Nicky's Rag Tales

I thought I would share my favorites with you and throw in a few tips along the way. I’ve been a beauty junkie since I could hold a mascara wand in my hand and remember age 11 being told by a boy friend (who is still a friend!) that blue eyeshadow didn’t suit me!

Skin Care

My cleanser comes from Emma Hardie’s Amazing Face. A gorgeous balm which comes with a separate pot of rosehip exfoliating seeds and a two sided flannel. You can use the balm which smells gorgeous alone or mixed with the seeds. It also doubles as a soothing face mask. Reasonably priced it lasts for ages and if you are a fan of Eve Lom’s cleanser this is better and cheaper.

The skin care line comes from Bravura London which doesn’t come in fancy pots , is very reasonably priced and is excellent. I use 10% moisturiser in the morning topped with Environ sun protection from New Zealand which is very light. I never go a day without sunblock and have used it since I was a teenager. I put down my lack of lines to daily sun protection and a decent set of genes in that department anyway!

Evenings I use 15% Night Treatment from Bravura and take a break once or twice a week when I use a cheap basic moisturiser.

I don’t use any particular eye creams because I have never found them to be particularly good. I’ve tried loads through the years and have given up on them.

Makeup I can’t live without

First off would be Mascara and Estee Lauders Magna Scopic ticks all the boxes for me. Occasionally I try a new one and always go back to it.

Eyebrow pencil comes from Mac. As I’m obsessive about eyebrows this is the best pencil as it’s very thin and one of those propeller types that you can get a very fine line with. Always choose a pencil colour that’s a shade lighter than your natural eyebrows unless you are very fair and in that case go up a shade. Remember that eyebrows are not identical twins just sisters! so don’t fret if they are not a complete match. As the eyebrows frame the face a mistake I see all the time is the eyebrows starting too far apart. To get the line correct take a pencil and hold it alongside your nose. Where the pencil lines up is where your eyebrows should start. Also if they are very short and end half way use feathering strokes to elongate them a little, but not drooping downwards try tilting them a little upwards.

Eyeshadows are mostly Bobbi Brown and at the moment I’m loving the Long Wear Cream Shadow in Galaxy.

Eyeliner Bobbi Brown Long wear gel eyeliner applied with a bobbi brown brush.

Foundation Lift Lumiere from Chanel. I alternate this with Laura Mercier Mineral powder foundation but for travelling the liquid is easier as the powder ones end up all over the bag.

Concealer Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye brightener which is magic.

MY TOP TIPS

Body creams are lovely but very expensive so I just use the expensive ones on the top half and the cheaper non scented ones on my legs (which are pretty big and take up loads of cream). So Jo Malone Grapefruit on top and E45 everywhere else.

I generally only use fake tan in the Summer months and always apply it with my bare hands. I use Veet hair remover to remove the stuff from my hands and it works a treat. Use a generous dollop all over your hands and under and around the nails and rinse off straight away. Smells awful but does the job perfectly.

If you wear stay up stockings dont use any body cream on your legs as the silicone bands won’t hold. If your stockings do slip leg it to the nearest bathroom and using wet fingers rub water over the bands and they should stick again.

The best cuticle cream is Sally Hanson Diamond Cuticle and Nail Cream Put it on last thing at night.

Hand wash all your bra’s and knickers. It only takes a couple of minutes and will save you a fortune beacause they will last so much longer.

Always ditch those metal hangers and replace with good ones. They destroy the clothes especially jackets.

Because I’m always in a hurry at the beginning of each season I spend some time putting outfits together and hang them in my wardrobe together. So if I have a dress that perhaps looks good with a cardigan or alternatively a particular jacket I will hang them together. That way if I’m in a hurry I don’t have to spend hours wondering what goes with what and ending up with a huge pile of clothes on the floor. I put the shoes under the outfits and also belts and any other accessories too.

I keep my skin creams and all my perfume in the fridge. They last longer and feel lovely on the skin.

Perfume at the moment I love is from Penhaligon’s, Amaranthine. But I also love Mitsouko from Guerlain and Fig and Cassis from Jo Malone

Hair Care. I love the Joico range of shampoos and conditioners though I was put off by the packaging which is really pretty awful. The products are excellent though but pricey if you buy in the Salon. I buy them from Strawberry.net and save a small fortune. Don’t tell my hairdresser Mark from Sitstil in Dublin’s Drury Street. He’s the best stylist and colourist in Dublin.

Amaranthine Eau de Parfum