Visionnaire By Lancome`

With all of the hype surrounding the launch of Visionnaire I knew I had to give it a try and after one of my fab twitter friends Nichola Joss described this product as stunning, I hot footed it into Newcastle to one of the Lancome counters.

I have to admit the poor women who served me did get the short straw as I wanted to know how and why this product worked. I was given the sales pitch which was that it was a molecule which triggered multiple changes in the skin, but unfortunately we couldn't get any more detail than this. I wanted to know about this molecule, was the magical molecule LR2412 a delivery system which simply delivered the other listed ingredients to the skin in a different way or was it the magical ingredient that would change my skin. Lancome describe Visionnaire as a Skin Corrector, this is quite a claim and one I certainly needed to road test.

I couldn't wait to cleanse my skin, I felt I had to use my Lancome Baum Eclate another of my favourites, particularly during Autumn and Winter to ensure my skin stays hydrated and protected during the constant changes in weather. I then applied two to three small pumps of the Visionnaire to my skin, gently massaging it in to my face and neck which was a total pleasure due to the smell and feel of the products. I would say it was a cross between a gel and a cream in texture. I allowed this to totally melt into my skin and then applied a little moisturiser before heading off to bed.

As always I had that very excited Christmas morning feeling and jumped out of bed and faced the mirror (I am very often devastated at this point in my day). I have always believed that if a night cream / treatment / serum is good you should be able to see a difference in the morning - well 'hello difference'. I could visibly see a difference in my skin, please don't ask me to say exactly what it was (7am - oh please) but I knew it was different and in a good way.

It is recommended that Visionnaire be used at night, but I have to say I was so excited about the result I used just one pump around my eye and forehead (problem areas)before I applied my usual products and makeup.

Over the next few days I did get quite a few compliments from my clients about how fresh my skin looked and when asking what they wanted to achieve from their facials, they were saying that they wanted their skin to look even like mine. Now this is huge compliment for me as I am very self conscious about pigmentation on my face and this was clearly becoming not appearing as visible.

I have been using my Visionnaire for almost 4 weeks now and I have to say that my skin is looking more even in texture and feeling smoother. The tone and pigmentation is also much improved, so much so that over the last two weeks I have taken to wearing tinted moisturiser rather than a foundation as I don't actually want to cover my skin up (wow, get me!!) I have had a couple of little spots appear over the last few days, but I have to say that normally these could have dragged on for weeks before fully healing, but give me two days using the Visionnaire and they have practically gone. That alone is worth £57 from my purse.

Before I wrote my post on this, I still had to understand how this product worked - I knew it did but I needed to know why, so I asked those lovely girls behind the twitter @LancomeUK to help me out. The girls kindly provided the press release for me to devour and so here is my take on the magic that is Visionnaire.

After many years of researching how plants repaired themselves, 12yrs to be precise. Lancome discovered that when a plant is injured and is in need of repair it produces jasmonic acid which triggers a chain of reactions to aid repair and prevents future damage. Lancome wanted to recreate this reaction within the skin and have a single molecule prompting repair in the skin, basically it triggers a process so everything within the skin works harder to repair faster.

Retinol is an ingredient we are used to seeing in skin correcting products and can physically change the skin, but due to the potential irritation it can cause this is not seen in large amounts in products so change is slow. The LR2412 works in a very similar way to retinol but without the irritation.

Well it certainly has me sold, I am loving the visible changes I can see in my skin and the fact it just looks bouncier and thicker I think. Sometimes my skin would take on a slight paper thin look, particularly on my cheeks in the winter, but my skin here definitely feels fuller.

So its a huge thumbs up from me and this is one serum which I will continue to use. Thank you Lancome!!

Has anyone else tried Visionnaire? If so I would love to know what you think.

If you have any wonder products you think I should try, let me know and I will do what I can to give them a go.

Wendy xx

Rio Rosa Mosqueta - anti aging Day and Night cream

I am always on the look out for products that can double up and do more than one job so was delighted to be given the opportunity to try this anti aging day and night cream.

I am a great fan of rose oil and natural products so couldn't wait to try this new product for a few weeks.

The product claims to protect skin from harmful UVA rays during the day and then nourish, hydrate and renew at night. So a quick study of the ingredients list was as always, top of my list. The cream is packed with a whole range of ingredients which back up the claims and help moisturise, hydrate, protect and regenerate. It is certified organic by EcoControl and contains no parabens, paraffin or other synthetic ingredients.

The range of products are based on Rosa Mosqueta which is a wild rose found in the Chilean Andes. The Rosehip oil which is packed with vitamin C has great rejuvenating properties and I was delighted to see its inclusion very high up on the ingredients list, so we know there is more than just a hint of it in there. The cream also contains Red Algae as the UVA and UVB protector, this is one of the most powerful UV - absorbing substances in nature, so no need for any artificial, chemical sun protection here. This is backed up with a range of anti oxidants such as vitamin E and horsetail extract.

With the addition of macadamia nut oil, shea butter and aloe vera this product is definitely going to protect and reinforce the skins barrier and protect, particularly in the winter months and if that wasn't enough there is also some alpha hydroxy acids in there to gently exfoliate the skin to ensure no build up of old skin cells which will help to maintain a nice healthy glow.

So on with the product itself, anyone who has read my blog will know that i am not very keen on products that are in jars, I do use them, but if given the choice I would always choose a tube or pump action dispenser to maintain the integrity of the ingredients. (but that's just me)

The product itself felt very rich to the touch and as such I was a little apprehensive as I have a tendency to a bit of an oily T zone. I warmed the product up a little in my hands first with it feeling so rich and applied to my cleansed face, I felt as though I had to work the product in quite a bit and to be honest didn't love the feel of the product on initial application but loved the fresh natural aroma of it. However, a couple of minutes after application I was expecting a greasy feel to this product as the cream had felt so rich but my skin felt fine with no residue left on my skin at all.

I continued just applying the cream on its own after cleansing both morning and night and although I didn't particularly love the feeling of the cream on application, my skin was looking good, nicely hydrated and fine lines around my eyes looking quite good too (result). The product does recommend that for best results to use the Rio Rosa Mosqueta Oil first, but as I didn't have this to hand I decided to use a serum after cleansing and then use the cream, this definitely worked better and the cream went on and felt so much better on application.

Although I have typical combination skin, I didn't experience any shine through the day as I had expected and felt my skin looked pretty good after using this product.

The product is recommended for all skin types and I would say that this would work with the inclusion of the oil for anyone with a drier skin.

The product is priced at only £14.99 and as it is packed with a whole host of natural and organic ingredients and the fact you can use it both day and night I would definitely use this product and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as a great moisturiser at a great price.

I will certainly be looking to try the oil in the future as I do feel the two products would work brilliantly together. (Christmas list I think)

If you would like more information on the products you can follow the team through twitter @RioRosaMosqueta or visit www.riorosa.co.uk

If you have tried this Day and Night Cream or the oil, I would love to hear what you think.

Wendy xx

My Skinesis Skincare Experience

Skinesis is branded as a High - Performance Luxury skin care brand and is the result of a number of years of research by Celebrity Facialist Sarah Chapman.

I was very excited to try something from Sarah's range and after asking Sarah via twitter to recommend a product from her range for me to try, I decided to purchase the Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse and the Intense Hydrating Booster. I searched the internet as I do for the best deal and decided to purchase from Beauty Expert as if I bought two Skinesis products I received the Eye recovery cream free (oh how I love a freebie). Order placed and a few days later my goodies arrived.

My first impression of the products was very stylish packaging, the products looked and felt high end if that makes sense. Whilst the cleanser was in a plastic container - practical so you can take it in shower and you will be using with wet hands. The booster and eyecream have very luxurious packaging and they all would look pretty amazing in anyone's bathroom.

Enough about the superficial stuff, what are the products like........ well I couldn't wait to try the cleanser that evening and boy was I not disappointed. This has to be the most relaxing aroma I have ever experienced in a product I could literally feel my shoulders drop with utter relaxation. An essential oil blend of camphor, neroli, chamomile, jasmine and rose are responsible. The cleanser is a balm to oil cleanser (my favourite )and feels amazing on your skin. One good pump of cleanser is enough for a generous covering of face and neck a good massage with this cleanser has to follow and to be honest due to smell and feel of the product, it really isn't difficult and rather than clock watching to make sure you have massaged for a minute or so - I found myself 5 minutes later thinking okay I should really look to wash this off now :-) I added warm water to the cleanser and massaged a little more until it was all milky and then I removed with a warm damp muslin cloth - bliss. I then rinsed my cloth in cold water and pressed onto my skin to finish. I seriously felt as if I had had a bit of a facial. The balm has a whole host of fab ingredients in, such as Omega-rich baobab and borage oils and mix this with vitamins A & E and Dermaxyl peptide for exfoliation,anti aging benefits and anti oxidant protection. My skin felt totally hydrated and so soft to touch - I didn't actually feel as if I needed to use any other products - but as my new hydrating booster was staring at me it would have been rude not to. The hydrating booster is dispensed via an effective dropper, the serum is quite runny without being watery and blends very easily and lightly over the skin and didn't leave my skin sticky, just fresh really. The blend of Hyaluronic acid, rosewater and glycerin work really well to keep the skin hydrated and give it a really healthy glow.

This only left my freebie eye recovery cream to try. Again this is a pump action dispenser and using a grain of rice size for each eye this was an easy to apply luxurious - without being too rich or heavy cream that again hydrated the skin around my eye - which can sometimes feel a little dry and show a few little lines (I can't believe I have said that out loud!!) So off to bed and see how it feels in the morning.

My skin looked and felt great in the morning, sometimes my skin can be a bit oily in the morning - but it didn't it just felt dewy - if your skin can feel rather than looking dewy. But I couldn't wait to cleanse again. I use the products in the same way morning and night and even treated a few of my clients to them to see how they enjoyed the experience and they loved it too.

Well I am on to my second cleanser (almost run out again) - this is a staple in my bathroom now and if my clients had anything to do with it - in my treatment room too.

It is at the higher end of the price scale being £40 for 100 mls - I am getting about 6 to 7 weeks from a cleanser - so I would say without sharing it you should get about 2 months of cleansing twice a day from it. It is definitely a case of you get what you pay for with this product.

The booster is more expensive being £59 for 30mls - i still have a little of this left so you are looking at about 4 to 5 months if you don't over indulge, as I tend to do. I am looking to try one of the other boosters, but will be repurchasing this as well.

Finally the eye cream being £39 for 15mls, I still have a bit of this left so this is lasting very well - and as I got it free with my other purchases - even better.

Trying these products in the Skinesis range has just left me wanting more.

Have you tried any of these products? would love to hear what you think.

Wendy xx

Daniel Sandler Watercolour blush limited edition 'POP'

After trying my first ever Daniel Sandler watercolour blush in Cherub a couple of weeks ago (which I love). When Daniel announced a limited edition blush was to be launched I knew I just had to have it and with £5 from every purchase going to Macmillan Cancer Fund - it was an absolute must.

I eagerly anticipated it becoming available at Escentual.com and quickly got my order in. As always with Escentual.com, super quick delivery and I was not disappointed with this new shade. 'Pop' is a perfect autumn / winter shade being a perfect blend of pink and peach as with the Cherub shade, along with the fabulous colour it is the way the product gives a subtle luminosity to the skin to give a radiant glow.

I tried the product on myself first (being 41) and then my daughter who is 18 and it looked amazing on us both. It is a perfect shade to lift the skin as our summer sun kissed skin begins to fade. Once the blush is applied you can be confident that it is there all day and night - its staying power is incredible, so no need to take it out in your handbag to reapply.

I find it better to apply with a brush and there is a watercolour brush created just for this purpose, I have applied with a foundation brush and also the mac 130 short duo brush and both work really well.

At least one watercolour blush is a must in anyones makeup kit - the Goddess shade which I think is only available from QVC is next on my hit list, if you have tried it let me know what you think.

Wendy xx

My First Ever Glossy Box

I have to admit I am a real girly girl and love all beauty products, especially those which come in nice packaging. So after hearing so much about Glossy Box, I just had to give it a go and so signed up to receive Septembers issue. The Glossy Box is priced at £10.00 plus £2.95 p & p.

I have to say I was so excited when it arrived a couple of days later, when I opened the outer postage packaging the box which I found inside was very net-a-porter in design and quality. This high quality packaging continued when I opened the box, with the nice tissue wrap etc - so far so good.

So what's inside:

A fab little card gives you more information about Glossy and details what all of the products are, the websites where you can purchase full size products and a discount code should you wish to make a purchase. Some of these voucher codes haven't got long to run as I didn't get my box until a couple of days ago - so a little longer on these dates would be good (please).

Down to the goodies inside, my box contained six products two of which were full sized. The HD palette I recieved has a retail price of £19.95, and the Neal Wolf Glow spray has a retail value of £11.95, so on a value for money basis - the Glossy Box certainly scores highly here.

I also received two 50g sachets (so generous size) of Dead Sea spa Magik Salt brushing, so I expect to get a good couple of treatments out of these. A fab mini pot of Moa green balm and a sample of Plum perfume by Mary Greenwell.

From reading what others received in their Glossy Boxes it seems that some of the products can vary throughout the month, so if you are signing up to get a particular product it may be worth trying to check that it is going to be included in your box - to avoid disappointment.

I haven't tried all of the produts yet but can say I am delighted with my Glossy Box and can't wait to see what is in my October box. The great thing about the subscription is that it can be cancelled at any time, so its worth giving it a go and if its not for you then simply stop your subscription.

Have you subscribed to Glossy Box? for further information visit www.GlossyBox.co.uk

Wendy xx

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush and Retexturising Primer

Firstly apologies for the lack of blogging over the last couple of months, with working in the business on a full time basis now, my wedding and honeymoon I just don't know where the last couple of months have gone. But I am back now with so many products to review, I have quite a backlog to get through.

I thought I would start off with a very recent purchase, so i have to say this one has certainly jumped the queue for a review!

I have been meaning to try Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush for quite some time and eventually got around to ordering it a couple of weeks ago. I was unsure as to which colour to order as they all looked so gorgeous, but as I am trying to watch the pennies I reluctantly only ordered one. I opted for the 'Cherub' shade as I thought this looked a natural fresh pinky blush. I did however decide to try the retexturising primer as well as I love primers and can resist trying a new one. I ordered my products from Very.co.uk and I have to say amazingly speedy delivery - arrived the following day - WOW and without having to pay a premium for super speed delivery either.

Knowing a little about the story behind the Daniel Sandler cosmetics line, as told by the man himself when I seen him recently at the Olympia Beauty Show (btw - he was totally brilliant and inspiring to a relatively new makeup artist like myself)I was extremely excited to give his products a try. As a busy working makeup artist Daniel found he was mixing different products together to get the perfect products for his clients for consitency,texture, staying power etc and set about making his own range.

After my normal cleansing routine, I applied a little hydrating serum and moisturiser and let this absorb into my face before I applied just a pea sized amount of retexturising primer, this was more than enough for an even application (just with my fingers) across my whole face. It applies like a dream, has that lovely velvety feel. The primer is packed with great ingredients as well, so is really just part of your skincare, it has SPF, vitamins A and E, some salicylic acid to help keep your pores clean - what more could you ask for.

The Cherub watercolour blush looked just the right side of a natural pink colour in the bottle so after applying a light daytime base of tinted moisturiser with a hint of foundation i set to applying the watercolour blush. After giving the bottle a really good shake as directed I applied one drop to a MAC 130 short duo fibre brush, I began lightly stippling the product on to the apple of my cheek as I wasn't entirely sure how it would apply and then gently blended it up my cheek bone. With a light handed application it gives the most lovely fresh gently flushed look, which I love. I needn't of worried about how it would apply as it goes on like a dream. To really stress test it, I set to work in my treatment room for a nice 10 hour shift. At the end, blush along with my other make up all still firmly in place - result for both primer and blush.

I have swatched the watercolour blush for you, apologies for the bad camera shot - this doesn't really do it justice and I think looks more peachy than pink - but hopefully will give you a feel for how gorgeous it is.

To try a different look with the watercolour blush, I wore heavier makeup than I would normally for through the day and built up the blush by applying it lightly as I had previously, but then simply reapplied it in the same way, this gave me a stronger look, but because of the consistency of this product, the finish it gives you and the glow it gives your skin are like nothing I have came across before and although a stronger look was achieved it blends fantastically I absolutely love it and intend to purchase the other colours including the new Limited Edition 'POP' that has just been produced over the next few weeks. At £12 for the watercolour blush and £22 for the primer, I definitely feel you are getting great value for money and a high quality product that I am delighted to use professionally and personally.

Daniel did say that there are plans for a Daniel Sandler makeup academy - hopefully this will be sooner rather than later. In the meantime, follow him on twitter @DANIELSANDLER for makeup tips and also take a look at his website that has some great masterclass videos.

Have you tried the Watercolour blush or primer, or any of the other products in the line? - I would love to hear what you think, particularly if you have tried the foundations as they are on my wishlist to try.

Wendy xx

Another before and after - Lash lift and Crybaby Semi Permanent Mascara

Just thought I would let you see this before and after of my last client of today. She has a good natural lash to work with, but we gave her a lash lift and then a coat of Crybaby semi permanent mascara.
The Semi Permanent mascara is really flexible and requires no maintenance, so a great alternative to lash extensions - both procedures take about 1hr 30 mins - but lasts for weeks without the need for any follow up treatments.

This client also has HD Brows, these were done a couple of weeks ago and are still looking good.

If you have any questions about either treatment, please just ask.

Love Wendy xx

An alternative lash treatment - what do you think???

Just in time for the holiday season a new lash treatment has emerged in the UK after becoming quite popular over in the US.

Semi Permanent mascara is the latest in lash treatments and is an alternative to the lash tint, perm etc. The application process is relatively quick and it is basically a professionally applied mascara which lasts up to two to three weeks. As this breaks down gradually over this period it is a great treatment for holidays for keeping your eyes looking fab when you are in and out of the pool or sea and you want to emerge looking like a bond girl rather than Alice Cooper with your mascara running down your face. you know the look :-))

One of my lovely friends had this treatment today, I firstly gave her lashes a lash lift and then applied a quick coat of Crybaby mascara and here is the before and after. She absolutely loved the finished look as although there is quite a good length on the lashes they are very straight and normally require a good curling and plenty mascara.

Here is the before and after for you to see the effect, the great thing about having the lash lift first is that after the mascara has broken down over a couple of weeks the lift and tinted lashes will remain for six to eight weeks.

What do you have done to your lashes? or are you blessed like my daughter with natural 14mm lashes - not that I am jealous (much)!!

Love your comments as always.

Love Wendy xx

The Alpha-H diaries Week 1

I love twitter, its a great way to find some great products with recommendations from some amazing facialists, makeup artists and people who just love to buy and try products and share their experiences and my latest indulgence of Alpha-H was thanks to @KennethSoh , @Sweet_Miss_Jo and @nicolettasblog. All well worth a follow!

My purchase was a five piece radiance and renewal set from QVC which included the infamous Liquid Gold, which to say I was excited to try is an understatement. The set contained a 50ml balancing cleanser, a 50ml gentle daily exfoliant, a 50ml rejuvenating cream, a 100ml Liquid gold and a 7.5ml absolute eye complex all for just over £35!

As there are quite a lot of products here I thought a diary would be the best way to share my experience, so here we go

Day one: Evening cleanse - this claims to be a three in one product, makeup remover, cleanser and toner all in one, so a little sceptical I must say but I used a 5 pence size amount of cleanser on damp hands and face and massaged into my face and neck, paying particular attention to my eye area which was carrying the days makeup. I gently removed cleanser with a warm damp muslin cloth and voila all makeup gone, no traces of mascara at all. I gave a quick second cleanse to ensure a thorough cleanse into those pesky pores too. To test a bit further I didn't apply any other products for about 30 mins to see if my skin felt tight, greasy etc. No chance, just soft, cleansed and hydrated skin.

Now the moment I had been waiting for my first ever experience of liquid gold. Due to the glycolic acid content I was expecting quite a tingling sensation, so as directed I dampened a cotton pad with the Liquid Gold which is just a clear liquid and wiped over my face and neck. A little tingling but not much at all. I left until my skin was touch dry and then I applied the rejuvenating cream with Glycolic Acid and vitamin C, now this did give a good tingle - but I am one of those people who like a good tingle as it must be working!The moisturiser felt rich without being heavy or greasy

Day two: I did look in the mirror and was a bit disappointed that I wasn't looking 10 years younger, but then reality kicked in and i started off on morning cleanse. I gave my skin a single cleanse and then poured two measured amounts of gentle daily exfoliant into my palm and added a little water to create a creamy paste and activate the enzyme activity and then massaged in for a good minute, I rinsed thoroughly with warm water and then applied the rejuvenating cream (good tingle again) and then applied a little SPF 30, as there is none in this particular moisturiser and due to the Glycolic Acid content it is essential to add in this stage to protect your skin. Applied eye gel, this is a little runny, so caution is needed to make sure none is wasted. A nice cooling gel, I expected to feel a little dry around eyes as this wasn't a cream as I normally use, but this felt great all day.

Evening same as on Day one - skin feels great and looks quite fresh looking.

Day three: skin is looking good this morning, to cleanse this morning I mixed my cleanser with two measures of gentle daily exfoliant, added a little water to start the enzyme activity of the exfoliator, I love the feeling of mixing these two together and skin looks and feels great. I follow with my rejuvenating cream (tingle factor is subsiding now as my skin gets used to the Glycolic acid content) SPF, eye gel, makeup and I'm off.

Evening, a bit upset I can't use my Liquid Gold tonight, but it is recommended every other night, although I have used on two consecutive nights - well you know just to kick start it! So it is cleanse and rejuvenating cream.

Day four: skin looking even better this morning, same cleanse as yesterday. Mixing the exfoliator with the cleanse is fab, quick and it really is gentle enough to use every day - no little flaky patches which I have experienced before when using a daily exfoliator.

Evening, yay Liquid Gold night which i use after cleansing, but no rejuvenating cream - by not adding this stage it is supposed to make for a more intensive treatment. No tingle at all tonight!

Day five: on previous days my skin texture was looking better, but my face looks visibly firmer today - I am loving this - morning routine as previous day

Evening - Cleanse, rejuvenating cream and I must admit I applied a drop of Bio Effect Serum on my eye area for no reason other than I love the serum.

Day six: Skin just feels great and I really look forward to cleansing as I love the feel of my skin afterwards. Same routine as before. I have noticed my makeup is staying on well through the day, although the feel of the moisturiser is richer than I would normally use, it isn't having an effect on how my makeup lasts throughout the day.

Evening - Cleanse, Liquid Gold, a drop of Bio Effect around eye and bed.

Well day seven, I can definitely see an improvement in my skin, both in the texture and in the firmness of my skin. As a rule I should have a few hormonal spots at the moment, but fingers crossed not a one!

Overall I love this range and I will most definitely be re purchasing. I would also love to try the Liquid Gold serum as on the nights I can't use my Liquid Gold I would like to add something else in.

The QVC set was an absolute bargain, containing two full size products in the set is absolutely amazing value and only a small amount of each product is needed for each application.

This is a brand I am so pleased I have tried and will be claiming a permanent residency in my bathroom cabinet.

If you haven't given it a go, have a look at QVC at the sets they have available, its a great way to get a feel for the range although I have to say I do now want the rest of the range to try.

@KennethSoh has a great post on the Alpha-H range, so worth taking a look at this before making a purchase.

Let me know about your Alpha-H experience

Wendy xx

Topshop lipstick update

Following my review of some of the Topshop range of makeup, I used the Brighton Rock lipstick in a fashion show yesterday and would like to update my first review of it. My first review said that this lipstick felt hydrating on application, however, this was over a little bit of balm. When using the lipstick yesterday on a lot of models I did find it a little drying as it was more matt than I initially thought. I still think the colour is amazing and the colour held well, however, I do recommend a bit gloss or balm on top to stop the lips from looking dry.

So still a great review, but I just wanted to give you an update after well and truly road testing it yesterday.

Wendy xx

Smashbox photo finish primer - update

Following on from my original post I wanted to give you this update on this product. After working with 20 models and creating 4 different looks with them, I was relying heavily on this primer doing its stuff.

Due to the number of models to makeup, I had to start prepping skin just after 2pm and the first catwalk show was at 8pm!!

At 7.45pm I gave a shout out for the first models to come for a touch up of their makeup, not sure what I was going to be faced with and to my absolute delight, a touch of lippie and a bit more blusher was all that was required, not a bit of shine in sight. Bearing in mind that this was a group of 18 yr old students, who were excited, running around etc - I was truly amazed.

The models were asking me what I had used as they too couldn't believe they weren't sporting some kind of shine.

This is one product I will not be going to any makeup job without. I LOVE IT xxx

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

One of the hardest things I have found is trying to get the balance of a nice fresh illuminated look but keeping my oily T zone in check at the same time.

I have tried many a combination, lots of primers, foundations etc but this one seems to work.

I was on one of my many shops in Debenhams Beauty Hall when I was drawn to the Smashbox makeup range, I have read lots of reviews on their photo finish oil free primer so decided to give it a go.

Priced at £26 for 60mls a bit on the pricey side but in the line of duty i felt obliged to give it a try.

Only a small amount of product is needed a pea sized amount, if that! I blended across my face ensuring my central panel with larger pores was evenly covered. The primer felt really luxurious, almost velvety and was very easy to apply. I then applied my makeup as normal. This was going to be a true test as the weather was very warm and quite a bit of time was spent outside.

I have to say this worked an absolute treat, to refresh my makeup late afternoon, I simply applied a little bit of extra blush and a flash of lippie - I didn't even feel the need to reapply powder. This has definitely found its way into my makeup kit both personal and professional, its so easy to use, skin felt great and not heavy or clogged and makeup went on a dream.

So although a bit on the pricey side, this worked for me. The rest of the range looked quite interesting, so i will be looking to try some more products and will let you know how I find it. Let me know if you are already using this range and and recommendations for me to try.

Wendy xx

More makeup goodies from topshop

After discovering the cream eyeshadow range from Topshop I was keen to try some more of their range and with a big fashion show looming it seemed the perfect opportunity to shop!

One of the four themes of the fashion show is garden party and so for this I was looking for a very fresh cream blush and found a fab peachy pink called 'Neon Rose'. At first I thought it might have been a bit full on, but the soft almost cream to powder texture of this product enables you to have a very subtle to a very striking effect. Perfect for the bright lights of the catwalk.

I was also looking for a bright pink and a nude lipstick for the show and came across two which look perfect for the job. An amazing colour called 'Brighton rock'is a fabulous bright pink that can be applied quite firmly to give a strong pink, show stopping lip or applied lightly over a tiny bit of balm gives a gorgeous, soft feminine pink lip which could be worn for a simple, every day but fresh look. The lipstick is a nice creamy texture which doesn't feel drying at all and applies very easily.

As for the nude colour, I opted for the 'Nevada' shade which gives a lovely dewy natural lip, perfect for a tinted moisturiser and bit of matt bronzer day.

I am so impressed with the Topshop makeup range, the pricing is so affordable and the quality is second to none. Makeup up is such an easy way to achieve an on trend look without having to buy a whole outfit. An amazing lipstick, blush or a fab nail colour can take you from one look to another.

I love that with this makeup range a colour can look really bright, but by simply apply a different way it can be used for a day or night look. I just love, love, love!


If you haven't had a look at the Topshop range, put it on your to do list the next time you are shopping, I am sure you will find a couple of items that will take you through those summer months.

Let me know how your shopping trip goes.

Wendy xx

Rapid Lash - this stuff really works !

As I spend many an hour almost every day of the week giving my clients lovely long lash extensions you can imagine I do get a bit of 'Lash envy', not sure if it is an actual condition :-)

So with my wedding creeping up on the horizon, I thought it was about time I upped the anti and tried to make the most of my lashes.

Now don't get me wrong I didn't have really short lashes but short enough that I felt a little lacking in the lash department. So with this in mind I hot footed it to boots to get my hands on some Rapid Lash to try.

At just over £40 its not cheap so I was hoping to see a result! So as you can imagine I couldn't wait to take my makeup off that night to start my lash regeneration. I only mentioned my lashes earlier however, I am definitely lacking in the brow department and so my plan was to use it on my brows as well.

After going through my normal cleansing routine I applied my Rapid Lash to my lashes first, the brush is a bit like a liquid eyeliner brush and I gently held the outer corner of my eye and applied as near to the base of the lash as possible, starting at inner corner to outer corner. For some reason I was expecting my eyes to sting and they didn't, so good start. I then applied the serum to the thinner parts of my brow and crossed my fingers hoping for Bambi lashes in the morning.

Well, I have to say it didn't happen overnight - however, less than two weeks on I did start noticing a difference. My eyes did initially feel a bit strange in the morning after applying before bed, but not sore or stingy, just a bit different - but this wore off, or I got used to it, not sure which. But then after examining my lashes really closely about two weeks into using the serum I woke the next morning and you may think this is crazy but I could be sure they had grown some more overnight! When I was applying my makeup that morning and came to apply my mascara I really couldn't believe how long they looked. Friends and clients have started to comment now, a few asking what I have had done and being really shocked when I explain that I have had no treatment, simply using the serum.

I have taken a couple of pics so you can see my lashes, please excuse the rest of my face, it is bank holiday so a basically makeup free day :-(

I can also say on the brow front, there is definitely some growth where they were really sparse, so I will be recommending that some of my clients who are struggling to grow their brows in give Rapid Lash a try.

The main ingredient for the growth is Biotin, known also as vitamin B7 or vitamin H. I have since discovered you can take this as a supplement, available at Holland and Barret for about £5 and it is in some vitamin B complex supplements.

The instructions do say you can wear this with lash extensions, however, as this really can give you a growth spurt I wouldn't suggest it as the extensions may then droop as a result.

I have changed my Vitamin B complex to include Biotin, so will give you an update in a couple of weeks to see if this is making a difference to my hair as well as lashes.

Overall I love this product and for me it really has worked - if you would like longer healthier lashes it really is worth a try.

I would love to hear if any of you have tried Rapid Lash and if it worked for you. Or if you have tried any other lash serum and what those results were.

I look forward to hearing your comments

Wendy xx

Topshop - Fab makeup at great price - have you tried it ?

Apologies for the lack of posts, due to work and then an awful dose of flu I have been out of action, but back fighting fit now.

My daughter and I had a rare and fabulous afternoon shopping in Newcastle involving lots of trying on of clothes, shoes, makeup - lots of purchases and finishing off with a great dinner and a glass of wine.

Although the purchases are shockingly too long to list them all here, the ones I really want to share with you are some cream eyeshadows from Topshop. Whilst having a browse and play with the makeup in the store I stumbled across a cream eyeshadow in white that initially I was drawn to as I thought it would work well as an inner corner highlighter particularly for bride season. I was very impressed with the texture of this product as it was creamy but not see through as I quite often find these type of products, so the colour showed as a true shimmery delight. I then worked my way along the colour range and was so impressed I bought every single one of them.(sinful I know)

The way these products work are so versatile that you could simply buy the charcoal colour and work a fab day or night smoky eye, the creamy texture makes these products easy to apply but they dry brilliantly so you get a great staying power, a bit like a primer and shadow going on at the same time. The colour pigment is brilliant so you can build and go for a really dramatic result for a night out or as i am planning on using them at the up and coming 'As You Like It' Revamped fashion show!

The colours in the range are snow storm (white), velvet (purple), gold mine (gold), heavy metal (silvery gunmetal) and Darkness (charcoal/black). Great range which can be mixed for cool or warm skin tones.

Only a tiny bit of the product is needed and at £8 each quite good value for money.

When paying for these the lovely girls in Topshop where really interested in the makeup and how you would use a cream as they had always used powder and I think this is the same for lots of people, creams are a bit of an unknown. They are really worth a try, fab fun to play around with.

I have created a basic look just to give you an idea and shown the swatch of each colour - give it a go and be daring, the creams give such a healthy dewy look, wakening up any eyes.

If there are any looks you would like to see, let me know and I will do my best. Now I have my new camera (another one of the purchases) I can show you some fab looks and I am going to do a post on HD Brows. This seasons must have treatment, brows are continuing to be a big feature on all of the catwalks. Vogue had an amazing article on brows which summed up the importance of a great brow. I will share my thoughts on brows and some before and after HD Brows shots.

Look forward to your comments and feedback, i really do appreciate it.

Wendy xx

Have you been on the trail looking for the perfect foundation?

As someone who has always loved makeup to being a makeup professional I have searched and searched for the perfect foundation and many hundreds of pounds later I feel like I have struck gold!

I don't know what I did before the days of twitter, when I couldn't just send @Nicjoss - celebrity facialist & makeup artist a message asking for her advice on skincare, makeup etc

This is exactly what I did with the wedding season almost upon us and my bookings coming in thick and fast. Nichola recommended that I give Teint Miracle by Lancome a try, saying that she loved it. As a very obedient follower (and looking for any excuse to feed my passion of buying products) I hot footed it to our fabulous Beauty Hall in Debenhams Newcastle for a browse. I had a bit of a play with the Teint Miracle liquid foundation, texture felt fabulous , shades were extremely flattering and that was me sold and up for a rather large purchase.

It was my Daughters 18th birthday celebration so perfect opportunity to try out my new purchase for her big night out. The skin was prepared with a little active moist moisturiser and left for a few minutes before I applied the lovely sample of the Lancome primer, this felt like velvet and simply glided over the skin evening out the surface,filling in any open pores ready for the foundation. I then used the 01 shade with a good foundation brush and applied to the skin in gentle even strokes - trust me when i say this just creates a perfect finish right before your eyes - WOW the finish was amazing. I dusted over with a little mineral veil powder as she was going for a long night out and her skin looked absolutely flawless. Result!

I was a bit sceptical as always as she is young and gorgeous anyway, so I prepared my own skin and using the 02 shade applied the Teint Miracle to my own skin and amazingly I was equally blown away.

My daughter returned home at 3.00am, makeup still looking refreshingly intact and I have to say the staying power of this foundation on my skin, which does tend to be a bit oily on my T zone has been brilliant - it actually stays put all day.

This product is truly fantastic - needless to say I have purchased 3 shades (all in the line of my profession - honest) and received samples for two further shades and I am ready to create some flawless, amazing looks for my brides to be in the coming months.

At only £26 for 30mls, I think it is very reasonably priced for the small amount you need to apply and the amazing quality of the product.

True to form I was tempted to browse the rest of the fab offerings Lancome had to offer and couldn't resist buying one of their powder blushes in shade 03 Rose Boise. I applied a light dusting of matt bronzer just under the cheek bone and temples to define my face then applied my new blush gently just to the cheek bone for a fresh look, great for spring.

So all in all, two fantastic new products for me that have gone straight to that 'can't live without' list. If you like me have been searching for the perfect foundation,this is most definitely worth a try - it is truly a 'Teint Miracle'

Wendy xx

My Dermalogica Top Five........

Whilst I have always been a product junkie, my true love for a product happened when I was first introduced to Dermalogica! I have used this range for about eight years on and off and have used them professionally for about five years.

As with all ranges you have your favourites and then the ones you don't like quite as much,for whatever reason. So I just thought I would share with you my current top five products.

5th This is Tri Active cleanser, this is a fantastic brightening cleanser, it is packed with active ingredients to really make your skin appear brighter - but isn't drying at all. Fab for the spring / summer when the tinted moisturiser replaces the foundation.

4th This will have to be Ultra calming cleanser, this can be used on any skin even the most ultra sensitive. It is a mixture of a gel and a cream,feels and smells divine. It is so gentle it can be used as a makeup remover as well - so a good one for saving a bit cash and time. It is so soothing and because it is so gentle it doesn't even have to be rinsed away it can simply be wiped with a cotton pad. Great after a night out for a quick cleanse.

3rd Age Reversal Eye Cream, this is the latest product from Dermalogica and I love it. It is packed with retinol A, peptides, UGL complex to refine eye area without irritation and lots and lots more. I have only been using a couple of weeks but do really love this. The eye area feels smooth and with no dryness.

2nd Daily microfoliant - whenever I have any dry patches my skin feels a little lack lustre,this is my go to product. Guaranteed to smooth and brighten my skin in 2minutes flat. It has a mixture of phytic acid, enzymes and brightening agents. It isn't drying at all and as the name suggests can be used daily on some skins. I personally can only use it 2 to 3 times maximum each week, but it is an absolute gem.

1st Multivitamin Recovery mask - this has been described as 'ambulance in a tube' as it just seems to fix your skin. It is packed with vitamins to feed your skin - perfect to nourish your skin at any time, but works wonders if you have been feeling unwell,very tired or even hungover. This is always at hand in my bathroom and I always take a tube away with me on my hols to fix my skin in extremes of weather - definitely my number one.

Are you a Dermalogica fan?

What's in your top 5

Wendy xx

My introduction to Liz Earle........................

When Looking for some new products to review the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish kept coming up time and time again. I have a number of clients who use it and my twitter friend @bevstubbs is also a fan. So I ordered on line using the Liz Earle site.

My product arrived within a couple of days and I was delighted when I opened the box to find my pump action cleanser in a gorgeous little wash bag complete with 3 wash muslin wash cloths. I also had a lovely little extra of a 50ml Instant Boost Skin Tonic, great start.

I was a little surprised when I first went to use the cleanser as I thought for some reason it was going to be a balm type product, when it was rather like a thick cream and so silky therefore really easy to apply to your face. I massaged the product into dry skin for a minute or so and loved the aroma, it just makes you take a deep breath and inhale the aroma inducing relaxation. To my surprise all makeup - mascara and lippie included, was simply melted away and not just moved around the face like some products. Using the cleansing cloth rinsed in hot water I then polished the cleanser off in circular movements to reveal a perfectly smooth and hydrated face. I then rinsed the cloth in cold water and placed over my skin to close the pores after the cleanse.

I am a couple of weeks in now and I am still loving the Cleanse and Polish experience. I look forward to my cleanse morning and night. The mixture of cocoa butter, beeswax and other moisture binding ingredients clearly hydrate the skin and then the blend of rosmary, chamomile and eucalyptus soothe and tone the skin and create that fabulous aroma. I am a great fan of using a muslin cloth with a cleanser to give a gentle exfoliation each day.

I also gave the Instant Boost Skin Tonic a try at the same time and have to report that I was equally delighted with the results of this product. Again a fab aroma and it just felt cooling and hydrating with no stinging which is quite common in a large number of toners, this one is alcohol free. I followed the toner immediately with my serum to ensure all the goodness was locked in.

So all in all I would say that this is a great cleanser, great ingredients at a great price. Only £13.25 for the cleanser, little wash bag and 3 cleansing cloths. Definitely worth a try. You can buy this cleanser and tone and look at the rest of the range online at www.uklizearle.com

Let me know if you are a Liz Earle fan and have used any other products in the range.

Wendy xx

Oxygen products and treatments - good or bad hmmmmm

For a few years now I have considered investing in an oxygen machine for the treatment room. I have heard some fabulous claims about what the oxygen can do to rejuvenate and enliven our skin. However, part of me is always a little bit hesitant as the same oxygen that helps us live, also produces free radicals which attacks our skin cells - so i have always wanted to love the idea of this burst of freshness being applied to my clients skin, but always a little wary that a short fix would actually not help the skin at all. So the jury is still out, I am still carrying out research on this machine and if the science can back up the positive claims, I know I will be very tempted to innvest as for acne/rosacea type skin it could be a godsend for the treatment room.

In the interim I decided rather than spend £5000 on a machine I would try an oxygen product to see if this would wow me.

I decided upon the Nubo plumping oxygen boost as I loved their serum 'The Essence' What i love about Nubo is that they have have taken alot of the nasties out of products that can cause irritation - so I was expecting great things. Nubo state the product will plump skin and relax tense facial muscles.

I also liked the fact that this product only had 7 ingredients, so i was hoping for a simple yet effective formula. Perflurodecalin is one of the main ingredients and is said to mimic the bloods ability to carry oxygen to the cells and improve the skin's barrier function helping to maintain skin moisture levels, triggering collagen & elastin production,killing acne bacteria - so sounding very promising indeed .

The package was very appealing visually, in a sleek little (very little)canister with a glass pippet type applicator. I have to say the applicator didn't work, it didn't draw up and dispense any product as you would expect and so i improvised and just wiped the side of the applicator to get some of the product. Instructions advised to use a small amount daily in the morning to face and neck which i did for two to three weeks. I was expecting as promised a plumped up fresh looking skin. Unfortunately this didn't materialise. My skin didn't suffer any as a result of using it I must add and although the product felt great as it was applied and didn't leave any sticky residue as alot of serums can - I didn't notice any particular improvement with my skin and at £80.00 for 15mls I have to say I was expecting a bit more bang for my buck. To add to my disappointment, I dropped the applicator one morning whilst trying to extract some of the product and dropped the pippet, as this is made out of glass this smashed which left me with a very sharp applicator :-( (a plastic one may have been better Nubo!

So this is one I won't be trying again guys, I did notice Nivea have brought out an oxygen based product priced at a very reasonable £12.99, so I will be giving this one a try and reporting back on that one.

I have to say first one of Nubo's products that I haven't particularly liked, but this is definitely not one for me. Let me know if you have tried and loved it.

Wendy xx

All about the eye's part two - The products

Are you confused about eye products? there are so many to choose to help with puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles and on and on it goes. Hopefully this post will give you a few ideas about Dermalogica products so you can treat yourself to a fab eye treatment.

I talked about treating the skin around the eye in part one of this post as like the rest of our skin we need to cleanse, exfoliate, rebuild the skin and protect so what products can we use.

The skin around our eyes is very delicate and needs to be treated as such, so easy does it, make sure you have enough product so you don't drag the skin in this area and use your ring finger when applying creams so you don't apply too much pressure.

Eye makeup removers, oil cleansers are brilliant for gently but thoroughly removing make up.  I love Dermalogica Pre Cleanse, it is full of essential fatty acids that your skin needs and antioxidants to protect skin from free radical damage.  The oil dissolves makeup and liquifies surface oils which when you add a bit of water turns to milk and easily rinses away leaving no oily residue, just clean skin.

I always like to do a second cleanse as the first one simply removes make up and surface debris, the second can really get to work on your skin and work to keep your skin and pores healthy.  Ultra calming cleanser is a perfect choice when treating the skin around your eye.  It has an anti ozinate complex in which protects skin from the varying temperatures of this time of year, cosmetics that we use and the not so healthy diet we were indulging in over Christmas (or is this just me).  It is a mixture of a gel and a cream and is so gentle on all skin types, particularly those feeling a bit sensitised.

Now you are all cleansed we then spoke about exfoliating this area gently, we need something to get rid of those dead skin cells but gentle enough for the eye area.  Alot of exfoliating products state that you must avoid the eye area.  This is where Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant comes in, a multi award winning product and this is one of my fall back products.  You know when you are having a one of those days when your skin just doesn't feel quite right, a bit dull, a couple of dry patches and just generally a bit yucky - well I can always rely on daily microfoliant to get me back on track.  It is a powder exfoliant that you add a little water to and then mix together until it makes a creamy foam, you then simply massage gently in circular movements to gently slough off those dead cells.  The powder has phytic acid in from rice bran along with papain from the papaya and salicylic acid to help dissolve and remove the excess of dead cells and then brightening rice, grapefruit and licorice to help even the skin tone.  After massaging for one or two minutes, remove thoroughly with water ensuring all of the product is thoroughly removed.

Now the skin is perfectly prepared to absorb the ingredients of a good mask or serum the Dermalogica hydrating booster serum can be applied first, just a couple of drops gently patted all around eye area.This is packed with hyaluronic acid which will hydrate your skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines as it can attract and hold on to water to plump up the skin, along with pro vitamin B5 which helps with repairing skin as well as also helping to hydrate.

Now apply a thin layer of Dermalogica skin hydrating mask, this is packed with botanicals to calm the skin and help to reduce any inflammation along with vitamin C and E to help heal and protect.  Now you can pop on some cool pads of cotton and relax (thats my favourite part)

Once you have woke up or after about 10 minutes rinse with warm water and apply a little toner.  The Multi active toner can be spritzed on (eyes shut at this point - probably only me that would leave them open :-)) or applied to a cotton pad and gently wiped over, this again will build on the moisture content in the skin with the Sodium PCA it has in it. Apply a little more of the serum, one or two drops will do and then finish off with an eye cream.  The Dermalogica total care is a great day time eye cream as it has light diffusers and a SPF 15 for protection in it. 

A Dermalogica Skin Rescue Kit retails at £20.00, so is great value and gives you the opportunity to try a few of the Dermalogica products without purchasing the full size bottles.

Let me know about your favourite eye products

Wendy xx


Wendy xx

Do Serums really work - part two - BIOeffect EGF Serum

I am sure at some point over the last couple of months you would have heard the buzz about The Bio Effect Serum.  I first heard about this thanks to one of my favourite Bloggers - British Beauty Blogger, after she posted a message on twitter saying that this company was giving away samples of this new Icelandic serum as part of their launch campaign.  Well worth a follow on twitter and also visiting her blog!

Being such a product junkie, you can only imagine my excitement at the idea of this company choosing to promote their new product by giving real consumers an opportunity to try this high end product for free!  This has to be one brave and confident company that they are so sure that people will love this product so much that they will talk about it and advertise it for them.  Well they do say word of mouth is the best form of advertising and that is exactly what has happened.  Anyone and everyone who has tried this serum seems to be happy to shout about it and share their experiences.

So here is mine:  After a couple of days of leaving my address with Bio Effect and receiving notification to say my sample was on its way - it arrived.  Nice neat little bottle with dropper lid, which I love as you can er control the amount of product coming out and all tucked up in a lovely grey velvety pouch - good start!  I cleansed my skin thoroughly and then went straight in for the serum and a couple of drops did my full face and neck, I did read that you didn't have to use a moisturiser with this so as this was an evening and I was going to bed, I just left it at the serum.  When I woke in the morning my skin felt hydrated and looked quite fresh.  I applied serum again after cleansing, followed with moisturiser as I needed my SPF and continued this for a few days.  I would say it was probably about day 3 that I noticed a real difference in my skin, it looked very hydrated and healthy with fine lines visibly reduced - result!  Although I do tend to have an oily T zone, I can still get some dry patches underneath if my skin is a little dehydrated and this little beauty certainly took care of this.

The ingredients didn't take long to review either, simplicity is key here - only 9 ingredients! The product has a range of water binding and anti- oxidant ingredients which clearly work at hydrating the skin and then the all important EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), when I seen this was right at the bottom of the ingredients list I did think, how effective can this be.  However, after researching this ingredient I realised that the ingredient is so powerful that only a fraction is needed to be very effective.  The EGF, helps your skin cells to rejuvinate and encourages the healing process and cell turnover, so is great for anti aging, but would expect it to be good on problem skin to as it will help the skin heal after breakouts.

I have to say I did go into a little state of mourning when I came to the end of my sample as I loved this product.  I am saving my pennies to buy a bottle of this serum.  It isn't at the cheap end of the scale at £125, however, I wasn't on my own with loving this product- I haven't heard a single bad review , to the contrary all reviews have been extremely positive with everyone just wanting more and more of a dewy fresh looking complexion.

Keeping my fingers crossed for some new products coming from this company as we only have the serum to indulge in at the moment.

Let me know if you were one of the lucky ones to receive a free sample of BIOeffect EGF Serum!

Wendy x

All about the eye's - part one - salon and at home treatments

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, they are certainly where we are focused when having conversations, when looking in magazines at makeup, lashes etc.  Needless to say it is where most men and women notice the first signs of aging and the area we point to as one of our main areas of concern.

There is so much I could talk about to improve the skin, products and makeup tips and tricks for the eye area, I thought it would be better to do this in a few parts rather than try to embark on a post the length of  'War and peace'.

In my treatment room I offer a few different ways of treating the delicate eye area. The skin around the eyes is thinner and therefore more fragile then elsewhere on the face, it doesn't have an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands to lubricate and keep it supple and so can easily feel and look dry.

Exfoliation is a great way to get an immediate visible result and  one you can replicate at home.  Exfoliation works to rid the skin of the dead skin cells on the surface which haven't came off naturally and make your skin look dull and make any fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.  Its a bit like dust on a piece of furniture, when its dusty it looks dull and if it has been left there long enough it actually increases in height as the layers of dust mount up.  How different does it look when the dust has been removed, a nice sheen and its back to looking its best. The same can be said for skin which isn't regularly exfoliated, the dead skin cells work just like dust and build up on fine lines and wrinkles which increases the depth and makes them more noticable.  Once the skin has been gently exfoliated, the depth of these fine lines and wrinkles is reduced and the hydrated plumper cells which have been hiding underneath are exposed and give us a nice glow.  Easy does it, is definitely the advice I give for home exfoliation rather do little and often then go for a more severe approach.  Your skin will thank you for it. 

Another treatment option is a microcurrent treatment, commonly know as a 'non surgical facelift'.  This treatment can firm and tone the muscles around the eye, it smoothes the texture of the skin, evens out the skin tone to give a much fresher and brighter look.  Again this is a treatment where a noticable difference can be seen with just one treatment. A course of treatments will give amazing and longer lasting results. But a one off treatment for a special occasion is great.  My clients describe it as looking as if they have woke up from an amazing week long sleep, they look so bright and refreshed.

Microcurrent works in sync with your bodies own electrical impulses and gives your cells an electrical kickstart to make sure that everything can work properly.  Toxins are removed from the cells, excess fluid is drained away and the circulation is improved bringing a fresh supply of oxygen , vitamins and minerals.  I liken this treatment to a car battery which has gone flat and needs a jump start with some cables, but the car can continue to work effectively once it has had this injection of power.  Your skin cells work on a similar basis.  The A Lift machine I use can increase your skin cells metabolism by 500%, so needless to say if your skin is looking a bit sluggish  an electrical jump start could be just what it needs.

Electrical product penetration is another professional treatment which is great for this area.  This ensures that the products being used in the treatments are reaching the deeper layers of the skin rather where they can really get to work.  These products will keep working long after you leave the treatment room and your skin should keep on glowing.

Last but by no means least my old faithful which I swear by, good old massage.  If you massage the products you use into your skin, boy it will show its appreciation in a nice healthy glow!  A good facial massage can remove excess fluid, lift and tone your facial muscles, redefine a sagging jaw line and much, much more.

When I massage my own skin as well as my clients I like to start at the neck and then work my way up the face.  It is important to start with the neck as this will open up the lymph vessels which will then let any excess fluid which is causing puffiness drain away from your face.

We can't all have facials as often as we would like so I thought I would share with you a lovely relaxing and effective eye treatment you can treat yourself to at home.

1.  Gently remove any eye make up by applying an eye make up remover to a damp cotton pad, place this on the eye area and hold for a minute.  This will let the product get to work and start dissolving any make up which should then wipe away without too much effort.

2.  Using a nice gentle, hydrating cleanser  remove any remaining eye make up and clean the skin thoroughly.  Apply the product in small gentle circular movements and then rinse thoroughly with sponges or damp cotton pads moving under eye in towards the nose and then over the brow.

3.  Exfoliation next, using a product which is suitable for the eye area ( I will chat about products in next post) apply exfoliant according to product instructions.  A product which has enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids is a good option for treating fine lines and wrinkles.  Ensure all traces of exfoliant are removed I would rinse, rinse then rinse again - very gently and with warm water.

4.  Your skin is now perfectly prepared for a mask or serum or both!   If you have a great eye serum, you can apply a little of this around the eye area and then apply a mask on top of this, soak a couple of cotton pads in quite cold water, place over eyes and relax for 10 minutes.  Remove mask with damp sponges or  cotton pads, using gentle sweeping movements around the eyes.

5.  A gentle toner can be used now to freshen and hydrate the eye area and finally finish with your favourite eye cream.

Treat yourself to this routine once a week, your eyes will love you for it. 

Go on, treat yourself - let me know if you have any questions or how you get on with this at home treatment.  If you have any questions about skin or products, just let me know and I will do my best to answer.

Wendy xx

What makes a cult beauty product?

I asked myself this question, what makes a particular product a cult beauty product?  is it the gorgeous actor or actress that a magazine quotes as saying they 'couldn't live without it' or if a celebrity makeup artist quotes something as a favourite product - do we all rush out and buy it?

I have to admit, being such a product junkie, I don't need that much persuading and find that I talk myself into many a purchase all for the good of my clients and now so I can talk to you guys about it (another justification).

There is no better feeling for me, when I make a purchase and find that it really does work - it is as amazing as the hype.  But equally, there is nothing more disappointing than looking forward to a purchase and finding that for whatever reason it just doesn't do it for you.

I have to say Eve Lom Cleanser is one of these Cult beauty products that has been on my radar for quite some time and after seeing an Eve Lom Travel set for only £25.00 in the Space NK sale, how could I possibly deny myself any longer.

After using and loving my Lancome Balm to oil massage cleanser, Eve Lom did have a lot to live up to.  But in the line of duty I was prepared to give it a go.  The product comes in a pot, which I am not really keen on, for hygiene and for keeping the ingredients fresh.  I much prefer products in tubes or pump dispensers, but moving onto the product itself, I was quite taken back by the feel of the product.  I suppose I was expecting the balm to feel luxurious and silky smooth and to be honest, my first thoughts were that it felt as though I was spreading a slightly grainy vaseline all over - not really a sensation I enjoyed. I did love the smell however, natural, fresh and relaxing.   I persevered and applied and massaged into skin as instructed, you then use the muslin cloth which comes with the cleanser. After rinsing the cloth in hot water I gently placed on face and repeated three times, then using the cloth removed the product with circular movements.  I finished the cleanse by placing the cloth on my skin once again but this time after rinsing in cold water to close the pores and clarify the skin tone.  Now this part although it does sound a bit long winded, takes a couple of minutes and does make skin feel really nice.

I have used the product for almost two weeks now and I have noticed some underlying congestion developing underneath my skin particularly on my cheek area. 

The main ingredient in this product is liquid paraffin (mineral oil), whilst a natural product could potentially block pores in consumers, particularly if like me you can be prone to this anyway. The cleanser also has a lanolin derivative which again can block pores, the cocoa butter will assist in moisturising skin, with the anti bacterial addition of clove oil and the soothing and regenerative effects of chamomile oil this could potentially be a pleasing product for someone with a drier skin type.  I have a typical combination skin a little drier on the cheeks but an oily T zone  and found this product to heavy and oily for me.  The instructions advise you not to follow with a moisturiser if you have oily skin, however, I always like to apply a moisturiser to help with hydration and also the all important sun protection which should be applied hail, rain or shine. 

So all in all not a product suitable for me, so that is me back using my Lancome balm to oil massage cleanser and I must admit my skin looks and feels happier as a result.  This is one cult beauty product that I won't be purchasing again.

Love to hear your experience of this product

Wendy xx

Do Serums really work?

Well the easy answer to that is sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.  Serums can work brilliantly at giving your skin a really intensive boost to treat any skin condition, be it signs of aging, dehydrated skin or skin prone to breakouts. But this a product which must deliver on ingredients.

As mentioned in my post about my Nubo Peel & Reveal Exfoliator, I received a free 10ml Cellular Dynamic The Essence serum also by Nubo.

Well true to form I looked straight for ingredients but as it had came without the box they weren't listed.  However, Nubo happily provided a full list for me within 24 hours - fantastic customer service (a rarity these days)

If you could imagine an oscar ceremony for ingredients, this product has every A list star you could imagine listed there!  You have arginine which helps to heal skin, it encourages collagen production and increases elasticity, along with calming and normalising the skin. There is also a particular type of vitamin C which is very easily absorbed into the skin, it encourages your skin to produce its own natural moisturisers, keeping skin plump and hydrated. One of my favourites hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water. It has ingredients to give your cells the energy they need to work properly by getting rid of waste and the ability to hold on to the good stuff that they need.  It has a whole host of ingredients including a variety of peptides which are going to encourage the skin to produce fresh collagen and rejuvenate your skin improving the texture, the colour and the overall appearance.

Wrinkles, fine lines, dehydration and a whole host of other aging signs have met their match with this little beauty. 

The packaging of this serum is very sleek and stylish in a black  pump action container, a perfect dispenser for such an active product, it will keep it fresh and active throughout use - which is what you would want for the price.  It also has a little view window which runs up the back so you can actually see how much product is left.  This is a high end product, but boy does it work! Full price is £200 - now you understand why I  was so excited to be given the 10ml of this super serum as a freebie.

A tiny bit of this does go a very long way and one little pump of this covers my full face and neck, I have been concentrating my application around my eyes and forehead and then spread the rest on my face after cleansing.  I then finished off with a little moisturiser after I allowed the serum to soak in for minute or two.  I have been using the product  for over a week now and have definitely seen an improvement with the lines around my eyes, this skin looks and feels so smooth.  The overall texture of my skin has improved, my makeup goes on so much easier due to the smoothness of my skin - RESULT!

This is certainly one of those wonder products that anyone would love to have in their skin care regime, so get saving or get it on a birthday or Christmas wish list.  I have certainly added it to mine.

This is an amazing product, but I am currently on the look out for a super serum with a more middle of the road price tag.  If you have a super serum that you use I would love to hear from you.

Wendy xx