When Life Gives You Lemons

When Life Gives You Lemons..

Ever the optimist, I'm a firm believer that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade (or pancakes given that Shrove Tuesday is upon us). If the prospect of carbs fills you with calorific dread, fear not, you can still be "mellow yellow" thanks to the ever-so-zesty folk at Lush, purveyors of ethical, cruelty-free, fresh handmade cosmetics (that also happen to smell rather heavenly if I don't mind saying so myself).

Here's a trio of products that are guaranteed to make you heart "zing":

London has been a wee bit nippy of late and I find myself turning to the creme de la creme of creams to keep peeling cuticles at bay. As a make-up artist, it's of supreme importance that my hands and fingernails look immaculate (after all, what client wants grubby mitts touching their beautiful visage?)

By the same token, months of cold weather and central heating blazing indoors wreaks havoc on feet and elbows too. If fluctuations in temperature have left you with extremities drier than the Sahara, it's time to slather on Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter, a veritable oasis of hydration. This multi-purpose moisturiser is so rich it could give Bill Gates a run for his money. With a fresh and invigorating citrus aroma, lemon oil is renowned for its skin-softening properties, traditionally used in the treatment of corns and callouses. A luxurious blend of Flaxseed, Castor Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Soya Oil and Organic Avocado combine to envelop skin in a silky cocoon of moisture. 

For a super-luxurious overnight treatment, thoroughly exfoliate hands and feet, rinse, towel dry then massage hands and feet with a generous layer before applying cotton gloves and socks. By morning you'll have skin as velvety-smooth as a Georgia Peach.

If you consider yourself a bit of a Modern Dandy or aspire to embody the hippy chic of Kate Hudson's character Penny Lane in Almost Famous, why not try Bohemian Soap? A deceptively simple yet potent blend of uplifting lemon oil combined with the humectant properties of glycerin. This palm-free soap offers gentle cleansing and is guaranteed to lift your spirits quicker than a session of Bikram Yoga in Primrose Hill. A must have for Bright Young Things everywhere, you just know the Bloomsbury Set would have approved.

Valentine's Day may be all but a distant memory but that doesn't excuse neglecting your pout. Maintain tantalisingly soft lips by gently exfoliating with Mint Julips Lip Scrub. The peppermint oil will get your lips tingling faster than a quick snog behind the bike shed while the sugar crystals gently exfoliate flaky skin. Jojoba and Tagetes Oil condition without leaving a greasy residue with the sweet scent of Limonene and Vanilla ensuring you'll be ready to pucker up should Cupid's arrow strike. Who needs Mistletoe?

Products

Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter - £6.50 for 50g

Bohemian Soap - £3.10 for 100g

Mint Julips Lip Scrub - £5.50 for 25g

Stockists

01202 668 545 / www.lush.co.uk

Leader of the Pack

Leader of the Pack..

Mud packs, face masks, whatever you want to call them, they're an essential part of my beauty / grooming regimen (we're talking at least once a week folks, more if I have events to attend or I'm being photographed). I have oily skin, the positive benefit being that oilier skins tend to look more youthful as they age, due to their increased moisture levels (more sebum if you want to go all scientific). I'm fastidious about caring for my skin, it's one of the many pearls of wisdom my mother instilled in me from a young age (aren't mothers fabulous?) This, combined with favourable genes, is probably why people often tell me they think I'm in my early 20's (I'm 32).

The negative aspects of an oily skin type is that they are more prone to shine (mirror face anyone?) and breakouts (I know, the mere mention of the word fills me with dread).

Thankfully, there are a host of clay-based (or charcoal in the case of Origins) face masks available to minimise our pores, regulate excess sebum and keep those dreaded blemishes at bay.

I've compiled a selection of my personal favourites below, at a selection of different price points. There is something here for everybody. 

In the shot at the top of the post, I'm wearing the Anthony Logistics Deep Cleansing Clay Mask. Note the fabulous monogrammed terry cloth bath robe embroidered with my initials "IB", a cherished Press gift. The shot above was taken after I'd used the mask (hence the dodgy barnet). I'm not wearing any make-up and I love the way it makes my skin glow. I've since hit the (peroxide) bottle, more of which in a subsequent post (and yes, blondes really do have more fun).

The Anthony Logistics Deep Cleansing Clay Mask has been part of my grooming kit since 2007. I love that the brand supports testicular cancer charities (beautiful and benevolent). I often switch to this deliciously-scented mask in colder weather as I find it hydrates as much as it deep cleanses. It contains a botanical blend of softening Apricot Kernel Oil, toning Calendula together with vitamins A, C and E (antioxidants are a must to protect against environmental aggressors and  free radical damage). At just £9.00 this little miracle-worker doesn't break the bank and is fantastic value for money. My only grievance is that the red clay is rather messy but if you rinse it off in the shower, this tends to minimise any issues.

Anyone that knows me knows that I'm obsessed with REN. When you're inundated with products it's easy to be a beauty slut and switch brands as often as you change your shoes. However, REN (meaning "Clean" in Swedish) is one brand I've remained loyal to. I've been using the range religiously for close to a decade.  The range is devoid of "skin nasties" such as parabens and SLS and the brand's ethics are in keeping with my "Neo-Hippy" principles. I'm especially keen on their serums, masks, moisturisers and body treatments, namely because a) in my experience they work and b) on the whole, they tend to smell absolutely heavenly, putting the "treat" into "treatment". 

The REN Clarimatte Invisible Pores Detox Mask (try saying that in a hurry) pretty much delivers on its name. Minerals from French Clay draw out impurities and excess sebum, Proteins from Tropical Spirulina encourage cell renewal, while Essential Fatty Acids soften. It always leaves my complexion glowing, minimises the appearance of my pores (especially on my nose) and leaves my skin super-soft to the touch (always a bonus). I find the texture of this mask dryer than others and it doesn't spread as easily over the face, yet somehow it still works wonders. The only downside to this product is the scent (a tad on the clinical side for me) but it delivers on every other front so it definitely gets a "hero" rather than a "zero". At £18 I think it offers superb value, a little goes a long way, the pump action minimises mess and waste, the handy little cap stops the product from drying out and it seems to last for ages.

I've been using the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask since I discovered the brand in the 90's. I'm still using it more than a decade later which is testament to its efficacy. This mask not only deep-cleanses and keeps skin super matte, it's also like a face lift in a bottle. When it dries, I find it has a lifting effect on the skin (perfect to use before a special event or any instance that involves photographs). The Activated Charcoal works like a Dyson vacuum cleaner on your pores, while the China clay absorbs environmental pollutants. Lecithin dissolves impurities, leaving skin immaculately fresh and clean. At £22.00 it is neither cheap nor exorbitantly expensive but I do think it offers great value given the double-whammy of its combined aesthetic benefits.

There's a reason Yon-Ka Paris is beloved by Beauty Editors, yours truly and a veritable who's who of celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry and Lucy Liu. I urge you to have one of their facials (as I did back in 2007, quite literally the best facial treatment I've ever had - and I've had a few). You can visit www.yonka.co.uk or www.yonka.com to find your nearest authorised Yon-Ka Centre. I find their range nothing short of miraculous and it's not often I say that about an entire product line (praise indeed). 

The 99% natural (and Paraben free) Yon-Ka Masque 103 clears and purifies the complexion with not one but three clays (they do say good things come in threes), a blend of Montmorillonite, Bentonite and Kaolin. Borneol performs the same function while essential oils of Sage, Soft Orange, Lemon and Lime tone and essential oils of Lavender, Geranium, Rosemary, Cypress and Thyme purify and balance. Marketing spiel aside, all you need to know is that this mask mattifies, minimises pores, treats blemishes, imparts a radiant glow and leaves skin feeling fabulous. Did I mention that the tantalising botanical scent is reminiscent of a leisurely Summer walk in Provence? The sweet smell of skin success. At £32 it isn't cheap but then neither is celebrity (looking) skin darlings.

On the Forbes Rich List end of the beauty spectrum we have Sisley's Creamy Mask With Tropical Resins. This falls into the category of products you'd find in the Financial Times How To Spend It section, in the pages of Vogue, or in the bathroom cabinet of an Oligarch's wife / mistress. Or a celebrity's for that matter (or in my case a very fortunate make-up artist and blogger who was sent one to trial). Sisley is without doubt an extremely high end, niche luxury brand but in fairness there is a reason many of their products win various Beauty Awards year after year. 

Personally, I often use a selection of their cleansers, toners, serums, creams and masks when I work on brides and celebrity clients because a) they give rapid visible results, b) smell gorgeous and c) it's important to me that I make these individuals feel incredibly special. The mask has a Kaolin Clay base which, like the others, gives skin a deep-clean and mattifies by absorbing excess sebum (do you see a pattern forming here?) In addition it contains the soothing benefits of Myrrh and Incense and the cleansing action of Benzoin (it seems the only things it lacks is some gold, a star, three kings and a child who would be king). 

Witty remarks aside, other active ingredients include Rosemary, Plantain, Burdock and Zinc (the latter being fantastic for treating blemishes), the astringent qualities of Iris and the hydrating properties of Plant Glycerin (a natural humectant). It does everything the others do, i.e. cleanse, treat and mattify but at £72 for 70ml the cost-per-wear works out at approximately £10 per use. I'd be more inclined to use it as an overnight targeted treatment on blemishes (it does do a fantastic job of calming redness and minimising spots).

Products

Anthony Logistics Deep Pore Cleansing Clay Mask - £9.00

REN Clarimatte Invisible Pores Detox Mask - £18.00

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask - £22.00

Yon-Ka Paris Masque 103 - £32.00

Sisley Creamy Mask With Tropical Resins - £72.00

Stockists

Anthony Logistics

www.mankind.co.uk

REN

www.renskincare.com

Origins

www.origins.co.uk

Yon-Ka Paris

www.yonkashop.co.uk

Sisley

www.selfridges.com

Who Wants To Live Forever

Who Wants To Live Forever..

Mankind's quest for eternal youth is nothing new. From the tales of Cleopatra bathing in asses' milk to preserve the beauty and youth of her skin, to Queen Elizabeth of Hungary commissioning her own cure-all and elixir of youth, the "Queen of Hungary's Water", a botanical astringent that, according to legend, had men half her age at their knees in adoration. The first alcohol-based perfume to be recorded in Europe, it preceded Eau de Cologne, and is said to date back to the late 14th Century.

Today, in the age of Photoshop, botox and fillers, you'd be forgiven for thinking that ageing is some sort of crime, punishable by house arrest and social exclusion. If only people were secure enough in their own skin to grow old gracefully. Hollywood icons such as the late Paul Newman and Lauren Bacall (thankfully still with us), are proof that advancing in years doesn't necessarily herald the coming of Armageddon.

Many beauty brands, advertising agencies and marketeers are to blame for consumers' mass insecurity. How on earth are we supposed to feel good about ourselves when the majority of celebrities and models in beauty campaigns are either barely older than a foetus, or Photoshopped within an inch of their lives. It makes me yearn for the golden era of Hollywood. In those days, there was no computer wizardry, just artful make-up, masterful lighting and genius photography. The stars of yesteryear knew how to rock what they had. Whether is was Marlene Dietrich and her sphinx-like cheekbones, Bette Davis with those hypnotic eyes, or Marilyn Monroe with her killer curves, it was their prerogative to maximise their innate charisma, and goodness did they do it well.

If there was one major impact I could make in my lifetime, and one momentous legacy I could leave behind, it would be to impart the wealth of knowledge I've acquired in the eleven years of working in the fashion and beauty industry, to empower people to not only make the best of themselves, but to also embrace the unique and special traits that make us all beautiful. God knows I'm not perfect, who is? But with a little savoir faire, we can all learn how to not only take care of what we've been blessed with, but to also fake what we weren't.

Frankly, the quest for eternal youth is futile. The honest truth is that you are going to age. You will get wrinkles and your skin will sag, it's inevitable and it will happen to us all. But it's not all doom and gloom, it's quite likely that as your age increases, so too will your wisdom. I will be 30 this year, and if there was one message I could have given to my 18 year old self, it would be "don't spend so much time worrying about what other people think". Confidence isn't a tangible quality, but it's one of the greatest aphrodisiacs I know, and tends to make an individual innately attractive. In the Western world, it's almost like we want to age backwards. When I think of the iconic films I watched, growing up as a child, there are some poignant perspectives regarding the lengths people will go to in the quest to stop the hands of time.

One case in point is the devilishly dark comedy "Death Becomes Her" starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rossellini and Bruce Willis. Set in Hollywood (how fitting), the plot focuses on love rivals Streep and Hawn, who are tempted by Rossellini to part with vast amounts of money in exchange for an elixir that promises eternal youth. Both Hawn and Streep think that by rewinding the years, they will succeed in winning the object of their mutual affection, Willis. Of course, neither gets what they want. Willis dies, leaving them both as macabre warring caricatures , who by the end of the film, are literally falling apart at the seams.

Joi de vivre coupled with a litte je ne sais quoi, are the keys to being happy. Good health is also paramount. I'm a firm believer in the old adage that "beauty on the outside starts on the inside". Don't waste your time chasing something that doesn't exist. Take moderate exercise, eat healthily, sleep well and for god's sake have fun. I've reached an age where people in my life are starting to drop like flies. I lost both my paternal grandparents when I was 13, and in the years since, I've lost more relatives, most recently an uncle who died earlier this week. It makes me think of this wise poem:

Dance as if no one were watching,

Sing as if no one were listening,

Love as if you've never been hurt,

Live every day as if it were your last.

My musings on life aside, I'm also a firm believer in a solid skincare regime. As with all things in life, fastidiousness is the key to success. Moisturising once in a blue moon is not going to bestow you with youthful looking skin. By the same token, there's no point thinking that going to the gym once a month will give you the body of a Greek god.

Last week, I was invited to attend a breakfast, courtesy of L'Occitane, the quintessentially French brand hailing from my favourite region of France, Provence. The table was bedecked with romarin (or rosemary as we call it here). It's funny how our olfactory senses can take us back in time, like a portal to specific times and places in our lives. In this instance, I was transported to a particularly special family holiday in Provence (vacances en famille en Provence), goodness, even my GCSE French is coming back, zut alors! My father has always been obsessed with French culture, and like father like son, there's no doubt that I've inherited his ardour. On this holiday, he introduced me to Peter Mayle's 1989 best-selling autobiographical novel, "A Year In Provence".

We had hired a large rustic villa with a swimming pool, surrounded by rambling terraced orchards, framed by rolling green hills that went on as far as the eyes could see. I recall the heady scent of lemon blossoms carried on the mistral (a strong, cold regional wind, usually accompanied by clear and fresh weather). If heaven on earth truly exists, I think this was possibly the closest I've come to experiencing it. During our stay there were two special moments that I attribute to sparking my passion for rustic beauty products and aromatherapy. The first was a memorable pilgrimage to Grasse, to view the true home of perfume and essential oil distilleries. On this occasion, I have a vivid memory of being amazed by the lavender fields, spreading out over the rugged terrain like a giant floral blanket.

The other occasion, on one of our many exploratory car journeys, I cried out in excitement when I spied wild rosemary growing abundantly by the sides of a country road. I insisted on my father stopping the car so I could get out and pick some. I could smell the characteristic invigorating "green" scent of the herb long before I'd even approached the bushes, it was unlike the English rosemary we had in the herb garden at home, in fact it was unlike any rosemary I'd ever smelled before. Needless to say, I picked enough of it to cook with several meals during our stay (and enough to take back home). We even managed to scent our olive oil with it, and my most resounding memory was that even on our return to England, though the rosemary had dried, its scent was no less potent.

With this in mind, it's no wonder that I was immediately taken with L'Occitane's Precious Cream. With its rustic, inky majorelle blue glass jar, delightfully rich and creamy texture, and host of natural ingredients that remind me of that fateful holiday, a love affair was born.

The Ingredients

Grape seed oil is high in antioxidants, offering superior protection from free radical damage and environmental aggressors. It is also lightweight, delivering supreme hydration without greasiness.

Immortelle, a plant characterised by its magnificent clusters of golden, sun like flowers, blooms every June. In 2004, L'Occitane planted the first large-scale organic immortelle plantation in Corsica, harvesting the blooms by hand in the traditional way. Mediterranean medicine has long extolled the virtues of this wondrous plant, with its innate anti-bruising, anti-inflammatory and healing properties (it is 100 times more powerful than arnica). The flowers never wilt, even after they have been picked (hence the name). The essential oil derived from the flowers, is the signature ingredient around which the formula for this range has been built. It stimulates microcirculation and enhances cell renewal.

Once touted as "the King's cure-all", evening primrose oil has been praised for centuries for its healing powers. They key to its miraculous properties lies in the seed, which contains the essential fatty acid GLA (gamma linolenic acid). Often prescribed to women who suffer from particularly bad premenstrual syndrome, research indicates that it not only alleviates the symptoms of PMS, but also restore the youthfulness of skin and hair, together with boosting overall well-being.

Reputed as the ultimate skin hydrator, starflower oil is derived from the seed of the borage plant. The richest known source of GLA, the oil restores moisture and smoothness to dry and ageing skin, and many believe it to be the key to retaining youthful, radiant skin later in life.

Sunflower oil and sunflower seed extract are rich in antioxidant Vitamin E, providing protection from the ageing effects of free radical damage. A superior emollient, it not only retains moisture levels in the skin, it also helps to reinforce the skin's natural protective barrier.

Herbalox-O is an antioxidant derived from rosemary leaf extract, which is traditionally used in folk medicine, rather than the more widely used rosemary essential oil. It also acts a superb natural preservative in oil blends, so not only will the rosemary leaf extract prevent the ageing effects of free radical damage, it will also prolong the longevity of the other active oils in the cream itself.

Precious Cream - £38

www.loccitane.co.uk

Ace Of Base

Ace of Base..

Is it just me, or is Lisa Snowdon a shining example of why Clarins products are so darn gorgeous? It seems the British beauty can barely do an interview, or present an award without extolling the virtues of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm.

We all have iconic products that hold pride of place in our bathroom cabinets and dressing tables. The old faithfuls we turn to in times of crisis. For Lisa Snowdon, model, presenter, glamorous ex of George Clooney and all round girl next door, her go-to product in times of beauty crisis is none other than Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. That miracle of miracles that all but erases signs of fatigue. The eight hours of beauty sleep in a squeezable tube that models, A-List stars (and in-the-know beauty journalists) swear by. Snowdon recommends using this miraculous formula as a foundation primer, applied after serum and moisturiser, but before foundation. Simply massage into skin and let the algae, witch hazel, bisabolol and rice starch tighten, boost radiance, revitalise, soothe, soften and purify the skin.

The market has been awash with the next generation of sheer foundations. Claiming to mimic the appearance of glowing, dewy skin, a flawless complexion is essential to the success of this "no make-up" make-up look. The new Skin Illusion foundation from Clarins does not disappoint. With a soft-as-silk texture and sheer-to-medium coverage, this heavenly scented wonder is truly the "ace of base".

Why not follow in luscious Lisa's footsteps and smooth a layer the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm over your skin prior to applying this foundation. Packed with skin-friendly botanicals such as super-antioxidant algae and white tea extract, this foundation protects the skin from environmental aggressors, while the SPF 10 minimises photo damage from sun exposure. The majority of skin experts are indicating that an SPF of 15-20 is the desired level of protection for day-to-day use. If you require further protection, using one of the many light-as-a-feather SPF foundation primers in conjunction with this foundation would be the easiest option. For those of you who love a subtle, dewy shimmer in your base, there's no need to mix a shimmering cream highlighter in with this foundation, as the crushed pink opal provides all the light-diffusing radiance a guy or girl could wish for.

Beauty Flash Balm - £27.06

Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation - £24

www.clarins.com

Earth, Wind And Fire

Earth, Wind and Fire..

I think I'm turning Japanese. Perhaps I've been listening to The Vapors too much of late, that, or I've re-read Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha one too many times. Actually, it's a firm "no" on both counts. So why the sudden interest in all things Japanese?

It all comes down to Asim Akhtar, founder of the oh-so-trendy Kyoku For Men. Akhtar comes from a family with more than 50 years in the beauty trade (and it shows in the formulations of his highly accomplished Elements range). While Arthur Golden dedicated a best-selling novel to the mysteries of the Geisha, Akhtar's sights were set further afield in Japan, specifically a little village called Yazuri Hara (the village of long life). The village earned its title due to the older generation's astoundingly youthful skin and active lifestyles (ie 80 year old farmers with a fondness for bicycles as a primary mode of transport). Furthermore, the population appears to be devoid of the mass incidents of heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease so prevalent in the West. So how is it that these Japanese villagers appear to be able to cheat father time? Is it like that 80's movie Cocoon? Are the elderly people swimming with alien cocoons in some remote swimming pool in a bid to keep the wrinkles at bay?

Sadly, Cocoon was just a film, and as far as I'm aware, no aliens were harmed in the making of the Kyoku Elements range. So what's the secret? Well, the Japanese diet is famed for bestowing good health and long life, and this was the source of Akhtar's primary research. Rich in hyaluronic acid (able to hold 1000 times its own weight in water), he strove to analyse this, and other key ingredients in the villagers' diet, harnessing them in a stylish range of products.

Using the Japanese cleansing ritual of Kirei (cleanse, scrub, fuel) for inspiration, he has created four unique fragrances (Earth, Fire, Water, Wind), each comprising of a body wash, scrub and lotion.

Winter isn't a season in London, it's more of a Tim Burton-esque cold spell we're forced to endure for the majority of the year. As such (and given the current freeze), my favourite in the range is the Fire shower gel. The invigorating ginger content is fantastic for boosting circulation and combating sluggish mornings (and hangovers), while the dragon's blood is known for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties (perfect for accident prone action men like me). To really fire you up, try using this shower gel with an exfoliating mitt. Using firm strokes, start at the base of the feet, stroking upwards towards the heart. If you're man enough, turn the thermostat to cold and finish your shower with a minute of bracing cold water - there's nothing better to boost circulation and your immunity first thing in the morning. If this doesn't start your engines, nothing will. The body lotion in the Earth range also gets a thumbs up for being genuinely hydrating (the fact it has a sexy scent doesn't hurt either). If you're a gym enthusiast, you'll love the cooling Water range. Not only does this offer soothing relief after a heavy weights session, the bottle is so snazzy you know it'll give the other blokes product envy.

The products in the Kyoku Elements range are priced at £17 and are available from the Kyoku website:

www.kyokuformen.com

www.houseoffraser.co.uk

You Win Again

You Win Again..

I can remember the very first time I walked into the Urban Retreat spa in Harrods. At the time, I was living the uber-stressful life of a busy style & grooming editor for one of Europe's top lifestyle publications. I'd been invited to meet legendary make-up artist Daniel Sandler, whose genius mineral cosmetics are sold at the spa. Daniel had been on my radar for a few years, as my friend Alessandra Steinherr, Beauty Director at Glamour magazine, had waxed lyrical about Daniel's Watercolour Blusher when we worked together at Cosmopolitan magazine. So avid a fan was she of this particular product, that it won several Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards (not to mention a host of others).

So you can imagine my excitement when I got the call inviting me to go and have a make-up consultation with the great man himself. And when I say great, I refer to an illustrious career that has seen him design catwalk make-up looks for Gucci and supermodels such as Kate Moss and Yasmin Le Bon. Needless to say, meeting Daniel was a life-changing experience. I've always been super-inquisitive, I was the type of child who would inevitably ask his parents "why?" at any given opportunity. So of course, when I had the privilege of spending an hour in this legendary make-up artist's chair, I jumped at the opportunity to ask him as many pertinent questions as I could.

They say patience is a virtue and it is without doubt one of Daniel's greatest assets, together with his genuinely polite, gentle and kind manner (and of course his superior artistry). At the end of the consultation, not only had I learned a great deal about the art of make-up application, I also realised that I had a genuine passion for make-up and skin care (a passion sparked at an early age as I watched in awe as my glamorous mother applied her own make-up for parties when I was a child). I recall Daniel telling me that he thought there was a make-up artist inside me. Who'd have thought that a few years later I'd be a make-up artist myself? Or that my new skills would see me working with celebrities such as pop star and X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke?

I've always taken a very holistic approach to beauty. Even as a child, I had a freakish fascination for the subject and would quiz the women in my family incessantly about their personal rituals. It was at this young age that I learned about essential oils, herbs and flowers and their effects on the mind, body and spirit (I've my maternal and paternal grandmothers to thank for this). How many 8 year old boys do you know that make their own face masks and facial spritzers from herbs and flowers hand-picked from their herb garden? Given my precocious interest in all things natural, it's not surprising that given the choice today, I'll always opt for natural formulations over synthetic ones.

So on the subject of all things natural, I'm going to share with you a selection of some of my favourite products from Urban Retreat. I've heard on the grapevine that the brand's own line of products is being discontinued. When I heard this I was genuinely in shock. Partly because both the skin care and cosmetics have been developed with the input of some of the world's leading experts, and partly because I'm at a loss as to what to replace these products with once they've sold through. Talk about tragic!

First we have Urban Retreat THE Cleanser. Priced originally at £12.30 and reduced to a wallet-friendly £8.61, this literally blows Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish out of the water (though in fairness, the latter can also be found in my bathroom). When it comes down to it, comparing the two is like comparing diamonds and coal (ie comparisons are best avoided). Designed with the input of the world-famous facialist Anastasia Achilleos, this product has worked miracles for my skin (and with the input of the woman who gives Prada models facials backstage it ought to).

A recent bout of stomach flu knocked me for six for an entire week and it was evident in my skin, which had taken on a sickly hue. My pallid complexion was further "enhanced" by a sprinkle of pimples (nice), suffice to say my confidence was not at its greatest. So what does a man do when he looks in the mirror and is confronted by complexion imperfection? He turns to his hero products, that's what! So wondrous is this cleanser that rays of golden light should emanate from the jar when you open the lid, with Bonnie Tyler's "I Need A Hero" playing in the background (well, in my over-active imagination at least).

Formulated without skin nasties such as Parabens, the one beauty award this product is missing is "Eighth Wonder of the World". And with premium grade ingredients such as skin-softening apricot kernel oil, mineral-rich avocado oil, anti-ageing rosehip seed oil, antioxidant pomegranate extract, hydrating fig extract and skin-softening / hydrating rose flower water, you'd be hard-pressed to use this regularly and not end up with fabulous skin. Trust me folks, I have the privilege of testing the world's leading skin care and cosmetics, so I'd like to think I know a thing or two about what works (and let me tell you, this REALLY works). Not only is my skin glowing again, the scarring caused by my pimples has all but faded.

To get the best from this product, it's worth following Anastasia's principles of skin massage and to follow this process with the product morning and night (religiously). A muslin cloth and warm water are essential for the best results. I found a video online featuring Anastasia's tips for facial cleansing. In the video, she is using products from Olay (which you can feel free to use too) - but given the choice between synthetic Olay products and Urban Retreat THE Cleanser, I'd choose the latter every time:

Facial spritzers are a handbag / manbag essential. They're superb for toning and freshening the skin and brilliant for setting make-up and imparting a dewy glow. After cleansing, I like to spritz my skin with Urban Retreat The Hydrating Mist. Reduced from £10.25 to £7.18, it is packed with skin-friendly botanicals such as antibacterial bergamot oil, detoxifying and astringent lime oil, soothing peppermint oil and hydrating aloe vera.

To complete your three-step skin care routine, massage Urban Retreat THE Moisturiser upwards, starting at the neck, taking the product up behind the ears and neck (this is an essential tip for maintaining firmer skin in years to come), moving up the face and finishing with circular motions on the forehead and temples. Reduced from a whopping £19.40 to a modest £13.58 (what a bargain), the "wet" gel / cream texture of this product leaves my skin hydrated and glowing throughout the day. Like the other products in the facial cleansing range, the list of ingredients is like an A-to-Z of anti-ageing miracle workers, with a fragrant blend of hydrating rose otto oil, antioxidants Vitamin E and rooibos tea extract, sensual ylang ylang oil, skin-smoothing jojoba oil, anti-ageing rosehip oil and last but not least, hyaluronic acid. Sodium Hyaluronate holds more than 1000 times its own weight in water, occurs naturally in the skin and is being championed by a vast number of high end miracle creams currently flying off the shelves of beauty counters across the globe.

If you follow Anastasia's application tips to the letter and cleanse tone and moisturise morning and night, you'll be blessed with beautiful skin for years to come, and no doubt realise that taking time for yourself isn't vanity, it is uplifting for the soul. Furthermore, you'll have such flawless skin that you'll probably only want to use this last product on special occasions. Developed with the input of celebrity make-up artist Daniel Sandler, this light-as-a-feather foundation provides the skin with a sheer veil of coverage and soft-as-silk texture. If you're the type of person who likes a sheer-to-medium coverage without the heavy feel of a foundation, this is definitely the one for you. Urban Retreat Smart Base and Blusher is reduced from £19.95 to £13.97 and in my opinion, is best applied with a foundation brush for the flawless airbrushed celebrity look. Available in Light, Medium or Dark, the product comes with a colour-coordinated cream blush, housed discretely in the lid (with a rather nifty pop up mirror, these guys literally think of everything). Super-light, this wonder is supremely portable, essential for the girl (or guy) on the go.

All the products featured are available to purchase from Beautique, Urban Retreat's online shopping portal:

www.beautique.com

Top British model Ruth Crilly (star of Channel 4's This Model Life) has done a fantastic review of some Daniel Sandler products, watch the video to get a taste of his cosmetic genius: