Liberty 'What's your Issue?' week - I'm back.

I can't believe it's been a year since the first 'What's your Issue?' week at Liberty! I'm back this year for more.

On Wednesday 12th March I am doing a full day of one-to-one appointments like last year. The appointments last for 30 minutes and are a modified version of the actual skin consultations that I hold for private clients. They are priced £75.00 but that is fully redeemable against purchases made on the day. My private skin consultations are currently sold out and wait list only.

On Monday 17th March I'm holding an evening workshop entitled 'The Perfect Cleanse'. Essentially me ranting on about how to wash your face, why, when, what with and some hands-on demo'ing. *cracks knuckles*
All workshops are £10 - again redeemable against purchase. It's a no-brainer frankly. Let's have some fun.

To book the one-to-one appointments the link is here: One-to-One appointments.

To book the evening workshop the link is: The Perfect Cleanse.

And for more info on the other people/brands appearing look here: www.liberty.co.uk/skincare-week.

I have no control over the booking system - it's all in Liberty's hands. 

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Contouring Eye Lift

My list of eye 'must-have's' is getting larger and this beauty isn't helping matters.
Launching in April, Re-Nutriv Ultimate Contouring Eye Lift is one gorgeous product. Being part of the Re-Nutriv range, this is top of the line and what Lauder does best - the latest technology with the latest available high-tec ingredients.

In all honesty the press release is the usual 'extensive science and selling' and has a lot of terms like 'multi-dimensional optics' (me neither).
I prefer to ask what I always ask when I pick a product up and try it:

What is it?
A beautiful eye product for older skins. You don't need this if you're 20. If, however, your eyes have seen better days and you're the other side of 30/35, I'd be playing with this on counter when it launches.

What's in it? (and by this I mean baddies - not the goodies)
Nothing that I would normally avoid in an eye cream. No mineral oil and no bismuth oxychloride.
It does contain numerous peptides, camomile, algae, black tourmaline, pearl powder and gold - which normally I'm not that sold on in products. This however, is joyous.

What does it do?
Makes your eye area feel like you're 12 again. Smooth, soft, glowing. The only downside is that I want to apply it hourly and just stroke my orbital area. Oo-er.

How does it feel?
Gorgeous. Glorious. Expensive.
This is the key. It has a sculpted ceramic tip that stays ice cold. Always. New technology hidden somewhere in that tube keeps this almost freezing. OK it's not freezing per se, but it is wonderful when you get home, take everything off, apply this and go 'cooorrrrrrrrr'. I let a client play with this when I had it in my office and she made the 'face cream sex noise'. You know the one. That's when you know it's good.

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Contouring Eye Lift launches in April and is £100, making it clearly in the 'only if you can afford it' category.


*press sample - clearly - as it's not out yet....

Travel Bag - or 'How to turn a dehydrating flight into a spa session'

Last week I spent over 20 hours on an airplane. That's not much for some but it is for me. There are a few conditions that really compromise your skin - one of them is an airplane. All that recirculated air, no fresh air and everyone else's germs. Ugh.

The picture above is what I took last week, but the essence of it can be used and altered by anyone, with any skin type, on any budget.

Left to right:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Cleansing Wipes - for basic forehead, cheeks and chin makeup removal. I also had Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes which I love, but ran out of them on the plane. Any 'won't burn your face off' wipes will suffice. Yes, wipes on the blog. Fannies, flights and festivals.

Muji travel bottle filled with The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Soak one cotton pad at a time, hold gently over the eye and swipe across, down and away. Turn the cotton over and repeat - then do the same on the other eye. Please don't rub your eyes like you're using a pencil eraser.

aesop Travel bottle filled with P50. Your usual exfoliating toner/lotion goes here. Use a saturated cotton pad and swipe it all over. I take it across the entire face, under the eyes, the eyelids and over the lips (P50 tastes grim). You aren't getting a proper cleanse here so this can help you out.

Georgia Louise Hydrating Rose Water (travel pack size) - a good spray toner/mist will be your most used product on an airplane. A normal can of Evian will just dehydrate you - it just works better as a toner/floral water etc. Any good alcohol free toner can be used and decanted in to the spray version of the Muji bottles above. Spray liberally. And frequently. Even when the people around you look annoyed. :)

Chantecaille Nano Gold Energising Eye Serum - (gold tube lying flat) God I love this product. No sugar coating - it's prohibitively expensive - so much so that I literally save it for using when I fly. You can substitute any similar roller-ball-effect cooling eye product from pretty much anyone. The joy in using something like this when you fly - for me - is the cooling effect and the hygiene. Look Ma! No hands! I reapply this whenever I can feel I need it. No stiff directions - depends on the length of the flight, your skin etc..

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum  (small size) - love love love this. Massive antioxidant boost to help protect against what is essentially a locked room of free radicals and other people's germs. Also, smells delicious (not relevant, but joyous nonetheless) and gives you a lovely glow. Nice if like me, long-haul flying leaves you looking like you've given birth. No-one, NO-ONE steps off a plane looking like a supermodel. Not even supermodels. They go straight to the toilets in the VIP section with their 'team'. Stop with the nonsense.

Darphin 8 Flower Nectar  (GWP sample size) - I love this oil but only really use it if I have an overnight flight. Whack it on, try and sleep (or get no sleep, end up watching 3 films and exit plane as above) and let it give you a layer of lovely smelling protection. Substitute any of your normal facial oils that you can decant into smaller bottles.

Chantecaille Magnolia, Jasmine and Lily Healing Emulsion (GWP sample size) - lovely, light, super-hydrating, really good for layering. Substitute any good hydrating, light lotion. You can layer this over other products, add extra layers on during the flight without it rolling...just keeps you soft and hydrated.

Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser (trial pack size) - pretty self explanatory. If it's a night flight/red eye: cleanse, P50, spritz, eye, serum or oil, then this. Marvellous.

Ila Day Cream for Glowing Radiance (travel pack size) - OK so my travel products clearly have a theme. Call something 'glowing radiance' and I'm in. Arriving during the day? When the seat belt signs go on for landing I do a quick spritz and apply this. You can substitute any of your daytime moisturisers and decant into travel pots. If you're landing in a hot climate remember your SPF.

Ole Henriksen Truth Creme Advanced Hydration (decanted into brown pot front right) - This is probably my current favourite for travel - really seems to keep the moisture in and doesn't 'roll' when you layer. The citrus scent is again brilliant for being up in the Gods with no air.

Carmex/Duwop LipVenom - standard lip and a slightly more 'zingy' one to wake me up when necessary!

Chantecaille Gold Energizing Eye Recovery Mask - these are new. They're nice - but to be honest, I much prefer the roller. It's amazing.




*purchases and samples - no affiliates

feel unique new Store opening

Just a quick one for you lucky people in Jersey. feel unique have just opened a store in St Helier stocking - for the first time on the Island - such gems as Urban Decay and Chanel. Covering over 2500 square feet and stocking 22,000 products from over 500 lines, it's a must-have. Enjoy.

www.feelunique.com

Horst Rechelbacher 1941 - 2014

I landed to find out that Horst Rechelbacher passed away on Saturday 15th.

Horst was the Founder of Aveda - my first job in the industry - and Intelligent Nutrients.

He was an inspiration to those who worked with him and for him.

The beauty world will miss his vision and true care for the planet and people. It was never gimmicky with Horst, everything was done with passion and commitment.

He wrote many books but the Aveda Rituals book is a must-have for anyone interested in good health and well-being.

The world needs more people like him and he will be sadly missed.