My top 3 beauty picks for Summer

If you wear liquid foundation, you gotta try this stuff

Hi guys, hope you're all enjoying the lovely warm weather today? (And if you're anything like me, you'll be simultaneously suppressing the very British tendency to complain about it...what's with that?).

Here are 3 products I am loving this Summer...

1. Ginvera's BB Cream (see pic above). If you wear liquid foundation or tinted moisturiser, you simply have to try this product.

I was sent some Ginvera BB cream to try by the lovely people at Janiro.co.uk after they saw me discussing summer foundations on twitter and, in spite of being a BB cream sceptic (how can one product do ALL that), I decided to give it a whirl.  I'm now 3 days in and am quite blown away.

The Ginvera BB cream is part of the Singaporean Ginvera Green Tea skin care range (Harvey Nicks have recently started stocking it which is always a good sign).

I'm naturally quite pale and the cream comes out fairly warm so I was convinced it would look too dark on me, but, after blending it in, the cream seemed to adapt to my skin tone?? I probably wouldn't use it in winter because it does leave my skin ever-so-slightly tanned, but with built-in SPF 30 it's perfect for summer.

You only need the teeniest amount (about the size of a 5p piece). I blend it in with my MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre brush (a dream of a brush if you've never tried it).

Why's Ginvera BB cream so good?
- provides flawless coverage, minimising scaring and fine lines
- oil control properties provide a natural matte finish
- revitalises the skin with essential nutrients
- SPF 30 PA++
- long lasting

Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think! RRP £20.
NB: not for lovers of an über-matte finish and I'd be hesitant to recommend it for brides, but as an everyday base it certainly gets my vote.

2. Next up is St. Tropez's Everyday Gradual Tan for Face (Light/Medium)

I bought this aaaages ago and recently came across it during a bathroom clear out. It's also Wedding Season at the moment and a number of my clients have mentioned they've been using it in the run-up to their wedding.

What's it got going for it? It's cheap-ish (£12.15 if you buy from feelunique.com) and great if the idea of using fake tan on your face fills you with absolute dread. The moisturising gradual tan infused with aloe vera, vitamin E and St. Tropez's innovative Aromaguard™ (which claims to 'eliminate the tell-tale self tan aroma by a minimum of 70%). 

My only bug-bear with it is that it can feel quite greasy on the skin after application (and for as much as the smell is masked, it's not completely hidden Mr. St. Tropez!). I've taken to wearing it at night (so it doesn't annoy me during the day) and the results are stunning: a subtle yet convincing tan.

TIP: If using at night, apply after gentle exfoliation when the skin is squeaky clean. Don't forget to take it down the neck line.

3. Last but by no means least... Shu Uemura's Cream Eye Shadow (Pearl Beige)

Hands up those who avoid wearing eye shadow during the day - and particularly during the summer months - because of the inevitable crease which comes after just 2 hours wear? (I know, such a bore). Well let me introduce you to Shu Uemura's range of cream eye shadows. Makeup artists the world over have been raving about these little beauties for a while now and I can see why. Long-wearing and highly pigmented, these shimmery eye colours provide a wash of colour which will not crease. Perfect when you're in a hurry in the morning and fancy a little something on the eyes instead of the usual mascara-only look.

Available at Space NK, Harvey Nicks, Liberty's, Selfridges and at the Shu Uemura store on Neal Street (Covent Garden). RRP: £19

Are there any products you just can't get enough of this Summer?

Matte Lip meet Über-Balm

Keeping up with the latest makeup trends and product launches is a must when you're a makeup artist, and is, I'm delighted to say, one of the things I love about my job. 

On the one hand I'm fascinated with the way trends begin, the way they trickle down slowly into the mainstream, only to reappear again 20 years later (yes, I'm talking about you, 'Heather Shimmer' by Rimmel).

And then there's the product launches. There must be a statistic out there somewhere that says a new makeup/beauty product launches every 2 seconds (at least that's what it feels like!). But you know what, materialism aside (who actually needs 17 lipsticks?), the proliferation of new makeup and beauty products can only be a good thing. For one thing, it means products have to keep competing with each other in order to survive. And competition, as we know, drives quality.

One trend that has recently been ringing loudly in my ear (and burning my eyes, cos it's EVERYWHERE) is the rise of the über-balm. An obvious retaliation against the super-bright, über-matte lip of recent years. And they're all doing it...

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm
in 'Crystal Coral' (RRP £16.50)

Revlon Lip Butter 
in 'Tutti Frutti' (currently on offer at Boots for £5.99)

Shu Uemura's Rouge Unlimited lipstick in 'CR330' (RRP £19)
Click here for a great review of the range

The Shu Uemura range is more pigmented than the other 'balms' but extremely moisturising:
"...containing jojoba seed oil, shea butter, ceramides and a moisture-lock cream (a ‘vegetal origin paste’ that keep the active ingredients close to the lips)".  - Makeup Stash (Singaporean blogger)

Do my lips look chubby in this?

And presenting, this trend's principle offender... *deep breath*:  Clinique's Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm RRP £16 (to give it its full, Bingley-Pottersly-Smythe title...I mean, seriously). 

I used to work in advertising so am able to envisage the type of media planning that must have gone into the launch of this little wonder stick but my, my, open any magazine this month (including last month) and there they are, placed rather ingeniously alongside cubes of 'wibbly-wobbly' jelly (the very sight of which instantly make my mouth water). But I'm sold! And clearly it's only a matter of time before I buy...

Personally, I think sheer washes of colour are great. Here's 4 reasons why:

- you don't need a mirror to apply them

- they come in a variety of spankingly hot, Pantone-inspired brights (The gods at Pantone have decreed Tangerine Orange Colour Of The Year don't cha know!)

- they keep your lips moisturised so you don't have to cart around lippie and balm in your handbag

- great for all work, date, mid dinner-party top-up scenarios

Has the sheer-wash trend washed with you yet? 

A little grooming goes a long way

I recently had the tough job of grooming three gorgeous male models for an Olympic-inspired menswear shoot for Phoenix Magazine. It got me thinking about the kinds of grooming tips I'd recommend for real guys. 

Did you know, the UK male grooming market was worth £711m by the end of 2011? (that's some serious moolah!). Gone are the 'metrosexual' days of slapping on a bit of moisturiser after a shower. In 2012, the male grooming market has completely exploded with product launches spanning cleansers, eye creams, exfoliators and masques - all designed with male skin in mind.

So what is male grooming anyway? And does it involve make-up?! <holds breath>

Chaps, let me break it down for you; there are 4 key areas you need to think about when it comes to personal grooming:

SKIN

HAIR

TEETH

NAILS

Let's start with SKIN. For as much as you might like to think you are, you're no more protected from the elements (weather, the environment, ageing) than we are. So as a basic care regime, looking after your skin is a great place to start. For one, hydrated and cared-for skin can take years off you (I've seen this first hand, particularly on older gentlemen).

Like your female counterparts, your skin will fall into 4 categories: normal / dry / combination (oily T-zone) / oily. You should know instinctively which one you are. If you're unsure, ask.

For an overview of moisturisers for DRY SKIN, check out this handy review from Ape to Gentleman from 2011. For more GENERAL MOISTURISERS - including ones with built in SPF - see Mankind. Also worth checking out are Kiehl's and Cowshed Bullock (my man uses this and he says it's 'good').

Another great tip is to exfoliate once a week (click here for the low down on what it is/how it works/why it's good). Exfoliating gently sloughs away dead skin, to reveal younger, 'cleaner' skin. Alongside moisturising, it will be the single best thing you can do (providing you remember to do it).

Next up, HAIR. If you've still got it, flaunt it! And if you don't see above and keep that head moisturised.

Two things you need to do:
1. (an obvious one) keep your hair clean and smelling good (there are so many male shampoos to choose from I can't tell you! I like the look of Redken)
2: never underestimate the power of a little styling (clay, wax, gel).

Killer smile but low on wattage (image courtesy of Starpulse.com)

TEETH: <cha-ching!>

A killer smile can work wonders but even if you're not particularly blessed with pearly whites, daily flossing and teeth whitening are a good place to start. Basically, the rule with teeth is be sensible. Keep up appearances at the dentist (I've been going to private dentist Doug Jarvis for years and cannot recommend him enough); watch out for bleeding gums and keep that breath minty-fresh (coffee breath can kill a woman at 20 paces!).

And finally, NAILS. May seem like an odd one to include but I'm the kind of gal who notices a man's hands. I'm not suggesting for a moment you have a weekly manicure (to each his own) but:
- keep nails short (unless you're a guitarist, and even then....)
- watch out for dirt under the fingernails (easily removed with soapy water and a pair of tweezers)
- don't shy away from a bit of hand cream once in a while (go on, it won't kill you)

For those who want to dip their toe a little further into the world of male grooming, check out these bad boys:

Anthony Logistics (available at Space NK and online)
LAB Series for Men (old kid on the block but looks reassuringly premium/manly <grrrrrr>)
Clinique Skin Supplies (possibly my favourite packaging of all the ranges, gun-metal grey and clearly 'not for girls')
Liz Earle Men's Skincare (don't knock it til you've tried it. British-born Liz has won countless awards for her Cleanse and Polish™ - having been a fan of Liz's products for years, I reckon her Men's Skincare range is worth a gander).

Do you have any faves in your wash bag?
_______
For those wondering what I used on the Phoenix shoot:
- Kiehl's Facial Fuel (oil-free moisturiser with built in SPF)
- Bobbi Brown hydrating eye cream
- a little concealer* (Bobbi Brown)
- Lucas Paw-Paw (cult Aussie lip balm)
- MAC blot powder (a staple on shoots to combat shine)
* not necessary for every day but hey, it's fashion daaaarling...

All images courtesy of Phoenix Magazine
Photography: © Cecilie Harris 
Styling: Rebekah Roy
Grooming: Natalie James