Spring Launches

There’s something about the New Year that makes me want to overhaul my make-up routine and try something new. It’s out with the old and in with the new launches! So here are my top 5 Spring launches in the UK that I recommend keeping an eye out for over the next couple of months.

Lancóme is releasing a limited edition collection entitled ‘In Love’ which boasts the most gorgeous packaging I’ve seen for while. In Love is made up of neon pinks, corals and turquoises to perk up the dull months and complement the summer ahead. Two products I have my eye on are the In Love blusher, which has a fuchsia outer edge and a peachy inner square, which when blended together look like they would make the perfect corally blush. I also love the look of the eye pencil called Jade crush, I have a real thing about jewel toned colours at the moment, and with blue eye make-up is set to be a huge Spring/Summer trend this year I’d put money on it now and say that it will be a sell out. The collection’s campaign is fronted by Emma Watson, which makes me want to try it even more; I had Hermoine’s hair when I was 11, so I feel a sisterly bad-hair bond to the actress.

In Love launches 2^nd January and will be available at most Lancóme counters. Prices range from £12-34

 

image from joeychong.com

Rimmel is a much loved brand amongst beauty lovers everywhere, and this January they are launching a new lip product called Apocalips Lip Lacquer. I haven’t been this excited about a Rimmel launch since Kate Moss announced she was collaborating with the brand to do a range of lipsticks. I had a sneaky look at the Apocalips when I was working at More! a few weeks ago and I can honestly say these are some of the most pigmented glosses on the market. There are eight shades from pretty nudes to show-stopping corals and reds. The consistency is a little thick but the colour lasts for hours and has a great shine, I had colour samples on my hands that took ages to budge.  I think the bright colours such as ‘Big Bang’ (red) and ‘Nova’ (pink) would look great worn with little other make-up, which was a look seen at catwalk shows such as Giles and Burberry.

Acocalips launch on the 23^rd January and will priced around £5.99

                                                                         image Coty

In my opinion Benefit is one of the leading brands when it comes to colour for eyes and cheeks, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard they are launching a new eye palette this Sping. World Famous Neutrals will comprise of two cream based eye shadows and four powder eye shadows in a range of tones. The packaging is what you would expect; pretty, well thought out and looks the perfect addition to any dressing table. It is a little on the pricey side but you are getting six eye colours and when a single eye shadow costs around £14 from Benefit, it is worthwhile and works out just under £4 a colour.

World Famous Neutrals launch in the UK in March and are £23.50

                                                        image www.sephora.com 

If you haven’t heard about 2012’s BB craze then where have you been! But never fear because there is a new obsession to get on board with for 2013, the CC cream. CC stands for Colour Correcting and the first to launch the skincare that’s been huge in Asia, is L’Oreal. The L’Oreal Nude Magique CC creams serve different purposes depending on what you want to correct on your skin and they all have SPF 12 (added skincare bonus). There are three different creams to choose from; Anti- Redness, Anti-Fatigue and Anti-Dullness. With all my deadlines coming up before Easter I think Anti-Fatigue will be a welcome addition to my beauty desk, and I’ll be first out of the library to see if it lives up to its name!

There hasn’t been an official release date as of yet for the L’Oreal Nude Maguqie CC Creams but I will give you an update!

                                                        image www.fifi-les-bons-tuyaux.com

Clinique’s Chubby Sticks have been a bit of a cult product since they launched a couple of years ago.  However, the wait is nearly over for the follow up. February sees the launch of Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes (quite a long name!) and I’m hoping that they will live up to their hype. In my mind I’m dreaming for the same creaminess as their sister lip colour but with a little more pigmentation. From the pictures I’ve seen I think we’re in for a treat. There is a range of twelve colours to choose from including; Massive Midnight, Portly Plum, Fuller Fudge and Lots o’ Latte. Extra points awarded for the alliterative name.

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes launch on the 16^th February and priced at £16

http://www.chicprofile.com

My French Revolution

No I’m not talking about a Les Miserables political esque revolution, nor am I talking about a tanned six foot French model, although if you know one then send him my way.

My revolution or should I say revelation comes in the form of French skincare. For years beauty gurus have raved about our European sister’s expertise when it comes to skincare, and I have finally latched onto their ways. I have torn myself away from my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, Toner and Skin Repair Moisturiser, and from the results I’ve seen,  I honestly wish I had done it sooner.

That’s not to say I dislike the Liz Earle range, far from it. The Cleanse and Polish is a staple in my family, everyone from my Nana to my Mum to cousins use it. I’ve been using it since I was 17, and it worked like a dream for my dry skin; it’s gentle and the creaminess leaves skin feeling clean and soft. I would recommend it for most skin types, apart from if you have  overly oily skin then you may need something a bit stronger. So if you’re looking to try a new but trusted cleanser then I can’t recommend this one enough!

However after nearly three and half years I noticed my skin started to break out and took a long time to heal, it felt tight and was becoming flaky even though I was doing the religious ‘cleanse, tone and moisturise’ twice a day. At first I thought it was because I had spent five weeks working in London for More! magazine, and the combination of sun, commuting on trains and tubes, air conditioning and the heat were causing my skin to react and break out.

Whilst working for the beauty desk at More! I was lucky enough to be sent to Saks to test a new facial performed by Kirsty Jewson, Head of Beauty for Saks, also known as my fairy godmother. The three step facial routine we have been taught to believe for years was actually ironically my skin’s downfall.  Kirsty explained to me that skin doesn’t actually need toner nor an overload of moisturiser, what we should be doing is ‘cleanse and protect’ and if needed to do a treatment in between the two.

My skin was examined under a purple light, and all three layers- epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat layer were scrutinised. I knew I had dry skin but I wasn’t quite expecting to hear the results. I have deep dehydration in the dermis, particularly around the eyes which if I don’t repair over the next few years then it will lead to premature aging. I also have impaired lipids, so I don’t hold moisture particularly well in my skin, hence the dryness, but also lipids are responsible for keeping the collagen, vitamin A and E, and water together, so again this extreme dehydration can lead to premature skin aging, which quite frankly as a beauty girl scares the hell out of me. Because the lipids in my skin are impaired, turns out they have been since birth, I have to make sure I put the extra effort in looking after my skin. My fairy godmother’s solution; hyaluronic acid, acai berries and vitamin E supplements.

In short hyaluronic acid is naturally found within skin tissue, which keeps it moist, flexible and agile, resulting in improved levels of moisture retention therefore making wrinkles and dehydration less prominent and extending the youth of skin. Hyaluronic acid will be listed in the ingredients on your products but it does have a few other names such as; sodium hyaluronate, sodium hylan and hyluran.

So my quest to find the perfect skin serum with hyaluronic acid to add to my skin care routine was indefinite. I spent a long time researching serums, the concentration levels and which were best for my skin type. Then I came across Caudalie’s S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum and I fell in love with the first of my French skincare products.  The serum claims to restore moisture balance in the skin and after a week of using it I’d noticed a difference. My skin which was previously dull looking is now glowing, my skin is softer than before and it had made my skin both look and feel more plumped. I’m hoping that’s the collagen being given a reboot. You only need about half a pump for the whole face, serum’s are different to moisturisers in that less is more, and it smells divine! It’s got hints of mandarin, cucumber and citrus so it’s a real boost in the morning.

Other French skincare brands I have recently been trying and loving are La Roche-Posay , Avéne and Lancóme.

La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo is a corrective product that unclogs pores by dissolving the blocked dirt and oil. Recently I had been having frequent break outs which I haven’t really had since I was about 15, and this has sorted my skin out so quickly and effectively that I am desperate to try more from the range. Apply twice a day all over the face or if you prefer in just targeted areas after cleansing and within as little as 24hours you will notice a difference. As I previously mentioned my skin was taking a long time to recover from spots, it could be anything from a few days to two weeks, but now my skin is hardly breaking out. La Roche-Posay is specially developed for sensitive skin. The Effaclar range is developed for oily skin but I would recommend this product for anyone who is suffering from breakouts and wants to see dramatic results. If you have overly dry skin though then I would advise just one application a day.  If you want to read more about the ranges click here http://www.laroche-posay.co.uk

Micellar cleansers are great at making you feel you like you have really clean skin after removing your make-up. Lancóme’s Eau Micellaire Douceur and Eau Thermale Avéne’s Lotion Micellaire are perfect for sensitive skin-types. Cleansers with micelle technology, such as the iconic Bioderma, dissolve the make-up and impurities on the skin without drying it out.  For me the Lancóme is more effective at removing mascara as the Avéne is perhaps a little too gentle for stubborn mascara, especially if it is waterproof.

Finally, another product from Avéne that I love and will remain ever-present in my make-up bag is the Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water. It comes in a spray can and is perfect for after you’ve removed your make-up and before/after any treatments such as face masks. It feels so refreshing on the skin, but not that too cold refreshing that gives you goosebumps, and it can be used over make-up if you need a little pick me up mid-afternoon. It reminds me of water version of E-45 cream in that it can be used to soothe razor burn, sun burn, rashes and redness.

So there we have it my French revolution! If you have any products you think I should try then let me know, I love trying new products out. I have a few that I need to use up first but once they’ve been lovingly used I will be venturing further into the French skincare industry. So keep an eye out for future skin care routine posts. 

ps I'm wearing Essie Nail Lacquer in Aruba Blue