Spring has just started, and one can’t wait to spend some time outside with sun’s warm rays caressing your face.

When it comes to skincare routines, it can be a little hard to decide on the best routine to undertake as we’re daily fed with so many different ‘tips and tricks’ to getting the best skin.

Finding the right skincare products for sensitive skin can be time consuming and very difficult. 

A spring complexion is said to be the most delicate complexion among the four seasonal complexions.

When I buy a new product I am all about the way it is packaged. Presentation is the key to success I believe.

All over the world, there are millions of women who are interested in escaping their dull complexion. If you are among them, you have arrived at the right resources.

As we near the end of AW/17 fashion week season one particular day from this season is still stuck firmly in my mind….

The 19th February saw me working with my fashion family Fashions Finest at their off schedule show and their Britains Top Designer Award season 5 during London Fashion Week. I spent the day with some of my favourite people in the industry and two of my favourite clients Lydia Lucy and Tom Bleasby. Lydia and Tom were invited as VIP guests for the day, as well as Lydia being asked to perform at the Top Designer Award.

Of course my job was to make them look even more gorgeous than they already are! Both Lydia and Tom are such humble beautiful people inside and out, they make my job so easy! Every time I'm lucky enough to work with them we always have the best day.. we're relaxed, we have fun, we're happy.. so what a fantastic day to end my AW/17 London Fashion Week season with beautiful souls and my creative and fashion family!

For both Lydia and Tom I wanted to go for a healthy fresh current look. It's important for young people who are constantly looked at in the public eye to remain current and fresh.

For both artists it was so important to start with skin prep. I swear that good skin prepping is the foundation to good makeup. There’s so many amazing make-up brands and products on the market which work wonders but without good skin underneath, that make-up just won't sit on the skin in the correct way.

So I began with my skin prepping routine, which takes me a good 10 minutes on each client. If there is time I like to leave the products to sink into the skin for 5 minutes before applying make-up.

For Both Lydia and Tom I used Dermalogica Pre Cleanse and Dermal clay cleanser. For Lydia I followed with Caudalie Beauty Elixor, Clarins Daily Energising Moisturiser, Beauty Flash Balm, Perfecting touch primer and Eye revive Beauty flash. For Tom I followed with Urban Decay’s prep spray, Clarins men's moisturiser and Benefit pore professional primer. Both had Dr Paw Paw original balm to their lips.

After skin prep I applied highlighting creams to both Lydia and Tom’s skin using Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, in shades Opal on Lydia and Pearl on Tom. I adore these highlighting creams, they're great for applying natural highlights to the skin before, after and even mixed in with foundation.

Next I applied foundation, always with a Duo fibre brush from Mac, using Illamasqua Skinbase on Lydia and Mac BB Beauty Balm on Tom. I like foundation to soak into the skin while I work on other areas of the face. Many artists prefer to do eyes before foundation, but for me.. foundation is always first. I like to see the colour of the skin with foundation on before choosing the colours to go on the eyes. Personally for me, skin looks more flawless with a 2 step foundation technique.

I then moved on to the brows, to give me a guide for eye make-up. For Lydia I used Illamasqua Brow gel in shade Strike, for Tom I used Benefit Cosmetics Gimmie Brow in shade 4, followed by Benefit’s Ready set brow on both.

For Lydia’s eye make-up I wanted to create light, I opted for shimmery shades that would catch the lights on the runway.. by using carefully chosen shades the eye make-up opened Lydia’s eyes, giving the illusion that they were bigger, brighter and of course dazzling. I used Urban Decay’s eye primer in Minor Sin, which is a shimmery champagne colour absolutely perfect for the shadows I chose to use. With the Mac 239 brush I patted on Urban Decay’s Moondust eyeshadow in shade Element to the outer corners of the eye, crease and half of the mobile eye lid. With the same brush I used Charlotte Tilbury’s pop shade from The Vintage Vamp palette to the centre of the mobile eye lid and blended the 2 colours into the crease with the Mac 217 brush.

To finish the eye look I used Illamsqua’s pigment eyeshadow in shade Beguile to the inner corner of the eye and brow bone, precision gel liner in black and their black mascara.

For Tom I wanted his eyes and brows to be the focus of his look. I contoured the sockets of his eyes with Urban Decay’s eyeshadow shade Extra Bitter from their Naked Ultimate Basics palette. The shadow is matte. By contouring the sockets it brought Tom’s eyes to life, it gave the illusion that his eyes were brighter with the light on the mobile eye lid coming forward and the contour crease recedes resulting in a highlighting effect on the eyes but in natural way. I finished with Benefit’s primer mascara in shade brown.

Back onto the skin, I polished the foundation with a Real techniques buffing brush, adding more if needed and concealed. Using Face Powder on both from Mac Cosmetics Skin Finish Natural I set the foundation.

For Lydia I contoured under the cheek bone lifting up into the apple of the cheek using Nars matte bronzer in shade Laguna followed by Illamsqua’s Beyond Powder in shade Epic on all the high points of the face. For Tom I did a masculine contour using Benefits Hoola matte bronzer.

To finish the look, I painted Lydia’s lips using Inglot lipstick and Tom’s lips with Dr Paw Paw original balm.

Fashion week ready?

Products used:

Hair by Annette Gray
Nails by Erika Hernandez
Styling by LeighAnne Mroczka

@nikkitippingmua
@lydialucyoffical
@tombleasbyofficial

Think you had a challenging Fall?

Beauty marks can sometimes result in people suffering from low self-esteem, as they may feel quite self-conscious about a mole or dark patch on the skin. If you have a beauty mark you would like removed, it might be a comfort to learn you’re not alone.

According to the BBC, the number of people requesting mole removals roses by an incredible 127% in 2015 in the UK alone. In fact, some of the world’s most beautiful celebrities have also embarked with mole removals, including Madonna and Enrique Iglesias.

However, instead of embarking on invasive cosmetic surgeries, we are here to show you how to remove beauty marks using natural remedies.

A Natural Removal

While it is not backed up by scientific evidence, it is believed that the acid in apple cider vinegar can prove successful in the removal of a variety of beauty marks, such as age spots, moles, warts and birthmarks.

If you would like to try the apple cider vinegar removal, simply soak a cotton ball in the vinegar and then place this on the mark. For an effective result, you could always secure the cotton ball using a bandage, which will allow the vinegar to go to work on the birthmark overnight.

Once you wake from sleep, simply remove the bandage and cotton ball and repeat the process later that night with a fresh cotton ball and bandage.

You may find the birthmark starts to scab; however, it is recommended to protect the skin with petroleum jellies, such as Vaseline, or almond or coconut oil. Never pick a scab or you could end up with an unsightly scar.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice could also prove effective in lightening a beauty mark. The acid in lemon juice has lightening properties that could help reduce a birthmark’s shade.

It is unlikely the lemon juice could remove the birthmark altogether, but it could make the blemish less noticeable on your body – which will most likely be a comfort to those who are self-conscious about their beauty marks.

If you would like to try the natural method, simply squeeze the juice of a lemon and rub it onto the beauty mark twice per day. Do not expect to see immediate results, as it will take time for the lightening properties to take effect, but the skin could lighten gradually if you perform the routine daily.

Lemon, Baking Soda and Sugar Face Scrub

So, we have told you all about the benefits of lemon juice, but did you know sugar and baking soda could also help you successfully reduce darker spots or skin blemishes?

By making a lemon, baking soda and sugar face scrub, not only will you have beautifully exfoliated skin, but your face will be free from bacteria and dust that can become trapped inside your pores. Plus, thanks to the lemon, you can lighten up any beauty marks denting your confidence.

A Coconut Oil and Olive Oil Massage

It seems the whole world and her husband have fallen in love with the many benefits of coconut oil, and it appears it is a gift that keeps on giving. That’s because both coconut oil and olive oil are jam-packed full with vitamin E and K, which can remove sun spots and dark patches, as well as improving your skin’s elasticity and tone.

For the ultimate massage oil, simply mix equal parts of coconut oil and olive oil, before applying to the skin and massaging it onto your desired area. Perform this massage for between 4 to 5 minutes, rubbing the oils into the skin in a circular motion.

Tomato and Honey Facial Cleanser

It might be a little unusual to add tomato and honey onto your face, but it could be the very thing you need to do to say goodbye to those beauty spots affecting your daily life. The cleanser is thought to not just lighten dark patches, but to remove pigmentation marks and clear your pores.

To create the facial cleanser, simply grind a tomato in a mixer, before draining the juice into a bowl and adding two teaspoons of honey. Stir the ingredients well and your facial cleanser is ready and waiting for you to use – and it’s perfect for your everyday skincare regime.

Toothpaste

You might have heard about toothpaste having the power to remove pimples, but did you know it can lighten dark patches on your skin, too? That’s because it contains bleaching and antibacterial agents that can reduce spots and make darker areas of the skin much lighter.

If you would like to try this method for yourself, simply apply the toothpaste to your desired area using a q-tip. The toothpaste should remain on your skin for up to 30 minutes and then simple wash it away with cold water. If you perform the toothpaste trick twice per week, you may soon notice a difference.

Cumin Seeds and Rice Water

If you thought lemon juice and toothpaste were strange ways to lighten up dark spots on the skin, you must hear about cumin seeds and rice water. This effective natural remedy could be all it takes to remove a beauty mark from your face.

So how does it work? Well, cumin seeds and rice water contain skin cleansing and lightening properties, which not only helps to remove dark patches, but can banish acne marks and pimples – so it’s great as part of a skincare regime, too.

Simply boil two tablespoons of cumin seeds in two cups of water. Once you have done that, drain the cumin seeds’ water into a bowl and add one cup of rice water, stirring thoroughly. All that’s left to do is pour the water into ice cube trays, freeze and then rub an ice cube on the area for just three minutes.

Sandalwood, Turmeric and Milk Face Mask

What woman doesn’t love a face mask to feel beautiful? Well, if a mole-like mark is making you feel less than beautiful, you should consider creating the sandalwood, turmeric and milk face mask.

Sandalwood has anti-ageing and anti-blemish properties, which is ideal for those wanting to say goodbye to pimples or age spots; whilst turmeric is one of the most natural products that can be used to lighten skin. Also, those who want to prevent skin pigmentation should consider adding milk onto their skin, too.

If you would like to create this effective facial mask, add two tablespoons of Sandalwood powder and a pinch of turmeric to 3 tablespoons of fresh, thick milk. Apply the paste onto your face and allow it to dry naturally for approximately 20 minutes. To remove the face mask, wash your face with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.

BIO: Ella Allan is a blogger at Beauty Blog - Allbeautytoday.com

Violets are Blue Roses are Red, it’s almost that time of the year again, Valentine’s day. Get your gift shopping, for your love-one done early with these great early bird deals from the Fragrance Shop.
For your pleasure and to fit your pocket after the January Blues, the Fragrance Shop is offering up to 60% off on selected fragrances as part of their early Valentine’s Day Event. With a great selection for him and her across their designer brands like Burberry, Roberto Cavalli and Tommy Hilfiger. Get online at www.thefragranceshop.co.uk or shop instore and get yours before the big rush.

For Her

Burberry Touch evokes feelings of intimacy, sensuality and sophistication. A luminous and airy oriental fragrance. The perfect gift to spice up your special night.

Fantasy is for the girl that likes her bling with a bottle that is adorned with Swarovski crystals and interlocking rings that represents everlasting love. You will cast a spell on him with this light feminine scent that explodes into a lingering scent of creamy musk and sensual woods.

Mesmerising and exhilarating from the first contact with its scent of amber florals, this fragrance is addictive. Exuding strength and sensuality. You will love and he will melt in it.

For Him

Match him as an equal in intimacy and sensuality for and explosion of strong emotions for a fiery night of passion.

A classic fragrance for a classic man, that is not afraid to show his modern flair and sophistication. With its woody citrus spicy scent, it is a bottle of contemporary elegance.

Crisp, clean and refreshing Tommy by Hilfiger, is for the man that is energetic and passionately lives out his dreams.

Let him arouse all your senses with FCUK Friction for Him. A masculine fragrance that is seductive and alluring and just one whiff of it will leave you begging for more.
Make Valentine’s 2017 a night to remember!!

The 60% Off, offer is valid in-store and online between 20th and 31st January 2017

To shop now visit www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/valentines-shop.