Getting the best products and ingredients for your face can be a minefield of confusing and contrasting lists of words no one can pronounce, and if you can’t say them, do you really know or trust what they are and what they do?

I have spent a long time over the years looking over the boring technical terms and ingredients, and I have finally found a company with products that contain all I want for my skin and my brides-to-be skin, and most importantly DO NOT contain any rubbish, fillers and dangerous ingredients that can lead to long term damage and worst of all …..premature ageing!!!

I like to give my brides to be a mini facial in the lead up to their weddings to help them create the skin care routine with products that are perfect for helping them achieve glowing glorious skin for their big day, so I am always on the look out for safe and fabulous products to use and recommend!

An angel from Arbonne popped a bag of wonders in my hands just before New Year and what I loved first, is that to make things easier for the consumer, they clearly state on the boxes what they DO NOT have in their products!

Hurrah finally an honest and proud brand not hiding from the rubbish padding out their products, not making the ingredient list so small and confusing you just assume it’s good. Not trying to WOW us with big ol words like pentapeptides!!!

So Who are they?

The main buzz around Arbonne is what they do NOT have in their products, which is all the nasty processed chemical ugh that is banned in a whole host of countries except for ours. The ingredients that are linked to causing pimples, premature ageing and most importantly cancer!

They are 100% natural, botanical, PH balanced to the skin, hypoallergenic, vegan approved, the list goes on, but basically the main point is they are AMAZING for your skin and you!

So how does their skincare rate?

After using these products for a few weeks here is my must have amazing list – my personal WOW products that I now can’t live or work without!!

1. And oh what an amazing number one this!! Truly heaven in a bottle, ( I do actually think this did come straight from Narnia!!)
VIRTUAL ILLUSION MAKE UP PRIMER.
Now I have tried a whole host of primers from various companies with varying levels of success and despair and have never really felt the need for it as an everyday product – until now!
It is filled with vitamins, anti ageing cushions and ingredients and all that jazz, but it is the effect that makes it stand out from the crowd – IT ACTUALLY WORKS!!!
It feels like silk on the skin and it truly truly does help to reduce the appearance of fine lines thanks to it’s hyaluronic filling spheres (wrinkle fillers to you and me) and it holds on your make up and keeps it looking fresh all day!

Finally a primer that delivers and is amazing! There is not one person I have put this on and they have not NEEDED it immediately, this truly is something else!!

2. Very close in behind the primer is their CREAM CONCEALER!
It has all the coverage of the much coveted MAC Studio finish pot concealer but without it’s annoying tendency to cake, crease and look too heavy. This again is packed full of anti-oxidents, anti ageing, firming and de puffing agents (New years day would have looked a whole lot scarier if I did not have this wonder pot up my sleeve!!) and in 4 shades that cover most skin tones, this product is now the only concealer I will be using on myself and all my brides for a flawless and bright eyed look!! ( I used the concealer in “”)

3. FC5 MOISTURISING NIGHT CREAM, FC5 meaning “Fresh Cell technology from 5 anti-oxident super fruits” this gorgeous but not over rich cream has the power and fragrance from fresh, and I mean fresh like protected in tiny bubbles till it hits your skin and explodes with goodness fresh, mango cells….mmm literally good enough to eat and soft enough to use as a day cream if you have drier skin.
I am loving this cream and in the sugar craving moment of my new year diet, resisting as much as I can not to have a nibble on it, just to see, just in case!! ;o)

4. FYI BODY BETTER BODY CREAM in Flirtatious
Now do NOT let the teeny bopper name mislead you, this is one ultra rich, ultra serious shea and cocoa butter based cream and it is AMAZING!!!
Oh so rich and creamy you need the smallest amount to give a fully nourished, pampered and skin softening effect like you have not felt outside of a spa before!
Again this particular one has the sweet natural fragrance and goodness from the Mangos, it certainly hits my sweet spot (and dry patches!!)

Last but not least……

5. From the RE9 range “9 Key anti aging elements” this was a hard toss up between their EVERY DAY AND NIGHT SERUM (I love up serums in a big way) and their REVERSING GELEE TRANSFORMING LIFT, but the transforming lift just about pipped it!
This transforming gel is not to be used everyday, it is a fantastic “Quick Fix” product that tightens and lifts the look of your skin for special occasions, which is why I have chosen it in my top 5.
Every bride can do with that extra lift on her big day, and not once have my pot of Tic Tac’s ever jumped out and given me a little lift (damn you false advertising!!) and anything quick and effective gets my vote!!
Still managing to remain kind and beneficial to your skin this stuff has a great “Bridget Jones Big Pants” effect but for your face! ( Yes I did try it on my behind, alas did not have the same effect as it did on my face, back to the lunges I go!)

So there you have it – New year, new you revealed , keep the detox easy by just changing what you slap on your beautiful face to keep it looking beautiful!

For more info on the Arbonne range and how you get your paws on it for a test/trial/brochure. CONTACT ME and I will arrange it all for you as best I can!

While we are still in the throws of the winter big freeze blues I have found a perfect routine to do once a week to once a month to bring your poor body’s skin back to it’s radiant glowing best!!!

Traditionally I have found creating a spa experience at home has, on the whole been an experience in itself, trying to battle with pots and stubborn lids in a tiny shower, trying to find the moment when your home is free for you to run around covered in a mud pack with no family member/flat mate/nosey neighbour or postman to distract you, generally not an easy task!
I would always before bow out, give up and book into my salon for the treatment to be done with ease and relaxation! However I have always been fascinated by the Hammam steam bath experience and have oh so desperately wanted to give it a go if it were not for these few problems holding me back!!!!

1. Traditional bath houses are NOT for the body conscious and mingling with a whole room load of naked strangers is not my idea of starting a relaxing experience
2. Being a naked sardine on a hot plate awaiting my turn for treatment, again, not relaxing
3. To have the more private experience costs a FORTUNE in London so alas I all but gave up on the dream until I came across Rituals..

Rituals Home and Body cosmetics are fairly new to the game in the UK but are veterans in Europe, and never being one to shy away from something new, I walked into their very elegant looking and amazing smelling shop in Walton on Thames to give it a go!
I was shown their Hammam range at their water Island (sink to you and me) and the assistant demonstrated to me the whole 5 step ritual on my hand, yes it smelled amazing and refreshing and my hand did indeed look revitalised and refreshed.

The whole line to be fair looks and smells yum tastic and reasonably priced compared to the similar big boys Molten Brown and L’Occitane they are definitely the cool kid sister to these guys!

So here are the 5 Steps to creating your own Hammam experience at home, minus the group nakedness! Phew !
(if you like that go to the gym and overshare your bits with the other closet naturists frontin to be gym bunnies!!)

• Shower and cleanse your body with the ultra rich and nourishing Olive Secret shower paste
• Scrub away dead skin cells with the Hamman hot scrub, a combination of warming ginger, eucalyptus and sea salt

TOP TIP : I mixed the scrub into the paste to make it easier to use in the shower and thus stopping half my scrub ending up on the floor of the shower-boo!!Shower off the scrub with their very cool foaming shower gel, a tiny bit goes a LONG way, do not get over excited squeezing this out!!

• Relax with their china clay and eucalyptus body mud. this helps to draw out impurities and thankfully is meant to be used on wet skin, so no running around trying to dry off and getting cold covered in mud!
• Finally smother yourself in an ultra firming and super rich body cream In touch of Hammam

Ahhh bliss!! And really really makes a notable difference on your skin, my dry winter battered legs are now super glossy and gorgeous to the touch!

TOP TIP

The Eucalyptus got a bit much for me in every step so I swapped the Hammam shower foam for the yummyYogi Secret one which has a delicious Indian Rose and Sweet almond blend, I also fell deeply in love with the firming body cream in their relaxing range called MAGIC TOUCH, it is magic and has a sweet but not overpowering fragrance of Rice milk and cherry blossom!!

If you want to try out your own Hammam experience do it in February, after the much needed pay day bringing you out of post Christmas and new year brokness, my little rituals birdie told me the Hammam range will be 30% off, gotta love a February sale!!!!

For other stores and their full range check out the website www.rituals.com

For the best part of 2009 Michael, Mr Memory Gate himself, has been pestering me relentlessly to draw on my knowledge and expertise and write some beauty, make up and skin care posts for our blushing brides!

So as we enter a new year and a new decade I decided my new years resolution would be to finally write down all I know and have learnt, and in turn, get him off my back!!!

I have decided to start at the most logical place, where it all begins, your base, your skin, the canvas!!

The skin is a delicate creature and as most of you know, or not, it is the largest organ of our body, covering every inch of us, it is the first line of defence from the elements, bacteria, infection and pollution. It’s also the best warning sign your body has to tell you “Something is up!!’ After the excess of the Holiday season, if yours was anything like mine, there are a few tell tale signs of said excess showing on your skin in the form of a few unsightly pimples an maybe a few more new lines and wrinkles!!

Detox?

Now, Detox, not a word that fills me with joy, the very thought of putting my body through weeks of the hell of green liquidised mush, no food and frequent toilet trips, sends shivers through mine spine, and in my view, is NOT the best start to a year ..lets face it we all probably had one moment over new year giving up our offerings to the porcelain gods, I do not want to spend any more time there than I have too!! Soooooo my detox plan may be a bit more appealing, and definitely less painful, to all of you like minded and detox fearful!!

Although I agree that what we out in our bodies is important and does indeed show through our body, food and nutritian is not my field, but this concept still reigns true and no more so than when we talk about what we are putting ON our bodies, our skin, our best friend!

When it comes to having the perfect make up, it starts with your skin. We all strive for fabulous, natural, glowing, flawless skin and here is my first Make up Super Tip – You can have it,  but it is not going to come from a magical bottle of foundation from Narnia!

I am talking about getting a fantastic skin care routine with fantastic products… of course coupled with your litre of H2O a day, it really is that easy! What is not so easy is to see through all the advertising hype and claims and trying to figure out what products are good and what are oh soo not good for you!! Seriously people, any Toner that can remove your nail polish should not, I repeat NOT, be touching your face! Big C and your pink bottle of paint stripper, you know who you are!!!!!

Now I could literally go on for weeks about ingredients, dos and don’ts and bore you all into hibernation, but instead I want to jump straight into the solution, no mucking around!

4 Simple Tips

Skin care does not have to be a laborious and time consuming routine, a few simple steps with the right products will make the world of difference, and trust me, over the years I have been guilty of all the major skin sins:

1. Not taking my make up off before bed.
2. Cleansing solely with wipes.
3. Exfoliator who?!?!?!
4. Oh it’s a cheap moisturiser, but it’s in green packaging so it must be good for me!!!!

Oh my deadly skin sins could go on for pages, and we are all victim of a few if not all of them in our lives!

So this new year, if you make but 1 change, be kind to your skin

• Exfoliate once a week in the shower and regenerate new skin cells to keep you looking and vibrant and YOUNG.
• Take your make up off with a cleanser every night.
• DO NOT skimp on the price of products!! It may mean one month you can’t buy that new top, but you will be wearing your skin for much longer than any top, and like any good top, would you walk out in one wrinkled and puckered ?!?! No me thinks not!

I look forward to sharing lots more tips with you all, so come the summer you’ll have the perfect base for your perfect bridal face!

How to have a cheap wedding

“Use a good photographer, but only for a few crucial hours; treat yourself to a good digital camera and ask someone you really trust to be your photographer once all the important group shots are taken care of by the professional. That way, you get your wedding photos at a price you can afford, and you can keep the camera for future memories.”

1. Confetti define a ‘good photographer’ as someone who as a paid listing on their site – highlighted photographer links to this. A little biased methinks.
2. Unless your wedding is both out of season and on a weekday you’ll be extremely lucky to find a ‘good’ photographer who will work ‘for a few crucial hours’
3. This style of photography is slightly reminiscent of what we used to do 20 years ago – 3 or 4 wedding a day – handful of shots then off to the next one. That’s not REALLY what you’re after is it?
4. The wedding is all about YOU, not just those ‘all the important group shots.’
5. ‘Treat yourself to a good digital camera’ – £500 – false economy.
6. ‘Ask someone you really trust to be your photographer’ - I can think of a hundred people I trust – they won’t be shooting a wedding with me in the near future.

Anyway, I’m glad I got that off my chest so to speak. Any comments or opinions welcome.