Liz Earle Skincare Range

I've just returned from an event tonight for makeup artists to be introduced to the Liz Earle range of skin products. Being English I already knew of the brand and am a fan of a lot of the products especially the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and the Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion (which I used on a shoot recently for a cosmetics campaign to remove eye makeup between shots without irritating the model's eyes or skin). But since meeting Liz in person and seeing how amazing her skin is, she's only used her own products for 15 years, I am now going to use the whole range on myself!
She was very informative and really knows everything about natural ingredients. We were given her new book - Skin Secrets and I look forward to reading it and gaining more insight into how she keeps her skin glowing, even after getting off an eleven hour flight from London!

Check out http://www.lizearle.com/ to see the whole range of products.

Getting ready for Summer

If you're anything like me, you've spent the Winter months cocooned in layers of warm clothing (yes even in Southern California!) and need a little help before you shed some of them in public. I like to prepare for this with the help of a few beauty rituals....
First of all you need to start getting your skin into shape by smoothing it with a good scrub a few times a week, I like Coconut Sugar Rub by www.purefiji.com as it softens and gets rid of the dead skin all at once and smells like a tropical vacation, something I could do with right now! Next shave your legs with a good quality shaving cream (or foam if your prefer) unless you have them waxed and then you can concentrate on your face. I exfoliate it with my Clarisonic Brush and my favorite face wash Clarifying Cleanser by www.murad.com which is great if you have oily skin like me, you can use a wash specifically for your skin type which there are many of by Murad. I now wash my hair and get out of the shower and put on a hair mask like 3 minute mask by Fekkai and cover it with a shower cap. Run a bath and add a creamy bath milk like the ones from www.purefiji.com and apply a gentle face mask like Rose Petal Mask by www.fresh.com. I like to have a candle burning to help me relax and to read but if you prefer to just relax now is a good time to put on cotton wool pads that have been soaked in Eyebright lotion by www.lizearle.com to brighten and refresh tired eyes. Soak for at least 15 minutes to let all the products take effect and then get back in the shower and rinse off. After drying yourself with a soft fluffy towel, massage in a cellulite lotion that has self tan in it - Cellufight by www.tarte.com is amazing and apply a self tanner to your face, Solartan by Hourglass is my choice as the color is so believable but subtle. It is a primer but I also like to use it at night so that I wake up glowing! Moisturize and plump your lips with Beautifull Lips by www.janson-beckett.com and that completes your skin's beautifying routine. Leave your hair to dry naturally so it gets the full benefit of the treatment and get a good night's rest, Murad sleep reform supplement can help if you have trouble sleeping but consult your Doctor before taking it. You should wake up looking and feeling ready to wear that sundress that has been hiding in the back of your closet!!
Now you've done the prep work and are feeling smooth, fresh and glowing you can get ready for your day with a few simple steps. After your shower smooth Body Firming Cream by www.murad.com all over to keep up the body firming treatment from the night before, if you are going to be out in the sun let it sink in, then apply suntan lotion as usual. Towel dry your hair and then put a little Marine Styling Balm by www.ecrunewyork.com in for hold, softness and body that won't flake or become gummy in the heat. It also protects the hair and soothes the scalp. Finish your style by spraying with Sunlight Finishing Spray by www.ecrunewyork.com which keeps it in shape and protects from the any harmful rays. For a fast simple sunny makeup look I start with Highnoon Face Glow by www.fresh.com which is a golden tinted moisturizer which gives a really great glow. Then I add some more color with the bronze cream shade from the Illume palette by www.hourglasscosmetics.com I put this across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose, on the forehead and chin and a little blended well on the eyelids. Use the highlighter shade in the palette on your cheekbones and the inner corner of the eyes for a little shimmer. If you need powder, dust a little on now, I love Translucent Finishing powder by www.alisonraffaele.com which is so light and sheer you won't feel like you're wearing any at all! Emphasize your eyes by filling in your brows with Brow Pen by www.anastasia.net which is a liquid pen that stays put all day and a couple of coats of 4 Day Lash Stain by www.tarte.com. Finish your look with a easy to use gloss pencil in a sheer but bright shade (I like Chinatown Crime) by www.lipstickqueen.com and your summer glow should last as long as you do!

A preview of the new Hourglass Cosmetics campaign:

This is a sneak preview of the Hourglass Cosmetics campaign I did the makeup for recently. Look out for it in Sephora stores nationwide soon!

My top 10 drugstore buys

In this economy it makes sense to shop in drugstores, they have some great products and if you shop around many have good deals on. Rite Aid have a 2 for 1 offer on Covergirl at the moment so now is the time to stock up!

Here are my top 10 choices:

1. Covergirl Line Exact Defining Eyeliner - it's a felt tip eyeliner pen that gives a good solid line and lasts all day.


2. Bio Oil - this is an amazing oil that has multiple uses, from treating dry skin on your face and body to alleviating stretch marks to using as a bath oil. It is a wonder product!


3. Individual Lashes: Duralash by Ardell - these are great for enhancing your natural lashes without having to worry all night about the strip peeling off at either end! They can look natural or dramatic depending how many you put on.


4. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes - I always keep a pack of these next to my bed for nights when I'm just too tired to wash my face. They remove makeup thoroughly and leave your face moisturized too.


5. Dove Deep Moisture Body wash - One of the most moisturizing body washes I have ever used. Your skin won't feel tight after washing and you may even be able to get away without body lotion


6. Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer - I love the color this gradual daily self tanning foam gives and the fact that it dries instantly so you can get dressed immediately.


7. Revlon 3D Mascara - a great mascara that really does thicken and lengthen even the sparsest of lashes.


8. Blistex Deep Renewal Lip Balm - this little gem really moisturizes and has an SPF 15 so is great for daytime or beachtime!


9. Cornsilk Loose Powder - I love this powder, it is completely translucent and gives an airbrushed look not a chalky finish to the skin.


10. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets - where would I be without these genius little blue sheets?? I'd be a shiny mess that's where! Absolutely the best oil blotters around, they don't disturb makeup and leave skin completely shine free.

Things I buy more than once

As a professional makeup artist and self confessed beauty junkie I get to try pretty much every product on the market. The true test of how good a product is for me is if I buy it again and again. This is a list of those items:

Clarifying Cleanser by Murad http://www.murad.com/ - by far the best wash I have ever used for keeping those dreaded monthly breakouts at bay.

Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser by Liz Earle www.lizearle.com - my friend Joolz first introduced me to this unbelievable cleanser, it gets even the hardest to remove makeup off and leaves your skin looking like you just had a facial.

Alpha Derma CE by Janson Beckett http://www.janson-becket.com/ - an amazing moisturiser that isn't greasy at all and tightens the skin instantly.

Beautifull Lips by Janson Beckett http://www.janson-beckett.com/ - I use this every day to plump my lips and give them a natural rosy glow.

Veil Fluid Foundation by Hourglass Cosmetics www.hourglasscosmetics.com - a great natural looking foundation that covers and tightens the skin in one step.

Secret Brightening Powder in no.2 by Laura Mercier www.lauramercier.com - I can't even count how many pots of this I've gone through. I use to to brighten under the eyes but also all over the face as a loose powder for a soft glowy effect.

Beauty Elixir by Caudalie www.sephora.com - this facial mist really smooths and freshens the skin leaving it looking dewy and can be used under or over makeup.

Calligraphy Eyeliner by Hourglass Cosmetics http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ - a felt tip like eyeliner pen that enables you to do a cat like eye effortlessly.

Smoky Eyes Mascara by Makeup Forever www.makeupforeverusa.com - this mascara gives deep black, long, thick and feathery lashes all in two coats.

Jumbo Eye Pencil in 502 by Sephora www.sephora.com - I buy this pencil in bulk just in case they ever decide to discontinue it! It creates a natural looking glistening eye when used lightly inside and around the lash line but can become a shimmery smoky eye when used over black eyeliner. I use this on everyone.

Cream Tint in Orchid by Jouer Cosmetics http://www.jouer.com/ - don't be scared of the deep red of this tint, it gives a gorgeous just back from the beach flush to cheeks and a deeper version of your own lips when applied lightly to them.

and last but not least:

Lip Plumper by Freeze 24/7 www.freeze247.com - the only plumping lipgloss that I've come across that actually works. It gives glossy, plump flushed lips in seconds.

All the above products I love and use on myself and my clients, I hope you love them as much as I do!