How to hydrate and replenish sensitive dry Winter Skin

Different Season - Different Skin CareAs the seasons change our skin has develops different needs as well and most of us have to adjust our skin care. My own skin has become dry in areas as the temperatures dropped recently and I also had some redness and sensitivity. I have just received an email from one of my lovely clients asking me about a good skin care routine, product tips and facial recommendations for her dry/sensitive and dehydrated skin that also shows redness on the cheeks. She works in an air conditioned office and prefers natural skincare. In the lead up to her wedding day she wants her skin to be best. Don't we all? I got a little carried away with my response, spending about one hour to write recommendations and tips for her, so I thought I might as well share this with all of you, as we can all do with a little TLC for our Winter skins.

The Gentle Cleanse If you are still using a foaming cleanser now is the time to ditch it, it most likely will strip the skin of it's moisture and natural oils that it needs to stay healthy and hydrated. Go for a super gentle cream-, balm-, or milk cleanser and use it to double cleanse. You can use these with your Clearisonic as well. The Calming Cream Cleanser by Z'kin is excellent for sensitive Skin. La Mav Hydra Calm Cleansing Crème formulated with Bio-Flavonoids, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter to moisturize and cleanse the skin which will reveal a clear, bright, smooth feeling skin. I also love the SMOOTH Cleanser from Miskinorganics and another current favourite is Bloom Glow&Polish a unique cleansing paste that you freshly mix prior to application all these are replenishing the skin while removing makeup and cleansing away impurities.

The Key: Moisturize! Find a nourishing moisturizer that protects the skin from further moisture loss. Use 2x a day or use a different day and night cream if you prefer. If my skin is red, reactive and very sensitive it's in need for instant calming action my go to products are Zk'in Relief Moisturizer and Triology Very Gentle Calming Serum, the names say it all! For dry skin I recommend a very rich balmy moisturizer at night, and even apply it as mask in a thick layer when watching a movie or reading at home. Air conditioning and dry air from heaters is really bad for already dry skin, so please make sure you apply a lovely rich moisturizer and/or foundation as barrier to protect the skin. Trilogy Rosapene™ Night Cream works a treat as replenishing mask. Loaded with Antioxidants in a unique oil blend, manuka honey and Goji this will restore your skin quickly. You can also try incooperate pure organic Oils like Rosehip oil into your routine: Try nutrient rich oils like Rosehip. The trick to using oils effectively is to mix them with water. They absorb so much better this way. Mix equal parts oil and water in your hands, and rub together vigorously before massaging the mixture onto your face. I like to spritz my face with a hydtrating spray before applying oils. Use alone, or layered under your usual moisturizer. Everyone is talking about Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, believe the hype! It's pure skincare at it's best.

Hydration: The Spritz! Hydrating sprays can be very beneficial to have handy on your desk, together with some handcream & lipbalm, especially if you are working in an air conditioned office. Jane Iredale makes my favourite ones, certified organic filled with lovely armomatherapy oils they are the ultimate luxury and the bottles are super pretty too.

Keep Young! To target and prevent fine lines it's a good idea to have a powerful anti ageing eyecream as part of your regime. My favourites are; Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream, Z'kin Line Smoothing Serum, La Mav Bio A7 Firming Eye Lotion

Shake it off! Keep exfoliating. You can find my guide on exfoliation here. Incoporate healthy fats in your diet like avocado and flaxseed oil, coconut oil and nuts and of course make sure you drink enough water. If you are feeling less thirsty in the colder season try herbal teas and spicy chais (without black tea) which will warm you up, increase circulation and help you to stay hydrated. I hope this helps! Feel free to post any questions or your personal tips and experience in the comments below. :)

The Six Week Bridal Beauty Prep PART TWO Cleansing & Exfoliating

You have still six weeks to go and I hope you enjoyed part one, on how to get your Body glowing. Let's focus on the delicate skin of your face next. Without question, everyone can benefit from regular exfoliation by using products with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid such as glycolic and lactic acids) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid, also known as salicylic acid). Each provides multiple benefits, including fighting signs of aging and breakouts! Stick to products free of unneccessary synthetic fragrance and always ready the label!

GET THAT GLOW! Yay for AHA & BHA

Exfoliate once a week with a gentle AHA and/or BHA peel. This is my personal routine, some people prefer to use a mild exfoliation daily or every other day, everyone is different. My skin looks best when I exfoliate 1-2 times a week. There are pads, gels, masks and cremes containing fruit enzymes, glycolic, lactic or mandelic acids, some products use a combination of different AHA' s. AHAs are preferred for sun-damaged and dry skin because they exfoliate on the surface of skin and have the added benefit of also improving moisture content. If you are prone to break outs use a BHA product that contains Salicylic Acid. BHA is preferred for oily, acne-prone skin and for treating blackheads and white bumps because BHA can get through the oil that's clogging your pores, normalizing the lining of the misshapen pore that contributes to acne.BHA has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. Those are two more reasons to use a BHA exfoliant if you have acne or sensitive, reddened skin. Both AHA and BHA work to reduce fine lines, stimulate collagen, and firm the skin. There is no need to to physically rub and scrub and your skin when using these products, they work by gently loosing up the "glue" in between the dead skin cells, so that the old skin can come off without any damage to your skin. You will be left with a radiant glow. One of my favourite ever exfoliating masks is by Tata Harper, it gives instant radiance and is very gentle. It smells heavenly and the jelly texture is so fun. I had the chance to meet the wonderful Tata in person in London and have been a fan of her products since. The resurfacing mask is available in Australia via Lulu&Lipstick, an awesome selection of beauty products from around the world that are hard to get in Australia.

NAY to scrubs Many scrubs have a rough and uneven texture that can cause skin damage by tearing into the skin, causing tiny tears that damage the skin's barrier. Scrubs often cause more problems than they could possibly solve. If you do want to use a manual scrub, you can simply use a gentle washcloth with your daily cleanser, which works just as well to exfoliate the surface of skin as any cosmetic scrub you can buy. As a bonus, washcloths are softer (thus gentler) and of course they don't contain pore-clogging ingredients that oily, acne-prone skin doesn't need. With all types of exfoliation comes sun sensitivity, mainly because there are fewer layers of cells as protection so be mindful of using your sunscreen and staying out of the sun while it’s at its strongest. For daily cleansing I recommend a very gentle cleansing milk, oil or balm that doesn't strip the skin. If you are a fan of natural cosmetics or got very sensitive skin, try using pure organic coconut oil as makeup remover. Another gentle and fabulous option to clean your skin is the Clearisonic. Use the sensitive skin brush heads, they are the best choice from my experience. I have the "Mia" which is a travel friendly version and I looooove it. If you prefer a foaming wash for your face make sure you will buy one without any harsh detergents like SLS or synthetic fragrances. For makeup junkies and daily foundation wearers I recommend a double cleanse: Step 1: Removing Makeup with an oil based cleanser. Step 2: Cleanser appropriate for your skin type

Do you need professional help? Trust your own judgement. Does your skin respond well to your home treatments and is clear and soft most of the time? Well then keep doing whatever you are doing and invest in good products for your home routine. Once you turn 30, it is wise to get a professional peel or microdermabrasion (if your skin is not sensitive and thick) treatment every other month to encourage cell turnover and keep your complexion clean, bright and youthful. With all acids, my recommendation is to make sure you stay under a 25% concentration. Over the counter products will always be 10% or lower, however if you get a professional facial, request a percentage that is no higher than 25%. This way you are ensuring a good result without too much irritation. Stay away from strong, medical peels that reach the dermis, which is the living part of your skin underneath the epidermis. In my opinion, those types of treatments are too invasive and do more bad than good by causing intense edema [inflammation] of the dermis, which ultimately ages your skin.

Other things to do 6 weeks out: If you haven't already done it, this is a good time frame for your hair & makeup trial with your makeup artist and hairstylist for the wedding day. Schedule in other beauty appointments like your regular cut & color, eyebrow appointments etc. Get your beauty sleep, eat well, worry less, move more. Be Happy :)

Happy Earth Day! The best fragrance free mineral primers

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Isn't this planet truly amazing? I love watching nature & animal documentaries to unwind or simply go for a walk by the beach or in the bush. I always find this very humbling, and grounding. As if they remind me that I am just a tiny little being in this huge universe. And sometimes that is very important to remember. I wish to see a lot more of this wonderful planet and really hope that we will preserve nature for generations to come. Living in Sydney, I feel I am surrounded by so much wildlife, the ocean and amazing exotic landscapes everywhere. Sometimes I just need to step outside and take it all in. In real life.

I think all women with half a brain know that today beauty products don't have to cost the earth to be effective. And if you don't believe me, do your own research :) I personally feel they will long term always give the better results. I aspire to be a green makeup artist using only the best luxury and natural products. I am always out discover the latest and best beauty products from around the world and share my experiences with you. Please note that the below primers all DO contain silcone and are therefore not entirely clean or 100% natural.

I want to sing the praises of some great primers in the natural/green/organic category. All of these are free of synthetic fragrance, crueltyfree, vegan, and paraben free as well as packed with essential nutrients and the most luxurious botanical ingredients. I hope you enjoy and give these goodies a go!

Youngblood Mineral Primer The overall best makeup primer I have ever used. This one is suitable for all skin types. It's does everything I could ever ask for. Minimizes the appearance of pores, smooths fine lines, controls that oily t-zone while still being nourishing and really helps any foundation to stay in place for longer! Pro tip: It works as magical makeup eraser when you apply one drop to a cotton bud: You can correct eyeliner shapes or error without disturbing the makeup! Magic! It's also filled with vitamins and natural goodness, and leaves out synthetic fragrances and nasty ingredients. Win win! Jane Iredale Smooth Affair A luxurious makeup base, great for dehydrated or dry or mature skins. It gives that extra glow and smells divine. I use it underneath my Glow Time BB Creme, whenever I feel I need a little extra moisture. Perfect for Glow during Summer!

Hourglass No28 Primer Serum This one is quite different to any other primer I have used. It is extremely rich and oily. So please don't try to use this in tropical summer weather or on very oily skin. This can still be a good product for oily skins, but I guess you are better of with a mattifying product. It is perfect for extremely and I repeat extremely dry skin, as well for harsh Winter months, when the skin can't keep up it's natural oil production. It's also great for dry mature skin as it's made from a cocktail of potent anti ageing ingredients and therefore really deserves the last name Serum. My pro tip: You can also use it on cheeks and brows for an glossy, dewy look as seen on current fashion weeks.

Hourglass Veil Primer: Quite the opposite of the above, this primer is perfect for humid hot days and/or oily skin. It makes any foundation that is used on top of this water resistant. Perfect for teary brides! As it has a milky white appearance, it can make very tanned or dark skins appear ashy. This can be counter acted with the correct makeup, but if you are after a bronzed look or have naturally dark skin, you might want to try out a sample before you purchase. While it completely absorbs really nicely and is super lightweight it only works for fair to medium skin tones. Which is clearly a bummer. I still find it a remarkable product, even if my very own skin get's to dark in Summer to use this. It's also perfect for anyone with redness that wants to even out their skin tone.

While Hourglass products are free of synthetic fragrances, cruelty free and free of many nasty ingredients, they do not claim to be a 100% natural, green or organic brand, please see ingredients for yourself and decide if these products are for you.

Haute Boheme - New Collection by Moira Hughes

While it was storming we braved the crazy weather and went ahead with the campaign shoot for Moira Hughes Bridal Couture. Moira is a little bit awesome and is the designer I choose to work with for my very own wedding dress. It was so much fun doing the bespoke design together and I could not believe how good her fabrics feel on the skin. I actually can't wait to wear my dress on the day. As a former designer myself I was blown away by the technique and quality of fabrics, it truly doesn't get any better than this. But own planning aside she just came up with this lovely collection of dresses and her campaign was just released a few days ago. I love the feel. I know that due to the lighting and editing of these moody images you can't see much of the makeup that I have created, but I still love the images a lot. It's about the dresses after all, not about the beauty. Creating makeup for a campaign and working closely with the designers is a very special part of my work that I love so much. We worked with a great team of creatives on this photo shoot and I can't wait for the next collection. Photos by Jason Ierace Makeup by Liv Lundelius Hair The Bridal Hair Co

Australian For Beauty- new botanical beauty products

Today was a simply perfect day! After a Yoga session at home, I started my work day with a beautiful breakfast beauty launch held at Chiswick at the Gallery. A fantastic new restaurant within the Art Gallery Of NSW. The occasion was a interesting product launch of Red Earth and Coast To Coast. Red Earth is relaunch of an Australian makeup & skincare line, while Coast to Coast includes a bath&body range as well as skincare. Both are inspired by natural ingredients. The presentation and packaging of the products appears premium in many ways and is minimal and chic. While NOT being certified organic the ranges are not tested on animals and contain a high percentage of active natural and organic ingredients and no artificial colours or fragrances. It's certainly not an all natural line, if you are an eco-beauty fan seeking 100% purity and toxin free products these lines are not for you. There are still plenty of ingredients in this line which are potentially harmful and that I would personally avoid. If you are after affordable, effective skincare with lovely smells & textures you should give these a try. The founders believe that good skincare does not have to be expensive, and therefore both ranges sell at a very affordable price point. The focus is on very active botanicals many of which are sourced in Australia to create potent skin care and makeup products that deliverresults.

Coast to Coast formulations include a host of exceptional native Australian ingredients. Take Kakadu Plum; native to the northern tip of Australia, it provides the skin with six times the vitamin C of an Orange. Tasmanian Sea Kelp, from Bass Strait, is a rich source of vitamins A, B, C & E, & contains nourishing minerals & amino acids. Wild Rosella, Desert Quandong & Sea Parsley also add to the range of scientifically proven actives chosen based on their merit, rather than aesthetic to visibly replenish & nourish the skin.

While I love the presentation of the brand I am afraid that the mentioning of natural ingredients might mislead consumers to think this is a toxin free line that is certified organic. Therefore I have to make this clear: Read labels and don't get fooled by Greenwashing.