A sexy and sultry take on the peach make-up look, we’ve created a bronze/golden peach eye and lip, a delicate pink cheek and a flawless matt base. A little bit more va va voom than your standard W-day face but aside from perhaps the darker shading eyeshadow we’ve used – every product is still soft, pretty and perfect for alternative bridal beauty.

You Like?

Well then…. here’s what you need:

1. A matt finish no-budge foundation – we rate Christian Dior “forever” liquid
2. A bronze/gold/peach eyeshadow – MAC “Bronze” in THE perfect shade, it’s also lovely and sheeny without being glittery/disco ball.
3. A bronze/peach lip gloss – we used Christian Dior in number 227. It’s Melissa’s favourite.

Other cosmetics in the stash we used:

4. Chanel loose powder in “Peche”
5. RMK Ingenious powder cheeks in MT-02 Light Pink
6. Estee Lauder Disappear concealer
7. Max Factor False Lash effect mascara
8. MAC powerpoint eye pencil in bountiful brown (brown/bronze)
9. MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow ( peachy gold)
10. MAC lipliner in Sublime Culture ( pink/caramel)

Eye Eye Peachy Pie

Start by priming the eyelids, use concealer as before or if you suffer from the oilies Urban Decay make this MAGIC stuff called Primer Potion that doesn’t ruddy move. Really.

Apply a pale gold/peach shimmery eyeshadow, we used MAC ricepaper as a) It’s my favourite b) You can really build up the layers for amazing sheen effects ( we applied softly with a brush first then patted extra on top using fingers)

Next apply the bronze shadow into the crease, we used MAC pencil brush number 219 – this baby rocks for precision/ease of application.

After the crease is complete sweep the shadow into the outer corner of the lid and across the lashline, blend to create a seamless finish with the gold/peach shade.

Remove any shadow fall out with a Q-tip and a tiny amount of make-up remover and then apply your under eye concealer. We used a slightly more heavy duty one than normal as any sultry/smudgy effect can make the appearance of dark shadows more apparent.

Now the fun part – sweep the bronze shadow underneath the bottom lash line up to as far as the tear duct, for extra definition apply a kohl/pencil liner to the upper lash line, don’t worry to much about precision as next you are going to press the bronze shadow over the top and blend thoroughly – it intensifies the colour you see.

Lastly on the shadow front apply a touch of the gold/peach into the inner eye corners to really open them up.

There is one rule for mascara in this look – thick and lots of it. Use a curler and a comb for ultimate baby doll flutter effect.

The Perfect Canvas

Apply a matt medium to heavy coverage foundation using a brush or sponge – whichever you prefer, be sure to dot extra around any red prone areas such as the nose and blend, blend BLEND.

Although we like matt we don’t like dull so for a touch of luminosity we swept Chanel’s loose powder in peche over the entire face using a big fluffy brush ( it also somehow casts a pretty warm glow without looking as obvious as a bronzer – ’tis fabulous)

Blusher is minimal in this look, with such a strong eye and a substantial pout you don’t want to look too “made-up” so a touch of pale pink cheek is all you need.

The Bronzy Peachy Pout

Easy Peasy this, outline the lips in a soft pinky brown liner ( we love MAC cremesticks – so easy to blend) and apply your fruity gloss on top. You can use a lip brush if you prefer but as the colours are so neutral there really is no need, the brush on the Christian Dior gloss we used is actually pretty precise.

And Voila!

With huge thanks to my sister Melissa ( her website is under construction but you can see some of her portfolio/previous work in the photoshoot area)….. for being so patient whilst I made her hold her arm up in funny positions for significantly long periods of time

Let us know if you have bought any of the recommended goodies/re-created this look for the weekend. I am SO doing a peachy bronze eye this evening!

Big We Heart Make-Up Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S This may be very wrong what with being married and all but……if you fancy some man candy Melissa has been working on some seriously hot male models recently. See here . Happy Weekend

Perfect Skin.

It’s what everyone wants right?

I know my quest for a peaches and cream dream has spanned years, years of pointless products, expensive treatments and waste-of-time pill popping in the vain hope that I would one day wake up with the kind of poreless, flawless perfection we see every day in the glossy magazines.

And the point I must make here is this – what you see on the adverts isn’t real. A whole bunch of photo-shopping and airbrushing goes on to make these models look like that, in “real life” they have the same uneven skintone hang-ups and late-night-induced blotches that we do. Fact.

Not that this kind of news makes us feel much better though obviously….

So I thought that with the success and popularity of my recent post detailing the joys of the journey towards a delectable set of straight pearly whites…..the RMW Community could have a similar debate on what makes their epidermis enviable.

What Products The Wife Likes

Now as some of you know Rebecca is a big fan of the Eve Lom regime along with thousands of other suitably decongested ladies around the world. As it happens it didn’t work for me at all – it’s the essential oils, so much as a sniff of lavender/tea tree/citrus etc and my delicate cheeks go red, raw and weepy. Not to mention my eyes – they swell up like a bull frog and my lids turn inside out. Most unattractive.

As a result of all these “organic, natural, full of plant extracts…. so good for your sensitive skin blah blah blah….” type ingredients a lot of these cult favourite celebrity favoured brands are out for this little reactive Blog Queen . ( NB it can’t just be me can it? – any other folks wince at the mere thought of lemongrass?!)

Instead I look for plain, simple not-many-chemicals products that don’t make massive “this will change your life” claims but do the job well and keep my skin relatively healthy and happy.

Things I like A Lot:

Avene – Available nationwide at Boots, I use the clear gel eye-make up remover and when I’m looking particularly lobster-like their anti-redness soothing cream. I also like the water mist spray which sets your make-up and used in place of “toner” removes the last traces of cleanser and grime.

Bioderma – A not-so-secret-anymore favourite of the super sophisticated french ladies and a big player back stage at fancy shmancy fashion shows, their “Crealine H2O” is like THE BEST cleanser for removing make-up and not stripping your skin. As far as I’m aware you can’t by it in the UK so I stock up at the excellent customer service on-line store www.leguidesante.co.uk.

Aveeno – Their oatmeal enriched cream is the only thing I can put near my face on a regular basis, quite thick and goopy in consistency but settles to a pleasing matt finish. I also rate the shower creme/gel and the body oil.

Name And Shame

Not sure how “PC” this is going to be and please PLEASE bear in mind this is only the thoughts of very fair/allergic/reacts at most things me – I’m well aware others of you may LOVE some of these products….

Creme De La Mer Creme – Was like shiny axel grease, didn’t sink in very well, smelled a bit odd and didn’t make a blind bit of difference to justify the hefty £95.00 price tag.

Anything by Decleor – Made my face fall off. Literally. In big sore red-underneath flaky weirdness – I took the whole lot back for a refund.

Anything by Clarins – As per Decleor above. The worst was the facial fake-tanner, colour was FABULOUS…. the reaction wasn’t. Ended up with peculiar bumps across my hairline, nose and chin that didn’t go away for a week. Urgh.

Estee Lauder Resiliance Uplifting Creme – Got BIG TIME sold on this by a very pretty and smooth-skinned sales assistant at Selfridges in Manchester. The only thing uplifting about the results were how much my face puffed up after application. Rubbish. ( NB the very pretty smooth-skinned sales assistant probably used Ponds. Humph.)

Facials And Skin Food

In recent months I haven’t tried that many different facials, I find the experience of someone poking at my face a bit uncomfortable and considering the vast amount of $$$$ you are required to shell out I can never see worthwhile results. A few years back I tried the whole Dermalogica face mapping thing ( pleasant enough but left the salon looking like you could fry chips on my forehead and couldn’t wait to go home and have a wash)…. and various plumping/exfoliating/renewing treatments that promise to make you glow for a week.

What a load of toss.

The only treatment I have ever received and that I go back to again and again in dermabrasion. The general principal is that tiny aluminium crytals are applied to the skin using a vaccum pump that take off the top layer of your grey dull flaky face and leaves the lovely fresh baby skin underneath. Can be a bit scratchy feeling and “hot” the first time you experience it but any pinkness resides after a couple of hours. On me the effects seem to remain for a good few days afterwards and make-up certainly goes on beautifully.

I have “Crystal Clear” dermabrasion at my local salon – if you fancy it make sure you see a qualified therapist and book a consultation first to assess your suitability.

On the basis that what you put inside has an effect on the outside as far as skin vitamin supplements go I have pretty much tried them all, Imadeen, Perfectil, cheaper own brand versions……and the one I go back to again and again ( and now have decided to stick with) is Viridian Ultimate Beauty Complex. I notice an improvement in my nails and hair as well as my skin if I take them daily as recommended.

I buy mine from a local health food store but you can also purchase them on-line at Victoria Health.

Very Cheap Things You Can Easily Do At Home That Actually WORK

I think there are two keys to looking after your skin, keeping it clean and making sure it is exfoliated as no amount of flashy serum/youth evoking moisturiser is going to penetrate through the dull-making dead cells.

There are a few comes-in-a-tube scrubs that I think are OK but actually the only method I find that really works to slough away the nasties is to use a muslin cloth soaked in warm water. I won’t pretend I do this every evening because I don’t ( too lazy, too tired, too forgetful…..) but I do notice a marked difference the next morning if I make the effort before bedtime.

I start by cleansing my skin, then applying the wet cloth with a further blob of cleanser and rub gently in circular motions all over my face – taking care to avoid the delicate eye area. Afterwards I rinse the cloth and repeat the process. I then splash with cold water to close pores and remove any leftover product.

You can pretty much buy muslin cloths anywhere but my favourite by far are the “Bnatural” unbleached organic cotton versions that you can buy two for a fiver at Tesco. You gotta love supermarket chic.

My relatively new and can’t-believe-I-didn’t-know-about-this-sooner trick is an oatmeal mask. Not in anyway glamorous ( When appIied I look like I’m actually wearing my breakfast) but it does somehow make your skin ever so soft and lovely and dare I say a bit clearer.

To make said oatmeal mask just add a bit of water to some fine ground oatmeal ( I buy mine at Sally’s) and sweep all over your face, leave for at least 10 minutes , rinse away et voila – budget beauty at its best.

For more info on other ladies experiences/oat mask making methods go check out this forum on Make-Up Alley.

Jeez Louise I appear to have wittered on quite a bit huh?

Well then lovelies now it’s your turn – tell us what products you hate, what beauty basics you rate and how in preparation for W-day you are going about your mission for that blushing bride peachy skinned perfection.

We want to know EVERY. LAST. DETAIL.

Big I Am A Skincare Junkie Love

Charlotte xxx

Now this post isn’t an excuse to relinquish my teenage Christian Slater crush ( or indeed the secret desire I harbour to don a cow print skirt and bright blue cowboy boots a la Patricia Arquette)….it’s actually to pay homage to the mesmerising current beauty trend which is the juicy peachy lip.

At the weekend my sister Melissa “make-up artist supremo” very kindly paid a visit to the the O’Shea residence so that she could show me how to use my new peachy-hued products to their maximum potential. Armed with my trusty Nikon we also took the opportunity to give you lovelies a step-by-step demonstration so that if you fancied it, you could easily re-create the look at home.

You Like?

The idea was to focus on the peachy pout with a natural luminous skin, a delicate apricot blush and a soft neutral eye with extra-long luscious lashes.

The Essential Kit

1. A peach/pink lipstick – we used Chanel Coco Rouge in “Chintz”
2. A peachy hued gloss – we used Chanel Levres Schintillantes in “Petite Peche”
3. A warm apricot/pinky blush – we used MAC powder blush in “Pinch O Peach”

Other Cosmetics Used to Create This Look:

4. Lancome long-lasting softening concealer in “Beige Pastel”
5. YSL Top Secret Primer
6. Chanel Vitalumiere satin smoothing fluid foundation in ” 20 Clair”
7. L’Oreal Double Extension Mascara in “Blackest Black”
8. Burberry lipliner in “Nude Beige”
9. Nars eyeshadow duo in “All About Eve”

The Eyes

My sister and I always start with the eyes – that way any falling shadow can be swept away without disrupting your base.

Press concealer gently into dark shadows to disguise ( never ever rub), extend a small amount of the product to your eyelid as this will act as an adhesive base and prevent creasing.

Sweep a neutral gold/peach shadow onto the entire lid up to the socket line, if you would like a shinier/more pigmented look, carefully press the powder onto the lid with your fingertip.

The Longest Lashes

The trick to an extra long flutter is to use a fibre enriched base – these fibres cling to the end of your lash thus creating the wide-eyed bambi look.

Start by curling your lashes and then apply the base to your entire lash taking care to take the product right up to the tip. Afterwards apply a tiny amount of the base just to the tips again – remove any obvious white blobs with an eyelash comb.

Next apply the glossy black top coat, apply as many as you like – we just used one to keep the look “au naturel” and not take away emphasis from the lips.

The Luminous Base

Apply a primer to the entire face, we used YSL top secret which takes away redness and smooths the appearance of open pores. This was swept on using the applicator brush and then blended using a separate foundation brush.

Apply an illuminating foundation, 5 ten pence piece amounts is all you need, one on each cheek, the nose, the forehead and the chin, ensure the product is blended right up to the hairline and neck – the key is seamless!

Sweep a soft warm apricot blush onto the apples of the cheek and take upwards towards the hairline, add an extra application to the apples for a “pop” of colour if you really want to GLOW….

NB: We didn’t use a powder but if you suffer with the oilies a light application of loose translucent over the T-Zone should prevent excess shine.

The Sexiest Fruity Lips

Outline the lips with a barely-there pencil ( with a glossy look like this one a pencil will increase longevity)

Apply your lipstick straight from the tube – blend the lipliner into the colour with a lipbrush if there are any tell-tale signs of the outline.

Next the super shiny fruity finish, sweep the gloss across the entire lip then apply an extra amount into the centre of the bottom lip area to REALLY increase pout potential.

Et Voila!

Hope you like it

Any questions/ queries on application or products just drop us a comment.

Coming up later in the week – a sexy smoky bronze, gold and peachy eye teamed with a natural lip. ‘Tis gorgeous.

Big Tasting Peachy Love

Charlotte xxx

So after a weekend traipsing around the fancy department store counters in the Big Smoke I thought I’d share a bit of glossy love.

Seasonal Fingertips

As much as I adore a coral or a hot pink polish in the summer months come autumn I can’t help but fall in love all over again with the darker richer and altogether shiner hues on offer. Inspired by Vicky’s ( Love Is The Light That Guides Us) recent Big Day deep red nails I hit the Chanel counter to purchase a bottle of the famous Rouge Noir, as classic as any french manicure if you ask me……

Whilst admiring the new Chanel limited edition collection a particularly unusual and amazing shade of lilac/grey caught my eye -”Paradoxal”, got me a bottle of that too, sure to become a cult favourite in no time I bet.

And if you really REALLY want the shortest, sexiest, and most sultry digits on the planet I suggest you consider Black Satin. The secret goth in me would love to pull it off.

Burberry Does Beauty

Not content with just creating the flashiest beige mac’s in designer-ville those check loving fashionista’s at Burberry have gone and created a whole line of to-die-for cosmetics too.

A vast selection of easy-to-wear ( but never boring) neutrals with silky soft formula’s and what might be some of the most “I’m going to get my powder compact out just because it’s so darn beautiful” packaging I have ever witnessed.

I was at the Harrods concession a long while.

I tried on a lot of items.

Then I went and bought a lot of items. Um, oops….

I know I know lovelies, just can’t help myself

Good news is I wore the luminous all in one powder foundation and it stayed looking air-brushed perfect ALL DAY. I also bought a lipstick in Cameo Pink and a lip liner in Nude Beige, together they make a lovely polished “wear anytime” lip…..I am having a complete love affair with my new purchases.

The Most Luscious Lashes?

Rebecca mentioned the new craze for lash growth serums a wee while back and not convinced by the hype I didn’t bother investing.

However…… when I read about the amazing results ladies had experienced with Rapidlash on a well respected beauty forum I simply had to give it a try. The recommendation is 8 weeks to see results however I’m on week 5 and there is some significant thickening and lengthening going on already. And most importantly no weird itchy/red eczema patches which is my main concern regarding any lotions or potions that go anywhere near my peepers.

Oh and I have also been slathering it on my brows in the hope they look a little less pathetic, earlier this week my beautician even mentioned they were looking “fuller”

Result!

Available at Boots stores nationwide.

* image courtesy of Shoot Photography

Charlotte Double Dare’s You

Those of you who didn’t read back through the comments on Laine and Danny’s wedding will be pleased to hear that the beautiful bride did in fact share her make-up bag secrets. And I was straight onto Maccosmetics.co.uk to purchase the gorgeous cremesheen gloss in Double Dare Laine wore on the Big day – the perfect pinky coral red.

I actually have a love/hate relationship with lipgloss, love the way it looks, hate the way it feels and find myself favouring lipstick or those lipstick/gloss hybrid’s that have a thicker, less sticky consistency.

MAC cremesheens are my new go-to for a natural day time lip as they are completely non goopy, they apply like butter and actually last longer than the majority of other brands I have tried.

And as it’s Thursday and as I think sometimes we just all need a bit of light relief I double dare you to share with us the naughtiest shopping trip you have indulged in, what you bought, why really you shouldn’t have and how much fun you had.

There is even a MAC Double Dare lipgloss up for graps for the funniest/most indulgent/naughtiest story……

Get commenting folks!

Big Daring Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S If you don’t fancy sharing your shopping trip news you can of course share a little bit of shopping bag news – I would love to know what new beauty buys you gorgeous lot have invested in recently…

*Cheryl, Cameron and Jessica – flashing their enviable pearls.

Yup that’s right TEETH.

Those essential eating implements that along with your luscious lips create what can be the perfect W-day smile.

Only thing is, there’s a lot of folks out there who don’t look after them, don’t know how to and are even afraid to actually visit the dentist.

Now personally I’ve never been afraid to visit he who wears a lab coat and wields a big scary looking drill, not in the slightest.

And why I hear you ask?

Because he’s my Dad.

Yup that’s right – Daddio is a tooth expert.

And as a result ever since I was just a wee girl I have been OBSESSED with having a perfect set.

Here lies the problem then. Because ironically I was not blessed with anything like Hollywood knashers -I suffered from a small jaw and subsequent over-crowding.

As it happens I don’t think to have lovely teeth you have to necessarily have perfectly straight teeth, a little cross-over here…. a little gap there….. can look cute and kooky. And more importantly look like YOU, I’m certainly not about to get on my soapbox and recommend we all should look like identikit versions of the cast from The Hills.

What I do think is important though is that your teeth are clean, well looked after, not discoloured and you are confident enough to flash them to the world come the Big Day.

General Maintenance

1) Invest in a decent toothbrush and clean for 2 minutes twice a day EVERY day. I use an electric version – (Philips Sonicare) that produces a deep clean and actually times the 120 seconds for you. Every dentist worth his salt will tell you electric is best. Well worth the investment.

2) Floss. This drives me mad – why don’t people floss?! Urgh. There is no other way to remove those tiny morsels of left over cake/biscuit/chinese take-away than to use the appropriate flossing action. EVERY DAY PEOPLE. I use the Oral B satin tape as it has a nice minty aroma.

3) Avoiding the nasties. I’m not going to drone on about the obvious here but just in case anyone has forgotten:

Smoking – Kills. Makes your skin wrinkly and your teeth yellow. Why on earth would you bother?

Red Wine/Coffee/Tea – Should be consumed in moderation as lends a distinctive grey tinge to your grin.

Fruit Juice – Again in moderation, the acidity erodes the delicate enamel and causes that weird “see through” not-so-good look.

Excessive sugar – I don’t really think I have to explain. Remember the milk tooth in a glass of cola trick at high school? Yup – it dissolved it. Bleugh.

Bleaching

I like white teeth. It’s as simple as that. They make you look younger, healthier and prettier. Fact.

Not saying we should all aim for a Simon Cowell-esque bright blue glow but as the majority would agree, brighter + whiter = better.

There are two main methods for bleaching, laser and trays.

I prefer the latter as does my Dad and pretty much all of his colleagues, the results seem to be more uniform, last longer and have less sensitivity related side effects.

Laser is still effective of course and certainly the option if you are looking for 24 hour results.

Trays are essentially plastic moulds of your teeth that are fitted by your dentist, you then wear them filled with a peroxide gel from 2 – 4 weeks preferably overnight. More common is the 16% strength version gel that gives quicker results however for sensitive souls ( including yours truly) you can also request a 10% which is far gentler.

If you are considering pearlier whites please PLEASE consult a qualified dental practitioner and ask for recommendations.

Straightening

Ok so here’s the deal. You can have all sorts of veneers to mask an unsightly smile – a lot of celebville certainly do. However they are costly and can be incredibly high maintenance. They also are not guaranteed to last forever and can lead to gum recession. You also have to really investigate the options and what/which dentist will work for you. I have witnessed several horrendous tombstone numbers and I wondered if the individuals in question actually looked better before. Quite possibly I’m betting.

However a great option if:

a) You can afford it and b) the idea of braces fills you with dread.

Which brings me onto of course exactly that – braces.

My wisdom teeth grew through at 19. As a result by the time I was 21 I was the owner of an unattractive shade of too-much-builders-tea off-white wonky ( and not in an endearing way) smile. I was unhappy. I didn’t dare laugh in photo’s. Bottom line? – I wanted them fixed.

My Dad is a dentist not an orthodontist so braces from him were not an option, instead I was sent away to a qualified straightening specialist and 18 months and 2 train tracks later I was the proud owner of some near-perfect teeth.

Afterwards I used bleaching trays for 2-3 weeks to make them extra sparkly.

Only thing is I didn’t wear my retainers properly. ( I know I know – after all that I was a complete div) and after I was engaged ( and became fanatical about my soon-to-be-bridal appearance) noticed that they were not as straight as they once were. I wanted to be a super smiley bride but I didn’t want a mouth full of metal at 27 years of age to achieve it, as I imagine none of you gorgeous lot would either.

So what to do?

Well I went to visit recommended orthodontist Alan Coley-Smith who presented various non-Ugly-Betty type options.

Firstly Invisalign which works on you wearing almost invisible moulds every day for at least 20 hours that get changed every fortnight – they gradually straighten teeth without looking unsightly during the process. Apparently Cheryl Cole ( or is it Tweedy now?) used this method for her own X-Factor worthy pearls.

Secondly “lingual” braces which are essentially quite similar to the more common type of metal bracket appliance but is fitted to the back of your teeth thus preventing you or anyone else being able to actually see it. Genius.

I took the second option – I just knew I wouldn’t have the willpower to not remove the invisalign if I could for any “special occasion” or “fancy dinner” so solely for that reason it was ruled out.

I wore lingual braces for 12 months and had them removed 6 months before the wedding. I now wear a permanent fine wired retainer on both my upper and lower jaw. I honestly forget it’s even there.

I must point out that neither method is cheap – expect to pay from £3000 to £6000 dependent on length/degree of treatment. What I will say though is it must be viewed as an investment. If you look after them well your teeth should last forever. I’m not sure about any of you but I have absolutely NO intention of becoming a gummy granny

I guess what the point of this post is, is not be afraid. Dentist’s aren’t scary. Honestly.

And no amount of super sexy lip gloss or catwalk-worthy hair or knock-’em dead dress is going to take away from the fact that you don’t feel confident cheshire cat-ing it in your wedding photo’s.

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life right?

Big Smiley Happy Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S I realise this became rather epic. Please feel free to comment if you have any queries on my own personal experience with braces/bleaching…..

Remember that song? It might not have been Novello quality music, but he sure had a point. We all love the Sun. Particularly when it shines in the UK, like it has a lot recently. But nobody like wrinkles. And thats getting off lightly, there’s still Skin Cancer to dodge.

Charlotte has already said her piece on being Sun Safe, but you know what, it can’t be said enough. We’ve both had nasty experiences with Sun damage and even Skin Cancer, Charlotte having a Melanoma herself, and me losing my Dad to the horrible disease at 13. He was 46 and that could be you. The sun is not lovely, it is harsh and damaging and ruins your skin. So listen up people. We’re not into scaremongering, but sometimes a little shock is what you need to wake up to the truth and I make no apologies for this post potentially being it.

Lecture over, we’re here to share our favourite sunscreens for your holidays/honeymoon this summer. In fact you should be rocking some SPF every sunny day here in the UK. Why do people think it’s ok to wear none because it’s England and end up like a lobster? Plus, remember ladies, no-one wants strap marks in their lovely strapless dress come W-day!

My own personal rules are nothing less than factor 25. That means you are protected in the sun for 25 x longer than you would be wearing no sunscreen. So if you would burn in 5 minutes flat, you’re looking at a maximum of 2 hours in the sun. And after that, it doesn’t start again if you re-apply. Thats ’seek shade’ time, I’m afraid.

If I’m going away somewhere hot I might start with Factor 35 or 40 for the first few days and wean down. But… never less than 25!

And if I’m in the UK? Yup… you guessed it, NEVER LESS THAN 25!

More rules? Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm. Have a siesta with your intended, read a book in the shade or have a leisurely lunch. Just don’t lie there like an idiot sizzling.

Before we get onto our top picks I should add, that whilst Charlotte’s skin tone is more the pale and interesting variety, I am not the burn-fast type, being quite olive skinned and turning a very golden brown in the sun. I don’t choose these high Spfs to prevent me burning alone, but to protect myself and my skin for the future.

Rebecca’s Top Sunscreen Picks

1. Ambre Solaire SPF 30 a light weight milk formula which rubs in easily and smells lush. £11.99 for 200ml and currently BOGOF in Boots!

3. Clinique Sun Protection Face cream SPF 30 £15.00 for 50ml I use this for bog standard, on the beach with no make-up. Also available in oil-free format.

Charlotte’s Top Sunscreen picks

1. For the Face, No.7 SPF 50 face with skin brightening complex which protects against hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) and the dreaded wrinkles! £10.50 for 50ml.

3. L’Oreal Solar Expertise SPF 25 – light formulas and lovely smells, plus they absorb pretty well and avoid the white-and-shiny look. £10.77 for 150mls.

So there you have it, no excuse not to stay sun safe this year on honeymoon, on the beach, and most importantly AT HOME! All of the above top picks are available from your local Boots.

And now after sharing my favourites I have a plea for the Rock My Wedding readership. Does anyone have a sun cream to recommend that doesn’t stain white clothes yellow? I love wearing white in the summer (and lets face it, it’s nigh on essential when you’re the bride/newlywed , ) but I hate sun cream leaving marks on my clothes.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo

It all began a few weeks ago whilst browsing the dreamy cosmetics department of the Manchester Harvey Nichols and I happened to stumble upon The Balm.

Queue lots of “ Ooh ahh lovely” “Oh My God I would buy this just for the name alone!”and “Ooh James look at this it is a special skin illuminiser – see how incredibly erm …illuminising it is!” whilst painting my hands with various types of lip goo and beaming like a complete goon.

NB ( My obsession with all things lip/lash/cheek enhancing is something James accepts but doesn’t necessarily understand)

The Balm was founded by the uber glamorous CEO Marissa Shipman who realised there was a gap in the market for multi-tasking products with a “beauty in 5 minutes” philosophy.

After investing in several “how to make make-up” books off Amazon and mixing a whole heap of gorgeous concoctions in her kitchen ( hmmm sounds much more fun than baking a cake)… Marissa designed a website, hired a chemist, got incorporated, and “The Balm” was well and truly born.

Previously only available in the US of A you gorgeous UK lot now get to try some The Balm fabulousness too, we are lucky lucky ladies….

And with such an abundance of brilliance what did I actually buy I hear you ask?

Down Boy Blush ( the perfect rosy pink flush for summer), Staniac in Beauty Queen ( makes my lips look cherry bitten ) and last but not least the Mary Lou Manizer . A little pot of honey-hued delicate sheen that lends a pretty youthful glow to your face and décolletage.

Oh and quote of the week?

“Youth is both a state of mind and a product of your make-up bag” – Marissa Shipman.

I think I might have a little bit of a girl crush on her.

The Balm is available at Harvey Nichols, Debenhams and on line at www.justbeautydirect.co.uk.

Go take a peek and tell us what you think and let us know what new items you have purchased recently;-)

Big Lou-Manizing Love

Charlotte xxx

Now I don’t pretend to be a qualified make-up artist but I do have a genuine passion for the power of cosmetics, have been applying them to myself for over 15 years, been asked to do friends faces on hundreds of occassions and have a zillion “How To” books….. Oh and my sister is a professional make-up artist so I’ve picked up some handy tips and tricks off her along the way.

I can’t promise an exact replica – I have no way of knowing what products were used but we have had a bl*ody good go and my very kind friend and “model” Victoria looks particularly lovely, even if I do say so myself

Victoria before – looking pretty and “au naturel”

Victoria after – looking super pretty and still reasonably natural…

What we used:

1) Christian Dior Skin Flash Primer
2) Chanel Vitalumiere foundation
3) L’Oreal Touche Magique concealer
4) MAC eyeshadows in “Patina” and “Nylon”
5) Lancome Artliner ( liquid eyeliner) in brown
6) MAC blushers in “Well dressed” and “Pink Swoon”
7) Bobbi Brown lipliner in “Pale Pink”
8 ) Max Factor “False Lash” Mascara
9) MAC lipglass in “Wonderstruck”
10) The Body Shop clear brow gel
11) MAC strobe lotion

After priming all over with an illuminiser ( CD skin flash) dot the MAC strobe lotion on the cheekbones and across the bridge of the nose taking care to blend seamlessly into the skin.

Next dot foundation onto the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin – you can then use a foundation brush, sponge or fingers to apply, whatever you feel most comfortable with. I used fingers taking care to blend in downwards strokes.

For instant redness/shadow coverage I used L’Oreal touche Magique taking it right up to the lash line and on the eye lid as a base for eyeshadow.

Next apply a taupe/nude eyeshadow to the entire eyelid, I used MAC “patina” which is a creaseproof piece of neutral perfection that has a satisfying sheen. Instantly creates that “polished” look and takes half a second to swipe because of its divine silkiness ( um yes I have much love for this particular item… as you can probably tell)

After much outcry from the public Lancome have re-introduced the artliner – Hooray! I used the brown shade which is less obvious than black but still gives a subtle definition. If you struggle with liquid liner give this one a try – it is the easiest to control I have ever used.

To highlight and give eyes that whole “dewy” eye effect sweep a pale champagne/gold shadow under the lower lash line and in the inner corners of the eye, I used “Nylon” which is pretty universal in its greatness. I use it on just about everyone.

If you have really straight lashes use curlers to lift and really open up the eye, I didn’t on this occasion as I find this Max Factor mascara applied with an upward motion holds the lashes in place and seperates like nothing else.

Sweep a beige/pink blush from the apples of the cheeks up towards your temples and finish with a “pop” of a brighter hue just on the apples ( Pink Swoon works on virtually all skin tones)….this somehow gives an incredibly youthful boost and is apparently make-up artist Bobbi Browns favourite trick. And who can argue with Madam Brown?

Outline the lips with a pale pink almost “fleshy” coloured liner, I filled in the entire lip area for staying power and increased pout potential. I then topped with a brighter shiny melon/pink gloss for a sexy lustre.

Don’t forget to tidy brows – if you don’t have time for major pluckage a clear gel will make them appear groomed.

Et Voila!

You Like?

Would you like more of the same?

Let us know and I’ll see what “looks” we can create.

Big Glow Getting Love

Charlotte xxx

So I made it my mission to achieve porcelain perfection in 6 short months, on the back of regular facials and a wicked skin care routine.

And my first stop? My GP.

La Pharmacia

There are all manner of lotions and potions out there ladies and skincare myths a-plenty but the real truth? Spots are all about bacteria or skin clogged sweat glands. It’s not as glamorous as the glossys lead us to believe but the answer lies in medicine not cleanser. So if you have a desire to remedy any greater a problem than a very occasional pimple, and particularly if the remnants of spots leave red marks on your skin, get yourself to your Doctor, pronto. (I’m not going to divulge what I used as each case is different, but suffice to say I used it for 10 weeks prior to wedding (and long after) and it did a great job – Please note all skins care treatments should be given at least 6-12 months to act, but there’s no harm in getting started!)

Ok so Biology lesson over, lets get on with the fun stuff. Given my blemish prone skin, I has been my want to try and starve it of moisture in the most, (I thought,) sensible approach to getting rid of grease. Strangely, I never had oily skin, just spots, and the answer itself lay in Oil. Aromatherapy oils, and lots of them.

Eve Lom, although firmly in the luxe skin care camp basically looks like Vaseline. Yummy smelling Vaseline that you smear all over your face when it’s dry and massage in to increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage. It’s like a mini facial every night and used with the muslin cloth provided (Yes, you would expect that for £48 a tub!) soaked in piping hot water and wrung out to hold against the skin and steam the cleanser into the pores, gives a really satisfying cleansing experience.

Eve Lom cleanser contains Egyptian chamomile, hops, clove and eucalyptus oil, together with cocoa butter to cleanse, tone, exfoliate all in one. And it’s no word of a lie. After steaming the face you use the cloth to buff off the cleanser in a circular motion removing all the makeup you were wearing plus hopefully, a ton of dead skin cells, never to darken a pore again.

Sell out Sucess.

The best thing about Eve Lom is that you can buy a starter collection for £25.00 which has 2 mini cleansers, the face cloth, a rescue mask, TLC Cream and SPF 15 day cream to try it out, and I really can’t recommend it highly enough. I have never come across a cleanser that after drying my face doesn’t leave my sin tight or flakey. Never. Until Eve came along.

I should also add that although it’s a pretty hefty price tag for a cleanser, each pot lasts me around 6 months, so not really that awful? Personally, I think it’s worth it for a great skin day everyday. Plus, with the lack of drying effects and your skin left comfortably soft, there’s no need for a second expensive item like toner or moisturiser.

Of course the range doesn’t stop there. I now use the Rescue Mask which is again, the first and only mask I’ve found that a. doesn’t break me out in a whole new set of spots, or b. actually works and stops current ones or future ones in their tracks! The Kiss Mix is divine and for a bit of sun protection I use the SPF 15 moisturiser which has a matte finish and forms the perfect make-up base. It’s Eve Lom all the way baby.

Are you all about Eve?

Do tell us all about your skin care regime running up to W-day and let us know if you are an Eve devotee or going to take the plunge…

Yours Truly,

Rebecca xoxo

Fancy creating a full-on smoky eye but can’t find the time?

Well then…… there is just one product you need lovelies.

MAC Greasepaint stick.

Whether you use it to line and define or apply a quick sweep all over the lid for maximum impact – those pretty peepers of yours are gonna be smudgy, sultry and super darn SEXY.

Not to mention the slighty sticky texture works as a fantastic base for MAC pigment powders ( think fully loaded metallic sheen) or the MAC glitter powders for ultimate disco glamour.

Genius.

Oh and my favourite?

Dirty.

A “blackened taupe with pearl”.

To-die-for.

Unfortunately these beauties are limited edition so if you fancy making a purchase make sure you hot foot it over to www.maccosmetics.co.uk pronto.

Big Dirty Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S No we are not suggesting this would be an ideal look for W-day – although it might be…… why the hell not I say.

PP.S And no this isn’t our second post. Sometimes we are a supremely generous bunch and we like to give you three.