I am not and never have been a skincare snob.

Don’t get me wrong – I love as much as the next person a fancy pants bottle adoring my bathroom shelf and the promise of complexion perfection and eternal youth ( Yup I have believed I would in fact wake up looking like one of those flawless poreless 19 year old airbrushed models after smearing myself in “the latest cult” moisturiser)

But really folks….a lot of it really is utter marketing Boll*cks.

Believe me I’ve tried enough “wonder products” and consulted enough dermatologists to finally realise the fact that spending lots of your hard earned dollar doesn’t necessarily equal a blemish free epidermis. It often just means you get some incredibly stylish packaging. And uber cool advertising campaigns.

Now I’m by no means any expert but I have put together a few of my cheap but chic favourites for you to try if you are unhappy with your current routine. And clearly it won’t cost you the earth.

Cleansing

PONDS Cold Cream Much loved and been around for donkey’s years this pot of ponds is ideal if your skin is desperately dry ( or just in need of a deep cleanse with a softly softly approach)…. use with a warm damp flannel to remove every scrap of make-up and leave you all fresh and dewy.

AVENE eye-make-up remover No oils, fragrance or nasty chemicals this lightweight gel is perfection for sensitive peepers whilst still removing layer upon layer of mascara ( seriously I’ve tested it – 5 layers of black lash goop, liquid liner, eyeshadow, glitter the works…..this baby removes it without a single tingle)

NIVEA for men sensitive face wash And no I don’t just mean for your man, I LOVE this stuff – it’s mild, it’s gentle and it removes impurities without leaving your skin feeling taut. It is also under £4 ( total bargain!) and you can even buy it in Tesco. One to put in your trolley when you next pop out for peas.

Hydrating

AVEENO moisturising cream A few years ago I had burning bumpy rashy eczema nightmare all over my cheeks and forehead and feeling blue about the whole situation went and booked myself a consultation with a very well respected UK dermatologist ( You have your skin for life so I figured it was worth the investment).

He recommended this cream.

And I have used it religiously ever since.

I use a weeny bit as an eye cream when my skin is super dry, whenever I get a patch of eczema or just when I feel like it. Has a nice matt effect finish and the natural collodial oatmeal does a great job of reducing redness.

OLAY complete care It has spf 15, it sinks in a treat and seems to work well under make-up. It doesn’t leave you resembling a chip pan either. What more could you want eh?

ROSA MOSQUETA treatment oil This beauty oil is rich in essential fatty acids and is especially effective as an intensive before bedtime treat – I rub a few drops in ( avoiding the eye area) and wake up glowing. Rosa Mosqueta is renowned for its scar reducing capabilities – I have used it on mine and they really are less noticeable. Available at all good health food stores.

Treatments

NO 7 total renewal exfoliator I’ve tried a lot of facial scrubs ( expensive and not so much) and this is by far my favourite. It really seems to remove dead skin cells without leaving you lobster like. I use it once/twice a week and follow with the Aveeno cream.

VASELINE petroleum jelly Anyone not own one of these blue tubs of delight? I don’t just use it for lips though, I also use it on my brows when they are having a mental ( I like the sheen) and when my nose is incredibly dry from a cold ( like erm… the whole of this week) – I rub a little bit in and leave it over night. Doesn’t look particularly attractive but does the job.

FREEDERM gel I’ll be honest I tend to sway towards flakes rather than spots but if ever I do feel a potential pimple arise I whack some of this almost invisible magic on the offending area. By morning it is no where to be seen.

Minus the Rosa Mosqueta oil all of these bits of lovely can be found at larger Boots stores.

Use any of this cheap and thrilling skincare?

Use any cheap and thrilling skincare that we need to know about?

Then please drop us a comment, would love to know what’s out there that works and doesn’t necessarily cost the earth.

Big cheap and thrilling Love

Charlotte xxx

Some time ago we featured the very fabulous Victoria’s “Old Skool Glamour” wedding where she was sporting a seriously sexy glowing skin and red-lipped make-up look.

And the genius behind the perfect canvas? why… the very talented Kit Hall from Slap Artists of course. Kit has worked on all sorts of magazine features, music promo’s, T.V shows and obviously a whole lot of gorgeous brides.

Kit rocks.

And she has kindly sent two posts to be featured in Beauty not Beast, the first being her absolute MUST HAVE beauty buys to help you create that much coveted fresh faced picture perfect pretty.

For cosmetics junkies this article is soooooo darn good.

And therefore for my own personal bank balance it’s SERIOUSLY bad.

Enjoy.

Primer – Philosophy the present
This smoothes the texture of the skin, fills in open pores and provides a long lasting base on which to apply makeup.

Foundation – Chanel Vital Lumiere
I love this medium coverage foundation. It is luminous, even’s skintone and is easy to use. I would recommend no heavier than medium coverage foundation, if you have specfic areas that require move cover use concealer, after applying foundation.

Concealer – Chantecaille Total concealer
Expensive but worth every penny. It is versatile and can be used on blemishes, sun marks and under the eye’s.

illuminator – Clinque Airbrush Concealer
Illuminates and smooths, lifts creases around the eye area. I prefer the colour of this one to Touch Eclat.

Powder – Mac Loose Blot
Lightweight powder which controls shine and sets makeup without caking or taking away the glow from the skin. It is essential to set your base and powder provides a blending base for blush and bronzer.

Eye base – Mac paint pot in Bare Canvas or Sublime Natures (depending on skintone)
This is a cream eyeshadow which used as an eyebase will stop your eyeshadow creasing and provide a blank canvas on which to apply eyeshadow.

Mascara – Max Factor Masterpeice
Great value for money, go for waterproof for your wedding day.

Eyeliner – Mac Blacktrack
This is a soft kohl liner that comes in a pot, apply it with a Ruby and Millies flat liner brush. It can be blended into your eyeshadow to create a more dramatic look or applied close to the lash line to define the eye’s and enhance the lashes.

Eyeshadow – I recommend investing in a chanel 4 or dior 5 colour eyeshadow compact. These have really good pigment, blend really easily and the colours in the compact compliment each other and will provide a complete eye look.

Blush – Illamasqua cream blushes
A cream blush is longer wearing than a powder blush, these have great pigment. Use sparingly and blend well. For real impact and a very long lasting finish layer a powder blush in a similar shade on top

Lipstick – Mac
Jubilee is a great neutral shade that I use again and again on brides. A nuetral with a hint of pink is very flattering in photographs.

Lipgloss – Nars
Great colours with good pigment that aren’t to sticky. Apply sparingly on your wedding day, just enough to add a little shine and lift your lips.

So then, how many of you are now going to purchase at least one item off this lust list?

I have at least 3 on my own ( not to mention I already have a few of these beauties already – chanel eyeshadow quads are divine…..)

Kit Hall will be back tomorrow with excellent advice on the make-up Do’s and Don’ts….don’t miss it!

Big Junkie Love

Charlotte xxx

Ok so it’s the 22nd December…..have you bought all of your presents?

No?

Looking for some cheap but lovely stocking fillers?

Then look no further – us ladies at RMW have a selection of beauty must-haves all for under a tenner and all available at your local Boots.

Max Factor

For non bank breaking luscious lashes you can’t beat MF mascara’s for their advanced formulations and no clump brushes. We like False Lash effect for thickness and the fairly new lash extension for length. If you are feeling like you want the best of both worlds then do exactly that – buy both and LAYER people.

Been around for ages but relatively under the “it’s A.mazing” radar is MF Facefinity compact powder foundation. Colour range is not great but the finish is. I wear it alone when I fancy heavier coverage than my usual all-in-one offers and Melissa brushes hers on top of a liquid base for a perfect no-budge matt finish.

Maybelline

Maybe she’s born with it?

erm nope.

It’s just the clever folks at Maybelline know what they are doing when it comes to budget end make-up.

The minerals concealer is creamy and translucent, perfect for those little red patches around the nose area and under eye circles. It’s a little on the thick side but nothing a dot of moisturiser can’t fix.

Their mousse blush pot is also a winner for dry winter cheeks ( I have Dolly Pink) and their express nail polish is not only a bargain but also comes in a myriad of colours and as it dries in a flash you can switch shades as often as you fancy with absolute minimal fuss.

So then ladies, any cheap beauty thrills you rate that we need to know about?

There are still 3 shopping days to go until Santa comes down the chimney you know

Big Thrilling ( but cheap!) Love

Charlotte xxx

Hello again and welcome back for part II. I hope you all enjoyed snooping inside my make-up bag and with eyes and base covered it’s onto the fun stuff, starting with my personal can’t live without and never seen without… Blusher.

A Bit of Cheek

Blusher – My all time favourite Blusher is Chanel Joues Contraste in Reflex. They stay put all day and this one is a subtle peachy shade that seems to suit my summer skin, then in the winter I switch to a pinker shade with a tad less shimmer.

Highlighter – The cult and original Shimmer Brick Compact by Bobbi Brown whilst a bit heavy on the shimmer for an all over bronzer, is perfect season-wide for highlighting the brow or cheek bone and erasing any question of being less than ready to face the world. A must for every woman on the planet and made in a multitude of shades now, if you don’t all ready have one, get it on the Christmas list!

Lucious Lips

Not one for much in the way of lipstick I am however a balm and gloss addict, so here are my go-to choices for each.

Balm – For everyday I’m addicted to Lush Honey Trap balm. With a gorgeous honey scent and no strange drying effect that some balms have, this has been in my bag for years. My latest find however and perfect under lipstick should you wear it, is another Bobbi Brown product. Her lip Balm also contains an essential these days spf 15, perfect for holiday protection.

Gloss – I am a huge fan of gloss. No really, HUGE. I have so many in fact that I regularly have to stop myself from buying more. Favourites in the past have included Stila, Lancome Juicy tubes and my new going out favourite, gifted to me by Charlotte, MAC lipglass. However as overly laquered lips are never a good look for work, (depending of course on the line of work you are in ) I recently went on a quest to find a subtle shiny shimmer in a nude shade perfect for day wear. I found it in Benefit and was further wooed by the boudoir-esque packaging and cheeky name, it’s ‘life on the A-list‘ for me from now on!

Lipstick – Although I’m not an everyday wearer of lipstick I do occasionally decide that I need to stand out a little, and for those days I turn to lipstick. I’m yet to find my perfect red but for now a complete show stopper of a so-hot-it’s-almost-flouro fushia by YSL is my shouting loud shade for lips.

Thats all for now folks, we’ve finally reached the bottom of my vast beauty bag!

Would you like to send us your top picks for make-up? Send us a list of your favourite face, eyes, cheek and lip products with a little about why you love ‘em and we will post a selection for you all to browse/lust over.

Yours Truly,

Contra
xoxo

So we have a had a few of these posts already, by Melissa and Charlotte, and now it’s my turn to turn out the drawers of my dressing table (no, sorry it’s not a bag, although I do have a very nice London print Anya Hindmarch toilet bag I use for travelling…) for all to see my star buys and beauty treats.

Base

Primer – Laura Mercier Foundation primer, Oil free.

Foundation – I’m a new convert to bareMinerals mineral foundations. I’ll admit it was a moment of cosmetic counter weakness that lead to me having my face done by an over enthusiastic make-up artist but I was impressed with the results. Never one for much in the way of foundation, I was simply looking for something to improve my ‘winter skin’ whilst still achieving a barely there look. I also have a perennial dry skin problem and often find that liquid or cake foundations cause flaking, despite rigorous exfoliation and moisturising. With bareMinerals none of these things happened and I was an instant addict, buying a starter kit which is a complete steal for what you get.

Concealer – Unfortunately I am plagued by the odd breakout, even in my late twenties, as I know so many women are. Whether it’s the result of hormones, stress or poor diet, my favourite find to literally airbrush your skin to perfection is again from Laura Mercier. The secret camouflage concealer, applied with the correct brush is a minor miracle in the quest for luminous skin and can be worn just as easily without any other form of base, or in combination with any other product you care to try. I ended up buying the Undercover Pot, perfect for traveling which also contains her under eye secret concealer and translucent setting powder.

Powder – I use 2 different powders depending on the foundation. In the starter kit from bareMinerals there was a Mineral Veil transluscent powder which I use in combination with their other products, and if I’m using another foundation I use the Laura Mercier translucent powder in the Undercover pot above.

Bronzer – Hoola by Benefit is always my go-to bronzer for a natural colour (because it has no shimmer). Dusted on the bridge of the nose and in a swirling motion from the centre of the forehead towards the edge of the face around the eye and over the cheek, then back out, down along the jawline and ending on the chin, this gives a perfect bronzed look. Go easy though as the pigment is dense and it’s easy to overload the brush!

All about Eyes

Shadow – as my eyes are quite a variable shade of greeny-blue I like to bring out the green in them and certain plummy pink shades do just that. I have to try and avoid the punched in the eye look or just plain tired, but I find this bareMinerals shade in heart is just the ticket.

Liner – Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel eyeliner graces my bag in several colours, the favourites being Graphite shimmer ink, Ivy shimmer ink and for the future, Cobalt, which I have my beady eyes on!

Mascara – My current mascara favourite is Diorshow combined with my favourite Remington heated eyelash curlers to make long thick lushious lash perfection.

I’ll be back soon with my favourite picks for cheeks and lips, meanwhile, send us your favourites and we will feature a selection.

Yours Truly,

Contra
xoxo

So I was browsing the Selfridges cosmetic counters today (in my lunch hour of course!) and found myself mulling (get-it?) over all the special edition festive sparkliness the various brands have dreamed up to tempt us this Christmas. I thought I would share a few of the treats on my lust list this Christmas and maybe get you started on your own wish lists!

Speaking of wishlists… have you all entered our Hello!Lucky competition? There is only 48 hours left to get your entries in and all you have to do is send the top five things on your Christmas wish list to competition@rockmywedding.co.uk and you could be the lucky owner of 50 personalised notecards.

Armani Deco Collection

So, starting with my all out favourite, the Giorgio Armani Christmas Collection Art Deco Palette and lipstick. This chunky compact in the shiniest of blacks just reminds me of all the jet and onyx used in Deco jewellery and the swarovski crystal encrusted lid brought out a serious magpie within. Inside is a treasure trove of treats with the top layer comprising a silky powder compact for highlighting all your best bits this Christmas, wink wink! Underneath lies a 4 shadow compact collection of glam metallics in Ice Brown, Silver Metal, Ice Green and Pearly Black, perfect for a sexy eye at the office party!

What more could you need for the all out Vamp look? A red lip I hear you say? Consider it done, with the Art Deco lipstick coming in shade No.95, a pillarbox Hollywood style va-va-voom Red. With the lid also dusted with a deco inspired crystal pattern and the same glossy black packaging, you will be desperate to whip this one out in the Ladies and show it off!

Shimmer with Brown

Next up, Bobbi Browns Christmas treats, which this year come chrome packaged as small but perfectly formed shimmer brick compacts. These are limited edition, travel sized and metal cased beauties in three new shades for the party marathon about to begin. Available in Sandstone (think Goldeneye glam), Nectar (pretty as a picture peachy-pink) or Plum, a much darker shade perfect for Asian or Black skins, each brick is hand pressed for you.

Also available are three new shades of Lip Colour to compliment each shimmer brick perfectly.

Bobbi’s Chrome collection is available in all good cosmetic departments and you can find Giorgio Armani Cosmetics Collection in Harvey Nichols London, Oxford Street Selfridges and both the Trafford Centre (Manchester) and Bullring (Birmingham) Selfridges stores.

I’m off to powder my nose!

Yours Truly,

Contra
xoxo