The stars were out in Monaco over the weekend, despite the dreary weather, as Dior showcased their 2014 cruise collection.  A minimalistic, feminine vibe was in effect on the runway, with lots of lace overlay, color blocking, and cut outs. In similar fashion, the models wore their hair  slicked down, parted down the middle in ponytails and donned bright fuchsia lips.

For the most important walkway for this show – the red carpet into the building – Johnnie Sapong, finessed the tresses of Ahna O’reilly (The Help, Vampire Diaries), Swiss artist Olympia Scarry, and Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre, Lone Ranger) using his kit-bag favourite French Hair Care brand Leonor Greyl.

Olympia Scarry

For fine hair like Olympias, the  Bain Volumateur Shampoo, is great. Wheatgerm oil and Algae cleanse and detangle hair, while also moisturizing it, eradicating the need for conditioner. Johnnie also suggests using the featherweight  Serum de Soie Subllimateur to keep her hair looking lustrous without weighing it down.

Ruth Wilson

For hair like Ruth’s, Johnnie suggests Eclat Naturel Nourishing Styling Cream, rich in shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamins - it detangles, sculpts and replenishes hair.

Ahna O’Reilly

Color treated and heat styled  hair can  often become dry and brittle, leaving color looking dull. The key to counteracting this cycle is deep hydration – Try  Masque Quintessence Hair Mask which is packed with anti-oxidants, and  revitalizes, regenerates and repairs damaged hair.

Jonnie Sapong, CB Expert and Samantha Bark from Le Mis – at Cannes Film Fest

“Creating the look, for each celebrity is a collaboration between myself and that particular artist, to create the right look that matches the mood and the synergy of that moment. Working with the Leonor Greyl collection and especially with Eclat Natural for its nourishing qualities and natural feel. All of the products are made only with natural ingredients, the reason I am able to make hair look healthy, luxurious and glamourous and by working with the Leonor Greyl products, I can easily achieve this.”

“The red carpet is a pressure cooker environment. The celebrity has to look right as their image will be beamed all of the world in moments. Cannes is especially a high pressure event. Steeped in history Cannes is one of the big two. Probably only second to the Oscars, Cannes is special.”

Dear Cult Beauty Experts,

I am 45 years old. My skin type is fair with freckles (see image). My overall skin condition is good and I am fortunate to have few wrinkles. My skin can be a little dry from time to time. I look younger than my age but would like my skin to look better still. I do not like wearing heavy foundation but do want something that offers good coverage and provides a luminous glow.

Can you please recommend a suitable foundation or tinted moisturiser please. I currently use products by Laura Mercier and Chantecaille.

Thanks, Deborah

Hello Deborah,

We have the perfect product for you. It’s by an ingenious make up brand called Jouer Cosmetics and this is their hero product. It won Allure Magazine’s best foundation category last year; Jouer isn’t an advertiser which makes this more meaningful.

The Luminizing Moisture Tint – which also has a matte sister product – is water resistant with an SPF of 20. It adds a luminosity to the skin, a subtle glow of health rather than a glittery, or even worse sweaty-looking finish, which some luminizers create.

The thing I love most about it is that once applied it really doesn’t move. This is not a product to disguise extremely uneven skin tones, you will still see some of your freckles through it, but that is really the best result, a compromise between natural and the ‘perfection’ we are driven to try and obtain nowadays.

This is oil-free so if your skin is feeling particularly dry, I would add just a little more moisturiser beneath it. But that element is what makes this product so versatile across all skin types. I would recommend the pearl colour, but if you tan a little in the summer golden will look really lovely.

Should I be using a primer as well? I am also looking for a good moisturiser as well – something with an SPF as I often don’t wear anything else on my skin.

Not with the Jouer ones.

If your skin has dry tendencies then your cleanser and moisturiser should be your main focus. I find balms – such as ones by Oskia, Omorovicza, REN, or an oil – steamed with a muslin cloth, are the most satisfying and efficient way of cleansing dry skin.

SPF Moisturiser-wise, the cheapest great option is by Alpha H. I wouldn’t recommend it for oily skins and you only need to use a small amount, but it’s really good quality for the price. The dreamy deluxe one is by Sunday Riley – the Cashmere SPF30 Advanced Sun Defence and pH Advantage do a lovely mid-range one.

Beauty Shortlist has just published the results of their 2013 beauty awards and we’re excited to see that for all of the categories they’ve obviously spent a lot of time not going for the old faves (Touche Eclat & Beauty Flash Balm anyone?). We’re especially happy to see Jouer (read more about Jouer on Essie Button) and Therapie receive some well deserved recogmition. Here are the Cult Beauty products that made The Beauty Shortlist:

BEST TINTED MOISTURISER

JOUER – Luminizing Moisture Tint

BEST NATURAL/ORGANIC SKINCARE BRAND

REN SKINCARE

BEST BATH OIL

DR HAUSCHKA – Lavender Bath

BEST BATH SALTS

THERAPIE – Himalayan Detox Bath Salts

BEST FACE MASK

OSKIA – Renaissance Mask,  GLAMGLOW – Mud Mask

BEST DAY MOISTURISER

OSKIA – Nutri-Active Day Cream

FINALISTS

BEST LIP BALM – Dr Lipp, BEST NIGHT CREAM – Dr Alkaitis – Organic Night Cream, BEST NEW FRAGRANCE LAUNCH – Laboratory Perfumes – Gorse, BEST NEW SKINCARE/BEAUTY BRAND – Therapie by Roques O-Neil, BEST FAIRTRADE BEAUTY BRAND – Dr Bronner, BEST BEAUTY SUPPLEMENT – De Mamiel -Contemplation Tea

There is a new backstage make up in town and it’s called Sunday Riley. Spotted everywhere at LFW 2013 the Juno Lipid Serum is Val Garland’s go-to for priming the face. This season Val has been all about ‘real skin’ looks that appear to have nothing but eye make up. But as we all know No-makeup-makeup is tricky, Val uses the Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Primer, which is tinted and gives a slight glow, and as it suggests it lets even very sensitive skin breath.

As you can see from the look she created for Preen (model to the left, unfortunately it’s a bit washed out with light I’m afraid) the complexion is lightly perfected, luminous nut not sparkling. Very little contouring, in fact just a blob of blush right on the apple of the cheek.

I leave you with some of the varying faces of Cara Delevigne…it’s why we love her!

Cult Beauty skincare expert Vanda Serrador launches her new Urban Amour facial today, just in time to get your Valentine’s Day glow on and as a Cult Beauty reader you can get 30% off. This two-step treatment includes a bespoke chocolate facial followed by an eyebrow thread creating sensuous arches or an eye lash tint.

A gentle Urban Skin formulated cocoa scrub, rich in anti-oxidants, will remove dead cells and fight free radicals and prepare the skin for a sublime lifting mask. The soothing, stimulating, refreshing and rejuvenating chocolate properties of the mask possess a wealth of vital vitamins, proteins and elements to help revitalise your skin.

The sequence finishes with a final application of deeply hydrating caviar treatment serum gently massaged into the skin using LD light to leave your skin.

Vanda’s famous eyebrow treatment creates a natural, on trend immaculately groomed look and as you can see to the left has some rather well-known fans.

From 4 – 25 February, just quote Cult Beauty when booking for 30% off (£90 instead of £120 for the hour-long treatment).  020 7235 3654 or info@urban-skin.com

Aromatherapy master, multidisciplinary healer Michelle Roques-O’Neil banishes a deep-seated New Year belief, and passes on great tips on how to start the new year with a spring in your step:

1. It’s a New Year! It’s the middle of winter, nature is hibernating and contrary to popular (marketeer-driven) opinions this is definitely NOT a time for extreme detoxes. What your body needs is nurture; to take it slow and become more grounded, sleep more, eat warming soups, read nourishing and inspiring words and take lots of nourishing restorative baths laced with essence like Lavender, Rose and Jasmine to calm, strengthen and nourish our internal being. Read more

This year Emma has been working on many interesting and diverse projects: from her usual red carpet/press junkets – turning the celebs into the Goddesses you know them as (including Jennifer Lawrence & Winona Ryder), she has just started a beauty blog (Emma Day Makeup) and is currently Head of Department of a feature film shot in London starring Tallulah Harlech till mid December. I asked her to name her top three products on the Cult Beauty site at the moment and here’s the run down on what she likes and why:

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express Kit – I was always a bit cynical about eye-brow kits and stencils but since having discovered this one – I am a convert. With time and age my own eyebrows have got a tad depleted and so I love the “petite arch” stencil for filling and defining using the brow powder and the great angled eye-brow brush, then sealing them with the wax. I may have non existent brows but I can fake it with this little beauty.

2. DJV Beautenizer Volume Lash – I’m asked SO frequently about great mascaras. This is one of them. It has little fibres in it which build up your lashes but never makes them look clogged or drag-queen-esque. You get separated and lusciously long lashes. This is an awesome mascara and a great range.

3. Jouer Cosmetics Luminizing Moisture Tint, which also comes in minis – we have all used those bases that look like we are caked in makeup making the skin look aged and unnatural. This is the opposite of this – it delivers fresh glowy skin with just the right amount of coverage so your skin just looks rested and youthful. Also is not a struggle to blend. As I’m getting older I prefer a tinted moisturiser to a full coverage foundation as it instantly takes years off.