The beauty of love
Valentine’s Day requires a bit of extra prep, says Brigit Grant
One of the problems with ageing (apart from not ageing) is missing out on the excitement around things like Valentine’s Day.
There are no more pink envelopes from the postman (not that he ever sends cards) and the romantic dinner à deux has expanded into a repas pour six. This isn’t true for everyone, however, and if there was ever a date on which you should look your best and smell like a flower it’s 14 February. That way you’ll be ready if Cupid comes calling and it will improve the postman’s day too.
Chin up
When Romeo called up to Juliet, she didn’t have to worry about hanging jowls. Well, you don’t at 14, but after 45, your stiff upper lip is harder to maintain, or so you thought. The Israeli device NEWA is a non-invasive home-use skin-tightening machine that tightens and lifts ‘under the neck’ in one or two sessions.
And he/she won’t even know because it is silent, pocket-sized and you just need to be alone in the bathroom to run the gadget with its 3DEEP radio frequency across the problem areas. The heat generated rebuilds collagen and elasticity, which is needed when you reach the menopause. The alternative is to hold an orange under your chin, but that will be noticed.
£249 for the starter kit at www.newabeauty.co.uk
Fac
If you want to be gorgeous by Monday, you’ll need a kit that does everything, such as The Organic Pharmacy’s Brighten & Glow or Renew & Smooth (from £44). The former has a vitamin C corrective mask and the serum contains a concentrated dose of stabilised vitamin C, which will make your skin firmer and brighter. Keep using the mask for 28 days if you want to see a difference and, for decongesting, the other kit relies on four exfoliating acids derived from pineapple, lemon, grape and passion fruit. No more dryness or blocked pores is what you want – and not just on 14 February.
Sealed with a kiss
Essential to proceedings – lips must be primed. For lipstick longevity, start by scrubbing your lips clean with Dr.PAWPAW Scrub & Nourish (£8.95). It’s a product that comes in a stackable pot, which combines a natural lip scrub (which, after use, will make the lipstick kiss-proof) and a replenishing lip balm made from nourishing olive oil and aloe vera to soothe and soften lips, while conditioning and protecting. Put the balm on at least 10 minutes before the lipstick.
Layering coats can help keep lipstick on, as can applying it over a thin layer of concealer or dabbing it on with a brush. But when you need serious staying power, long-lasting lipstick formulas are the way to go. Swipe on once, then eat, drink, and kiss with no reapplication needed. We all know the choice of lipsticks available is ludicrous, but these have been chosen because they won’t shift, no matter how many kisses you get or give.
Poppy King is the Australian
Jewish founder of Lipstick Queen, which has a big range of glosses
and matte lipsticks. These include the bestselling Frog Prince, which is deceptive in emerald green as it magically transforms into a flattering rosebud pink.
The Queen has other superficial shades imbued with her famous pH-reacting technology, which instantly morphs into your own unique shade and there is a Lip Surge Plumper (£14.40) called Smoke, infused with warming cinnamon oil, to create a plumping effect that is instant and long-lasting (well, two to three hours). Top it with the Rear View Mirror Lip Lacquer (£22), a high-shine lip gloss with striking reflective finish that takes inspiration from the reflective surface of a mirror and a slick of fresh, glossy paint.
And on the subject of gloss, there’s Savvy Minerals Lip Gloss – Embrace (£34.74), which provides natural-looking sheer-to-medium colour coverage while adding shine. It doesn’t have the sticky feeling that many glosses do, and it moisturises and softens, thus making lips look fuller. Savvy Minerals by Young Living™ also makes some deliciously creamy lipsticks in eye-popping colours such as tangerine (£38.29), which contains the fruit as well as sunflower seeds and grapeseed oil.
Charlotte Tilbury is adored by the faith cognoscenti and has retained their loyalty by continuing to make Pillow Talk (£25), the aptly-named matte nude-pink lipstick that looks effortless in situ.
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