Skincare, Go There.

 

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Chantecaille Biodynamic Lifting Serum £198

Those of you with Ermine lined purses, read on. Forever converted and doomed to live in a dustbin, I glow with the epidermis of a post acne apocalypse,  teenager. I care nothing that to sustain my newly emerging Skincare habit, my children will never eat again, I am seduced and convinced by Chantecaille that their bijou, artisanally created skincare line helps me achieve my best dermal self. Again, for your lives only, I rummage metaphorically through make up and beauty bags of the gurus whose stock in trade these potions are. In this case I have been pointed towards two products from the Chantecaille skincare range. A philanthropic French brand known for using uniquely high concentrations of natural botanicals, Chantecaille’s skincare, makeup and fragrances are the epitome of luxury. Their purity of ingredients ensure utter luxury across their products. There are many options for similar products to these, a sort of wannabe mates scenario at a lower entry level, but if you have the means, treat yourself or allow someone else to. I can’t imagine for a second that you’ll be disappointed . I have used a week’s supply of this double act of creams, and am impressed by every aspect really. The serum is potent, kindly lifting and  smoothing wrinkles and and if that wasn’t enough, taking matters into it’s own hand, broadening it’s remit, this Biodynamic Lifting Serum also builds and protects collagen. Awesome, thank you. DNA is repaired with the newest combination of natural stem cells, which is a technicality, but translated, it’s shoring up the skin’s youthful longevity and all hail that!

Chantecaill Bio Lifting Mask, beauty, moisturiser, www.themodeledit.com, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, Mrs V

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Mask £140 

This next product trialled by a frizzy, freckly redhead covered in opinionated skin, came portentously packaged in a platinum coloured pot, and was described to me in a conversation with top beauty blogger  Anna Shearer @lefashionfetish  as ‘a facelift in a jar’ Cue me curtsying.  Chantecaille’s soothing Bio Lifting Mask mask virtually irons out the face. Love us some of that. Our, Non? It’s so fabulous to have access to people like Anna as ordinarily I wouldn’t just take a punt on such an expensive product. Truly industry experts and access thereto, are just divining opportunities. Instagram Idols that I have come across are holding their ground because of their insights and integrity. When you find one that you trust follow them just close enough to avoid a restraining order. Their words are gold dust. Mrs V sobs for the preclusive price point, but simultaneously  and honestly, believes that Chantecaille is a beautiful skincare company using insanely well sourced base ingredients that deliver addictively fine results.

With reference to the ‘facelift in a jar’ recommendation, rather you go over your skincare budget than under the knife.

The Goddess of Make Up

NYX cosmetics, NYX Make Up, beauty, eye make up

NYX; A  figure of such exceptional power and beauty that she is feared by Zeus himself.

I’ll have me some of that.

Beauty savvy, surprisingly money conscious teenage daughters are my spy satellites. We have a symbiotic relationship. The Esmeralda Violet child seeks and finds make up newbies whilst Zenobia Crimson non too altruistically devotes herself to pursuing edgy new designers also stalking trendy vintage and charity clothing caverns. I pull my weight (and lots of times my rank) by housing, feeding and sustaining an entirely not very shabby wardrobe lending library for their chaotic pleasure. Lately I have been prancing about for your benefit in  NYX a range of cosmetics previously released just for the perusal of make up professionals… and Esmeralda Violet.  NYX Cosmetics started small in 1999 by founder Toni Ko. The brand was initially only available to professionals through trade shows. “We really grew by word of mouth,” said Joyce Kim, NYX’s global director of product development. This word of mouth strategy was also the mega successful ethos of body con pioneer Azzedine Alaia who gifted, loaned and discounted his clothes to the modelling sorority. We knew a good thing when it squished us, and were not afraid to talk about it, which is totally what bloggers do, via the internet. The rest of this good marketing procedure is history. It’s clear to Mrs V that sliding in the shocker of a fairly ‘off piste’ bright, yet sort of gentle purple violet eyeliner and matching mascara should not represent the sum total of my make up spend for the following 6 months. Price is not an issue here as quite cleverly NYX has positioned themselves smack bang on the middle shelf, totally within our reach. Quality is also not an issue.  I give you non slippy, non smudgey eyeliner and mascara that clings to my lashes not my wrinkles. How nice is that? The shades shown above are those which excite me. There are many more in this eyeliner mascara dynamic that are less shouty. But, if shouty and pouty is what you’d like, they’ve got you covered here too. Velvety matte or glossy glistening. Brilliantly they have a lipstick colour spectrum of nudes and naturals labelled Lip Lingerie. Sort yourselves out girls.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, lipstick, NYX Cosmetics, NYX Beauty, beauty, make up.
NYX cosmetics, NYX lipsticks, lipsticks, cosmetics, beauty
NYX Vivid Brights eyeliner, NYX Cosmetics, NYX Make Up, eyeliner, cosmetics, beauty products, beauty

 All you need is the spirit of adventure. I’ve been going places ever since daughter #1 pointed out this liberating little brand.

Intro Kiko

make up, Kiko make up shop, blue lipgloss, lipgloss

 

This is a little tiny blog to give directions for you to beat a path to a very trendy ( yes, make up does whizz in and out of trends), make up outlet that I have been enjoying privately, on your behalves. It absolutely does what it says on it’s packaging. My daughters and I, seem to be hosting it’s Flagship store in Dorset, given the amount of  Kiko products lounging around our bathrooms. The make up and skincare brand Kiko  emanates from Milan and is quite a regular on the high street in Paris, and now it’s time for us to light up our lips and enhance our cheekbones with their  very funky colours and beautifully researched creams, without needing a passport. The Flagship Store is at 20 paces from Topshop, just around the corner, on Regent street. 

Continue Reading…

Strobe Highlighting

Highlighter, make up, cream

On my quest for epidermal exquisiteness, I pester everyone that may afford me an insight. No one and certainly no make up artist is off limits. Anyway, on my shoot last week and for all our sakes really, I pursued my objective. Insider knowledge, and having been nicely placated with great advice, I have extracted this week’s must have, turn your life around, gem. I give you Mac’s Strobe Cream. You can mix a little with your moisturiser and you will look radiant, glowy ( new model edit word, but you know what I mean ),and fresh faced.  Or if you’re wearing foundation, mix in  a little splodge and this will subtly highlight your face from within your make up. It’s an uplifting, treat of a product.

MRS V

MRS V

My career began in London, then off to Paris, and 24 hours later was shooting ads for Yves St Laurent, who knew? That was it, the start of my Parisienne years, working on a daily basis for high end fashion houses an including, both Christian’s, Lacroix and Dior, Chanel, Versace, Givenchy, Hermes, Jean Paul Gaultier, Chloe and Valentino. I worked with the coolest and best photographers, shooting campaigns for clients like, YSL, L’Air du Temps, Cacharel, Avon and Martini.  I shot editorials and covers for French, Italian and British Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Tatler, Harpers and Queen, Blitz, Company and Cosmo, Woman’s Journal, and Own and every daily newspaper, taking planes like buses. I have been sensationally fortunate to work with experts in the fashion and beauty industry, who helped me, a tall, skinny redhead, with sensitive skin and freckles, to emerge from the frizz and become a regular on catwalks and appear in editorial for glossy magazines all over the world. Scan 7

Thirteen years later, back in London, I started having daughters, and when the house was bursting, with our three baby girls, and the prospect of ponies, fields and fresh air looming on the horizon, we moved to Dorset. Properly scary.

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