Bow down to the big brow

If you haven't yet noticed, a big brow is IN.  Supermodel of the moment Cara Delevingne epitomises the brow love with her natural bushy arches.

I've been growing my 'skinny caterpillars' (as my sister used to call my eyebrows!) since Christmas and they are looking a lot thicker but still a bit sparse in places. However, what better brow-spiration than the 3.1 Phillip Lim AW14 show make up where the big brows were the most prominent feature of the face: 

And as well as Cara, the gorgeous Lily Collins is rocking a great pair... And the 'original' bold brow queen has to be Jennifer Connolly.

To make your brow look 'now' (and not scouse!) you need to aim for the same thickness throughout and, if possible, wider at the arch. It also needs to look natural and not too perfect- a few stray hairs is a good thing.

My hero eyebrow products are the Mac eyebrow pencil in lingering- awesome to fill in brows when I'm quite short of time and also has amazing staying power, especially if you're going to be sweating or getting wet (day at the pool!) as it is quite a waxy consistency. 

Second for when I have more time and for when I'm looking for a stronger look I use Illamasqua's eyebrow cake in thunder and apply with the Mac 208 brush. It's a bit darker than the Mac pencil and not as long lasting but looks amazing.

What are you waiting for? Get growing those eyebrows!!! And btw, if your brows look anything like either of the below- remove them immediately and start again!!!

Kiehl's and Vichy moisturisers review

Recently I've finished two moisturisers- one which I was using for day and one at night - so I thought I'd review:

1) Kiehl's powerful wrinkle reducing cream, broad spectrum SPF 30 with copper pca and abyssine

I have quite sun sensitive skin and won't leave the house without at least SPF 15 on my face- especially now I live in Dubai. Finding day creams with SPF is becoming much easier now and I was excited to use this Kiehl's moisturiser as I've never really tried this brand before and this product had some great reviews.  

The blurb says that it is a 'visibly reparative anti-wrinkle cream' and that it helps 'defend against the formation' of new wrinkles. Copper is essential for the skin's healthy appearance and abyssine is a 'survival molecule which thrives under extreme conditions'. So now we know!

It is a thick, bright white cream that is easy to rub in and feels quite luxuriously heavy. Not sure if it visibly repaired or reduced any of my wrinkles but I certainly didn't notice any more developing in the few months I was using it! 

It definitely stopped the sun getting through but unfortunately I think this stuff contributed to my spots. As soon as I stopped using it my skin cleared up. Hmmm. I do find that many face sunscreens give me blemishes so I think this had the same ingredient in it :-(

Would I buy again? No

2) Vichy Aqualia Thermal rich 48 hour hydration for sensitive skin

I love using a hydrating cream at night as my skin always look healthy in the morning. I saw a review on this so thought I'd give a go... 

It contains Vichy thermal water, hyaluronic acid and lipidure, which is 'proven for lasting moisture', according to Vichy.  These key ingredients are 'Micro-encapsulated and delivered in a "sprinkler-like" system for 48Hr hydration' - wow! I certainly didn't notice any sprinkling, but then I guess I was asleep ;-)

First off, although it is for sensitive skin it always stung a little immediately after I applied, especially around the eyes, which was disappointing. 

On the plus side it has a lovely texture cream, melts in to the skin with a light perfect scent. It definitely hydrated my skin as the dry patches on my chin were non existent whilst I was using this! 

Would I buy again? Possibly, I won't rush out to repurchase but might use again in the future. 

Have any of you tried either of these? What do you think? 

Miracle thick & dry haircare product

My hair is thick, curly and coloured, with the ends bleached.  I've been using the Kerastase masquintense hair mask for dry hair on and off for years and whilst I thought it was ok, I never thought it was amazing... 

So when it was sold out at my salon (Hairworks at Ibn Battuta mall) and my lovely hair stylist Chloe, suggest I try Redken's real control intense renewal super moisturising mask for dense / dry / sensitised hair with Shea butter as an cheaper alternative for this one time, I was dubious having never used Redken products before. 

Well I shouldn't have been because this stuff is amazing for my hair! Blows Kerastase out the water!!!! 

It has a thick balm like consistency, smells divine and really nourishes my dry ends. Super impressed. It will likely be too heavy for anyone with fine or thin hair but for thick and dry hair it is perfect. It is a hair mask but I use as a regular conditioner every other wash alternating with L'oreal elvive total repair hair mask. 

This pic below really made me realise how amazing this hair mask conditioner is. My hair has never looked so good, so healthy and smooth. 

I used all the same products as before apart from this conditioner: 

L'oreal elvive smooth intense shampoo for dry hair

Redken real control intense renewal super moisturising mask

John Frieda frizz ease (when soaking wet)

L'oreal Paris studio indestructible extreme gel (when soaking wet)

Paul Mitchell smoothing gloss drops (when nearly dry on the ends only) 

Will I ever buy the Kerastase mask again? No! Will I buy this Redken mask again? YES! YES! YES! 

Dig out the kohl: the 90s are back

New make up trend alert: 90s grunge! Heavy eyeliner, heavy dark brown smokey eyes, a little bit 'undone' and not too perfect. Team with some brick red/brown or burgundy wine lipstick and you're sorted... well, for a fancy dress party maybe! The modern take is very much focused on the eyes with bare or pale lips. 

Now I remember the 90s the first time round (eek! I wish I'd kept my Doc Marten's...) so here's some inspiration from back then: Kurt Cobain (RIP) the best black lined eyes ever, Winona Ryder, a 90s darling who went off the rails (remember the shoplifting incident!) and off the radar. Shirley Manson from Garbage, (yes she was one of my idols back then) and the guys from Green Day also did a great job at the grunge look. 

And now for today's updated 90s grunge face... Fresh skin, smokey eyes using dark brown and black, heavy but not perfect eyebrows and either nude lipstick or left natural. 

And here's my take on the look... On my lips I used Mac lip pencil in subculture (one if my best buys ever as can be used under ANY lipstick colour to stop bleeding) and Rimmel's gorgeous lasting finish by Kate lipstick in 113 - a perfect nude shade.

So what are you waiting for? Google 90s make up and be inspired! Just remember to smudge :-) 

Want to look fierce? Try turquoise and a bold brow

I loved this look from the AW14 London Fashion Week Todd Lynn Designs show - a dark blue-toned turquoise eyeshadow placed under a strong brow. 

Very daring, unique and a great colour to try on the eyes! The make up artist Sharon Dowsett used Maybelline products and wanted to make the models look fierce and like they were warriors going into a tribal battle. 

Sadly I'm not brave enough to wear eyeshadow under my brows but I did try a similar shade with a heavy brow. It added an edge to my otherwise pretty pastel outfit. 

Many people think blue eyeshadow should stay in the 80s but I'm a massive fan, so I loved this look! Enjoy experimenting :-)