Category Archives: beauty news

The Big Liquid Gold Worldwide Giveaway!

  , ,
Comments Off on The Big Liquid Gold Worldwide Giveaway!

alpha-h liquid gold review

One of my all-time favourite beauty products has its fifteenth birthday this year and to celebrate I have a rather lovely giveaway! Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold is a wipe-on-and-leave overnight treatment that’s so incredibly simple and effective, it had me hooked from the very first use. (You can see my initial post on it, Liquid Gold and the Leap of Faith, by clicking here.) Brightening, exfoliating, rejuvenating and clarifying, it uses Glycolic acid as a key ingredient to retexturise the skin, soften fine lines and help reduce pigment and acne scarring. Every friend and family member I’ve recommended it to has seen brilliant results, and feedback from readers has always been overwhelmingly good. If you’ve always wanted to try Liquid Gold, or are a regular user and want to get a free re-stock, then read on – I have twenty-five bottles to give away.

I asked the founder of Alpha-H, Michelle Doherty, to explain why she thought that Liquid Gold had achieved such Cult Beauty Status. It’s regularly featured in “best of beauty” articles and the formula, over the whole fifteen years, has never been changed or tweaked. “It’s exactly the same formula as when we originally launched,” Michelle told me, “we’ve never needed to change it. It just works. It delivers immediate results, improving the overall texture and appearance of the skin.”

ruth crilly and michelle doherty

I know that when I first started using Liquid Gold, the idea of an “acid” exfoliant was actually quite terrifying. I hadn’t really seen much written about it in magazines and was nervous about using it because it just sounded so scary. I had visions of a burning face and a trip to A&E! But people’s attitudes to acid peels and toners seem to have really changed in the last few years; they are widely written about and reviewed, and even the mainstream brands have introduced peels and acid exfoliants as staple skincare products. “People are realising that “acid” is not a dirty word in the context of skincare,” Michelle said. “It is perfectly fine, in fact it’s good to challenge the skin with AHAs [the type of acid group that Glycolic belongs to] because if the skin is not challenged, then you’ll never really see a change in it.”

Any important dos and don’ts for Glycolic Beginners? “Yes,” said Michelle. “If you are new to using Glycolic Acid, we recommend that you slowly introduce it into your skincare routine. It’s also very important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen when using products that contain Glycolic.”

alpha-h liquid gold review

So there you go – a quick tour around the world of Acid Exfoliation. If you fancy giving Liquid Gold a try, then all you need to do is leave a comment below. If you’re stuck for something to say, then you can always wish Michelle and the Alpha-H team a Happy Australia Day! Make sure you get your comment in before 12 noon (GMT) this Friday and please only comment once. Be sure to pop your email into the comment form where prompted, I’ll announce winners in Sunday’s Tittle Tattle. Good luck – this giveaway is open to everyone, all over the world.

PS: that multi-bottle montage took me bloody ages to do! I must get Photoshop and stop arsing around with the Mac equivalent of PC Paint!

Read more posts about Liquid Gold…

The post The Big Liquid Gold Worldwide Giveaway! appeared first on A Model Recommends.

Continue reading →

What’s In Your Makeup Bag: Beauty Therapist Nathalie Eleni!

  , ,
Comments Off on What’s In Your Makeup Bag: Beauty Therapist Nathalie Eleni!

ruth crilly and nathalie eleni

I love poking about to see what other people have in their makeup bags and in their bathroom cabinets (though that never goes down to well if you’re caught red-handed!) and so it was a joy to film this video with my friend and professional celebrity-polisher-upper Nathalie Eleni. Nathalie spends lots of her time prepping film stars for the red carpet so knows her stuff when it comes to makeup and grooming. She also happens to be one of the biggest product enthusiasts I know and always has some obscure, little-known serum or face cream on the go.

You can find Nathalie on Twitter here and her website is here. It was a proper hoot making this video, I had to edit it down from over thirty minutes of footage, so thank you to Nathalie for joining in! The products are listed below – we may have to do a follow-up to this to get all the rest of her stuff in!

Products Shown:

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox: http://tidd.ly/a2222c74

Lancome Multi-Lift Tinted Moisturiser: http://tidd.ly/2155d4c5

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow skin illuminator: http://tidd.ly/1615285b

Bumble & Bumble Prep: http://tidd.ly/48b58ae0

NYX Doll Eye Mascara: http://goo.gl/PM7LlK

Hydrapeptide Lash Longer Fuller Lusher: http://goo.gl/4zU18o

Sepai Cleansing Balm: http://goo.gl/krc79N

MAC Face and Body Foundation: http://tidd.ly/c8144898

Estee Lauder Brush-On Glow Highlighter: http://tidd.ly/9479cfd8

Soigne Nail Polishes: http://www.soignenails.com

Endocare Tensage Serum: http://goo.gl/it3hl1

Heliocare Tinted SPF Gel: http://goo.gl/cLRCwz

The post What’s In Your Makeup Bag: Beauty Therapist Nathalie Eleni! appeared first on A Model Recommends.

Continue reading →

Do You Need To Spend A Fortune On Makeup Brushes?

  , , ,
Comments Off on Do You Need To Spend A Fortune On Makeup Brushes?
Over the last decade or so, I’ve learned a lot of things that have changed my beauty regime for the better. I now know the importance of double cleansing, why a night cream is a must, that cat flicks are all in the hand movement and that a great brush is the secret to 99% of makeup dilemmas. It’s amazing the difference a small change can make to our routines, but the biggest for me has been the application techniques I’ve now perfected with the help of a few expert tools. Makeup brushes really are an essential, even if you rarely wear foundation and have only marginally more skill than your cat; they help to provide an even and professional application, a polished finish and a perfected look that’s incomparable to one created with only the use of your digits. Over the last few months I’ve been taking a closer look at makeup brushes with QVS Beauty (including how to create the perfect smokey eye, what all those makeup brushes actually do and secrets that will change the way you use them,) but one question always remains: do I need to spend a fortune to get a good quality brush? The quick answer is ‘no’.

As with many things in beauty, the branding and price point doesn’t always reflect the quality you’re getting – so it’s important to arm yourself with the tools (excuse the pun) you need to make informed and effective decisions. Here’s what you need to know in order to shop for your tools efficiently and without spending your monthly Starbucks allowance on one blending brush.

GOOD QUALITY & SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS
It may look pretty, but that rose gold instagrammable brush you’re coveting may not be any good. Look beyond the aesthetics of your tools and opt for those with good quality components that are comfortable in the hand. According to the experts, you need to find a brush with symmetrical bristles (so no odd ones sticking out of the top) and a handle that’s not too heavy and not too light; always look at the ferrule too (the metal bit that joins the brush to the handle) and ensure it’s firmly in place. (A great example is this QVS Flat Top Powder Brush, £6.99, which is constructed perfectly for purpose.)
SYNTHETIC VS NATURAL HAIR
The type of hair used is important to note if you’re working with creamy textures and liquid foundations. Natural hairs tend to absorb the liquid and waste product unnecessarily, while simultaneously harvesting bacteria that like to live in these warm and cosy environments. Foundation brushes should be synthetic (often described as nylon bristles) to ensure they keep their shape, while powder brushes (used with eyeshadow or blusher) tend to perform better when made with natural hair. Wise up on what you should be buying, rather than spending on impulse. (This QVS Foundation Brush, £7.50, is made with synthetic nylon bristles to minimise wastage and maximise hygiene.)

WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED?

Although those fancy fan-looking brushes may make you look the part, if you don’t know how to use them or they’re just taking up valuable room on your dressing table because they look pretty, what’s the point? Always start your collection with the basics (such as a foundation, brow, eyeshadow and blending brush) and add to it as you get to grips with each in turn; you don’t want to be intimidated and avoid using them altogether. If you don’t need 18 types of eyeshadow brush, then don’t buy them; realistically it’s always better to have a capsule collection than investing in a pro kit that doesn’t get used. (I can pretty much guarantee everyone needs a QVS Angled Blusher Brush, £3.75, though.)
DON’T JUST BUY A SET: SHOP AROUND
It’s really easy to buy a whole set of brushes and think you’re done, but more often than not these sets are designed to look pretty rather than provide a really functional benefit. Like with an eyeshadow palette, you’ll never use every single one equally (if at all,) so save your money and shop wisely instead. Although some smaller sets can provide value and help boost your collection quickly, you want to avoid anything that’s offering more than five brushes in one go. (This QVS Professional Brush Set, £16.00, is a great place to start.)
As another year draws to a close, maybe the onset of a new one provides the perfect opportunity for us all to spring clean our makeup bags and routine – as well as investing in some tools that will really help us hone our skills. You’ve got the knowledge now, all you need are the tools to go with it!

Continue reading →

Spoiler: Inside The Charlotte Tilbury Book of Make-Up Magic

  , ,
Comments Off on Spoiler: Inside The Charlotte Tilbury Book of Make-Up Magic

charlotte tilbury The Book of Magic Make-Up

Sorry to be a total enabler here, but this Book of Make-Up Magic from Charlotte Tilbury is just gorgeous. Expensive (hence starting the post with an apology) but gorgeous. Twelve glamorous products individually wrapped and packaged up in little boxes, it’s a great way to discover the Tilbury range if you’ve never tried it and don’t know where to start.

charlotte tilbury The Book of Magic Make-Up

If you’re already a fan, it presents all of the hero products in handy discovery sizes with a full-sized lipstick and shadow hidden away for good measure. (I say “”discovery” sizes because “miniatures” sounds a bit mean in this case. The 15ml of Magic Cream, for example, is worth over twenty pounds, the eye kohl is nearly as large as a proper one. The mini lipstick is teeny, but oh so cute and beautifully presented.)

charlotte tilbury The Book of Magic Make-Up

I was fully intending on working through the contents list and finding out the total value, but I’ve run out of steam! There’s a full-size Matte Revolution lipstick (£23) and Lip Magic balm (£25), a new Nocturnal Eyes shadow and kohl pencil (I can’t tell whether or not they are the same size as the ones online, but if they are then that’s another £29), the very cute mini lipstick and a whole bunch of trial-sized skin and body care. Gems such as the “Supermodel Body” (great for pepping up bare legs on a night out) and the amazing “Goddess Skin” Clay Mask (full review here) as well as a little pot of the famous “Magic Cream”.

charlotte tilbury The Book of Magic Make-Up

The Book of Make-Up Magic would make a really great present for someone who wants luxurious beauty but lots of it; loads of beauty “tasters” rather than just having one expensive face cream to open. This is much more fun. And for those wanting a “treat to self” it’s a nice alternative to an advent calendar – though there are only twelve boxes, so you’ll either have to open a box every other day or leave them all until the 12th and then start opening. Either way, a brilliant surprise every time. Unless you’ve read this post, and of course you have because you’re reading right now, in which case…soz.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Book of Make-Up Magic is £150 at Charlotte Tilbury online or at Selfridges here. Here’s the more detailed contents list:

  • MAGIC CREAM 15ml
  • TAKE IT ALL OFF 15ml
  • WONDERGLOW 15ml
  • MULTI MIRACLE GLOW 15ml
  • SUPERMODEL BODY 15ml
  • GODDESS SKIN CLAY MASK 15ml
  • Mini K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick
  • MATTE REVOLUTION Lipstick
  • LIP MAGIC
  • Mini ROCK ‘N’ KOHL Eye Liner
  • NOCTURNAL CAT EYES Eye Shadow
  • MAGIC NIGHT CREAM 15ml

Continue reading →

How to Love Your Hair a Little More…

  , ,
Comments Off on How to Love Your Hair a Little More…
Alex Turnbull Love Hair Supplements

The older I become, the more precious I am about my hair; I have learnt along the way that as great as hair masks and other deep conditioning treatments may be, nutrition aka what you put inside your body is as important – if not more – for your overall hair health. You can line your shower with every lotion and potion but dry, brittle and generally unmanageable hair could be down to your diet.

It goes without saying that I am no expert on hair nor nutrition but having had my fair share of hair disasters in the past and as someone not exactly renowned for their healthy attitude to food, I was and am the perfect candidate to trial the Love Hair Supplements by award winning Hair Dresser Alexander Turnbull – who better to trust with your hair than someone with years of experience and accolades? You can read more about Alexander’s career here should you wish – link.

As the name Love Hair Supplements suggests, this is a daily dietary supplement that will of course work best in conjunction with a healthy diet and plenty of water, this is not a cure all nor is it intended to be; rather the Love Hair Supplements help supply the nutrients needed to help promote and aid strong, healthy hair that may grow a little quicker than usual (thanks to Biotin B7). This might be an odd thing to state but it may be helpful none the less – the capsules are fairly small and in my experience easy to swallow, they don’t have any after taste and although for best results you do need to take three a day, so far I can’t say I have found this to be a problem.

Alex Turnbull Love Hair Supplements

For any vitamin based supplement to garner best results you do have to take a product like Love Hair Supplements as directed for at least three months, however you will more than likely notice a change in your hair with as little as four weeks. As someone with exceptionally dry hair that is coarse and frizzy, not to mention prone to excessive fall out, I was surprised to notice that after no less than 2 weeks my hair (especially the sections that have never been bleached) are softer to the touch and not as static which is more than promising. I will of course continue with the Love Hair Supplements over the next few months and report back but if you want to read more about other users experiences over on Amazon, some have even reported a boost in volume, especially in regards to hair loss.

I’ll post an update with my progress in a few weeks but you can read more views and purchase the Love Hair Supplements here – link.

This is a sponsored feature, all opinions are my own and in the case of supplements not to be confused with professional health care advice and of course consult your doctor before consuming any food supplement or vitamin.

; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Comments

  • Comments

Related Stories

  • A Fragrance For Every Fella
  • You Need to See the Latest Tili Box!
  • Yankee Viva Havana Collection

;

Continue reading →