Beauty Tips

Laura Mercier has created what she's calling the Eyes Wide look for this spring, with a new series of products which have just arrived on the Laura Mercier counters in Fenwick and Space NK in Newcastle.

The emphasis is on the eyes: soft colours are `built up' using new Pink Shades and Rainforest from the Evolution of Colour Collection compacts, £28, (four colours from dark to light) and defining the lash line with kohl pencils, £14, in new Antique Jade and Stormy Grey.

Cheek colour is created with French cashmere talc in new Orange Blossom and Winter Bloom for £18 and teamed with lips in Rosebud and Peach Petal available in a similar four colour compact with a mini brush for £25.

INTERNATIONAL make-up artist and skincare consultant for Crabtree & Evelyn, Attracta Courtney advises that the key to healthy winter skin is weekly exfoliation.

She says: "Using a creamy non-abrasive product (like Crabtree & Evelyn Routine Exfoliating Cleanser, £15, from Fenwick, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams) is the perfect way to reveal fresh new skin cells without scratching: you are gently removing the dead skin cells that can form a barrier which prevents the effectiveness of your moisturiser to nourish the deeper layers of the skin." www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

THE White Musk fragrance has been around since The Body Shop first came into being (can it really be nearly 25 years ago?).

There are a number of new additions to the ever popular fragrance range but here's a bubble bath that sounds so good, it comes as no surprise that it does good in the community too.

The White Musk Silken Lustre Bubble Bath, £12, contains extract of muskmallow and Community Traded Organic Honey which leaves you revitalised and refreshed and with silky smooth skin - a bubble bath with a feel-good factor!

GINGER isn't just a warm-winter-by-the-fire kind of smell, it can also be fresh and spring-like.

If ginger has blossom - and surely it must? - then this Ginger Touch Relaxing massage oil by Origins is what it must smell like!

The nourishing olive and jojoba oils with vitamin E can be used for massage if you know a few techniques but "using simple upward strokes on the legs and arms after bathing, mimicking more sophisticated lymphatic drainage moves, was wonderfully relaxing", says our tester, "and my skin was still very soft the next day".

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Article 4: Hair, beauty tips ward off sun damage

A defensive beauty regimen is a must to stay fresh, fabulous and glowing during a Southern Nevada summer.

According to Globe Salon Director and Las Vegas native Staci Linklater, protection is the key. "By now, everyone knows that we have to protect our skin and hair in this climate, but no one wants to sacrifice looking their best. As Las Vegans, we just have to be a little more aware of easy ways we can defend ourselves against the climate, such as remembering to use a moisturizer with UV protection," she said.

As the director of a thriving downtown business, Linklater needs products she can rely on throughout long workdays, and she personally uses the same ones she recommends to clients.

"I love Bioelements, our skin care line at Globe Salon," Linklater says. "Bioelements has a moisturizer with SPF 50 that I use every single day. Even though my skin tends to be on the oily side, I can wear it all day without it ever feeling greasy."

Sun protection shouldn't stop with skin; hair is just as susceptible to damage, but easy to overlook since exposure doesn't result in painful burns. Hats are perfect at the pool, but they don't offer protection from the dry air or the heat, which can leave hair dehydrated and brittle.

Linklater's go-to product in Southern Nevada's arid climate is Kératstase Huile Céleste, a spray-in oil product that simultaneously protects color, offers hydration and preserves the integrity of the hair.

Taking care of the hair protection duties in one easy step means more time to have fun with summer's hairstyle trends.

"This summer will be all about hair that is easy, effortless and beautiful," says Linklater. "Natalie Portman's coveted 'Black Swan' bun is the perfect example. It's a style that will continue to be a hit as the weather gets warmer. We also expect to see lots of '70s-style feathered curls. Big hair is in."

To achieve both the slicked bun and the breezy, beachy curls, Linklater uses Texture from Bumble and bumble, a product she works through damp hair to add volume and hold while maintaining an undone look.

For more summer beauty tips, visit Linklater and her team at Globe Salon, located at 900 Las Vegas Blvd. South on the first floor of Soho Lofts.

Beauty tips for long-haul flights

If you're jetting off somewhere exotic on vacation, these top tips from beauty gurus including Lisa Eldridge will ensure you disembark the airplane looking like an A-lister.

In-flight spa

While we all know it's best to wear minimal cosmetics and drink plenty of water on a long haul flight to avoid dehydrated skin, renowned make-up artist Lisa Eldridge argues ladies should be going a great deal further when it comes to long haul flying.

According to the makeup expert, whose clients include Elle Macpherson, Heidi Klum and Keira Knightley, "any flight is a spa opportunity" -- so both hair and face masks are an essential element of any long journey.

In this video, the artist reveals her in-flight must-haves, which includes Dermalogica skin hydrating masque and Phyto 7 hydrating cream for hair.

Beauty on board

YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan, also a video makeup artist at French beauty giant Lancôme, was one of the first beauty vloggers to offer her in-flight beauty tips back in 2010, and her tips are just as useful today, especially for ladies who want to land looking fresh-faced but are too afraid to go completely make-up free.

Among her tips are using white eyeliner pencil to contour tired eyes and brows to achieve a wide-awake look and opting for tinted moisturizer over foundation to allow the skin to breathe.

Model behavior

Jetting between the world's fashion capitals can take its toll on even the most clear-skinned supermodel, so international model and blogger Ruth Crilly, who has appeared in campaigns for beauty brands including Olay and Sunsilk, decided to share her beauty regimen during a recent night flight.

Although Crilly concedes there is enough time to complete an entire facial on the average flight, here she gives a sped-up version of her routine, which includes facial mist, serum, eye cream and night cream.

Beauty tips for busy women

Women are juggling much more today than in years past. According to U.S. Census Bureau reports from 2002, 31 percent of married couples with children are two-income families, and many women are balancing work, family, social obligations, and additional activities. This can leave little time for personal grooming.

However, looking your best doesn't require a lot of time or money. In fact, by focusing on a few areas, you can put your best face forward despite being under a time crunch.

Invest in a good haircut. Consult with a stylist who knows his or her stuff. Ask for recommendations on what cut will work for your facial shape, lifestyle and trends you desire. You want something that works for you and doesn't require a lot of effort to achieve. For example, if you're time-pressed and your 'do requires 40 minutes of blow-drying every morning, it may not be practical for your situation. Work with your hair type instead of against it. Investing in a good cut is a beauty secret every woman should know.
Select dual-purpose products. Saving time can often mean using beauty products that serve more than one purpose. For example, a moisturizer that's also a sunblock saves on the extra step of applying SPF. Some mineral powder products serve as a foundation and a oil-reducing finish coat. For women who want to skip a foundation, tinted moisturizers are also an option.
Play up your eyes. Bright eyes give the impression of being well-rested and healthy. If you spend time on anything in your beauty regimen, it should be adding some impact to your eyes, even if this just means using some mascara and applying a highlight under the browline and in the corners of the eyes. Don't forget to cover under-eye circles if they are a problem.
Don't overlook your hands. Hands have a way of giving away your age. Many women who use age-defying products or enlist in the help of plastic surgery fail to realize that their hands can reveal their age. Always moisturize and care for your hands. Routine manicures can help tame cuticles and keep nails and hands in top form. Use sun protection on your hands to avoid wrinkling and age spots from sun exposure.
Whiten your teeth. Putting a fresh-face forward also involves having a great smile. There are many inexpensive, over-the-counter whitening products that can lighten the shade of your teeth dramatically. They can be used while you're taking care of other tasks, such as laundry or making dinner, maximizing your time.