One Buff Body

Although I really do try to look after my body, I think I neglect my limbs too much. Which really comes back to bite me in the, lets not say it, now that it is the weather to bear more and more parts of our bodies.

One thing I am quite good at, and something I rather enjoy, is body brushing. And I almost squealed at the sight of this Omorovicza Body Brush together with a potion to banish those thigh dimples. I am happy to report back that this Body Brush is the BEST. It's like a spring clean for the body - leaving skin not only soft, but positively buffing marvellous.

Omorovicza Dimple Vanisher, £52
Omorovicza Body Brush, £13

Brighten Up

I am continuing to stage a boycott against the dullness and greyness of winter. I used to be sceptical of articles that promised to 'brighten your complexion' in one easy stroke, BUT, that was before I tried some of the products. Of course, some brightening products are basically shimmer. And unless I plan on looking like a spaceman who has just dipped her face in glitter, what I am looking for is 'that glow'. Not just shimmer.

 One of my absolute favourite brands, Omorovicza (who may as well be credited in the tag line for this blog, I love it that much) has a most wonderful Complexion Brightener. You can add it after your moisturiser (or use instead of) and before your foundation. Although it looks alarmingly white when you first pump it, it blends beautifully. The apricot seed oil will also help to protect and hydrate skin.

It will leave you with 'that glow'.

The first step though, is exfoliation. Omorovicza comes up trump again with Gentle Buffing Cleanser. The soft Diathomaceous earth exfoliating granules will slough away dead skin to reveal a brighter layer underneath.
 Finally, I have become quite addicted to Nettle Tea. It has a list of health-boosting properties. Plus, use it as a rinse for your hair to make it stronger and super-shiny. Trust me. You'll be glowing all over.
 
Omorovicza Complexion Brightener SPF20, £82
Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Cleanser, £43
Neal's Yard Nettle Tea, Cheap as chips

An English Garden

Second only to roses is my love of lavender. It's an obsession, which to be honest is a little bit out of control (and one that is well-documented). It's the first essential oil that I ever bought and for that it will always have a special place in my heart. Plus, the sheer versatility of this plant is almost second to none.

At the moment, I am loving Omorovicza's Gentle Buffing Cleanser, which along with Pineapple and Rosemary extracts sloughs away dead skin. But the scent of this wonder is of deep and calming lavender.

The genius that is John Masters Organics actually fused together two of my favourite things in the world: sea salt spray for hair with a scent of lavender. Hair is left with a lingering perfume of lavender and a natural beach-babe wave.

Sue Devitt's eye pencils are little miracle workers. This colour, Victoria Falls, is a gorgeous violet blue and will make any eye colour pop. I even got a compliment from my boyfriend on that one. Smudge during the day and intensify with pure pigment for evening.

Knackered Cow, with lavender, by Cowshed is my herbaceous bathroom staple. And for my morning shower, Mitchell and Peach wake me up. Made with English Lavender, Violet and Ylang-Ylang essential oils that have been matured over nine months, it is an English garden in a bottle. Heaven. 

Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Cleanser, £42.00
Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash, £20.00
Sue Devitt, Eye Intensifier Pencil, £17.50
Cowshed Room Fragrance, £22.00

Beautiful Competition!

If there is on item that I simply cannot live without, it is a good cleanser. It just so happens that my favourite cleanser is Omorovicza's Thermal Cleansing Balm. And it also just to happens that I have two to give away in Beauty Mole's first ever competition. All that is standing between you and a gorgeous complexion is to simply email your details to beautymoleblog@googlemail.com and put Thermal Cleansing Balm in the subject line. Then say hello to refined pores, moisturised skin and a peachy glow. Ready, steady, go....

(Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm, £45)


Closing date 5pm on Friday 10 December. Winner will be picked at random and contacted by email. The prize will also include a cleansing cloth. 

My Year of Beauty

The year 2010 is almost out. It started with a raaawr (it was after all the year of the Tiger) and ended in a purrrrr. This year has been a stomping 12 months for beauty. It continues to be one of the few industries to actually experience growth during the recession. And that is certainly true for me because my beauty cupboard has outgrown the bathroom. Here are my beauty highlights of the year; some new, some classic and a few surprises too.

When A Hero Comes Along: Liz Earle
Although a firm cult favourite already, as one of my good friends has been telling me for months and months already, I have only really discovered Liz Earle this year. The Cleansing Mask is actually incredible at calming my skin and drawing out impurities. The Hot Cloth and Polish Cleanser is a force to be reckoned with. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, from £7.50

Liz Earle, Deep Cleansing Mask, £12.50

Love at First Sight: Omorovicza
I simply adore everything about Omorovicza. The Thermal Cleansing Balm is my go-to product for a deep clean. The Gentle Buffing Cleanser with white pepper extract promotes a healthy glow. While the watercress leaf extract in the Radiance Renewal Serum leaves the skin gleaming and luminous.

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm, £45.00

Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Cleanser, £42.00

Omorovicza Radiance Renewal Serum, £66.00

Desert Island Essentials: 8 Hour Cream and Aromatherapy Associates Facial Oil
My dry skin and eczema is totally under control with these wonders. I couldn't live without Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream; I use it in every way possible, on my lips, on my hands, feet, even on my eyelashes at night. Aromatherapy Associates Nourishing Face Oil is the fastest-absorbing oil I have tried. On a cold winter's day, instead of primer in the morning, it gives the most flawless complexion imaginable.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, £23.00

Aromatherapy Associates Nourishing Face Oil, £35

Unashamed Luxury: Le Metier de Beaute
My makeup lesson with Mikey Castillo was my single most eye-opening sessions with a makeup artist. Walking away with a more tips than I could remember and such gorgeous makeup I didn't want to wash my face. I am addicted to the Eye Pencil in Champagne and black liquid liner: an eye look in a flash. Team that with one of the creamiest concealers and a bronzing powder with minuscule flecks of gold and you're good to glow.

Le Métier de Beauté is available at Liberty and Selfridges.

Hair-Raiser of the Year: Philip Kingsley Body Building Shampoo
Quite simply the best and most luscious-smelling shampoo I have ever tried. Leaves my hair soft, fluffy (in a good way) and full of healthy volume and shine.

Philip Kingsley Body Building Shampoo, £14.00

Claws and Paws: OPI Nail Polish
Not only have OPI manicured the nails of every X-Factor finalist for the live shows, but continue to bring out a secession of covetable colours and collections. For Christmas and New Year embrace Glitzerland, Not Like the Movies and Bring on the Bling.

OPI Nail Polish, £9.95

Lip My Stocking: Lanolips
My lips are sometimes dangerously dry, but Lanolips kicks them back in to shape. Made with lanolin, which comes from sheep's wool, it works wonders.

Lanolips, £10.99

Cheap Thrill: John Frieda Thickening Blow Dry Lotion
This spray is my steal of the year. It clings to each hair and creates a super-thick halo of hair. Hair doesn't get any thicker than this (can you tell I love Masterchef?).

John Frieda Thickening Blow Dry Spray, £5.59

If I only had these treats in my beauty cupboard, I would be one happy cat.

Feeling Hot

My love of Omorovicza does not appear to be on the wane at all. In fact, quite the contrary. Every product I have tried from the Hungarian brand has been of the utmost quality. It is definitely one that is worth the splurge.

So imagine my excitement when I found out that their senior therapist Adrienne Harsanyi was going to be making a pit-stop visit to Liberty in London for a special week of facial events from Sunday 12 December until Friday 18 December.


It's a rare opportunity to have an Omorovicza facial, not to mention get bucket loads of beauty tips. Your skin will be kneaded in to position with a skin-plumping massage followed by a layer of Hungarian Moor Mud Mask.
Costing £65, it is redeemable against products, so you won't walk away empty-handed. (I recommend the Radiance Renewal Serum)
You're guaranteed to come out looking and feeling hot. Book your appointment on 020 7573 9402

New Winter (Beauty) Wardrobe

This autumn, if you want to make a fast and dramatic change to the appearance of your skin, a new beauty regime is the answer.


Decleor's AROMESSENCE™ ROSE D’ORIENT Soothing Serum is a wonderful all-rounder. It will help calm any breakouts and restore softness back to sensitive skin. While Dermalogica's Skin Smoothing Cream with its velvety-mixture of botanicals and extracts of Cucumber and Arnica will soothe and hydrate.

A good cleanser is a sure-fire way to a brighter skin and ultimately this season's most persistent trend: a perfect complexion. Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is a classic for a reason. Containing Rosemary and Eucalyptus for purifying and brightening, it is gentle enough to use every day. For an extra moisture-kick and an all-together super-deep cleanse, I have written about Omorovicza's Thermal Cleansing Balm before and it works wonders. Its high mineral contents from the Hungarian Moor Mud act as a magnet for impurities leaving the skin with almost an iridescent quality.

For bright eyes, I just can't get enough of Shiffa's Rejuvinating Eye Remedy. It is a one-stop-shop for puffy bags and dehydrated delicate under-eye skin.
 
Lisa Hoffman's collection of pulse point oils called Variations is divine. Each set comes with four roller-ball oils, of which the French Clary Sage Evening scent is the most sensuous and feminine.
Update your beauty wardrobe as you update your fashion wardrobe to keep your skin in check.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, from £7.50
Decleor AROMESSENCE™ ROSE D’ORIENT, £42.00
Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm, £45.00
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream, £28.00
Shiffa Rejuvinating Eye Remedy, $88.00
Lisa Hoffman Variations French Clary Sage, $95.00

Barmy for Balmy

There is something very reassuring about the word ‘balmy’. I used this word all summer in my desperation for ‘balmy nights’ that I always had in Russian summers. Unfortunately, I think some of my friends started to think me ‘barmy’, which is not the reputation I wanted for myself.

There is something equally reassuring about a balmy texture on the skin that is thick and gooey, oily almost, but leaves the skin feeling super nourished and supple. I am embracing my favourite ‘balmy’ products, including Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Body Scrub. It is as rich as you’d want a body scrub to be with pure coffee, frankincense and grapefruit the wake up tired skin. You almost don’t need a lotion afterwards because the essential oils are so moisturising. Omorovicza’s Thermal Cleansing Balm is the facial equivalent. It feels beautifully extravagant. The Hungarian Moor mud cleanses the impurities while the sweet almond oil nourishes the skin.

Finally, for a deep clean, Nude’s Deep Cleansing Mask is first-class for dry skin. Although its base is kaolin clay, its non-drying formula with propolis and organic buriti means you’ll never have that tight mummy-face feeling after you’ve washed it off.

My evenings are now balmy for a different reason altogether. 

Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Body Scrub, £30.75

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm, £45

Nude Deep Cleansing Mask, £28