I was lucky enough to get on board the Elemis Spa Bus at The Clothes Show London recently, where the extremely talented Claire (from the Mayfair Spa) set to work on my back.

Now I’m blessed with a family of 3 sons, aged 7, 5 and not-quite-2, plus a husband who works horrendously long hours, and horrendous shifts.  They are the light of my life, and I wouldn’t want to be without them, but juggling motherhood and keeping a large house, with a business as a freelance makeup artist, aswell as managing MAF and writing the majority of articles, not to mention the monthly dashes from North Wales to London for meetings, often leaves my back as knotted as a fisherman’s net.

The lovely Claire though, took my back and shoulders into her hands and worked her magic for 30 amazing minutes.  I’m fairly certain that she was exhausted at the end of it.  She really put her all into it, and her body weight too, but at no point did she cause me any pain.

She did, rather drily, say that my muscles needed a complete overhaul, and said “I really need to prescribe a course of treatment” and you know, I took her as seriously as I would my GP or my children’s Paediatrician!

Now one might think that a spa on a bus is a rather strange thing to have, and even stranger to want to actually get on board, but this bus is elegant and luxurious, with gentle subdued lighting, plus the aroma of their famous candles.  It all added to the ambience.  Plus, there is a huge selection of their products to smell, test, sample and buy.

That’s just downstairs!

Upstairs, again, the same elegance and ambience is carried through, but with areas set up for arm and hand massages, and specialist chairs for the neck and shoulder massages (anyone who’s had an Indian Head Massage by their local salon, whilst propped against a tower of towels will know how horrid that is, this is luxury!)

Obviously though, the chair was the station I was at, and there was a second chair with another lady already receiving a back treatment, but you know, I didn’t feel uncomfortable. 

Okay, so I didn’t take off any clothes, bar my cardigan, but even the close proximity wasn’t an issue.

In all though, it was a fantastic little treat, and I’m very much enjoying the Aching Muscle Super Soak that Claire prescribed, and whilst I haven’t yet started on her recommended monthly massages (you’ve just read my life, where would I find time?), my shoulders and back are feeling so much better.

And as a little aside, I’ve also recently seen Elemis’s Christmas products, and I can’t wait to talk about them, at least 3 are going on my Christmas wish list…!

For Spa Bus tour dates, please keep an eye here – http://www.elemis.com/BreakingNews/SpaBus.aspx

Sam Donald

www.SamDonald.com

Is it possible that a brand could be any more fun that Jelly Pong Pong?

I’ve been using their products for quite a few years now, from back in the days of the infamous Hump Balm!

Most recently though, I took away a handful of their products on my sunny funny holiday to Turkey, and they all came in handy!

As the ultimate sparkly girly, I had to take the crystalliser away with me.  4 sparkly powdered glitters, with a handy little puff to dust them on with.  The mix of colours is great, the packaging is somewhat space age, yet stylish and they definitely add a sexy shimmer to a tan.  My only criticism is that you can’t ‘dispense’ individual colours, they all come out together.

I took some other not-quite-so-glittery products too; the Jelly Flush is a push up cheek and lip flush, that smells like peaches and jam, and looks like strawberry jam with little pips throughout!

This was wonderfully cooling on my cheeks, yet added a soft glow, literally, as the name suggests, a flush of colour.

And as a fan of the lipgloss category, my makeup bag wasn’t complete with some gourmet lip therapy!  I happen to have both Honey and Sugar, and couldn’t decide which to take, so of course, they both came too.

Neither has a colour that comes out on your lips, but the honey is a golden colour to look at and the Sugar, a shimmery white.  I wasn’t overly bothered about the lack of colour, I was using them for their therapy properties, which I’m pleased to say added a very gentle and soft sheen and a heck of a punch of moisture to dry lips.  The sugar one feels like its exfoliating, but you can put it on and leave it on, no horrid bobbles!

And while I’m here, though they didn’t come away with me, I’ve had the Muffin and Meringue duo sat on my desk for a few weeks, giving myself regular daily doses.  Enormous tubes, they don’t have a traditional applicator built in, you just unscrew the lid and blob some onto your finger, then smear that on, and depending on whether you want red or pink tinted lips would depend on whether you chose the shimmery pink Muffin or the berry red of the Cherry Meringue.

All gorgeously packaged, all lots of fun, and all designed to release the inner sparkle in all of us.

Sam Donald

www.SamDonald.com

StruckbyaStar is one of MAF’s regulars, and has kindly shared her product review, with brave pictures, on the Forum.

“Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

I got this on Amanda’s recommendation and I love it! I’m nearly through the can I bought in September. I got it in Light Glow, which is perfect for my skin tone and makes my legs look like they have a “soft” tan. 

This is part of the reason I wanted something to cover my legs with: 

And this is how that same spot looks with the spray: 

When I have it on, people do comment on my legs; I’ve been asked if I’m wearing tights and where I go to get my legs waxed! 

The leg at the top of the photo is the leg without spray- you can see the difference in the skin tone… 

Sorry for all the images, but I wanted to show how well it does cover imperfections! It costs about £6 in Superdrug, but I would definitely recommend it and buy it again because it works out lots cheaper than “pro” products like dermacolour. 
x”

Elemis, synonymous with quality, luxury, and being the ultimate treatment for women.  But what about the menfolk?  Father’s Day is just over a week away, and as per my previous article, give him the gift of skin this year, and make him feel young again.

I’ve been a fan of Elemis for a long time, as has my Mum who is currently falling in love with their latest skin nourishing body duo (watch this space for a review soon!), but it was in conversation with Mum that I realised that Dad really rather likes it too!

Pleased as anything to see that Elemis have put together a collection of at-home treatments, exclusively for Father’s Day!

• Ice-Cool foaming shave gel
• Deep cleanse facial wash
• Energising skin scrub
• Daily moisture boost
• black wash bag

And there’s nothing ‘girly’ about it.  Even the most manly of men couldn’t object to this on the 20th of June!

Its on special offer, the contents are worth £40, but until June 20th, you can either purchase it for £25, or if you spend over £70 elsewhere online (something for yourself perhaps…!), you can get it for Free, using code FDGIFT at the checkout.

Other offers available!

Offer: 10% off orders over £30

Code: AFF06101

Starts: 31-May-10

Ends: 30-June-10

Terms: Not valid on collection gift vouchers, day spa vouchers or in conjunction with any other offer. No minimum spend.

Offer: 12% off orders over £50,

Code: AFF06102

Starts: 31-May-10

Ends: 30-June-10

Terms: Not valid on collection gift vouchers, day spa vouchers or in conjunction with any other offer. No minimum spend.

Offer: 15% off orders over £70

Code: AFF06103

Starts: 31-May-10

Ends: 30-June-10

Terms: Not valid on collection gift vouchers, day spa vouchers or in conjunction with any other offer. No minimum spend.

Offer: This Father’s Day spend £50 and get a free Anti Ageing Collection for Men (Worth £38) plus free delivery.

Code: AFFDAD10

Starts: 01-June-10

Ends: 20-June-10

Terms: Not valid on collection gift vouchers, day spa vouchers or in conjunction with any other offer. No minimum spend.

So have a look at Timetospa and maybe do a spot of shopping for yourself, and pick up your present to him at the same time.

I’ve had www.compeed.co.uk/totalcare in my kit for a while, but recently used them myself, for the first time, when I felt a cold sore coming on.

As anyone who suffers from cold sores will know, they are hideous and you just want them to go away as quickly and painlessly as possible. But often they take up to 2 weeks to go, and the last few days can be the worst as they crust over and then split and bleed each time you open your mouth or try to eat something.

The patches take a little practise to put on, but if you read the instructions properly, it’s fairly simple.

At first it felt a bit weird having a plaster on my lip, but after a while, I got used to it, and other people could hardly notice it.

It felt reassuring knowing that my cold sore was completely covered, so reducing the risk of my children catching it. It also stopped it from hurting so much.

The cold sore started on a Monday evening, I could feel the unpleasant tingle, and there was a little redness, so I put a patch on. The next day there was a cluster of little blisters under the patch and they seemed to get bigger over the next few days. after about 3 days, I could feel that the cold sore was starting to heal.

It took until the following Wednesday until it had totally healed up, so not really any quicker than leaving it to heal on it’s own.
 
The difference was, the cold sore never actually crusted over, it just went away. So I managed to completely avoid the last few horrible days of splitting and bleeding and discomfort. (It is important that you use the patches until the cold sore has completely healed, otherwise you risk getting the crusting over period.)

I didn’t feel so self conscious, as the cold sore was well hidden and I was even able to apply make-up over it (although I chose not to do this as I did find it gave my lip a kind of waxy look and made me feel more concious of it)

I highly recommend these patches and will definitely use them again  the next time I get another attack.(not too soon, I hope)

Amanda Roberts

www.hairandmakeup4u.com

NEW & EXCLUSIVE to thepromakeupshop.com

As a busy working mother of 2 young children I am a big fan of anything ‘relaxing’! I was delighted when asked by Antonia Hawke of The Pro Make Up Shop to review the latest soothing and cooling high tech eye gels from South Africa otherwise known as Eye Slices. ‘Encapsulated in a patented Cryogel technology’ this new product claims to deliver ‘natural, yet effective ingredients to the skin around the eye which promises revitalising results within 5 minutes’. Eye Slices also aim to reduce puffiness, dark circles, redness, wrinkles and tired eyes. Just what I needed after a very busy weekend of working, networking, socialising and lack of sleep!

The packaging is very appealing and has every bit of information you need to know about Eye Slices including the fact that one pair can be used up to 10 times, they don’t need to be kept in the fridge and they need to be used within 2 weeks of opening. The set came with a plastic container which reminds me of an over-sized contact lens case – this is where you store your Eye Slices when not in use.

Before use I cleansed and dried my skin taking care to remove all traces of eye make-up. The Eye Slices are initially packaged in a foil backed clear fronted container which is ideal for keeping the moisture and ingredients locked into the slices. The product itself is green in colour with no distinct smell. The slices are very flexible and felt quite durable. Once removed from the packaging I placed a slice over each eye. I did need to press the slice quite firmly onto the closed eye so that it moulded to the contours of my eye and held it in place. The slice needs to be comfortable and be able to stay on the eye area when sitting up.

You can keep the Eye Slices on for 5-20 minutes so seeing as I was having some ‘me’ time they stayed on for the whole 20 minutes! I found them very relaxing and gentle on the eye area. They didn’t sting my eyes nor did the product feel drying.

My main areas of concern around the eye area are fine lines and dark circles so I was very pleased to find upon removal of the Eye Slices that my whole eye area was smooth, tight, less tired and above all there were less shadows under my eyes. For a first application I was very impressed with the results and will definitely be recommending these to my clients for use after a late night or early morning, plane journey or for that ‘pick me up’ when you want to look fresh and awake!

A big thumbs up from me!

Priced at £9.99 and £14.99 you can read more about these at http://www.promakeupshop.com/

Kelly Hollands

www.kellyhollands.co.uk

Alex Box, famous for her unconventional approach to makeup, has created a book, with Rankin Photography and it shows some of her wildest and most creative looks to date.

Starting out as a fine artist and installation artist, her career took her into makeup where she melded nature, science, art and magic together.

Today, Alex works with such world renowned designers as Gareth Pugh, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, and is the driving force as the creative director for Illamasqua.

I caught up with her at the weekend when she was showcasing the Illamasqua Dystopia collection and she kindly took some time out to chat with me.

Resplendent in Bright Emerald Green with her trademark black and white hair, her face was bare of makeup except for sculptured brows and Emerald Green lips, I was pleased to also be cutting edge with my emerald green nails…!

Her philosophy on makeup is that it doesn’t always have to be about natural, but then it doesn’t always have to be wild and overly creative.

She’s very thankful for where she is in her career today, and at 36, is world renowned for her outrageous makeup looks, but is also called upon to create softer, more natural makeup for fashion and runway.  She says that not every designer wants wild and colourful, and that though they know her style, she will be asked to create other looks.

When I asked her about her inspiration for her creations, she said that often she doesn’t know where she’s going when she picks up her brushes, and that each face moves in a different way, but it isn’t always about creating conventional beauty.  In fact, when there, her demonstration on a male model was done completely on the hop, without any preconceived ideas, she hadn’t even met him before the start of the demonstration!

Very passionate about her makeup, she was pleased when I asked her about her own career path, and where she is today.  I’d listened to numerous young women asking her questions, and then proceeding to answer their own questions while Alex stood sipping from a bottle of water, with small opportunity to interject her thoughts.  Almost celebrity perhaps?  Certainly in the makeup world, yes.

Her book, available from October, is an explosion of colour and creativity.  And ‘The minute you obliterate someone’s spirit, you’re abusive’ is a statement that at first seems at odds with her fantasy looks, that on some occasions seem almost disturbing.  However, each model is shown as a mysterious creature, with the exotic and wild being at the centre.

And given the somewhat shocking looks in some of the images, one would think that Alex is a ‘divaesque’ makeup artist, but she really isn’t.  Her gentle movement of her model’s face from side to side as necessary, demonstrated that fame as an artist doesn’t mean throwing your makeup brushes around, but with it stays her status as a world class artist.

Sam Donald

www.SamDonald.com

© Photography Rankin, Make Up Alex Box

Alex Box is published by Turnaround (£50) and runs as an exhibition at the Annroy Gallery, Kentish Town from 23^nd Oct – 22^nd Dec.

World famous Makeup Artist Jemma Kidd has done it again!

Made makeup look simple.  Well, it actually is, it just looks complicated.  How you get the look you like in the mirror is down to technique, and Jemma’s book makes it simple.

With everything covered from the very basics for a novice makeup artist right through to complex and complicated looks for the more experienced makeup fan, both artist and non.

There are colour palettes to get the right colours for your skintones.  Not quite the colour-me-beautiful of the 80s, but with a certain idealisation of what the right colours are.

For the person with ‘flaws’ on their face, or parts that they want to hide, there are visual tips and techniques on how to disguise parts of the face, and also on how to maximise parts.

And all round book that will be ideal for anyone who loves makeup, even those who are vastly experienced.  There’s plenty for everyone, and I’ve now devoured my book from cover to cover and it resides in pride of place with all my other makeup reference books!

Available from any good bookshop, it’s priced at £22.50 and worth every penny!

Sam Donald

www.SamDonald.com