New From Clinique - Superfit Makeup

Clinique have just re-released their new & improved 'Superfit Makeup', it maintains a long lasting matt finish & abosrbs oil without drying out the skin, this is achieved through their new 'Aerogel' technology that has been added to the foundation to improve it's performance. It gives a natural coverage & feels comfortable to wear, allowing the skin to breathe & look fresh all day long with super lastability, you can even wear it to the gym!
£18.50.

Mac limited Edition - Starflash

Just out from Mac is their new Limited Edition Starflash Shadows & Kohl Power Eye Pencils, there are 12 shades of shadow & four pencils all giving a high intensity of colour.
The shadow is highly pigmented so gives a really intense look, it also blends easily so you can get a soft application, the pencils again provide an intense look where you can create a smokey edge with a duo matt/pearl finish.
Available at Mac Counters now Shadow (£10), Pencils (£11).

Sun Safe Option - Fake Bake!

Protection from the sun's harmful rays is one of the most talked about beauty subjects right now & the Fake Bake brand has lead the way in eductaing young women on taking care of their skin by opting to 'fake' it rather than 'sun bed' it!
Sandra McClumpha is the lady behind the brand, she bought the uk distribution rights back in 2002 & went on to buy the entire company this year for a cool £10Million, she is now currently gearing up for her global expansion for fake tan world domination! To promote this expansion she is hosting an "Apprentice' style online show to search for new candidates to help move the brand forward, check out the site on www.thehirer.tv

Make-Up Hall of Fame - Laura Mercier Primer

Over the last couple of weeks & for the next few months we will be starting up our very own 'Make-Up Hall of Fame', for all those fantastic products & tools that keep us looking at our best, it will consist of the true tried & tested items that come up trumps everytime proving themselves to be timeless classics that no beauty junkie should be without! Any suggestions on what you think & any products you feel should defintely be put forward let us know - eyecandyblog@googlemail.com
Third in is - Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer (£27), this is known world wide as one of the best primers & is a favourite amoungst top make-up artists & celebrities. It creates a flawless & long lasting finish to your make-up that will last all day, simply apply to the face before foundation to create the base that it will easily glide over giving a professional finish. There are now three other Primers available in addition to the original, 'Hydrating' for dry skin, 'Oil Free' for oily prone skin & 'Mineral Powder' for use with mineral powder-base foundations.

'Tangle-Tweeze' Proves the Dragons Wrong!

Keep an eye out for this product to hit the shelves in September, hairdresser Shaun Pulfrey had is idea for a hair de-tangler rejected from BBC's Dragon's Den only to sign a lucrative deal with Boots that is sure to make him a healthy sum!
His 'Tangle Tweezers' are said to work wonders on hair & will effortlessly smooth out tangles from your hair without any pain. The teeth are designed to flex & glide through the hair instantly eliminating tangles and knots, they also minimise breakage & damage to the hair. Great for all hair types, but recommended for fragile or colour-treated hair, hair extensions & fine tangle-prone hair. Available at Boots at £9.99 from Sept.

Carboxy Therapy - Latest Non Surgical Cellulite Treatment & Anti-Ageing Therapy.

The latest craze in anti-ageing as well as anti-cellulite treatments to make it's way across the Atlantic this year is, believe it or not, carbon dioxide injections, otherwise known as 'Carboxy Therapy'. It is described as the biggest breakthrough in anti-ageing since botox & can also treat cellulite, stretch marks to jowls & flabby upper arms. It works by carbon dioxide being injected under the surface of the skin, this causes the blood vessels to dilate within the tissue bringing a rush of oxygen to the treated area. The carbon dioxide will kill off fat cells & stimulate collagen production creating firmer, younger looking skin. Many have seen great results particularly in reducing the appearance of cellulite & stretch marks, normally it is recommended that you have 15-20 sessions (15 mins each) to eliminate cellulite with visible results after 8 sessions, once your course has finished you can expect the effects to last up to 6 months. It comes at a price though, £100 a session (maybe best sticking to our old faithful firming lotion if you ask me!). Contact Dr Jules-Jacques Nabet's Medical Rooms, Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT Tel: 020 7938 2195.

Beauty Classic - Johnson's Baby Lotion

Johnson's baby lotion has truly stood the test of time as a beauty classic & has been passed down from generation to generation over the last 100 years. On this basis Johnson's Baby have decided to re-launched the Original Baby Lotion, The Scent of Softeness which is associated with Johnson's baby products gives a pure clean scent that is said to be the perfect antidote to fast pace modern living, giving you a relaxed & calm feel - reminding you of simpler times as a child!!! Of course another important factor in why so many women choose baby lotion is for the baby softeness of course (!!), it gently hydrates the skin leaving it smooth & fresh, it's also quickly absorbed with no greasy residue so is quick & easy to use. As if that wasn't enough you can also use it as a mild cleanser, excellent for removing make-up & generally cleansing the skin, leaving it baby soft!
I have been putting it to the test over the last few days, my skin feels & smells fantastic, it's true that the smell is calming & I also found that it does indeed work very well as a cleanser & removed all traces of my eye make-up without any stinging, so perfect as a cleanser & all over face & body moituriser in one, so no need for any other beauty products really!!!!
Baby Lotion is also a celeb favourite with Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, Gywneth Paltrow & Erin O'Connor all huge fans of the baby soft benefits! So all the perfect reasons to go out a treat yourself to an all time classic beauty product!

New From Bourjois - Shimmering Shine Liquid EyeShadow

Bourjois have just released their new liquid eyeshadow 'Shimmering Shine', it is a waterbased product with pearlised pigments which are amplified to increase shine & brilliance. It is said to be a light, non sticky formula that will dry quickly without creasing, it also comes with a patented applicator to allow precise application.. I bought this product over the weekend as I was very impressed with the over all look & the results that were promised, unfortunately I wasn't so impressed after trying it out on Saturday night...
The applicator doesn't apply the colour as precisely as promised & I feel that a light brush would be far better instead, the colour doesn't go on as evenly as I would have liked either & it did crease slightly too. I re-applied it over a silver eyeshadow (I was using the grey/silver 35) & I found the effect was actually a lot better, it intensified the colour of the shadow & the shine looked very good, any slight uneven patches are disguised by the shadow underneath. I then used a light shimmer highlighter (powder) & blended upwards to keep everything even. In the end I was happy with the finished result but only after applying it over a shadow, I think if you were to use it on it's own the results may be a bit uneven but it does give added sparkle to your eyeshadow which is a lovely effect.

Barry M - New Eyeliner Pens

Barry M are renowned for their bright vibrant colours & striking looks, regardless of what colour you're looking for you can pretty much guarantee that they'll have it!
Just launched are their Intense Eyeliner Pens, waterproof & long wearing they come in a range of great colours to finish off any eye make-up look. They're retractable & easy to use plus the pigment is brilliant so you can get a really striking look, in fact they're great just worn alone!
£3.95 from Boots or Superdrug

Brand New From Neutrogena - 'Spot Stress Control' Range (Review)

It is a well known fact that the more stressed we become the more likely it is that we will experience the dreaded skin outbreak..!
Well finally a product range has been launched to combat this problem, our new best friends at Neutrogena have just brought out the 'Visibly Clear - Spot Stress Control' range. After carrying out a skin audit with over 1000 young women they found that 61% confirmed they had an increase in spots when stressed, the reason for this happening is that stress causes the adrenal glands to produce more hormones which stimulate oil production from the pores & in turn encourage blemishes to appear on the surface of skin. To break the skin stress cycle Neutrogena's new range contains powerful spot fighting ingrediants which include Salicylic Acid & their patented MicroClear technology as well as green tea & cucumber to help unclog pores, calm the skin & help clear spots.
Over the last fortnight I have putting the new 'Spot Stress Control' range to the test & see if I too could have beautiful clear skin as promised. Unfortunately I have had a few outbreaks of late & as we all know this just escalates with more & more blemishes arriving to keep their friends company! To be honest I have always been a fan of Neutrogena's products & have generally found that they do what they say they'll do! So thankfully I have not been disapointed by their latest offering! My skin has seen a vast improvement, particularly in the last week with 95% of blemishes disappearing completely, only a few others have still to clear up completely but are well & truly on their way out!
First of all in the range is the 'Daily Foaming Wash' (£4.49), I chose to use this one in the evening before going to bed, it is gentle on the skin & unlike many other spot control washes it doesn't dry the skin or strip it's natural barrier either (which can actually worsen your blemishes), it dissolves any exess oil & unclogs pores, leaving your skin feeling fresh & clean.
I used the 'Hydrating Spot Treatment' (£4.49) both in the evening & the morning, again I found it was gentle on the skin, no stinging sensation or drying of the skin at all & within a few days blemishes are drastically reduced. It also seems to provide a light barrier over the areas it is applied to which 'seals' it preventing further infection. It's Microclear tenchnology penetrates deep into the skin to clear spots as well as the cucumber & green tea ingrediants keeping the skin hydrated at the same time.
The 'Daily Scrub' (£4.49) is great to use in the morning & is a gentle exfoliator that you can use everyday, the microbeads help to unclog pores & penetrate the skin again without drying, leaving it feeling soft, fresh & clean.

So over all I found the range to be a great success in the battle against blemishes & I'll certainly continue to use it from now on as it not only helps bannish any spots it will continue to protect your skin from further outbreaks. Defintely a 10/10 score from me!!

Make-Up Hall of Fame - Benetint

Over the next few months we will be starting up our very own 'Make-Up Hall of Fame', for all those fantastic products & tools that keep us looking at our best, it will consist of the true tried & tested items that come up trumps everytime proving themselves to be timeless classics that no beauty junkie should be without! Any suggestions on what you think & any products you feel should defintely be put forward let us know - eyecandyblog@googlemail.com
Second in is -

Benefit's Benetint is probably one of the world's most famous make-up products & defintely deserves cult status as well as a place in the Make-Up Hall of Fame! Perfect for giving you that rosy glow all year round, long lasting & waterproof too for both cheeks & lips it's defintely an all round winner, not forgetting a celebrity favourite!
Best tip for application is to put 3 small dots along your cheek bone & quickly blend with the finger tips in a circular motion, for lips dab a little on with your pinky. Also a little goes a long way with this so your little bottle will go on & on making it worth every penny!
Available at all Benefit Counters - £22.50

Latest Craze with 'Guy-Liner'!!

Just launched from Superdrug is the latest offering in male grooming - cosmetics for men. 'Man Make-Up' is becoming quite a craze these days despite doubts that it actually take off, more and more cosmetic brands are creating a range for men. Superdrug's new range entitled 'Taxi Man' includes a pencil called 'Guy-Liner' & a mascara called, wait for it....'Manscara'! Very creative & fitting names but as mentioned before there are a lot of doubts about this catching on for the average male regardless of how image conscious & 'metrosexual' men are these days, Russell Brand & Robbie Williams might get away with it but it may take time for it to catch on in the high street or down the local pub!
Superdrug's director Jeff Wemyss commented on the the new brand - 'We believe there is a real market for cosmetic products. The majority of our customers are women and we believe that these products will be bought by women for their partners, as well as by men themselves'. The brand creator also remarked - 'We've developed essentials any guy would borrow from his other half. It's about subtle make-up rather than wanting to create the drag queen look.'
The guy-liner pencil is supposed to be chunkier making it easier for men to use, although the 'manscara' appears to be a repackaged form of the female equivalent... Still, only time will tell if these products will really be bought & used by our other halves..!!!
The Taxi Man range is available now from Superdrug.

Caring For Younger Skin - Elizabeth's Daughter

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure & I'm sure many of us now wish we had taken better care of our skin when we were younger. It has been found that despite the vast amount of lotions & potions there are out there for our skin very few actually cater for the specific needs of younger skin..
On this basis Elizabeth Hallet decided to design her own premium skincare range specifically for young skin, this was inspired by her passion for teaching her daughter to care for her skin, hence the product's name 'Elizabeth's Daughter'. Using her wealth of knowledge from the beauty industry, working within one of the world's leading botanical beauty products brand, Elizabeth managed to create the range using ingredients from the all over the world, where each one was specifically sourced for its benefits to younger skin.
Elizabeth's thoughts on her range are that, "Investing in my daughter's skin today is giving her the gift of confidence for the future."
The range offers cleansers, moisturisers, masks and shower wash. One of the most popular products is the refreshing Skin Spritz with Aloe Vera leaf juice and Rose Water, the cooling mist soothes and freshens the skin, as well as actively toning and purify & is gentle enough to be used all over the body, including the face.
The Elizabeth's Daughter range is available Harvey Nichols.

Barnd New - Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SPF15

Just out from Clinique is New High Impact Lip Colour (£12), great vibrant colour that lasts for 8 hours in 20 shades, also with moisturising benefits that keep lips soft & smooth all day long with SPF protection too. Plus buy online just now & receive a free High Impact Mascara Deluxe Sample!!
Pair up your new lipstick with their Defining Liner For Lips (£12) as well, it promises 8 hours of smooth & long wearing application, perfect for luscious summer pouts!

Make-Up Hall Of Fame - Shu Uemera EyeLash Curlers

Over the next few months we will be starting up our very own 'Make-Up Hall of Fame', for all those fantastic products & tools that keep us looking at our best, it will consist of the true tried & tested items that come up trumps everytime proving themselves to be timeless classics that no beauty junkie should be without! Any suggestions on what you think & any products you feel should defintely be put forward let us know - eyecandyblog@googlemail.com
So here's our First!!!!

Heralded as the world's best eyelash curlers, Shu Uemera's little miracle workers don't come in cheap but many many users will tell you they're worth every penny!
To start with they look sleek & cool plus they always stay shiny as well as being very sturdy, but do they live up to the hype & give you beautifully curled lashes?! Well the answer is yes (!!), the curler follows the shape of the lid & lash line perfectly, the grip is very good as well as easy to apply & you only need to hold them for a few seconds to get a prefect curl, certainly no crimping! Many people have found that the curl effect given with these lash curlers makes their lashes look a lot longer, so much so that they don't have to wear mascara. Sounds pretty good when you weigh it up, £18 may not be so bad when you consider the money you could save on mascara plus they last so well they could be a friend for life! So all in all defintely worthy of a place in the Make-Up Hall Of Fame! Available from Space NK.

Anti-Ageing Superfood - Natto

The lastest Anti-Ageing craze to sweep LA is Formented Soya Beans 'Natto' from Japan, experts say that eating a few small portions a day can have a huge inpact on the condition of your skin, not forgetting the health benefits as well as it can help prevent heart attacks & strokes. It clears the complexion to give a youthful glow to the skin thanks to it's unique vitamin & mineral compounds that cannot be found in any other food or supplement.
Victoria Beckham has become the latest fan of this new superfood & friends say this is what is behind her new healthier figure & glowing complexion, she has recently she been happy to pose for pictures with barely scratch of make-up on as her confidence has grown so much thanks to her new diet (or maybe it's just all that LA sun!?)