Lip Heaven

We are lucky enough to have brands that simply ooze style. Our newest addition, Ilia Beauty, is certainly one of them. This cosmetics brand challenges the belief that organic make up lacks in performance and in good packaging, and offers bang up to date shades ranging from the ultimate nude to a fiery red.

Having used the Ilia Lipstick in shade ‘Funnel of Love’ (£19.95) I can certainly vouch for its ability to ‘neutralize and disguise even the most promiscuous lip’. The texture is smooth and easy to apply, leaving lips feeling soft and nourished. The Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner (£19.95) would be a great alternative to the Lipstick if you are only after a sheer touch of colour.

Other products in the range include Ilia Lip Conditioner Balmy Days (£19.95) for when no colour is required, and the Ilia Multi Stick (£29.95), suitable for use on cheeks, lips and eyes to deliver a sheer blush of colour.

Sasha Plavsic, the Ilia Beauty founder, is committed to producing safe beauty products that women can love and trust. With such a beautiful cosmetics line, free from synthetic preservatives, fillers and petrochemicals, we are convinced that she has succeeded.

Buy the full range here: Ilia Beauty

The S5 Solution

As a self confessed beauty addict I am obsessed with testing out any new brand. Disappointingly however, many skincare products- beautiful though they may be- are just not suitable for problematic skin like mine. Then I tried S5 skincare.

S5 has succeeded in creating the first range of certified organic cosmeceuticals specifically designed to combat skin stress. For my combination / oily skin, the S5 Purity Serum (£44) and S5 Balance Fluid (£39) are really quite extraordinary. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the light texture and consistency of these two mean the products lack in performance; this stuff works, and works well. After a couple of weeks use my skin was left feeling hydrated, matte and most importantly clear. S5 Skincare delivers luxurious, serious, sophisticated products for difficult skin.

In order to combat the main activators of skin stress, S5 Skincare sources ingredients from the 5 most extreme ecosystems on the planet: the Arctic, the Desert, the Rainforest, High Altitude Regions and the Sea. In addition to the Purity Serum and Balance Fluid, this S5 Skincare range also has products to combat redness & sensitivity, hyper-pigmentation, dryness & scarring, and premature ageing, all backed up by robust clinical studies scientifically proven in vivo.

EcoCert certified organic, 99%+ natural, suitable for sensitive skin and clinically proven, this range has it all. Plus, the prescriptive nature of the range makes it so easy to target your own specific skin concern. Try it and see what these targeted skin treatments can do for you!

Buy the range here: S5 Skincare

Tata Harper Tried & Tested

I had read that Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence (£58) was a good product for keeping skin hydrated whilst travelling. So, on a recent holiday I thought I would take the Tata Harper Deluxe Beauty Set (£53) with me. This was a great decision.

The Hydrating Floral Essence kept my skin well hydrated and worked perfectly as a pick-me-up for those hot days on the beach. I used a little of the Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum (£120) during the flights and at night- surprisingly this was not too heavy for my combination skin, although I used this serum alone without moisturiser. With a silky texture more similar to a light cream than a traditional serum, this product is now a firm favourite of mine and left my skin glowing. The Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturiser (£80) is the obvious choice for me for daytime use, ideal for oilier skin types with a matte effect finish.

My absolute must have product from the Tata Harper range? Although almost impossible to choose, it would have to be the Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser (£50) This product makes cleansing enjoyable, has a beautiful consistency, and manages to leave skin squeaky clean, exfoliated and moisturised all in one. Oh, and the smell is absolutely gorgeous. 

For those of you who are a little cautious at the price tag or who want a luxurious set for travel, the Tata Harper Deluxe Beauty Set is reasonably priced and serves as a great introduction to most of the range. A little goes a long way with these products so the set gives you plenty to really test it out. 

Tata Harper is founded on the idea that women no longer have to sacrifice their health to look and feel beautiful. With 100% all-natural clinical grade formulas, Tata Harper uses only the highest quality natural ingredients including exquisite essential oils. With at least 6 and up to 29 active ingredients in every product and stunning results, who wouldn’t want to try this?

Buy the range here: Tata Harper

Natural Nail Polish for A/W 2012

Nail colour is now the easiest way for an instant fashion update. We've handpicked the key natural nail polishes to meet all your Autumn/Winter 2012 wardrobe needs.

Purple is the new black this season and Zoya Suri creates the perfect royal purple nail with a smooth metallic finish.

Dark blue is another huge trend and Zoya Song is really, really blue. And not just blue but a deep blue with smooth glitter.

You can get into the military trend with Zoya Ray, a dark green frost. It's a dark blackened green, but not too dark and with a silvery frost that makes it really glam and smoky.

Finally onto classic reds. Zoya Elisa crimson red is intense with a good balance between vibrant, rich colour and a shiny, metallic finish. A timeless classic.

Buy the range here: Zoya Nail Polish (£10.50). Ready, steady, shop...

Elemental Herbology - Brand Review

Elemental Herbology is a range we recently introduced and we have been blown away by its luxury feel and performance. While not organic, Elemental Herbology is nearly 95 per cent natural, containing botanical, mineral and marine ingredients and combines high-performance, bio-active ingredients with sophisticated technologies and exquisite plant oils to offer superior nutrition for your skin.

Founded by Kristy Goodger to 'help skin adapt' to changes in lifestyle, environment and age it is formulated to counter the skin-damaging effects of ageing, lifestyle and the environment. Plus Elemental Herbology products contain zero synthetic fragrance, artificial colour, mineral oils, sulphates, paraben preservatives or animal testing.

Our top pick? The Elemental Herbology Cell Food Protection & Repair Serum (£42). Enriched with Vitamins A, C, E, pomegranate and green tea, it helps boost, protect and repair skin. A few drops applied morning and night (just after cleansing) and in about 2-3 weeks the difference should be clearly visible for softer skin and any dry patches diminishing.

Buy the range here: Elemental Herbology

Kimia: The secret to Victoria Beckham's flawless skin

Kimia Skincare
All eyes were on Victoria Beckham at her latest fashion show, as she showed off perfect skin and a youthful glow. The fashion designer has recently revealed that the secret behind her flawless complexion is clever makeup tricks and a skincare regime.

A fan of the cult-Britsh brand Kimia Skincare, Victoria has said that Kimia Rejuvenating Facial System is one of her favourite beauty products. 'I get given loads of products, but Kimia is perfect for my skin,' says Victoria. 'I’ve noticed a big difference.'
 
 
Kimia's innovative facial system is an anti-ageing blend of pure oils that aims to combat fine lines and wrinkles and rejuvenate skin cells, through a two-part method.The combination of using both the Kimia all-natural face oil and the Kimia hydra-activator together, works to speed up the removal of dead skin cells, resulting in a smoother, more luminous complexion.


Fans of Kimia also include Kate Moss, Kate Perry Jennifer Anniston and Olivia Palermo.

Kimia (from £49) is available from Naturisimo. Kimia samples are also available.