Tag: Beauty

Grime buster: Origins' United State Balancing Tonic sweeps the debris away.

Whatever happened to toner – the tingly watery stuff we used to dab on our faces? I rediscovered an old bottle recently. It got me going. "Toner!" I said (I'm not in the habit of anthropomorphising potions in my bathroom cabinet). "I had forgotten you, what with serum and BB cream." And so I found Origins' United State Balancing Tonic (17, origins.co.uk) to sweep away pore-clogging debris and rebalance dry or oily areas. I pressed it on and remembered that satisfying moment toner brings: the cotton wool ball with the grime your cleanser missed. But toner has moved on, too. These days there are mists and pump-action formulas that tighten and lift. Perricone MD's Firming Facial Toner (35, perriconemd.co.uk) smells like spas and is perfect for mature skin.

Alternatively…

Nivea Visage Pure & Natural Cleansing Toner 3.36, nivea.co.uk Sisley Botanical Floral Toning Lotion 64, 020 7591 6380 Crystal Clear Revitalising Tonic 20, 08705 934934 Lancme Tonique Douceur 21, lancome.co.uk

Pucker up: luxury lip balms. Photograph: Observer

"More moisture is lost through the lips than through any other part of the face or body," NHS Choices tells me – forgetting, I imagine, those of us that wee. I'm not great with science. But chapped lips are horrid. Horrid. They make you want to lick them, which just makes them dryer. They make you want to pick at the dry skin, which just makes them bleed. It takes serious, steady application of a good lip balm to get them soft again – you'll probably have to try a couple before you find one that you really like. One that doesn't leave your lips sparkly, or white, or tasting of poison. My current favourite is Clinique's Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment (21, clinique.co.uk), which looks like a lipstick but feels like being rescued.

Alternatively:
Sisley 39.50, 020 7591 6380
Carmex 4.49, boots.com
Suqqu 32, selfridges.com
Crme de la Mer 40, 0870 034 2566

Laura Mercier's Under Eye Perfector

My under-eyes are the colour of stagnant water. After really memorable nights they are even darker, like stagnant water with Ribena poured in. I need help. Some concealers are too dry for the eye and make you look congealed. Some are too dark – you want a shade or two lighter than your foundation, one you can apply in light layers. The ones that click up into little brushes are good, but I like Laura Mercier's Under Eye Perfector (18.50, spacenk.co.uk), which comes in two highly pigmented shades and makes you look like you've had your full eight hours.

Alternatively…

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit 23.50, bobbibrown.co.uk
Clinique Airbrush Concealer 16, clinique.co.uk
Givenchy Mister Light Concealer 21.50, 01932 233824
Rodial Glamtox Eye Light Pen 35.90, asos.com

Fingersmith: try Butter London's old-gold varnish. Photograph: Observer

Nail time! Sometimes it feels like a body isn't quite big enough for all the jewellery you want to hang on it. You've got, what, one neck? Two wrists, an ankle, a couple of fingers that are thin enough for rings? This is the opportunity to turn your nails into jewels. Metallic varnish. The way to wear it now is as matte as possible – use Rimmel Pro Matte Top Coat at the end if you like (4.59, boots.com) – and on long, pointy-ish nails, so they look a bit like serving spoons. I like the old-gold look of Butter London's Full Monty (12.50, butterlondon.com), which has the feel of tarnished wedding rings, and Mavala's Platinum Marble (4.30, boots.com), which is even odder – an old picture frame, found buried in the garden. OK. End of nail time. Back to work.

Alternatively

Illamasqua: Bacterium, 13.50, illamasqua.com
Nars: Diamond Life, 13.50, narscosmetics.co.uk
Deborah Lippmann: Don't Tell Mamma, 14, houseoffraser.co.uk
Topshop: Hyperreal, 6, topshop.com
Orly: Rock Solid, 9.85, orlybeauty.co.uk
Chanel: Peridot, 17.50, 020 7493 3836

Blemish free: Clinique's new BB cream. Photograph: Richard Pierce for the Observer

Not like BB King, or a BB gun. And not like BB as in "babes", or Big Brother, or the boys' brigade. BB stands for "blemish balm". It's new and it's nice. It gained popularity in Korea, where BB creams account for 13% of make-up sales, then came over here last summer, when all the beauty brands quickly began to conjure up their own versions. Basically it's a tinted moisturiser that is meant to improve skin quality, and it also doubles up as a make-up primer. They vary in their coverage, sun protection and the promises they make, but the thing they have in common is that they're lovely on the skin. Whether they actually do any healing is debatable, but they feel so comfortable they're worth a go. MAC's BB cream (21, maccosmetics.co.uk) seems to last longer than most, has a thumping 35SPF and the coverage of a light foundation. If you want to give BB a go but not commit wallet-wise, try Garnier's (8.49, feelunique.com) which fades over a day, but provides a lovely gentle base.

How to keep those blonde highlights. Photograph: Alamy

Fellow blondies, I'm going to educate you. Let's go back to school. Remember the colour wheel? The complimentary colour for yellow is purple. What does this mean for you? When your icy-bright blonde highlights turn crabby, you need violet shampoo. Three words: Davines Alchemic Shampoo (13.75, 020 3301 5449). What it can do for you! Not only is the stuff eye-piercingly purple and served in a Calpol bottle, there is a real science to it (pigments). The conditioner (17.90) is also beautiful. But if brightening just won't do, take a more drastic measure. Come on, John Freida, come forward. The brand-new Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray (6.99, johnfrieda.co.uk) gives a magical boost. Just spray into the roots and the lengths, blow dry and sparkle.

Alternatively

Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo 11.95, 01282 683 100
Pureology Perfect 4 Platinum Miracle Filler 15.45, 0800 783 3026
Philip Kingsley Pure Silver Conditioner 17.90, philipkingsley.co.uk
Lee Stafford Hot Shots 4 Blondes 7.19 for 3, 0845 070 8090
KMS California Color Vitality Blonde Treatment 14.30, kmscalifornia.com

The nail, once a simple neutral flesh cover, a keratin tarp pulled over our tender finger meat, is now a feature wall, ripe for decoration. It is, though, isn't it? After years of nail-colour trends, a varnishless hand looks naked. This year, nail art is more accessible than ever, with high-street brands offering stickers and pens for you to experiment with at home. I like Models Own's Nail Art Pens (5, boots.com), perfect for writing H.A.T.E from first finger to thumb, or blobbing curious eyes on to nails so it looks like your hands are confused.

Alternatively

Barry M Croc Effects 3.99, barrym.com
LCN Nail Art Biro 5.75, bcidirect.com
Sally Hansen Glitz Blitz 9.29, amazon.co.uk
Laqa & Co Polish Pen 9.50, selfridges.com

Treatment of the week: Pay as you go

They say that 20 minutes on Spa InterContinental's dry flotation therapy bed is equivalent to four hours' sleep. Mix and match a session with treatments, like the excellent facial and manicure, from 22.50 for 15 minutes (spaintercontinental.com)