Bobbi Brown's latest limited-edition range ‘Denim & Rose' offers a luscious, softer version of a rock 'n' roll look that can be dressed up or dressed down in your favourite jeans for a sultry, shimmering look.
And while we're not so sure about the denim hat and dungarees (pictured left) we're loving the make-up look - and that necklace! Yum!
"Everyone looks great in jeans-and anyone can pull off a dark denim eye. To make it wearable, I've paired inky blue shadows with pretty roses for lips and cheeks," ays Bobbi Brown. "The combination is casual and put-together, rock & roll but romantic, and modern yet classic all at once."
Deep indigo blue tones are fab way to create a soft smokey eye. Using too much black can give a very flat effect but the Denim Sparkle Eyeshadow (£14.50) has lots of depth and that subtle sparkle will light up the eyes.
A black liner with this look would instantly strip away that gorgeous soft edge so switch your Jet Black for Denim Ink (£15) for a really flattering look. Long-wearing and water- resistant, the colour glides on and lets you get it just right before it dries-then stays put without a smear or crease until you take it off. Ideal for all day, and all night, wear!
I have a real ‘thing' about non-black mascaras. I love them! Black absorbs light and if you are fair skinned a dense black mascara can look really harsh and flat. Deep navy, purples and aubergine mascaras add a really subtle, almost undetectable effect, and also enhances both blue and brown eyes!
Bobbi Brown's Extreme Party Mascara in Denim (£17.50) gives fantastic volume and builds without the clumps. The formula stays flexible, so each coat goes on as fresh as the first. I've seen girls in clubs applying mascara and have always been baffled as once my mascara is on - if I add more it just clumps of flakes. But the Extreme Party mascara can be layered up on the go - it's been billed as the world's first touchup mascara and a must for party girls.
And to finish the look a soft Shimmer Lip Gloss in Raspberry (£14). Shimmer Lip Gloss offers beautiful, non- sticky shine with a touch of iridescence and is perfect on its own or over your favorite lipstick. Formulated with Aloe extract to soothe and soften lips; Vitamins C and E for anti-oxidant protection; and Jojoba and Avocado Oils for lots of moisture.
Denim & Rose collection is available at Bobbi Brown counters now.
Closing Date for Entries for Fresh Face of Clarins 2010
Thursday, 26 August 2010 15:07
Could you be the Fresh Face of Clarins 2010?
To celebrate the launch of its new youth skincare range, Clarins is searching for a young woman to be the face of the Daily Energizer range in Northern Ireland. Entries will close at 12 noon Monday 6th September.
Clarins is looking for a young woman who is vivacious as well as beautiful, who can reflect the spirit of this exciting new range.
The prizes include a year's supply of Daily Energizer and a professional photoshoot as well as modeling assignments for Clarins. The judges will include Clarins International Make up Designer Claude Defresne and the province's premier model agency Maureen Martin Model Management, Sugahfix.com Editor Katrina Doran, Clarins Make Up Artist Angela Mullan and Cormic Rogan from Thierry Mugler Parfums.
To enter Simply send a head and shoulders picture of yourself, smiling, radiant, happy, relaxed with your contact details, date of birth and a beauty secret that you would like to share with Clarins fans across Ireland.
Please send your details and picture to the following email address
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
with the subject line "The Search for the Fresh Face of Clarins"
Ten finalists will be selected and be listed on clarins.ie and here on Sugahfix.com on Tuesday 7th with finalists meeting the judges on Wednesday 8th at The Merchant Hotel when the winner will be chosen.
Lucy Meets Lori at Smashbox Studios - UK Exclusive!
Friday, 20 August 2010 08:59
One for all you make-up fans - our Sugahgal in La La Land Lucy Evangelista McCullough talks to Smashbox make-up artist Lori Taylor about the new season trends, key products and tips.
Lucy interviews Davis Factor at Smashbox Studios LA - UK Exclusive!
Thursday, 19 August 2010 14:08
Smashbox Studios in LA is not only the home to Smashbox Cosmetics but did you know that Smashbox started out as a photographic studio snapping all the big Hollywood stars? George Clooney, Jude Law, Nicolas Cage - amazing!
Sugahfix landed a UK exclusive getting our Sugahgal Lucy Evangelista a tour of the Smashbox Studios in LA, a behind the scenes sneak peek at Smashbox's SS11 make-up looks AND and interview with Davis Factor.
Lucy blooper with Smashbox Make-up Artist Lori Taylor
Thursday, 19 August 2010 13:49
We asked fans on our facebook page is they had any questions they'd like Lucy to ask Smashbox make-up artist Lori Taylor and mineral make-up was the hot topic.
Sugahfix fan Anne Crawford had a particular query about mineral make-up for dry skin and Lori has a great recommendation on mineral make-up for dry skin. Anne - this one is for you!
Sugahfix.com landed a UK exclusive getting our Sugahgal Lucy Evangelista a tour of the Smashbox Studios in LA with a behind the scenes sneak peek at Smashbox's SS11 make-up looks AND and interview with Davis Factor.
We're the first UK media gals to get this exclusive access at the LA Smashbox Studios - so there was NO pressure on Lucy at all. Lol! This video is the first in a series of four video blogs at Smashbox and gives a taster of the Smashbox Studios experience.
Lush's fun and frothy bath ballistic's never cease to amaze as they fizz and dissolve in your bath before you slip into the deliciously scented water to relax.
Throughout August, Lush are selling a cute Chameleon bath ballistic that will no doubt be coveted by reptile loving bathers - both big and small! But there's a very serious message behind this cute bathing companion.
Lush is supporting the UK campaigning group the Animal Protection Agency (APA) in their efforts to create awareness about the irresponsible and brutal trade of wild animals as pets, which causes unnecessary deaths every year.
To help educate the public about the problems with keeping reptiles, Lush are selling a limited edition, colour changing Chameleon bath ballistic £2.50 with 100% of the proceeds going to the APA.
This cute ballistic looks like an actual Chameleon and even changes colour in the bath! And scented with a refreshing, fruity blend of grapefruit and mandarin oils, there's also a touch of exotic ylang ylang ... well, they are exotic creatures after all! Drop him in the tub and marvel as he initially turns the water pink, then purple and then blue!
The Chameleon ballistic is available for the month of August only, while stocks last. For shop details and mail order please contact 01202 668 545 or www.lush.co.uk
Scent For A Woman
Thursday, 12 August 2010 18:28
By Katrina Doran.
Thierry Mugler is hailed by many as a fashion genius. He created the stage costumes for Beyonce's I AM tour and Thierry sure did have B ‘lookin' a little crazy right now' at times with the motorbike corset and the enhanced hip shapes on some of the looks but we did love the sparkling booty-shaking bow and theatricalness of it all - there's no doubt he certainly pushes the boundaries for a very individual look and the same can be said of Muglers growing fragrance line.
Thierry Mugler's new fragrance Womanity - a play on the word humanity - is instantly recognisable as from the Mugler family of fragrances with its unique, intense scent - although it doesn't have that overly-sweet heady vanilla base of Angel.
Sweet top notes with a light fruitiness and then that deliciously milky fig note. There is also a salty note that comes from an extract of caviar - I can't say it jumped out at me but there is certainly something a bit different in this scent. The woody base of fig wood and leaves give this scent its long-lasting elegant finish.
Figs and Caviar are certainly unusual and luxurious ingredients which - demanded by Mugler himself - proved a challenge for the perfume labs to create. The challenge that was taken up and resulted in (here comes the science bit!) an exclusive technological breakthrough, based on molecular extraction, used for the first time in a fragrance.
Sugahfix's Sugah Mamma is on a constant quest for a perfume that lasts - we have gifted her with many exotic scents over the years but she always says that after few hours she can't smell it anymore. Having tested it myself - one spritz on each wrist was still heady in the air after a long day writing copy at the Sugahfix Mac book, which also had a light powdery scent to it where my wrists were resting. Sugah mamma is also mad into recycling and the idea of a refillable bottle sent her into raptures. She had never found her fragrance nirvana but I think I've nailed it with Womanity.
Womanity is a much more grown up fragrance that the sweet and girlie Angel - it really is a scent for a woman.
Womanity prices: Perfume 10ml £19.00 30ml £38.00, Shower gel £21.00, Body Lotion £25.99, Body Cream £30.00 Available from Thierry Mugler counters throughout Northern Ireland in August 2010.
Pastries & Pampering - Spa-tisserie Package at Slieve Donard Reviewed
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 10:50
Pastries and pampering are a combination that a Sugahfix gal dreams of! We sure do love to indulge in a little luxury 'me' time and a gal's gotta keep her strength up so add a stacked-high afternoon tea and we're in heaven!
The Spa at the Culloden and Spa at Slieve Donard have created a new package, which includes an indulgent spa treatment, use of the 5 star spa facilities and rounded up with a scrumptious afternoon tea.
Sugahgal herself Katrina Doran booked into the spa at the Slieve Donard with her Sugah mamma for a Spa-tisserie for two and enjoyed every divine minute.
Mum is a regular swimmer and was keen to try out the amazing pool at the Slieve Donard so we made sure we were an hour early for our appointment so we could have a swim and enjoy the incredible view from the Jacuzzi, the steam room and sauna.
We were really in the relaxation zone and ready for our treatments as we shuffled up the stairs in our luxurious robes and slippers.
We were a little peckish after our swim and a delicious fresh fruit smoothie was just the ticket to hydrate and perk us up ready for our full body massage.
My therapist Sarah took me to the treatment room and talked through how I was feeling so she could tailor the treatment for me. I chose between two oils and then even picked a mood light to suit my mood. My massage was simply superb.
I floated back to the relaxation room to find mum already relaxing with a blissful smile on her face. We chilled out for a while and then headed back to the changing rooms for a quick shower - to wash our hair - while trying not to wash the oils off our skin.
When we were ready we headed down to the Lighthouse Lounge for our afternoon tea. We devoured our scones and sandwiches and indulged in delicious mini cheesecakes, and a white chocolate mouse with pear that was toe-curlingly yummy.Lots of tea and great chat with a backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne and waves beating against the shore - we'd just had a delicious slice of South Down heaven.
The Spa-tisserie experience is available from 9am - 12pm and 2pm - 5pm Monday - Friday for just £75 per person or £89 per person Saturday and Sunday. Or why not add a glass of bubbly for just £8 extra!
For more information call The Spa at Slieve Donard on 028 4372 6166 or The Spa at Culloden on 028 9042 1135 or visit www.hastingshotels.com
August's subscriber incentive is a luxurious Sweet Dreams package of a Spa-Tisserie for two plus an overnight stay at The Slieve Donard. Every new subscriber in August is automatically entered into the draw. Click here to subscribe - it's free!
Bronze Age
Thursday, 05 August 2010 19:20
By Katrina Doran.
A bronzing powder is an essential staple of any summer make-up kit - whether you are pale or swarthy you need a bronzer to add a touch of summer sunshine to your look.
Bronzer can be swirled over bare skin to brighten and add a sunkissed glow or applied as a final make-up flourish to warm up the skin.
Not just for the face - blend your bronzer under the jawline, neck and accentuate your collarbone - anywhere you would naturally tan you should enhance with your bronzer.
When baring all in your bikini - apply in a v-shape on your cleavage for a bust-boosting effect.
And the bonus effect of your bronzer doesn't stop there - dust your bronzing brush along tanned shins for an extra leg-lengthening look.
Bronzing powders are available in a variety of shades to add a light summer glow to full-on bronzed beach babe. Like all make-up - pick the shade that best matches your skintone.
Finishes also vary from a natural matte effect to light shimmer finishes, which reflect the sunlight beautifully to high-shine sparkle effects.
Youthful complexions can get away with maximum high-lighting wheras more mature skins should avoid too much sparkle as these can settle in lines and wrinkles - but a little shimmer can be very flattering.
The Sugahfix gals test the best of the bronzers....
Our gorgeous fashion shoot 'Enchantment' was the brain child of hair and make-up duo Olivia Muldoon and Julie Davidson of Backstage Beauty Secrets whose original idea was to create a fashion shoot based on the models playing dress-up in the forest.
"The inspiration for the shoot and indeed the make-up was the almost surreal imagery in the work that Tim Walker shoots for Vogue," says make-up artist Julie. "Because of the conceptual nature of the shoot the hair and make-up had to reflect that and both Olivia and I did the sort of extreme hair and make-up that works amazingly on a shoot like Enchantment but it's the absolute extreme of what we would do in 'real life' for a client for a red carpet event or for a bride.
"I started with a perfect base using Illamasaqua concealer, foundation and powder and then played around on the eye contouring the colours up onto the temple. I also used two sets of different La La Lashes including their limited edition feature lashes and I also added a little lace on the lashline, which had a gorgeous otherworldly effect. "
"The inspiration for the hair came from the idea of forest nymphs...beautiful but disheveled and blending in with her natural surroundings!" said Olivia. "I used a mixture of hairpieces and plaiting/curling to create a texture in the hair. Even though the hair is curled/backcombed and quite messy, the integration of plaits added a cute and soft feel to the final look."
Behind the scenes pix below, Art Direction and Clothes Styling by Katrina Doran for Sugahfix.com
Olivia and model Catherine watching Christina shoot her vintage bride scene. Catherine wears dress from The Boudoir, The Linen Green, Dungannon, Christina wears 50s vintage dress from Raspberry Beret, Bloomfield Ave, Belfast.
Beauty Bargains
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 20:55
By Katrina Doran.
The summer sales in fashion retail are now in full swing but it's rare that you'll find the same sort of slashed-price promotions in beauty retail - other than the odd Christmas gift set in the January sales.
Rituals Cosmetics in Victoria Square, Belfast, are bucking the trend and treating beauty addicts with summer sales discounts of 30% and 40% until August 1st.
All travel sets, (perfect to stock up on for gifts!) are 40% off so treat yourself to travel size delights for your holidays.
Body scrubs are a summer essential to get those limbs into shape for baring all on the beach - not to mention buffing away week-old fake tan before reapplying for a flawless sunless tan. Rituals covetable scrubs including the refreshing Deep Sea Scrub and the cleansing and nourishing Rice Scrub are all 30% off.
And for post exfoliation you need to nourish so indulge in ‘Massage from Heaven' ultra moisturizing body lotion to hydrate and protect the skin. Perfect for keeping skin supple.
It's time to chose your team! Are you on Team Edward or Team Jacob?
To celebrate the launch of Twilight Eclipse - in cinemas on Saturday 3rd July Simple Beauty has launched the brand new Twilight team kits! Each kit contains Immortal Body Shimmer, Crown Mascara, Mortal Glow and Twilight Venom, in shades that will either get you hot like Jacob or stay cool with Edward, and they come in gorgeous black patent makeup bags to keep them in.
Sugahfix.com have teamed up with Simple Beauty to giving you the chance to win your team's kit! So do you think Jacob is too hot to handle or does Edward give you the chills?
All Twilight make up products can be purchased at www.simplebeauty.co.uk ! There are lip stains, body shimmers and loose eye shadows in two gorgeous Twilight ranges, Volturi and Luna!
Enter your details in the form below.
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T's & C's Two winners will be drawn at random from all entries on 15th July. One winner will receive the Team Edward kit and one winner will receive the Team Jacob kit. There is no cash alternative. Winners will be notified by email Winners will have their prizes posted to the addressed given in the form below. The editors decision is final.
Go Tropical To Banish Those Blemishes
Friday, 25 June 2010 12:34
By Katrina Doran.
At age 15, but also at 30 or 40, even your sebaceous glands can ‘get carried away' and cause unsightly skin breakouts.
Hormonal imbalances, contraception, tobacco, stress, sun, unsuitable skin care products... and a combination of all or some of these elements can build up to blemishes.
While it's almost a right of passage for any teen to have a few spots - an increasing number of women over the age of 30 are seeing these unsightly symptoms appear and persist on their skin. The skin is shiny, the complexion is dulled, and pores are clogged. Some acne treatment products can strip the skin, inflame the pores, cause dehydration and leave the skin in a worse state that it started!
For teenagers, adults, women or men, the new Cream-Mask with Tropical Resins by Sisley is a powerful piece of kit in your arsenal to banish those blemishes.
Deep-cleansing, purifying, astringent, it mattifies, tightens pores and refines the skin's texture, efficiently yet gently. Active ingredients with powerful absorbent and sebo-regulating properties: Kaolin (white clay) features super-absorbent capacities that allow it to eliminate excess sebaceous secretions and other surface impurities that dull the complexion. And Zinc: a trace element recognized by dermatologists in the treatment of acne. Purifying and astringent active ingredients including tropical resins of Myrrh, Benzoin, Incense plus Burdock and Rosemary all act on the bacterial flora.
The Cream-Mask with Tropical Resins should be applied in a thick layer over the whole face, freshly cleansed, on affected areas, once or twice a week. Leave on for 10 minutes; rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water, before applying your day or night cream. The range is suitable for young skins as well as more mature ones, thanks to its ultra-gentle formula. I use the mask as an overnight blemish banisher - when I see a spot appearing I apply a small amount of the mask to the blemish and leave it on overnight. In the morning any swelling and redness is reduced. Regular use on the whole face or just on oily areas like the t-zone - will help prevent blockages and breakouts.
One of the best things about this range is that it doesn't feel like you're using a spot treatment range. It's a grown up range that looks and feels as luxurious as your most indulgent lotions and potions but you know it's fighting those unsightly spots and keeping your potentially over productive sebaceous gland in check so you have smooth clear skin.
Regular use of the Mask, in association with the 3 other products in the range, provides reinforced results: Soapless Facial Cleansing Bar, Lotion and Complex with Tropical Resins all work together to controls sebaceous secretions, purify pores leaving skin feeling fresh and pure.
Sisley's Tropical Resins range is available at the Sisley counter at House of Fraser Belfast.
Trend Spotter - Get The Look
Friday, 11 June 2010 10:25
By Katrina Doran
We've had a massive response to our Trend Spotter fashion shoot at The OUTLET with many of you asking about the amazing hair and make-up as well as the fashion fabulous bargains. So we spoke to Sugahfix faves Make-up Artist Paula Fraser and Hairdresser Suzan Manning for some insider tips on how they created the looks on the day.
Make-up by Paula Fraser
"For this shoot, we wanted to keep the make up minimal and fresh, but sexy and smudgy at the same time. The main focus was the eyes and I used a very soft, creamy black kohl pencil which I pressed into the lash line then smudged and blended it with a cotton bud. The entire eye was lined, even on the waterline for a dramatic effect, and then finished off with lashings of black mascara.
The lips were kept nude at the start of the shoot, and splashes of glossy berry colour was added for different shots.
We really wanted to intensify the look towards the end of the shoot, so I went for charcoal black smokey smudgy eyes, and used a silver shimmer to highlight the brow bone and finish the look. I kept the lips nude and matte as it was all about the eyes and fresh summer skin."
For more info on Paula Fraser click on the link to check out her brand new
website - it's fab! www.paulafraser.com
Hair by Suzan Manning at Zuni Hair Consultants
There were so many trends in one shoot that I wanted to create slight tweaks with the hair to compliment the fashion. I started with ghd barrell curls & hot style constructor by L'Oreal worn loose & curly for a fun, soft look with the pretty floral prints and the more boho festival looks and then just worked with the looks to get bigger and more voluminous. After all the jumping for the Luella tribal trousers look the curls had dropped out a little so I started pilling the hair high and working with quiffy looks (check out the image on the home page!).
The big bun worn high on top of the head was perfect to show off Sarah's stunning face and let the more sophisticated looks for going to the races and wedding occassionwear really stand out. The final look was very Rhianna - with a high pontail and crimped sections. In the middle of creating this look Katrina loved the crimped panels and we did a quick shot with the little Satin tuxedo jacket from Oasis with this look - sometimes you never know what happened on a shoot! For the final look then back-combed the crimped pieces and dressed it forward onto the face for a really edgy couture-fashion-diva finale to the shoot.
One lucky winner will be picked at random from all entries on Tuesday
15th June 3pm. The winner will be notified by email. The prize
package must be used Monday-Thursday before 11th July 2010. Prize can
be used at either the Slieve Donard or the Culloden.
Check out www.hastingshotels.com
for more information.
To book call
Spa at Culloden: 028 9042 1135
Spa at Slieve Donard: 028 4372 6166
World Cup Widows
Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:15
By Katrina Doran.
Are you dreading the dawn of the World Cup? Lots of us gals are going to become World Cup Widows over the next few weeks so why not take this golden opportunity to leave your other half in front of the match and escape by yourself or with your pals to the Spa at Culloden or Spa at Slieve Donard for a little pampering!
The World Cup Widows package is a hat-trick of treats available Mondays to Thursdays during the World Cup Season (11th June - 11th July).
Leave all things football at home and indulge with a 55-minute spa treatment including your choice of a glass of bubbly or a non-alcoholic cocktail with nibbles for only £65!
During the first half of the match, while he is getting into the game, you could be being pampered - well into half time. Then when the tension is hotting up at home - you and your gal pals will be indulging in some bubbly and nibbles, and relaxing until all the proceedings of the match are well and truly done.
We have a fab prize of two World Cup Widow packages for one lucky winner and a friend.
One lucky winner will be picked at random from all entries on Tuesday 15th June 3pm. The winner will be notified by email. The prize package must be used Monday-Thursday before 11th July 2010. Prize can be used at either the Slieve Donard or the Culloden.
Check out www.hastingshotels.com for more information.
To book call
Spa at Culloden: 028 9042 1135
Spa at Slieve Donard: 028 4372 6166
Elemis Travel Essentials Now Available Online
Thursday, 27 May 2010 15:10
By Katrina Doran.
Elemis' official online retailer www.timetospa.co.uk has just launched their exclusive Travel Shop online.
Launched in time for summer, the Travel Shop offers up to 40 Elemis products in the perfect travel sizes for your holiday essentials for him and her.
With prices from £2 - £25 you can afford to take away all your Elemis treats without having to worry about your baggage allowance.
With 50ml bottles of your favourite cleanser and toner for just £6 each it's more than enough for your holidays. I do like to have a face mask with me on holiday to pep up my skin before a big night out so the 15ml tubes of Elemis best selling skincare masks are ideal. There is nothing like the Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvinating mask to leave skin glowing with this intense, rejuvenating moisture hit. A great pre-party pick me up!
We would also pack the Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel 20ml (£4) in our flight back to relieve tired legs and muscle tension, especially in the neck, shoulders and temple. We wouldn't be without S.O.S. cream and we'll be popping the 15ml tube into our handbag in case of sunburn or random skin rashes - it's a travel essential.
What's more, you also have the chance to try a few new products as the current offer allows you to buy 5 items and receive the 6th completely free. Available until 31st August 2010
M&S have revealed a beauty make-over for 2010 with all their ranges given a formulation revamp as well as the packaging plus a gorgeous and affordable new make up collection.
In redeveloping Formula skincare, M&S has refined how to cater for skin's changing needs at whatever stage of life. Whether it's an essential cleanse, tone and moisturise regime, tackling the first signs of ageing, intense anti-ageing and repairing, or complexions in need of rehab, there's a range that's skin specific and precision targeted. M&S have cherry picked some of the effective and most popular skincare items and given them an M&S twist.
The Beauty Heroes are six essential skincare products have achieved brilliant results with the M&S panel of real women testers - check out their feedback on the product packing.
Formula Age Repair Phytoceramide Treatment Oil is a beauty steal at just £7.50. If you love Decleor's treatment oils - try this for ultimate hydration - perfect for post holiday skin or anyone who is exposed to dehyrating air conditioning.
Formula Age Repair Ceramide Collagen Serum is also a super effective beauty bargain at £9.50 and we think it will give Boots Protect and Perfect a run for its money.
If you love the new Boots Protect and Perfect intense - try Advance Formula Cosmetox Intense Serum Plus £19.50. 85% of women who tried it felt their skin felt rejuvenated in just four weeks. Billed as ‘Botox in a bottle' this product works to visibly relax facial lines and is a pain free, non-toxic serum which offers a safe and natural looking alternative to surgery or injectables.
Formula Age Restructure Calcium Complex Contouring Neck Cream (£12) saw 73% of testers reporting an immediate lift and tightening effect while 79% saw improvement in firmness of their skin.
Advanced Formula Peptides Firm & Lift Beauty Balm (£19.50) is a pick me up for jaded skin, helps reduce wrinkles, lifts and tightens and can be used under make-up or as a regular moisturiser.
Advanced Formula Solutions 4 Week Intense Brightening Treatment (£15) is an overnight restorative treatment with a two step approach to boost skin radiance.
Perfection is the new make-up range from M&S. From everyday staples to advanced make up with skincare benefits, Perfection offers high quality, colour-rich formulas, smooth, easy-blend foundations, fine milled powders and volume building mascaras - all in signature luxurious packaging. With every beauty need addressed, from age defying, moisturising, sun protecting and long-last wear, Perfection is also hypo-allergenic.
Star items from the Perfection range include Perfection Time Defying Foundation, SPF 25, (£12) for long-lasting coverage with anti ageing ceramides, Perfection Day & Night Mascara (£5) ; double ended mascara delivering well dressed lashes for day and full-on-wow for after dark and Perfection Blend and Perfect Concealer Duo (£7.50); a neat little compact containing two creamy concealers to blend or use individually. Glamour girls will love Perfection Illuminating Bronzing Powder (£12), a fabulous two tone illuminating bronzing powder in a luxe compact; and Perfection Super Nourish Lipstick, SPF 20 (£9.50); volume boosting and creamy colour in 12 rich shades.
For some pocket money purchases - how about instantly updating your make-up kit with an Essential Colours Lipstick in Bright Magenta at just £2.50 and play around with this seasons essential pastel nail polishes with M&S's mini nail polish selection at just £5. Paint each nail and each toe a different colour for a candy-cute dolly mixture effect.
For sexy summer shimmer, Tess Daly ramps up the glamour factor with her award winning beauty range. Face, legs, arms, décolletage, or whatever you dare to bare, the all new Tess bronzing balms give skin a gorgeous, sexy glow.
And remember - all M&S Beauty is BUAV certified and authorised to carry the Leaping Bunny logo, which is the absolute gold standard in cruelty-free cosmetics.
The Hardie Girl
Friday, 14 May 2010 10:51
By Katrina Doran.
Having truly clean skin is the foundation of the best skincare regime. All too commonly women, and men!, skimp on their cleanser opting to invest in their moisturiser instead, but for optimum skincare results - cleanser is key!
As someone who suffered from teenage acne, and still suffers breakouts of adult acne - cleansing has been almost an obsession since my teenage years however over-cleansing can be damaging too so achieving the cleanest pores possible without over stripping the skin has literally been my holy grail of skincare.
Eve Lom and Liz Earle's cleansers are the top of the range products and with the recent launch of Elemis' anti-ageing cleanser I thought I'd found my holy grail but the beauty industry is always unveiling new products and I've had my socks knocked off with the discovery of Emma Hardie's Professional Cleansing System (£39) which has just been launched in Space NK stores in Belfast.
The complete cleansing and exfoliating system, allows customised application to meet the specific needs of the skin and contains a large tub of Moringa Cleansing Balm, a small tub of Rosehip exfoliating seeds and Emma's amazing cleansing cloth. The Moringa Cleansing balm is a multi use product - somewhere between Eve Lom's iconic cleanser ( which you would never use as a treament) and Liz Earle's wonderbalm (which you would never use to cleanse!) this product can be used as a cleanser, as a soothing and softening mask as well as a universal rescue balm for dry skin conditions.
To cleanse - The balm should be mixed with a little warm water to create a milk and massaged into the skin using a special facial sculpting technique pioneered by Emma Hardie.
The balm melts away make-up (it does say that it removes eye make-up as well but personally I'd recommend removing eye-make-up separately) and is removed with the double-sided cloth. The abrasive muslin side of the cloth to exfoliate dry, lined, thickened and congested areas and the smoother micro fibre side for more delicate and sensitive areas. The main ingredient of Moringa oil is fantastic for purifying water so if you have limescale problems with your water so avoid wash-off cleaners - this is the product to go for. Skin is left feeling incredibly clean, smooth and supple; never tight.
I was impressed with the balm and the cloth and then (big dramatic pause!) I tried the Aromatherapy Infused Rosehip Exfoliating Seeds and was wowed all over again.
I do prefer to use a manual scrub to exfoliate and really work around the nose and blackhead prone areas and always go for a product with dense micro beads as some scrubs with natural ingredients like apricot kernal can actually damage your pores with their uneven shape and sharp edges. The superfine particles of the rosehip seeds felt amazing on my skin. When removed with the damp wash cloth my skin looked like it had been polished - plus with Emma's facial sculpting techniques there is also the ability to lift and sculpt the face too.
Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Skincare is available exclusively at Space NK
By Katrina Doran.
Could you be the Fresh Face of Clarins 2010?
We asked fans on our facebook page is they had any questions they'd like Lucy to ask Smashbox make-up artist Lori Taylor and mineral make-up was the hot topic. 
Lush's fun and frothy bath ballistic's never cease to amaze as they fizz and dissolve in your bath before you slip into the deliciously scented water to relax.
By Katrina Doran.
My therapist Sarah took me to the treatment room and talked through how I was feeling so she could tailor the treatment for me. I chose between two oils and then even picked a mood light to suit my mood. My massage was simply superb. 
By Katrina Doran.
By Katrina Doran.
"The inspiration for the hair came from the idea of forest nymphs...beautiful but disheveled and blending in with her natural surroundings!" said Olivia. "I used a mixture of hairpieces and plaiting/curling to create a texture in the hair. Even though the hair is curled/backcombed and quite messy, the integration of plaits added a cute and soft feel to the final look."
By Katrina Doran.
By Katrina Doran
By Katrina Doran.
By Katrina Doran.
By Katrina Doran.
If you love the new Boots Protect and Perfect intense - try Advance Formula Cosmetox Intense Serum Plus £19.50. 85% of women who tried it felt their skin felt rejuvenated in just four weeks. Billed as ‘Botox in a bottle' this product works to visibly relax facial lines and is a pain free, non-toxic serum which offers a safe and natural looking alternative to surgery or injectables.
Star items from the Perfection range include Perfection Time Defying Foundation, SPF 25, (£12) for long-lasting coverage with anti ageing ceramides, Perfection Day & Night Mascara (£5) ; double ended mascara delivering well dressed lashes for day and full-on-wow for after dark and Perfection Blend and Perfect Concealer Duo (£7.50); a neat little compact containing two creamy concealers to blend or use individually. Glamour girls will love Perfection Illuminating Bronzing Powder (£12), a fabulous two tone illuminating bronzing powder in a luxe compact; and Perfection Super Nourish Lipstick, SPF 20 (£9.50); volume boosting and creamy colour in 12 rich shades.
By Katrina Doran.