Image courtesy of Style Tips 101

A natural sun-kissed appearance is a big trend for spring/summer 2012. Enhance your natural beauty and add a healthy glow, by employing a contouring technique that will create a natural but bold complexion.

The idea with contouring is to accentuate the natural curves of your face and highlight the crests. Contouring provides a subtle sculpted definition to your face, using contrasting shades to define your bone structure and add dimension.

Step 1
To prepare a smooth and even canvas, begin by moisturising, and applying your foundation of choice.

Step 2
Using a matte powder or bronzer that is one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone, create a “three” shape that frames and defines the natural hollows of your face. Starting at the top of the ear, brush along the line of your cheekbone. Retrace back up to the top of your ear and follow your hairline, over your temples and up towards your forehead. Brush along your jawline finishing just before your chin, to complete the “three” figure. Also, brush your darker shade along the curved crease of your eyelid, and along the sides of nose.

Add your colour slowly and blend blend blend to evade noticeable lines.

Step 3
Spotlight the high points of your face, with a shade that is one to two shades lighter than your natural skin tone or consider a pinky-beige blush for a touch of colour. Apply your highlighter along the bridge of your nose, in the centre of your forehead and chin, and above the cupid’s bow of your lip (for added definition). To make your eyes pop, brush your lighter shade along your brow bone, under the eyes (to give them a lift) and in the inner corners of your eyes (particularly if you have close-set or “tired” eyes). Apply a rosy blush to the apples of your cheeks for a fresh glow.

Again, make sure you blend well!

Complete your natural-glow look by defining your eyebrows, applying eyeliner and mascara (stick with a shade of brown) and a touch of pinky-beige lip-gloss. Stunning!

Fresh flawless and radiant looking skin is the ideal canvas for this seasons colour palette. Both bold and natural tones feature this season providing an assortment of looks to experiment with. The most prominent trends are the au natural effect, retro glamour and colour pops.

Eyes

• Minimalist chic – Clean, soft and simple is the go-to look this season. Add depth to your eyes, by brushing a light brown eye shadow over the lids (focusing on the socket line) and finish with a light coat of mascara.

• Fresh and fun – Give your eyes a playful pop with a brush of vibrant eye shadow. Pastels, neons and coral shades are especially popular.
• Sultry smoke – Smoky eyes are still a popular trend. Opt for dark shades for a dramatic and striking feature, select browns and beiges for a more subtle approach or try jewel tones and metallic hues for a brighter alternative.

• Ravishing retro – Achieve 1950s glam by pairing shaped and defined brows with ‘cat eyes’ eyeliner (a heavy streak of eyeliner that flicks up extends past the edge of your eye). Or don the doll-like femininity of the 60s by highlighting your lashes with a volume enhancing dark black mascara, enhanced with a lash-curler or false lashes.

Cheeks

• Pretty in pink – Rouge your cheeks with rosy pink hues for a lovely blushing glow.

• Sun kissed – Feature your cheeks natural contour with warm bronze tones for an understated radiance.

Lips

• Beautiful and barely there – Enhance your natural lip colour with a warm pink or beige shade and coat with a light lip-gloss for a subtle glossy pout.

• Strong, sexy and sassy – Dark plum, burgundy and bold crimson hues to cherry, raspberry and tangerine red – achieve retro glamour with these striking lip colour choices (best paired with minimal eye make-up to make your pout the main event).

• For the daring – Neon blues, purples, greens and pinks are a popular and wild trend.

Why not consider lavishing your lips with our superb natural lip enhancement treatments for an extra fresh and sultry pout this summer. Our lips are the gateway to life’s many pleasures after all! Contact us for details and booking.

Image courtesy of Beautylish

There are numerous components to maintaining fresh, radiant skin and one of the essentials is regular exfoliation.

As we grow in wisdom (and age!) our skin’s natural cell renewal process decelerates. This results in a dry, rough complexion and leads to congested pores from excess build-up of oil and dead skin cells. Regular exfoliation can combat these symptoms plus boost the regeneration of your superficial dermal layers.

By regularly exfoliating, you remove the dead surface skin cells to reveal new, supple cells beneath, creating a noticeably smoother, more even skin tone that glows! To add to the benefits, exfoliation helps your make-up sit better on your skin, if you’re a self-tanner – you achieve a more even coverage, AND it improves your skin’s ability to absorb your skincare products – meaning they can penetrate deeper, ultimately making them more effective.

Here are a few exfoliating tips…

• Exfoliate two to three times a week (if you have dry or sensitive skin, once a week should be sufficient)

• If you’re sunburned or have open lesions don’t exfoliate
• Before showering, prepare for the exfoliating process by brushing your dry skin with a loofah or exfoliating gloves.
• Use a body brush, loofah or loofah gloves to assist in the exfoliation process.
• Your skin is sensitive, so be gentle – crubbing too hard can be damaging.
• Your face is much more sensitive than the rest of your body, so make sure you use a specially-formulated exfoliator.
• Oily skin: select a scrub (containing grainy sugar, salts or grains) to help remove excess build up in the skins pores.
• Dry skin: consider a chemical exfoliant – this will dissolve dead skin cells, help firm up your skin and minimise fine lines by going deeper into the dermal layers.
• Sensitive skin: choose a fruit-derived enzyme exfoliant (ideally with pumpkin, papaya or pineapple proteins) – they’re gentle and dissolve dead skin cells without scrubbing.
• If your skin looks red or starts to feel irritated take a few days break, reduce the frequency and scrub a little softer. If a product is causing irritation, stop using it!

• Following exfoliation, moisturise with a quality body lotion to keep your skin hydrated.

Here’s to smooth, shining skin! 

Image courtesy of gawker.com

Botox at a glance
Millions of men and women (including a long list of celebrities) benefit from the proven results of BOTOX®. Achieve noticeably smoother, firmer skin with a quick and simple process that effectively reduces the muscle activity responsible for producing the insistent and lingering lines caused by concentration, squinting and frowning (not that any of us do that!). The great thing about BOTOX® is that you can reduce lines and wrinkles without altering your natural beauty, and best of all there is no surgery involved, no anaesthesia and no recovery time needed.

Kim Cattrall – A proud BOTOX® client
Kim Cattrall (best known for her role as the sexy Samantha Jones in Sex in the City), is a great example of someone who is ageing gracefully and retaining her natural beauty, while utilising the benefits of cosmetic enhancements.

Content and confident in the fabulous 50’s – Kim Cattrall maintains her striking looks with a healthy diet, exercise, her daily beauty routines (she swears by exfoliation) and a little bit of extra help from BOTOX®. In a previous interview with the Sunday Times, Cattrall explained, ‘I have a big crease between my eyebrows and I use BOTOX® to get rid of that, but that’s kind of it…I don’t want to look in the mirror and not recognise who’s looking back.’ **

She is open about her use of BOTOX® and other cosmetic procedures to maintain a youthful appearance, but aims to age with elegance following in the footsteps of Meryl Streep and Judy Dench. “I feel fortunate that those aids are out there, but go easy on it. Less is more. “I don’t want to look 20, or even 30. Middle 40s? Sure, as long as I can.” *

Kim Cattrall’s top beauty secret
“I’ve realized that the most important thing I can do to look good is just treat myself well, whether it’s getting a nice, long massage or just lying low and not going out every single night. I’ve learned that I can’t have a packed work schedule and a packed social schedule and a packed personal life. I need to just have time to myself to sit and breathe and unwind. Having my priorities in order has really helped me look better, fresher, and more relaxed.” *** An absolute pearl of wisdom!

Did you know… Kim Cattrall is a Brit?! She was born in the UK (Mossley Hill, Liverpool to be exact) and moved between Canada and Britain up until her late teens. Read more about about Kim Catrall’s beauty and wellbeing secrets.

Get in touch with us to find out more about our BOTOX® treatments.

*Quote source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
** Quote source: http://news.makemeheal.com/
*** Quote source: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/

It’s time to reclaim your glow! We’ve all but conquered the cold and grey months, and now it’s time to break out of our winter shells and step into the light of the approaching summer…it’s time for a bit of spring cleaning!

As you strip off your winter layers and reinvigorate your wardrobe (and quite possibly your hairstyle and home décor too!), why not treat your skin to a refresh. After braving the winter elements, our complexion can be left dry, dull and in need of some nourishment. So restore your skin-cleaning routine by following our skin spring clean essentials – you and your skin will be left looking and feeling fresh and happy!

Cleansing & Toning
This vital step ensures the removal of make-up, dirt and excess oil, unclogging pores to prevent blemishes. Use a hydrating cleanser and toner in accordance with your skin type, and avoid using soap as it dries out your skin and can lead to excess oil production and blocked pores.

Exfoliation
Exfoliation will bring skin back to life after the dreary winter – revitalizing cell renewal, boosting circulation and giving your complexion a smooth, renewed appearance. Be careful not to scrub too hard as this can lead to micro-tears in the skin, which can cause scarring.

Moisturising
The cold and windy winter weather can result in particularly dry skin. Rehydrate with a quality moisturiser to keep your skin soft and supple, and to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. As the sunshine intensifies, it’s important that you invest in a moisturiser with SPF protection to shield your skin from UV damage.

Consider giving your skin an extra boost this spring, with our popular derma filler treatment – restoring your skin’s youthfulness by enhancing the skin’s surface from beneath, reducing fine lines and creating a smoother more supple appearance. Contact us for more information.

Extra tip: As well as giving your skin a spring clean, how about giving your make-up bag a spruce-up too! Clear out your old mascara, foundation and make-up sponges as they can accumulate harmful bacteria.

Want to have your Botox done before That Big Office Christmas Party?
Fancy fuller lips for a sensational New Year?
Wishing your fine lines were erased away before you see in 2012?

Then you need to book now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But now.  Here’s a list of the clinics you can still book for:

• Weds 14 Dec in Ealing
• Weds 14 Dec in Richmond
• Thurs 15 Dec in Cheam
• Thurs 15 Dec in Sanderstead
• Mon 19 Dec in Beckenham
• Thurs 22 Dec in St Pauls

And that’s it. Everything else is full until January.

Call us today on 0845 6016441
Or go to www.ethosmedispa.com/book-now

Wishing you happy Christmas shopping, and gorgeous skin!

We hope you enjoy a bit of R&R and indulgence over the holiday period – we know we will be!  If you get the urge to get organised and call up to book your January or February appointment, here are the times we’ll be in the office:

• Friday 23rd December – Closing at 12pm
• Saturday 24th December – Closed
• Sunday 25th December – Closed
• Monday 26th December – Closed
• Tuesday 27th December – Closed
• Wednesday 28th December – Open as normal
• Thursday 29th December – Open as normal
• Friday 30th December – Closing at 12pm
• Saturday 31st December – Closed
• Sunday 1st January – Closed
• Monday 2nd January – Closed
• Tuesday 3rd January – Open as normal

Now this time of year comes married with either a feeling of glee, or of dread; I have not yet met anyone ambiguous about Christmas. You either love it, like it, or absolutely hate it.
Luckily for my lovely readers, I’m in the former camp. Hooray! No Christmas Grinch blog from me today. *smiley face*

But I do really feel for those that hate Christmas, it usually goes hand in hand with hating shopping, or just being generally antisocial. To those people I would like to offer a hug, and some simple tips for pain free Christmas shopping from the comfort of your own (grumpy) home.

Here’s my pick of the best websites for pretty much everyone:

1. www.feelunique.com
This fantastic beauty website has the best prices on the high street, and delivery is included for each item. ( they ship from Jersey, cheeky cheeky!) Have a rummage in your gift receivers bathroom/dresser/make up bag to see which brands they like, or go straight to the Christmas section on the website for gift ideas to suit any budget.

2. www.cheapsmells.com
Does what it says on the tin, pretty much the fragrance version of the website above. Top brands, great prices, you can’t go wrong really. Everyone loves smellies, don’t they?
If your a bit clueless and need some ideas, I would suggest going straight to the Award Winners page to ensure you’re on the right track. And Gentlemen; you can win brownie points on Xmas day by casually commenting “Yes darling, isn’t it gorgeous? I heard it won best perfume in the Elle Magazine Beauty Awards….”

3. www.kitsch.co.uk
For your office Secret Santa or random stocking fillers, this website is perfect for those funny little gifts that amuse you for a few days then get lost in the top drawer somewhere…but it’s also good for people with special interests; think Alice in Wonderland tea sets, Gothic wine glasses, and for those golden oldies….they have an Elvis shop. Nice.

4. www.handpickedcollection.com
This really is a lovely website; I could spend hours putting things in my basket (the online equivalent of window shopping) as the products are all so original, and the categories are well thought out – ‘Gadgets for Men’, ‘Gifts for teenage boys’ and various home and garden sections. If your short on time, use their Top Ten section on the homepage to go straight to the no-brainer best sellers.

5. www.whiskhampers.co.uk
When generic gifts are required – ie teacher, next door neighbour or boss – you can’t beat this website for a fantastic range of hampers. The food and drink hampers are well presented and great quality, but they also do garden gifts and corporate hampers too…. beats sending your clients a pen for Christmas!

6. www.tree2mydoor.com
We all know someone who has everything, but do they have a lemon tree? An Olive Tree? Or even a Fig Tree? Chances are, probably not! Tree to my Door has a great selection of interesting trees for an alternative Christmas Gift, or send a Christmas Holly Bush to someone in early December to get that festive spirit underway.

I hope you’ve found these suggestions somewhat helpful, let me know of any other great gifts you find and we can re-post on the blog.

Cheerio people, till next time; I’m off to make some eggnog…

I think the reason for my hesitation was simply, I’ve never taken her seriously. I’ve never been a fan of country music (which doesn’t help) but she has always seemed a caricature of an actual person, all big boobs, tiny waist and the aforementioned bouffant and sequins. Crucially with a great voice, but seemingly no brain.

Oh how wrong I was!

As I read further into the article, I started to develop that weird sense of pride you get when you’re proud of a fellow sister. £315 million fortune you say? Owns a Theme Park, Radio Station, Record and Production companies? Employs 3,000 people across the States? Hmm. Well, sounds to me like she’s done pretty well for herself, she may have a business brain after all!

I’m amused as I read on to find out her sometimes nickname: The Iron Butterfly. In her own words: “I’m not a mean person but I drive a hard bargain.” Brilliant! I’m sure many of us ladies like to think we follow the same mantra…

But what really got me was her attitude; her charisma and sense of self belief comes across so naturally, and you believe it when she says she has always been like that and has always known what she wanted from life. She is totally aware that her look is over-exaggerated, and she says “it’s all part of the fun!”

Part of the fun? Hooray! A woman that has fun with her look, every day of the week, and doesn’t take herself too seriously. How totally refreshing. A great quote that was lost on me the first time – “it takes alot of money to look this cheap!”

She’s also totally honest about the fact that she’s had work done, and says that she tries to do it in good taste, and if it makes you feel good then why not? God didn’t put plastic surgeons on this earth to starve!

I finished the article having found a new heroine: granted I may leave out the sequins and stick with my straightners, but I vow to attempt to be half as determined as her with the same lightness of heart.

Lindsay’s had a much publicised battle trying to stay clean and healthy, and sadly from these images I suspect she is not out of the woods just yet. Get well soon Lindsay!

See if you can recognise her here:

http://www.radaronline.com/photos/image/149272/2011/10/linday-lohan-looks-a-mess-red-carpet#image-load

Secondly you should all be aware of the Fashion Season drawing to a close (New York, London, Paris and Milan darling!) and I was very interested to see the press’s reaction to a certain Mr Kanye West’s debut at Paris Fashion Week. I think you all know what’s coming next… Unfortunately for Kanye, it was not good. It was not good at all. Some would say terrible. Oh dear.

We’ve already seen pop stars Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham launch fashion collections, (with only the latter coming anywhere close to the standard viewed at the Paris shows) so I personally think your setting yourself up launching – of all places – in Paris. His debut on the first of October was the day before Givenchy and a day after Dior. High expectations? Um, yes! So I don’t think many people are surprised he’s been slated. And I haven’t even got to the clothes yet!

Now I’m no expert, but you wouldn’t see me sauntering down the high street in any of these looks next season, for a few reasons, mainly: a) I like to wear a bra, b) I’m not overly keen on fur in the summer (a little sweaty, no?) and c) I prefer my evening dresses to look less like they’ve been slashed with a machete, and more like an actual dress.

Here’s a taste of a few of the more ‘interesting’ looks, gelled beautifully with quotes from reviewers (courtesy of www.buzzfeed.com )

If you would like a little more amusement, see 7 looks with quotes here http://www.buzzfeed.com/provincialelitist/7-vicious-reviews-of-kanye-wests-paris-fashio or for the really nosey, see the whole collection in all it’s glory here http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/S2012RTW-KWEST