Clarins: Brand Catch Up

This french beauty house has been around for years and does beautiful products that just work. Over the years I've kind of lost contact with many of it's collections and products. The only thing I found myself using again and again was the Beauty Flash Balm but more of that later. So recently when I had the chance to catch up with it's PR team, I was more than happy to do so and surprised to find many things have changed, all for the better of course and I have picked out what I think are it's hero products and what appeals to me for use in my work.

Beauty Flash Balm

A long staple in my arsenal when making up celebrities, this wonder product works by creating a film over facial skin that refreshes and tightens the complexion. As a result makeup lasts longer and just looks better! Now some have expressed less than satisfactory results but I have hand-to-heart used this on every celeb I have worked on and it never fails each time. The knack is to not massage the product into skin and to use as few broad strokes as possible. I always have a spare just in case, it's that good!

RRP £27.50 for 50ml.

Eye Revive Beauty Flash 

To put it simply, this is the eye equivalent of the Beauty Flash Balm. Upon application, tired eyes are soothed and refreshed and the skin around the eye appears softer and smoother. All this is achieved without any greasy film or texture! I've found that eye makeup tends to hold better as well as smoother firmer skin means easier application!

RRP £26.50 for 20ml.

Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation

Just as the weather's getting colder and central heating is causing dryness to our skins, this sheer and satiny foundation packed with minerals and plant extracts is perfect. The texture is a curious fluid/cream that provides good coverage and whilst giving skin nourishing hydration, it doesn't appear at all shiny so from a MUA's point of view, it's gorgeous satin finish is perfect for photography work. 

Pink Algae Extract helps energize skin for better hydration while Brown Algae Extract and Acacia Gum forms a hydrofilm over the complexion to prevent moisture loss. It comes in 10 very user-friendly shades. I can see this being my go-to foundation this winter!

RRP £24 for 30ml.

Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil

I'm a huge fan of facial oils. They're great for massaging onto skin at night to really nourish and allow the complexion to absorb whilst you sleep. Also great to massage before applying makeup to really get circulation going and achieve that glowing complexion! Now here's a great tip, I often mix 1 drop of a treatment oil to my foundation on palm, then mix and smooth onto face, working it in to really get the pigments all into the skin. What this will achieve is a sheer base that is soft and just great glowy skin! So for anyone suffering from annoying dry flakey skin no matter how much you exfoliate, this technique is great!

Blue Orchid is for dehydrated skin, combined with the stimulating properties of Patchouli and the soothing benefits of Rosewood. The base oil is Hazelnut oil which is rich in powerful anti-oxidant Vitamin E. 

There's also:

Santal for dehydrated skin, a combination of Sandalwood, Lavender and Cardamom essential oils in Hazelnut oil. Great for soothing and relaxing tight dehydrated skin.

Lotus for combination or Oily skin, a combination of Lotus, Geranium and Rosemary essential oils in Hazelnut oil. Great for decongesting and repairing oily or combination skin.

All 3 oils are available to buy now but if you want the new packaging with the dropper, it will be available January 2012.

RRP £29 for 30ml.

So has anyone used anything from Clarins yet? I must say one of the best things about this brand is the powerful plant benefits combined with beautiful textures and colours. And the intoxicating delicious natural aromas also make it a luxurious choice if you're ever in need of a sensory treat! 

There's quite a few more products I would love to shout about but can't yet as it's still too early but as soon as I get the go ahead to tell you about it, I will! You are all in for a treat so stay tuned and be sure to check back ok?

 
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Product Breakdown: Courtney Love for Vanity Fair

This summer I had the chance to work with the iconic Courtney Love and I was really excited! Personally I have never seen her look better than when Kevyn Aucoin did her makeup so with that in mind, I had a rough idea as to how I'd love her to look!

The look I wanted was a naturally glowing look that didn't scream makeup. Beautiful skin, softly enhanced features and classiness was how I saw the look. Anyway Courtney turned out to be everything and more that I expected! Intensely intelligent, funny and intuitive, the brief amount of time I spent doing her makeup was filled with fascinating conversation about art, literature, music, food and of course Kevyn Aucoin. She broached the subject when she saw in the mirror how I did the makeup and approved, to which I took as a compliment!

Hairstylist maestro and wonderful friend Selena Middleton did magic with Courtney's hair and put it up in an intricate but yet effortless up-do and Uber-talented photographer Jason Bell took these mesmerising shots.

Face Prep: Bioderma Crealine H2O Micellar Cleanser, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spa Water Spray, Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion, Guerlain Meteorites Perles Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer, Lanolips 101 Ointment.

Face: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Chanel Eclat Lumiere, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage.

Eyes: MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy, Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Prelude 33, Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder in Medium, Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Noir Black 10, Paris-Berlin Beige Pencil, Madina Shiny Stick in 100.

Eyebrows: Chanel Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Brun Naturel 30, MAC Clear Browfix.

Cheeks: Kevyn Aucoin The Cream Glow in TanSoleil, Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder in Medium, Madina Shiny Stick in 100.

Lips: Lanolips 101 Ointment, Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in La Ravissante.

Powder: Chanel Poudre Universelle Compact in Clair 20.

I love this shoot and am thrilled with the results but more importantly I enjoyed every single minute spent working with such a fascinating person and the talented team. I really hope you guys like the look as much as I do.

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Product Breakdown: Michelle Dockery at The Cosmos 2011

Anyone who knows me will know that I am a huge fan of period drama, Downton Abbey. So guess how excited I was when I found out I got to work with the show's leading lady Michelle Dockery for The Cosmopolitan Women Awards! Having previously worked with her on a shoot, I knew what I wanted to do with Michelle's makeup. I wanted to keep it very young and fresh but still slightly sophisticated. I wanted her to look expensive, classy and yet cool and effortless! To put it simply, I wanted supernaturally glowy skin with a soft flush, a hint of dusky shimmer on the eyes and a natural lip. So with the help of fabulous celeb stylist Angie Smith and my partner in crime, the amazingly talented & funny hairstylist Lara Zee, I think we achieved what we wanted and then some! 

Face Prep: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, Sisley Floral Spray Mist, Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Guerlain L'or Radiance Concentrate, SUQQU Lip Essence Cream R.

Face: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, YSL Touche Eclat, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage.

Eyes: Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Colour in SV810 & BK912, Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Colour Trio in GY901, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Mirifique, YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara in Deep Black.

Eyebrows: MAC Clear BrowFix.

Cheeks: Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blusher in POP, St. Tropez Rose Skin Illuminator.

Lips: SUQQU Lip Essence Cream R, Ellis Faas Creamy Lips in L108.

Powder: SUQQU Nuancing Loose Powder in Natural.

Nails: Ciate Paint Pots in Power Dressing.

Lara did a beautiful natural wave/curl that she dressed with her fingers to get a soft and natural feel, then proceeded to pin up sections to expose the radiant Michelle! Angie also dressed Michelle in a gorgeous gown by Burberry. Safe to say Michelle looked every inch the star that she is! What do you guys think? Once again comments are always welcome.

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