Archive for the ‘Beauty News’ Category

New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 was full of flattering, wearable trends with which to adorn our faces this coming Spring. To help you get ahead of the fashion pack, we’ve picked out the products you need to achieve these looks so it couldn’t be easier to get the New York look now.

Apricot was THE cheek colour of choice at the top shows in NY, including Marc by Marc Jacobs, Preen and Carolina Herrera. This fruity hint of colour suits every skin tone and warms the complexion with a lovely sun-blushed look. To get the subtle hint of health, apply Illamasqua’s Powder Blusher in Lover to the apple of your cheeks with fingers. Then use a soft brush like BECCA Soft Contour Brush to blend the blusher or use a cheek tint like theBalm Stianiac in Homecoming Queen for drier skins.

With spring around the corner, designers were opting to use earthy tones as the main palette for make up. Dusty shades of rust, sand and ochre were seen at DKNY, Diane von Furstenberg while Derek Lam opted for yellow on lids and lips to convey a sense of heat and sunshine on the models. Stila’s In the Light Shadow Palette is perfect for these kind of looks.

Get the Lam yellow look by mixing a little yellow toned concealer with a clear lip gloss like Belmacz Glow Gold Leaf Lipgloss in Moonstone and dab a shear layer for a hint or build it up to get full on sunshine lips. For a more neutral look apply RMS Beauty Mineral Cream Eye Shadow in Seduce for the perfect rust inspired eye.

This is not for everyone, but one of the key looks for hair featured plenty of fine tooth combing and strong hold gel. Models walked the runway for Victoria Beckham and Alexander Wang with the slicked back look, making sure all the focus was on the face.

To create this 90′s, slick look at home, use Tara Smith Rock On Hard Styling Gel to secure your hair behind the ears or to create the Alexander Wang look, run some gel through wet hair from roots to half way down the shaft, then finish with Davines For Wizards No1 Finest Oil Non-Oil to get the wet-gel style without the frizz.

One of the more outrageous hair looks featured candy coloured tresses. Narcisco Rodrigeuz and Thakoon lead the candy pack by dying the models hair backstage at the show – but don’t worry, after every girl had walked the runway the stylists backstage deep conditioned and restored the girls back to a more normal colour.

Although not a daily way to wear your hair – maybe some inspiration for Halloween!

The Blonds and Marc Jacobs paved the way at NYFW for bold and dramatic eyes. The Blonds saw eyes paying homage to sixties sex symbols with over-the-top feline flicks and a sixties cut crease. Whilst Marc Jacobs opted for major lashes and plenty of liquid liner to make the focus totally on the eyes – the rest of the face was kept bare with only a hint of nude on the lips – DuWop make a Nude Lipstick that alters slightly to suit your skin tone and so works for everyone.

To get the feline flicks (maybe a little toned down for daily wear) use Illamasqua Precision Ink or for a more controlled tip use the T. LeClerc Liquid Eyeliner Pen.

Glowing skin is always a must on runways and is brought back every season much to the natural make up lovers delight. Models in the Phillip Lim, Oscar de la Renta and Mandy Coon shows were prepped and made to glow – makeup artists were told to aim for a ‘sweaty’ dewy look like the girls had just been for a quick jog.

To get your own dewy, natural look use Jouer Cosmetics Luminizing Moisture Tint to brighten your face without the fuss of foundation. Pop a little RMS Living Luminizer on the top of your cheekbones and brow bone to highlight your face.

The ponytails were out in full swing again this season, with the likes of Charlotte Ronson, Herve Leger and Reed Krakoff sporting the look down the runway. Herve Leger opted for a fashion forward semi-plaited and over-exaggerated side parting pony while Reed Krakoff went with a low slung, loose pony.

To get the Leger tail, you’ll need plenty of hairspray – we suggest Davines No9 Structure Mist Hairspray and the Tara Smith Top Coat Glosser for a lovely shine finish. To get the loose casualness of the Krakoff ponytail then try some salt spray to rough it up like Phillip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist.

A bun is always a runway staple across the world as it allows for the clothes and makeup to be the main focal point. Sophie Theallet and Bibhu Mohapatra took the chic hairstyle and showcased the many different styles the simple bun can hold. Theallet had the quirky après-swim bun while Mohapatra opted for the classic ballerina bun.

To achieve this look, you’ll need lots of patience and plenty of hair spray. The best tools to get you to bun perfection are Rahua Hairspray and Tara Smith Top Coat Glosser.

Cate Sewell

We heart Stila, an ultimate cult make up brand, it’s great to have it back in circulation again. Olivia met up with one of Stila’s pro make up artists, Jenn Flannagan, to find out more about their no-brainer, cult classics.

Jenn kicked off creating a beautiful base with the Protect & Correct Foundation, then brought some colour to Olivia’s rather hungover palor with the Convertable Colour Cream Blush, finishing and setting it with their Custom Colour Powder Blush. To define her eyes Jenn first primed them with a smudge from the Prime Pot and delineated the shape with the Smudge Pot in Brown and the Forever Your Curl Mascara. The look was then finished with the beautifully enduring Lip Glaze. alexia inge

Since we launched this a couple of weeks ago we have had trouble keeping Jouer in stock. People are loving the interlocking practicality of this make up, we will defiinitely be expanding the range in the next few months and will keep you posted.

Check out Jouer Cosmetics here >>

I think I’m hooked, I had this Balayage done at the end of May and it’s holding up really well. When Jack does each streak he feathers it to a tiny point just by your skull so when it does grow out it naturally graduates so there isn’t a sharp change in colour.

My fine, easily damaged hair is happier because I only have to have it dyed every 4 months or so to maintain the look. If you are remotely blond in origin I would recommend this treatment above any other highlighting technique. If you are based in London, make an appointment with Jack Howard. Half a head is £130, a full one is £190 and worth every penny.

I’ve also just started using a very exciting haircare range from Sweden, which is upping the good-hair-day average, more to follow on that as we’ll launch it in a few weeks time. alexia inge

You know when the genetic lineage of a child is so cool that the polarity is reversed, creating a bratty nerd? In reference to Ab-Fab I call it Saffy Syndrome and I know it’s mean but there’s something just a teeny bit satisfying about it for us mere mortals.

Frances Bean appears to have avoided this completely, she has a look in her eye that indicates a maturity way beyond her 19 years, but I can imagine the education she received from her mother Courtney Love has been somewhat unconventional. Heidi Slimane just published these beautiful pics he took of a very grown up looking FB (with some extensive inking). Her look brilliant reflects the more Gothic feel we are heading into for Autumn Winter trending too. Ms Cobain you are our latest Beauty Smoothie… alexia inge

Love her or hate her no-one can argue that Margaret Thatcher is a true icon of the last century. I’m a bit of a woolly liberal, but when it comes to female role models she sure as hell beats Brittney and the cast of The Only Way is Essex!

Maggie’s having a moment and I don’t think this is going to pass any day soon there’s just too much fashion collateral there. With her biopic coming out in January 2012, starring Meryl Streep, I think this brilliant creation of Terry Richardson’s (see Georgia May Jagger above) is the first of many fashion and beauty shoots and references to the helmet-haired harridan.

Here is the first taster of the film, can’t bloody wait. alexia inge

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

We’ve discovered a killer new cult beauty range you’re going to love, called Jouer Cosmetics.

We all know our make up drawer is basically our beauty wardrobe. There are a few key items we use every day that are effortlessly flattering, the other 70% just balance dust.

Imagine a complete cosmetics line comprised only of key items, products that not only beautify the surface of your skin, but also contain high-end skin care ingredients to protect and nourish it. Add sleek, interlocking packaging with which to build a portable make up pallet of personal favourites and you have the cult make up obsession of 2011.

Then you see the packaging! All of the sleek Jouer Compacts slot and click together, so you can create a portable make up pallet of your own personal favourites. Even the lipgloss slots in. It’s overfilled-handbag-proof and takes up much less room than a make up bag.

Known as the ‘It’ brand in the States for providing a cool but practical take on make up. Jouer launched as a Henri Bendel New York exclusive in August 2008 and quickly rose to cult status, especially with the US beauty bloggers. “Being an avid traveler, I noticed that so many other cosmetic items are not practical. I’m giving women a smarter, more effortless way to take their favorite makeup with them when they’re on the go.” Christina Zilber, founder

Cult favourites from the range:

Luminizing Moisture Tint £16-£29

This best selling product that has had the US bloggers in a spin from day one. This tinted moisturiser evens out imperfections and fades the appearance of fine lines with its light-diffusing, multi-mineral formula. SPF 20 protects from UVA and UVB rays (broad spectrum physical block) while Ginseng and Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract deliver antioxidants to skin, promoting a healthy complexion. It’s oil-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and water Resistant.

Moisturizing Lip Gloss £16

The most moisturising lip gloss on the planet! Irresistibly sheer shades (in Mirage, Tender, Glisten) loaded with Vitamins A, C & E, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Pomegranate Seed Oil to moisturise, soothe, nourish, rejuvenate and protect, keeping lips smooth and hydrated. Available in a signature vial that connects to any Jouer custom palette.

Tint in Petal £16

Beautifully bendable and sheer, Jouer’s cheek and lip Tint compact is designed to complement all skin tones. With easy fingertip application, this multi-use tint can be worn on cheeks as a blush or on lips for a flush of seriously flattering colour.

Age Repairing Perfector £26

This compact, mineral cream foundation sets with a beautiful powder finish. It enhances and evens out your complexion, while fighting and repairing the signs of aging and stress. The luxurious formulation of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory powers of Vitamin E, Arnica Oil, and Japanese Tea Extract revive skin’s firmness and tone. Conceals the appearance of redness and other blemishes without the sensation of feeling heavy.

Age Repairing Brightener £25

An illuminating eye-stick that instantly brightens the eye area, reducing the appearance of dark circles and fine lines. This rich, emollient brightener moisturises, increases skin’s immunity and fights free radicals with a concentrated anti-oxident complex, Orchid Complex, Camellia Oil, and Vitamins A, B & E.

View Jouer Cosmetics

There are changes afoot at Cult Beauty.

This week we are moving our warehouse to London. This will enable us to offer some exciting new services in the future, but as you can imagine this is going to be a mammoth task.

We do everything we can to appear like a swan – providing a beautiful, effortless-looking service to everyone, while under the water we paddle like mad, but this reorganisation might temporarily slow down our delivery times in some cases.

If you have any questions about your order or how the move might effect your ordering of a particular product please call 08456 529 521 or email Customer Service.

The founder of MV Organics, Sharon McGlinchey, recently popped into the C.B. office on a quick visit from Australia and we all took the chance to quiz her about the range (more to follow from Olivia Inge there). The more I learn about MV, the more I adore the range and all who sail in her.

Old fashioned – in a good way – in both its thinking and small-batch quality of production, they represent a gold standard of natural skincare. There’s a cleanser utopia for sensitive skin called Gentle Cream Cleanser, less irritating than finding a twenty in an old jacket. But the product that wins Multitasking Master is the Jojoba Oil. People write into us all the time asking for a make up remover that won’t irritate, whilst actually getting the make up off. Eyes right >>

Take two cotton pads, wet them in hot water and squeeze them out so there is no excess moisture. Open the pad out again, draw a line (about 3 drops) of Jojoba oil across the centre and hold the pad against your eye. Let the oil sink into the surface make up and then gently wipe it all off. This not only melts your make up and cleans the area, Jojoba has one of the closest chemical make ups to your skin’s own sebum, it moisturises and protects the area too.

MV Organic Skincare prices range from £26 for the Pure Jojoba Oil to £72 for the travel Essentials. The way your skin blooms and the aromatic experience, especially with steam cleansing is sublime. Be warned, MV Organics is addictive. alexia inge

MAC do cane it with constant new range releases, something I’m afraid I have a default suspicion of with beauty companies imagining that such a huge focus on marketing could mean less focus is happening around product quality. This is not always the case though.

I’m loving the Semi Precious Collection from MAC this summer, great jewel pigments, presented well, that really enhance and luminise your skin. The campaign imagery is of course amazing and the colours look sumptuously beautiful on tanned skin for summer. This is definitely a range to check out. alexia inge

Available in stores nationwide from today.

Payot is one of those underground, secret brands that French women use to achieve that ‘effortless beauty’ for which they are so well known. This Parisian spa range was founded in 1927 by beauty visionary, Dr. Nadia Payot – the first to combine the knowledge of physicians, herbalists, beauticians… and physiologists into product development.

Unusually for the fast-moving world of skin care, many of her formulas were so spot on, they remain unchanged today – how many products do you know that have received over 80 years of successful consumer trials?

Pate Grise Overnight Spot treatment, £15

This magic-wand of a spot treatment banishes breakouts by simultaneously slowing down oil production & accelerating the blemish’s life-cycle, so it matures & disappears faster (pictured right).

Special 5 Blemish Drying & Purifying Gel, £15

A double-action drying & purifying gel with salicylic acid, Tea Tree oil & Sulphur, which speed up the healing process of spots after Pate Grise has drawn out the impurities.

AOX Complete Rejuvenating Care, £140

An anti-oxidant packed, anti-ageing daily moisturiser (pictured left), brilliant if you are experiencing accelerated ageing caused by a high stress lifestyle in a polluted environment.

Deep Wrinkle Filler, £50

Do you ever wish you could smooth and fill the lines on your face like a sculptor modeling wet clay? This not only instantly fills lines, it works long-term to smooth them out.

Rides Relax, Wrinkle Corrector, £80

A great way to kick off an anti-wrinkle campaign! This Botox-like serum (pictured right) relaxes skin contractions that crease it & stimulates collagen synthesis to plump & firm the area.

Masque Clarifiant, Clarifying Mask, £25

This gentle, clarifying French Clay mask absorbs excess oils, extracts impurities & deep-cleanses pores, shrinking them without drying out your skin.

Get a FREE GIFT Travel Wash Bag full of samples of their cult products with every Payot order.

I just saw this and couldn’t help but love it. Simple and brilliant.. A website dedicated to collecting photographs along an inspired theme:

A selection of images taken at the exact scene of old family pictures, matched up exactly to the modern environment in which it was taken. You can’t help but smile. A brilliant idea! Have a look on Dearphotograph and if you like the idea, do add one. alexia inge

http://dearphotograph.com/

Ah, Father’s day! One can almost hear the Hallmark marketing team rubbing their hands… When it comes to Dads’-Day one can choose to be all ‘Bah humbug’ about this rather retail-led assault on our pockets and feeling of family guilt, or one can say, “Do you know what, it might be quite nice to give the old man a treat”, if anything to acknowledge the free taxi service for all those years

The best way to do this would be to go back home for the weekend and make him breakfast in bed:

But if that’s not possible, we have some quick suggestions from Cult Beauty that might just do the trick…and they’ll definitely take less proficiency with an egg yolk!!

Costes Eau De Parfum £90

This cult, underground scent not only comes in the most beautiful bottle, it instantly evokes old-school opulence with its masculine, oriental, woody smell.

EBOOST Energising Supplements – £20.99

This is a great counter for the head-back, mouth-open sofa-snore-syndrome. EBOOST is used by Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis to keep them focused, alert and to boost their immune systems so they stay healthy, it will do the same for your father.

Jack Black Core Collection Gift Set – £49

If it works for Harrison Ford and Robert De Niro it’s hetero enough skincare-wise to give to ones Father. Made up of face wash ,Beard Lube and Daily Moisturiser this answers all of his skin needs.

Razorpit Razor Sharpener – £20

Original, a gadget, really useful AND it saves him money, Dad Heaven! This resharpens everything from BIC to Gillette Razorblades, increasing the number of shaves by up to 150 per razorblade.

Rubis Hand/Nail Grooming Set – £60

Made by the same artisans who make tweezers for the Swiss Watch industry (Rolex, Patek Philippe etc) these hand finished tools are beautifully designed, incredibly precise and all one needs to keep man-hands looking good. The leather wallet contains nail clippers, tweezers and nail file. alexia inge

Ever since Delilah lopped off Samson’s luscious locks, a good head of hair has been considered to be the mascot of masculinity. Would Superman be perceived to be the embodiment of strength with a rapidly receding hairline? Or Grey’s Anatomy’ star Dr McDreamy be considered as such without being able to flick his fingers through his glossy mane in the face of yet another medical emergency?

Just ask Wayne Rooney. The 25 year old is the latest in the line of celebrities (James Nesbitt, Jason Gardiner, Silvio Berlusconi, Elton John) to have surrendered to the scalpel in a bid to tackle thinning tresses.

The star striker has paved the way for the follically-challenged to cast off their flat caps and banish their Berlusconi-esque bandannas with his brutal honesty. Last week he took to his Twitter feed to proudly display the results of a technique called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) undertaken at the Harley Street Hair Clinic. FUE, also known as a hair transplant, is an eight hour procedure that extracts units of hair follicles from denser areas of the head and re-implants them into the sparser areas at the front. The full effects are not visible immediately but can take up to 18 months to produce a bountiful, scar-free, head of hair.

Gone are the days when the mere mention of hair transplant conjured up visions of rows of shiny melon seeds (aka hair plugs) sprinkled surreptitiously across the scalp. Rapid technological advances in Trichology (the science of hair) mean that men can avoid the much-maligned Elton John look circa 1980 for a far more natural effect. The treatment doesn’t come cheap: at £30,000, so you may have to sell a kidney if you’re not on the salary of a premier-ship footballer.

Since Rooney’s revelation, Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group, Britain’s leading cosmetic surgery provider has seen a 375% increase in enquiries from men about the procedure.

The Bald Truth
The old adage that bald men are sexier, has its (non-implanted) roots in the fact that the male sex hormone DHT is responsible for male hereditary hair loss said to affect two thirds of all men. DHT wreaks havoc on the follicles shrinking them to tiny pin pricks resulting in thinner, finer, weaker hair until it falls out altogether. You would think that men would feel sexier and confident with the surging levels of DHT coursing through their veins, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is an increase in the follicle’s sensitivity to DHT and not increased levels of DHT itself that cause the fall out. No wonder then that the rapid decline of their once lush barnet can lead to frequent feelings of depression and worthlessness (although I almost fell off my chair when I read that the hardened Manchester United striker himself had admitted to feeling sensitive about his hair loss).

Other reported causes of hair loss can be down to stress, poor diet or medication.

Hair Raising Solutions
While a Rooney transplant is the most extreme way to treat hair loss, there are other, albeit fewer, non invasive methods in the fight for fitter follicles.

Minoxidil (sold as Regaine over the counter) and Finasteride, (which is the active ingredient in Propecia tablets and prescription only) are the only UK licensed products that have reliably led to new hair growth in clinical trials. Minoxidil is applied topically and Finasteride is taken in tablet form; they work by blocking DHT to stop the follicles from shrinking. While results can be seen in as little as four months, hair density is only increased by 10-15% and stopping usage can result in any new hairs falling out again. There are few side effects, but around 2% of men using Propecia listed impotence as one.

Other treatments include laser combs, caffeine shampoos, herbal supplements and laser therapy, yet their effectiveness is debatable and questionable at the best so far. It must be stressed that any hair loss problem should be seen by a GP or a professionally qualified Trichologist who is a member of the Institute of Trichologists to avoid snake-oil charlatans.

There is no doubt that a man’s hair, the allure of a glossy mane, is seductive: it screams fun, it screams sexiness. Holding on to it may be a man’s way of holding onto his youth. With women being candid about their use of botox and fillers to maintain themselves, why shouldn’t men step out of the shadows and be blunt about blitzing their bald patches? Surely the boost to their confidence and happiness will benefit and pay dividends for us all – especially if you are a Manchester United fan. Roohi-Saba Rais

What’s the difference between a digital perm and an 80′s shag-a-delic perm? Answer: A disco-dancing caterpillar machine that makes it possible to perm only the area you want, like your ends or, one side of your barnet (for all you mad bad hoxton-ites). The moment I saw Molly Ringwald from The Breakfast Club and Jennifer Gray of Dirty Dancing fame, rock their fun frizzes in the 80′s, I was hooked, but my darling mother wasn’t having any of it.

Fast forward to t’other day where my childhood dream finally came to light. I went to Eleven Hair, Blenheim Street, London where Christian Toth, owner and one of only 2 digital perm practitioners in the country, saw to it that for the rest of my current head of hairs’ life, it would be curly.

Digital Perm was born out of Japan, where the inhabitants love anything that changes the texture of their otherwise thick, shiny, straight, black hair. They are super advanced with technology and have led the way for years on many beauty apparatus.

What basically happens is this…

A magic solution that doesn’t smell none too good (ref: silage), is massaged into the ends and then worked through section by section. This solution breaks down the keratin (proteins) in your hair which, on a molecular level, make up the largest ingredient of each strand. Once the keratin has been loosened up, (it goes really stretchy and bendy like strawberry bootlaces) it is possible for your hair to be molded any which way you please – be that straight or curly.

The curlers go in and are then plugged into the raving caterpillar’s head which heats them up. The heat sets the hair. Its kind of like hypnotising the hair into thinking its the opposite of what is is, then blasting it with heat to set its waves for ever. Your hair is then washed in warm water….TIP: never wash your hair in hot water, it causes the hair to shrink and lose its vitality, opening it up to all sorts of dirty, polluted air.

Another tip Christian kindly warned me about was the use of shampoos that you find in supermarkets – the ones that are kind to your purse and big on advertising. He told me he can tell when clients wash their hair with “Aussie” haircare and other such brands because as soon as he washes it with a purifying shampoo (which takes away a bunch of built-up chemicals), the hair is left looking haggard and stripped. The chemicals in these haircare products are suffocating the hair with evil things like silicones. Short term your hair looks glossy and feels soft, long term – the effects could eat your hair alive (not really, but it can affect your scalp and roots). Love your hair and use products that are kind to its needs. My current favourites are Tara Smith Shampoo and Rahua Conditioner.

To finish the look, Christian massaged Moroccan Oil Light into my hair before blow-drying it into perfect little ringlets. Once dry, he loosened the curls with his fingers.

Cut to 4 days later, (you aren’t allowed to wash it for 2 days…remember in Legally Blonde, when Reese Witherspoon totally wins the court case because of her incredible knowledge of beauty???) I have washed it and just left it to dry au naturel and the results are exactly as I’d hoped – a tousled beach curl with minimum maintenance. I massage Moroccan Oil Light when its wet as this stuff is just soo good for your hair, nourishing it without making it heavy and oily, perfect for my new curls.

N.B My camera has decided to play the fool and not work, therefor I have to use party pics from cyber space. Suffice to say, this looks as great on me as it will on you. olivia inge

Cult Beauty has been campaigning for RMS to extend its complexion colour range for a while now. Easy to do when you are a massive multi-national, very expensive and time consuming when you are making batches of 200 at a time and without resorting to using cheaper, synthetic ingredients!

The good news is that Rose-Marie Swift has just added tone 44 to this brilliant, totally natural concealer (bottom right in the image) opening this range up to olive skins as well.

This isn’t just another ‘natural’ make up range, it’s organic skincare with mineral make up added. Most of the ingredients are cold-pressed – like high end olive oils – a process that retains the integrity and goodness of ingredients like Cocoa Butter and Coconut oil.

Rose-Marie is a top-notch make up artist who works a lot with pros like Gisele (who wears tone 33) and Miranda Kerr (tone 22), so these products provide the high performance levels of their more synthetic sisters. These concealers are brilliant for sensitive, dry, normal and combo skin types, (I would avoid them if your skin is very greasy as this stops them holding to the skin as well). alexia inge

Jane Iredale is the original mineral make-up brand. It is so caring for the skin that all the top dermatologists and plastic surgeons recommend it to their clients to use on super-sensitive or even laser-treated complexions. Beauty addicts and make up artists rave about the beautiful formulations and ingenious product developments like the Magic Mitt and Dot the i make-up remover swabs.

But what about the woman behind the brand? Jane Iredale started her career as a casting director in TV, working with actresses like Lauren Hutton, Cybill Shepherd, Susan Sarandon and SJP.  Her work helped her understand the importance of a clear complexion to a woman’s career and confidence and this led to her developing her own line of mineral make-up in 1994 – well ahead of the curve. In her own words, Jane Iredale explains why she decided to launch her own mineral make-up range…

“I didn’t think of it as starting my own line.  I had show-biz burn-out and I was looking for something I could do that would enhance the lives of women and have some healing aspect to it.  I’d seen the bad affects of make-up when I worked with actresses and models as a producer, so it suddenly occurred to me that there was a place for makeup that was good for the skin.  I started out with a loose powder made from minerals and developed the line from there.  We’re still developing.

We initially started out with plastic surgeons and when we first developed our make up we really didn’t know what to do with it, where the best fit was.  We started out as laser resurfacing began in the States, and we grew up alongside that. Plastic surgeons are very comfortable about using minerals on skin that has been compromised after face lifts, laser, any kind of surgery, especially procedures such as breast operations, where the skin tone can be evened out very quickly with minerals and let the woman get back to normal life, wearing the clothes she wants to.  Post-laser patients are able to cover the resultant long-lasting erythema, calm the itching and burning and provide physical sun protection to their vulnerable skin.”

We incorporated in March, 1994 and started with five colors of loose minerals.  My first account was The Oaks at Ojai and that propelled us into the professional market.  It was the perfect niche for us because we were with people who knew how to educate the consumer before mineral make-up was known.  That became an important component of our growth.

The greatest reward is the sense of satisfaction I get when customers tell me what a difference our products have made to their lives.  This ranges from people who just love it because they’re makeup junkies to people with challenges like scarring and birthmarks.  The emotion is so genuine that it spurs me on to do more and more.

There are a number [of favourite products] but the one I wear every day is our Pressed Base, also love by our expert Sarah Chapman.  It works in all climates, day and night and never lets me down.

SHOP ALL JANE IREDALE PRODUCTS NOW>>

As we move further away from the Human Being 1.0 model of killing berries and foraging for bears…or something of the sort, we’re all becoming rather sedentary. This is proving to affect not only our mental but also our physical health, with syndromes such as Carpal Tunnel, Spinal Stenosis, Spondylosthesis, and Generalized Disk Disease, as well as the highly distressing Nofitinzejeans syndrome!

In answer to this chair-bound lifestyle comes the GymyGym ($599), an ergonomically designed chair that reduces negative effects of having to sit on a chair all day long. The aesthetics will improve with time I’m sure, but the flat bungee seating system supports your body in the correct position, which not only promotes proper alignment of the spine, it improves circulation, relieves unwanted pressure it allows you to work out with 16 core exercises aimed at strengthening all of the major muscle groups all while sitting down. The hand grips are attached to the body of the chair by magnets for safe storage when not in use. They, and the leg straps, are secured to a system of natural silicone resistance bands threaded through the underneath of – and up behind – the seat, to four exercise stations. What do you think, would you use this in the office? alexia inge

This was just sent over to Cult Beauty Towers by Scott, one of the founders of 3 Custom Color. He was at an event at this super-cool, New York Hotel and noticed something familiar about the wallpaper. Here’s a ‘Where’s Wally’ style conundrum…do you recognise anything in the collage? alexia inge

The ellusive Rococo Gold Leaf Nail Varnish has just arrived back in at Cult Beauty Towers. As the price of gold soars during these financially tough times, gold leaf becomes harder and harder to find, making this product a true cult scarcity, so snap it up while you can.

This nail polish can be worn on its own or as a topcoat adding a ‘totally bling’ texture to any regular polish. Trends dictate that nail varnish simply isn’t enough on its own any more, its all about nail art.

If you are adoring the adorning it doesn’t get much better than 24ct Gold, and for £22.50 pure gold doesn’t get much cheaper! alexia inge