TrendLife Beauty

Thanks to Channel 4’s documentary series Coppers, and the Beeb’s Prisoners Wives drama, I’ve become hooked on crime television programmes. Indeed, TV audiences tune in, in their droves to catch the latest police procedurals and legal dramas that are showing on the box. Whether its Dexter, Midsomer Murders or America’s Most Wanted; they show it, we love it.

 My TV slice of police pie is laden with toppings of the police force’s terminology and abbreviations, such as the CID, (Criminal Investigation Department), which is the part of a UK police force which does not wear uniform and is responsible for discovering crimes. Never, would I have ever believed that two of my most beloved interests would come together, thanks to a namesake. Yet, in the truly perplexing CBL fashion that dominates TrendLife beauty, I have linked the police and beauty together, through the Criminal Investigation Department and New CID Cosmetics.

New CID Cosmetics may share a name with the branch of all Territorial police forces whose detectives wear plain clothing, but the similarities end there.

A beauty brand with real panache, New CID Cosmetics offer a dynamic and innovative approach to the industry. Their product range offers many ingenious features that set New CID apart from the rest of the market, such as the built-in lights of the i-pout, i-gloss and i-powder that allow for easier application at any time, and in any place. With a colour range to suit a variety of skin tones, New CID have successfully combined versatility to reach a wide audience to create a one-stop shop for all our beauty needs.

My favourites in the range include:

I-glow

A must-have for a sunkissed shimmer, I-glow’s baked marble formulation means that it is silky smooth to apply, and so works well as a blush too. I love Sirocco; it gives the face a lovely subtle bronzed highlight that adds a natural radiance through the day and night.

I-pout

Its built-in light and mirror make I-pout perfect as a handbag essential. Scarlet is my preferred choice for eveningwear; its sumptuous high-drama shade radiates sophisticated glamour, but with 12 shades to choose from, all offer a touch of long-lasting luxury.

I-gel

‘Eye’d’ be mad to leave this gem out of my trio of New CID Cosmetics favourites. A long-lasting gel liner in a palette of three, it lends itself well as both an eyeliner and a full eyeshadow. The brush that accompanies I-gel is impressive and allows easy application for drawing fine lines.

www.newcidcosmetics.com

Whilst the fashion pack bicker about which is the IT bag for S/S 2012, there’s one bag that, year upon year, rears its ugly head for the beauty throng to contend with.  Perhaps Soft Goth of A/W 2008/2009 and Grunge Glamour of A/W 2010/11 would have been accepting of a dark make-up look to compliment the chiffon, lace, dirty denim and Nirvana-esque style that made these trends a fashion frenzy. Yet, each season the return of the dark purple hue of the under-eye bag has offered only anguish and woe to women; seemingly battle of the bag is battle of the bulge’s better half.

With Paris being one of the world’s most prominent fashion destinations, it’s perhaps apt that a native has a solution to the extra baggage and viscious circles that womanhood worldwide are forced to reckon with.

Pardon me for letting the cat out the bag, but Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer is a blessing to all women who find that their handbag is not the only carrier laden upon their body each day. In fact, even if the cat was still inside the under-eye bag, it could be easily concealed. A moisture-rich concealer for under and around the eye discolourations and dark circles, it creates a brighter, more youthful look to the face. Available in six colours, Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer should be applied after foundation has been applied. Mercier is an advocate of using finger application to create a flawless face; just a small amount on the pinky finger will provide ample coverage. Setting the concealer with Translucent Setting Powder will keep dark circles at bay, until another day when Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer comes out to play.

www.spacenk.co.uk

£18.50

As legend has it, 21^st December 2012 is set to be the end of the world. According to the epitome of trustworthy internet based information, Wikipedia, ‘The 2012 phenomenon comprises a range of eschatological beliefs according to which cataclysmic or transformative events will occur on December 21, 2012'. Now, I am unable to fathom 87% of the latter, but hypothetically speaking, should planet Earth cease to exist beyond 21.12.12, it’s time to start living. That’s right Trend Lifers, thou shalt commence 2012 with a set of New Years’ Resolutions like no other specimen ‘pon this planet. Indeed, it’s time to spend not save girls and boys; ditch the diet and withdraw from workouts - forgoing fashion must-haves, snacking on a handful of seeds and sweating more than Sweaty Betty herself in the recently-joined gym* was always going to be grim.

I offer before you what leading experts of the end of the world** recommend as being essential to begin 2012 and to show world-end that we will begin and end as a bevy of beauties. Whip out those pennies and make sure that you’re first in line for what astronomers and scientists** have hailed to be the hot beauty tips for the opening of 2012.

1) Laura Mercier Gel Lip Colour (February)

2) MAC False Lashes Extreme Black (January)

3) Chanel Perfection Lumière Foundation (January)

4) Nicki Minaj OPI Collection (January)

* Note to readers: Foregoing fashion must-haves/snacking on a handful of seeds/sweating in the gym are all from my own experience in the seven days that have come of 2012 thus far.

**I am said leading expert of the end of the world/astronomer/scientist.

Aged ten and clad in Tammy’s latest glitzy number, during the millennium summer, I bopped along to Latino croner, Ricky Martin’s smash hit ‘She Bangs’.  Seemingly an up-tempo, salsa number about Martin’s infatuation with a woman, it later materialised that he was not in fact smitten by womankind.  With its chorus lyrics, ‘She bangs, she bangs, oh baby when she moves, she moves, cause she looks like a flower, but she stings like a bee, like every girl in history’ in severe jeopardy of a recipient, I had to understand where Ricky and his fellow advocate of bee sting’s, Muhammad Ali, found their love for the yellow and black striped flying insect. In a range of natural personal care products, I have found the answer that boxing pundits and Ricky Martin fan club members have been searching for, thanks to the Burt’s Bees range.

All their products are carefully crafted using ingredients that are the best nature has to offer: beeswax, botanical and essential oils, herbs, flowers and minerals. A central ethos to the brand is their belief that truly natural products are better for your body and the environment, of which both my own body and the borough of Epsom and Ewell can confirm to be true. The range caters for women, men and babies from top to toe, keeping the whole family smelling and feeling as sweet as the bee-produced honey in their kitchen cupboard.

A sweet-tasting moment on the lips doesn’t have to be a lifetime on the hips with the Honey Lip Balm. Moisturising and nourishing it’s packed with beeswax, shea butter, almond oil and cocoa butter to keep lips soft and healthy. A fantastic handbag must-have for the winter months, Honey Lip Balm is a sweet treat without the calories.

To keep skin well moisturised night and day, the Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion is a non-greasy, lightweight lotion for normal to dry skin. Coconut and grape seed oils also work their magic in the lotion by delivering beneficial nutrients to the skin. Whilst in keeping with the edible slant on Burt’s Bees, unfortunately you’ll have to eat elsewhere to fulfill your 5 a day. Nevertheless, I’m happy to trot down to Tesco’s and stock up on apples, bananas and broccoli and do so with softened skin that smells delightful.

Burt's Bees' Sensitive Facial Cleanser is another hero product from the sweetest of beauty brands. Scientifically proven to moisturize sensitive skin while gently cleansing away dirt, oil and make-up without over drying or causing redness, it has been distinctly formulated with softening Cotton Extract to help skin replenish its outer layer and minimize the effects of potential irritants. As I remove the day and start a new one, Burt’s Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser is always firmly by my side.

This summer, another smash hit from across the pond swept across the nation. Thankfully I was no longer decked out in Tammy’s finest, but I partied like it was 1999 nonetheless. Mann and 50 Cent’s catchy track ‘Buzzin’, with its copious references to bee’s must of course be a heartfelt dedication to their favourite natural skin care range, Burt’s Bees. Good, because apart from finding us both ‘in da club’, I was beginning to wonder what 50 Cent and I had in common. 

Honey Lip Balm - £3.69

Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion - £5.99

Sensitive Facial Cleanser - £9.99

www.burtsbees.co.uk

A fictional character of the Royal Mail workforce, Postman Pat has a black and white cat. Early in the morning, just as day is dawning, he picks up all the postbags in his van. Whilst Pat and his colleagues earn their keep despatching Christmas card well wishes across the nation; another fellow is heading up the Chanel design team to bring home the bacon for family Lagerfeld. Both Pat and Lagerfeld are advocates of all things monochrome; Pat in the form of his cat; Karl Lagerfeld through the illustrious interlocking CC Chanel trademark. Never before have these two leading figures of popular culture come together to embrace their monochromatic love affair.

Yet, in a spectacular collaborative effort, the two have partnered for the 2011 holiday season. Chanel’s exquisite Christmas magazine insert has been delivered ‘pon the doorstep of the nation by Pat and pals. With its image of the iconic Chanel No. 5 parfum and five strings each holding gold confetti in the shape of No. 5 bottles, the Chanel CC insignia and snowflakes, Chanel’s Christmas Card 2011 is sure to be the most popular expression of well-wishing amongst fashionistas this year.

Thanks to Chanel’s Christmas offering, Pat is not the only one of us to be a really happy (wo)man.

www.chanel.com

A nail technician to the stars, Andrea Fulerton’s artistic ingenuity has long been sought after on the talons of the masses. Transcending catwalk trends and celebrity favourites onto the fingernails of the everyday high street woman is now a possibility thanks to the result of a partnership between Superdrug and Andrea Fulerton; The Andrea Fulerton Boutique. A one-stop nail shop to achieve fabulous looking fingertips, The Andrea Fulerton Boutique puts the ‘Super’ into one of Britain’s largest beauty and health retailers.

Fulerton’s collection oozes a kind of nail art creativity which has previously been a luxury afforded only by the A list. Bursting with bright colours and quirky designs, The Andrea Fulerton Boutique caters to the nail’s every whim. From buffers to removers, to polish and gemstones, the range offers copious possibilities for snazzy nails for which women across the land are, no doubt, truly thankful.

With grunge tipped to be one of this season’s most popular trends, the Andrea Fulerton Nail Tattoo Crosses and Skull and Cross Bones are the perfect antidote to a rock chic look, adding an alternative but pretty edge to an otherwise toughened-up trend. Easy to apply and remove, the stickers can be placed on both bare and painted fingernails, and sealed with Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique GlossUp Overcoat to ensure a longer lasting finish.

Razzle-dazzle is synonymous to the range, thanks to its treasure trove of 24 colours all inspired by celebrities that Andrea has worked with, and the Crystal Gemstones and Stripe & Sparkle products that add an all important finishing touch. With a striper brush and glitter shaker, the six shades in the Stripe & Sparkle collection add intensity and glitzy glam to the nail, transforming an outfit to radiate star quality.

To hit the nail on the head as a fashion-forward filly, tantalise your talons with a treat from The Andrea Fulerton Boutique.

Available from Superdrug instore or online 

www.superdrug.com

As a 15-year-old GCSE student, I was cast in the lowest stream of seven sets. I was one of the lowliest mathematicians within my school year, perplexed by the algebra, formulas and fractions that presented themselves in my Hodder Mathematics Higher Text Book I during period II each morning. Preparing to undertake a losing (GCSE grade C) battle with my mathematic inabilities, I enlisted the help of my genius boyfriend of the time, who proved to me that me + you does equal better equations *; a kindly fellow at the OCR marking board granted me with an A, much to the amazement of the Mathematics Department at my Independent Grammar School, myself and my parents. During that summer of 2006, I had pressed ‘pon the digits of my scientific calculator more frequently than those of my mobile phone.

Five years later, my lack of mathematical ingenuity remains patent; Claire + numbers = confused. So, when in the shower and lathering up with Sanex Zero Shower Sensitive Shower Gel, the ‘zero’ emblazoned on its bottle left me bewildered; I had always believed that the bigger the number, the better. On second thoughts, I realised that Sanex Zero Shower Sensitive Shower Gel, must be, in the words of my A-grade-maths-GCSE-self circa June 2006, an ‘anomaly’.

A zero to hero product, Sanex Zero Shower Sensitive Shower Gel is > ** its shower gel adversaries. Specially formulated for sensitive skin, it is both healthy for the skin and good for the environment, in that only those ingredients required for clean and healthy skin are used. Many of products in its field are ridden with ingredients that irritate the skin with their harsh, perfumed chemicals. I thus find Sanex to be a welcome alternative that leaves skin feeling fresh, rejuvenated and energised. The bathroom in the Basing-Lawson household has therefore undertaken a zero-tolerance policy for any other shower gel but Sanex, as this house believes that Sanex + our bodies = one big happy, clean family who are free from parabens, colourants, phthalates and Phenoxyethanol.

* - Lyrics taken from Riverside (Sidney Samson, 2009)

** - Greater Than (mathematical terminology) 

Watch Sanex’s Living Sculptures performance which was held on London’s South Bank to encourage viewers to think twice about using unnecessary chemicals on their bodies. The performers in paint are a metaphor for the majority of us who put unnecessary chemicals on our bodies everyday, whilst the other individual represents the idea that with a product such as Sanex Zero% you don't have to. I encourage you to be the second individual, it’ll be life changing!

£1.89

www.boots.com

With a career spanning over 45 years, Lulu has achieved iconic status as an entertainer worldwide. As famous for her youthful appearance as her chart-topping singles, Lulu’s foray into the beauty industry has proved to be as much of a hit as her records; us girls are all hankering after Lulu’s key to age-defiance.

When, in 1965, a petite, blonde-fringed Scot by the name of Lulu burst on the scene with her energetic floor-filler, Shout, the lyrics were consigned to oblivion; hip young things were concerned less about content and more about the wee warbler presiding over television and radio waves.  Fast forward to 2011 and Lulu has something truly worth shouting about; Lulu’s Time Bomb Youth Juice Secret Oil. Designed to regenerate skin with the natural oils that are lost over time, Lulu’s Time Bomb Youth Juice Secret Oil is a combination of oils, including olive, kukui, avocado and jojoba, designed to mimic natural sebum. The addition of these ingredients retains the skin’s plump, dewy and glowing appearance, especially critical during the winter months in quenching weathered, distressed and dry skin. The formula is also rich in Vitamins E and C, proving it to be an all-rounded beauty must-have. Packaged to look like a time bomb, and with its pretty, feminine design, Lulu’s Time Bomb Youth Juice Secret Oil is the answer to eternal youth from the nation’s favourite eternally youthful lass.

£30.75

www.lulusplace.co.uk

Mastering the tresses of tots and teens, to his and her’s hairstyles, is for some, a hair-raising task. Yet, one salon chain adept at perfecting the coiffures of us all is Headmasters.  With its forty-one salons each offering customers both a personable and professional service, whilst housed in an environment adorned with contemporary elegance, it is no wonder that Headmasters has become a leading hair salon upon the high street. Hailed as ‘the go to salon for fashionable, healthy, gorgeous catwalk inspired hair’, Headmasters has, for 14 years been the destination of choice for our family to achieve lustrous Lawson locks. Keen as ever to cement my dedication to this hothouse of hair, I travelled west, to visit their flagship salon in Mayfair and to meet a woman so intent on perfecting my ‘do and so companionable that I longed for her friendship.

Through their winning combination of premium hairdressing and optimum service, Headmasters have retained a loyal clientele, of which my family are just a few of such customers’ bristles in their brush. Whilst located in exclusive areas nationwide, Headmasters continues to be attainable to consumers, through its regular special offers and discounts, such as its recommend a friend 50% off voucher and HM  Club which allows members 25% off Monday to Friday.

After a few navigational issues, of which I was at one with the lost tourists that are so intrinsic on London’s streets, I entered a whimsical wonderland of palatial standards; 11-12 Hanover Street, Headmaster’s flagship salon. With its interior laden with sophisticated glam, thanks to its specialist team, Headmasters at Mayfair remains an overtly homely environment, away from the treacherous hustle and bustle that lays beyond the front door to Oxford Circus.

After a briefing with Art Director and hair extraordinaire, Siobhan, I was in the hot-seat, about to channel my longing for Alexa Chung chic through a colour that she’s currently sporting, a rich, shiny, mahogany brown that simply oozes kitsch cool. Caped in Headmaster’s finest; an on-trend black gown emblazoned with their logo, I sat and chatted to Siobhan whilst she tended to my tresses; she was a girl with serious street-cred, and I was keen for a slither. I later learnt Siobhan’s uber cool was a Lady Gaga inspired ‘Born this way’ ; I was trying to keep up with a real-life Jones. Nonetheless, after three hours of her world-class artistry now running through my Lawson locks, I felt honoured to be in the presence of such a fine coiffure connoisseur.  As I emerged from Headmasters, I bounded along Oxford Street with a new found confidence; I was a new woman with a new lease of life.  As the all too familiar tourists of our capital city stopped me in my tracks for what was most likely an impromptu photo-shoot, I realised the price of being Alexa’s doppledanger. Alas, they were in fact on the lookout for the Apple store, but with a paparazzi style camera strewn upon their necks, my assumptions weren’t too far fetched at least.

Three weeks later, and I’m still bubbling with glee at the innovative colour and cut that I receive upon each visit at Headmasters. No matter which location I choose, I am always safe in the knowledge that I will receive a first-class treatment, and I encourage each man and woman to retreat to their local so that we are all happy-clappy on the highway of hair.

Visit www.hmhair.co.uk for more information, or find them tweeting at @headmastersuk 

Clapham Common; hometown of chino-wearing, family-ring sporting yuppies, urban yummy mummies buggy-pushing baby Tallulah’s and Henry’s, trendy bars thronging with young bohemian’s and a nightclub so dingy that it was used as a location to film the Inbetweeners movie. While the area is most well known for being a jogger’s paradise and mini music festival venue thanks to its expansive patch of grass, an establishment much deserved of the fame bequeathed to its location is the heavenly Anesis Spa.

Situated adjacent to Clapham Common, Anesis is a salon offering a rare blend of innovation, luxury and affordability. A stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Clapham High Street, entry into Anesis is a welcome retreat from the extrinsic scramble. A paradise oasis of serenity, the spa is well in touch with the cult of celebrity, offering treatments beloved by the famous in an environment that exudes opulence and importantly, an attainable exclusivity. Greeting me into SW4’s beauty wonderland was Sara, Anesis’s Front of House Manager and the most hospitable individual in all of Clapham. As we sat down over a cuppa, glossed over of the weekly magazines and chatted about Anesis’s offerings, it felt as though Sara and I were two friends catching up after months apart, a reflection of her bubbly and kindly nature. It was 7pm, and the salon was lively, a tell-tale sign that Anesis is in need of opening 9.30-9.30pm; this is a haunt in high demand.

Whilst customers dipped their tootsies into the ingenious Fish Spa as others glamourised their talons with an OPI manicure, it was time for me to get the look loved by celebrities of the moment, HD Brows, courtesy of beauty therapist, Nadia. Using a seven-step procedure, Nadia tinted, waxed, threaded, tweezed and trimmed my brows to perfection. A revolutionary process, Nadia’s artistry enhanced my facial features by transforming my eyebrows into their perfect shape. A rarity in the world of beauty salons is conversation devoid of mundane chit-chat, yet at Anesis, in one visit their staff quickly became an alternative circle of girl friends to my Parsons Green gang. Before exiting after an intensive hour of primping and preening and keen to showcase my beautiful brows, I arranged an impromptu drink with some friends in a nearby bar, safe in the knowledge that they’d soon be frequenting their local beauty hotspot. For a celebrity look in a swanky setting but without an extravagant price tag, Anesis should be your destination of choice.

www.anesis.co.uk