Backstage at Stella McCartney with Sunday Riley

This post was updated 13.10.14: see below

I promise I'm not strangling that poor girl.

 I was lucky enough to work the Stella McCartney shows again this season, both the Green Carpet Challenge with Livia Firth in London and Stella's SS15 show in Paris last week. They are always a highlight of the year and Stella's team are a joy to work with.
This is personally my 3rd season and it was busier than ever last week. We had models queuing for a morning massage. Queuing! You know when you have those moments of 'I'm so unbelievably grateful that this is my job'? I had those all morning. What a dream.

The old adage of models not taking care of their skin is so not the case anymore. These girls know their faces are their fortune and their skin showed it. The odd blemish aside, it was mainly a case of giving them a little brightening, a little massage and a glow. This was week 4 of fashion week for most of these girls and dehydration was the only sign that they have worked - in most cases - non-stop and been on flights continuously for more than a month.

I am always asked for the routine used. Last week the brief from Pat McGrath was soft, glowing skin and to achieve that I:

• cleansed with Ceramic Slip (sometimes mixed with Good Genes and used as a mask depending on the model's skin)
• removed with damp cotton pads (moistened with mineral water, not tap)
• massage with either Juno or Artemis oils - again depending on the skin type and concern - using a small amount of product is key. Too much oil means slip not grip and a greasy catwalk makeup. Not good.
• apply Start Over eye cream 
• apply a small amount of Bionic moisturiser to give the perfect makeup base for the team

Most of the girls had a power nap during the massage. I avoided too much lymph drainage - by week 4 of fashion week your immune system is on high alert and under considerable strain, if I was to really work the lymph they could have come down with colds/got sniffly and no-one would thank me for that with days of shows left.

I mainly worked the temples/forehead and cheeks, relaxing the face and giving a glow.

Dani with her gorgeous face that I frankly just wanted to squeeze. Look at that skin.

 The finished faces.

As per your requests in the comments see below my untouched photographs from some of the shows. The only thing being touched up in any of these is my bosom. :)

Gorgeous gorgeous Dani.

For more information on Sunday Riley www.sundayriley.com

All photography courtesy of Sunday Riley. Huge thanks to the team at Stella McCartney.

Sunday Riley: The difference between Artemis, Juno and Isis

As soon as I posted the picture above on Instagram I was inundated with questions asking what the difference was between the 3 oils.

Here is a very quick guide:

All three are dry oil formulas and made with 100% organic cold pressed seed oils - where they differ is what oils they contain and which skin types they are for. All of the oils below however, will give you the word I'm so obsessed with at the moment: GLOW.

Juno

The original.

Juno is high in powerhouse, antioxidant-rich, superfood seed oils and the key difference from the others - and the reason I think it is so popular - is that it is completely essential oil free - and thus suitable for skin that doesn't play well with essential oils. Loaded omega 3/6/9, essential amino acids, vitamins A&C it's a natural anti-inflammatory.

Key ingredients:

• blackberry seed oil
• blueberry seed oil
• cranberry seed oil
• red raspberry seed oil
• black cumin seed oil
• wild carrot seed oil
• broccoli seed oil

Skin type: All/Sensitive

Artemis

Artemis is aimed at a slightly confused skin - it is clarifying and toning and smells nicer than Juno due to the medicinal lemon ironbark and myrtle. This one is anti-inflammatory, cleansing and purifying. 

Key ingredients:

• lemon ironbark essential oil
• lemon myrtle essential oil
• pink grapefruit essential oil
• pomegranate seed oil
• black cumin seed oil
• milk thistle seed oil
• flax seed oil

Skin type: Congested/Inflamed/Dull/Combination

Isis Now called Flora

Flora is your pick-me-up and back-me-up and is aimed at a slightly older skin. It includes Russian, Bulgarian and Turkish roses and is anti-wrinkle, regenerating and helps support the fatty acid content of the epidermis. Restores radiance, texture and hydration on a cellular level.

Key ingredients:

• rose essential oil
• palma rose essential oil
• rose geranium essential oil
• rosehip seed oil
• pomegranate seed oil
• wild carrot seed oil
• chia seed oil
• tomato seed oil

Skin type: Dehydrated/Fatigued/Mature (me)

All of these oils can be used over or under moisturiser or on their own.

I tend to use a couple of drops in the morning under my moisturiser if I'm wearing make-up or slightly more in the evening - either on its own or on top of my serums.

Sunday Riley is available from Sephora.com  and www.CultBeauty.com

Coming soon....... from Sunday Riley