Pineapple Pulp Fiction Facial

After juicing some pineapples, I had a whole load of pineapple pulp left over and I didn’t’ want to throw it away. So, my sister – Jack had a brainwave, to use it as a face mask.

Jack mixed some oats in her pineapple pulp to make the pulp firm and to also act as an exfoliator for when she washed it off.

It smells delicious but more importantly, the results are amazing. My skin feels slightly tingly but it’s glowing, probably all of the active enzymes from the pineapples.

Pineapple Pulp Fiction Facial

Ingredients: Pure pineapple (oats are optional)

Instructions: Pick up in blobs and place in sections over face. Leave on for around 5 minutes and then wash off.

Urgent:Toxic Tools

I must share something with you which is only known by a minority of people, only because they work directly with manufacturers of cosmetic tools.

As soon as I found this out, I just knew I had to share this with you because I couldn't find anything on the internet about it.

We have all these strict EU regulations about ingredients in cosmetics but (as far as I'm aware) no tests to ensure make up tools are safe. To be truly honest with you, the idea had never crossed my mind that brand new make up brushes and (the biggest shocker) a pencil sharpener could possibly contain bacteria which can cause skin/eye infections.

Now for the science part, factories in China use blades for pencil sharpeners which haven't been irradiated. Now, irradiation is a sterilisation process,which kills bacteria on the blades of a sharpener or the natural hairs of a brush. Irradiation is a very complex process (hence why not all factories manufacturing these products do it) but it is necessary to avoid infection.

The really scary thing is some that people who may suffer from eye infections or skin irritation will probably never link it to make up tools, instead blaming a mascara or a foundation.

Now for the solution, go for a German brand pencil sharpener, such as "KUM", most major cosmetic companies use this brand, so you can check with them. I will also be conducting my own research because nobody else has, so I'll compile a list of safe brands for you after my research.

Also, thoroughly wash any new brushes/tools with a brush cleaning/sanitizing product, this is good for new brushes anyway to remove any loose hairs (especially if they are natural hairs which have been sourced without causing animals any harm or distress).

I'll keep you updated with my research.

Keep your make up tools clean and keep away from cheap Chinese sharpeners.

Oh NARS! You're making me blush!

I think I might have to change my blog to ‘make up blush girl’ because I feel like I’m always talking about blushers. If there is one make up item I can’t do without, it is definitely blusher. It brings my skin to life, accentuates my cheekbones, evens out my skin tone and even balances out my features.

One of my favourite brands is NARS and if I had to award NARS for anything, it would have to be ‘The BEST Blusher Award’.

The range of highly pigmented colours, which are available in cream or powder are intense, dreamy, soft, bright and I love how the colours complement all skin tones.

Last weekend I picked up Taos pressed powder blush, a peachy rose with subtle specks of gold shimmer (sold out in Selfridges Oxford St, so I had to go to John Lewis). My tan is majorly fading and Taos managed to bring it back to life! It’s a really soft, warm colour.

From Taos to Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal is as amazing as the inspiration behind its name. A magnificent burnt orange with shimmer, which really makes my skin glow. I look so healthy when I wear Taj Mahal, I know it looks really bright but this is amazing on all skin colours.

I could babble on about blushers all day long, go and visit a NARS counter and see the vast array of colours for yourselves.

Brighten up your face and I promise you it brightens up your day, works for me.

I’m a NARS addict and proud!

x

(Left: Taos /Right: Taj Mahal)

Wonder products from Sephora

So, while my gals were sunbathing on South Beach, I literally spent 3 hours in Sephora in make up Heaven!

I took a whole load of pictures on my Blackberry but I've lost them and now have an i-phone (which I am loving byt he way).

L.A ink tattooist, Kat Von D has her own make up range, which is very dark and quite gothic, some of the eyeliners/eye pencils looked great, perfect for smouldering smokey eyes.

I love Sephora's own range of cosmetics, they are affordable and have a great range of colours for eyes, lips and cheeks. I snapped up some eye pencils and eye liners for around $4 each! The quality is really good, especially for that price. They glide on like the Mac eye pencils.

I had read about ex-model 'Josie Maran's" cosmetic and skincare range in Nylon Magazine. Sephora didn'[t have any cosmetics but they did have the Josia Maran Organic Argan Oil Moisturiser. Argan Oil is found in Morocco and is said to be the secret to youthful skin after Moroccan women who worked with the oil had amazingly youthful skin on their hands.

After being in the burning sun in the Maldives and then Miami, my skin was really dehydrated and alcked it's usual glow. This Argan Oil brought my skin back to life, you can use it on skin, hair and nails. I used it on my skin after being in the sun every day, it glided on with a silky feeling, it feels amazing. I also used it on the ends of my hair which the sun had dried out.

Another product I discovered is 'Fiberwig', it's a mascara product you use on top of mascara instead of false lashes.

I like this product because even though I love the look of false lashes, they can sometimes irritate me, this product fills in gaps and extends lashes using fibres. The results are great, I must warn you though, when you take your make up off at night, the fibres can be a bit annoying because they sort of peel off but I would much rather make sure my make up is taken off properly than rip off false lashes. Ouch!

It is such a massive shame that Sephora was taken out of the U.K! Please come baaaaaaack!

Life's a Beach

So, when you think Miami, the first thing that comes to mind are all those perfectly toned (most are probably surgically enhanced) tanned and immaculately groomed super humans running along the beach, without a strand of hair out of place and who don't seem to have a bead of sweat in sight (in 30+ degrees heat).

So, I have been busy putting together some hot products to take away with me, as well as being practical and limiting myself to the absolute minimum amount (I have the tendency to overpack products/make up).

(Top From L - R: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR, NARS multiple tints in Turks & Caicos and Cadaques, RMK ingenious gel eyeliner in dark blue. Bottom from L -R: Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter, MAC lipglass in Perennial High Style and Splashing)

I'm all up for make up on the beach and these will be some of the products I'll be using in the day. The Nuxe dry oil is my absolute favourite multi purpose product, I first used this product nine years ago and has always been a regular purchase. I use it on my face as a highlighter, all over my legs, arms and decollete and even throughout the mid and ends of my hair. It contains Vitamin E and other precious oils so it's ultra nourishing.

The NARS multiple tints are beautiful and sheer and really easy to use. You can either rub the whole stick on  face/lips (like I do) or use your fingers to apply and build up colour. I like the look of Turks & Caicos on top of any powder blush (if you want more depth).

For daytime, I'll be using RMK's ingenious eyeliner in blue (I'm saving black for night). It's amazing with brown eyes and I've actually started using this as my summer eyeliner instead of black. Don't be scared of gel eyeliner, it's really easy to use and this one comes with a mini brush.

My lips have got to be hydrated, so I'll be using my favourite lip butter by Korres (so much better than the Mac tinted lip conditioner and a 1/3 of the price), the pomegranate lip butter has got a gorgeous coral colour (my fave). If I want more colour, I'll be using the Mac lipglasses.

Make up by night....

(From L - R: St Tropez Radiance Mousse, Nars blush in Exhibit A, Mac lipsticks in Impassioned and Morange, Mac greasepaints in Greengrease, Slick Black and Dirty. Middle: Korres lipgloss in Cherry, By Terry Touch Expert-Advanced and Mac liquid last eyeliner in Point Black)

The St Tropez Radiance Mousse is perfect to enhance your tan, I'll use this as a highlighter for party make up, it's a beautiful illuminating bronze.

(St Tropez Radiance Mousse)

NARS blush in Exhibit A is my favourite NARS blush, it's amazing for every skin tone, white, olive, black and perfect all year round.

The Mac greasepaints are my star Mac products (such a shame they are limited edition, I always fall in love with limited editions). My favourite colour is Dirty, it's a gunmetal black/gold shade. These are so easy to use as well, you can use your fingers to blend them in if you're scared of using brushes, these look even better with the Mac pigments layered on top.

Nobody wants white panda eyes that some concealers give and the flash of some cameras really highlight it (major cringe), By Terry's Touch Expert sticks come in three shades and they are great for tanned skin or even for naturally darker skin. I find the YSL touche eclat chalky looking and stopped using it years and years ago.

Some products that aren't on here which are also ideal for holiday are;

The Clarins waterproof eye liner pencils, Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess Liquid eye shadows and Chanel's inimitable waterproof mascara.

If you still prefer to wear a bronzer while on holiday, I highly recommend NARS Casino bronzer or Chanel's Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universal (for all skin colours).

I could go on and on but I'll save it for next time.

Have fun in the sun.

x

NARS-issistic

I have been a religous NARS user since I was 16 when the only way I could get my hands on the products was via Space.NK mail order (I had to fill out the order form in the back of the catalogue and send a cheque, amazing how times have changed). My first ever purchase was Baby Doll lip lacquer and Orgasm blush (I guess you can tell I was majorly influenced by SATC).

Anyway, I have fallen in love with NARS all over again and it feels oh so beautiful.I have been waiting to get my hands on the multiple tints for ages. I chose Turks & Caicos (an exotic island I've always wanted to visit). It's a gorgeous sheer coral, amazing with or without a tan, perfect for holiday and I also realised today (yep, make up on the brain) that these tints are perfect for gym bunnies wanting to look naturally radiant.They are limited edition and are so worth investing in - go get yours before they're all sold out.

(Turks & Caicos)

(Top - Cadaques, Bottom - Turks & Caicos)

Get set for holiday with Korres Summer in Greece

This gift set is perfect for holiday, I am so glad I've got this in time for Miami. This set contains all the products you need for your summer hols;

WATERMELON BODY SCRUB (with naturally derived exfoliating grains)

The Watermelon Body Scrub softens and prepares skin for a uniform tan. The combination of ground Bamboo and Jojoba beads effectively removes dead cells and improves microcirculation and restores and hydrates skin cells.


SWEET ORANGE SUNCARE FACE & BODY EMULSIONS SPF 25

Orange extract, (rich in flavonoids) accelerates skin tanning and reinforces melanin’s photo-protective role. Contains the natural filter Zinc oxide to provide broad-spectrum sun protection (UVA-UVB-IR). The organic extract of Active Aloe® supports the skin’s immune system and helps reduce the visible signs of ageing.

YOGHURT COOLING GEL

The ultra cooling and soothing cream-gel- (A KORRES classic). Yoghurt, a natural source of lactose, proteins, minerals and vitamins, increases the water content of the skin’s top layers instantly relieving UV-induced redness (correct name is erythema) and that uncomfortable burning sensation. (Also has ingredients which are anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant), helping the sun-harassed skin recover.



I LOVE the Athens bag, I'll definitely be re-using it, it's the best cosmetic bag and set I've seen compared to what other brands are doing.

One final holiday must-have (actually these are for life not just for holiday) -  these Korres Pomegranate cleansing/make up removing wipes. They smell AMAZING! Baby wipes are so last decade, babies can keep them, us grown up gals have upgraded to Korres.

I love Korres.

x