Posted by: B&Beauty

23Jan / 2012

B’s Beauty: 8mm Marriage Movie Magic

People say it’s the best day of your life. And it’s definitely a day you’ll remember forever and one you’ll want to share with others. YES—I’m talking about weddings. But there’s nothing worse than being forced to watch a painful 7 hour video of THAT day (yours or someone else’s) moment by moment, bobby pin by bobby pin. Weddings can be intense, problematic (“Bridesmaids” ring a bell?), and tediously detailed, but also wonderful and magical.

That’s where Mariage à la mode comes in. Founders Zoe and her husband Mat will make a six-minute, 8mm silent film of your wedding scored to music of your choice. They’ll capture all those tear-jerking moments, and 6 weeks later send you a Gatsby-inflected DVD that you and your friends will actually want to watch.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you won’t regret not hiring uncle Larry who has a penchant for capturing people’s feet.

 

Zoe and Matt wedding cake Zoe and Matt

Posted by in Philosophy of Beauty

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23Jan / 2012

B’s Beauty: The Line’s the Limit—”Fluidline” by M.A.C.

I happened upon a colleague applying “Fluidline” by M.A.C. in the bathroom at work one day, and I watched in awe as she exercised a technical dexterity that I thought I could only dream of. Thank heavens I was wrong.

“Fluidline” by M.A.C. is a gel formula liner that comes in a small glass pot that you then apply with a makeup brush. In fact, it’s as easy—if not easier—to apply than a regular liquid liner. It’s smooth and silky, not wet and uneven as liquid liners often are. Since with the long makeup brush you have good control, you can flick to your heart’s content: thick, thin, long, short, wings, v-shapes…if you want it, you can draw it. In no time you’ll feel like a professional makeup artist or simply an artist: the world (OK, maybe just your face) is your canvas.

The pots cost £14 each and a brush will run you about £16—it’s not an insignificant investment, but if liner is part of your daily routine it’s definitely worth it, as this product will last and you’ll love the way it looks.

M.A.C. eyeliner brush

Fluidline in Blacktrack by M.A.C.

Posted by in Eyes

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14Jan / 2012

B’s Beauty: Girl Crush of the Day: Rachel Vosper

Rachel Vosper is the best friend you didn’t know you had—yet. She’s the new queen of candle-making (watch out, Jo Malone), and she’s a hell of a lot of fun. I had the pleasure of taking part in one of her candle-making “taster” classes, and I came home not only with my own gorgeous “home-made” candle, but some deliciously-scented Christmas candles—and a new friend.

Rachel, who founded the eponymous company and leads all the classes and workshops, has the all-too-rare gift of making you feel incredibly comfortable and relaxed right off the bat. I had met her once before the course and instantly took to her. At the course, which I attended with three friends and colleagues, she proved the perfect (and most patient) of instructors and also a divine companion with whom to sip champagne and giggle. A fascinating woman, Rachel first started making candles over 16 years ago on a Caribbean beach and now has her own Belgravia store, a venue with the kind of character and charm that separates a house from a home. Each of her self-created, self-mixed scents are gorgeous and rich without being overpowering. And her products are simple, elegant and sophisticated.

According to her website, “Private clients have included US Presidents, actors, models and socialites as well as collaborations with brands such as Laurent Perrier, Conde Nast and the Orange Prize For Fiction Awards.” This girl knows her candles!

Rachel Vosper Candle

Rachel Vosper Fragrances

 

Posted by in Philosophy of Beauty

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09Jan / 2012

B’s Beauty: Line Up for 24/7 Eyeliner

This is a story of malefactors and heroes.

I used to always have problems with “raccoon eyes”. By the end of the day, half of my mascara had migrated to below my eye and I needed some serious Q-tip and concealer action to sort out the wreckage. For years I’d vilified the mascara, but the real perpetrator was…dun dun DUUUN…my eyeliner.

About three years ago I walked into John Lewis’s makeup hall looking for a fail-safe black liquid liner. One of the girls working at a designer brand kiosk (I won’t say which) whispered to me that honestly, I was better off saving my £35 and instead should buy a drugstore brand, like Rimmel or Max Factor. So I did. And for years I thought I was happy.

But then I found “Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner”. I’d not used a lot of Urban Decay products before, but after falling for this one, I’m certainly willing to give others a try. I was looking for a liquid liner with a seriously thin brush—think ’90s Calista Flockhart—and after some Googling I came across this product. I headed to Oxford Street and the rest is history. After a few days of far fewer touchups, I realised that all these years it’s been my cheap eyeliner running, not my mascara.

Who needs Sherlock Holmes? Thank you, Urban Decay: mystery solved.

I’ve only tried the black but it comes in lots of fun-looking colours—it’s only £14, so go on, try a few.

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner

 

Posted by in Eyes

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07Jan / 2012

B’s Beauty: Le Bonne Arbonne

There are few things better than walking into a store and finding everything you need—and then some. What is better, however, is not even having to walk into that store, let alone extracting yourself from that dent you’ve created in the couch.

That’s where Arbonne comes in. From vitamins to shampoos, if you want it, they sell it. Don’t let the prices hold you back; it is a bit more expensive than your basic drugstore product, but that’s because this isn’t Boots. Quality does come with a price, but it also means a little goes a long way. As with most quality investments, you’re better off in the long run.

Exfoliating New Cell Scrub

What sets Arbonne apart from other online retailers (and many other retailers in general), is the quality of the products. All Arbonne’s products are entirely natural and botanical-based. Arbonne’s researchers and scientists in Switzerland (where the company is based) are also constantly innovating and developing new, safe, and effective skin care.

I have tried quite a range of what Arbonne has to offer. My personal favourites are their cleansers, particularly the exfoliants with their small sand-like grains that clean to the core, and the moisturisers.

You can also get involved with the company itself and sell the products to friends and family. We’ll understand if you end up investing the cash you’ve earned right back into the company. It’s hard to resist.

Arbonne Deep Cleansing Mask

 

Posted by in Body, Eyes, Face, Hair, Nails

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05Jan / 2012

B’s Beauty: Glow, Baby, Glow

This product will change your life.

Seriously.

Yes, this is a pretty hefty claim, but believe me, Philosophy’s “Turbo Booster C Powder” is a pretty remarkable product (and with a name like that, what’s not to love?). I picked this up without much thought at a beauty sale at work, and now I can’t imagine my beauty regime without it. According to Philosophy’s website, “Turbo Booster” “helps protect skin against environmental attack and brightens skin tone.” I can’t even begin to count the number of products on the market that boast these claims, but I can only think of one that truly delivers.

Each morning I mix 1/2 to 1 spoonful of this magic powder with my moisturiser (Clinique; more on that another time) and my skin instantly feels fresher and looks healthier. I don’t want to gloat, but I can no longer keep track of the number of people who have asked me what I’ve been doing differently, or who have commented that my makeup looks great and/or how refreshed I’m looking. It ain’t me, people—it’s the turbo talc. My only complaint (no, it’s not all rainbows and puppy dogs) is that the small spoon can be difficult to maneuver and often the powder gets stuck in the spoon. Basically, the process can be a tad messy: a bathroom counter dusted with a fine white powder doesn’t look great.

Although it’s not exactly cheap at $35 per vial, it’s worth every glowing penny.

 

Turbo Booster C Powder

 

 

Posted by in Face

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17Oct / 2011

B’s Beauty: Benefit’s new primer: Should I stay or should I go?

 

Stay Don't Stray

“Stay Don’t Stray” by Benefit Cosmetics has a fairly weighty name with a fairly weighty claim behind it. And honey, it just don’t measure up.

Benefit claims that this product is an eye primer that stops makeup, particularly eye shadow, from moving and creasing and promises that once you use it, you’ll wonder how you survived without it. I’m going to start with what I like about this product because it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s nice to work with, and the thick cream can double as a concealer. It also works well as an undereye illuminator/brightener.

As for what I don’t like: it doesn’t really work. And at £19.50, well, that’s just not OK. I always struggle with midday mascara shadows and I hoped that this would prove the solution, but alas, no. And to make matters worse, I find that the product itself creates the very eyelid creases it’s meant to be fighting! Also, they’ve got it all wrong with the dispenser. Benefit definitely seems to pride itself on quirky and innovative packaging, but I think this one missed the market research phase. The pump always dispenses way too much product and it ends up in a goopy mess on your finger, the container, and in my case (someh0w) the bedroom wall.

Benefit makes a lot of great products, but you can’t win em’ all.

 

Benefit's Stay Don't Stray

Posted by in Eyes, Face

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09Oct / 2011

B’s Beauty: Get em’, Girls!

Boobs, apparently, are in. In the last few months, everywhere I look I see that vixen Christina Hendricks in a smouldering posture, or Kim Kardashian, shirt button undone in a calculated fashion. These ladies know their best assets: if you’ve got it, flaunt it.

But what you don’t want to flaunt are your bra straps. This past season there have been so many gorgeous razor-back tank tops on the market, but these fun, flirty shirts present a fairly serious fashion emergency. Particularly in an office environment, it’s just not OK to have your bra straps on mass display. Sure we know you’re wearing one, but we don’t need you to prove it.

What you need is…a bra strap concealer! I bought a package of three: one white, one black, and one neutral—and I’ve never looked back. I use this product at least once a week. It’s handy and really does help to conceal your straps.

However, there are some downsides. Although it may not be a problem for the more acrobatic among us, I can’t get one of these on or off by myself, which obviously can be a massive hassle. Also, I do find it causes my bra to pull slightly on my shoulders and is less comfortable than wearing my bra without it.

Available from Amazon or from most lingerie departments, these shouldn’t put you back much more that £5, so they’re are worth having around even if they’re not something that will become part of your day-to-day attire.

Bra Strap Concealer

 

Posted by in Body

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09Oct / 2011

B’s Beauty: Foot Butter: These feet ain’t made for walking

I hate dry feet. I hate cracked feet. I hate calloused feet. They’re uncomfortable and not terribly attractive. With this in mind I’ve tried a lot of different remedies. I’ve yet to find perfect, but I think I can start to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

Care starts in the shower with a serious foot pumice. For me, it has to be one of the silver ones that looks like a cheese grater. A go-in-strong from the get-go type of approach. Give your feet, particularly your heels, a good file back and forth for a minute or two on each foot. You will notice and difference immediately, and don’t worry, this shouldn’t hurt; it’s just dead skin.

Foot file

Post-shower, it’s time for a product. I love “Heel Genius” by Soap&Glory. I have yet to try a product in this range that I don’t love. “Heel Genius” smells fresh and clean but not overbearing. It absorbs quickly and is not greasy or slimy. I find it can help to sleep with a night-sock over the top, but I don’t always follow my own advice. In the morning, even after just one use, my feet already feel softer and soothed.

Soap&Glory Heel Genius

I also like to use the “Foot Butter” stick. I found this at a small artisanal store in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but have since found that it can be purchased through its maker’s website, Merben. This product is wonderfully easy to apply. I actually find applying it quite fun, almost cathartic. The innovative packaging allows you to apply the butter easily, direct from the container: it’s like a little moisturising deodorant stick for your feet!  It’s made with the essential oils of grapefruit, pine, patchouli, and lemongrass, so it smells and feels great.

Foot Butter

 

Posted by in Body

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05Oct / 2011

B’s Beauty: Hair we go again

You know the old adage, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat”? Well, the same goes for styling your hair (no cats involved). You may need different products for different occasions, or even different products for the same occasion. I tend to stick with fairly uniform styles for my hair, and I’ve found a range of products to help me achieve that. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to switch up the routine and use different products, or to mix-and-match various products.

I’ve been using KMS “Hairplay“ since my late teens. It dispenses from a push-down top, which is easy to use and even easier to travel with. What comes out is a thick white paste, not dissimilar to toothpaste (minty smell not included). Simply rub it between your hands and apply from the ends upwards and voila! Instant texture, body, and depth.

 

KMS Hairplay

After I’ve let the Hairplay set for a couple of minutes, I often like to add something a little extra: either MOP “Lemongrass Lift” or “C-System Texture Spray” are the perfect candidates. Alternatively (or even additionally if your hair is feeling really limp) they are great for a little extra evening lift. Often at the end of the workday I want to revitalise my look before a night out, and both of these sprays do a great job. Just a few spritzes towards your ends (stay clear of your roots to avoid a greasy sheen). The result feels clean and natural. Added bonus: the “Lemongrass Lift” contains chamomile, lemongrass, and calendula which give you that desirable bounce, while wheat protein strengthens and nourishes the hair.

With so many product options, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice. Let the hair product pageant begin!

Lemongrass Lift

C-System Texture Spray

Posted by in Hair

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