Monday, 30 November 2009

It's Christmas time!

It's Christmas time!


Here at Beautiful You we are feeling the Christmas vibe already! With Christmas decorations going up, Christmas foods all around and many Christmas parties round the corner, we have been busy planning our Christmas party skincare and make up routine.


If you're new to our site, it's simple, we want to talk about all things beautiful! Check out our Autumn posts in the Seasons section, or our top tips at the bottom of the page, and let us know what you think at info@beautyu.co.uk.

Party skincare routine

Before the party
Preparing your skin for that party season you've waited for so long is the key. Remember, the face is your canvas for the make up so it needs to be in its best condition. The three steps of cleansing, toning and moisturising are very important to improve any areas of concern that you have and by sticking to that routine you may say goodbye to the breakouts, blemishes, fine lines and even dark circles. The moisturiser that I use at the moment is
Hydra Floral by Decleor; first application made such a difference to my thirst quenching skin. No wonder people say that it ‘provides continuous drip-feed hydration’.

I know Christmas is the most expensive time of the year, but if you have a few spare pennies, it would be great if you could treat yourself to a relaxing, more penetrating and cleansing facial that will make your skin look even better. For range and prices of facials check your local beauty salons.

On the day of the party - two things to remember: sleep and hydration!

You need to remember that adequate amount of sleep before the party (at least 8 hours) will be crucial to you feeling well rested for the big day. In addition, drink plenty of water; this will not only help your complexion by hydrating the skin but also will help your stomach to feel fuller so you won’t eat more than you need, and will help you from getting dehydrated if you by any chance overdo on the mulled wine.


Christmas party eyes

I really like to focus on my eyes at Christmas. This year, Lancome have introduced a version of Hypnose which is called 'Drama' and aims to magnify the lashes by 12 times, it is perfect for extending the lashes for Christmas parties.


Christmas is the time of year to go over the top with everything, so I like to use colours, and sparkles as much as possible. Glam Crystals from Collection 2000 are a must have in my Christmas party handbag, I like to layer some crystals over my eyelid like an eyeshadow before going out, and keep it in my handbag for re-applying more heavily throughout the night. And costing less than a fiver you can afford to get them in more than one colour!


For a more sophisticated party look, I apply a thick layer of Laura Mercier eye liner, smudging it slightly with a thin brush. I then choose a colour that will compliment my eyes. At the moment I love Lancome Colour design 'Best dressed' as it brings out the green in my eyes. I take a small precise eye shadow brush and apply a thin line under my eyeliner to frame the eyes, and then apply small strokes to the eye lid, using very little powder to begin with and building up the colour, adding depth with a darker eye shadow. This look lasts for a whole night of partying, frames the eyes beautifully, and looks amazing in those party photos that are sure to do the rounds in the new year!

Look out over the next week for info on eye treatments from eye brow tints to eye lash perms.


If your heading off to a Christmas party this week, have fun and remember Stay Beautiful!



Stace & Mags x

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Why it’s good to use a toner?

Why it's good to use a toner?

Facial toners should fall in the middle of each skincare routine. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing. Some dermatologists say that if you cleanse your face regularly twice daily you don’t need to use a toner. I can tell you from experience though that toners keep my combination skin at bay - it's clean, fresh and toners help remove the excess oil from my T-zone.

Recently someone asked me why the need for a toner in her daily routine? It’s simple; a good toner removes excess oil from the skin and whisks away impurities that usually lead to blemishes and breakouts.

There are toners containing alcohol and people with problem skin usually reach for it as it dries the skin faster. You should look for a product specifically designed for you, preferably without alcohol. If you suffer from oily or acne-prone skin, toners containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxyl acid could be of your choice. However, if the amount of alcohol is too high it can provoke production of more oils which in turn means more blemishes, blackheads and clogged pores.

Benefits of using facial toners:

  • Remove dirt and makeup residue
  • Complement the cleansing process
  • Refine pores and tighten pores temporarily
  • Make skin feel fresh and clean
  • Remove excess oil from the skin
  • Refresh tired complexion
  • Whisk away impurities
  • Increase blood circulation
  • Restore your skin’s natural pH balance
  • Improve skin tone
  • Speed up cell renewal

Useful tips:

  • When applying toner avoid the eye area
  • If your skin is sensitive look for a rosewater facial toner
  • Never rub your skin when applying facial toner
  • A toner containing alcohol can dry out your skin
  • Always apply the toner to a cleansed face

I would urge you to use toner every day when you cleanse your face. It can only help your skin!

Stay beautiful!

Beautiful buy of the week

Beautiful buy of the week

No 7 Liplicious Gloss from Boots (RRP £9.25 12ml)

I, like every lady who is breathing on this planet, loves my Lancome juicy tubes. They are great for parties, sparkly and always stay in place, but the high price tag (RRP £13.50 15ml) means keeping my strawberry flavoured tubes for the weekend.

Liplicious gloss, by Boots No 7 is a great everyday alternative. It lasts a long time, is non sticky, moisturising and the marshmallow one tastes fab! I always stock up when Boots have the £5 No 7 voucher deals, that’s the kind of math I like to do!!!