Indispensable tried-and-tested products...

Thanks to the bundles of new beauty products (and my bewildered but understanding postmen) that arrive daily, I’m never short of a shampoo, lipstick or body lotion to put through its paces. And yet, a bit like finding the perfect white t-shirt or ultimate cookie recipe, certain have become favourites I always default to, no matter what newcomers seem tempting…

MAC Cremeblend

Where a make-up bag edit used to reveal my predilection towards Prescriptives, the much-missed label has been replaced by MAC. And given my obsession with cream blusher, it’s wasn’t a surprise that at last count I had four on the go. It’s not just that they melt on your fingertips and smooth over cheeks like velvet, but that the colours really work, whether my complexion looks like I’ve been holidaying in Ireland or India. My favourites are deliciously peachy Posey and darker, duskier Tea Petal, but I can’t wait to get my hands on Florida, an eye-popping pink coming in March that already has me thinking of sunnier days and the promise of a summer tan.

Gielly Green Argan Rescue

The beauty industry has been buzzing about Argan oil so loudly of late that you could probably hear it from space. And although it seems completely counterintuitive to put oil onto freshly washed hair, this version from the Mayfair salon is nothing short of miraculous. Years of highlights, top-knots and bouts of restless sleep have seen my hair take a rebellious turn by breaking and frizzing up against my will. But two pumps of oil before blow-drying makes it feel so smooth and strong that I can see the lustrous light at the end of the hair repair tunnel.

NUDE Advanced Cellular Renewal Moisturiser

Being a bit prone to the midday make-up slide if I use a moisturiser that’s particularly rich, I tend to stick to lighter fluid formulas that let my skin feel supple without encouraging it to shine. This one however, floored me (in a good way) from the first time I used it. With a texture like whipped double cream, I expected it to feel too heavy for my confused complexion, but in fact it’s light as air and gives a satiny soft finish from the get-go. The high calibre line-up of anti-ageing ingredients don’t fail to deliver either.

Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes

The wand on this mascara may look worryingly like a medieval wrecking ball, but when you know it was inspired by a make-up artist’s trick, is actually genius. Backstage at the shows and on shoots, savvy professionals have been spotted trimming down bristles to get a shape that catches the smallest lashes right down to the root. And this spherical brush does just that. It defines peepers perfectly with glossy black colour, creates a fabulous fan shape and gives easy access to hard to reach lashes at both corners.

REN Omega 3 Night Repair Serum

I’ll admit I rocked up to the serum party a bit late, but since giving them a go in the interests of research (and hitting late 30’s), I’ve been converted by their power to deliver serious anti-ageing benefits. My go-to is Ren’s overnight version which, aside from smelling divinely soporific, has the ability to instantly inject moisture into my skin no matter how shrivelled it’s feeling. And it’s been making my complexion look brighter too, despite the grey winter days. I’ve also discovered that it’s brilliant at treating little patches of psoriasis, as the star ingredient – omega 3 – is anti-inflammatory.

Gielly Green’s Shai Greenberg explains the Argan Oil, plus the other Boutique Collection Repair Set products

Essential products for covering blemishes...

Bare Minerals SPF20 Bisque Concealer

From Bare Minerals – one of the most established companies in the mineral make-up market – comes Bisque, a loose-powder concealer available in five shades, suitable for all skin types.  Not only does it conceal dark circles under the eyes, age spots and even out skin pigmentations, it also contains zinc oxide to help prevent and heal spots. And if that weren’t enough, the UVA protection helps counteract further skin pigmentation.

Diego Dalla Palma Lifting Effect Fluid Concealer

Diego Dalla Palma may not necessarily be a familiar name, but in his native Italy, this make-up artist’s cosmetics line is known as the ‘MAC’ of Italy.  The Lifting Fluid Concealer (available in four shades) is suitable for normal to dry skin and gives lightweight coverage to minimise imperfections and smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And here comes the science: the hexapeptide plumps the skin to minimise fine lines, with lipo-siliconic compounds and a moisturising complex giving a comfortable natural look. The result? No drying or settling into the fine lines around the eyes.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer

Bobbi Brown is well known for her huge range of shades, making the face products perfect for all skin tones.  The Creamy Concealer is no exception – and it’s available in 16 different shades, all of them yellow-based. Long-wearing and creamy (as the name suggests), the rich formula blends easily, whether with fingers or a special concealer brush, while skin conditioners in the formula help to protect the delicate under-eye are. To help the concealer stay put even longer, follow with the one-shade-suits-all setting powder.

Cover FX Camouflage Concealer

Cover FX was founded by a camouflage make-up expert, so you just know the concealers are going to be great.  Available in six shades, the Cover FX Camouflage Concealer is a 3-in-1 multi-functional formula that contains a built-in primer; it’s also water-resistant and contains emollients to soften and hydrate delicate skin.  The lightweight, long-lasting product is free of oil, fragrance and parabens too, so there’s no danger of putting nasties close the the vulnerable eye socket area.

True Concealer by Alison Raffaele

If you love the idea of a mineral concealer but can’t be bothered with the loose powder format, then the creamy Alison Raffaele True Concealer could be the answer.  Available in 7 shades from the lightest ivory through to the darkest mahogany, the creamy formulation dries to a soft powder finish, and disguises even the darkest circles after a hard night’s partying.  Useful for both under the eye and on facial blemishes, the concealer contains Vitamins A, C and E to fight skin damage from radicals, while the Pomegranate and Resveratrol contain further antioxidant properties.

Our Top Concealer Tips

● The most common mistake when using a concealer is choosing a shade that’s too light for the skin, in the hope of covering up dark circles. In fact, your concealer should only be one shade lighter than your foundation, otherwise you’ll just draw attention to, not hide, those dark circles.

● The key to getting the right perfect application (when using a cream concealer) is using a concealer brush to apply, before patting in with the tip of the ring-finger to ensure perfectly blended, flawless application.

Alison Raffaele’s own tutorial on how to apply her True Concealer

Dior's chic Garden Party nail colours

‘After women, flowers are the most lovely things God has given to the world.’

These are not the only words Christian Dior spoke on his appreciation of flowers; his love of the botanical, stemmed throughout his life and career. His first collection, unveiled in 1947 and referred to as the New Look, due to its influence on the fashion world at the time, was called Corolle – or corolla, which roughly translates to way petals fan out from the flower’s stigma.

The famous collection was inspired by the plants growing in the gardens of his family home, Villa les Rhumbs. Perched overlooking the sea in the French coastal town of Granville, it’s now a museum, boasting among the archive of his past haute couture collections, a beautiful rose garden Dior planted as a young man.

The new Dior Garden Party nail polish collection is inspired by his roses and the gatherings he hosted among the gardens; ’Grand Balls of the Century’, he called them. The scent of rose emanates from each lacquer, most detectable after the nails are completely dry and the varnish fumes gone; which is likely the healthier time to sniff them too.

The two Dior Vernis nail shades, created by Director of Dior Make-up Tyen, are punchy and universally wearable, providing a pop of spring, whilst in reality we’re still in the ghastly grips of winter. Waterlily, an iridescent, minty green, is my favourite of the two, and the one that drew the most spontaneous compliments from friends and colleagues. Forget-me-not, a pretty mauve hue, is the more grown-up of the two, and pleasingly flattering even on my pale winter skin. Both, with the added preservation of a clear base and top coat, remained chip free for a week; only shifting then because I was ready for a colour change.

The limited edition duo launch this month, and much like other coveted designer nail colours out there, are likely to be snapped up

Dior Vernis: £18 each. Available to buy online here from 16^th January.

Perched overlooking the sea in the French coastal town of Granville: Christian Dior's Villa les Rhumbs and its glorious gardens

ila spa's rejuvenating bath salts and body scrub

Currently trying to follow a long list of resolutions? Among the numerous positive changes you planned, did you resolve to make more ‘me time’ in 2012? Dedicating time to oneself might seem a little less revolutionary (not to mention virtuous) than that health and fitness zeal, but it’s just as important. With our busy, rushed lives and endless to-do lists, taking time out can seem like a selfish choice – and a way of losing precious minutes and seconds when you could be doing something else. But if you can commit to one night a week of true, blissed-out relaxation and indulgence, you’ll find that tackling that task list and dashing around town seem a whole lot easier. Pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple, dig out that novel you’ve not managed to read mid-commute and run a deep, soothing bath. And exhale…

ila spa’s natural products are a luxurious complement to an evening spent looking after number one; the ethical, sustainable beauty brand is dedicated to  emotional and spiritual wellbeing. First stop? The Bath Salts for Inner Peace. Pure mineral-rich Himalayan salt crystals aid the detoxifying process, so those healthy intentions get an extra boost, hurrah! Add in heady damascena rose otto and sensual sandalwood, and you’ve got a serene blend guaranteed to soothe – and make you feel like the moments spent on ‘me time’ are definitely worth it. The Bath Salts are designed to balance emotions and give a sense of calm and tranquility, while rejuvenating skin and boosting natural radiance. Simply add a generous measure of the salts to your tub, lie back and soak for at least twenty minutes, to give your body enough time to absorb the rich minerals.

Alternatively try the Body Scrub for Energising and Detoxifying; a cure-all solution if you’re feeling run down or tired after a particularly arduous week. Once again, there’s a high concentration of those magic Himalayan salt crystals, along with juniper berry, rose geranium and wild poppy essence – the scent alone is uplifting. Intoxicating fragrance aside, the scrub promises to stimulate the lymphatic system, easing those muscular aches and pains. Tend to wear vertiginous heels and carry heavy totes? This one’s for you. First massage the scrub onto damp skin, for a wonderfully revivifying effect that really wakes skin up, before sinking into a deep bath to let the mineral salts do their work. Both products are best served in a candle-lit setting, preferably with a glass of Malbec…

For more information, see ila spa’s website, or shop products online here.

The Organic Pharmacy's easy Detox...

Detoxing inevitably conjures up images of consuming allegedly health-boosting juices, spending unhealthy sums on fruit and vegetables before fighting with a blender to process said detoxifying substances. Or avoiding all social occasions for an entire month, as nothing on the menu is included in your detox plan. Truth be told, the detox can be almost a work-out in itself, leaving you tired and dejected rather than refreshed and reinvigorated.

And even if you have managed to pass on Christmas punch and boxes of chocolates being passed round, the benefits of a detox are unquestionable; you can expect increased energy levels and alertness, improved digestion and better health – not to mention banishing those extra pounds gained over the festive period. Detoxing means flushing out those nasty toxins which have probably been making you feel groggy, tired and a little lacklustre.

The Detox Plan from the Organic Pharmacy is a simple way to cleanse and revitalise, without having to renounce the occasional cup of coffee or glass of wine. The program involves taking three capsules in the morning and a further three before bed – with each dose containing natural substances such as chlorella, apple pectin and alfalfa. You’ll also see an improvement in skin and hair health – expect a more radiant complexion and shinier hair. The new year is the perfect opportunity to turn over a new leaf and face the coming twelve months with positivity, and the Detox Plan is an effortless approach to kick-starting wellbeing and feeling more healthy in 2012.

The Organic Pharmacy Detox Plan is available to buy online here.

Organic beauty brand Suti's skincare

Gosh, it has been a stunningly gorgeous twelve months for the RIH girls. We’ve tried out some of the most innovative new brands, tested truly amazing products to make you beautiful both inside and out and shared our top tips on how to make your beauty regime easy and effortless. Here’s our edit of the prettiest features of 2011.

Five of our Favourites… Concealers

Viola Levy‘s pick of the essentials you need to banish dark circles and cover up blemishes, ensuring your skin is 100% flawless…

Beauty Brand Buzz: Suti

Suti has managed to find a way to balance that toughest of equations: organic plus affordable plus luxury. Ruth Styles takes a look at why this chic British skincare brand is a name to remember.

The Beauty Fix: Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Skincare from the Inside

Supplements, teas and a new storecupboard favourite offer an innovative way to take care of your skin’s health – from the inside. Alice Revel considers products that prove that beauty’s certainly more than skin deep.

Delicious Beauty

Fancy your favourite foodie fix but don’t want the extra calories? Sophie Colgate considers the best food-inspired beauty products – the perfect guilt-free indulgence.

The Pick of the Bunch

Olivia Bargery  rounds up the best floral beauty products for a gloriously blossoming spring season.

The Beauty Idols

Viola Levy considers some of the women whose timeless looks are truly captivating, ensuring their beauty icon status…

Beauty Blogger Confidential: Lipglossiping

Alice Revel  gets the insider info from the award-winning beauty blogger: a girl with too many lipsticks.

Five of Our Favourites…Spa at Home Products

In need of some pampering without the day spa price tag? Sophie Colgate rounds up the best treatments you can indulge in without setting foot outside your front door…

Perfectly Clean

Scrupulously clean skin is the route to beautiful skin. Ambarina Hasan gives you the tips, tricks and products you need to achieve a perfectly glowing complexion.

CRAVE: John Masters Organics Shine On

Made with a blend of caring organic ingredients, John Masters Organics Shine On Leave in treatment is a fast-track way to gloriously gleaming locks. Alice Revel tries out the natural must-have.

Beauty Brand Buzz: Evolve

Boasting serious green credentials and packing a hefty nutritious punch, Evolve’s gorgeous smelling products are good for the planet, as well as for your skin, writes Ruth Styles.

Five of our Favourites… Moisturising Masks

Prepare and nourish, just in time for winter, with an intensive hit of hydration. Here’s Penny Lane‘s edit of the most effective masks available, for an enviably luminous visage.

Mood Boosting Beauty

These fragrant concoctions are guaranteed to lift your spirits and pamper both body and mind, come rain or shine, writes Victoria Todd.

Perfectly packaged beauty products...

CRAVE: NEOM Utter Relaxation Kit

For those who have been burning the candle at both ends of late, this is an indulgent way to relax; four essential organic items in a gorgeous flowery box. Viola Levy  gets blissed-out with NEOM…

Luxury Beauty at the Beach

Looking beautiful at the beach can take less effort than you may imagine. Reena Patel rounds up the latest ultimate luxe beauty buys that you shouldn’t leave home without.

Five of Our Favourites… Perfect Packaging

Who hasn’t fallen in love with a beauty product because of the bottle or box alone? Jennifer O’Shea scoured the stores to find gorgeous buys to add a double dose of glamour to your dressing table…

Beauty Brand Buzz: Jouer Cosmetics

Multi-tasking, ultra-portable products with smart formulations and even smarter packaging, Jouer is the latest addition to Cult Beauty’s stable of must-have brands, writes Alice Revel.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrrow

Sometimes hair removal really is de rigueur; Ambarina Hasan takes a look at the easiest options available from the latest high tech products to old favourite DIY methods.

Five of Our Favourites…Spa at Home Products

In need of some pampering without the day spa price tag? Sophie Colgate rounds up the best treatments you can indulge in without setting foot outside your front door…

CRAVE: Carita Diamant De Beauté

Carita’s Regenerating Midnight Concentrate truly exudes luxury; an anti-ageing mask that combines mineral and plant extracts for indulgent, intensive treatment. Alice Revel tries out the glitzy skincare treat.

The Beauty Fix: Apodea Propolis Balm

Italian organic skincare brand Apodea’s hard working Propolis Balm is fast becoming a cult favourite in the beauty world. Sophie Colgate finds out what all the fuss is about.

Beauty Brand Buzz: Codage

A skin treatment designed for your skin only? Which you can afford without deferring your rent? Pippa Rimmer gives you the lowdown on new French brand Codage.

CRAVE: JO LOVES

JO LOVES marks Jo Malone’s return to designing scent; a range of four indulgent, luxurious and deliciously different fragrances which capture the essence of smells that “evoke emotions or memories.” Alice Revel spritzes on the latest olfactory must-have.

Cleansing tips from one of our favourite beauty bloggers, Ruth Crilly of A Model Recommends

Take care of your skin's health from inside

Beauty editors and skincare experts constantly give advice on the best creams, serums and balms to put on our skin, and how to ensure that it’s protected from external sources of harm such as UV rays and pollution – but what about how what we put inside our bodies affects our skin? Sure – healthy eating, getting your five-a-day and avoiding sugary foods all contribute to the condition of our skin, but anything beyond that sounds like it might be a little sci-tech and futuristic.

In fact, organic beauty brand Neal’s Yard Remedies has a collection of products which actually offers ‘skincare from the inside’ – so there are zero dubious chemical substances or complicated technologies involved! Perhaps the most fuss-free way to try out the concept is the brand’s Beauty Boost supplement; two capsules taken daily will work on skin, hair and nail health, and improve collagen formation with a combination of natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Otherwise, opt for a freshly-brewed mug of Beautiful Skin Tea, which is rich in antioxidants thanks to a delicious blend of bilberry, sweet orange, goji berry, rosehip and hibiscus. Drinking a cup of herbal tea is a lot cheaper (not to mention simpler) than forking out for a facial!

And finally, a skincare product that will become a storecupboard favourite: the Organic Beauty Oil. We’re told about the important of essential fatty acids, but who really remembers to factor these into their diet every day? The oil can be used in salads, smoothies or simply drizzled onto pasta or vegetables, and contains avocado, flax, hemp and evening primrose oils. The essential nutrients also include antioxidants such as beta-carotene and lutein, which both help boost skin’s radiance and ensure that it can renew and repair itself. Whoever said beauty was only skin-deep?

The ‘Skincare from the Inside’ range is available to buy online here.

Body sculpting essentials for svelte, smooth contours...

Bliss FatGirl Treatment Kit

Inspired by its signature, body toning spa treatment, Bliss have created a cellulite-busting kit to enable you to recreate the same benefits at home. Included are three of the brand’s most popular formulas fight to firm and diminish cellulite with the help of caffeine, a scrub to stimulate circulation and a rich overnight cream to soothe, decrease water retention and tighten skin.

Plus, you alsoreceive the most efficient hand-held body massager I have ever used, the FatGirlSlimulator, which vigorously attacks stubborn fat cells. Ideal for use on the thighs, love handles and buttocks, where circulation is lacking, simply use circular movements in the shower, to prep for your cellulite treatment.

Decléor Aromessence Sculpt Balm

If slackened skin and general loss of firmness is your primary skin concern, head straight to Decleor for natural, highly effective body sculpting. The wonder balm contains a cocktail of eight, 100% pure and natural essential oils, which help to drastically improve and maintain skin elasticity whilst correcting the appearance of stretch marks – perfect for use during or after weight loss.

The beautiful aromatic scent and velvety texture make it a luxurious treat to apply, as dry skin is comforted. Warm a small amount of the balm into palms and apply over body, concentrating particularly on problem areas. It’s also completely safe to use during pregnancy.

Liz Earle Energising Hip and Thigh Gel

The hips and thighs are notoriously difficult areas to improve and slim, so once the dreaded dimples appear, it’s time to take action with a serious skincare product. The Energising Hip and Thigh Gel by Liz Earle utilises highly stimulating plant extracts to tone and firm the skin, whilst detoxifying and revitalising the overall appearance and surface of these troublesome areas.

Ivy, horse chestnut and butcher’s broom have been carefully selected to naturally invigorate. Combined with essential oils of grapefruit, sweet orange and rosemary to uplift the senses and leave skin feeling ultra smooth. It can also be used daily, to tighten the stomach and upper arms.

Mama Mio Get Waisted Body Shaper

Specially formulated to shrink fat cells around the waist, Mama Mio’s Body Shapper diminishes those wobbly bits and boosts fat-burning,  through seven silhouette-enhancing ingredients. Derivatives of brown and red algae, alongside amino acids, break down stored fat cells and heighten micro-circulation, which also contributes to the destruction of fat.

By massaging two pumps of this clever cream into the skin for half a minute, the waist immediately feels much tighter. Use long, sweeping motions, in a clockwise direction to reduce tummy bloating and improve digestion. Free from horrid synthetic substances, you can be sure you are applying a skin-friendly formula.

NIP + FAB Cellulite Fix

To battle the appearance of orange peel on the legs and arms, NIP + FAB’s Cellulite Fix, is the answer to your worries. It really is made for the lazy girl, as you don’t even need to massage the gel into your skin, simply smooth over targeted areas, for fast action.

With three key benefit – releasing fatty acids, reducing fat deposits and improving an irregular skin surface – it’s all you need in one tube. Indian forskolin and caffeine combine to remove waste substances, which can be enhanced by dry body brushing, prior to application.

A serene, relaxing interior in the spa

You can almost feel the delicate aromas gently pulling you through the door at Aromatherapy Associates’ new Treatment Rooms and Boutique. A welcome break from the bustle of tourists and London’s well-heeled crowd outside, the spa positively embraces you with an air of warmth and well-being. So, what can you expect from one of spa’s most celebrated names? Given the location in Knightsbridge, the go-to capital for Russian oligarchs et al, the boutique is in keeping with its prestigious neighbours, presented as a luxurious yet comfortable ‘home-from-home’ that’s filled with soft furnishings and finished in rich shades of gold.

As you would expect the prices on the Spa Menu fit the local bill too with a facial costing £90 and a full body treatment amounting to £120; but if you want quality, you absolutely pay for what you get. I’m here to experience a ‘City Stress Buster’ – buzzwords that have grown in popularity as people – particularly clock watching urbanites – accept they should set aside more time for their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Sophie, my therapist, is a dream: informative and nurturing, she gets the consultation – which establishes my current emotional state – out of the way quickly. The treatment is administered with experienced hands, enough to put even the most spa-shy at ease. First she works around my head, using firm finger presses to stimulate my sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system: two areas, which control the rest-and-digest and fight or flight response respectively. The soothing effects of which continue to flourish for days after…

Next, using an oil teeming with geranium, rose and frankincense prescribed specifically for me, Sophie massages her way through tense shoulders and fatigued limbs. The oil, following aromatherapy thinking, works its magic on two levels: first through smell, and second through the absorption into the body’s system. The oozy, lustrous quality of the oils is at the heart of everything AA does and one half of the company’s founding duo, Geraldine Howard, has even installed a unique ingredients bar to help more of us understand their rich, far-reaching effects.

There might not be a steam room or sauna in sight, but the AA Treatment Rooms’ big sell is its expert sensory massages and treatments that never dip below its exceptionally high standards. It’s all about the healing power of touch, and – thanks to the natural beauty of AA’s oils – the spa is set to be one of the best places in London to power down.

For more information and to book, see the Aromatherapy Associates website.

The Aromatherapy Associates Treatment Rooms are a welcome break from the bustle of tourists in chic, upscale Knightsbridge

And so, anything that means that I can speed up the Ten Tedious Hair Minutes is something I want to know more about. Enter the Instyler. Claiming to be ‘unlike any hair styling product ever invented,’ I’ve tried out the clever rotating gadget, and I like. I like a lot. Part hotbrush, part heated tong, part straightener, it’s a pretty clever item and really produces results. Whether you’re after loose waves, a blast of volume at the roots or a smooth and straight style (see the YouTube tutorial videos for more), the Instyler works wonders.

They say: when you run the InStyler rotating hot iron through your hair, the first set of bristles gently sort and separate your hair strands. Then the rotating heated polishing cylinder gently glides over your hair, smoothly polishing, straightening, and styling each strand. Finally, the second set of bristles puts the finishing touch on your hair, leaving you with shiny, silky, hair!  The InStyler uses less heat than traditional hot tools, and delivers better results. How? Because the InStyler’s gentle heat in conjunction with the rotating motion of the polishing cylinder literally polishes your hair strands individually so it doesn’t need extreme heat to get amazing results.

My verdict? I’m certainly impressed with the time it now takes to go from shower to front door without having to fiddle about with brushes, styling products and hairdryer. Now if only someone could find a way to make the commute a little more bearable…

The InStyler is available to buy online here. You can also follow all of the action on Facebook, and on Twitter @instyler_europe.

All about the Instyler…