Tsars and T-Zones

This Valentine’s Day my husband and I went to see the V&A’s exhibition Magnificence of the Tsars (bless him). I’m a sucker for 18th century history as you know and the exhibition was bursting with the most opulent men’s wear from the court of Peter II of Russia. As I walked around what struck me the most was the quality, pristine colour and detail, which could still be seen on these clothes, which were 300 years old. The craftsmanship was mind blowing. It also got me thinking that these clothes had outlasted both Imperial Russia and Communist Russia. With our current economic downturn it’s also time to start thinking about smart beauty choices and investing in a few quality beauty buys is much better than buying lots of faddy ones you won’t look at twice.

Like an investment wardrobe I believe there are investment beauty buys. Good quality cleansers are major investment beauty buy as they’re the closest things to touch the skin. Deep cleansing is a must if you want glowing skin so always go for the best quality cleanser you can afford. The amazing jackets and uniforms in the V & A were only able to look that good and stand the test of time because they were kept clean and well preserved. To help your skin fair as well, try Dermalogica’s Special Cleansing Gel as it’s soap free, which won’t strip the skin and balm mint and lavender also keeps skin feeling refreshed and calm. Simple’s Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash is also a great soap free wash and leaves skin feeling smooth and protected with vitamin E.

When it comes to a cleansing balm you can’t beat Amanda Lacey’s Cleansing Pomade. It’s expensive but will last for at least a couple of months and good skin means less heavy duty make up and break outs. The texture melts like butter onto the skin and is rich in Vitamin E and D and calendula oil to leave skin soft and clean. A more wallet friendly choice is the iconic Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish with antiseptic hops and circulation boosting rosemary, which gets out mascara without scrubbing. Healthy and clean skin is always a good look so help it stand the test of time with a little TLC.

Eyeliner Question from Daph

Dear Ateh,
I use a pencil eyeliner but I am not pleased with the result - I find that it is smudged and the outline of the eyes is not even as one eye is more pronounced than the other. As a mature woman is it better to use a liquid eyeliner or can you give me tips on using a pencil as I prefer not to use liquids.
Many Thanks
Daph



Hi Daph,
Thanks for your question. I love eyeliners as they give your eyes definition and when used on the upper eyelid can give your lashes more volume. As a fabulous older woman I would suggest sticking to a super soft eyeliner pencil as this gives a less harsh finish. Also jet black can look quite severe for everyday, so try experimenting with other colours such as dark browns, sables, taupes on fair skin tones and dark violets, dark greens and dark greys and slates on darker skin tones. I love Dior’s Crayon Eyeliner in Deep Brown or Precious Violet, which comes with a blending tip so you can smudge and gently blend the colour. Rimmel also do great pencils which won’t drag the skin – try the Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Sable Brown or Stormy Grey. For a touch of fun why not try metallic? Shu Uemura do a delicious soft liner called Drawing Pencil in Metallic Brown. When it comes to applying eyeliner it can be daunting but try resting your elbow on a table and with the mirror in front of you draw on the liner in small strokes until you build up to a full line. If you have small eyes try only lining the outer corner and drag the line out to elongate the eye area and give the illusion of larger eyes. Practice makes perfect so keep going for it and have fun!!!

Love Ateh

Exfoliation and Trends Question from Michelle

Hi Ateh,
Wanted to ask you, which do you think is the best exfoliating face product and also a moisturizer for very dehydrated skin?Also what do you think is the look for this summer, colours and nail colours etc Thank You!



Hi Michelle,

Exfoliation

Exfoliation is a key way to gently rid the skin of dead dull inducing skin cells. A smooth skin also absorbs serums and moisturises better so your face can get the full benefit of your products.

Be careful not to over do it with exfoliators as this will leave your skin irritated and weakened. Aim to exfoliate the skin once to twice a week. I love Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant as it is non- abrasive but uses enzymes such as papin, rice and salicylic acid as well as skin brightening Licorice and skin calming green tea.

If you enjoy using an exfoliator with some polishing beads try Liz Earle’s Gentle face Exfoliator. Perfectly sphere Jojoba beads roll over the skin without scrathing or tearing the skin and eucalyptus oil smelled heavenly as well as being anti-septic and anti-inflammatory.


Moisturiser

I love Annick Goutal's Creme Splendide Visage, which contains rose oil and vitamin A, C and E and Elemis Pro- Collagen Marine Cream, which boosts skin's hydration with Padina Pavonica.


Summer Looks

As for summer looks and nail colours. Believe it or not but lilac lips was huge on catwalk seen of Zac Posen, Aquascutum, Modernist, Kenzo and Afshin Fez. This was a lavender deadened with grey to translate the look stick to sheer washes of mauves and pinks with a blue undertone. I am loving Estee Lauder’s New Limited Edition Signature Lipstick in Mayfair Mauve. Metallics on the eyes were also big at Gucci and Aquascutum and skin at McQueen, Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Chloe was fresh and super hydrated. To get the look try sheer foundation, which will give the skin a glow like Bobbi Brown’s new Skin Foundation SPF 15 or Revlon’s new Beyond Natural Skin Matching Make up.

Nails

Nail colours this summer are either feminine and delicate with lots of baby pinks, like Leighton Denny’s Baby Love or Essie’s classic Sugar Daddy or come in hot pops of colour like cerise or coral such as Dior’s nail colour in bubble gum or OPI’s Overexposed on South Beach.


Love Atehx

Poppy King- Lipstick Queen

This week I met one of my beauty heroes Poppy King for a drink in the Covent Garden Hotel. I love the fact she has chutzpah in the bucket load as she created her own lipstick range at the tender age of 18 in the early 90s. She did this great feat, as she couldn’t find a matte lipstick, which echoed the ones she loved from 30s and 40s Hollywood screen idols.

Poppy is a true beauty artist and great fun and is the sort of person I love in the beauty industry. She references the arts and crafts movement and art deco, which can be felt on her packaging and loves the 70s because of its fascination with the 30s. She also loves the 40s and 20s and great films such as Cabaret, China Town, Saturday Night Fever and A Clock Work Orange because of the colour and aesthetic.

She doesn’t follow trends but follows her gut and instincts. With her latest launch The Big Bang Theory Illusion Gloss (out in April, www.spacenk.co.uk), she has done just that again. Inspired by the Big Bang experiments last year, which tried to recreate the first moments of the universe Poppy has created a new range of 8 glosses. The new glosses will help to expand the look of lips without any irritating ingredients but by clever shimmering pigments which create the optical illusion of full lips. I’m wearing the shade Black Hole, which is a shimmery deep wine/ berry shade, which isn’t sticky and lasts really well. I like the balm like texture and it will have proud of place in my handbag. Poppy King- she bangs

Hen Day Mani/Pedi question from Nell

Hi Ateh, loving the blogs. I have a completely off- the- track question though- A close friend mine who's getting married in the summer has asked me to arrange her Hen day. The general concensus amongst all those coming is to include a beauty/ spa treatment aspect to the proceedings. Considering past Hen days of other lovely girlfriends it seems to me that manicures may be the most practical solution. I was wondering if you have any suggestions of nice places we could visit in central London? Thanks again Ateh, Nell x


Hi Nell,
Beauty treatments where you can all sit around, chat and have a giggle is a good way to go with a hen day. Mani/Pedis are fabulous for breaking the ice as there's a chance some of you guys may not know each other. I love the Leighton Denny Nail Studio in Urban Retreat Harrods, www.urbanretreat.co.uk. Leighton is celebrity nail expert who has worked with Joan Collins, Jade Jagger and Kate Moss. The space is light and airy where you can have lots of champagne and nibbles while all sitting in pedicure chairs. Another idea is getting in touch with Balance Being, www.balancebeing.com, who have multi talented therapists who can provide facials, indian head massages, tarot card reading, Reiki and crystal healing to create a tailor made beauty experience for you and your friends. Have fun !!!!
Love Atehx

Natural Blush Question from Rav

I have a very small face, so is there a subtle blush you would recommend? Basically I don't want to end up looking like a drag queen, as I wear liquid eye liner and a lot of mascara! I also have Asian skin, so anything you can recommend for that type of skin tone would be great?


Hi Rav,
Thank you for your question. Bronzes, caramels, apricots and soft pinks look great on Asian skin. I think you will love Bobbi Brown's shimmer bricks in Apricot and Bronze. Shu Uemura also have fantastic blushers packed full of pigment, which looks good on darker skin tones and won't wash you out or look ashy. Nars' new Super Orgasm blush with its peachy tones and gold shimmer would look fab on you to. Maybelline's Pure. Blush Mineral in Topaz Rose is a soft pink, which would also complement your skin tone.
Atehx

Cappuccinos, Christie’s and Colour

I was out having coffee today with some girlfriends, as we said our goodbyes, the most beautiful snow storm began to come down in sheets. The Siberian winds made my face ache so badly that I was forced to seek shelter in the nearby Christie’s showroom.

Once I regained the feeling in my face and fingers, I noticed that they had a free Post war & Contemporary Art exhibition on - www.christie’s.com. I was blown away by all the colours and textures of some of the pieces. I have always loved pops of bright intense colour in my make up as it’s the easiest way to cheer yourself up and add some glamour and va va voom to any look, whatever the climate, whether it’s the sub zero weather outside your door or the sub zero balance on your bank statement.

Like a magpie, my eyes went straight for a painting of a woman, which was an explosion of neon pinks, reds and greens by the Chinese artist Feng Zhengjie - it reminded me of Jack Nicholson’s look in ‘Batman’. I also loved the deep chalky blue on Yves Klein’s sculpture, a David-esque statue, which looks like it has been vandalised by some hoodies but in a good way!

As I moved around the art space I realised how similar the colours are in Bobbi Brown’s new ‘Bright’s Palette’, my latest make up obsession. The packaging is the most delicious thing I have clapped my eyes on in a long time and it makes me smile every time I open it. I think it’s like a form of colour therapy. I love the fact the palette has colours for every skin tone and taste from sunset oranges to blues and greens straight out of a Brazilian rain forest. I walked out of the gallery warmed up and revitalised and even though I knew I couldn’t afford the price tags on any of the art pieces, I knew I had a little masterpiece waiting at home. Bobbi Brown I salute you.