I’ve found a lot to love for Summer and we’re only a month in. As you may have seen from my Instagram I’ve just returned from a trip to Marrakech. It’s the second time I’ve been to the city and there’s so much to love. The Souks as always were amazing, but what really wowed […]
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Superstar Stylist Sophie Emmett, reviews Muse of London’s newest TIGI colour treatment: #ChocolateCrusade A few days before my 30th birthday, I had the ultimate pleasure of having my hair done at the Muse of Londonsalon, which is located in the heart of Oxford Circus. Having just launched their Chocolate menu: #Chocolatecrusade, I had the difficult […]
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In a world so obsessed with newness, it’s easy for old classics to be forgotten about. Nowhere is this more true than in the beauty sphere. There are some products which I hold dear in my heart and always wonder quite why they don’t get more attention. One such item is the humble Laura Mercier […]
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There’s something about Biologique Recherche. Whether it’s the fact that to get hold of their products you have to do an online consultation, or the myriad of testimonies attesting to the life changing nature of their products; they hold some sort of mythic status in the skincare world. Their products all have confusing, almost-coded names, […]
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Ah, makeup. We all want to wear it, yet we all somehow want to look like we aren’t wearing it. It’s a paradox of the first degree, and possibly rooted in problematic virgin-whore dichotomies and our old fave, unrealistic beauty standards. Essays could be written on the topic. But that’s not what I’m doing today. […]
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There’s something about lip gloss. It has an oddly adolescent reputation, sort of a “lipstick light” for those not quite ready to take the plunge. And while teenagerhood is, to me, always an aspirational state, I do think there’s something to be said for a more serious lip gloss. Gloss for grown-ups, if you will. […]
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If you’re a fan of Cool Girls (and let’s face it, who isn’t?) you may be familiar with the original and best, iconic stylist Linda Rodin. Even by looking at her you can tell she’s cool – white hair, oversized glasses, clean skin and neon lipstick is her uniform. Plus, she never got married because […]
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I think the whole world now agrees that SPF is, broadly a good thing. We have a scientifically proven way to prevent burning, premature skin ageing and cancer, so it seems a bit remiss to not bother using it. Yet, still SPF products tend to have a bad rep. They’re usually very much function over […]
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In a world of Instagram lip art, glitter, and ombré, there’s something to be said for a low maintenance lip look. And while I’m a huge fan of a clear gloss or (gasp) just leaving them bare, sometimes there’s a need for a little something more. Something which looks like, your lips but better. Enter, […]
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If ever a makeup item has defined a time, surely it is highlighter defining right now. I’m not that old (I really promise I’m not), but I remember a time when highlighters solely referred to neon pens. In fact, I remember discovering Benefit High Beam (which I’m pretty sure was the first mass-market highlight) and […]
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Cool Girl Hair is a timeless ideal. Even without describing it, I think you know what I mean – hair that falls just so, is perfectly somehow both soft ‘n’ shiny, yet texturised ‘n’ tousled, and most importantly, hair that is totally effortless, requiring no product or styling. After years of extensive research, I’ll go […]
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I’ve always struggled to find a makeup remover. Not an eye makeup remover – for which there are many. As an advocate of unabashed slapp, I’ve always been the friend who has primed, concealed, foundationed and set. For some a swish of mascara or swipe of a red lippy is enough to impart confidence. For […]
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Though I’m not confident in many statements when it comes to beauty, I feel pretty safe in saying that warm eyeshadows are not going anywhere anytime soon. I think this is because they’re a great balance between playing it safe vs. making a statement; as they’re brown-based but with hints of colour, to add an […]
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When it comes to makeup, in spite of my intense love for it, I am fundamentally quite lazy. I’ve accepted it, and therefore no one can use it against me. I probably wear makeup twice a week, and when I do it’s usually as few products as possible. Except when it comes to glitter, but […]
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Although there’s a time and a place for a full, beaming, metallic highlighter, I think the future of glow is an altogether more subtle affair. Something which mimics a naturally healthy and hydrated complexion, combining dewy oils with a subtle wash of colour, or iridescent pigment, is a totally cute and modern way to shine. […]
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If you have your finger on the natural beauty pulse, you’ll likely have heard of Tata Harper. It’s the name of a brand and also the name of a woman, which is pretty cool. She makes tons of expensive and beautiful skincare from her home farm in Vermont (probably not actually, but let’s focus on […]
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The world is full of powerful pairings: Michelle and Barack, Lizzie and Phillip, jam and scones, socks and sandals, the list goes on. When it comes to beauty, we all have our own helpful hacks, whether that’s powder before foundation Jackie Aina style, or layering up our skincare, inspired by the Korean 12-step routine. For […]
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Once again I’ve left my Christmas shopping list to the last minute, but I’m sure you’re all used to this by now. With less than 2 weeks til Christmas, I thought it was about time I compiled my list of all of the things that are top of my Christmas list, that would make perfect […]
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Regular readers of Blush, will know how much I love a good a treatment. Full body massages, blow dries, facials; I’ll take them all. There are a few necessary evils that when the time comes, I always dread: threading (it looks awesome but there is no pain quite like it) and waxing. Eyebrow waxing: is […]
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Since launching a couple of years ago, & Other Stories has fast become the bane of my wallet and the light of my life. Grown-up fashion for Zara fans, looking for something a little more unique,;Stories also happens to be perfect, for those who may have grown out of Topshop, but aren’t quite minimal enough for […]
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So it’s been a while since I last posted, and for that I am truly sorry. Slapp is consuming all of my time, but if you are looking for some Beauty advice, or news on the latest launches, I would suggest heading over to the app. In other news, I have been trying out a lot […]
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We all know we’re supposed to take care of our skin and thanks to a post-teen dabble in the Clinique 3 -step programme, most of us know what skin type we are. I have the pleasure of being Combination: which basically means I’m a little of everything. A bit dry here and a bit oily […]
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With new launches dropping every day, it’s often hard to decipher the good from the great. I’ve tried a tonne of products over the last few months and will be bringing you my ultimate faves in the coming weeks. First up are some of the makeup products and tools, I’ve been reaching for this month. There’s […]
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Trish McEvoy may not be a UK household name, but for those in the know, it has fast become a go to brand- and is consistently Liberty London’s best seller. Having been recently reintroduced to the brand, I can see why. Created by award winning makeup artist Trish McEvoy, the brand puts practicality at the […]
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I’ve long been a fan of the legendary Jo Malone. Who doesn’t know the story of how the self made entrepreneur built one of the most recognisable luxury fragrance brands, only to lose the rights to her name, and the option of working in the industry, she had so significantly shaped. After a 5 year […]
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You know a product is good, when it’s the one thing you turn to in your hour of need. For me, there are a few products that I can’t live without and have on constant rotation: Nars’ Radiance Creamy Concealer and All Day Luminous, Trilogy’s Rosehip Oil, Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish and Dermalogica’s Multi Active […]
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In her last piece for Blush, Annie introduces us to Chantecaille… Chantecaille is a brand that has always seemed a little out of my league. In spite of what you may think, glamorous, I’m not. I love makeup and skincare and all things luxe, but at heart I think I’m secretly quite low maintenance. Chantecaille, […]
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Mascara is the best-selling beauty product in the UK for good reason. If I’m honest there are very few mascaras which even touch the sides witj my excuse for eyelashes, but I guess that makes me the perfect person to judge. Over the years I have tried some pretty fantastic mascaras, Lancome Hypnose, YSL Volume Effet […]
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The world of problem skin is, believe it or not, a problematic one. It’s almost like playing a game of whack-a-mole with your face. Once you get a breakout under control, something else will pop up. You’ll treat the suppurating, throbbing sores, only to be left with flakey, scaley dry patches. Fun and glam, I […]
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I love presents. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. What I love more though is post. Maybe it’s seven years at boarding school, when post was literally the highlight of our week; There was no better feeling than receiving a care pack from home, or no worse feeling when your friend would literally […]
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When it comes to a smokey party eye, burgundy is the new black. I’m putting this down to the current consensus that less makeup is more, (even if we’ve definitely got quite a bit on.) The classic black suddenly seems a little heavy for a night out, whereas burgundy offers a softer, bronzer glow. It’s […]
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I always love discovering new skincare products, partly because I never want to age and partly because I love the ritual of preening my face. There’s nothing better than seeing a visible difference between your slightly parched skin to a face plumped by a powerful serum. I’ve tried some great products over the past few […]
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Vs. is back and better than ever. First up, Annie weighs up whether we should spend £16 on a blender or just use our fingers. It’s a surprisingly difficult choice. – Has there ever been a product more set for world domination than the Beauty Blender? Who would have thought a simple teardrop shaped pink sponge […]
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Highlight is definitely having a moment. What was once reserved for a chalky white powder with flecks of snow white glitter, can now comes in a variation of pearls, champagnes and golds, sticks, tubes, pots and even cushions. Although a great highlighting powder will always hold a special place in my heart, they are a […]
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I had actually planned to write this piece in a few weeks. It’s in my diary and everything – I am a proper beauty writer, ok?? But then I read the Sali Hughes Guardian column about how this is being discontinued in the next month or so. And I thought for all of you who […]
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If you know about makeup, you’ll surely know about liquid lipsticks. They are, quite simply, everywhere, and hailed as some sort of miracle, unicorn-blood, fairy-dust magic product. Because I am cynical and grumpy, I generally try to avoid this kind of hype. I’ve tried a few LLs and while I can see the appeal, they […]
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Like foundation? Hate foundation? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you will probably really love Mac’s Face & Body. By no means is this a new launch – in fact it’s a cult classic which all of the very clever makeup people have secretly loved for years. But it’s new to me, […]
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I think I speak for all of us when I say we harbor a secret fantasy of being Joan Collins when we grow up. She seems to epitomise a kind of knowingly hilarious yet also deeply sincere glamour, which I, as a bumbling idiot, can only daydream about emulating. But now I can! (Not really […]
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Skincare isn’t the first thing that springs to mind, when one hears the name Ted Baker, Blush contributor Annie, puts their new bath and body range to the test. – Ted Baker have really encapsulated Spring, the Ides of March and little lambs prancing about with this new launch. The packaging is the most spring-like thing […]
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Introducing is back, due to insanely popular demand. Taking the reigns is the lovely Annie, introducing cult favourite, Baby Lips. – In spite of having one of the creepiest names on the market, I have always held a strong affection for the Maybelline Baby Lips franchise. The products really symbolise the light-hearted fun of makeup, and […]
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Oils are no longer a new phenomenon. We use them for our faces, our bodies and our hair. They’re officially a thing; and as they’re the only chance most of us get to put some vitamins on our skin, they’re here to stay. I’ve already gushed about my favourite hair and face oils; but that […]
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As I’ve often said there are some occasions when there’s nothing better than a massage. Though considered a luxury and not a particularly cheap one- the importance of a good massage can’t be overstated. Whether you have a lot on your mind, you’ve got some cellulite that needs shifting, or after too many late nights […]
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You can scrub, polish, cleanse and moisturise to your heart’s content, but at this bleak and skin-saddening time of year sometimes nothing will quite cut it like a face mask. Choose your mask right and you arm yourself with an arsenal of beauty enhancing properties – from seemingly magical spot solvers to deep moisturising wonders. […]
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Need a break from East? I’d been keen to test a treatment at the Pamper Rooms ever since I stumbled across their Curtain road salon one busy lunchtime; so when I was invited down to their new digs within the very cool boutique Celestine Eleven, I’d booked in before the manager could say mini massage. I’ve […]
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I’ve never really got the point of lip gloss, mainly because when I bought it as a teenager it was in the age of the super sticky, disturbingly shiny Juicy Tubes and their not up-to-par pretenders. Once I’d discovered the smooth finish of a lipstick I never looked back and nor did I want to. […]
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‘Tis the season to get healthy but you’re ten days in and already regretting telling everyone about your dry Jan/diet/fitness plan. Lagging with weeks to go, to avoid the looming allure of giving in, it’s probably time to mix things up. When it comes to eating well and being healthy, I prefer the quickest and […]
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We all know that we’re meant to cleanse, tone and moisturise, but as the seasons change and your skin gets a bit too used to that great cleanser you discovered when you were 17, it’s always good to shake things up a little. There are classics that you will always turn to, Liz Earle’s Hot […]
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You’ve probably already seen Cara’s latest campaign for Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. Whilst boys the world over are no doubt oogling her side boob, we’ve only got eyes for, Cara’s eyes. The young supermodel demonstrates the perfect party eyes, and brows and lips in the fragrance campaign. Whilst we love a blacked out smokey eye, […]
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Every perfumer worth their weight, has played with rose, but Terry de Gunzburg isn’t like everyone else. After creating YSL’s Touche Éclat, Terry has gone on to conjure up timeless beauty staples that her fans can always rely on. Unafraid of indulging in opulence, Terry once again offers up a truly luxurious proposition: Rouge Nocturne. […]
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I’ve been a huge Grace Hartzel fan since those first YSL ads; the fringe, the fur, the pout, she was the perfect poster child for Hedi Slimane‘s Rock and Roll revolution, at the helm of the huge Paris House that is Yves Saint Laurent. Keeping in line with the French vibe I’m currently mentally channeling, […]
Read moreWhen it comes to innovative dermatological treatments the French have long been pioneers. Back in the 18th century the soothing, anti-irritant properties of the thermal spring water at Avène in the south of France was first discovered, and today is the key ingredient in Avène cosmetics. XeraCalm A.D. is the latest sensitive skin-friendly emollient […]
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There is little else better in this world than a fresh blow-dry or a new cut; nothing looks slicker than freshly-cut blunt ends- whether you’re a grungey girl or a chelsea trustafarian. As a beauty writer I regularly catch myself eyeing up the ends of girls’ hair on the tube, and with blow-dry bars popping-up everywhere, […]
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