Beyonce’s Hair Colourist Rita Hazan launches hair care collection!

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I am crazy in love with Rita Hazan, hair colourist to Beyonce, the Kardashians, Katy Perry, JLo and so many more amazing women. Famous for her risk taking and the iconic looks she has created from Katy Perry’s pastels to Beyonce’s colour, it is clear, Rita is a genius.

I had the chance to meet Rita earlier this year at the launch of her new products and had a really long chat about my colour damaged hair and of course makeup. She’s a very cool New Yorker with great hair – a total boss and so inspiring. Her products definitely reflect her whole aesthetic as her own hair is coloured and she has a really deep understanding of what women need. 

Here’s us twinning:

I know what you’re thinking, another celeb artists launching a brand, but seriosuly this one totally lives up to expectation.

My hair is bleached AF! Recently I had it cut and coloured and thought it was looking and feeling great, until I used the True Colour Revolution Shampoo and Conditioner. After using these products, my hair felt like real hair again. I couldn’t believe it. It felt heavy, thick, shiny, soft, smooth and alive! Anyone with bleached hair will know what I mean. Coloured hair feels like hollow straw. After using these products it felt incredible. I actually noticed immediately after shampooing because even my wet hair felt saturated and smooth.

The True Color Revolution Shampoo (£21) is specially designed for color treated hair as the rich-lathering shampoo gently yet effectively protects hues. Infused with botanical surfactants, it cleans and removes build up without stripping color. The Rice proteins and Moringa Seed Extract leave hair squeaky clean and nourished. There is no build-up, so hair feels weightless and silky. 

The True Color Revolution conditioner (£21) is Infused with Japanese Camelia Oil to leave strands feeling silky and manageable. Rita’s fade-­defying complex protects color from UV, environment and heat tools, preventing breakage while providing lustrous sheen.

Also what’s amazing is that these products are Sulphate, Sodium Chloride & Paraben Free. The packaging on these products is amazing and it smells expensive. You only need a tiny amount so a little goes a long way. 

The other products are from the collection are, root concealer touch up stick and spray, a Triple Treat Split End Therapy. Check them out…. and let’s face it, it’s the closest we’re ever going to get to Queen Bey’s glam team. Enjoy x 

 Available from Selfridges 

Pollution-Proof your skin with REN Flash Defence Anti-Pollution Mist

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Air Pollution levels, especially in London, larger cities and urban areas are at a record high. As well as being harmful to the environment and your health, pollution also damages your skin. 

Pigmentation, dullness known as ‘urban grey’ and premature ageing to the skin is caused by toxic air and free radicals such as UV light, cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes and heavy metals. These generate free radicals on the surface of the skin which cause “oxidative stress” which damages the cells, making in intoxicated.  

So how do we pollution proof our skin?  

Just like UV protection, the beauty industry has quickly caught onto this problem, providing solutions for your skin and now even hair. Anti-pollution products are everywhere and I am sure they will continue to rise of the years. For those of you who are a little sceptical about the risk of pollution on skin as a marketing buzzword, yes, you are right, but if you read about anti-ageing products from the beginning of your beauty and skincare life, you will notice that a lot of products help protect your skin from free radicals which is pollution so it’s nothing new, the problem is the increasing levels. 

An easy way to protect your skin from pollution is the REN Flash Defense Anti-Pollution Spray which instantly shields and protects the skin from the ageing effects of harmful free radicals and environmental pollution. The fine and lightweight mist can be sprayed under or over makeup and throughout the day.  Its super lightweight, absorbs straight into the skin and feels so great in the summer.  It smells really nice, like essential oils when you first apply but the scent quickly evaporates and feels more like unscented water so feels refreshing on the skin. I use mine before I apply my foundation and it doesn’t affect it at all.

How does it work?

The mist forms an invisible barrier which acts like a second skin to shield any pollutants. The natural ingredients such as Zinc, Amino Acids, Quercetin (Sophora Japonica Flowers) and Alfa-glucan (extract from yeast) boost the skin’s antioxidant capacity which helps to strengthen the skin’s natural defences, promotes cell longevity, and stimulates skin repair which neutralizes urban grey and combats signs of fatigue on the skin. 

If you’re looking for a summer face mist, I would definitely invest in this anti-pollution one as it’s a great natural alternative to what is already on the market. It reduces your carbon footprint too, so you can practice what you preach.

Available from Space NKSpace NK

£24

Shades of Blonde – Here’s how you get rid of brassy and dull blonde hair

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Getting the right shade of blonde for someone with dark brown hair is difficult. I colour my hair every 4 months and my recent trip to the hairdresser left my hair looking a warmer shade of gold which some might call ginger!  A few days later my niece told me that when she grows up she wants ‘orange’ hair like Aunty Jaz! I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

My hairdresser is amazing, and sometimes these things happen, so until she has time to fix the ginge, I have been washing my hair every day with the new Charles Worthington Colour Enhancer Ultra Violet Shampoo.  This shampoo is incredible! It has completely toned down the orange leaving my balayage a warm and super cute rose gold on top blending into super blonde (almost white blonde) towards the ends.  Also, every time I use it in addition to my regular shampoo, it always makes my hair look softer and shinier than normal.  Its amazing!

Brassed Off! 

I have written about Silver shampoo before. Its amazing for bleached hair, balayage, highlights and even for natural blondes as it removes brassy yellow tones out of blonde hair which is a build up of product and environmental damage, leaving it looking bright and new.

This new Charles Worthington Colour Enhancer Ultra Violet Shampoo is one of the best ones I have used. Its only £7.99 from boots but do not let this fool you, it has salon-strength with an intense violet toning formula to banish stubborn brassiness. All you do is wash into hair like a normal shampoo and leave in for 5 minutes before rinsing. As I was trying to cool down my roots, I only applied it to my roots so just add it to the area you wish to focus on and if its your whole head of hair thats great, my bottle is still full and I have used it every day for 3 weeks. Also, what makes this different from other silver shampoos is the hydrating Guarana which makes hair super soft making it so much more tempting to use every day

Available from Boots £7.99

 

Eco Tools – Vegan & Cruelty Free Makeup Brushes and Sponges

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They key to good makeup is your tools.  I used to be a simple hands and fingers girl but until I started using foundation brushes and sponges to apply my base and realised how game changing these simple tools are.  I have been using sponges to apply my makeup for a year now… yes totally late to the party, but it’s changed everything for me.  My foundation finish is sheer and looks so much more natural, even and perfect.  Finally, when it comes to applying your eyeshadow, contour and highlighter, the magic is all in the brushes. 

As brushes are big business in the beauty industry and come in range of styles and prices, I wanted to let you know about Eco Tools which are 100% cruelty free, vegan (certified by Peta), environmentally friendly as they are made with renewable bamboo and packaged in recyclable material that is made of 100% Tree-Free paper.  

What’s more, they have collaborated with The Girl Project, a national non-profit initiative created by Glamour magazine to support global efforts to send girls everywhere to school. All the above is a no brainer for me. I’m a vegetarian and even though I’m not super precious, I don’t really fancy animal fur all over my face and sacrificing animals for the sake of a perfect contour.  For those of you who aren’t too concerned, they’re pretty good brushes too! I know so many great makeup artists who use them in their kit.

Eco Tools have a huge range of brushes, so here’s n of my favourites – 

What’s great about these brushes is, that they are labelled so you know what which one does. I have actually realised I have been using my Micro Blending brush for my eyeshadow! Oops! Its actually a fantastic brush for me eyeshadows and prefer to use the mini sponges (below) to smoke the eyeshadow out and a different mini sponge for any highlighting or concealer blending. 

Brow Shaping Duo – £4.25

Anything that helps me with my eyebrows is a winner. This brow shaping duo is under £5 which is crazy cheap compared to other brushes on the market. I use the angled liner brush to paint on my brow ink and shape my brows. I then use the spool to comb the product out making it look more natural and less intense. I then perfect my brows after a few minutes and define them further using the mini sponge below. 

Define And Highlight Duo – £10.25

This Define & Highlight Duo is designed with 2 brushes to naturally sculpt and illuminate your favorite facial features. After applying my contour with my sponge below, I use this super soft blusher brush to apply my bronzer. It feels soft, as if it was made from real fur…. and holds the powder while I sweep across my cheeks. I know that sounds totally wrong, but it is so soft it really does feel like animal fur, its amazing!

The fan brush is my absolute favourite! I use to apply my illuminator. I have never used a fan brush before and though it was a gimmick but the finish this brush leaves on the bridge or by nose and cheekbones is incredible, like no other.

SPONGES


Perfecting Blender Duo – £8.54 (top)

Who knew that makeup sponges and blenders could be ethical. These Perfecting Blender Duo are designed with EcoFoam® Technology made of 70% plant-based materials. They come in two sizes and densities to create a camera ready look. The Large Base Blender is soft and flexible to create light, buildable makeup application and the Mini Detail Blender is firmer for more precise and detailed coverage.  I use these wet by running under a tap, squeezing the excess and then using a towel for one last squeeze. I then dot my foundation on and then blend over my skin without pressing too hard. The round base blends and the flat surface evens out the product. The wedge gets into your creases like the nose and where you need precision. I wash mine daily, but you can do it weekly if you wish. 

Color Perfecting Minis – £6.83 (bottom right)

I absolutely love these Colour Correcting Mini sponges. They are designed with EcoFoam® Technology to flawlessly correct your complexion.  I use them to apply my eyeshadow, blend out my smokey eye, make corrections especially to my eyebrows after applying gel and pencil. They come as a pack of four and each sponge is color coded to use with formulas that counteract redness (mint), dark circles (pink), dullness (lilac) and dark spots (peach). Use them for applying concealer too and they can be used wet and dry as above.

 
Contour Perfecting Applicator – £5.12 (left)

This Contour Perfecting Applicator is designed to sculpt cheekbones, highlight and perfect with a simple sweep. What’s great about this is the fact that its a hand held want with a curve and point, creating the contour line and then blend. Create a dark line under the cheekbones by dabbing the sponge straight onto your contour cream or powder and blend the colour out. When cleaning, submerge the sponge into water only.

Modern Romance Collection – £12.77

This Modern Romance Collection looks amazing in your makeup kit and also makes an amazing gift. It contains a foundation brush, angled blush brush, eye full eye shadow shading and defining brushes, and a soft lid brush.

Limited Edition Anniversary Collection – £17.03

How gorgeous is this limited-edition brush collection features six face and eye brushes to create a fresh, healthy-looking glow with the brush holder? It contains the amazing Airbrushed Finishing brush, Setting brush, Spoolie brush for eyebrows, Angles Crease Brush for eyes, flat eyeliner brush and the eye and lip brush.

If you’re trying to be more ethical in your beauty choices, and be more clean, then this is the brand for you. I know its difficult, but small and unnoticeable changes make a huge difference and such a great impact.  They’re cheap too, so what’s stopping you?

Available from Boots

 

Gigi, J Lo, Emily R and Priyanka – Get the Look with Nars

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I was going through my makeup the other day and realised how many NARS products I own.  I’m obsessed with NARS. The makeup is highly pigmented, they have a variety of colours for all skin tones and they use innovative technology to look after your skin while you wear it. Their collaborations are always amazing – I have so many limited edition palettes which I am too afraid to use and their foundation is just everything! I could crush all day! I put together a few of my favourite products and linked them to some of the celebrities I am crushing on too. Enjoy!

EMILY’S EYES – BRONZE EYESHADOW

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Okay so it’s hard to look like Emily, but you can steal her smokey sultry eyeshadow look. Bronze eyeshadow is everywhere. It suits every skin tone and every style so whether you’re a super glam Kim and Kylie or a cool chick like Alexa or Cara you can totally rock this look. Traditional bronze is normally applied for an evening or winter look, and golden shimmers are used for the day and summer, but the bronze metallic eye is still going strong for SS17. If you’re into the rusty bronzes, burgundy and pink we keep seeing on the catwalk and red carpet, this is a toned down version.

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£19

This NARS Galapogus Eyeshadow is a gorgeous highly pigmented eyeshadow with glitter particles. The luminous, light-reflecting powders are for shading, highlighting and lining eyes so the finish depends on the application. They are long-wearing, crease-resistant and the colors glide on smoothly and evenly.  If you want to try the smokey eye look, they blend effortlessly and can be worn wet for a more intense look. I love the glitter but once its applied onto the eyes the glitter it’s actually really subtle. For a day look, I apply with a blending eyeshadow brush and layer if needed.  Sometimes I rim my lash line with it, but if I’m going out, I use it with a sponge blender for a more intense version. The eyeshadow stays in place and lasts all day, even after a full day’s work, a work out and after a night out.  The best part about it is that when the eyeshadow does eventually start wearing away, the glitter becomes more prominent and it looks amazing!

GLOW LIKE GIGI

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Give me Gigi’s youthful glow! You can actually get it in a bottle. I have written about the Sheer Glow foundation before so if you know me you will know how much I love it. It’s the makeup artists foundation of choice because it leaves your skin looking luminous and glowy, but it still keeps your skin looking real.  When it comes to my foundation, I like to have it looking like skin, but I need foundation to make it look perfect.  I have dabbled with other foundations over the years and I always come back to NARS because they get my colour right every time and makes my skin look immaculate.

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£32

This foundation is full of skin care benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula which leaves skin hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin’s brightness and texture.  It also contains powerful anti-oxidants to protect against damaging free radicals and turmeric extract to improve skin’s radiance and tone. I dot mine on the skin with my finger and then blend out using a sponge applicator, but you can use a foundation brush or your fingers. I have tried them all and find the application best with the sponge as it doesn’t require me add more foundation. If you have oily skin then try the All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation which is equally as good.

POUT LIKE PRIYANKA

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Prianka Chopra is incredible! Her lips are perfection and they always look pillowy soft and voluptuous. She’s not afraid of a bold lip. With my lipsticks, I always go either soft pink or red for the evenings and never a nude.  I thought I would try the super bright pink for summer and deeper plum for the evenings. These are new looks for me but I do love them.

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This Satin Lip Pencil in Yu is amazing.  Its so intense and even when it comes off it stains the lips, I love it! It is so hydrating and moistens the lips and leave a satin finish without it looking like a lipgloss. I know lip glosses are back but I can’t wear them a second time round. The modern, long-wearing, vitamin-enriched formula in a jumbo pencil is so easy to carry around as they take so little space. Perfect for holidays.

img_2875(Me and my Yu Pink)

I was a little afraid of this Satin Lipstick in Afghan Red (below) because I didn’t think I would suit it.  The truth is, it suits all skin shades, from pale to dark because it’s a classic universal colour and it’s so on trend.  If I was wearing it at night, I would go easy on the rest of my makeup, especially on my cheeks and eyes so this would be a bold statement look. But if you don’t care and want to enjoy the full makeup look go for it.

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The lipstick again is highly pigmented and comes on easily. It feels really comfortable on the lips as it’s so conditioning.  It also has a patented blend of conditioners and antioxidants to hydrate, nourish and protect lips. It stays on all day, doesn’t dry or crack and stays in place keeping lips looking luscious and plum. It’s my new fav. (Me with my Afghan Red)

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and finally……

GODDESS GOLD

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To turn myself into JLo I finish everything with a few sweeps of this incredible highlighter Dual Intensity Blush in Jubilation.  As you can see, I have used it to death! It’s a purely pigmented color a silky, wet/dry formula which can be customised. Apply dry for a healthy glow and wet for translucent, second-skin finish look.

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The translucent Prismatic Technology features pearls and pigments perfectly suspended in transparent soft base to allow for multi-dimensional effects with a uniquely weightless, luxurious texture. I use a fan brush and sweep it all over my cheekbones, cupids bow and nose to create the ultimate glow.  I love it!

I used all these products to create my looks above and also used the Nars Audacious Mascara in Black Moon and bronzer in Laguna.

All Available from NARS, Selfridges, Space NK and Liberty

 

Perricone MD – H2 Elemental Energy

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Perricone MD is one of those skincare brands which continues to surprise you with their innovative products using groundbreaking technology. Famous for their no foundation foundation which is now a cult product, you would think that would be it for them, job done, but no, this company just keeps on giving. Last year they launched the Pre:Empt collection which I used to the very last drop, and now, the new H2 Elemental Energy Collection has totally saved my skin.

The H2 Elemental Energy™ Featuring H2 Energy Complex™ basically contains Hydrogen, the smallest and most basic molecule, representing 99% of the matter in the universe.  After 30 years of research, Dr. Perricone has discovered that Hydrogen transforms the body from both the inside out and the outside in, while simultaneously transforming cellular energy and delivering a powerful boost of hydration. This collection has been developed to activate and energise surface skin cells by simultaneously transforming cellular energy and delivering a powerful boost of hydration.  It combats the signs of aging caused by pollution, lack of sleep and sun damage by penetrating the surface layers of the skin with a boost of hydrating vitality so that your skin looks re-energized and radiant.

I have recently been using a product lately that has completely messed up my skin causing it to be dry, flakey and really uncomfortable.  It was so bad, you could even see the flakes under my foundation which has been so embarrassing because I have never had bad skin. Daily face masks and exfoliating didn’t help either, so as you can imagine, I was quite upset and felt like it was going to last forever until I discovered these two products from the collection.

Hydrating Cloud Cream

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I absolutely love this airy, cloud-like cream which is powered by the Hydrogen H2 Energy Complex™. It rapidly penetrates the surface layers of the skin with a boost of hydrating vitality so that your skin looks re-energized and radiant. There is no scent which makes it feel like water and so creamy and intense yet light and airy, absorbing straight into my skin.

 Its seriously like a glass of water for the skin making it look instantly refreshed, plum and radiant. It keeps skin hydrated for 24 hours and can be used day and night.  I really love using this cream and it’s perfect for spring as its deeply nourishing and doesn’t melt under direct sunlight. It also sits beautifully under makeup.

£69.00

Firming Foam Mask

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Now this foaming mask is INSANE! Its the most fun beauty product ever and it really takes the chore out of doing a home mask. The gel mask is packaged in this futuristic tube and pumps out a gel. Once applied on the face, it transforms into a lightweight foam which leaves a cooling sensation whilst bubbling away until dry.  You only need to leave it on for around 5-10 minutes as the foam rapidly penetrates the surface layers of the skin.  I normally leave mine for around 7 because I am super ticklish and that’s all I can normally handle, it’s so weird. Once washed off the results are incredible and glowy AF!

Here’s the three stages of the mask:

£48.00

I really love this collection. It’s not like me to try a product as soon as step through my front door but I was so desperate after my skin reaction, I had to try it. After laughing so much due to the tickles, I revealed super soft, hydrated skin. The flakiness had completely gone and my skin was new again! Its the best two products I have used in a really long time.  I love how futuristic the packaging is and I love Hydrogen, it really works! I use the mask every other day and the cream every morning.

Available from Perricone MD and Selfridges

 

Anti-Age your hair with Salon Science CELLULUXE™ Shampoo and Conditioner

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My regular shampoo and conditioner of choice is normally a coloured or damaged variety so when someone recommended I use an anti-age range I was really offended! Okay, so I am in my mid 30s and my hair is long and super bleached, but really? Does my hair look old now??! 

Turns out, just like our skin, our hair ages over time – it thins out, dulls, becomes more brittle and takes longer to repair than younger hair. The way to avoid this is by using a preventative products. The new Salon Science® Swiss Apple collection does just that. It uses the stem cell extracts of a rare Swiss Apple for thicker, stronger, healtheir and younger looking hair.

I have been using the shampoo and conditioner from this collection and I love it! I have used Salon Science before and liked it but wasnt crazy about it, but this anti-age shampoo and Conditioner really feels like its made a difference to my hair.  The packaging is nice, minumal and sceincy and it smells great. The ingredients are taken from the stem cells of a rare Swiss Apple called phytonutrients, famous for its inability to shrivel and its self-healing properties. These enter the hair follicle through the scalp to bulge the hair restoring its volume. The formulations work as a wakeup call for follicles by targeting and rejuvenating the hair bulge stem cells, enabling them to keep working efficiently. This creates a delay in the hair ageing process, resulting in stronger, healthier and younger looking hair.

Both the shampoo and conditioner are gentle and luxirous to use.  In case you were worried, they are not medical at all.  They feel creamy, luxurious and expensive. I noticed how soft, shiny and volumous my hair was after the first use. The conditioner softened my hair and never weighed it down.  It also kept my colour fresh.

Shampoo £12 and Conditioner £15

Available from Boots