News: AERIN Launch Seashell Color Collection

If you don't already know about AERIN, you need to. AERIN is a relatively new global lifestyle brand created by Aerin Lauder, the granddaughter of cosmetics Queen Estée Lauder. The brand features a beauty range which, due to Aerin Lauder's rich beauty heritage, had high expectations when it launched last year. Luckily AERIN did not disappoint and the brand received praise from journalists and beauty fans alike.

But anyway, back to the news...

AERIN has just launched its latest collection and it could not be prettier. Made up of a Style Palette, Lipstick, Lipgloss, Beach Cream and Illuminating Powder, the Seashell Color Collection is inspired by holidays spent by the beach. As Aerin Lauder puts it: “For me, summer has always been about the beach; it’s where I’m the happiest. Whether taking a morning walk or an afternoon swim, I am endlessly inspired by the sea and the shells along the shore”.


The collection's hero has to be the lipstick in Beach Beige. It is the perfect nude colour which contains the AERIN floral infusion, helping to condition the lips and 'add a breath of cooling calm'.

The collection is available right now from Selfridges and selected John Lewis stores in the UK. If you reside in the US, you can find the new collection at Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales. I can't wait to get my hands on it, can you??

Wednesday Wisdom: Jennifer Garner

“Beauty comes from a life well lived. If you've lived well, your smile lines are in the right places, and your frown lines aren't too bad, what more do you need?”

Ask TBI: Wave Goodbye To Wipes

Question: I love using face wipes because they are a speedy alternative to cleansing (which seems to take forever!). However I keep hearing that facie wipes are bad for your skin. Is this true? Should I stop using them? - Chrissy, New York.

Answer: Face wipes are appealing to most gals because they are cheap, effective and  quick to use, however you are definitely doing your skin a disservice by continuously using them.

Face wipes are soaked in pretty potent chemicals - including alcohols - that can irritate the skin and cause extreme dryness and premature ageing (remember, unlike cleansing, the solution in face wipes is not rinsed away!). The rough wiping motion required to lift makeup with face wipes can also irritate and damage the skin, especially the delicate eye area. Importantly, although face wipes are a quick alternative to cleansing, they don't cleanse the skin anywhere near as well as you think - they just remove impurities from the skin's surface.

It is, however, good to have some face wipes lying around in case of an emergency. As, when you are in an environment or frame of mind that prevents you from cleansing properly (i.e. you're at a festival, you've run out of cleanser or you're too damn drunk), using a face wipe will be better than doing nothing at all. However, face wipes should not be part of your normal cleansing routine.

If you want to achieve the quickest cleanse possible, I would recommend using a balm or oil cleanser, as they remove makeup, dirt and impurities quicker than other cleansers. One of my favourite oil cleansers is the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 200ml (£21.50 Selfridges / $28.00 Dermstore). It may be on the expensive side but it lasts forever, removes even the heaviest of makeup quickly and leaves skin super soft. As an extra little tip, I would also recommend buying seven muslin cloths, so you have a fresh one on hand each night!

Now, I know it is easier said than done, however try your best to go cold turkey with the wipes. Your skin will thank you for it, I promise!

Understanding...Astringents

An astringent is a type of toner that tightens pores and removes impurities and excess oils that can lead to blemishes and breakouts. Astringents also control oil and remove dead skin cells and dirt. For these reasons they are best used to treat oily and acne prone skin. I would not recommend astringents to any other skin type as they may find them too drying or irritating.

Astringents are the strongest form of toner as they contain a high proportion of alcohol, witch hazel, and acids (like salicylic acid). For these reason it is advised that astringents should only be used a couple of times a week and should be followed up with a cream or serum to ensure the skin is hydrated.

The best way to use an astringent is to put a good amount of it onto a cotton pad and wipe it over the face and neck until you have treated the entire area. It is important to pay attention to the hairline and ears as dirt and excess oil can rest here.

Contrary to popular belief, astringents should not be put on to the skin like a cream, gel or serum. Astringents should only be used to wipe dirt and oil off of the skin like a cleanser.

Recommendations

1. Aesop Bitter Orange Astringent Toner 100ml (£25.00 www.aesop.com / $35.00 www.aesop.com)
2. Clean & Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent Sensitive Skin 8 fl oz ($7.94 Walmart)
3. Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion 250ml (£16.50 John Lewis / $18.00 Kiehl's)
4. Vichy Normaderm Purifying Astringent Toner 200ml (£10.50 Boots / $18.00 www.drugstore.com)

Wednesday Wisdom: Judy Garland

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else”

Faithful Four: Night Creams

The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream

Promise: “This rich night cream replenishes moisture levels while you sleep. It intensively hydrates, works when skin is at its most receptive and leaves skin soft and smooth”

Price: £11.00/$20.00 50ml 

Purchase: www.thebodyshop.co.uk, www.thebodyshop-usa.com

This thick and soothing night cream is great for dry and sensitive skin. However avoid this cream at all costs if you suffer from oily skin as you may find it makes it worse. The price is great, a little goes a long way and skin is left hydrated and glowing the morning after using it. It's no surprise that this night cream is one of The Body Shop's best selling products.

REN Frankincense Revitalising Night Cream

Promise: “A night cream formulated to hydrate, recharge and revitalise the skin overnight, leaving it looking radiant, smoothed and beautifully healthy”
Price: £32.00/$55.00 50ml
Purchase: www.renskincare.com, Planet Organic, Sephora

The REN Frankincense Revitalising Night Cream is a gentle night cream that really injects moisture into the skin. As with all REN products, this night cream is paraben free. The cream has a silky, light texture that glides onto the skin easily. Some of the key ingredients are Vitamin C and Citroflavonoids which reduce free radical damage and boost collagen production and Frankincense and Boswellic Acid which help smooth expression lines and wrinkles.

Eucerin Anti-Ageing Hyaluron Filler Night Cream

Promise: “Eucerin Anti-Ageing Hyaluron Filler Night Cream with wrinkle-filling treatment plumps up the appearance of even deep wrinkles from the inside”

Price: £26.00 50ml

Purchase: Boots

This cream is thick, ultra hydrating and best used on normal, mature or dry skin. It feels soothing on skin and when I wake, my skin looks (and feels!) plumped and much perkier. Hero ingredients include Hyaluronic Acid and Saponin which restore skin volume, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. This cream also creates a great base for foundation, making it a great day cream alternative if you run out!

Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream

Promise: “This deeply nourishing , superior-performance botanical night cream restores life to your skin overnight. Its select premium plant oils promote collagen production & regeneration of healthy cells”

Price: £32.95/$60.00 60ml 

Purchase: www.antipodesnature.com (UK), www.antipodesnature.com (USA)

This has to be one of my all time favourite night creams. It has been scientifically proven to stimulate type I collagen production by up to 92% and this is evident the morning after applying. My skin looks plumper, feels super soft and fine lines are less visible! Though on the pricey side, a little product goes a long way and the pot seems to last a lifetime.

Behind The Brand: Estée Lauder

Date of Birth: 1946

Founder: Estée Lauder

History: Estée Lauder was created in 1946 when Estée Lauder (Josephine Esther Mentzer), along with her husband Joseph Lauder began producing cosmetics in New York City. The brand launched with just four products: Super-Rich All Purpose Creme, Creme Pack, Cleansing Oil, and Skin Lotion. Two years later the couple gained their first department store account at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Due to their success in Saks, the brand expanded the range and started selling their products across the United States until they went international in 1960. Since then the company's success has gone from strength to strength, launching Clinique Laboratories and Origins and acquiring M.A.C Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and Bumble, Crème de la Mer, Smashbox and more. However the original Estée Lauder brand still remains, offering everything from colour cosmetics and skincare to fragrances.

USP: Estée Lauder promotes beauty that is both aspirational and approachable and this is reflected in the brand's products.

Motto: "Every woman can be beautiful"

Giving Back: Estée Lauder is heavily involved in raising awareness of breast cancer. The brand's support began in 1992 when Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder partnered with SELF magazine’s (then) Editor-in-Chief, Alexandra Penney, to create a symbol for breast cancer awareness: the Pink Ribbon. Since then the brand has continued to raise money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through limited edition products and campaigns. To date the brand has helped raise over $35,000,000.

Offerings: Estée Lauder offer everything to meet your beauty needs - from beautiful eyeshadow palettes and nail polishes, to skincare and fragrances.

Hero Products: Double Wear Foundation, Advanced Night Repair and Pure Colour Long Lasting Lipstick

Availability: Estée Lauder is available at a huge number of department stores worldwide. If you reside in the US of A, you can find Estée Lauder at Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Macy's. If you are based in the UK, you can get your Estée Lauder fix at John Lewis, Debenhams and Selfridges.

Website: esteelauder.com

Price Points

Foundations: Up to £31.50/$37.50

Single Eye Shadows: Up to £19.00/$24.00

Blushers: Up to £24.00/$28.00

Lipsticks: Up to £21.00/$28.00

Review: Dermalogica Face Mapping

Dermalogica’s Face Mapping® is a free skin analysis service available at authorised Dermalogica skin treatment centres, salons, and spas worldwide. I experienced the Face Mapping service at the Dermalogica counter in The Beauty Workshop (Selfridges).

Face Mapping involves a trained Dermalogica beauty therapist conducting a one-on-one, hands on analysis of your skin, looking at each area of the face zone-by-zone. The skin analysis is also combined with an in-depth consultation regarding your current skincare routine, concerns and desires.

To take you through the service step-by-step, Face Mapping begins with a quick questionnaire about your skin habits and beauty choices (i.e. what products do you use? are you a sunbed addict? what are your main skin concerns?). Once complete, the Dermalogica beauty therapist will talk you through your answers and really grill you on all aspects of your skin and the results you desire from skincare products.

After your initial consultation, the beauty therapist will pop on some intense (very scientific looking) magnifying glasses and analyse the 14 zones of your face, pointing out any signs of ageing, pigmentation, acne, excessive oily etc. When the skin analysis is finished, your results will be typed up and your very own face map will be created. Your new face map (see above) will point out where on the face you have skin problems (if there are any of course!).

After talking you through the results of your skin analysis, the beauty therapist will write up your prescription, handpick a selection products and create a new skincare regime that will best benefit your skin. He/she will then talk you through each of the products in detail, giving you information on their benefits and how they should best be used.

When your Face Mapping experience is over, you will be given a great little pack to take away. The pack will include your prescription (which will give details on your skin concerns and the products prescribed to best treat them), 3 samples of your choice and more information on the brand. 

I had a great Face Mapping experience. I was told my skin was in good condition and there were no concerns other than the dark circles under my eyes (a problem I am fully aware of!). I was served by Emma, an incredibly knowledgeable beauty therapist who was able to answer the millions of questions I threw at her. I would go as far as to say that the customer service I experienced at Dermalogica was the best I have ever received from any beauty counter or store in the past. For these reasons I would really recommend the Dermalogica Face Mapping (and the brand as a whole!). If you have even the slightest concerns over your skin, or simply want some advice on how to keep it healthy, then you will really benefit from this service.

Click here to find out where your nearest Dermalogica treatment centre is!

Have you tried any other skin analysis services that you would recommend?

Wednesday Wisdom: Eleanor Roosevelt

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”