REVIEW: ORIGINS SKIN CARE

Having a good skin care routine is a basic beauty rule, but there is nothing basic about finding the right products to suit you. It can be overwhelmingly confusing and very costly. Like many, I have sat for hours reading reviews about skin care and spent hundreds of pounds on products that haven’t worked or reacted badly with my skin.

I am nearing my late twenties now (I’m holding onto my mid-twenties status as long as I can!) and I’m starting to notice changes to my complexion and level of sensitivity. I have also noticed an occasional heat and redness to my skin, which is probably due to an underlying issue, but can be easily irritated by the types of products that I am using. I sometimes struggle to find the perfect skin care partner. If only there were a ‘match.com’ for skin care! I’m a makeup artist, not a skin specialist, but I know that natural organic oils and ingredients are much more beneficial compared to a combination of synthetic oils and nasty chemicals that can cause irritation and more damage. Origins has been on my radar for a while, mostly because their products are completely natural and made up of essential oils, but also because family, friends and clients all rave about them.

I have been using Origins skin care products for about a week now and can honestly say that I have noticed a massive difference already! Speaking with Origins consultant, Kylie, was great. She was so helpful and I was really impressed with her level of skin care knowledge, as well as being able to tell me every detail about my recommended products. I really felt that she listened, understood and could explain why each product would benefit my skin. She has totally enlightened me and put my faith back in good quality skin care that does what it says it’s going to do. I decided to go for a cleanser, toner and day moisturizer and have also been testing a small sample of skin relief serum.

The Products:

For the full list of products and ingredients please visit www.origins.com

Cleanser – Check and Balances

This is a creamy face wash that leaves skin feeling super clean and fresh. Ingredients include lavender, chamomile and spearmint. This face wash smells beautiful and leaves a really nice finish to my skin. It never feels dry or tight and a little goes a long way. It’s not a bad makeup remover, but I wouldn’t recommend it for removing eye makeup as it really stings!

Treatment Tonic (Toner) – A Perfect World Moisturizing Lotion

Age-defense treatment lotion with White Tea. Oil free and alcohol free. I love that this toner or ‘treatment Tonic’ is alcohol and oil free! Some products that I have used in the past contain so much alcohol that I fear walking near an open flame after application! Toners are great for restoring the PH balance back to your skin after cleansing, but sometime I find them really drying. I was nervous to use this product, as I have not had the best experience with previous toners, but I am really pleased with how refreshed I feel after using it. My skin feels plump without any extreme tightness and smells like a luxury spa treatment.

Serum – Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Face Serum ‘Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief’

This is my A* product! As I said before, my skin can sometimes get quite red, heated and easily irritated, but not anymore! This product has been a savior. Applied before moisturizer, it is so soothing and genuinely calms my skin. Unfortunately, this was not the cheapest item on my shopping list… I was nervous to spend so much money on a product that I wasn’t even sure would work, so Kylie kindly gave me a small sample to try out. I am so impressed with it that I don’t think I could be without it now! It is an expensive item, but my skin is definitely worth the investment.

Moisturiser – Starting Over Oil Free Moisturiser

This is an ‘age-erasing’ moisturizer… I would like to be clear that I don’t actually have wrinkles or lines, but I am noticing changes in my skin and it’s better to prevent than try to reduce. It’s a really nice, light  moisturizer that absorbs into the skin quickly, without leaving an oily residue behind. It’s also sits really nice underneath foundation and doesn’t cause any slippage. A change in moisturizer usually causes a break out for me, but I have had none what so ever with this one, so happy days!

About Origins:

 ‘We manufacture using a combination of renewable resources, wind energy and earth-friendly practices.’ Truly sustainable beauty! :)

Obviously, some of these products might not be the best for you, so make sure you have a good chat with one of their consultants and don’t be afraid to ask for samples!

LAURA MERCIER: EYE BASICS EYE SHADOW

Laura Mercier products are excellent and I’m especially loving Eye Basics in Flax. I have worn this eye shadow nearly every day since I bought it and I’m really impressed with how long wearing it is. It’s so easy to apply, has good coverage and leaves a really nice soft finish. It doesn’t set completely matt, which I think makes it such a nice product to wear on its own. It’s also proven to be a great base for powder eye shadows and doesn’t crease at all throughout the day. Another great feature is that it doesn’t dry out the skin like some other primers.

Skin friendly ingredients enhance the delicate skin on the eye lids, botanicals soothe distressed lids, vitamins A, E and C provide anti-oxidant protection and eye bright offers anti-inflammatory and healing benefits.

There is an applicator brush included, but I wouldn’t suggest you put this straight on your eye. A little goes along way with this eye shadow, so pop a bit on the back of your hand and use your finger to blend in. You can always build up coverage if you think you need it and by applying it this way you will help keep it bacteria free.

There’s a range of about 8 neutral colours to choose from and a really amazing soft baby blue. It currently retails at about £20.50 from John Lewis, and is definitely a worthwhile 2-in-1 eye shadow/eye base investment.

If you’re wondering how it compares to Laura Mercier eye canvas, then I would say that the eye basics gives a lot better coverage. The eye canvas pots are quite sheer and don’t really cover imperfections or discolouration. It is a nice lightweight eye shadow and lasts really well, but I would always go for the eye basics. I also find that the canvas pots aren’t as easy to apply as the basics.  

SANGRE DE TORO & GREEN & BLACKS 85% DARK CHOCOLATE!

This is probably the best evening combo. Beautiful bottle of Sangre de Toro red wine with Green & Blacks 85% Dark Organic Chocolate! Yum!

LOOK INSPIRED BY MCQ AND DRIES VAN NOTEN A/W 2012 CATWALK

I quite obviously wouldn't win photographer of the year with these pics! 

I wanted to share with you the look from this weekend’s shoot with Alex Gregory (pictures to follow!) and the inspiration behind the hair and makeup.

McQ                     

THE HAIR

The McQueen brand never fails to disappoint. I love how they really push the fashion boundaries and challenge our perception of beauty. I want to say that the look is somewhat grotesque, but in a really beautiful and mesmerizing way. This may not be to everyone's taste, but the artistic brilliance of McQueen can never be denied. The inspiration for this look actually came from their sister brand, McQ (pictured left). For more information about their collection and catwalk images visit Elle.com. 

Dries Van Noten  

THE MAKEUP

Many designers and makeup artists have embraced bold, block colour this season and I am happy to tag along! Peter Phillips, Makeup artist for Dries Van Noten, provides an excellent example of block colour at its best. Find out more about his inspiration and the products he used to create this look at Style.com’s ‘Beauty Counter Blog’.

I used...

Eyes: MAC paint sticks in Yellow/Red/Cyan/White and Makeup Forever’s Matte Eyeshadow in Tangerine.

Lips: MAC Lip liner in Redd, with MAC Lipstick Lady Danger.

The skin was kept fresh and clean with a emphasis on highlighted cheek bones, achieved with MAC Strobe Crème.

HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS: BOBBI BROWN SPF 15 LIP BALM

I could not live without a lip conditioner. I use it religiously and feel lost without it. One year I made the terrible mistake of using quite a greasy lip balm on holiday, without an SPF and burnt my lips a treat! It was so awful… From that day onwards, I have always made sure that my lip balm has an SPF! It’s surprising to find that there are only a hand full of high end brands that have an SPF in their lip products.

If you are looking for a lip colour, tinted lip conditioner or lip balm visit L’Oreal, Benefit, Laura Mercier, Stila, MAC, YSL, Bobbi Brown and Clinique (even though the girl at the counter said that non of their products have any protection, I later found that their High Impact Lip Colour has SPF 15!). I find that some cheaper brands leave my lips looking white and aren’t very conditioning at all. Obviously, if you are surfing, skiing, mountain climbing etc you will need a high factor to stay protected, but I’m mostly talking about chilling on beaches, walking around markets and exploring towns/villages/cities.

One of my fav SPF 15 Lip balms is from Bobbi Brown. It comes in a fancy little silver tin, with screw top and smells like melons. It’s quite rich in texture, which I love and leaves lips conditioned for the best part of the day. It’s translucent in colour, but leaves a nice shine on the lips without feeling greasy.

It’s currently priced at £14 and is definitely a worthwhile holiday investment. Check out Bobbi Brown's website for up to date deals and offers http://www.bobbibrown.co.uk. They regularly offer free samples with orders over £50 and ship for free on orders of £35 or more.

A HEALTHY CAFFEINE ALTERNATIVE? PUKKA!

A while back I decided that it was probably about time that I kicked my caffeine habit to the kerb and tried to live a bit healthier. Granted, it’s not too bad compared to many. I probably have about 3 cups a day. Sometimes more… Especially, if it’s one of those days… OK, so my coffee consumption is pretty bad!

Recently, I’ve taken to picking up a health & fitness magazine with my fashion magazine and all they write about is how bad caffeine is. Like most things, there are pro’s and con’s, but I’m guessing that if your regular café trip includes a large latte, with a double shot of caffeine, shot a syrup and of course a sweetener or two (because you are on a diet…), it’s not doing great things for your insides.  Or outsides for that matter!

Plus, don’t you ever feel massively sluggish after a coffee? Especially, if there is a large amount of milk involved. Of course, some of us go for the super skinny skimmed milk option – still a lot of milk people! Also, I find the effects never last long. If I’m beyond tired in the morning and have a coffee to wake things up a bit, sure I’m perky, but it only lasts about an hour before I need another one. Before you know it, you’re chasing the caffeine dragon around the office all day and feel really rubbish at the end of it.

Fear not, for I have found a SOLUTION! I say this as I stand atop a cliff in my tight lycra, hands on hips, my cape flying behind me in the wind…  Anyway, back to the solution. It’s a tea called ‘Morning Time’ from a brand called PUKKA. Translated from Hindi to mean ‘authentic’, genuine’ or ‘top quality’, Pukka Organic Herbs is a great company that believes in ‘ayurveda – the ancient art of living wisely’. They have a tea for everything; cleansing, de-toxing, energizing, morning wake up, calming, and so many more. The tea itself is a blend of organic rooibos, honeybush and red ginseng. The combination of these herbs resultS in a fresh, natural pick me up that doesn’t include a caffeine crash after. I genuinely feel a million times better after having a cup of this tea compared to my regular coffee. I don’t feel sluggish throughout the day and don’t feel guilty having another cup later on. You can drink this tea black or have it with milk. Personally, I go without milk as it has such a fresh taste, with the honeybush adding a mildly sweet edge. It’s even nice to have cold! Brew a pot, leave to cool, then put it in the fridge and serve with ice cubes. Instant, uplifting and refreshing iced tea!        

Their site is well worth a visit - PUKKA. Not only can you find out about all of their delicious teas, you can also discover the health benefits of each herb used in their ‘Pukkapedia’. They also have a health store with oils, herbs and organic botanicals, as well as tips on how to lead a healthy life.

The tea bags come in handy little pockets, it’s organic, their herbs are sustainably grown, they’re fair-trade and they are certified by the Soil Association and the United States Department of Agriculture… I don’t think I need to give you any more reasons to go buy this tea!

A box of 20 pockets costs between £1.50 -  £2.50 in Sainsbury’s, depending which type of tea you pick up.

GORILLA WARFARE! WAXING HINTS & TIPS

Miss Laura Jones is my go to lady for all my holistic, relaxing and de-fuzzing needs! She is absolutely excellent and I wouldn’t trust anyone else to go near my sensitive areas, with super hot wax, other than her! I’m sure you will find her hints and tips about waxing beneficial.

Hello. I’m Laura and I have been asked by the lovely Miss Szerencses to make a guest contribution on the subject of waxing.  I am predominantly a Massage and Holistic Therapist, but have been practicing Beauty Therapy for almost 10 years now.  And this time of year, year after year, there is a massive boom in waxing. 

With holidays and the possibility of a British summer, comes the baring of bits that are generally kept under wraps for 10 months of the year!  Legs, underarms, bikini lines..  Even the boys get involved, male waxing almost doubles as the summer months approach.  Now, for those of you who have never been waxed or are nervously considering it, let me just say that I cannot recommend it enough. I’m probably biased, but hear me out.. 

It is uncomfortable, there are no two ways about it..  But the results speak for themselves.  The short-term benefits are obviously smooth, hair-free skin for a few weeks.  In the long-term however, the hairs grow back much finer and the hair follicles can eventually become damaged resulting much softer, sparser regrowth. No stubble!  This is especially noticeable on areas where the hairs are coarser, such as bikini lines and underarms.  Also, no more razor burns, cuts, nicks, shaving rashes or reactions to the nasty chemicals used in depilatory creams (hair removal cream!)..  Bliss!

If you are thinking about getting your first wax, if you have an annual wax just before you go on holiday, or even if you are a regular waxee, here are some of my hints and tips to get the most out of your treatment..

Firstly, scrub.  Scrub, scrub, scrub, scrub..  scrub. Try SOAP & GLORY THE BREAKFAST SCRUB with an exfoliating glove. It's an oat, shea butter and sugar body smoother and it smells delicious! This is sooo important, both before and after your wax. A day or two before your wax, you want to give the area a good scrub. Ideally you want to use a sugar scrub or other exfoliating product but mitts or shower puffs also work.  For best results, apply your product to dry skin, buff or massage gently in circular motions before you get in the shower and then rinse off.  This will remove any dead cells from the surface of the skin and lift the hairs, allowing them to pop out easier when you are waxed.  Afterwards, for the first 12-24 hours, you want to avoid and hot showers or baths, sunbeds/sunbathing, spray tans, perfumed lotions or potions etc as the skin will be sensitised and the pores will be open.  Your therapist should give you concise after-care advice following your treatment. A few days later, when the skin has calmed down, give it a gentle srcub and repeat this a couple of times a week.  This will really help you to avoid the dreaded ingrown hairs!

Secondly, if you can take the pain of a wax once, it is totally worth doing it again.  Often people are disappointed by the results of their first wax or if they only have one wax a year because of the quick regrowth.  Now, this isn’t anything to do with the wax or the therapist but is down to the hairs and their pesky growth cycle.

As hairs drop out, there is already a new one waiting to take its place.  Grrr.  It therefore takes a few waxes to get all the hairs at the same stage in the growth cycle, which is when you will really start seeing results.  For example, if you are going on a 2 week holiday and want to ensure you are smoothie smooth for the duration, I would recommend trying to fit in a couple of waxes before you go away.  Either that or get into a routine over the winter so growing the hairs isn’t an issue, then by the time summer comes you will be good to go!

Thirdly, if you are worried about it hurting, take a couple of paracetamols or anti-inflammatories about an hour before your appointment.  This will take the edge off and will help calm down any sore or inflamed skin afterwards.  And mostly, relax.  Worrying will self-consciously tense the muscles and grip the hairs, making it sting more.  And you can be safe in the knowledge that it does get better, as the hairs weaken and give up more easily, it gets much less painful.  Honest!

And finally, make sure you get the right length.  If the hairs are too long, it will pull and therefore be more painful.  Too short and it is impossible to remove them without the aid of a magnifying glass, some good tweezers and an hour of plucking.  The ideal length is between 5mm and 1cm. 

Follow these steps and you will be well on your way to hair-free happiness!