Free Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil

To celebrate the launch of their new cleansing oil on the 1st of May Shu Uemura are launching their cleansing oil amnesty. This means you can get your very own personally prescribed bottle of their cult cleansing oil for free!

All you need to do is pop in store with a cleanser (of any brand) for exchange, even if it's empty. In return you will receive a 50ml Travel Size bottle of one of Shu's iconic cleansing oils worth £10.

As well as this, every customer who exchanges will also receive a mini-facial on counter, just to kick start their healthy skin routine.

You can visit the Shu Uemura boutique at 15 Monmouth Street, London, WC2H 9DA.

Will you be picking up your bottle of free cleanser?

Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse

With the Summer sun finally peeking through the clouds I thought this would be a good time to talk about sun protection. It is so important to protect your skin all year round, but particularly in the summer months. One of the products I have been relying on this season to shield my skin from sun exposure is Shu Uemura's UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30.

This mousse was developed based on Mr. Shu Uemura’s idea to create a product which performs as a veil between skincare and make-up for a better make-up canvas. A little goes a long way with this product. The recommended quantity is a walnut size.

 

The mousse is easy to spread and unlike most sun protection products it is super light weight. It doesn't feel sticky, creamy or thick and sinks into the skin instantly.

Although the mousse doesn't provide much coverage it mattifies the skin blurring pores and imperfections.

I have found it a great base to use after moisturiser before foundation as it sets matt and ensures liquid foundation stays put. As my skin does get more oily in the summer it's great to have a base that doesn't shift and provides SPF 30.


Shue Uemura UV Under Base mousse is £29 and available to purchase online here in the original beige shade.

Do you use a primer with SPF? Which are your favourites? Have you tried the Shu Uemura Under base? xxx

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Good Hair

Hair! 

I'm not afraid to say it... When my hair looks good I feel great. 

Good hair just puts an extra spring in your step and makes you feel instantly more confident! However, I am the first to admit that I am super lazy when it comes to hair. I've never had a particularly high maintenance style, but my hair has always been long and with a mind of its own, so I have developed tricks over the years to keep it manageable, with very little effort.

After washing my hair at night I like to blow dry it upside down (for some volume) and sleep with it in a high, loose bun overnight.

I recommend using a clip rather than a hair tie as it doesn't create any unwelcome kinks. This prevents my hair from getting frizzy overnight, while retaining lots of volume and creating some shape. When I take it down in the morning it still looks full, but not quite as wild as it can be straight after drying.

Most days I tend to keep my style pretty natural and let the curls roam free. As my hair is long it is a little dry, so I try not to wash it too often in order for it to retain some natural moisture and prevent the colour fading too quickly.

 

Even though it doesn't get particularly greasy it can sometimes fall a little flat between washes. I'm all about the big hair, so my secret weapon in the mornings between washes is always dry shampoo.

V05's new Refresh Me Quick and Plump Me Up dry shampoos smell absolutely amazing and leave the hair full of volume and bounce (RRP £3.49, available in major supermarkets and chemists from April)!

Once the roots are sorted I like to add a little gloss and tame the frizz. Depending on how long it has been between washes I will use either a refreshing, moisturising spray or a slightly heavier serum or oil. The sprays I am currently loving are Bed Head Spoil Me, which is great at banishing static and frizz (£11.25).

For lustrous impact I have really enjoyed using Scandalous Luminous Shine Finishing Spray (£3.49) to add some gloss and lustre to my hair.  It also has quite a strong, spicy scent that's great for refreshing your hair.

For third day hair that really needs taming, or if I have styled it and it's starting to look a little dry I run a serum through the ends to add shine and smoothness. I have recently been using the Tre Semme Split Remedy Sealing Serum (£5.50), which has a lovely light texture that doesn't weigh hair down and reduces the appearance of split ends. 

Alternatively I may use a tiny drop of oil such as pure argan oil or  Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue (£39.50), which smells amazing and leaves hair super silky!

It seems like quite a bit of effort when I write it all down, but I tend to rely on one or two products instead of using heat and never spend longer than a few seconds on my hair in the mornings. I wish I could be a 'wash and go' kind of girl, but unfortunately not all of us are blessed with a natural, beautiful mane of hair ;).

Do you spend much time on your hair? What are your hair secrets and tips? What products do you rely on to keep your hair looking fabulous? xxx

Treats for Winter Skin

With Christmas parties being penciled in to all the corners of my already full diary the time has come to prepare for battle... with my skin!

Over the last few weeks my skin has not been looking its best - in part due to poor health, but I am sure that the harsh weather contrasted with the toasty warmth of central heating at home and air con at work has made a valid contribution. So to perk up my complexion I will be investing some time into my skin over the next few days and thought I would share with you some of my favourite skin treats!

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - (£21.50 here)

This is a recent purchase for me, and I can't believe I have waited so long to try it! It really is a miracle cream and I adore it for giving my skin a quick boost. Beauty Flash Balm brightens and tightens the skin (gently) with extracts of olive and Witch Hazel, while boosting radiance and softening. 

It can be used as a quick remedy before a night out - apply (without massaging) a very thin layer over the face, neck and eye area, following immediately with make-up. I have also enjoyed using it as a facial mask- apply a generous layer and leave to soak in for 15 minutes, then blot excess with a tissue.

Decleor Aromessence Ylang Ylang Purifying Concentrate - (£40.85 here)

This serum is a lovely treat for dehydrated skin. With 100% pure and natural essential oils specially formulated for the daily care of combination and oily skin it feels really soothing and comforting, as well as having an amazingly relaxing scent. As I have oily skin I have always been wary of using oils, but in the last year I have really learned how to make them work for me - little and often! I like to apply a couple of drops after cleansing and toning at night and either massage it in alone, or add it to my favourite moisturiser. Thanks to its natural affinity with the skin this serum penetrates efficiently to balance and purify, as well as reduce excess sebum production and clear impurities.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil-in-Gel - (£24 here)

I'm probably one of the few beauty addicts who doesn't have a huge soft spot for Shu Uemura's cleansing oils. It's not that I don't like them, I just prefer to use a cream cleanser (Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish is my absolute favourite) and find oils a little too 'thin' to give me a thoroughly cleansed feeling. This is why I have really enjoyed using Shu's new Cleansing Oil-in-Gel, which gives the smooth feeling of an oil and effectively removes impurities while still leaving behind the fresh feeling of a gel wash. I also like the fact that it can be used both wet and dry, though I prefer to use a little luke warm water to create the perfect texture. 

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate - (£19 here)

The Superskin concentrate is a lovely serum that comes in a convenient rollerball dispenser, which is perfect for popping in your bag for use during the day or travel.

For optimal results Liz Earle's therapist recommends:
After cleansing, massage with Superskin Concentrate to help clear toxins, reduce puffiness, boost circulation, encourage cell renewal and aid lymphatic drainage.
Step 1: Warm a small amount in your hands and breathe in the divinely aromatic aroma. Then massage onto your skin with upward and outward movements using firm pressure.
Step 2: With your fingertips, lightly smooth in an outward circular direction along the cheekbones to above the eyebrows.
Step 3: Finish by gently sweeping your hands up the neck and over the décolletage.

 Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm - (£35.35 here)

Anything rose scented wins favour with me and this wild rose beauty balm does not disappoint! This multi purpose product can be used as a rich cleanser, gentle exfoliant (with a muslin cloth) or deeply nourishing balm – to quench areas of dry or dehydrated skin. The high levels of wild rosehip oil (a potent antioxidant to help repair, firm and smooth the skin) are combined with geranium, starflower, hemp and rosemary seed oil, to help decongest and enrich the skin, restoring its natural radiance.

In the cold weather it's also important not to forget the rest of your skin. I know that my routine isn't quite as meticulous in the winter - my legs are hidden by opaque tights, and I don't like to think about my feet at the best of times! My favourite moisturiser at the moment is undeniably Kiehl's Creme de Corps (from £8.50 here).

This is an amazing cream. It's rich, without feeling greasy and sinks in quickly without leaving behind too much residue, leaving my skin like velvet. Due to its natural colouring and the inclusion of beta-carotene (a naturally derived antioxidant predominantly found in many orange/red vegetables such as carrots, it is used in Vitamin A production and gives an orange tint when used in skin care products) it can dye any clothes that come into contact with it. Heading the warning I like to wait a few minutes after application before dressing, but I haven't experienced any problems with staining myself.

Liz Earle Superskin Bodycream - (£28.75 here)

This super rich and indulgent aromatic cream contains 25% plant oils and is perfect for drier skin areas. It requires a little effort to rub into the skin and some time to become fully absorbed, but it is well worth it. With East African shea butter, organic rosehip oil, antioxidant cranberry seed oil and pomegranate extract, natural source vitamin E, plus the divine scent of neroli, this luxurious cream makes a great gift for anyone, and a fantastic skin treat for yourself!

Lastly, I couldn't live without Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (£18.50 here). If you haven't tried it, you need to! Lips, cuticles, knees, elbows, cuts, blisters, scrapes, blemishes, burns it works to soften, heal and protect any skin ailment you can think of!

I hope you find this little guide for winter skin indulgences useful. Let me know what your winter skin saviours are!! xxx

Shu Uemura Retro Graphic Lashes

I am a big fan of false lashes, so much so that I rarely have a night out without them. Nothing adds drama like falsies and they can be the quickest way to take your makeup from day to night!

I have always admired the innovative and fun designs of Shu Uemura lashes, but previously only purchased the more mainstream styles (eg. smokey layers). So when at a recent event I was kindly offered to have some lashes applied by one of the Shu Uemura technicians I decided to choose one of the most striking and original designs in the selection!

The Retro Graphic lashes come with a thick black and white zigzag band that stretches out to create a lavish cat eye eyeliner.

They look absolutely incredible on and make a big statement! At first glance it isn't obvious that the lashes and the band are attached so you can fool people with your amazing liners skills ;). However, when your eyes are open they look much more subtle (especially if you have less lid space like me) and you can just see a hint of the monochrome along the lashline.

I am yet to brave applying these for myself, but I imagine the trick is getting the two 'flicks' at the same angle. The MUA took all the guess work out of the process by adding two perfectly placed dots of eyeliner where the tip of the flick should be. It's funny that in Russian an eyeliner 'flick' is called an 'arrow'!

The Retro Graphic lashes can be purchased at Shu Uemura counters and retail at £18.50.

Are you a fan of Shu Uemura lashes? Have you tried any of their more eccentric designs? What are your favourites? Will you be attempting any of the dramatic eyelash and liner combos? xxx