This week sees an optimistic nod towards spring. New launches, fresh ideas and all whipped up together with the help of some retro-styled kitchen appliances loaned by those lovely people over at Smeg. Style with substance and good solid ethical choices, the underlying thread of all you’ll find here today.
The perfect blend..
The 50s retro Smeg blender – you can crush, smooth and pulse with it. Lipstick smoothies optional. Blender £149.95, Smeg.
We waited a while for the Burt’s Bees lipsticks to hit these shores but it was definitely worth the wait. Bold hues, moisturising formula, recyclable packaging featuring a clever hive design to showcase the colours. The beauty is that they combine the moisturising properties of a lip balm with the strength of colour and coverage of a lipstick. Hot reds, saucy pinks and gentle nudes. Oh and unlike some of the more chemically enhanced offerings on the market, these are full of ingredients you could very well eat. A smooth operator. Lipsticks £9.99 each, Feel Unique.
Mixing it up…
All hail the Smeg stand mixer. A beautiful iconic piece of design that boasts simplicity of use (crucial for kitchen luddites like me) and permanent kitchen worktop appeal (also crucial for aesthetic snobs like me). Stand Mixer £349.95, available from John Lewis.
Choc full of really good, natural ingredients Skyn Iceland is another The Stylish Stuff favourite. Founded by Sarah Kugelman after chronic stress landed her in hospital. This is skincare totally tailored to stressed and problem skin boasting glacial mineral water, arctic super fruits and oxygen as key ingredients. It’s gentle, effective and an affordable way to get your skin’s diet back on track. Shown: Pure Cloud Cream £41, (the cosmetic equivalent of kid gloves – soothing, comforting and light as air); Under Eye Illuminator £32, (a brightening serum formulated to recharge and rejuvenate stressed skin); Arctic Face Oil £30, (a powerfully hydrating oil that repairs, balances AND locks in lasting moisture. WIN); Icelandic Relief Eye Cream £38, (the trouble shooter of all eye care issues); Nordic Skin Peel £38, (60 gentle exfoliating peel pads to instantly brighten and renew the skin’s surface). All available at Marks & Spencer Beauty.
The ultimate cooler…
Truth be told, I favour a softer palette of white, cream and blush-hued nudes when it comes to my wardrobe, so it follows, that I like my appliances to follow suit. Meet the Smeg fridge that I saved for and treated myself to at the same time as my VW bug (curvy silhouettes get my vote). Fridge £1,279, Curry’s. Soft, rainbow hued chiffon smock top, coming soon, Mes Demoiselles Paris. (One of my favourite fashion labels – perfect for the gypsetter at heart.)
Keeping it chilled…
Did you know that some products benefit from a chilled environment and, especially in warmer climes prove to be extra efficient and refreshing when fresh from the fridge? Caudalíe harnesses the power of grapes, vines, leaves and seeds to create anti-ageing skincare that’s natural, ethical and ultra effective. It works. I like mine chilled – just like my wine. Top shelf from left: Resveratrol Firming Serum £45, (plumping, firming and just the tonic for ageing skin); Resveratrol Eye Lifting Balm £36, (the perfect pick me up for undereye puffiness and fine lines – it lifts, it smoothes, it performs mini miracles); Resveratrol Lift Night Infusion Cream £39, (this little beauty smoothes and regenerates your skin while you are asleep, what’s not to love?). Bottom shelf from left: Instant Detox Mask £22, (the natural clay, grape marc and coffee detox and refresh the skin, sweeping away those skin clogging impurities); Instant Foaming Cleanser £15, (soap free and as delicious as a creamy mousse this cleanser leaves skin fresh and clear but NOT stripped); Micellar Cleansing Water £15, (if you’re not in the market for a face wash…this whips off all traces of make up. Great for sensitive skin types).
Toasting the new nudes…
Bare Minerals launched their Gen Nude collection in January, heroing three luscious products: Radiant Lipstick £18, Buttercream Lipgloss £17, and Under Over Lip Liner £14. All are available in a mix of nude hues in tones of beige, pink, peach and even a hint of mauve. Yes it seems there are endless ways to go nude. The Stylish Stuff LOVES. Showcased in the Smeg 2 Slice Toaster £109.95, John Lewis.
Look what’s just popped up on our radar. Cruelty free, Eco Tools make up brushes. Sets available from £9.99 at Superdrug
Your morning pick me up…
Bean Body’s Coconut Coffee Bean Scrub £14.95, Amazon is your go to for rough skin, dry skin, stretch marked skin AND cellulite. It’s invigorating, smells like your first cup of coffee of the day and actually really works. Talking of coffee, how about this for a welcome addition to your work surface, Smeg Coffee Machine £279.95, John Lewis.
In other news / Green is good…
New to the Sukin range of skincare is the Super Greens range. Detoxifying, nourishing and brimming full of juice worthy ingredients that will definitely improve your skin’s diet. (We’re talking; kale, spirulina, chlorella, avocado, parsley, acai and goji berries just for starters) The Detoxifying Clay Masque £11.99, promotes a healthy, glowing complexion, especially used after the Detoxifying Facial Scrub £9.99, which gently polishes away dirt and impurities. Finish off with a light massage of the ultra-hydrating and Nourishing Chia Seed Oil £17.49 all available at Planet Organic.
A Veritable feast for skin…
Last but not least, The Stylish Stuff celebrates an exclusive unveiling of an innovative new product from make up artist Frances Prescott. Tri.Balm cleanses, exfoliates, moisturises and as I found out recently, makes for a wonderfully hydrating masque post long-haul flying. Formulated after she realised that many of her clients were just too time poor to indulge in a full on beauty regime yet still wanted a quality product that really cares for the skin. Et voilà, Tri.Balm was born. Retailing for a very reasonable £36 it’s now online at www.francesprescott.com. One little balm that boasts a myriad of talents, oh, and it smells good too.
Words and images by Shelly Vella
All beauty products featured are natural and cruelty free.