bright Now Instant Radiance Energy Balm (£10). Now, go on, say that three times fast!
I knew this was good stuff when a skincare expert didn’t believe me when I said I wasn’t wearing makeup. It’s main purpose is as a brightening, lifting balm (along the lines of Clarins’ famous Beauty Flash Balm) and there’s definitely a slight tightening feeling when you apply it. You only need a little bit to see instant results, which is a good thing as the tube holds a stingy 50ml.
But tightening aside, what I love it for is its magical ability to even out skintone. I don’t know how it does it (maybe it’s the tiny reflective, shimmery particles) but one little squirt of this and the redness I suffer from around my cheeks is almost gone. Don’t believe me? Keep reading for photos…
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Tags: before and after, bright here bright now, radiance balm, review, soap & glory, tried and tested
Posted in Editor's Secrets, Tried & Tested | View Comments
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