This is what I exclaimed when I caught sight of myself in the mirror at my “day job” offices a few weeks back.

Now as many of you know, I am a lover of all things grey, dresses, interiors, shoes, fancy handbags…( especially the really soft pale grey strokable leather kind)…but not when in comes to my skin. Because somehow lovelies, somewhere between the end of November and mid December something must have happened to make me look so darn tired, and so incredibly flat.

Blame it on my round the clock work schedule if you will, or even the atrocious “highlight every crinkle, wrinkle and open pore” strip lighting in the ladies’ loo’s ( why do they do that?) But the cold hard truth is that I looked flippin’ awful, and no matter what the cause something had to be done to fix it. And fast. Who doesn’t want to sparkle at the Christmas party? And I don’t mean in a gaudy tinsel type of way, I mean in a look-at-me-glow type of way.

Radiance. That’s what I was looking for.

Being a complete cosmetics junkie as most of you know, I have a vast array of “wonder” products gracing my bathroom shelf and a few fail-safe staples that I turn to in times of desperate need. Unfortunately, so past the point of no return was my pasty faced self they were having little or indeed no effect whatsoever.

So then, out comes the wallet and the on-line research mission.

Firstly I had to re-assess my cleansing routine. I had gotten a bit lax on that front of late and the dead cells were having a field day, making my make-up appear chalky and my fine lines take on the appearance of
unsightly and seemingly gigantic crevices. ( Yes I realise I may be being a little over dramatic but I swear those mirrors are MAGNIFYING….)

A while back quite a few of you gorgeous lot mentioned significant improvements you had experienced after using the Clarisonic facial brush, I too had succumbed to the marketing hype but had been far too lazy to invest in the twice a day, every day, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE ritual that is required to create optimum results. What a mistake that was. I’ve been using the Clarisonic 3 weeks and counting, and I’m pleased to report that I can certainly see a marked improvement.

Next on the list was the dryness, practically a guaranteed side-effect of central heating and extreme cold my nose and cheeks were looking distinctly flushed and flaky. Yuck. So I had a good read of Make-up Alley readers top picks and one of the best rated moisturising creams was Eucerin Q10 Active, a thick, rich, buttery goop that makes your face feel like velvet and your foundation go on like silk.

LOVE. IT.

One of the most noticeable contributers to my transformation into dreary Deirdre was my increasingly evident under-eye circles and blood shot sclera. Apart from the obvious concerted effort to get my 7-8 hours a night I also wanted to find a product that would reduce the unsightly purplish hue as well as hydrate and reduce puffiness. And it was actually quite by accident whilst purchasing cotton wool pads from my local Sainsbury’s that I encountered a never-seen-before range that must have THE most unattractive packaging ever: TRI-Peptox.

The Pro Collagen Cream promised to do everything I wanted and more for the bargain basement price of…… £6.99. Thought I may as well give it a whirl, especially as it was fragrance free and seemed to contain all of the anti-aging and brightening ingredients associated with much pricier department store brands.

It works. I’m not even kidding you. My Christian Dior skinflash now blends perfectly and with a touch of Armani high precision re-touch concealer on the darkest areas I am looking well rested and distinctly less ghoulish.

* A clever trick – ever come across Shu Uemura’s eye light pencil in white? the shimmery end on your lower lid inner rim works wonders. Not cheap but lasts forever.

With party season in full swing and well on the way to appearing at least a little more perky I was still on the look out for a fast fix boost to take me to full on “Lit From Within” proportions. In a recent interview the annoyingly golden and gleaming Cat Deeley (who’s luminous epidermis I can only dream of one day achieving) stated she uses a very posh face mask prior to red carpet events, SKII Facial Treatment. Apparently Madam D pops one in the fridge to cool, applies, leaves for 20 minutes and ends up looking nothing short of FABULOUS.

I nearly died when I saw the price. And then I nearly died when I saw the remarkable results. Smoother, plumper and dare I say it……even a wee bit younger. I would highly recommend asking Santa very very nicely if he might be feeling generous this festive period or just throwing caution to the wind and treating yourself for all your hard work in 2010….. Although closing your eyes and ears might be advisable when handing over the plastic.

If all else fails you can’t beat Mac’s Strobe Liquid. It’s like a lovely sheeny dream cream with pretty pink shiny bits that when mixed with your moisturiser or used as a highlighter, gives you a believable non-greasy dewy glow.

And if you folks have anything quick fix up your beauty queen sleeves we would LOVE to know about it.

Big No Longer Looking Grey Love

Charlotte xxx

Eye Whitening Pencil – Shu Uemura at Space NK

Posh Face Mask – SKII Facial Treatment at Harrods

Dark Circle Covering Concealer – Armani High Precision Re-Touch at Selfridges

Rich Face Moisturiser – Eucerin Q10 Active at Boots

De-Puffing Eye Cream – Tri Peptox Pro-Collagen at Sainsbury’s

Fancy Cleansing Brush – Clarisonic at Space NK

Glow Giving Highlighter/Primer – Strobe Liquid at MAC

You know lovelies it’s been a while since I posted about the most recent must-haves on the beauty scene and frankly that won’t do….. I literally NEED to tell you all about the latest and greatest make-up for W-day, B-Day and Just-because-I-want-to-look-extra-hot Day.

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…

Now just like all you other make-up junkies out there I get more than a little ridiculously excited about discovering a new range, especially when the packaging is cute-as-hell retro inspired lovely and the products really do deliver.

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

I know that many a Bride spends a great deal of time searching for the answer to complexion perfection in the run up to the big day. I was no exception, having been troubled by rubbish skin since my early twenties (what’s with spots at that age?) and desperate to avoid an outbreak on the most important of days. Any reader threatening to break out in a cold sweat should be reassured at this point, that any make-up artist worth their salt will cover even the most gigantic vesuvius like spot, but everyone wants the perfect base to work with right?

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

Bored of the “natural” look?

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.