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The French beauty rules worth following

May 7, 2019/in How To /by Jo Boyden

What is it about French women? And why do so many of us covet that “casual cool” look that seems to be all about mussed-up hair and very little makeup?

When well known Paris-based editorial makeup artist Violette was asked this she summed it up beautifully “In each country, I think there is an idea of what beauty is, but for the French, it’s very particular: What we want is to be ourselves – not a better version of ourselves. We feel like it’s better to get used to something than to try to change it. So we think: What style can I have with this face, and with this hair? That mentality is 100 percent French.” Still, she admits, there are a few local secrets for how to look perfectly imperfect, without ever trying too hard.

A HEALTHY ADVANTAGE

French women do all they can to have amazing skin, and an amazing body, and amazing hair, so they don’t have to do too much else! Their skin care routines are long and involved, a double cleanse followed by a toning lotion, serums, masks, and nourishing creams are just the beginning, they also massage their skin regularly to stimulate the cell rejuvenation and give it a natural glow. We love the Phytomer Rosee Soin for this, it’s a delicate rose extract oil that leaves the skin luminous and soft.

KEEP THE BASE LIGHT

With beautiful skin, this is of course much easier to do! Rarely will you see a French woman wearing a foundation all over her face, and powder is used so sparingly or not at all! To even out the skin she will pinpoint conceal (using a very small brush) any imperfections and only apply foundation to areas that need balancing such as a red chin. She will use concealer beneath the eyes and then blend all of this carefully with a sponge to ensure a “second skin” result. A great tip from French Makeup Artist Violetta, “do not apply foundation on the nose, it creates an optical illusion that you are wearing no foundation at all”. So if you suffer redness in the nostril creases, apply a long-wear concealer there and not on the bridge of the nose. See our foundations to find your best choice.

IT’S ALL ABOUT MODERATION

French women understand the adage “you are what you eat” and in spite of their multi-step facial routines they know that if they eat organic as much as possible, and avoid sugar their skin will benefit. They are far less concerned about fat and generally prefer to eat smaller portions of delicious food rather than huge portions of low-fat alternatives.

EXERCISE SHOULD BE FUN

A decade ago French women turned their pert noses up at any regimented exercise, now the workout trend is picking up a little, however, you’ll never see them get caught up in a hard-core programme. The general consensus is, if it’s not fun we’d rather stick pins up our nails than put our body through torture.

NO MORE HAIR DRYERS

French women are all about amazing texture in their hair and more often than not go for a kind of “lived-in” look. They like to shampoo, condition and finger dry their locks with the certain knowledge that tomorrow, after a night on the pillow, it will look even better.

GET A GREAT CUT

They do like hair to be very healthy and shiny, so when they wear it messy, it doesn’t look dry and damaged and resemble fairy floss. They are much more about getting a great (often expensive) haircut and treating the hair at night with oils, serums, and masks than spending a fortune on styling products!

A CLASSIC RED LIP

It’s almost as cliché as the beret but French women are all about red lips and they know how to wear it. From true reds to crimsons to scarlets, the red lip is totally French. Red lipstick is a fashion accessory so very little other makeup is worn with it. Hair should be messy, skin perfect, throw on a pair of jeans and heels then all you’ll need is red lippie, because the lipstick makes the statement! Our favourite is ELES Moisture Crème Lipstick in True Red, it seems to suit everyone!

HIGHLIGHT, DON’T CONTOUR!

Most French women have an inherent dislike of brownish shading powders or creams. For French women, contouring is too bold and it changes the shape of the face. Instead, they prefer highlighter to catch the light on the cheeks, the tip of the nose and the cupids bow to make the skin look fresh and dewy.

MAKE YOUR SMOKEY EYE A BIT MESSY!

The other makeup that is really French is the smoky eye. But unlike the American version which is an artful gradiation of dark to light, the French version is a messy smoky eye that looks a bit “grungy”. Too perfect and too sparkly is the opposite of chic, as far as French women are concerned. They often use just one product, put it all over, and blend it with the finger. Then groom the brows, put on a bit of blush and concealer, and go. Our favourite “French girl” eye product is the ELES Superwear Gel Liner, it stays soft enough to blend out and then sets and stays all day. Just scribble it across the entire lid, “like a kid would,” and smear with an eyeshadow brush.

So despite a religious approach to beauty through health and all the effort it takes to look effortless, the French woman doesn’t seem as hard on herself as some of us can be. In France, they call it Je Ne Sais Quoi (which literally translates as ‘whatever!’) – The effortless chic, confidence and assurance allows them to be their best self.

Oh and…less is definitely so much more, et voilà!

Cloudless skin: Why you want it and how to achieve it

May 1, 2019/in How To, Trends /by Jo Boyden

By now we’ve all heard of the k-beauty craze ‘glass skin’ but there is a new kid on the block, the latest k-beauty trend you have to try and it’s known as ‘Cloudless skin’.

What is cloudless skin?

The name speaks for itself – think of the purity and flawlessness of a bright blue cloudless sky and that is what this trend aims to achieve! To emulate the skin of a young child, you know the nearly transparent, radiant, blemish and pore-free skin, free of environmental damage. Yes please!

But while creating the appearance of truly perfect, pore-free skin may seem next to impossible, there are steps you can take to give you the best possible chance.

How do you achieve it?

So now you know what it is, how exactly do you achieve cloudless skin I hear you say! Well sadly it won’t happen overnight, in short it’s all down to a strict diet and skincare routine to which you are devout – no faltering. A healthy, nutritious diet and skincare routine which will protect against four major skin concerns – dullness, clogged pores, irritation and environmental damage.

Diet

Gorge (literally) on dark, leafy greens, consume plenty of whole grains daily (I am personally loving whole oats rich in antioxidants, buckwheat which is packed with magnesium, iron, B vitamins and fibre! And quinoa which has more vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats and fibre than more other whole grains!) And try to avoid sugar where possible (so definitely no more muffins, cakes, bread, chai lattes etc…)

Dullness

Opt for gentle exfoliation 2-3 times a week instead of using harsher, gritty scrubs once a week. Choose exfoliators which will provide the skin with a dose of hydration as well as sloughing away those unwanted dead skin cells. Do be sure not to overdo it though as exfoliation can cause irritation and dryness which will not aid in achieving the cloudless skin trend! We highly recommend Phytomer’s Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes, it’s a soft gentle exfoliant for even the most sensitive of skin, which uses enzymes to encourage cell turnover without scrubbing the skin. It truly does erase the dullness that may hamper your glow, revealing a luminous, smooth complexion.

Clogged pores

It’s all about double cleansing baby! This will ensure that all those pore-clogging impurities, as well as excess oil and dirt, are fully removed from your skin. The technique is exactly how it sounds – start by using an oil-based cleanser – we LOVE the ELES Transformation Cleansing Oil – then follow with a water-based cleanser – we highly recommend Phytomer’s Doux Visage Velvet Cleansing Cream and Micellar Water from Vie Collection.

Also applying a mask once a week will really help to de-clog skin and benefit the overall health of your skin. Our favourite is Phytomer’s Oligopur Flawless Skin Mask it’s totally no drying, has a cream-foam texture and after only a few weeks of use, pores will be visibly tightened.

Irritation

Keep inflammation to a minimum by using deeply nourishing, soothing products. We are loving Phytomer’s Douceur Intemporelle Restorative Shield Cream. It’s essential to maintain a healthy pH balance so be sure to use non-stripping toners too!

Environmental damage

Use skin specific products rich in anti-oxidants. These fight free radical damage. We are obsessed with Phytomer’s Citadine Citylife Face and Eye Contour Sorbet Cream. It not only sweeps away toxic microparticles and repairs damage caused by pollution, but it also provides an ultra-moisturising facial experience!

Finally, religiously wear high factor SPF – not just when you’re heading to the beach but daily! Give ELES’s Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection SPF 50 a try, you won’t regret it!

Why Marine Ingredients?

April 16, 2019/in How To /by Jo Boyden

With the addition of two new brands of skin care to the Beauty Collective site; Phytomer and Vie Collection, we wanted to share with you why WE chose marine skin care and why you should too!

A mind-blowing fact is that seawater and blood have a nearly identical chemical makeup including mineral and trace element levels. And the concentration of each mineral present is very similar. Seawater is so close to the body’s internal environment that if white blood cells were removed from the body and placed in a sterile diluted seawater solution, they could maintain normal cell function.

We all know the human body needs replenishment of minerals, such as zinc, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium on a daily basis and because seawater contains the body’s ideal balance of minerals, it is the perfect medium to restore these levels. So we, humans have an incredible affinity with the ocean.

Not only can seawater provide a great way to supplement minerals in human cells, it also provides the perfect growing environment for algae. As marine plants grow in the sea, they absorb the very same nutrients that are needed by the human body. So it’s no wonder researchers have studied the relationship between human skin and various seaweed species, and have found ways to use marine extracts to improve multiple skin conditions.

This is especially true for seaweed that grows in areas with large tide changes, such as the Brittany region of France where Phytomer and Vie Collection are created. At different times of the day, these seaweeds are protected by seawater, but during low tide, they are exposed to UV rays, pollution, wind and bacteria—the same aggressors our skin is exposed to! In order to defend themselves against these aggressors, the seaweed develops “skin like” qualities to maintain hydration levels, protecting itself from UV-induced free radicals and withstanding cold temperatures, to name just a few.

Perfectly preserved algae or seaweed can be used to create high-quality, potent ingredients. State-of-the-art manufacturing methods can isolate and extract specific molecules from seaweed. These molecules can then be concentrated into an ideal potency to help balance various skin conditions. For instance, a peptide extracted from Chlorella vulgaris, a single-cell green algae, stimulates the product of four types of dermal collagen and elastin. Another seaweed, Laminaria digitata, retains water in its plant tissue—much like your skin holds water—and even during low tide, it stays plump and moisturized.

The future of marine ingredients

Now there is a new buzzword in the skin care industry: biotechnology. Marine biotechnology uses micro-algae as “factories” to produce cosmetic ingredients that provide powerful results. For example, one of the latest discoveries is a special type of sugar that is produced for skin care using this science. Fifteen minutes after applying a product containing this sugar, wrinkles are visibly smoother and skin is lifted. After one month of daily use, the sugar improves the production of collagen and elastin in the skin to help restore a youthful appearance.

Because of all these incredible factors and the fact we can now create ingredients so sustainably, marine skin care is truly the future of the professional skin care industry, and what’s more, is it is totally organic!

INFLAMM-AGEING: the new buzz word in skin health and ageing

April 16, 2019/in How To /by Jo Boyden

Have you heard of the term before? It’s as scary as it sounds! It relates to chronic, long-term, inflammation that negatively affects our body and has been linked to numerous diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, macular (vision) degeneration and now, skin ageing! As if we don’t have enough to worry about!

How does it affect the skin?

There are two types of skin ageing, internal and external. Internal ageing affects the density of the skin, thinning it as we age and results in lines and wrinkles.

External factors such as UV exposure, poor lifestyle, or injury, cause inflammatory reactions in the skin, as well as oxidative damage. This oxidative stress injures cell membrane proteins and fats, and the genetic blueprint of the cell (DNA), which cause premature ageing and can even increase skin cancer risk.

And what about age spots? These result from oxidative stress (free radicals) on the pigment-forming cells within the skin, leading to many inflammatory and immune reactions in the cell, which eventually causes tissue damage.

A solution: ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS (EFAs)

These are fats that our bodies can’t create for themselves so we need to acquire them through diet. They include omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. EFAs are important for the cell membrane’s structure and function and can cause positive changes both outside and inside the cell. They also play a very important role in your body’s natural inflammatory response.

However, not all omegas are equal! For example, too much of the omega-6 called arachidonic acid that you’d find in grain-fed beef, chicken, eggs, and pork, can lead to a higher chance of developing inflammation than a diet that contains equal amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. When we achieve this ratio, our bodies are better able to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

EFAs also very important when it comes to how our bodies control inflammation. So when you have an adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids, it can help to reduce the production of substances that are known to promote inflammation.

From a skincare perspective, when our skin becomes irritated, this triggers the release of chemicals that can cause inflammatory damage and destruction of the skin’s support proteins including collagen and elastin, which leads to wrinkles. EFAs reduce this inflammation. They also help maintain your skin’s barrier function to prevent water loss and protect your body from microorganisms that can cause infection and disease, control the growth of collagen and elastin, increase the skin’s resistance to sunburn, and promote tissue repair. All this leads not only to enhanced skin function but also to healthier appearance!

Unfortunately, a typical western diet is lower in fish and other foods rich in omega-3’s, so it increases the risk of various inflamm-ageing related conditions. While making the proper dietary changes can be helpful in reducing inflamm-ageing, supplementing with a fish oil containing 1000-2000mg of combined EPA and DHA can really help.

So eating a healthy diet and supplementing with a fish oil supplement can definitely reduce the risk of inflamm-ageing, and add to this few simple preventative skin care ingredients such as anti-oxidants and sun protection and it can go a long way for the health of your skin!

To help prevent inflamm-ageing we recommend incorporating Vitamin C into your skin regimen and using the best possible sun protection you can find.

Our favourites; Vie Collection – Vita C Concentrated Solution and Phytomer – Sun Solution Sunscreen SPF 30 Face & Sensitive Areas.