Lady C talks to the pros

A vibrant pop of lip / cheek / eye colour may look like hard graft to perfect, but according to the NARS backstage stying team, statement make-up is a doddle compared to nailing the no-make-up make-up trend. A flawless face will never betray a high maintenance regime – your best compliment should be “who is your facialist”, not “who did your make-up”.

A look that screams au natural even if you’re wearing more slap than ever before? How on earth does one achieve that fabled “dewy” skin without straying into the dreaded “shine” territory?

Trust in your Lady C, darlings, for I have done my homework.

Backstage at Christopher Kane, the models had their face massaged to increase blood circulation for a natural glow. But if you don’t have a masseuse to hand (and why-ever not?) NARS’ International Lead Stylist, Jane Richardson, suggests a mega-hydrating over-night mask the before a big event. Or get the pros in and indulge in Crème de la Mer’s The Facial at Urban Retreat, £120 for 60mins.

Next, choose your cosmetics wisely. Opting for brand continuity is a good idea, since varying proportions of oil and water can cause make-up to slip or “fall off” as you layer-up, which does not a natural look create.

Burberry’s latest cosmetic collection references the effortless elegant of the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2012 ready-to-wear, with colour limited to wearable English countryside hues, and an emphasis on matte, velvety textures. Think lightweight foundation, rich velvety eye shades, gently contoured cheeks, and natural dusky pink lips. They’ve done it all for you, really.

Top tip? Wendy Rowe, Burberry Beauty Artistic Consultant suggests applying foundation from the centre of the face, blending outwards, for truly natural coverage. Lady C fully endorses getting your fingers dirty for this – the skin on skin contact warms foundation, allowing it to blend more seamlessly. 

The Burberry collection isn’t available til August, so bide your time and brush up on application skills. And woe betide the unprepared come Autumn - this look is going to be huge!

Bioeffect goes sky-high with body serum launch

A super-dedicated following includes Jennifer Aniston, Una Therman and Kelly Preston; first production sold out in 10 days; and it is the latest to secure a place on the infamous mile high club. Well, sort of..

That’s right, jet-setters – celebrity favourite Bioeffect has hit the big time, and will now be available in the sky as you fly (aka on British Airways long-haul flights).

 Born from the challenging climes of Iceland, Bioeffect is a hard-working skincare range, sealed with the Derms’ stamp of approval – renowned Professor of Dermatology, Dr. Ronald L. Moy says, “best results I have seen during my 30 years of practice”. Well, if it’s good enough for the pros..

So what’s all the hype about? Well, darlings, yours truly has done her research and here is the low-down. [full disclosure: this is the science-y bit]

Bioeffect contains EGF cellular activator, an ingredient which naturally occurs in skin, where it activates biological processes involved in maintaining radiant looking skin.

While the skin is young, it produces enough of its own EGF to maintain its youthful radiance. As we age, the skin slows its natural production of EGF and begins to lose firmness and elasticity. This is when fine lines appear, skin grows thinner, and the surface epidermis becomes duller in appearance.

So by stimulating this natural process of cell renewal, the visible signs of ageing are reduced and skin appears plumper, firmer and more youthful.

The line-up (available at Bioeffect), comprises a serum, £125, cream, £55, and now… the body serum, £70. Following in the footsteps of Crème de la Mer’s The Body Crème, Bioeffect's body serum is super hydrating, to the extent that daily use may even be unnecessary…

You heard it here first!