BEAUTY MONTHLY FAVOURITES – JUNE 2015

This month has been about discovering new things: there’s something about the onset of summer that makes me want to explore new ranges and new products. As the weather perks up, I also fancy delving into some new make-up bits too. So June did get a tad spendy….

(l-r: Willow Organic Beauty Refreshing Cleansing Gel £34; Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser £28)

This Works Clean Skin Gentle Cleanser – £19
You’ve got to love a product name that almost sounds like a haiku. I picked up a tube of this cleanser at TK Maxx, and I have to say it’s been a total win-win.
Packed with Rosehip essential oil, Vitamin A plus anti-bacterial superheroes Frankincense and Eucalyptus, this combination of ingredients make a beautifully blended product that thoroughly cleans the skin whilst keeping it calm, happy and balanced. Not an easy feat to accomplish, but This Works pride themselves on products that perform each and every time, on a level that surpasses your expectations for that price range.
I’ve loved their moisturisers (an anti-ageing cream specifically designed for sensitive skin? Genius) but this cleanser really did surprise me. Its mid-weight texture makes it great for a morning cleanse; not too runny but quick and easy to rinse off as well. I like the minimum of fuss in the mornings (I’m not a morning person in ANY way), and this cleanser fits the bill perfectly.

Elemental Herbology Age Support Cell Active Rejuvenation Facial Moisturiser; £59

Dr Hauschka Revitalising Day Cream – £21
I’m already a fan of this brand, having fallen for its bestselling Rose Day Cream several years ago. I find it’s one of those collections where you can just dip in and try a product, feeling confident that your skin’s going to respond favourably across the board.
I’ve got their newly-released Night Serum within my sights for a future purchase, but for the meantime, a discount event at my local Debenhams saw me reaching for this staple. I’m fairly picky with moisturisers, and tend to stay loyal to a few brands that I trust, but I selected the Revitalising Day Cream with absolute confidence – and Dr Hauschka, bless them, didn’t let me down.
Containing extracts of Anthyllis (a soothing botanical that revives and strengthens tired skin) and Witch Hazel (invigorating; perfect for dry skin), the ingredients stimulate the skin’s natural moisturising process. This combination of actives means that this moisturiser’s ability to treat dry skin and balance patches of oiliness, make this a good option for those with combination skin. It leaves my skin feeling soothed, hydrated and incredibly soft every time I use it. I want a moisturiser I can rely on to calm my skin when it’s out of sorts, and the Revitalising Day Cream is remarkably consistent. At £21 for 30ml, this is definitely a luxury purchase, but it’s so efficient you don’t need much to start seeing results.

Chanel Les Beiges powder – £39
You can rely on Chanel to come up with the goods when it comes to creating that ‘must-have’ itch.
Bronzer has to be one of summer’s quintessential beauty favourites, but getting the shade right can prove a bit of a palaver. If your skin tone doesn’t sit within the average range, the search gets ever more fraught. But never fear – Chanel’s come to your rescue.
Instead of making a copycat bronzer, Chanel has created a gently tinted powder that creates a natural glow on the skin. Not necessarily tons of colour, but a warmth that revives the complexion. You’ll look like the outdoorsy type, even if you’ve spent all weekend replaying that episode of Game of Thrones.
It also works as a perfectly-muted bronzer shade for those with pale skin; easy to build up into a bolder colour, Les Beiges offers a sophisticated take on contouring. When it comes to defining the contours of your face with make-up, less is very definitely more. It offers an easy route in for those new to applying bronzer – it’s impossible to overload the skin as the powder is so finely milled. The end result is always understated and elegant, and let’s face it, it’s what you count on Chanel to deliver.
http://www.boots.com/en/CHANEL-LES-BEIGES-Healthy-Glow-Sheer-Powder_1312621/

NYX Butter Gloss – £6.50 There’s no way around it: selecting the right type of lip product for summer can be a tricky business. Gloss can slide around as the temperature rises; lipstick can melt and bleed. Normally I’m one for a tinted lip balm as this neatly combines a wash of colour with a formula that nourishes and stays put.
However, sometimes a girl likes to ring the changes. I found NYX’s Butter Gloss during a Sunday afternoon surfing session on Amazon. A gloss with a thicker consistency that not only leaves you with a good dose of colour but doesn’t melt in the heat? I was intrigued.
I ordered one in the shade ‘Apple Strudel’ (for somewhat obvious word-association reasons) and gave it a whirl. I must say now that this formula contains mineral oil – and NYX do the decent thing and list their products’ ingredients clearly on their website. My skin doesn’t have much of a problem with mineral oil, but if you have issues with this ingredient, just giving you a heads up.
I tried the Butter Gloss and found it to be a perfect mix of balm and gloss. What I loved about this formula is that the product doesn’t move around – it stays put, doesn’t dry out the lips and feels comfortable and wears well. It’s ideal for high summer and the shades available are as delicious as their names. Cherry Pie (a gorgeous vibrant red); Peaches and Cream (a perfect peach shade) and Maple Blondie (a sophisticated dusky pink) are just a few of my favourites.
http://www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk/lips/gloss?product_id=107

(l-r: Rosehip Plus Rosehip Oil 30ml £7.99; Good Things Argan Oil Perfecting Facial Oil £6.99)

Rosehip Plus Skin Boost Roll-On – approximately £7 from TK Maxx
I do like portable products; if you work long hours or have a daily commute that borders on the hellish, a skincare essential that you can tote around, to my mind, equates to sheer bliss.
For those with dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin, a good quality rosehip oil (organic, cold pressed) is one of those no-brainer products. Packed with naturally occurring vitamins, antioxidants and Omegas 3, 6 and 9, it should be, at the very least, on your radar if not already on your skincare shelf. Sorry to be bossy, but it’s just that good.
The problem with oils, of course, is that they’re not always the most portable skincare item. Australian brand Rosehip Plus has come up with an excellent solution: rosehip oil in a lightweight rollerball dispenser. It’s perfect for travel, and brilliant as an office desk must-have. This would be a fantastic addition to your holiday make-up bag too; sun-parched skin would definitely appreciate a bit of rosehip goodness. The rollerball also has the advantage of being economical: you literally dab on what you need and blend or pat into the skin.
There are other brands that offer this idea too: Aubrey Organics and Melvita offer rosehip oil in a rollerball applicator, but it’s important to note that these are available in small glass tubes. Still travel-friendly, but the Rosehip Plus version does have the advantage of sturdy, plastic packaging. Rosehip Plus is currently available in TK Maxx Stores but you can also find them online. A shameless plug, but I’m unrepentant as they’re one of the best brands I’m found this year.

HELEN TOPE

SUMMER BEAUTY PICKS

Summer brings its own unique set of beauty challenges, it is the season where we’re all meant to be having fun with beauty. Tropical colours, fun finishes and lightweight formulations should mean that beauty in summer should be a breeze.
But if you’ve ever struggled through a hot, humid summer you’ll know the reality is somewhat different. Foundation that refuses to stay put and slides down your face; your trusty moisturiser that now brings you out in spots – it’s enough to put a girl off summer for good (if it wasn’t for the ice-cream).
But there are ways and means. Here are my Top 5 picks for a beautiful, stress-free summer.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly (£24.99)
You might feel like skipping moisturiser altogether during summer, but your skin still needs the same loving care you would give it during colder months – just delivered in a slightly different way.
Indeed Labs have made a name for themselves creating notable products that are consumer favourites because they do the job without a whole lot of fuss. These are deceptively simple products, with a great deal of science to back them up. The latest launch, Hydraluron Moisture Jelly, is their ultimate lightweight moisturiser with a micro network complex that locks in moisture, keeping your skin hydrated for longer.
Perfect for combination / oily skins, this moisturising jelly also comes into its own during the height of summer. Delivering a high-octane dose of moisture without clogging the skin, it soothes sun-parched skin beautifully, keeping it in tip-top condition without breaking you out. It’s only been released this month, but this product is set to make itself a lot of new friends.
http://www.boots.com/en/Indeed-Labs-hydraluron-moisture-jelly_1493124/

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser (£34)
The conventional wisdom when it comes to wearing base in summer is to switch to a tinted moisturiser: a lighter texture equals a happier skin. But not all tinted moisturisers are created equal. There are definitely some great formulations out there (Benefit’s Big Easy, Liz Earle’s Sheer Skin Tint), but if you want the crème de la crème, Laura Mercier has got you covered.
The genius behind the Laura Mercier range of tinted moisturisers is just that: there is a range of formulations and finishes available. Laura Mercier has recognised that different skin types require a different approach from their tinted moisturiser, and with this in mind, Laura Mercier has created three versions: normal, illuminating and oil-free. All three come equipped with SPF20 and provide a hydrating, long-lasting finish. The oil-free formula is a star product; controlling oily patches that occur during the day, but still keeping the skin hydrated, which stops the colour from fading. This is a hard-working, adaptable formula – value for money isn’t often a plus touted in relation to premium beauty products, but Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturiser will give you exactly that.

Body Shop Honey Bronze bronzing powder (£13)
From a cult beauty buy to the best of the high street, this next item started life as part of a limited edition collection – and became so popular it has now become one of the Body Shop’s (permanent) beauty gems.
What makes this bronzer unique is its colour range: the very lightest shade has been designed to be used by even the palest skins. If you’ve tried bronzers and found them just too dark (however light a touch you use to apply it), the Body Shop Honey Bronze could be your ticket to bronzed, beautiful skin. Just a light sweep across your cheekbones is enough for a gentle, sophisticated glow. Even if you’re not uber-pale, but have found some bronzers to be (quite literally) too much in your face, Honey Bronze is a buildable formulation that gives you control over how much colour you’re putting on. The matte formula makes this bronzer look much more expensive than it really is, effortlessly giving a professional finish that will convert any bronzer newbie. Be not afraid – you can wear bronzer!

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Blusher stick (£9)
As good as Honey Bronze is, not everyone’s a bronzer girl. If you love your blusher, summer is the ideal time to step out of your routine and try new shades – and new formulas.
The blusher stick has been having a bit of a moment of late; brands such as No.7 and Clinique have produced creamy, easy-to-apply formulations that have proved immensely popular. Easy to blend, easy to control – it’s not hard to see why they have become a make-up bag must-have. Not requiring any brush for application, they’re also perfect for travel, making these products a no-brainer for your summer hols.
However, as much press attention as the No.7 formulas have received, I’m going to get controversial and say that Soap and Glory have produced an even better product. Their Sexy Mother Blusher sticks in berry-fuschia (Berry Jamm), coral peach (Onomatopeacha) and dusky pink (Pinkerbelle) are standout formulations: smooth, creamy and easy to blend onto the skin, these blusher sticks may look scary in the tube, but when applied onto the face, they become a beautiful, translucent wash of colour. Whether you want a delicate, barely-there shade or build up to something more defined, Soap and Glory leave that entirely up to you.
http://www.soapandglory.com/makeup/face/blusher-bronzer/sexy-mother-blusher

That’s the thing with summer: colour seems almost compulsory. While some colour can be scary (who actually wears neon eyeshadow?), for wearable, everyday-fabulous colour – you’ve got to go with coral.

(Braziliant)

Essie Corals Collection (£7.99 each)
A shade that is virtually synonymous with summer, coral works because it is a universally-flattering colour: tan or no tan, there is a coral out there for everyone.
While there are some serious contenders out there, no-one does coral better than nail brand Essie. Whilst adding a limited edition (Braziliant – spot the topical reference) to their existing range of shades, Essie has created corals for every mood. If you prefer your corals on the pink side, Sunday Funday will live up to its name. Like your coral with a bright, tropical twist? Peach Daiquiri and Tart Deco are a proper dose of high-summer colour.

(Sunday Funday)
With their wide, flat brush applicator, Essie polishes are easy to apply. Worn with a top coat, Essie shades frequently outlast their pricier counterparts – great for a holiday where the last thing you want to be thinking about is your nails.
That’s the key to thinking about summer beauty: not so much low-maintenance, but products that do the hard work for you. Whether that’s a one-shade-suits-all nail polish or a moisturiser that hydrates your skin without overwhelming it – just a few changes to your routine can make all the difference.
Summer may bring its own unique set of challenges, but there’s no reason why beauty should be one of them.

HELEN TOPE