If you’re up for the challenge, please register your interest below and remember to put your email address in the bit where it asks for it so that I can contact you!
I’d like you to give the range a minimum 3 week test period before letting us know your thoughts…. so if you can commit to a new skincare routine for that period and are happy to share your thoughts with my readers then let me know in the comments below! I’ll chose a reviewer on Tuesday 15th March.
The crackle craze started in the UK last Autumn with a certain black top coat from BarryM that cracked and shattered to create interesting effects and nail art for the unartistic.
Then the BIG guns got involved with OPI and even Dior getting in on the act!
Now Models Own have jumped squarely on the crackle bandwagon and are doing it in style with their new collection SMASH-UP
Available from April, Models Own will be introducing an entire rainbow of crackle shades to glam up your nails for the Summer!
Priced at £6.00 each, you’ll be able to get your hands on them in Boots and online at www.modelsownit.com
If there’s one thing I associate with the Czech Republic (other than beer), it’s the country’s long and distinguished history of working with glass. Czech glass is world renowned for it’s quality and craftsmanship.
I took delivery of a sample nail file a few weeks ago from Mont Bleu, a company based on the outskirts of Prague who produce tempered glass nail files by hand.
It arrived in a substantial leatherette mock-croc gifting box.
The nail file itself is tucked inside, housed in a velvet pouch and arrived with an authenticity card. All these little extra touches really single a product out as being gift-worthy!
I received the Red Medium Nail File with Swarovski Crystals in a ‘marbles’ design which you can view online here.
It’s a well-made product as one might expect and is comparable to my Leighton Denny file in both size and quality. I’ve used it daily to give it a thorough wear test and so far, the surface has remained as pristine as the day it arrived.
My one distinction in the quality between them would be that the Mont Bleu file feels ever so slightly “grittier” when filing than the Leighton Denny. I’m not 100% sure on this and have been wavering and asking everyone who visits to weigh in with an opinion. It’s divided everyone!
The Mont Bleu files are available in a variety of designs and can be bought online in the UK through their distributor BestCrystalNailFiles.
Priced at £10.99 for a medium size, it’s a lovely gift choice for Mothers everywhere this Mother’s Day.
Since the 90s, I’ve been in posession of at least one form of blemish busting treatment. Hence my excitement at devices like the LMS Spotlights… it all stems from growing up with ads like these (and Grange Hill!):
They must have made a long-lasting impression!
I think it’s the promise of being able to regain some control over your skin at a time when your hormones are doing everything in their power to relinquish you of any say at all in how your body behaves.
How times have changed! Sure, many of the active ingredients remain the same: salicylic acid, witch hazel, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, toothpaste… (not really), but blemish-busting is a slick, billion-dollar business and far less blush-worthy than it used to be!
Here’s some blemish-busting treatments to suit all skin-types and budgets:
1. Murad Blemish & Wrinkle Reducer – £57.00
More sophisticated than your average zit zapper, Murad’s Blemish & Wrinkle Reducer is aimed at those of us who are (quite frankly) too old to be putting up with spots!
On the blemish-busting side, it features encapsulated salicylic acid to deliver a slow-release, prolonged treatment alongside Silver Citrate, the product’s anti-bactierial of choice. The formula also claims to minimise fine lines and wrinkles with something called Kombucha Collagen Defense™
A good option for anyone with problem skin over the age of 30. You can buy online in the UK from LookFantastic.
2. Proactiv Repairing Night Lotion – £17.95
A Salicylic Acid/Retinol blend that is known globally for its brand affiliations with some of the biggest teen-sensations on the planet: Jessica Simpson, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber…
This is one targeted toward younger consumers with skin concerns and a quick google shows just how well-known and widely-used the brand’s products are.
Origins Spot Remover promises to be a gentler alternative to the harsher side-effects of chemical zit zapping! We’re all familliar with the dryness that can be left behind once a spot has been busted. It’s sometimes just as annoying to deal with the flaky skin as it is the initial blemish!
Another Salicylic Acid based formula with the added antibacterial benefits of witch-hazel and clove.
This seems to be a good all-rounder for many skin types. You can buy online in the UK from the Origins website.
4. Nelson’s Pure & Clear Anti-Blemish Treatment Gel – £8.17
Tea Tree Oil and Arnica extracts work together to calm blemishes in this high-street treatment gel. I’m a fan of Arnica’s ability to relieve aches and hopeful that it can work its herbal magic on zits too!
A natural, purse-friendly option with ingredients that suggest a more gentle approach. You can buy online in the UK from the Boots website.
5. ELF Zit Zapper – £1.50
An impressively priced product that still manages to squeeze in active ingredients such as Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Witch Hazel and Camphor.
Housed with a convenient roller-ball delivery method, this would be a great option for those of you who only need something for emergencies.
You can buy online in the UK from the ELF website.
6. The Doctor Brand Blemish Relief: Step 2 Spot Eliminator – £6.95
As the name suggests, this is step 2 of a 3-step programme designed to clear the skin from blemishes. Interestingly, it bucks the common ingredient trend and lists Sulfur as the top active ingredient (though good old SA still puts in an appearance further down the list!)
I’m also pleased to see Allantoin in the list which is known for it’s anti-irritant properties and is something I used to actively look for in mineral foundation mixes that I wear.
You can buy online in the UK from the Boots website.
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What are some of your favourite anti-blemish treatments?
Bare Escentuals may be more well-known for their foundations than their skincare formulas but the brand are bringing a new range to high streets, salons and boutiques up and down the country.
Officially launching in the UK next month (though an introductory kit went live on QVC last Sunday), I had the pleasure of sneaking a peek at the new BareMinerals Skincare range yesterday afternoon…
BareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam 119g – £15.00
Our new, luxuriously rich cleanser deep cleans pores and lifts away impurities. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this non-drying formula bursts into a rich lather when activated with water to clean and instantly refresh skin for a soft, smooth complexion.
In our underground U.S. prelaunch of this product, customers called this a super cleanser and gave it stellar reviews. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, it removes makeup, dissolves impurities and rebalances skin for a soft, smooth complexion. Skin is left perfectly clean, instantly hydrated and renewed. It’s also gentle enough for eye makeup removal.
This moisturiser effectively hydrates skin while improving firmness, elasticity, radiance and overall skin texture. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex with its unique electrolyte delivery system, it’s formulated to perfectly moisturise combination skin.
Specially formulated for dry skin, our new luxuriously rich cream deeply nurtures skin. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex with its unique electrolyte delivery system, it’s formulated to provide the ultimate amount of moisture for dry skin. The result is soft, smooth and incredibly luminous skin.
BareMinerals Firming Eye Treatment 15ml – £23.00
This dramatically effective treatment helps to restore firmness and reduces puffiness around the eyes. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this formula delivers smoother, younger-looking skin around the eye area.
BareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment 4.2g – £45.00
This breakthrough night-time treatment is powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex to replenish skin for smoother, brighter, more even skin tone with improved texture. Proven to visibly reduce pores, increase firmness and improve elasticity, this multi-tasing product reveals remarkably healthier-looking skin.
Available in four tones – clear, light, medium and tan – to instantly diffuse imperfections.
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Now a little rant about the marketing for this new range. About this RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex…
The press info states:
We know what you’re thinking… soil?
Yes, that’s pretty much *exactly* what I’m thinking. Well, that and “biffidus boffidus digestivum”.
The proprietry complex in our skincare line is extracted from effective, mineral-abundant soil containing a comprehensive blend of beneficial macro and micro minerals that exist in nature. When extracted through a unique method, these minerals yield a densely rich, efficacious concentrate capable of transformational skin-renewing benefits.
“Unique method”, “Proprietry complex” – the whole blurb makes me desperate to read between the lines and actually UNDERSTAND what the hell it is.
The vague information encourages almost mystical connotations, talking about infusions of energy and how the soil is powerful. I understand that the marketing of this particular ‘rare’ mineral is hyped because the ‘ingredient’ is exclusive to the Bare Escentuals brand but blimey, please just explain HOW it benefits skin so amazingly?
Thank god I uncovered this video before I burst a blood vessel:
It’s high in antioxidants. Now, as a consumer, I understand (and appreciate) that snippet of information FAR more than being told that it’s a densely rich, efficacious concentrate capable of transformational skin-renewing benefits. Or maybe that’s just me.
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Now, back to the products – did you notice the BareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment?
I’m massively excited to trial it. In the simplest terms, it looks like a mineral foundation that you wear in bed. Makeup… in bed. I’m half horrified and half delighted! It’s supposed to make you look ah-maze whilst giving you visibly-reduced pores, increasing firmness and improving elasticity.
Frankly, I’m just squealing about not scaring the bedbugs away.
There’s a fine line between gimmick and revolution and I’m looking forward to finding out on which side of that line this product belongs.
…and because that name isn’t quite daft enough, I’m also christening it “the polish for women who don’t dig polish”. Do you think it’ll catch on?
In the same way that I wouldn’t linger about ripping a bandaid off your arm hairs, I’ll also let you know that this bottle will set you back 20 of your British pounds. Did you catch that? £20. For a nail polish. Not even 15ml of nail polish. 10ml.
Which might go some way to explaining the name that I’ve given this polish. Forget your Pink Pongs… this is a polish for women who don’t dig polish and I’ll tell you why:
1). It practically applies itself.
2). It doesn’t need a top coat.
3). It was opaque in one coat.
4). It may well survive nuclear war.
It’s the perfect polish for ladies who don’t normally ‘do’ nails but suddenly find themselves with the need for a nail polish that isn’t going to fail them in any way, shape or form. ByTerry Terrybly Nail Laque in Pink Pong is a practically perfect polish.
But as a chick who digs nail polish and digs applying nail polish… I’d personally rather spend £20 on 3 bottles that give me a bit of trouble when applying, need a top coat but come in a shade that make me go ‘ooooh’!
Quite frankly, I’d feel sick at myself for spending £20 on one nail polish… though perversely, I’m ok with spending £39 on a blush. Maybe I should just shut up because I’m suffering from a clear case of double-standards.
Terrybly Nail Laque By Terry* is available instore at SpaceNK or online, priced at £20
LMS Spotlights are described as a new skin care range that uses red light therapy, a natural skin treatment that’s clinically proven to help clear spots fast.
A new “skin care range” seems an odd way to describe a device powered by batteries… I guess I’m used to “skin care ranges” referring to lotions and potions. Nevertheless, what we’re talking about here are three electronic devices that are designed to emit a red light that encourages spots to heal twice as quickly than they would without this ‘red light therapy’.
A red light. That gets rid of spots.
Yeah right.
I had about as much faith in these devices as I did in my ability to doughnut-dodge.
They’re also designed to look like cosmetic products (lipsticks, face compacts etc..) but I’m not too sure about that claim. They just look… like something I’d want to ask the owner what the hell it is to be honest.
I don’t have acne and I don’t have particularly blemish-prone skin… but that doesn’t mean that I don’t get spots like the best of ’em. Infact, I get great big juicers that start as a lump under the surface before developing some nice bold colour and impressive prominence.
Of course, at this point I do the only sensible thing and squeeze them… but nothing happens. They sit there, headless and mocking. For weeks on end sometimes. Whenever I do partake in a bit of squeezing, it angers the headless horror into getting more lumpy and sometimes turning a nice shade of purple for the duration of it’s takeover. Then, when it finally begins to flatten, the colour can often remain for a couple of months afterwards.
So, whilst I don’t get regular breakouts… I still live in fear of one of these monsters invading purely because I know they generally move all their stuff in, get comfy and change the locks while they’re at it.
The LMS Spotlights device* is designed to be used three times a day. If you own the smallest of the devices, you’ll need to use it for 3 minutes, whilst the others’ only require 1 minute usage at a time. You could be glamourous and tote this around in your handbag or do what I do and leave it on a shelf next to the loo. Let’s face it, we all need to pee and if we’re drinking enough water… then we should be doing it at least 3 times a day! Seems like a perfect place to spend a minute zapping your face in complete privacy to me!
To begin with, I thought it wasn’t having any effect. And I don’t believe it was… I think I was holding the device too far away from my skin. It was only when I was sat at my computer one day that I felt this MOTHER of a zit appearing under my chin. I literally ran to the bathroom and grabbed my LMS device and in desperation, aimed it at my skin literally a cm from the surface. Within a couple of hours… the spot had retreated!
Since then, I’ve been careful to focus the light tightly on the area that I’m wanting to treat. I can’t do a controlled test to see if the LMS Spotlights device is making a difference to the longevity of my zits but my instincts on it having a positive effect are enough to keep me using this three times a day, every day. In the time I’ve been using it (properly), I haven’t had a single spot last for longer than 3 days. Of course, this could be a coincidence… it really could, but I’ve been using it for about 5 weeks now and have been more impressed with it than I ever anticipated.
However, I’m not the only one. I gave the largest of the three devices to my sister-in-law who unlike me, does have issues with blemishes and mild adult acne. The largest of the three devices is designed to cover a greater area of skin and she is in love with it. Which is a shame, because I’d really quite like it back now that I’ve fallen for my little one!
When I saw her last week, she extoled its virtues and told me that she was only wearing a bit of concealer. I could see an improvement in her blemishes and also in the general evenness of her complexion.
So back to the ‘how does it actually work’ thing (taken from the LMS Website)…
How does Red Light Therapy heal my spots?
When cells are stressed (for example by a spot) Nitric Oxide levels increase which inhibits the cell’s energy manufacturing process affecting the skin’s natural ability to heal itself. The primary effect of the RLT in LMS Spotlights is to penetrate the skin cells to force out Nitric Oxide and stimulate anti-oxidants. This has been shown to reduce cellular stress and increase cellular energy (ATP) leading to improved healing and repair of the skin in a wide range of medical conditions including spots and acne.
So, it’s not that it directly targets or ‘kills’ the spot… more that it dispenses with the stuff (Nitric Oxide) that inteferes with your body’s own healing process.
I’m loathe to say that I’m convinced by this gadget purely because I can’t assign my recent good skin experiences to this device with absolute confidence. I don’t like to encourage hype around products that have the potential to affect quality of life without concrete proof… but I also can’t ignore the fact that my instincts are telling me that this is making a tangible difference to my skin. And that’s really all I have to go on.
I’m going to keep using it and Hel, if you’re reading this… give it back give it back give it back, kthanksbai.
The LMS Spotlights devices are available online at www.lmsspotlights.com and at Harrods. Priced from £29.99.
I’m generally quite sold on Eyeko polishes… and for the money, since the reformulation last year they’ve been a good bet. I’m particularly a fan of their pastels which can often be hit or miss from all brands thanks to streakiness, thickness of formula to overcompensate or just downright chalkiness.
Eyeko Pastel polish is a pale blue that isn’t chalky! It’s almost creamy infact…
Not only that but the formula is easily spreadable. The only area this polish fails a little for me is patchiness. Whilst not horrific, you can see that after two thick coats… it could do with a third. There is uneveness and a bit of streakiness going on here.
The pale blue has a gorgeous vivid flash of metallic blue pearl which stops it from looking flat. If you’re willing to go with three coats on this shade, it’s a total winner in my book.
Eyeko Pastel Polish is available to buy online priced at £3.50 from PowderRooms or £4 direct from Eyeko.
In celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8th March, Bare Escentuals will be heading up a campaign they’re calling TRY. BELIEVE. LOVE. at three different locations across the UK.
They Say
At each of these locations, Bare Escentuals will be connecting with women, sharing the love, and allowing them to discover the foundation that started the makeup revolution. Each will have the chance to receive a limited-edition Bare Escentuals Friendship Bracelet, together with an invitation to go to one of the Bare Escentuals counters for a complimentary make-under. What’s more, each Friendship Bracelet has 5 mini-make-under certificates attached so women can share the love and make-under experience with their friends.
If you fancy getting your hands on one of these limited edition bracelets, head to one of the following locations on Tuesday 8th March to join in:
London – Covent Garden Piazza
Manchester – Trafford Centre
Birmingham – Bull Ring
I’m looking forward to taking my camera along to cover the event in Covent Garden, so if you go – don’t forget to say “Cheese!”
L’Oreal Color Infallible* are a newly released set of 8 eyeshadows that pack one hell of a pigment punch!
Housed in squat screw-top pots… are they creams, pigments or pressed powders? Well… they’re a bit of everything. A hybrid eyeshadow with the texture of a cream, the density of a pigment and convenience of a pressed powder!
Sounds great right? Well… they’re fairly awesome but as is usually the way, not without fault.
The lid unscrews to reveal a plastic ‘press’ which keeps the powder compacted inside the well of the pot.
The pigment under the press is a little tricky to reach with fingers (especially if you have nails!) because it’s located a little way inside the pot rather than level to the edge. If you use a brush, this obviously wouldn’t be an issue but does make for a sheerer application.
The colours are strong and true with a blendable almost creamy texture. Shimmery without being too metallic, they make for some really easy looks. Infact, I can blend this easily with just my fingers for a super-quick morning pick me up!
Unfortunately, I found lasting power to be a little disappointing as these had a tendency to disappear from my lids after about 3 hours… congregating firmly in the crease in a strong, greasy line. They fared better with primer but I still only achieved around 5 hours wear from them on my normal (not hugely oily) lids.
Having said that, some of the shades look amazing in the promo pictures and I’ll still be picking up All Night Blue from the range (a midnight blue shade).
Talking of shades, here are the current available tones:
All Night Blue (a midnight blue) Purple Obsession (smouldering purple) Endless Chocolate (brown shade shown in my swatches) Time Resist White (luminous, delicate white) Burning Black (incandescent black with purple shimmer) Flashback Silver (metallic silver) Permanent Khaki (green shade shown in my swatches) Eternal Black (true black)
I’m spending the day in Windsor today (official home to the Queen) so I thought that Butter London’s No More Waity Katie would be a very fitting shade for my nails!
A dirty mauve packed with lavender glitter… looks absolutely nothing like it’s promo picture!
The mauve base is awfully sheer… and this polish doesn’t make for a pretty sheer. In my opinion it ‘needs’ building up and for me, that meant 3 coats on most fingers and an extra one on two of them that still appeared patchy.
The glitter is well… it’s just glitter. Yes, it’s a nice colour combo and you know I love my dirgy shades but I think I was hoping for something more spectacular… imagine a dirgy version of All Hail McQueen with it’s super fine glitter… yeah, that.
The finish is rough and will need more than one application of top coat to remove the grittiness. It’s a more understated glitter than most and one that I’d even go so far as to class work appropriate!
Overall, it’s not as regal as I’d hoped… but regardless, it’s already a sell out!
And if you want to get your hands on this limited edition shade, Powder Rooms still has stock!
In a childish act of defiance (a.k.a: sticking two fingers up) at what has become my horribly dry skin… I went and bought this Kjaer Weis Creme Blush in Sun Touched.
Created by New York-based makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis, this edited collection pulls off the near impossible: It fuses the very best in organic ingredients with gorgeous textures and chic, always-flattering shades. And as a veteran of the magazine world, it’s no surprise that Kirsten sheathed her products in luxe, eye-catching compacts.
Eye-catching? Definitely! Also eye-watering at £39 for a 3.5g blush.
The heavyweight compacts are cast in a white bronze metal called zamac and monogrammed in white enamel. They’re beautiful and unlike some other highly elaborate products (I’m looking at you Guerlain Rouge G), these are purposefully manufactured to be kept and re-filled once you hit pan.
I picked up the shade Sun Touched as I was looking for something neutral that would complement most other shades and be something that I could wear everyday. Well, you would at that price wouldn’t you?
Sun Touched is a warm neutral, as the name might suggest. I’m pleased with my choice although it’s definitely warm enough to work better with other similarly toned shades.
A clean and organic cream blush that adds a fresh glow, brightening the eyes and to create a youthful sun-kissed look. Applied to the apples of the cheeks, this hydrating, soft formula gently melts with the warmth of the fingers. Kjaer Weis products are made with natural ingredients, using rose, honey suckle and gardenia as preservatives. Creme Blush is gently scented with Vanilla from Madagascar.
The texture is slightly tacky, feeling more like a gloss than a cream blush. I’ve been applying with my fingertips and blending softly without the use of a brush. Once on, the tackiness remains for a little while before fading. These don’t dry to a powder finish which means that I achieve a far dewier effect. Precisely what I wanted!
The blush has a delicate sheen without being glossy and is devoid of all types of sparkle! I’d recommend this completely if you have dry or mature skin. On me, it lasts the course of the day without too much fading… the picture below was taken at the end of the day (hence no lipstick!).
Refills are priced at a reasonable £18 each if you can stomach the initial outlay and Kjaer Weis products are available exclusively to Space NK both in the UK and USA.
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