Brow Beat

I was on a shoot on Friday & the make up artist, Lyz...

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:18:43 +0000

I was on a shoot on Friday & the make up artist, Lyz Marsden painted Chanel’s (ltd edition & sadly sold out in 2007) Holographic nail varnish on the model’s talons - which gave them a vibrant metallic sheen that I was mesmerised by.

After a bit of research I have found Nails Inc. do a holographic top coat, so you can paint it over your favourite colour to give a gorgeous galactic effect.

Or if you really want to, hit up eBay and pay a ridiculously high price for the real deal.

So, thought I’d treat myself to a new mascara from the...

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:25:00 +0100

So, thought I’d treat myself to a new mascara from the cupboard of joy before my holiday.

This one jumped out at me - sexy packaging, integrated mirror, beautiful rose fragrance, refillable!!!!, lasting power and even better, inky black, lengthened lashes of deep joy.

It’s part of my Daily Face right now. Make it yours.

LIP LOVERS EVERYWHERE Get your chops round these Business lip...

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 17:02:00 +0100

LIP LOVERS EVERYWHERE

Get your chops round these Business lip products:

Chanel Rouge Allure Collection - simply the most beautiful collection of colours, textures and luxurious packaging to cater for each and every one of the female species.

YSL lip gloss - the hottest lip product I’ve come across in ages. A shiny but not sticky gloss, which stains the lips, so even if the gloss budges (which it doesn’t), the colour stays all day. Like I said, The Business.

Dior Addict Lipstick - my favourite for adding a lick of colour to an outfit. Very wearable. A handbag staple.

Mac Lipstick - 7 different finishes from Amplified to Frost in a myriad of colours to suit the bold and the not so brave.

I should add that the Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss and their Levres Scintillantes pack a glossy punch too (used in the photo above). Check out the rest of my Chanel Beauty story in the Autumn / Kiss & Tell issue of SLEEK magazine.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED? Or at least on the first day of holiday...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:09:00 +0100

HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED?

Or at least on the first day of holiday … .

Self tan, where do I start? Firstly, the application, it’s all in the application.

Do. Not. Rush. It.

You’ll only regret it in the morning.

I was lucky enough to have been taught by the experts at St Tropez before I did the above tan for Stylist magazine’s swimwear story.

The rules are simple;

1. take a shower and exfoliate your whole body, taking care to give your knees, feet and ankles a good going over.

2. Moisturise dry areas - feet, ankles, knees and the inner side of your arms (you never tan as much there and it makes it look more authentic).

3. Use a decent brand. I highly recommend St Tropez and XenTan products. They’re reliable and both have a great resulting colour, if applied carefully. And the colour lasts.

4. Use a mit. It will make the job so much easier, as they’ll be no brown hands and makes blending a doddle.

5. Start from the bottom up, above the ankle (we’ll come back to the feet last).

Put one pump of product onto the MIT and squeeze your hand together inside to spread the cream or foam around. You can always come back for more, but it’s easier to work with less to start with.

Do the bottom half of one leg first, followed by the other side. Then tackle the thighs, one at a time, taking care to blend the colour gently over the knees. Then do your stomach, lower back and chest. If you’re flexible, do your own upper back, or use a back applicator, or better still, get someone else to do it.

Next up is your arms and neck, leaving your face, hands and feet.

I use whatever is left on the MIT for wiping over the top of the feet, blend a bit of product up the neck and then remove the MIT for the final stages. Mix a bit of your face cream with a small amount of product and apply to the face, making sure not to miss out your top lip. Wash your hands now.

Lastly, the hands. Worth doing last thing at night I always think. Get all the washing up and teeth brushing done, then moisturizer the hands and put a pea sized amount of product on the top of one hand. Rub the tops of the hands together, spreading the fingers and working a little bit of tan into the gaps between.

Ta-dah!

You should wake with a body that looks like it’s been away for a good few days.

Feel free to double coat, but let the layers dry in between .

Once you’ve done it a few times, this should all take about 10 minutes max.

Simple.

thebookagency: Make up by Lyz Marsden Photography: Mark...

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:12:16 +0100

thebookagency:

Make up by Lyz Marsden

Photography: Mark Sanders

Mark Sanders and I took to the park with Ben Grimes to check out some highlighters from my collection. Chanel came out trumps with their beautiful Sculptee de Chanel Highlighting Powder (great for everyday soft highlights above the cheek bones etc), their Luna Joues Contraste (a more punchy, silver) and not forgetting their Radiant Glow Highlighting Powder for adding the all important warm, golden glow.

Shu Uemura provided all of the pinks, purples and corals I used on the cheeks and eyes. Their Glow On blushers come in a wealth of colours, and now comes in cool re-fillable packaging. Genius!

Stylist Magazine shot with Damien Fry using Mac Black Black...

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:15:12 +0100

Stylist Magazine shot with Damien Fry using Mac Black Black Chromaline.

It’s “the business” as far as highly pigmented liquid liner’s are concerned. Great staying power and value for money too. If you’ve been looking for the perfect black liner, look no further.

New stuff Ok, a while ago I posted about letting Clinique back...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0100

New stuff

Ok, a while ago I posted about letting Clinique back into my life via their Mild Face soap and Mild Clarifying Lotion. Well, I’m still using the face wash every night, but I gave up the clarifying lotion as I began breaking out and felt like it was stripping my skin too much.

I still miss my Dermalogica Ultracalming cleanser a little, just because it’s so reliably good at sorting any skin complaints out so quickly. But I do love the feeling of finishing a bottle, so I’ll finish what I’ve started.

I have also got seriously into Guerlain’s skincare. Their moisturisers are heavenly and well-worth the investment. My favourite so far Guerlain Success Future Day Cream. Can’t recommend this luxurious cream highly enough. You need it in your life.

SOMA Magazine. Eyelure Naturalites super full lashes. Super...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:32:00 +0000

SOMA Magazine. Eyelure Naturalites super full lashes. Super fluttery and natural.

Travel takeaway

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Ever tried fitting all of your favourite beauty products into a small sandwich bag? Welcome to the world of air travel.

I keep a little box of product samples at home, so I know I can have some of them with me on the plane, and when I land, just in case my luggage goes awol. Taking sample sachets also means I’ve got room to take other bigger, travel specific products onboard.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: It’s a classic. And there’s a reason why it’s so popular. It has so many uses; lip balm, cuticle cream, hand and foot balm, added moisturiser for around the eye during flight or for an overnight treat, and a great rescue balm for sunburn too.
I tend to pat a little dab around my eye area on take off, to avoid that tight feeling when you land. It also comes in smaller travel sizes, so makes it perfect for your handbag.

Facial Spray: Dr Hauschka Facial Spray is my current favourite. This is one product that it’s definitely worth decanting into a little bottle for taking onboard. It helps keep your skin hydrated and refreshes you after sleeping, and/or on arrival.

Lavender Essential Oil: a natural antiseptic, and one of the most relaxing essential oil’s. Can be used to treat spots and cold sores too. Dab it on pulse points once on the plane for a restful sleep. And directly on the tingle at the first signs of a coldsore or spot.

Facial Moisturiser: Estee Lauder Time Zone Line and Wrinkle Reducing Creme SPF15. My choice du jour. Watch this space!

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil: great for removing all traces of make up, and protecting the skin’s natural barrier.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm: a handy little silver tube of super silky goodness. Light, yet rich and great for both eye and lip areas.

Hand moisturiser: Kiehl’s Ultimate Hand Salve is really, really, really, rich and absorbs like a dream. Perfect for flights when the air really dries your skin out. Did I mention it’s quite rich?

That’s your lot really as far as space goes. I also usually pack a bronzing powder too, just in case I wake up / arrive looking like death. Seems to take the edge off my pastey pallor.

Bon voyage!

New additions . . So, this week I made the brave decision to...

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:17:45 +0000

New additions . .

So, this week I made the brave decision to make a change to my skincare routine.

I’ve introduced these Clinique items into my life. So far so good a week in… . .

My face is a bit more squeaky clean though. I’ll keep you posted.

The Business

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:26:00 +0000

The movers and shakers of the health and beauty World.

The sort of thing that I see and think “This is the business” or “genius’.

If it’s new, and means business, this is where it’ll be.

An example or two to wet your whistle …

Much like the packaging on many Givenchy products: well thought out, beautifully designed and easy to transport.
Check the GENIUS below.

Le Prisme Yeux Quator

Four beautiful eye colours, two different finishes - glittery and shimmery, one genius bit of packaging.

A lightweight, magnetic close-case which allows simultaneous access to the product, mirror and brushes.

Good-looking and practical = the business!

Le Prisme Yeux Mono

One colour, four different finishes, limitless looks = genuis.

You get the idea … .

My Daily Skin

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:50:00 +0000

The usual suspects…

I’m a great believer in starting at base level when it comes to make up, so skincare is paramount.

Just as I opened up my make up bag, I thought I should let you in to my skincare regime too.

Lets assume that I’ve just woken up…

CLEANSER

Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser - use with a muslin cloth for a gentle exfoliation. This GENIUS product can be used with water or just wiped off with cotton pads. It’s gentle enough to use whatever issues your skin may be having and seems to calm all manor of problems.

TONER

Dr Hauschka Facial Spray or Shu Uemura’s Depsea Water - spritz onto clean skin to refresh and rehydrate. I like to spray just before applying my moisturiser or serum, to make sure that the hydration is locked into my skin, and doesn’t just evaporate. I also like to keep another bottle in the fridge. Instant reviver, ready for action.

SERUM

I have a wardrobe of serum’s for my skin. That may sound over the top, but being that our skin is our largest organ, and is the one that comes most into contact with environmental aggressions, it good to have options. Depending on what you’ve been doing and where, you will find that your skin needs different things. For example, if I have been running out in the cold, my skin tends to feel tighter after I’ve cleansed it. I know it needs a bit more hydration, so I reach for some Skin Hydrating Booster by Dermalogica to either mix with my moisturiser, or apply some directly to he areas in need.

For the past few months, I’ve been applying Estee Lauder’s Idealist - Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher, to shrink the appearance of pores and generally repair the skin’s texture. I’ve been really pleased with the results and know of other users who have been equally pleased with the pore-minimizing ability of said product.

MOISTURISER

My skin used to LOVE any sort of moisturiser I put on it, which made it great for trying all of the beautiful lotions and potions I get kindly given. It also meant I could try things out before putting them in my kit. If they worked on my slightly sensitive skin, I knew I could trust them for putting on models skin and not having a reaction on my hands.

My skin is no longer playing ball and is refusing to let me use anything slightly anti-ageing, or anything that might increase my chances of looking any more radiant anytime soon. As soon as this changes, it’ll be News to you.

Never fear, there’s always a tried and tested solution for those of you experiencing any sort of similarly annoying behaviour by your skin. Dermalogica’s Active Moist and Skin Smoothing Cream. Two ‘Genius’ products to add to my list in the ‘Business’ section. The first: a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser that hydrates without any oily residue, and a medium-weight cream that hydrates and improves texture. No artificial fragrance or colour added to either - just pure unadulterated hydration. They just work.

SPF

Whether the sun’s in or out, it’s best to protect yourself from the most ageing environmental factors we have to deal with; the sun. I love the texture of the Chanel UV Essentiel Protective UV Care Anti Pollution SPF 50. It gives a matte finish, a beautifully smooth base for putting make up on to and it protects for a full day.

EYE CREAM

Again - I like to have a few to hand. Well, if you could, you would. And I have good reason. During the Spring and Summer months, I like to wear spf everyday. For this I use Dermalogica’s Total Eye Care spf15. It’s light pink colour, from the physical sun protection within it, which also helps to hide dark circles. Bonus. I’m also loving Estee Lauder’s Time Zone Eye Cream, although this doesn’t have the added sun protection.

OILS

During Winter months, I occasionally reach for a face oil to wear over my moisturiser for added protection against the weather and the drying effects of central-heating. This Winter I’ve been mainly using MAC Care Blends Essential Sweet Orange + Lavender. Lovely stuff; really calming and healing. Very good on skin that needs a bit of TLC every now and again.

NIGHT TIME

And so to bed… .

I add an extra oil-cleanser step to my night routine, just to get the make up off and give my skin a deep clean. I LOVE Shu Uemura’s Classic High Performance Balancing Cleansng Oil and Dermalogica’s Precleanse. Both seem to emulsify beautifully, taking all your day’s make up with them when you rinse. I then follow with Dermalogica’s UltraCalming Cleanser to give my night time serums a new layer of skin to really get their teeth stuck into.

SERUM

And so to the legendary Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. It’s constantly winning awards and seems to be in all of the Beauty Lists published by magazines on a yearly basis. I’ve been using this product for a few years now, and don’t plan on giving up the habit for quite some while! I also use the matching Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex under my eye cream to give it an extra boost.

SLEEP IN A BOTTLE

We all need a pot of magic or two to reach for when we don’t quite manage to get the amount of sleep we need to let our skin recover from daily stresses. Mine comes in the form of an iconic deep-blue bottle with a gold lid: Guerlain’s Midnight Secret. Use it when you feel your skin needs a pick-me-up, when you know your evening’s entertainment might show the next day or when you just know you need more sleep. It feels incredible when you put it on and the fragrance works instantly on making you feel better. Trust me. A brilliant investment - one for the ‘Business’ section.

My Daily Face

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:26:00 +0000

A little piece of me…

Lyz Marsden, Make up Artist

Ok, so the number 1 question to ask a make up artist is … … . .
“what do you use?”. I get asked this all the time, so I thought it was a good starting point. Somewhere to get to know me. After all, make up bags are pretty personal.

WELCOME to mine… . .

FOUNDATION

Chanel Teint Innocence (SPF 10)

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation (SPF 15)

I tend to alternate between these two depending on what my skin and I are doing that day.
More about the differences later, in the Review section.

CONCEALER

Laura Mercier Secret Camoflage

I have used this product for years. It’s a make up staple, for both pro’s and Jo Public. A life-saver that once you’ve learnt how to apply properly, won’t leave your side for years to come. No joke. Tutorial coming soon …

UNDER EYE CONCEALER

Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen

Great for disguising my dark circles, and painting away any imperfections.

Next. Skin’s looking fresh, time to add some extras.

EYELASH CURLERS

I’ve had a long-running love affair with the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers. It’s a Worldwide phenomenon.
Treat yourself to the 24k Gold ones. You know you’re worth it.

MASCARA

MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara

Perfect for a quick lick, due it’s big fat brush. And great for building up layers for the full effect look.

Exceptionnel de Chanel

Exceptionnel de Chanel – the clue is in the name.

BLUSHER

Mac BlushCreme in Ladyblush

These blushers pack a punch, so another great investment product that’ll last you for ages. Ladyblush is my personal favourite as it gives the most natural pink hue on my skin. I also love their Powder Blush for when I’m wearing face powder on a particularly oily day, and for layering up over creme products to intensify the colour when I’m shooting.

BRONZER

Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Make up Base

There’s nothing quite like this product. It’s genuinely GENIUS. You need it in your life. Everyday. It brings life to your skin, and can be used for gentle contouring too.

Prefer a powder product? Stick with Chanel, and go for their Moisturising Bronzing Powder instead (Desert Corail is my personal favourite). Beautiful colour’s and a beautiful bit of kit too!

Soleil Tan De Chanel Moisturising Bronzing Powder

LIPS

Lancome La Base L’Absolu Rouge – a hydrating and highlighting lip care product in a lipstick case – look like a lady even when you’re just giving you lips a drink. A lipbalm for grown-ups.

LIP COLOUR

I’m new to this catagory. Everyone wants to be able to wear a red lip, right? It’s the classic pick-me-up-make-up-trick, and one that needs a good product and a bit of care on application. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Chanel Rouge Coco and Rouge Allure lipsticks. They just reek luxury. The texture. the colour intensity, the packaging. They make you feel like you’re living in 1950’s glamour every time you click them open or shut. Lover, Enthusiast and Genius are amazing! The tag line to the Rouge Allure advertising says it all - ‘Seduction in just one click’. SOLD! And as far as the Rouge Coco range goes, well if it’s good enough for Miss Paradis, then it’s good enough for me.

Rouge Allure - Seduction in just one click

Rouge Coco

Lipsticks only used to appear in my make up bag for use on my cheeks. They work beautifully as blusher’s, so I say; share the love with the rest of your face. My old faithful’s were Tunisian Moon by Laura Mercier (which was a beautiful bright coral orange, since discontinued … dull) and Healthy Lips by Laura Mercier (a sheer deep pink). A good alternatives to the Tunisian Moon would be Heatwave lipstick by Nars.

Heatwave by Nars … hot.

EXTRAS

Really occasionally, and I mean really occasionally, I’ll do a bit of an eye. If I do, there’s only really two products that come into play . … .Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack - an eyeliner with staying power that glides on easily and gives you a precise line however thick you like to go.

Mac Fluidline - smudgeproof magic in a pot

Mac Eye Kohl in Teddy - a lovely warm bronze which you can smudge easily with your fingers to give an instant soft, smokey eye.

Mac Teddy - the mac daddy of eye pencils

Ok, so that’s me. My daily face as i like to call it. You’ll be the first to know if anything changes.

I’ll be rummaging through other people’s make up bags too; other make up artists, hair stylist’s, models, stylists and other generally creative people. Getting an insight into tried and tested products and sharing the knowledge with you, so you can make informed choices. Have a nose under the Review section.

As with all good publications, there will be a wealth of supplements to quench your thirst of Beauty News.

Coming soon … .

News - Latest News and Features; such as ‘My Daily Skin’ and ‘S.O.S’ (save our skin)

Review - Comment and feedback - product review’s and comparison’s, Q & A’s

Business - Need to Know, Movers and Shakers, Savings, Investments and hot Property

Life - Travel, Food and Drink, Fashion, Health (Inside / out)

Arts - Film, Books, Music, Visual Arts, Inspiration

Puzzles - How to guides

Sport - How to be a good one?

Keep reading … .