Natural Colour Works!

Colourist and owner Bradley Evans of Soho hair salon Jigami, is a very clever man. He took me, a virtual colour virgin (I say virtual because I can't deny many years of experimental colour in my teens and early 20's. Yes I've been blonde , copper toned , raven haired and varying degrees in between) but I had not had a drop of colour in my hair since 2006 thus making my hair , as a colourist would describe "Virgin Hair" . It was all my own , a rich dark brown which I actually really liked but after seeing the likes of Millie Mackintosh (Made In Chelsea) and Lily Aldridge (Victorias Secret model) with their sultry , subtley sunkissed locks I knew it was time for me to go back on the bottle (bleach not booze!). Or was it? Now as far as I was aware the only way to lighten the hair, aside from lemon juice in the sun, was to use bleach which wasn't ideal because of potentential long-term damage and the dry dullness it left the hair with after regular use. Bradley explained that the Natural Colour Works he would be using to lighten my hair was an innovative soya based colour completely free of ammonia and bleach which would absolutely be able to create the look I had in mind but be much kinder to my hair and leave it soft and remain shiny in between touch ups.
I trusted him to work his magic and when the time came for the big "reveal" as my hair was dryed off. I held my breath incase my hair was too blonde or stripey or brassy looking but I needn't have worried because it was exactly as I'd hoped it would be , maybe even better! My hair looked lightly , ever so subtlety sun kissed but it made such a difference. I looked younger, fresher , softer , the tone was spot on-it wasn't too warm or too cool-it was beautiful , it looked as it I'd spent a week on a beach but felt soft and looked shiny as Bradley has promised Natural Colour Works would leave it.
I didn't have to return to the salon for about 10 weeks to get the roots touched up and the colour didn't fade or go lighter or leave my hair dull looking as I'd experienced in the past from lightening my hair with bleach. My hair remained soft and healthy looking and I had numerous compliments from family, friends and even complete strangers! It has now been about 8 weeks since the second time I've had it done and I can happily say exactly the same thing as the first time-it really does look gorgeous and feels so healthy.
I would highly recommend Bradley Evans and Natural Colour Works to colour aficionados and colour virgins alike , you won't be disappointed. . . as I said he's a very clever man. Call the salon now on 02072870788 to get your appointment in time for summer (when it finally arrives!).

The Ultimate Nude Lipstick

Finding that perfect "nude" lipstick is like finding the perfect foundation or mascara -a real makeup bag staple for women and makeup artists the world over. And once you find the one that makes your lips feel luscious (one which doesn't sit in the cracks of wintery chapped lips like so many nude lipsticks tend to do), one that makes you look younger/fresher and one that goes with whatever eye makeup look that takes your fancy, be it a smoky Brigitte Bardot look or simply a slick of mascara and liner- you'll never want to be without it!
I do believe I may have found all of the above and more besides. With it's pure olive oil and vitamin E the Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Pèche by Laura Mercier glides on like silk and leaves lips beautifully soft,well hydrated and the colour is so flattering. It makes you look softer, fresher and is the perfect accompaniment to a cat eye makeup look and more natural looks equally.
The pigment is good without looking chalky or overpowering and it is just the right shade of nude with a peach undertone which would be flattering on women of all ages and most skin tones.
The packaging is sleek and glossy and most certainly a very welcome edition to my makeup kit.
Snap one up for yourself at any Laura Mercier counter in John Lewis, Fenwicks , Space NK or House Of Fraser for 20 of you Great British Pounds and you'll be mighty glad you did.

Get into Spring with glowing skin!

My lovely mummy who is a bit of a skincare junkie like me recommended I try this radiance inducing Rose Otto mask by Dr Organic. I have to say I am really impressed with the results- it leaves my pores non existant and refined and gives my skin a gorgeous glow as soon as I remove it. It's the best mask I've tried in a long time and at under £10 it won't break the bank either. Bonus! It gives me even better results than my favourite Manuka Doctor Rejuvenating Mask containing bee venom and Clarins Hydra Quench Cream Mask containing hyaluronic acid katafray bark , both much pricier at £49.99 and £28 respectively. The key ingredient is organic rosehip oil known for its moisturising, soothing and softening effects on the skin. It contains polyunsaturated fatty acids which are involved in cellular membrane and tissue regeneration. Furthermore it contains trans-retinoic acid, which is responsible for skin rejuvenation, quicker healing time and repairs skin subjected to excessive sunlight and the resultant photo aging.
If your skin is looking a bit dull and lacklustre this is for you.

Buy this in store at Holland & Barratt or online from the Dr Organic Website. http://www.drorganic.co.uk/rose-products.asp

Metallic Mink Eyes and Nude Lips

My first Makeup client of the day. Bridal trial for beautiful bride to be Rusen who's a Mongolian Romanian mix.Great features:-) She wanted a strong look on the eyes and natural everywhere else so this is what I created ♥
Makeup Brushes Used:MAC , Bare Escentuals, Stila and Laura Geller
Primer:MAC Matte Gel
Base:MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15
Eye Primer:Laura Geller Eye Spackle
Concealer:Estee Lauder Disappear Smoothing Creme
Powder:MAC Invisible
Blush:A Peach for the apples of the cheeks and a light tan for contouring by Pixi Cosmetics (find them on Carnaby St)
Eyeshadow:A gorgeous metallic mink shade by Kiko Makeup Milano in 228 (find Kiko store in either Westfield)
Eyeliner: Gel Intenza liner in Pure Black by L'oreal which does not budge till removed. Way better than MAC's Blacktrack gel liner which smudges and is quite a greasy texture.
Brows:GOSH brow palette in dark brown.
Mascara:NYC Skyrise Lenthening Mascara in black my current fav.
Lip Liner:No. 7 in Nude.Best.Lipliner.Bar.None
Lips:Revlon gloss in Toast To
Shine a perfect caramel shade.

A tip for the eyeshadow application: The eyeshadow by Kiko Makeup Milano is a wet AND dry formula so for a more subtle colour use dry and for a more intense pigment wet your eyeshadow brush before applying. I always find a flat brush works best if you want to wet the shadow for a more intense colour.

Hair and Makeup For Strictly's Fab Judge Bruno Tonioli . .

Today I did the hair and makeup for BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and ABC's Dancing With The Stars judge Bruno Tonioli . He was an absolute pleasure to work with and made a list of the products I used on him so he could order them , as he loved the results.
I prepped his skin with Arbonne Regenerating Toner followed by Arbonne Restorative Day Crème SPF 20 , which is a really light , non greasy moisturiser and perfect to use under makeup for television . Then to take down puffiness and dark circles under the eyes I used Clarins Beauty Flash Eye Revive , which is one of my absolute must have products , and on top of that I gently patted on Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair which has smoothing and light reflecting properties.
I then applied 2 layers of MAC Face and Body Foundation in C6 with a Japoneseque Stippling Brush which gives a really buffed , even finish . Under the eyes I used Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer in Medium and Medium Deep mixed together to cover darkness and circles as it gives good coverage but blends really easily. To set it I used a light dusting of MAC Invisible Powder and a little MAC Matte Gel to stop him from shining under the strong studio lights. Bruno is naturally tanned but I gave him a light application of Chanel bronzer in Sahara for a healthy glow, without shimmer . On top of the makeup , to smooth out the skin around the eyes , forehead and nose to mouth lines , I used Clientele Estro Lift Wrinkle Filler which gives an effortlessly airbrushed look .
As Bruno has good hair and a good hair cut all I needed to do was rub a little of Wella Shockwaves Go Matt Clay through the ends to give a bit of texture and take away frizz but still leave a matte finish. I set lightly with L'oreal Elnett Hairspray in Supreme Hold.
All in all , with tv makeup for guys it's all about that "No Makeup, Makeup Look" that makes them look great but without being obvious why. Just healthy , well rested and with great skin!

Products mentioned above can be bought from:
www.qvcuk.com
www.maccosmetics.co.uk
www.boots.com
www.arbonne.com
www.clienteleskincare.com

Revlon Nail Colour in Craving Coral

I'm loving Revlon's new nail colour in "Craving Coral" a gorgeous , vibrant , 'makes you feel happy' red! Not forgetting my favourite top coat Seche Vite which I've applied over the top . It makes nails super glossy and your nail polish last longer:-)

Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash

If you get puffiness and dark circles around your eyes try Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash , a product I swear by. However tired my eyes look , just a couple of minutes after I've applied this , they feel so refreshed and look wide awake , like I've had a really good nights sleep. I often have very early starts for commercials & shoots and don't always manage to get a full 8hrs -usually it's more like 5! It literally transforms my peepers. This what Clarins say "Clarins’ quick ‘lift” for tired eyes — with refreshing Rose Petals, Lily and White Tea extracts—releases toxins to minimise dark circles, tighten eye contours, decongest and de-puff. Hydrates and protects the delicate skin around eyes, while chasing-away fine lines. Keep it in your emergency kit."
It really is brilliant - you won't be without this product once you've tried it . Just pat gently around the contour of your eyes with your ring finger and you'll be bright eyed and bushy tailed , ready for the day.

My daily Skincare Routine!

Is your skin looking a little dull lately? Maybe your skin care routine has got stuck in a rut. Never fear! For gorgeous , glowing skin and to hear about my favourite skincare products , watch my latest video below:-)

Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer

Every girl has something in her makeup kit she would not be without . . call it a desert island must have , call it a "cry if it ever got discontinued product" , call it what you will but I'm sure each and every one of us can think immediately , of that very product that makes us feel better about our appearance.
For some it is mascara (I know women who will not open the door to the postman without it , let alone leave the house!) , for others it may be lipstick that's their staple item or maybe you're a girl that's obsessed with perfectly groomed eyebrows and would be mortified not to have your brow gel/pencil/shadow with you. .which I have to admit I am certainly guilty of.
But despite all the other wonderful delights in my makeup bag , I have to say hands down my Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer in shade 3.5 Light Sand , holds the top spot for my desert island makeup essential.
It covers dark circles under the eyes , darkness or redness on the eyelid , blemishes , spots , fine lines . It is a beautiful lightweight liquid texture and the applicator is a super, super fine brush. After applying my tinted moisturiser I lightly brush the concealer under my eyes , to the outer corner of my eyes , over my eyelids , a couple of beauty spots that I don't like , my nose to mouth lines , around my nostrils , the line between my lower lip and chin and on either side of my top lip. I then blend very gently with my MAC 190 foundation brush. If you find this too large for you , then use a flat concealer brush . I don't find this product works or blends as well using only your fingers .
Once blended , any darkness , discolouration or fine lines melt away into nothingness . My skin looks flawless and yet as though I am not wearing makeup . It builds beautifully , so if you have particularly dark circles under your eyes or an angry red blemish/es this works very well using 2-3 layers and doesn't look heavy or cakey in the least . In fact this high precision concealer contains light reflecting pearls, vitamin E and moisturisers, and diffuses the light so it actually nourishes and smoothes the skin , rather than making it feel dry or god forbid settle into fine lines which is a big no no!
I have tried many concealers in the past , all the famous most hyped about ones , but this by far is the ultimate for me. I have a yellow toned , olive skin and I find a lot on the market are too pink and dull looking. This conceals perfectly but is undetectable and sometimes I will wear just this , a bit of brow gel and I'm ready to go. It's good enough that you don't need foundation or tinted moisturiser.
If you're fed up spending a fortune on concealers that promise the earth and do not deliver , and your search for the best concealer out there seems fruitless , I'd say look no further-this is your baby!
At £24 it ain't cheap but mine lasts a good 4-5 months , and has lots of beneficial , skin nourishing ingredients so actually it is well worth it . . . and let's face who can put a price on flawless skin.

Available:Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and www.georgioarmanibeauty.co.uk
Shades Available:Three . 2-Ivory 3-Pale Peach 3.5-Light Sand
RRP:£24

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser vs Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

Having been a massive fan of Armani Hydra Glow Foundation for many years , when it was discontinued I was in disbelief and very disappointed , as it really was the best foundation I had ever used and left my skin with a gorgeously subtle glow and was the perfect shade and just the right coverage for me.

Now that it had been discontinued worldwide and I could not get it ANYWHERE , and believe me I tried , my search began for the next "perfect" foundation for me . I tried them all ( I was savvy enough to get samples instead of buying!) Christian Dior , YSL , Chanel , Estee Lauder , MAC , Shu Uemera , Shiseido , the list is endless. . you get the idea!
Not one even came close to the results Armani Hydra Glow gave me. I was gutted-they all seemed to be dull and grey looking, even the ones that were yellow toned and promised to deliver radiance etc, etc. I then came across Lancome Teint Renergie Lift R.A.R.E which finally was able to give the radiance I had so missed from a foundation, firmness to the skin , plus the right coverage but all that was missing was the exact shade. It was a shade or 2 lighter than my skin tone and the next shade up was a tad too dark! Damn, almost there! So I opted for this and applied a little more bronzer to my cheek bones and temples to make up for it's lightness .
Not long after I then decided , as I am blessed to have very good skin (thanks mum!) , and rarely suffer from breakouts , to not cover my skin up and wear something fresher and more sheer. I decided to give Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser another go. Previously I had found it to be too sheer and it would just slide off half way through the day and look patchy. Plus the shade Sand had been a little too dark for me . Never a good thing! I explained this to the Laura Mercier consultant and she suggested I try the non oil free formula as for some reason the Sand shade is lighter in colour than the oil free version .
I couldn't believe the difference it made . The colour was spot on and the texture felt richer and creamier than when I had used it previously . Maybe the non oil free version makes all the difference!
I played about with different application techniques at home to find the ultimate finish and felt that fingers were by far the best. Over flat a foundation brush or a Stippling brush . For the best finish , after cleansing and moisturising (and sometimes using Laura Geller Spackle which is a great primer) I squeeze a 20 pence piece sized amount into the palm of my hands , rub together lightly, then apply in gentle downward stokes onto my face , following down onto my neck . I then blend in thoroughly with my fingertips until I have a fresh , flawless , slightly dewy finish looking back at me . If I want slightly more coverage I repeat a second time just using a pea sized amount and smoothing just across my nose, forehead and around my nose . This helps it stay on for longer and if I'm going out in the evening I might add Lancome Teint Renergie Lift R.A.R.E Foundation to it in 50/50 measurements , then rub lightly in palms and apply.
On a day to day basis I use one layer of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and it is perfect . It makes my skin look amazing without looking like I'm wearing makeup which is the ideal really .People regularly comment on how great my skin is as opposed to how good my foundation looks, which is the ultimate compliment . I would absolutely recommend this to anybody who likes the no makeup makeup look!

Recently Liz Earle Skincare launched a tinted moisturiser . Their first foray into makeup having previously only sold award winning skincare, which I am a big fan of -especially the Skin Tonic , Superskin Moisturiser and Superskin Concentrate . As I know the care and time Liz takes with all her products I knew it would be a good 'un and couldn't wait to try it. I am fortunate that they kindly sent me one
The Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint is available in 3 shades. My shade is Beige 02 for the winter but I could use Beach 03 in the summer months. I have a light olive skin tone which is sometimes darker as I like to self tan . The texture is fairly thick for a tinted moisturiser , and again I played about with application techniques for this and chose fingers as the best choice . I squeeze a pea sized amount in the palm of my hands (as this has more coverage than the LM tinted moisturiser) rub lightly , then apply in gentle downward strokes . It gives the most INCREDIBLE glow and sheen to the skin . It makes you look like you've a month of good night's sleep and as though you've had the best facial of your life . I am very impressed! I love the dewy look which is not greasy , and love that is cares for your skin too containing natural source vitamin E , Borage and Avocado oils. It looks beautiful with a cream blush blended gently in and takes years off. Which , let's face it is what most women want!
All in all these two tinted moisturisers are the best on the market and I would highly recommend either .

Here are some facts about both to help you choose which one to go for!

Laura Mercier Non Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser:
SPF:20
RRP:£33
Coverage:Light-Medium. Buildable
Shades Available:9
Available From: Selfridges , Harrods, Harvey Nichols, House Of Fraser , John Lewis , Space NK and online.

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint:
SPF:15
RRP:£21
Coverage:Medium
Shades Available:3
Available:John Lewis , Peter Jones , Liz Earle Store Duke Of York Square, Chelsea and online.