Fashion Voyeur

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Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Mastering The Essentials, A Makeup Masterclass with Amanda Bell

Remember a little while back I told you about an event I went to to celebrate the launch of Amanda Bell Elite Makeup Studio?  Well, it’s been a few weeks since the grand opening of this insta-perfect makeup studio and I was invited back in to take part in The Essentials group masterclass with Amanda Bell herself.  The class promises to deliver the basic essential makeup techniques to get the best out of your complexion, eyes and lips, with a focus on achieving a naturally enhanced look.  Sounds promising.

I was asked to bring along my makeup, brushes and skincare, that’s right voyeurs, you use your own kit for this class so that you can master YOUR essentials, techniques and tricks that will work for you every time you come to apply your makeup.  I arrived with bags and bags of makeup, the associated paraphernalia and a bare face ready to hit the ground running.  You’ll remember from my previous post that the studio itself is on the attic floor of a building located on the super pretty high street in Norton, Teesside and it has some serious insta style credentials, from the silver and white decor to the illuminated mirrors, the scope for pictures to inspire envy in your followers is endless.

Back to class, we’re greeted by Amanda and her trademark laid back style, we’re allocated a dresser each with our own illuminated mirror and small pots of things like q-tips, cotton pads and spoolie brushes, it’s very well thought out, not surprising given Amanda’s 20 years in the industry.

Amanda takes us through some skin prep before we begin, we double cleanse, tone and moisturise before we talk primer.  After looking over our products and talking about the benefits of different types of primer, we get to work creating a flawless base for our makeup to sit on.  Once we’re clean and prepped we begin….

Foundation: we learn about the different types of coverage and what skin types they match with, I’m not a fan of anything heavy and usually stick with a light tinted moisturiser or BB cream.  My current favourite is one by Creme de la Mer and it blends seamlessly with my skin, Amanda tells me it’s a perfect match for my skin and I mentally assign myself one star.  The great thing about this class is that nobody is left behind, I’m pretty confident in applying my makeup but for anyone just starting out or looking to really hone their skills and increase their confidence, it’s a safe environment and you’re hand held through each stage.  At each change of product, Amanda uses one of us as a model and applies the product to half of the face whilst talking through why she adopts a particular technique, before we try it ourselves and the model matches the other side.  Amanda checks over everybody regularly offering tips and advice depending on your choice of product and chirps up with a “gorge” as her seal of approval.

Foundation
Brows
Contouring
Highlight

She talks about concealer and how she prefers to skip foundation over the eyelids and uses concealer instead as the perfect eye base.  Although I buy it, I never use concealer so I’m particularly interested in this part and luckily for me, I’m selected as the model.  Amanda blends an Armani concealer around my nose, under eyes and eyelids and when I look in the mirror it’s completely invisible but one side of my face looks fresher, where the other reflects my true tired state but I manage to match it up pretty well.

When we move on to contouring, she tells us that it’s a trick that can be used to create pretty much any visual effect as long as you go easy.  The rest of the class use a variety of powder contouring palettes whereas I favour the Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate kit and that’s the beauty of this class; there are no products dictated, nobody tries to sell you anything, but if you’re not entirely happy with your own products, then Amanda is happy to make suggestions to help you achieve the best finish.

We’re guided through every aspect of creating the every day face, one step at a time and when we cover eyes everyone had a slightly different preference.  Amanda maintains that the principles are the same; colour should be used sparingly and built up rather than slicked on in one heavy stroke and we’re reminded to always tap excess powder off our brushes before applying anything with colour to avoid a potential strobing disaster.  With the class at two and a half hours long, Amanda factors in time to work with everyone on an individual basis and offers advice on the shades that best suit a certain eye colour, it’s a completely relaxed environment and the class is made up of women of differing ages and backgrounds, there’s no one set person type that the class is aimed at.

The idea of mastering The Essentials is that you take away new techniques to add to your arsenal, new ways of using your products to get the best out of them for your skin type or tone.  It’s as perfect  for teenagers looking to learn how to get to grips with makeup as it is for someone of my age and beyond, there’s something that everyone can take away from this class and use time and time again.  I’ve used the concealer trick since I took the class and I’ve even worn mascara a few times, something I don’t usually do due to my insanely long eyelashes and the mess it creates on my eyelids.

If you feel you’ve got The Essentials down then there’s a full suite of classes available, from beginners to advanced and there are also bespoke packages for those who have a particular look they’d like to recreate.  With the studio also available for private hire, you have the potential to score some serious brownie points in the way of birthday and bachelorette parties, I have two younger sisters who would crawl over each other to host an insta-worthy makeup party here with their squad and they’d be the talk of their class the next day.  It’s well worth checking out Amanda Bell Elite Makeup Studio and Amanda’s credentials are extensive so you know you’re in good hands.

Pixie xo

To book a place on any of the group Masterclasses which start at £75 per person, or to book a party or private session with Amanda Bell, email amanda@amanda-bell.co.uk

 

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Glorious North East

Sisley Black Rose Facial

Every now and again it pays to take stock and assess your skincare routine to see whether it really is addressing those ever changing needs.  Whether it’s anti-ageing, fatigue, dryness or dullness, the chances are, from one month to the next your skincare priorities will change.  One thing we do know, is that there is no universal skincare product.  No matter what manufacturers tell us, there is no one magic product to address and effectively treat everything we’d like to improve about the appearance of our skin and so layering is key.

You already know I’m a fan of Decleor skincare products, I adore the Neroli Night Balm when I’m on vacation, my skin changes when I’m in a sunny environment and Decleor’s botanicals pack the perfect punch to give it an overnight reset.  But what about when your regular product seem to have stopped being effective and you just want to reset your skin, give it a big moisture boost and a chance to normalise?  I visited Sisley at House of Fraser, Intu Metrocentre to find out all about the innovative skincare research behind the cult French brand, and to discover the latest release, Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream before its official launch.

 

Before you say it, yes, Sisley is a very expensive skincare brand, there’s no denying that.  It’s one of those cult skincare brands like Vintner’s Daughter or Creme de la Mer with a pretty eye-watering pricetag, however, Sisley has a raft of loyal followers who can’t get enough of those research backed benefits.  Whilst Sisley does also produce a makeup range, it’s skincare where the brand really shines, and with their own research laboratory and academy in Paris, years and years of research, development and scientific testing goes into each product before release.  Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream is no different, whilst the Black Rose range has been pivotal to Sisley’s success – one Black Rose mask is sold globally every three minutes – the consistency of the new Skin Infusion Cream is revolutionary and a whole new concept for the brand.

I was treated to a Black Rose Facial treatment, (yours for free with the purchase of any two Sisley products) in the House of Fraser Beauty Rooms with Milanese skincare expert, Michela.  Michela is the personification of perfect, conceptual in-brand advertising; her skin is line free, smooth and radiant and she gushes about how Sisley’s products have helped her achieve perfectly balanced skin.  She talks me through the thirteen steps to the Black Rose Facial and as always, the treatment begins with breathing exercises and fragranced oils to encourage tranquility and deep relaxation.  She begins the facial by cleansing and toning my skin before buffing with Gentle Buffing Cream and hot towels to create a clean base, after which, the Black Rose Cream Mask is applied.  Fun Fact Voyeurs, ask any French woman worth her Manolos what her favourite skincare product is and this mask is guaranteed to be up there.  The mask is similar to Decleor’s Phytopeel in that it’s rubbed off, encouraging resurfacing of the skin, only the botanicals and essential oils are ramped up to the max in Sisley’s must have product increasing the efficacy.  Once removed, skin feels softer and has that inimitable ‘bounce’.  Black Rose Facial Oil is then applied all over, this step is a treat in itself, the fragrance encourages relaxation and the texture is that of a non greasy, dry oil.

In the arena of skincare for the face and body, Sisley’s expertise is well known.  the brand’s complete line of products meets the needs of various different skin types and tackles the various stages of the average skincare routine: makeup removal, hydration, anti-ageing, sun protection, hair care, makeup and so on.  Sisley seems to favour selective distribution, it’s not something you can pick up in your local Boots or Superdrug and to that effect, it definitely feels more prescriptive and exclusive – certainly the price tag reflects that.

The Black Rose Facial is more than just a skin treatment, it’s a sensory experience.  From the warm, fragranced towels, to the heated gem stone facial massage, it’s a pleasure for the senses as well as the abundant skin benefits.  Before I’m done, Michela covers my face in Sisley’s Ecological Compound which protects skin from environmental factors including pollution and sun damage, a slick of Confort Extreme Nutritive Lip Balm (amazing stuff) and Double Tenseur for immediate radiance.  When I look in the mirror immediately after, I look fresh, like I just woke up from a ten hour sleep and pleasant dreams.

Phyto-cosmetology is the concept at the centre of Sisley’s creations and relates to using the best plant-based extracts in order to create what they consider to be the best cosmetics on the market.  Plants’ vital energy, their capacity for regeneration and adaptation, their protection systems, and their fragrances have all been put to use for the skin and obviously, materials and associated research cost money.  Sisley selects the best type of plant in its category, the most effective part of the plant for the problem being treated, the country or region where this plant is the best and, finally, harvests the plant at the very moment when it will provide the most effective active properties – none of which comes cheap.

So, reading about Sisley’s Black Rose Collection will either be the best or worst thing to happen to your skincare routine, best because, well we’ve covered that, and worst because the three Black Rose products in the range will set you back a whopping £370.  What you need to weigh up now Voyeurs, is whether you’re worth the investment, I know I am.

Pixie xo

If you want to take the plunge and try out any of the Sisley skincare and cosmetic range, you can nab yourself a free facial with the purchase of any two products on counter at House of Fraser.  To book your Sisley beauty treatment at Intu Metrocentre call 0191 4932424, service also available nationally.

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Amanda Bell Elite Makeup Studio

Applying makeup isn’t just an art, it’s a god damn science.

In fact, no longer reserved just for celebrities, it’s become perfectly normal for regular people like you and I to employ the services of a Makeup Artist or Makeup Studio for a special occasion, in order to get that red carpet look and flawless finish.  But what if, you could have the best of both worlds?  Hear me out Voyeurs, I’m talking Makeup Artist techniques and a flawless, Insta-worthy finish, using your own makeup kit.  Piqued your interest?  Then read on….

Amanda Bell is an Elite Makeup Artist and I guarantee that whilst you might not know her name (yet), you most definitely know her work.  Head Makeup Artist for eight years at The BAFTAs and a regular behind the scenes of some of the biggest London Fashion Week shows, Amanda Bell is responsible for creating some jaw dropping beauty looks.  With Goldie Hawn, Sienna Miller and Emilia Fox amongst her clients and a wealth of expertise in beauty, it was only a matter of time before a Makeup Studio followed.  It’s all good and well having high profile and celebrity clients, but what really fascinates Bell, is the everyday woman; the woman who gets up in the morning and does the school run before nipping to Tesco, the woman who suits up for her role as a company executive, the 16 year old experimenting with makeup and still discovering her look.  Bell thrives on this, on helping women like you and I and that’s the aim of her latest self named business in Teesside.  I went along to the VIP launch of Amanda Bell Elite Makeup Studio to find out what you can expect from this brand new venture.

“Over the past 20 years I’ve worked in very high profile, high octane environments and I’ve loved that, but I’ve realised this is what really makes me tick; makeup for real women who want to look and feel amazing in real life.  Women can get stuck in being the best version of themselves – stuck in the time they felt most beautiful and don’t move on years later – and I can teach them that with makeup they can create the best of themselves at any given age.”  Amanda Bell, Elite Makeup Artist

After thinking long and hard about setting up a dedicated makeup studio, Bell found premises in Constance House, Norton and tells me she “just knew it was right” the first time she viewed the loft space above the Christian Alexander boutique on the picturesque high street.  After some renovation and a little styling, the space has been set up to cater for up to six clients at a time, with six individual makeup stations complete with illuminated mirrors each furnished with cotton pads, q-tips and spoolie brushes.  Utilising as much natural light as possible from the dormer window, the studio is bright and most importantly, very instagrammable.  The decor is simple but effective, from the mirrored dresser in the window topped with candle votives that spell out “Amanda Bell” to the family photographs hung with pride in the waiting area, everything in the studio has been well planned and well thought out.

The similarity with other makeup studios ends there.  Whilst Bell is still perfectly set up to cater for her regular bridal parties, batchelorette parties and even teen birthday parties, the real reason for this particular set up is her Makeup Masterclasses.  Having been trained by some of the best makeup artists in the industry including Gucci Westman, Fred Farrugia and Ross Burton, Bell wants to pass on some of those lessons and inspire women to fall in love with makeup and be confident in using it.

“Women spend so much money on makeup and brushes, they bring them home and then don’t know what to do with them and it can be such a waste of money!  I want to teach women how to use and love their own makeup by giving step by step demonstrations and personal one on one coaching, using their own products as far as possible.”

The idea is that you book your place, rock up with your kit and learn how to make your makeup bag work for you in any given scenario.  Whether it’s getting to grip with the basics, or prepping for a family wedding, each masterclass aims to equip you with the skills and techniques needed to create a signature look that you can then recreate at home again and again.   With a suite of five masterclasses to choose from all lasting 2.5 hours and priced at £75 per person, there’s something for everyone from the makeup-phobic, to the devout makeup lover:

COMPLEXION PERFECTION

Learn how to create the perfect canvas for your makeup with techniques to smooth and enhance your features, perfectly colour match your base, and add radiance to your skin.

THE ESSENTIALS

Master essential, basic makeup techniques to get the best out of your complexion, eyes and lips.  Focusing on creating a beautifully achievable look for every day.

GLAMOUR-EYES

Learn how to create show stopping, mesmerising eyes and the secrets behind perfect liner and lash application.

AGELESS ELEGANCE

Look your best at any age.  Learn how to maximise your makeup potential, identify and accentuate your assets.

RED CARPET

Learn how to look like the star of your own red carpet with techniques to add dimension to your entire makeup look giving you a perfectly polished result.

I’m booked on to The Essentials Masterclass and I’m hoping to pick up some tips on creating the perfect base and killer highlight and I can’t wait to tell you all about what I learned!

Pixie xo

To book a place on any of the above master classes, or a one to one session with Amanda Bell, email amanda@amanda-bell.co.uk sessions are strictly by appointment only.

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Glorious North East

Gel Nails at The Wax Bar

You’ve heard of The Wax Bar right?  Long story short, it originated in Edinburgh then opened up in Newcastle in December 2016 specialising in all things wax, if you aren’t familiar then shame on you, I wrote a post about their launch party, their branching out from wax into the art of LVL Lashes, and their awesome resident Waxpert Gemma, formerly of Newcastle Hair & Beauty Clinic.  Get acquainted Voyeurs and do your homework.  Now.

The Wax Bar specialise in way more than just the sticky stuff, they may be Wax Connoisseurs, but these gals do a mean set of gel nails at their inhouse nail bar.  Situated on upmarket St Georges terrace in Jesmond on the outskirts of Newcastle, and most importantly, with a boat load of free parking right outside the door, The Wax Bar’s pink white and grey colour scheme and minimalist decor offer a fresh, modern alternative to those who flock to Jesmond for their beauty treatments.

I was invited along for a luxury gel manicure  and got way more than I expected when I took my seat at the New York style nail bar.  Usually when you drop in somewhere for gel nails you get just that, a lovely shiny coating of gel polish in a colour of your choice that lasts for somewhere in the region of 2 weeks, give or take.  At The Wax Bar, you get a full nail overhaul;  Nails are shaped and matched in length, cuticles are clipped and oiled in preparation, nails are buffed and then you make your choice from the huge selection on the wall.

Gemma tells me that they’ve found the perfect combination of gels to give the best finish at The Wax Bar, using a branded base coat with super staying power under Shellac gel they’re able to achieve optimum shine with maximum resilience.  I opt for black (obvs) and after some very thorough prep, my nails look healthier than when I arrived, and shinier than a choir girl’s church shoes.  Once the topcoat is cured, I’m treated to a hand and arm massage to reinvigorate the skin on my hands and make it more luminous, to match my shiny new nails.  Sound familiar?  Levoi offers a similar service right in the centre of the pedestrian zone in Newcastle.

Personally, I love the convenience that The Wax Bar offers, being able to pull up and park (for free) right outside the door is a major bonus.  For people who suffer from post wax redness, particularly after facial waxing treatments, having easy access to transport home is an absolute godsend.  The fresh, urban feel of The Wax Bar is in keeping with the other new businesses breathing life into St Georges Terrace, the Ouseburn Coffee Co. is right next door meaning if you’re early for your appointment you can grab a locally sourced brew and chill in the sun outside.  One of my favourite things though, is the music; weird, I know, but when you’re lying there for 40+ minutes for a beauty treatment, the music is a big factor.  The Wax Bar don’t play typical spa music, they soundtrack their treatments with Ministry of Sound and Ibiza style chill out music and I’m telling you Voyeurs, it makes a huge difference to the feel of a place.

I’d say it’s worth taking the time to schedule a visit, whether it’s for waxing, HD Brows, LVL Lashes or gel nails, every service The Wax Bar offers is a five star treatment and the service is excellent.  My gel nails lasted a whopping 18 days before the first tiny chip appeared  (I was peeling a label off a delivery box) at the time, the second chip appeared after 21 days.  I’ve visited since then and had the same treatment, I’m 19 days in with no chips as yet.  If you’re like me and you can’t function without a bit of colour on your nails, then give The Wax Bar a try for your next gel manicure, you won’t be disappointed – that’s a promise, not a threat.

Pixie xo

I was gifted a Luxury Shellac Manicure in exchange for an honest review.  A simple Shellac file and polish is £27, rising to £37 for the Luxury Shellac Manicure.  The Wax Bar offers a 10% discount for customers who check in on FaceBook during their visit and also runs a loyalty scheme offering a stamp for every visit where £20 is spent on treatments.

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Play Skin – The Smartphone Activated Mask

In a world of smartphones, social media, and a need for fast, effective beauty treatments, it was only a matter of time before they met in the middle.  Play Skin is just that, it’s a home beauty treatment that harnesses microcurrents from your cellphone to stimulate the skin.  Sounds cray?  You’re not wrong…..

Intrigued?  Here comes the science….

Play Skin works in just 10 minutes.  Not an estimated 10 minutes, a set, timed 10 minutes, monitored and controlled by an app on your phone or tablet.  It combines the efficacy of a cosmetic Hydrogel mask with the stimulating effect of tiny microcurrents direct from your cellphone – so low density that it’s imperceptible – there’s no buzzing, no tingling and it’s absolutely not painful.

It takes a bit of sussing out the first time you do it, the instructions are translated from a Italian and so not as clear as they could be, but once you’ve done it once, it gets easier.  In the box there are 5 disposable masks in individual packets, 10 disposable electrodes, 10 adhesive discs, 1 connector cable, and 1 tube of Play Skin Renewal Cream.  The mask comes in two parts, for the upper and lower face, the idea is to use the adhesive discs to connect the electrodes to the outer edges of the mask, which in turn, clip on to the connector cable.  Once you’ve “assembled” your mask, you’re ready to hook up to your cellphone and go the full Jim Carrey.

The mask itself feels gel-licious, it’s almost tacky to the touch.  Once you have it in position on your face – and this takes a bit of shifting about – the connector cable is attached via the headphone socket & the Play Skin app talks you through what’s in store.  Basically, you hit “Play” and the mask is activated for ten minutes, during that time you’re free to move around as normal, provided you keep your cellphone with you.

I really liked the feeling of the mask, it’s cool & the gel-like texture makes me feel as if it’s driving ingredients into my skin – whether it is or not, I don’t know.  As I mentioned, the microcurrent isn’t detectable so there’s nothing you can actually ‘feel’ working, however when the time runs down on the app and I’m ready to de-mask, although there’s no visible ‘lift’, my skin does feel plumper and softer to the touch and is definitely more luminous.

I found the mask to be an indulgent treat, I enjoyed it and I love the idea of incorporating everyday skincare with everyday technology.  Is it a novelty?  I don’t know.  My skin felt better afterwards and it’s definitely something I’d repeat, it feels special when you use it but maybe that’s because there’s nothing else like it on the market.  If I had an event on the horizon I’d use Play Skin in advance as I noticed afterwards that products seemed to glide on to my skin more easily than before and that feeling lasted for two days post mask.  Applying makeup post mask was a dream too, the finish was better and the application much easier so there’s definitely something there.  It might not be a visible lift but there are definite benefits detectable to the user in the feel of the skin after use, and the behaviour of the skin in the days following use.

I think with Play Skin, the condition of you Skin pre-mask may determine the results post mask, if you have fine lines & open pores, then you’re more likely to see a visible difference in the appearance of your skin.  It’s something I’d use again and if you’re a fan of sheet masks then it’s definitely one to try, to put it in perspective for you, the Charlotte Tilbury single use, Instant Magic sheet mask is £18.50, around 50p more expensive than Play Skin and the Play Skin mask is infinitely superior.

Pixie xo

 

It’s recommended that the mask is used weekly and is sold in packs of five at a cost of £89.99.  It’s currently available direct from the Italian website, or in the U.K. via selected aesthetic clinics.  If you’re in the North East then you can purchase Play Skin from The Esho Clinic in Jesmond, Newcastle.