Tag Archives: make up

Think Dirty App Tells You How Toxic Your Cosmetics Are

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It is no secret that the bees are dying because of pesticide abuse and that all of the toxic chemicals they put in our toothpaste and make up are affecting our health. The madness of the world is that if we don’t want nasty pesticides on our fruit and veg then we have to pay more for the organic stuff.

thinkdirtyapp

This is why we have a new favourite app: Think Dirty.  This is what they say:

Think Dirty® app is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. It’s an independent source that allows you to compare products as you shop. Just scan the product barcode and Think Dirty will give you easy-to-understand info on the product, its ingredients, and cleaner options.

 

This is a free app that will let you know if your products contain potentially toxic chemicals like BHA / BHT, PEGs, formaldehyde releasing agents, siloxanes, sulfates, petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, fragrance/parfum and non-biodegradable ingredients

 

We love it and think that you will too. Get the free app on iTunes here.

 

 

Frost Summer Beauty Special

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Summer is a different beast when it comes to beauty. Hot, humid or just plain cold and freezing. The British summer throws everything at you. It is the time of year when Brits have to leave the house with sunglasses and an umbrella in their bag. You just never know. Winter beauty products don’t really work for summer, they are too thick, heavy and creamy usually. Makeup has to be revised so it doesn’t end up slipping off the face when the temperature goes up. So we have done a lot of reviewing to bring you some excellent summer beauty picks. Read on and let us know what you think, and add your own recommendations below.

goshforevereyeshadowstickreview

These Gosh Forever Metallic Eyeshadow Sticks are getting a review all of their own, but until then I will just have to recommend them here. They are waterproof, look amazing on and come in a variety of amazing colours. I love them beyond words. Available from Superdrug.

 

cargoswimmableeyeshadoweyeliner

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These Swimmable products from Cargo are amazing. The above is a waterproof eye pencil and a waterproof eye shadow stick. Both work and both give great colour. Highly recommended.

 

yvesrocher

Yves Rocher Ultra Long-Lasting Cream Eyeshadow in Cuivre

This is amazing stuff, especially for a cream eyeshadow. It looks like a lip gloss but is actually a budge proof, crease-proof, waterproof eyeshadow that lasts and looks great on. Creamy and comfortable, it goes on in a uniform layer and blends easily. Flawless and long-lasting make-up.

2 shades, £14 at www.yves-rocher.co.uk

 

anovialovethetanlegspray

Anovia’s ‘Love the Tan’ Leg Spray. Amazing, perfecting, natural leg spray. Covers imperfections and is water resistant. Just washes off. It looks great on and covers well. Perfect for when you bring out the summer dresses. These are a brand new product to Anovia’s ‘Love the Tan’ range and launched at the end of last month. Get your hands on some.

 

therapibeautyreview

I love a facial spray in summer and this Rose Otto Hydrating Facial Toner from Therapi Honey Skincare smells amazing and is nourishing. It is made with 83% organic ingredients and 5% of profits go to support bee conservation. This tones and revitalises skin whilst leaving it feeling moisturised. It uses honey which they say is nature’s miracle moisturiser. Very good stuff and we loved the Orange Blossom Honey Gel Cleanser and Orange Blossom Honey Moisturiser too. Both were excellent and left skin looking amazing. I am also obsessed with orange blossom at the moment, which obviously helps!

 

organicsurgereview

Organic Surge is perfect for summer. There products are fresh, smell amazing and are usually fruity and light. We reviewed three of their products starting with:

Organic Surge Moisturising Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel

I could sniff this all day long. It smells great and summery. It really cleanses skin and leaves it feeling soft. It is sweet orange and bergamot essential oils. Very refreshing and like all Organic Surge products is free from SLS, parabens, synthetic fragrances and colourants.

Organic Surge Gardeners Hand Cream With Lime, Basil & Rosemary

This (again) smells amazing. Just divine. It drys fast and is not sticky. Protects hands, soothes red skin and nut butter and seed oils work to resist ingrained dirt. Can use with or without gloves. Perfect for the green fingered.

Organic Surge Super-Intensive Daily Moisturiser

This great moisturiser leaves skin looking radiant and really hydrates. It also works on sensitive skin. Has cocoa butter, shea butter and glycerine with green tea and camomile. Love it.

 

From www.idealworld.tv

 

lilyloloblusherpinkreview lilyloloblusherreview lilyloloreviewI absolutely love this Lily Lolo Burst Your Bubble Pressed Blush. It is a gorgeous dark pink colour. It is velvety soft, kind to your skin and highly pigmented. It gives a sheer natural flush or a brighter pop of colour to your cheeks if you layer it on. Their blusher brush is amazingly soft and perfectly angled. I can’t live without it now. It is perfect for contouring.

It contains anti-ageing Sea Holly extract and Argan Oil, as well as moisturising Jojoba Oil, it also has a natural anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial protection. Fragrance and talc free. Packaged in a lovely mirrored compact perfect for on the go and travel. Available from the 27th June 2014. Blusher £9.99. Blusher Brush £7.99.

Available in 6 beautiful shades.

Shade names –

Coming Up Roses

Just Peachy

Tickled Pink

Tawnylicious

Burst Your Bubble

In The Pink

Available from www.lilylolo.co.uk

 

Last but not least…

faceb4beautyreview

FaceB4 Anti-Bacterial Face Wash and FaceB4 Anti-Bacterial Serum

FaceB4 joined Superdrug as a stockist for Superdrug’s 50th birthday, they even repackaged in celebration. Now that is a love-in. FaceB4 Anti-Bacterial Face Wash is the UK’s most effective face wash. FaceB4 is clinically proven to clear skin, reduce redness and prevent future blemishes. It says the antibacterial face wash clears skin in just four days and it isn’t lying. This stuff really works and used along with the vitamin enriched serum really calms skin. The serum gives a matte look and the face wash is a combined cleanser and toner. We’re impressed and will continue to use. Good stuff.

From Superdrug (obviously)

 

What are your summer picks?

 

 

 

La Roche-Posay Event | New Anthelios XL Products

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I recently went to check out the new products in La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios facial sun protection range. The pimms and prosecco was flowing and the great and good of beauty was hanging out in the garden when they weren’t checking out the amazing range.

I wear sun protection every single day, even when it is snowing. In fact, I was wearing La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios AC 30 SPF to the event, something that made the La Roche-Posay people happy. I am sure it is why people think I am a few years younger than I actually am. I had my skin read by a machine that shows up every sign of aging like sun damage and wrinkles. Apparently I have skin that is younger than someone in their late-twenties. I put it down completely to using sun protection.

Here are some facts:

66% of UK women are concerned about ageing and proactively preventing it.

80% of premature skin ageing is due to exposure to UVA or UVB rays from the sun.

However only 3% of money spent on anti-ageing products is on facial sun protection.

And 70% of consumers use the same sun screen product on their body & face.

Hmm. A little worrying.

I love La Roche-Posay Anthelios as it is matte. Too many sun creams leave the face shiny, sticky and they also feel heavy. Anthelios is a light, matte fluid that makes you feel like you are not even wearing sun protection while protecting you.

AntheliosXL La Poche-Posay

Anthelioscompactmakeup La Poche-Posay

The new packaging, thicker and shorter, more compact, looks great. You can buy the new Anthelios XL SPF 50+ for even higher protection and Anthelios XL Compact Cream SPF 50+, which looked natural when I tried it on my hand. It is skin perfecting makeup and sun protection all in one. Ideal for busy women and just very cool.

I love the new range and when my Anthelios AC runs out I will move on the the Anthelios XL.

Print Your Own Make-up

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Last week Tech Crunch announced that make-up lovers everywhere will be able to print any shade or type of make up from their own home for just $300!!

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Call it crazy but it is true, Harvard Business School’s very own Grace Choi has invented the product that could be the answer to the make-up world, printable make-up. The Mink as it has been named, allows you to pick a colour, any colour online or from a photo, and produces eye shadows, lipsticks and any other form of cosmetic goodie from the hit of a button.

 mink3dprinter

Choi researched into the make-up industry, the ingredients, the pigments, and the formulas that create that favourite lipstick, that sparkly eye shadow and much much more to produce the base for her products. The idea behind her concept is making available the luxury make up and the mass produced all in one place at a click of button, for young girls aged 13 – 21 experimenting with make-up. Break away from the stock colours of pinks and reds and be daring with bright greens and blues. The same dyes that are used in printers are those that are used in make-up Choi claims, as she states ‘take out the bulls***’, the branding, the expensive trip to the make-up counter. The Mink does the same thing as all these brands but right from your own home at a fraction of the price.

 

Check out her announcement at Tech Crunch

 

What are your views on this evolution of printing and make-up?

 

Boris Entrup 10-Minute Make-Up Book Review

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Boris Entrup 10-Minute Make-UpBoris Entrup is the resident make-up artist on Germany’s Next Top Model and is the exclusive make-up artist for Maybelline. It is fair to say that he knows his stuff.

This rather excellent book has 50 gorgeous looks that give you everything you need to transform your image in 10-minutes. There is a good variety of looks, from natural to glamourous, that are all easy to recreate as there is before and after pictures and an easy step-by-step guide.

If that wasn’t enough; there is also masses of insider tips, techniques and tricks that all help you reveal your natural beauty.

The book starts off with an introduction from Boris, then some advice on skincare, beauty tools and products. I have read a lot about beauty and review a lot of products but I found that I learned a lot. I also love that the book shows all 50 looks at a glance over two pages. Very handy and useful.

The book also goes through the basic techniques of applying different products and different facial features. It also gives advice on different face shapes and different tips for each decade of your life, along with S.O.S tips at the end.

This is a brilliant beauty book. It has great advice and pictures. I highly recommend it.

Boris Entrup 10-Minute Make-Up

Bohemian Chic Minerals Blusher And Lipstick Review

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I am a huge fan of natural makeup. We are becoming more aware of all of the nasty chemicals in certain products and brands. Add in the trend for veganism and cruelty-free products and Bohemian Chic Minerals certainly sounds like a winner. Mineral makeup is also huge now and very on trend. But does it work? Let’s find out.

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I reviewed the Bohemian Chic Minerals Blusher in Nude and the lipstick in Coral Reef.

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Both colours are beautiful and the product goes on beautifully. The blusher blends very well and gives a very healthy pink/nude glow. It looks great on.

The lipstick is also a beautiful colour and goes on well. Both products are of a very high quality and don’t have that terrible ingredient of carmine (which is a crushed beetle!) or Oxychloride (a by-product of refined lead and copper), making this brand excellent for people with sensitive skin and a conscious. Highly recommended.

 

A New Era for Natural Make-Up

On a mission to provide a range of modern make-up that is completely chemical free, Jameela Kosar has found the solution with the creation of Bohemian Chic Minerals. Having tried an abundance of mainstream make-up which reacted to her sensitive skin, Jameela found herself looking for a way in which women can indulge their love of make-up without affecting their problematic skin.

Having stumbled across mineral make-up, Jameela felt she had found the answer to her prayers, until once again her skin irritation returned. After extensive research into the benefits of mineral make-up, Jameela discovered that whilst most of the minerals are beneficial to the skin, two ingredients are not so good. Bismuth – Oxychloride (a by-product of refined lead and copper) and carmine (crushed beetle). Not a fan of using crushed beetle in her daily skincare routine, Jameela decided to create her own make-up brand. One that is suitable for the most sensitive of skins, without compromising on style. Bohemian Chic Minerals was born.

Chemical free, bad minerals free and animals (including insects) free, Bohemian Chic Minerals is suitable for both vegan and halal users. Combining ingredients your skin will love with trend aware products, the collection boasts an impressive range of foundations, primers and concealers, as well as blushers, bronzers and body shimmers. In addition there is also a vibrant array of eyeshadows, eyeliners, lipsticks and glosses,

Designed to make women feel beautiful in a guilt free way, the collection is 100% pure and natural and is paving the way for a new generation of all available in a range of seasonal shades. natural make-up.

 

How To Get Glowing Skin: What Products To Use

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You want healthy glowing skin? Of course you do. I have had lots of fun testing these products. Let me know what you think.

Beauty review, Glowing skin, good beauty products.

 

Stila Set & Illuminate Baked Powder Trio

Now this is a setting powder. So why is it in an piece about glowing skin? Well, not all setting powders are chalky and cakey. When used properly they can give you great skin. This Set & Illuminate Baked Powder Trio adds radiance to the skin and makes foundation and blusher stay put all day. It gives you airbrushed, fresh, naturally beautiful skin. Really great stuff.

The powder is made up of three different shades and comes with a plastic shaver which gives you just the right amount of product when you half turn it. It also stops mess, so points for the great design, especially the slick, black compact. The best thing about this product is that it is subtle. It’s not glittery or shimmery and it’s not too much for daytime. It just makes your skin look fresh and perfect in a very subtle and natural way. Available from stilacosmetics.com and costs £24.

Stila Set & Bronze Baked Powder Trio

This is similar to the Set & Illuminate in design: it has the same handy plastic shaver in a beautiful black compact. The compact also has a mirror.  The difference is in the word ‘bronze’. This give healthy looking tanned skin. In the only way you should get tanned skin (no sunbeds). It comes with three shades:

  • Matte bronze – which bronzes and warms the skin
  • Kitten shimmer –  to brighten and illuminate
  • Bronze shimmer – enhances skintone

You can wear this alone if you have good skin but it also sets foundation. It makes makeup last all day. The powder also has Vitamin E and jojoba oils so it moisturises and conditions. It gives natural glowing skin rather than turning you into a glitter ball. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with that. Available from ASOS and costs £24

Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation 20 Watts

This is also natural and makes you look like you are not wearing makeup. I love the bottle it comes in. It is very sturdy and I like the weight of it. There is no SPF in it which some people prefer, although due to my pale skin I tend to take SPF whenever I can. The foundation gives a very subtle shimmer. It is light and it gives a sheer coverage which is just better than a tinted moisturiser. If you like heavy coverage this won’t be for you, but it is a great, natural foundation to give you glowing skin. It’s not matte, it gives a smooth look without looking like you are overly done up. Perfect for a radiance boost.

£25 or cheaper if you shop around. Try Google Shopping or buy from feelunique.com

Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer Pink Shimmer

This adds a delicate shimmer for a radiant glow. This is not really a pink shimmer, but more a beautiful champagne shade. This also has antioxidant and grape seed oil which conditions and cares for the skin while you glow. The soft-focus pigments help diminish the appearance of fine lines and skin imperfections while adding uplifting highlights. This product is great as you can use it as a highlighter on cheekbones and underneath the brow bone. It can be used on top of foundation or mixed with moisturiser. Great stuff. From feelunique.com

Stila Sheer Pressed Powder

I have included this because getting shine under control is always going to give healthy looking skin. The oil-control formula is finely milled for a smooth, flawless finish. It makes skin look clean and polished. It doesn’t look cakey or heavy on the skin. Good stuff. Available here.

Simple Kind To Skin Illuminating Radiance Cream

This product is more glittery than the Stila products. It is more obvious but I got a lot of compliments when I was wearing it. I love Simple products because they don’t put a lot of nasty stuff in them. I have sensitive skin and they are gentle but they really work. The cream has Pro-Vitamin B3, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin E and Bisabolol, Ginger Root Extract, Sweet Almond Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil. It also doesn’t have any artificial perfumes, colours or chemicals. It has light reflecting minerals along with UVA/UVB SPF15 protection. I have actually been wearing this cream almost everyday. Sometimes I wear it alone (usually with concealer) or as a primer under foundation or BB cream. When I use it as a primer I don’t use a lot of foundation or BB cream. Overall this is really good, inexpensive stuff. Recommended. £8.99 for 50ml at Superdrug

Laura Geller Spackle Neutralizing Colour-Correcting Under Make Up Primer

This is a good primer that improves skin’s texture so makeup glides on and looks freshly applied for hours. It has subtle peach undertones, is lightweight and “neutralises” skin imperfections. It is oil-free and paraben-free and has botanicals such as Aloe Vera to help calm skin and reduce the appearance of redness, as well as Centella Asiatica and White Tea Extracts which provide antioxidant protection. A very good primer, available from QVC

Bourjois Blush Exclusif

This is a great pink blusher that suits everyone. It has self-adjusting technology that gives everyone a personalised pink. You can watch it transform on your skin which is pretty cool. Quite impressive. According to Superdrug’s ‘its formula contains pH reactive pigments to transform your cheeks into a customised pink shade’. Just put a little on the apples of your cheeks and hello health! Makes even the most tired skin look like you go for a daily morning run. This is a suit-everyone pink cream blusher and that lasts all day. It is just dream-worthy, it works like a highlighter and blusher. Very glowy.

£7.99 from Very.com or Superdrug

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Cream

A hybrid moisturiser which works as a radiance booster, a primer and a light moisturiser. Is a great all-in-one but if you have dry skin then you might need another moisturiser. Gives skin a beautiful, shimmer-free, dewy glow.

£32 from QVC or Harvey Nichols

Benefit Finding Mr Bright Makeup Set: Girl Meets Pearl, Posie Tint, Highbeam and Erase Paste.

Girl Meets Pearl gives you a light-from-within glow. Makes you look like you were born beautiful, Posie Tint gives the most gorgeous, rosy tint on cheeks and looks very natural, Highbeam is a silverish pink liquid that makes you glow like J-Lo. Put on your cheekbones, brow bones & the bridge of your nose. Erase Paste is a brilliant concealer, industrial strength to hide any flaws. This is a brilliant set and perfect for glowing, healthy skin. It’s not over the top, just makes you look happy and glowing. Available from Amazon UK and feelunique.com

What do you think?

 

Spring Clean Your Beauty Bag

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There’s nothing like a good spring clean, but it’s not just your house that may need a good clear out; how long have you had that blue eye shadow in your make-up bag? What about that body lotion lurking in your bathroom? A lot of people keep skincare and makeup way past their use by date but old products are a breeding ground for bacteria which you are then transferring to your skin.

springcleanyour beautybag

Follow Skincare Expert & Facial Therapist Amanda Elias’ DO’s and DON’Ts to ensure a clean beauty cabinet this Spring.

  • DO use a marker pen to note the date you’ve open the product. Most skincare products only have the months in which they should be discarded after use rather than an actual date. By noting the date you’ll know when to discard it if left unused.
  • DON’T keep make-up or skincare “for best” because there’s a good chance they’ll pass their expiry date before you use them. If you’ve splurged, reap the benefits by using your products regularly and while they’re at their optimum.
  • DO wash your hands or use the end of a spoon as a spatula before scooping product out of a jar to prevent the spread of bacteria.
  • DON’T use product which has separated, changed colour, changed in smell or has started to irritate your skin; take this as an indication to replace it.
  • DO follow the life expectancy of cosmetics;
  • Mascara – 3 months
  • Liquid foundation and concealer – 12-18 months.
  • Lipstick and Gloss – 2 years for lipstick and 1 year for gloss. A good sign that a lip product has gone off is that it can leave the lips irritated or tingly.
  • Nail Varnish – 2 years. If the product separates and doesn’t combine when you shake it, it’s time to replace it.
  • Eye and lip pencils – as these are sharpened you are constantly removing any bacteria so they should last for at least 2 years.
  • Powders such as Eyeshadow, Blusher and face powder generally last 2 years, if you notice the product is dryer than it used to be, replace.
  • DON’T ignore your make-up brushes; these should be cleaned once a week. I like to clean my foundation brush daily as bacteria can grow quickly. My tip is to clean my foundation brush and an extra brush every time I put my make-up on, which guarantees all the brushes I use are always clean and free from bacteria.

If you’ve bought make-up and skincare within the last 6 months that you don’t like or use, why not have a swapping party with your friends? There’s a good chance they’ve also got recently purchased, unused products in their make-up bag or beauty cabinet.

For any skincare or make-up products or accessories that are in great condition but aren’t being used, why not donate them to this worthy cause? http://www.giveandmakeup.com.

Highly experienced within the industry, Amanda Elias is the brains behind effective yet affordable skincare brand, Bravura London – a business founded following Amanda’s own skin problems and subsequent discovery of using AHA, BHA and Hydraulic Acid for troubled skins.