SPF Me!

As I prepare myself for the 40 degree heat in Dubai, I have been more concerned with what products to take with me rather than clothes. Skin is damaged in as little as 15 minutes when overexposed to sunlight, and so are nails and hair. So, here are some cool products I'll be packing;

One of my favourite natural and organic brands - Greek skincare brand, Korres.

Korres Red Vine Sun Protection for Hair - with organic extract of aloe. What I love about this product is that it contains water resistant filters that are grafted onto the hair. This is great to prevent hair colour fading and to protect against UVA photo-oxidation. It's not just our skin that the sun can damage, most of us tend to forget about our hair and nails.

Comfort Zone's Sun Soul Tan Maximiser - My favourite Spa brand! I have been using this product for a week prior to my holiday, it's designed to nourish and prepare the skin for sun exposure by stimulating the production of Acetyltyrosine, which is a precursor to melanin. So, in English, it accelerates and intensifies the natural tanning process!

Korres Walnut and Coconut Face and Body Suntan Oil has a slight tint and is rich in vegetable oils for a deep and uniform tan. Walnut oil provides natural protection from the sun, while carrot oil enhances the natural tanning process and prevents premature skin ageing.

My all time favourite sun care brand - Institut Esthederm, I have been using this for years and have never ever suffered form sun burn with this brand. Institut Esthederm has a different approach to the sun and I LOVE it. The products adapt to the sun rather than overprotect it because our skin recognises that it needs sunlight and SPF index is not enough, SPF measures the risk of sunburn but not the risks of ageing or photo-ageing. The photo cellular care products focus on neutralisation of the sun’s harmful effects while stimulating the skin’s self-defence abilities. Adaptasun Sensitive Skin body Milk for Extreme Sun is is perfect for the desert sun of Dubai. The Tan Extender Milk is also amazing and really prolongs your tan but the Space.NK where I live have sold out!! I've also used Bronz Repair which is an anti-wrinkle tanning cream just for the face, allowing skin to tan without wrinkles! Love it!

ORLY's Sunscreen for Nails, this innovative beauty is a UV absorbent high-shine topcoat which a creates a barrier between your nails and damaging UV rays, providing protection for nail polish colour.

Finally, I can't forget about the all important pout, I used to use Mac's tinted lip conditioner pots but found they weren't hydrating enough. I've recently discovered this little gem - Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter, it's a gorgeous buttery lip balm which leaves a shiny coral tint finish.

Be safe in the sun.

Next time...beach beauty.

x

VIVA! VOOM

ORLY’S VIVA! Summer Colour Collection

ORLY’s Viva! Collection is Latin inspired, bold, bright and beautiful!

Fiesta…a hot pink shade.
Bailamos...a tantalising turquoise shade.
Ole... coral/orange, bright and sparky.
La Playa, a beautiful midnight blue (my favourite)

These bad girls are out in June! Available from http://www.cupidandgrace.com/.

VIVA! Forever.

x

Organic Skin care Sacred Nature recognises that nature is sacred

Overview: Award winning Italian spa brand, [Comfort Zone] launched a natural and organic face and body skin care range, which contains advanced anti-oxidant cellular DNA protection.

Products I love: Sacred Nature Bio Oil and Sacred Nature Bio Mask.

Instructions for Bio Mask: Apply a uniform layer all over face and leave on for 10 minutes.

Key ingredients: Buriti Oil from the Brazillian tree of life, Butterfly Bush Extract, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oils and distilled orange water for remineralising.

Comments: This is the best face mask I have ever tried, with most moisturising face masks they are quite difficult to wash off because they are so thick. The Bio Mask was amazingly moisturising without being thick and heavy. I left it on my face for around 20 minutes and my skin felt as soft as a baby’s bottom after I rinsed it off. I have added this product to my list of star products. I love it!

I am really into ‘green’ and organic products and I love how the Sacred Nature products are made with eco-friendly, recyclable packaging and even printed with water colours. I also admire how Comfort Zone is a member of LifeGate, which invests in reforestation of Costa Rica and is committed to worldwide sustainability.

Go Green!

Cleansing in the Nude

Comments: This remarkable cleanser effectively removes even the most stubborn make-up. The beautiful non-irritating natural oil protects and leaves skin smooth, supple and perfectly soft.

Instructions: Warm between hands and massage onto dry face. Apply warm water to form a light milk and rinse clean. For normal to dry skin.

I love the idea behind of NUDE’s Cleansing Facial Oil. Free of mineral oils and sulphates, not tested on animals and an entirely recyclable plastic bottle makes this my kind of skincare product. However, with a difficult combination of a greasy T-zone, dry cheeks and eyes, and eczema, I am terrified of putting anything new on my face. I regularly suffer from allergic reactions on my lower cheeks, and am constantly frustrated at being unable to use exciting anti-aging products. With this in mind I didn’t have a huge amount of hope when trying yet another new product, yet alone one with pre and pro-biotics. It reminded me of those miniature drinks my mother tucks into at breakfast and I was concerned over the smell, but according to the nude skincare website, these unique ingredients ‘maintain and strengthen the skin, hydrating and defending against free radical attack and ageing irritation.’ As an eczema suffer, the words ‘hydrating’ and ‘irritation’ always jump out at me, and so I thought I would give Nude’s Cleansing Facial Oil a try!

Firstly I love the packaging! Not just because it is recyclable but also it is so smooth to hold and looks completely different to anything else in my bathroom!

I have been using the oil for about 2 weeks now, both morning and night, and absolutely love it. As I massage the oil into my face, I literally feel my skin drink it up and watch as my make-up just slides off. It’s so effective and effortless, making cleansing a quick process without numerous products and cotton pads! After rinsing my face, I am left with super soft, clear, hydrated, plump and dewy skin, and best of all no allergic reactions!

I love it, and without a doubt will purchase the product again – well done Nude!

Pippa

(Guest blogger for Make Up It Girl)

The 007 in Mascara's

I have been waiting to get my manicured hands on the Belvada Noir mascara for a while and it finally arrived a week ago.

One word, WOW!

There is so much to say about this mascara, so I'll start with my favourite point.

I have blogged in the past about how toxic make up can get, especially mascara. Well, the unique, air tight packaging has my vote for the best mascara I have ever used. It has a one hand application system which felt a bit weird at first but then I realised that my spare hand came in use to stretch my eyes to really get into those outer lashes.

This is the packaging it comes in.

The airtight cap is to the left, which you unscrew and then push the brush up which loads mascara from tip to bottom, so no pumping necessary.

Looks like a gadget a Bond Girl would pull out. Love it!

The formula for this mascara contains keratin fibres and cashmere wool and after using it for a week, I really noticed a difference compared to my usual mascara.

It's available to buy from http://www.nailsbymail.co.uk/.

Happy lashings!

Celebrate Red Lipstick Day for Charity

In support of the cancer support charity, Look Good, Feel Better, Harrods are hosting 'Red Lipstick Day' on the 27th May 2010.

Harrods is inviting customers to get involved with their 'Kiss and Make-Up Wall', where you make a £2 donation and receive a mini 'lip-over' plus an invitation to imprint your kiss on a Harrod's 'Kiss Card' with a message of your choice. Not only will it feature on a huge 'Kiss and Make-Up Wall' located in the main beauty hall but will also be entered into a prize draw to win a hamper of beauty goodies.

So brush the dust off your Ruby Woo or Russian Red and get practicing your pouting!