Tag Archives: beauty

10 Things To Look Out For In A Perfect Facial

A decent facial can work wonders for your skin and also your stress levels!

Here are Sam’s top tips on what to look for during a first class facial treatment!


Consultation – this is often overlooked but a great consultation is vital to understand your skin’s needs. Your therapist should find out everything from how long you spend in the sun (ie are you an avid gardener) to how long you have to spend on your regime and what your goals are. They should listen and summarise what you want from the facial.


The Room – is it relaxing? Does it smell good?  Is it warm enough? Ambience is key to relaxation.  A heated bed is totally expected now, and the bed should be covered in layers of towels or blankets to wrap you up in once your body gets cooler.


Hygiene – a bugbear of mine is dirty hands – they should be washed in front of you! Fresh breath is also vital – I always pop a Smint in before going near anyone’s face.  It’s just curtesy.  Oh and clean towels -I don’t want to see tide marks from the lady before!


To chat or not to chat – sometimes I want to know what is going on my skin – sometimes I want to shut up and chill out. Your therapist should read this (or just ask you at the start).


The Cleanse – Just because it is a cleanse doesn’t mean it needs to be rushed. My cleanse is like a massage.  It should feel thorough but luxurious and if I have congestion around my nose they should focus on it (even if it is purely to make me feel like they listened). No area should be missed (ie sides of neck, and shoulders if they are going to massage as I don’t want dirty oil massaging into my lovely clean skin!). And never ever ever cover both nostrils. I would like to breathe without having to open my mouth.


Removal – yes this is important! I don’t want soggy cotton wool, or sponges that have been used on every client before me. (Remember hygiene…) Some aromatic warm clean mitts please. Every bit of my face should be covered – there is nothing worse than a bit of cleanser over your top lip or a load of exfoliant being massaged round your face afterwards.


The massage – and relax….. This should be in time to the music, very slow – firm on the right places, soft on the others.  Sweeping movements that seem flawless until you have no idea which hand is where. The best compliment for a therapist is a snoring client believe it or not.


Thou shalt not leave your client – during the mask. Ever.  And I want choices – a boring hand and arm massage is not for me, but extra time on my tense shoulders of a decent foot massage will get me coming back again and again. If I’m going straight home then a scalp massage with oil is simply divine.


Clean up – I don’t want to leave with a) mask up my nose, b) oil in my hair if I have requested otherwise, or c) a slick of over  applied moisturiser.


Aftercare – therapists seem to think we don’t want to buy! I love to be told by my hairdresser what will help my hair and my clients want to know what will improve their skin.

Don’t just throw us out of the door – tell me what I need, offer me some water and somewhere to “come round” and one of the nicest things I have had is my therapist calling me to see how my skin was a few days later.  Treatment plans are also lovely especially running up to something like a wedding.

Kate Winslet Posts Makeup Free Selfie To Encourage Positive Body Image

Over the weekend, Kate Winslet posted a rare makeup free photo on herself on her Facebook page in an effort to make women all over the world feel better about themselves.
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Along with a message for anyone with a negative body image, or who has experienced negatives from other people.

I know I am chubby, I have big feet, and have bad hair days. When I grew up and even now sometimes, I hardly hear any positive reinforcement about body image from any female. I mostly hear negatives. But I know most of the negatives comes from the people who are busy rejoicing other people’ insults by liking demeaning post on Facebook when in reality they don’t even like themselves.

Today, I want to put up a zero makeup photo. I know I have wrinkles on my skin but today i want you to see beyond that. I want to embrace the real me and I want you to embrace who you are, the way you are, and love yourself just the way you are. Share the message everywhere and let it reach the haters and let them know that you don’t give a damn about the negatives and you chose not to be a victim to those bullies who make fun of others based on appearances, race, gender, etc.

And also share if you love yourself the way you are and don’t want to change anything about it. People should appreciate you, the real you.”

The star previously recalled an amazing exchange with her son, when he was 7, and asked what would happen if he were gay.

Women Give Their Younger Selves Advice That Really Hits Home

According to Sanctuary Spa – a UK-based skincare brand and health spa – we live in stressful times.

And in a recent survey they conducted, nearly half of women reported feeling “moderately or extremely stressed”, while another 40 percent said they feel like they’re “about to burn out”.

Those are troubling figures have lead them to a new campaign urging women to #LetGo.

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As part of the campaign, Sanctuary Spa created a short film in which older women detail the advice they’d give to their younger selves.

The women all share similar ideas, focusing on the pressures of our modern culture and the ways technology has exacerbated our anxieties.

They suggest we unplug and unwind to allow ourselves to escape the constant pressures, if only temporarily.

We need to, as the video says, “spend more time being — not doing.”

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Check out the video up top and learn more at Sanctuary Spa.

Photographer Challenges ‘American Beauty’ Standards

San Francisco-based photographer Carey Fruth is looking to redefine what American beauty is with a photo series (of the same name) that has women of all body types posing in romantic beds of flower petals.

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Fruth was inspired by a racy scene from the 1999 movie of the same name in which Kevin Spacey fantasized about one of his daughter’s friends.

Fruth told Huffpost.

By stepping into a fantasy dream girl world and by letting go of that fear, they free themselves up to direct that energy they once wasted on telling themselves that they weren’t good enough to elsewhere in their life.”

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More info: careyfruthphotography.com | Tumblr | Instagram | Twitter (h/t: huffpostdemilked)

Kristen Stewart Reveals Her Personal Reason For Cutting Her Hair Short

Kristen Stewart has candidly discussed the ‘traumatic period’ that shaped her new attitude.

The actress, who famously cheated on boyfriend Robert Pattison in 2012, opened up about her life experiences in the August edition on Marie Claire US.

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She said:

I lit my universe on fire and I watched it burn. Speaking very candidly, it was a really traumatic period in my early 20s that kick-started something in me that was a bit more… feral.”

Stewart debuted her pixie cut at the Chanel Autumn/Winter 2014 couture show last July, and at the time it was speculated the change was required for her role in the film American Ultra, but the truth is far more personal.

My hair was such a crutch. I looked quote unquote ‘sexy’ no matter what. I could hide behind it. As soon as I didn’t have all that hair, I had to let my face hang out. I felt more confident than I had in a really long time. And it felt really good. Maybe to most people long hair is prettier. But then what? Is your main goal in life to be desired? That is boring as fuck.”

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It’s a relaxed image that Kristen believes she has grown into after her career took off during her teenage years.

She explained:

Between ages 15 and 20, it was really intense. I was constantly anxious. I was kind of a control freak. If I didn’t know how something was going to turn out, I would make myself ill, or just be locked up or inhibited in a way that was really debilitating.”

Typically private Kristen is now dating her personal assistant Alicia Cargile.

The romance was confirmed by her mum Jules, who described her daughter as ‘happy’ with her new relationship.

Maybelline Ambassador, Ruby Rose Addresses The stereotype That Lesbians Don’t Wear Makeup

Ruby Rose has been the face of Maybelline since 2010. Yet, despite the fact that we’re living in the 21st century, the she is still faced with unnecessary stereotypes about her sexuality and looks.

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Speaking to Daily Mail last week, the out model addressed the stereotype that lesbians don’t wear make-up, simply saying:

“I feel like the stereotype that lesbians don’t wear makeup, it’s not true. There’s probably as many lesbians that don’t wear make-up as straight girls that don’t wear makeup.

Some people are into it, some people aren’t and I think everyone wears some part of makeup, it’s just how much they play with it and explore with it.”

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Ruby joined Maybelline as an ambassador in 2010, bringing her signature look to the brand. To show her appreciation and dedication, early last year the ink addict tattooed Maybelline’s signature tagline ‘maybe she’s born with it’ onto her collarbone.

She is currently fronting Maybelline’s new Make Your Mark campaign.

“I got kind of emotional about it because it’s such a special campaign to me and it’s really about more than cosmetics or make-up, it’s about the individual and making your mark.”

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Ruby is also set to play inmate Stella Carlin on in the third season of the hit series, Orange is the New Black. And if the rumours are correct, she will get in between Alex Vause, played by Laura Prepon, and Piper Chapman, portrayed by Taylor Schilling.

The Step-By-Step Guide to Smokey Eye Makeup from A Lesbian

Makeup can be a little a taboo for lesbians. Is it just for femmes? Can you wear makeup if your a little butch? The answer is make-up can be for everyone.

And one look which certainly makes a statement for both butch and femmes is the Smokey Eye.

However, achieving a sophisticated rather than clownish look isn’t always easy. Here is our ultimate how-to guide to the perfect smokey eyes.

Step 1: First, start with a primer as a base. A good primer applied to your entire eyelid will help enhance the color of your eye shawdow and keep it in place.

Step 2: Now select your shadow you want to use. You will need three colors: a shimmer that will work as a highlighter, a matte color that’s a shade darker than your skin tone and a contour color which could be matte or shimmer. Choose shades that suit your natural eye color. For example, a deep shade of purple looks great with green eyes.

Step 3: After choosing your colors, apply your highlight color right below your eyebrows and at the inner corners of your eyelid.

Step 4: Now apply the matte color. Start along your lash line and apply the eye shadow towards the crease of your eyelid, blending it with highlight.

Step 5: After applying the matte color, it’s time for the contour color. Once again start from your lash line up to the crease of your eyelid and blend it well with matte color to avoid any harsh line.

Step 6: Finally, apply eyeliner to the top and bottom of your lash line, followed by a few coats of mascara to give volume to your eyelashes.

Here you go! Your smokey eyes are perfected. To complete your look, apply a soft lip color and you are ready to go.

Or – Watch this ‘Drunk Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial’

Photographer Shows How Beauty is Ageless

The idea for this photo series came when Anastasia Pottinger was approached by a 101-year old woman to be photographed in the nude. The only condition – that she couldn’t be identified from the photos. The black and white photos that they created are undeniably beautiful, and seem to encapsulate the hallmarks of old age – wisdom, patience, time, experience, and yes, mortality.

“The response to the images has been remarkable. Viewers are visibly moved by what they are looking at. Whether it’s wondering, ‘is this what I’m going to look like?’ or remembering a loved one – the response seems to be universally emotional on some level.”Anastasia Pottinger, Photography

When we think of human beauty, most of us think of someone young and sexy and in their low to mid 20s, but Pottinger makes a strong case for the idea that beauty is ageless.

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