Mini break makeup essentials: 15 items (and all got worn more than once)

Knowing what clothes to pack for a mini break can be challenging enough (is three pairs of shoes too much?) but keeping your bath bag lighter than a bowling ball can equally be a challenge

Monday morning last week, whilst most people were on their way to work, my boyfriend and I found ourselves grinning shamelessly aboard the 8:04am Eurostar to Brussels. After a pretty hectic Christmas we'd both decided we quite deserved a mini break, plus friends of ours had been raving about a hotel in Bruges called The Pand. Let's just say they had us at 'Ralph Lauren sheets'.

I knew I wanted to take a compact bath bag, including some pampery skincare treats as well as some versatile and luxury eye makeup products that I don't often get to wear. I also knew I'd need makeup that would transition from day to night without too much hassle. 

Here's what I ended up taking...

Every product you see here got used more than once during my 3 night stay

1. Chantecaille eye shadows are a real investment piece and are well known for their luxurious texture and crease free wear. I first used their Le Chrome Luxe Duo in 'Tibet' at a Christmas law firm event back in November. Everyone who requested a makeover that evening opted for the eye shadow duo and walked away delighted. 

On our first night away I had about ten minutes to get ready so decided to wear a sheer veil of the silvery shade finished off with a quiOk flash of mascara. On our last night we treated ourselves to a meal at the Michelin starred restaurant The Golden Herring. As it was a glamorous outing I opted for a dramatic smokey eye, cat flick and lashings of mascara. One sultry, smokey eye later all I needed was a glossy nude lip to finish.

2. Anyone who knows me will tell you I love nothing more than to decant things. In fact, when these little 5ml cosmetic pots arrived in the post I genuinely remember squealing with delight (more on these beauties if and when you make it to No. 11!). 

I didn't want to take my full size perfume* with me (even the 30ml can be quite heavy) so I decanted a few millilitres into this handy and inexpensive Muji atomiser. It can carry almost 5ml of perfume which is way more than I needed for our three nights away. 

When I'm not on holiday the atomiser is light enough to keep in my makeup bag for refreshing evening spritzes. 

*Escentric Molecules 02 which you can read all about here :)

3. If you've never heard of Dermalogica Microfoliant, shame on you, where have you been?! A glorious, everyday cleansing product, it dispenses as a super fine powder which you then mix with a little water. Gentle enough for daily use and leaves your skin feeling lightly exfoliated. Love.

4. I knew about Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for years before I tried it, mistakenly thinking it was an old school primer and that 'things must have moved on'. But, boy is it amazing. I remember asking my housemate Sal one evening what foundation she was wearing (her skin looked incredible) and we worked out it wasn't the foundation at all but rather Clarins' BFB. 

Apply it liberally over cheekbones and the outside areas of the face to boost dewiness. It can also be applied all over but I like to keep my t-zone shine free. I also love the slightly old school smell and definitely feel pampered when I wear it.

5. I was skeptical about Chanel Healthy Les Beiges having tried it in store and feeling less than enthused when it first launched. Then, one long weekend away, a close girlfriend of mine was raving about it so I thought I'd give it another whirl. II've been hooked ever since. It's the one thing that makes me look like I've had ten hours sleep when I've had four (in fairness, any bronzer that's the right shade will do this but the Chanel feels particularly luxurious). I love the fact it's buildable for evening makeup, although having said that, if I were minted and could justify buying two, I'd quite happily use the '30' for day and the '40' in the evening (Oh, the decadence). The packaging is also unmistakably chic in a way only Chanel can pull off.

6. I think the marketing for Charlotte Tilbury's makeup line is simply extraordinary but I'm staunch about what I like and don't like. For example, I'm not a huge fan of the Wonderglow Primer (although I have been known to use it sparingly on cheekbones on myself sometimes and on clients but don't think it does much all over) however, Ms. Tilbury's lip pencils are something else. I loved the idea of a lip liner to boost one's own natural lip line - a lip 'cheat' in her words - and she seems to get natural tones bang on across several skin tones. After reading several reviews I bought 'Pillow Talk'* and have been using it pretty much every day ever since. It's great under lipstick or gloss and has a fantastic waxy texture that I've not seen in other brands. *I've linked to Net-a-porter here as Pillow Talk doesn't seem to be listed anymore on CT's official site. Hope it hasn't been discontinued?! :( 

7. As well as producing fantastic eye shadows Chantecaille also produce quite brilliant lip products. I love their Lip Chic range - a glossy textured lipstick in a compact gun-metal grey case - but equally as fabulous is their range of pigmented lip glosses called Luminous Gloss.  

I lusted after the 'Pink Melon' shade for a while before I invested. Worn as a sheer veil on its own or over my Charlotte Tilbury lip cheat is perfect for day. At night I use it as more of a lip lacquer, layering it up to give my lips a sultry pout. 

8. Australia's cult product, Lucas Papaw has been around for years and is great 'all rounder'. The red tube is easy to spot in your handbag or makeup bag and a little goes a long way. Dab onto lips and onto cheekbones. Since writing this post I've read Lucas Papaw has come under fire for containing as much as 96% petroleum. The company argues its pharmaceutical grade, but even still, might have to think about switching to Burt's Bees which (appears) far more natural. 

9. This is, by far, the best tinted brow mascara I've come across for blonde/light brown hair (it also comes in a darker brown shade for medium to dark brown hair). Annoyingly it's only available online in the UK and even though there are plenty of other brow mascaras to choose from (e.g. Benefit Gimme Brow or Maybelline's Brow Drama, I keep going back to the ModelCo one. I blogged about why it's so great here.

10. I was lucky enough to get sent Estée Lauder's Double Wear, Stay in Place Brow Lift Duo or Derek for short (only joking) which has become my 'go to' brow pencil. This dual toned / dual ended brow product has small nibs making it easy to gently shape my brows with one end and highlight with the other. 

11. I mentioned way back at No. 2 that I am happiest when decanting things (including wine!). Whenever I go away I always take a couple of little pots with me (like these), one containing my favourite tinted moisturiser and one containing my favourite liquid foundation (the latter for when I might want a bit of extra coverage). Even thought the pots hold 5ml it is actually a lot of product, definitely enough for between 5-10 applications, depending how much you like to apply. 

For my mini break I decided to take just one pot with me. I filled half with Estée Lauder's Sheer Tint Release - my go to summer base because of its incredible texture, SPF and dewy glow - and the other half with my favourite tinted moisturiser.  I didn't take a full coverage foundation with me because a) I wanted my skin to breathe a little and by) I knew I'd have this fantastic high street concealer to give me extra coverage where I needed it.

12. I'm a huge fan of these waterproof eye pencils from Chanel because they. Do. Not. Budge. The shade I wear, 'Grenat', a stunning warm, reddy purple, is sadly discontinued from what I can tell but there are lots of other shades suited to all skin tones. Tip: If you're pale like me and have green eyes, a purple eye pencil will really help to show them off. Just be careful there is no other visible redness in the skin (chin, around the nose, shadows around the eyes etc) as the purple shade will only make you look ill.

13. I've been using this eye pencil by Chantecaille for ooh, let's see now, three years?  It is the perfect shade of matte espresso and easy to smudge if I want to do a smokey eye. It's also one of the only eye pencils I can wear on my waterline without it coating my contact lenses! The only thing I would change about it would be to make it even more waterproof (it does wear off more quickly than other pencils but I'm too in love with the shade to change. For the time being anyway).

14. I decided to invest in this mascara on the basis the lovely Pixiwoo sisters mention it in nearly every video tutorial. MAC's Extended Play Lash is a tubing mascara which means it comes off (in little tubes!) with warm water (mixed with your regular cleanser or oil, of course).  Sam (one half of the Pixiwoos) likes to wear it on her lower lashes but I've been wearing it on my upper and lower lashes. It's not waterproof but doesn't smudge and the thin wand is great at getting right to the base of the lashes. If you're a fan of big fat mascara brushes this might frustrate you and I'd say you definitely need to be curling your lashes before you apply it, but otherwise it's dinky, relatively inexpensive (£15) and delivers long, black black, perfectly separated lashes.

15. Lastly but definitely not least(ly), it has been one of my holy grail of searches to find a decent liquid eyeliner, one that stays put, has the right size tip and is matte. It was actually a high street brand that finally came up trumps. Maybelline's Master Ink Matte liquid liner is a dream to put on and I can achieve a super fine or thick feline flick in mere minutes. My one tip: have a tissue to hand and dab the nib once before you apply to remove any excess liquid.

One of my most hard wearing and happy of bath bags, bought on holiday in Australia.
Reserved for holidays and weddings.

Other items I snuck away in my stripy bath bag included:

- Pretty Quik nail varnish remover pot (one of my best discoveries of 2014)

- Bourjois Poudre de Riz de Java - an ever-so-slightly-sparkling finishing powder that has that old school cosmetics smell

- some Bioderma Sensibio H20 miscellar water, decanted (I did warn you) into a handy spray for speedy eye makeup removal

Did I mention the gin?! :)

What are your travel skin or makeup essentials? Any tips for transporting the goodies?

Until next time, happy Thursday xx

Sali Hughes is 'Pretty Honest' about beauty (and that's why we love her)

A great Christmas pressie for sisters/mothers/aunties/friends who are beauty mad or beauty confused

Last Wednesday eve I tootled off to Space NK Bishopsgate on the off-chance I might be able to sneak into hear Sali Hughes' talk about her new book "Pretty Honest" (£11 on Amazon).

I'd rung two weeks prior to book myself a ticket but they'd already sold out (the very morning it was advertised!). Not letting that deter me I decided to go anyway as people cancel at the last minute and luckily for me that's exactly what happened. So with book and glass of champagne in hand I settled into the store to await Sali's entrance.

I've been following Sali's beauty page in the Guardian Magazine for donkeys years and she is one of my favourite beauty writers. Her honest, no nonsense approach is both endearing and trustworthy. I like the fact she will often recommend a cheaper product over a more expensive one if it does a better job. The way it should be.

Sali channels the sexy librarian look

After taking a seat at the front of the store Sali thanked everyone for coming (about 25 of us) and proceeded to read from a chapter in her book entitled 'Beauty and the careerwoman' (well, we were in The City after all). I particularly enjoyed hearing her list of 11 'Deskside Essentials' including mini hairspray, dippy nail polish remover pot* and mints.
* click here to see which one I blogged about recently

Sali ponders a question from the floor

Following the reading the floor was then opened up for questions. Being terribly British tumbleweed and shifting feet seemed to be the general response. Thankfully Sali's friend and fellow Guardian writer, Lucy Mangan (@LucyMangan), decided to volunteer a first question - what makeup was Sali wearing that day (ooh, great question). Having disclosed her warpaint (see some of Sali's go-to makeup staples below) the questions then just seemed to flurry forth.

The gems were coming out of Sali's mouth thick and fast so I decided to open up 'Notes' in my iPhone and jot a few down. Here are some of the things Sali had to say that I found particularly interesting which I thought you might too:

Sali's General Tips:
- Avoid skincare and cosmetics containing mineral oil if you have acne prone skin (e.g. Eve Lom Cleanser)

- Don't be afraid to try over-the-counter chemical pads or liquid exfoliators, for example those containing BHA's (Beta Hydroxy Acids such as salicylic acid) or AHA'S (Alpha Hydroxy Acids such as glycol and citric) as these will have concentrations well beneath those applied in a specialist clinic. Sali says BHA's can be very effective on spot-prone skin.

- If your skin is flaring up swap your flannel for a muslin cloth as it's far gentler.
- Cleanse regularly with a balm or oil and every now and then with a foaming face wash (foaming cleansers can strip the skin of moisture. Interestingly, Sali says she uses a foaming cleanser twice a week with her Clarisonic and an oil or balm the rest of the week).
- If your skin can tolerate a chemical SPF then wear that under your makeup. Otherwise stick to topical SPF's such as those containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Topical SPF's, or what used to be referred to as 'sunblocks', tend to be quite thick and white which makes makeup application over the top of them all the more tricky. Sali says that in the Auutmn and Winter months she's more likely to get her SPF from her makeup products e.g. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser (SPF 30, £29).

"Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes..." (Gosh, I hope not!) 

Some of Sali's favourite products:
- NARS Cream Blush in 'Penny Lane' (£21.50, see above)

Weightless and translucent

- Chantecaille Loose Powder (£48)

Haven't tried this yet but it's on my list if Sali says it's good!

- Clarins Instant Concealer (£21, for use under the eyes)

A great range which should match most skin tones

- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (£21, for use everywhere else on the face)

Signed copy of 'Pretty Honest' (Sali Hughes at the top, Lucy Mangan at the bottom)

The lippy I was wearing when I met Sali 

I was first in line to get my book signed and happened to be wearing NARS' new Audacious lipstick in 'Vera' (£24). Sali said it really suited me (she could have just been being kind but I liked it!). Might have to treat myself this week. Plus, I've just discovered there's one in the range called 'Natalie'!(whoop!).

Have you read Sali's new book? What did you think? Any favourite chapters? The one on perfume has got me itching to go out perfume shopping...

Follow Sali:
salihughesbeauty.com
@salihughes (Twitter)
@salihughesbeauty (Instagram)

Chantecaille's Detox Clay Mask

I've had a sample of this for a while now and seeing as it was quite overcast yesterday and I was working from home I thought "perfect excuse to try it out". (For the ten minutes I had it on I was secretly hoping the doorbell would ring so I could scare the bejeezus out of someone... but alas, no one called ;)

Should I use a mask?
Masks are one of those things facialists bang on about (and with good reason) but which seem like an absolute faff. Even though I'm a makeup artist and naturally predisposed to thinking and reading about makeup and skincare all the time, I still have to remind myself it's probably time to do a mask.

Occasionally, I'll try a mask and be so impressed with it that I'll vow to get better at remembering to use it. Chantecaille's Detox Clay Mask is no exception.

The Power Of Plants
At 91% natural this mask must have one of the highest concentrations of botanicals of any mask.

Kaolin - a healing clay - removes excess oil without dryness or irritation whilst rosemary (a natural antibacterial) purifies and honey calms.

How does it work?
The mask works by drawing out impurities from the skin (I have to say I love the idea of this, particularly right now, having spent the past 3 or so months covered in sunscreen).

The first thing you'll notice is that, unlike other clay masks, this one doesn't dry over time so there is no tightness or 'cracking' to put up with.

What you will need:
- a bathroom hair band (mine's Muji)
- some cotton pads (to remove the mask)
- a cotton flannel (to get the last of the mask off - it will stain so use an old flannel if poss)
- a deep sink! (be very careful when you wash this mask off as it can go everywhere)

Takes 15 mins max.

It's on! Yes, I know I look unbelievably marvellous ;)

Freshly applied...starting to tingle a little. I can smell orange (that'll be the 
sweet orange peel essential oil working its magic).

Ten minutes later. Not tight at all.

Rinsed off. My skin feels wonderfully clean (I'm not wearing a scrap of
makeup in this shot by the way).

Well into my 30s and still getting spots, wahey!

I noticed the pores around my nose and on my cheeks were 
significantly smaller after using the mask.

Who's it for?
Great for all skin types, including those with dry and sensitive skins. I'd say it's a wonder product for skins prone to regular or occasional breakouts (I've got dry/occasional break out skin so it's perfect for me).

As with all Chantecaille products the Detox Clay Mask is made with a healing base of pure rosewater (brightening and calming) as well as narcissus, jasmine and mimosa (all anti-inflammatory).

Can we pause a second and admire housemate Sal's new wall clock?!

Chantecaille's Detox Clay Mask costs £70 for 50ml and is available from Space NK, Liberty, Harrods, Fenwick and Harvey Nichols. At a guess I'd say there are a good 20+ masks per pot which equates to just £3.50 per mask. Not bad when you think how pure the ingredients are.

Other masks I love:

For suppleness:
- Dermalogica Age Smart Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask (£28.99 for 75ml, currently on offer at zestbeauty.com) - this amazing-smelling, orange coloured mask infuses the skin with vitamins A, C, E and F increasing elasticity. I love the way my skin feels after this. Great before a boozy night out :)

For hydration:
- Origins Drink Up Intensive ( £23 for 100ml) - an overnight mask best for dehydrated skin.

Do you have a favourite mask? I'd love to know what it is.

PRO TIPS: Dry, cracked lips

Image courtesy of www.fitsugar.com

The snow may be disappearing but my poor, dry, weather-beaten cracked lips are ever present.

It seems that no matter how many glasses of water or pots of herbal tea I drink (Rooibos being my herbal of the month) I just can't seem to compete with the constant sea-saw of bone-rattling winds versus 'as-high-as-she-goes' central heating.

For those of you in the same boat, here are my Top 3 Lip Savers:

1. Lucas Papaw (25g tube, £4.95 + P&P from pawpawshop.co.uk)

I remember buying my first Lucas' Papaw tube back in 2006 whilst living in Melbourne (ah, those were the days) but had been aware of its cult following for some time (I have an image in my mind of a model being snapped in the early Noughties with a Papaw tube sticking out of her bag?).

'Pawpaw' (often spelt 'papaw') is simply another word for 'Papaya' and papayas,  as we all know, *ahem*, are a good source of 'vitamins, minerals, [and] amino acids'.

Importantly, Lucas' Papaw ointment - the formula for which has remained unchanged for 100 years(!) - is known for its antibacterial and antimicrobial* properties, making it an ideal product for use on chapped lips, burns, insect bites and chaffing.

A cheaper alternative to Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream (£25), this is a must for Sheilas-on-the-go.

2. Nivea Creme (£1.49 for 50ml from Boots)

When my lips are seriously chapped - i.e. when lip gloss makes things worse, not better - I turn to my trusty blue tub, aka good ol' Nivea Creme. Of course you can't really wear it during the day, unless you want to look like a zombie, but slather it on before you go to bed and you will wake up with NEW lips, I swear.

Also good for brides who want to soften up their lips on the morning of their wedding: Leave on for 15 mins, wipe off with a tissue and lightly buff lips with a damp face cloth or towel. Follow with a light application of lip balm.

3. Chantecaille Lip Potion (£36 for 4.5g from Liberty)

So very decadent and dare I say it, reassuringly expensive, this luxurious lip treatment incorporates macadamia oil, Shea butter, vitamin E, aloe as well as rose and lavender flower. It's the champagne of lip balms, leaving lips with an unbeatable silky smoothness. Thankfully - as one would hope for the price - a little goes a long way. Put it on your Christmas list now for next year.

* Wiki explanation: "Antimicrobial liquids kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria".

Your Skin, Only Better

Chantecaille's advertising promotion from 2010, featuring the founder's daughter Olivia (Les Macarons Palette)

Now it would be shameful of me, would it not, to plug certain products pertaining to the brand that has recently hired me as a mobile makeup artist. <Ahem> But I'm going to do it anyway because quite simply, you need to know about this brand and two of its products in particular.

CHANTECAILLE
Chantecaille (pronounced 'Shon-te-cay') is a luxury skincare and cosmetics company founded by Sylvie Chantecaille who was the mastermind behind Estée Lauder's iconic Prescriptives line (who remembers Prescriptive's Custom Blend Foundation?! R.I.P.). 

Chantecaille's mission is to address the causes of skin inflammation which is  "scientifically recognised as the main cause of ageing". As such, is well-known for products containing a "uniquely high concentration of botanicals" (many as high as 90%. Now that's impressive).

Chantecaille's unique fusion of aromatherapy and technology has earned the brand an impressive following and I am proud to declare myself its most recent convert *shakes pom-poms*

Image courtesy of chantecaille.com

Your Skin, Only Better
Back to the two products you need to know about.

Both are foundations. One is a tinted moisturiser called Just Skin. The other is an oil-free, medium to full coverage foundation called Future Skin. Both will leave you with skin you never knew you could possess.

JUST SKIN
Word on the grape-vine is that Chantecaille's Just Skin is David Beckham's go-to tinted moisturiser (presumably for whenever he has TV appearances). I have nothing by way of substantiation for this. I just like to think it's true, because if a guy can wear a tinted moisturiser and get away with it, it must be good (translation: 'invisible').

Just Skin has an SPF of 15 and is made with sodium hyaluronate which helps to seal in the skin's moisture, making it an ideal base in warmer climates. It also boasts ingredients such as honeysuckle (anti-irritant), green tea (antioxidant) and edelweiss (anti-pollution). What's most unusual about Just Skin, however, is that it has a semi-matte finish which is unheard of in a tinted moisturiser.

Just Skin comes in a slick silver and purple striped tube which not only fits brilliantly into your handbag (or 'man bag' if you're Mr. Beckham) but will most definitely earn you some serious stripes amongst your fellow tinted moisturiser buddies! RRP £57.

Image courtesy of chantecaille.com

FUTURE SKIN
This really is the future. Oil-free and made with 60% charged water*, Future Skin is an innovative, light weight gel foundation which feels like nothing you've tried before. It's also something of a paradox. Even though it's oil-free, it leaves a dewy finish?! *applause*

Clever ingredients such as seaweed (to regulate oil production in the skin), arnica (to brighten) and aloe and chamomile (to calm and soothe) can be found in this wonder pot. It is also made with a light-reflective circular pigment which makes it an ideal High Definition foundation (translation: you look amazing close-up!)

I've been wearing Future Skin (shade: Alabaster) on a daily basis for about 3 weeks. What I love most about it is that I find I don't need to touch up my foundation at all during the day (now that is marvellous). RRP £58. 

PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING
Of course it's all very well me telling you all of this....you need to go try them for yourself! 

Chantecaille is available at Space NK, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty and Fenwick.

For a personal introduction to the range, contact me here: natalie@nataliejamesmakeup.com
...I'd be delighted to introduce you to a brand which is continually raising the bar when it comes to skincare and cosmetics.

* There is a sciency bit here about how the charged water reacts with the ions in your skin to help keep the skin hydrated. I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you, sorry.

Disclaimer: 
The opinions expressed in this post are the author's and have not been endorsed by Chantecaille. All images courtesy of Chantecaille's website. This is not a promotion but merely a celebration of a great brand and innovative cosmetics line.