Topcoat

Seche Vite

 I was treated to a manicure by a friend in the industry last week. She used this amazing  glossy Top coat, Seche Vite.  Acknowledged as the best on the market, purchase it online at Asos...
http://www.asos.com/Seche/Seche-Vite--Dry-Fast-Coat/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=654940

Prepare for winter....

Last weekend I was working on the Topshop campaign outside a deserted monastery. It was absolutely freezing and far less glamorous than you'd imagine. Hand warmers and hotties were passed to the models in between shots to warm their spindly limbs, and keep their streaming noses and blue lips at bay.

Winter is here, and although the brisk outdoors can give you a healthy glow and beautiful Rosy cheeks, more often than not, it leaves one looking like a disheveled rat! Skin in the winter can be quite problematic. The central heating and extreme weather can dehydrate your skin and cause high colour. Therefore, this season I strongly recommend some good moisturiser and a good concealer.

Top three winter moisturisers for dry/dehydrated skin

1. Decleor  nutirboost cream
http://www.decleor.co.uk/shop/product/nutridivine-nutriboost-ultra-cocooning-cream---for-very-dry-skin-and-extreme-climates
2. Chanel Hyramax Active nutrition cream
http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?brand=CHANEL&storeId=10052&productID=SKPRE5FR
3. And for something more natural I suggest using Ren Rose O10 Oil, followed by Caudalie Vinosource quenching cream.
http://www.spacenk.co.uk/product/shop+by+brand/ren/200003149+rose+synergy+o12+restoring+facial+serum.do
http://www.spacenk.co.uk/product/shop+by+brand/caudalie/200006418+vinosource+quenching+creme+sorbet.do

Top Three concealers

1. Estee Lauder Maximum coverage foundation.
http://www.esteelauder.co.uk/templates/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT20954&PRODUCT_ID=PROD94224
2. Laura Mercier secret camouflage http://www.spacenk.co.uk/product/shop+by+brand/laura+mercier/114163155+secret+camouflage.do
3. Mac select coverage
http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT21852&PRODUCT_ID=PROD66065

All these products are good for covering redness around the nose and if you get high colour below the apples of your cheeks, use a small amount of your concealer with your foundation for a little extra coverage. Concealer is not foundation though, so be sure to use it sparingly and only where it's needed - Spots, blemishes and redness. If you really suffer from high colour then I suggest using a colour balancing product such as Clinique's redness solution base. The sheer green colour corrects redness and evens skin tone.

http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1596/6008/Makeup/Concealers/Redness-Solutions-Daily-Protective-Base-SPF-15/index.tmpl 

So, with perfect winter skin, have a little fun and try out some Christmas party looks with a virtual make over on the Topshop website http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaticPageDisplay?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&brdcrmb_trail=&identifier=ts2-virtual-makeover&intcmpid=W_FEATURE_MU_UK_WK39_VIRTUAL%20MAKEOVER

Budget Buys

The Best of Budget

Make-up can be expensive, a lot of the time it really is worth coughing up for the creme de la creme, however, if you’re shopping on a budget, there are some really good cheap alternatives out there

SWAP

Diorshow Mascara £21.50                 4       Maybelline Colossal Mascara £6.99

 http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-The-Colossal-Volum-Express-Mascara_861877/

YSL Touche éclat £24                          4         Lacura highlighting pen £3.95

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/product_range/product_range_7477.htm

Mac Face and Body £23                      4           MyFace Foundation £7.99

http://www.boots.com/en/Myface-Mymix-Foundation-Fair-35ml_847547/

Chanel waterproof eyeliner £17         4           L’Oreal contour resist waterproof eyeliner £4.49

http://www.shop4makeup.com/loreal-contour-resist-waterproof-retractable-eyeliner-p-614.html

Chanel Le Vernis Nail colour               4             No 7 Long Stay perfect Nail colour £6.75

Obviously you won’t get the same colours, but No. 7 quality is very good. My favourite colour at the moment is Totally Teal. I also think they have one of the best eye make-up removers out there http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Cleanse-Care-Eye-Make-up-Remover-100ml_15713/

Some other great products include :-

·         Barry M Lipliners http://www.barrym.com/lip-liners £2.99

·         Topshops lip glosses and balms. I love their blush in crushed berry, only £6.00 http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=1627599&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208568&parent_categoryId=208495&sort_field=Relevance&pageSize=200

·         Body Shop Body Butters are amazing. I use the coconut shimmer on shoots a lot for glowing skin http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/_en/_gb/catalog/product.aspx?ParentCatCode=C_BathBody&CatCode=C_BathBody_BodyButterBodyLotion&prdcode=52339m#