1. Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites by The Gloss Goss
The upcoming Cruel Gardenia Shimmering Powder from Guerlain is swatched and compared to the latest release from Laura Mercier in this picture perfect post. Tali describes the texture and finish of the powder wonderfully.

2. Do You Really Have “Sensitive” Skin? by Beauty Fool
So many women believe that their skin is sensitive and end up treating it with products that are not suitable for their unique skincare concerns. Renee’s information post about skin self-diagnosis is an eye opener!

3. Insight My Kit: Barbados: So Many Products, So Little Luggage Space! by Musings of a Makeup Artist
This little peek into Kenneth’s makeup collection is pure indulgence. His work trip to Barbados had him stuffing a selection of his kit into his luggage, and the result is this wonderful post jam packed full of storage ideas and essential products.

This brand new men’s scent from the refined house of Lanvin is something special! Lanvin Avant Garde is the first men’s release since 2009′s L’Homme Sport, and its definitely worth the wait.

Inspired by Lanvin’s Autumn/Winter ready-to-wear collection, the eau de toilette blends style with refinement and a touch of that unique Lanvin edge. From the clean lines of the bottle to the unexpected lavender-beeswax-georgywood fragrance, Avant Garde exudes charisma.

The scent opens with a top accord of bergamot, black pepper and pink peppercorn,  a vibrant meeting of both freshness and spiciness. An unusual heart of lavender and beeswax defies expectations, while a resonating drydown of georgywood, vetiver and sweet benzoin provide intense longevity.

Discover the brand new Lanvin Avant Garde scent right here at Escentual.com

After the whirlwind success of the Clarisonic skin cleansing system comes the targeted anti-ageing prowess of Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion, a palm-sized device that tightens and smoothes the eye contour, lip, brow and forehead.

The innovative Opal gently taps the skin at 125 sonic vibrations per second while dispensing serum deeper and more effectively than manual application. The Opal comes with a bottle of the Clarisonic Opal Anti-Ageing Sea Serum, a concentrate of firming marine glycosaminoglycans and protective natural extracts that boosts radiance and brightness. After 8 weeks of use lines and puffiness are visibly reduced, and there is a marked improvement in the skin’s elasticity.

To use, pump the serum into the applicator tip and turn the Opal on. Move the device in overlapping circular motions around the eye contour, lip, brow or forehead for 30 seconds each, and experience a fresher and more firm complexion.

The set includes the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Diffuser Device along with a charging base, the Ageing Sea Serum, two replacement applicator tips and a handy user guide so that you can make the most of your device.

Discover more about the Clarisonic Opal device right here at Escentual.com

 This year’s spring collection from Clarins is called Colour Breeze, and it’s all about a flawless complexion emphasised with delicate candy colours. The tender shades of Spring are revamped with radiant tones and shimmering pastels, making for the perfect post-winter blues buster.

Enhance your natural beauty with this mix of limited edition and new products…

Clarins Colour Breeze Face & Blush Powder (Limited Edition)

The centrepiece of the Colour Breeze collection, this whimsical compact is made up of a luminous translucent finishing powder, and is embossed with three complimentary colours of beige, peach and rose. Use separately for a perfecting and mattifying makeup finisher, or swirl all of the shades together for a perfect complexion boost and a dose of healthy colour. The pinwheel floral design of this limited edition compact makes it a spring must have!

Clarins Instant Light Blush (Limited Edition)
in 01 Vitamin Pink and 02 Coral Tonic

 These brand new limited edition blushes are a great way to infuse a bit of post-winter colour without going overboard. The fluid texture is subtly shimmery for high definition radiance, and provides a beautiful flush of natural-looking colour with complete ease of use. The specially designed doe-foot applicator allows you to dot the colour exactly where you need it.

Vitamin Pink 01 is a healthy-looking candy pink with coral undertones and silver shimmer, while Coral Tonic 02 is a radiance-boosting sweet peachy hue shot through with pink shimmer.

Clarins Joli Rouge Sheer Lipstick (New Colours)
in 15 Pink Magnolia and 16 Pink Coral

These buttery colours are the perfect partner for the sweet pastel hue of the Instant Light Blush. With a high sheen finish and in-built shine activator pigments,  the Jolie Rouge Sheer lipstick makes for a super smooth mango butter infused pout.

Pink Magnolia 15 is a wonderful mid brown pink with purple and silver microshimmer, while Pink Coral 16 is a barely-there coral hue with golden microshimmer. Both lipsticks were photographed after the swatches were made to give a feel for the amount of shimmer that is shot through.

Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick (New Colours)
in 735 Baby Pink and 734 Poppy Red

For a pop of moisturising and highly pigmented colour, look no further than the classic Joli Rouge lipstick. These two new shades are reminiscent of those you would find in a flower garden, with a finish that is vibrant and long-lasting. Baby Pink 735 is a frosty blue-toned pink that is shot through with masses of silver shimmer, while Poppy Red 734 is a satiny classic red with a touch of brightness.

Clarins Gloss Prodige Intense Colour & Shine Lip Gloss (New Product)
in 01 Chocolate, 02 Nude, 03 Rose, 04 Candy, 05 Grenadine, 06 Raspberry, 07 Blackberry and 08 Papaya

Clarins Gloss Prodige is the crème de la crème of lip gloss – with its gel-like formulation, high pigmentation, and ultra glossiness, you’re getting all of the colour and shine that you love without any of the compromise. Added lip plumpers make for an enviable pout, while the delicious blackberry and liquorice scent and flavour will keep you reapplying all day long.

Chocolate 01 is a red brown with purple shimmer,  Nude 02 is neutral beige shade with silver shimmer, Rose 03 is a pale pink-toned nude with silver shimmer, Candy 04 is a rosy pink with golden shimmer, Grenadine 05 is a hot pink red with golden shimmer, Raspberry 06 is a magenta pink with golden shimmer, Blackberry 07 is plummy purple with golden shimmer, and Papaya 08 is a peachy coral with golden shimmer.

Discover the entire Clarins Colour Breeze Spring 2012 Makeup Collection right here at Escentual.com

What does love mean to you? It’s a big question, but everyone has their own special answer.

Tell us what love means to you over on this competition page before 14th February 2012  and you could win £300 worth of products from makeup maestro Daniel Sandler and artisanal candle creator Jonathan Ward London.

Daniel Sandler is a renowned British makeup artist with a difference. Not content with simply beautifying his celebrity clients, he created Daniel Sandler Cosmetics, a range of high performance, luxurious makeup that brings out a woman’s natural beauty.

Founded in 2008 after four years of fragrance research and design, Jonathan Ward London has quickly gained an enviable reputation for producing the finest quality scented candles. All candles are hand-poured using the finest artisan craftsmanship, and each fragrance is a sophisticated blend of premium ingredients and scents, lovingly selected and expertly combined.

To supplement his luxurious collection of cosmetics, Daniel Sandler teamed up with Jonathan Ward to offer women an entire multi-sensorial pampering experience. The result is the ‘In Love candle‘, a uniquely couture product that has the heart and soul of its creators poured into every detail. The candle is the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, with its deeply romantic notes of vanilla, musk, patchouli, clove, violet and black pepper.

Competition closes 14th February 2012, so get on over to the competition page to be in with a chance to win!

By Louise Emma Clarke
Founding Editor of The-Beauty-Pages.com

Was your New Year’s Resolution to step up your exercise regime? If you are still keeping it up on 23^rd January, firstly I applaud you – my resolutions usually fall by the wayside in the second week of January, to be replaced by comforting takeaways and glasses of wine. Secondly, for those of you still hanging in there, I recommend getting your hands on a selection of pre and post-exercise products – as I bet your body is starting to show signs of exhaustion (especially if you aren’t used to such a rigorous regime)… My pick is below.

PRE-EXERCISE

Face Wipes. If you’re heading to the gym straight from work, you’ll need to remove your makeup before you step up the cardio (melting makeup isn’t good for your image or your complexion).  Cleansing wipes make the job quick and easy – and I recommend bareMinerals i.d Take Off Facial Wipes, £7.65.

Deodorant. Lets face it, deodorant isn’t the most glamorous purchase – but it’s certainly necessary when you’re hitting the gym. Steer clear of the beautifully scented ones (they’re great for day wear, but won’t cut it in a spinning class) and opt for something simple and effective, like Vichy 24hr Dry Touch Deodorant Roll-on, £8.

Hair protector. Swimming laps? Without protection, your hair is going to end up feeling dry and brittle – and if it’s blonde, it may even end up discoloured. Investing in a hair protector will guard your locks from the chlorine, whilst also giving it an intensive conditioning treatment. The best on the market is Philip Kingsley Swimcap, £16.10.

Aromatherapy Vaporiser. If you struggle to muster up the enthusiasm to head to the gym in the evening, I strongly recommend burning an energising essential oil as the sun starts to dip. Invest in Tisserand’s Aroma Steam Diffuser, £29.95, and add Orange, £4.75, Grapefruit, £6.15, or Mandarin Essential Oils, £6.80 (or even a blend of all three) to get you in the mood for a workout.

POST-EXERCISE

Relaxing Scented Candle. After all that physical and mental stimulation, it’s time to give your mind and body a rest – so light the wick of a relaxing scented candle as soon as you step through the door. L’Occitane The Harvests Lavender Candle, £15.57, is the perfect way to wind down.

Muscle Soak. Aching muscles? Sink into a warm bath infused with a soothing muscle soak, such as Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Mineral Muscle Soak, £15.35. The blend of Dead Sea salts, trace minerals, and algae extracts helps to ease away soreness, whilst also revitalizing skin.

Massage Oil. For the achiest limbs, add a muscle rub to your post-exercise regime. Tisserand Muscle Ease Massage Oil, £8.10, is fantastic value for money. With warming ginger oil, relieving lemongrass oil, and stimulating rosemary oil, it’ll revive the sorest muscles.

Detoxing Hair Mask. Chlorine, frequent showers and heat drying, and extreme weather combine to leave locks stressed and damaged – so treat locks to regular applications of a detoxing hair mask when you are in the midst of an exercise regime. Fudge Detox Deep Cleanser, £6.45, is ideal.

Foot Cream. Pounding the pavements or treadmill? Your feet will be taking a battering, so give them some TLC every evening with a softening foot cream. Clarins Foot Beauty Cream, £16, contains Arnica to relieve feelings of fatigue, Shea Butter to repair, and Cashew Nut Oil to nourish and soften. Your feet will thank you for it.

Happy workouts!

The latest release from Miller Harris is a double feature.

This week has seen the launch of new fragrances La Pluie and La Fumee, two scents that couldn’t be more different to each other, but make for a truly lovely contrast. La Pluie, literally translated as Rain, is a luscious wet tropical scent that evokes the moodiness of inky blue-black stormclouds and the first drops of rain hitting the heated ground of a faraway paradise. La Fumee on the other hand is as arid and heady as its translated namesake, Smoke.

The balminess of La Pluie is apparent straight away.  The cool meeting of citruses and lavender with the warm and tropical floral heart of ylang ylang, cassie, jasmine and orange flower exhilarates the senses. A touch of wheat adds a slightly drier element to the composition that evokes the airiness of storm clouds. The drydown of vetiver bourbon and vanilla bourbon creates a wonderful creamy greenness that lends itself well to the abundance of flora.

Where La Pluie is drenched with watery greenness, everything about La Fumee is dry and warm to the point of smouldering. There is a really addictive quality to this scent; though heady, it isn’t overpowering and it actually leans a little to the sweeter end of the smoky spectrum. The notes of La Fumee are equally as exotic as La Pluie, with cardamom from Guatemala, Egyptian cumin, elemi from the Philippines and incense from the Yemen making up the core composition. A deep and smoky heart of Moroccan cedarwood and incense captures the scent of smouldering embers wonderfully.

Discover the Miller Harris La Pluie Eau de Parfum and the Miller Harris  La Fumee Eau de Parfum right here at Escentual.com

Persolaise Shortlisted Twice for 2011 Jasmine Awards by Persolaise
Persolaise is one of our very favourite perfume bloggers, and we’re thrilled that he’s been shortlisted not once, but twice for a 2011 Jasmine Award. Not that we’re surprised – you’ll be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable fragrance blogger out there. Well done Persolaise!

My Nail Varnish Storage! by Katie’s Beauty Blog
While Katie’s nail varnish collection is pretty incredible, her method of housing them is even more so. An eBay bought spice rack provides the perfect solution to her storage woes – she has even categorised them in terms of brand and colour. Organisation heaven.

Instagram #3 by gh0stparties
If you kept up to date with our blog of the week posts last year, it’s no secret that we love an artfully taken picture. This post from Kate at gh0stparties is pure visual candy and includes  pictures of all sorts of lovely things, including a beauty purchase or two.

It’s that time of year again – January means a rush to the slopes for lots of people, but knowing what to pack can be pretty tricky. We’ve rounded up five essential products that will protect you from the elements while you’re skiing, along with a few tips for surviving the slopes with your hair and skin intact…

1. Protect your complexion
You need the highest protection possible when skiing – the sun is stronger than it appears and is further intensified as it reflects off the snow. Opt for an SPF of 50+ to make sure you’re well protected, and pay extra attention to the nose, forehead and cheeks as these are prone to burning.

Try: La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF50+ Melt-In Tinted Cream [1], this water resistant high SPF sunscreen not only offers optimal protection, but is also tinted to simulate a healthy glow.

Care for hair
If you’re not fan of a hat when skiing, you’ll need to protect your hair from the elements. Sun can be extremely damaging to hair, stripping it of its natural oils and causing colour fade. Choose a formulation that will put the moisture back in and protect your hair from further damage. You’ll also need to weatherproof your style what with all of the snow and the wind, so choose a product that will keep you looking polished.

Try: Schwarzkopf Professional BC Bonacure Sun Protect After Sun Treatment [2], an innovative foam spray that repairs, detanges and smoothes the hair after sun exposure, and  Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Styling Froth [3], a protective styling treatment with sunscreens that protects against heat and the weather.

Soothe burns
Sometimes no matter how careful you are, there’s a little patch of unprotected skin that manages to get burned – and there’s nothing worse than sunburn when you’re trying to enjoy yourself! Pack a product that will help to calm and relieve sun-stressed skin, and will help it to recover a little bit faster.

Try: Clarins SOS Sunburn Soother [4], a 100% plant formula with soothing shea butter and mango butter that restores comfort and suppleness with a gentle touch.

Therapy for lips
Lips really pay the price during skiing. When the cold air is combined with the strong sun, lips can feel really dry and irritable. Don’t lick them, though – they’ll dry out again and so begins a cycle that will lead to chapped, cracked and sore lips. Instead, reach for a moisturising lip balm that will protect as well as soothe lips.

Try: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF25 [5], this intensive formulation immediately relieves lips and protects them from windburn, sunburn, UV-induced free radicals and chapping.

You’ve spent hours perfecting your hair and makeup before your night out, so of course you want to keep it looking flawless. It’s no mean feat looking and feeling fresh when you’re exposed to the heat of a club or pub, but we have some essential tips and tricks to keep you looking great even if you don’t feel it.

Opt for multi-tasking products that won’t take up much space in your bag, but will provide maximum results. These five products are your new night out saviours..

1) Flawless skin for longer
Rather than lugging your big bottle of liquid foundation around with you, either decant some into a small vial or pot, or plump for a new generation powder foundation. The innovative formulations of these powders are a world away from the chalky makeup of old – they include hydrating ingredients, light optimising complexes and high pigmentation levels for a truly flawless finish. Plus, they have the added benefit of keeping skin feeling matte and fresh for longer than their liquid counterparts, and that’s ideal when there’s dancing to be done.

Try: Clarins Everlasting Compact Foundation SPF15, which provides 15 hours of flawless coverage and comes in a beautiful slimline compact.

2) Quick intense eyes
Whether you’re wearing false lashes or you’ve built up an enviable flutter with your arsenal of mascaras, it’s fair to say that your lashes may well be flagging towards the end of the night. Cheat your way to a fully made-up look with a good quality eyeliner that will darken and define the eyes. Tight line the upper lid to simulate a full lash line, and to really add some intensity run the pencil over your water line. When used sparingly, it can also be used to fill in the brows which will further shape the face.

Try: Too Faced Lava Gloss Eye Liner, a glossy colour that doesn’t drag across the lids and provides a perfect pigmentation punch.

3) Instant healthy flush
When you’re drinking, eating and talking, it’s inevitable that you’re going to have to reapply your lip colour throughout the night, so aim for a foolproof formula that you can apply quickly and easily. When that formula can be used on both lips and cheeks and it comes in a compact with a mirror, you’re dealing with perfect makeup material! Choose a brightening pink or a radiance enhancing peach to really perk up the complexion.

Try: Stila Convertible Colour for Lips and Cheeks, a one-stop shop for beautiful cheek and lip colour with a creamy, comfortable finish

4) A hit of uplifting scent
Scent makes you feel more put together, so make sure you always have some to hand for when you’re starting to wane on a night out. A luxurious purse fragrance in particular serves two main purposes on a night out: the first is to revitalise yourself on the go, and the second is to induce a little bit of fragrance envy whenever you take the cute spray out of your bag. Each slimline fragrance is designed to be as durable as they are opulent, so you can rest assured they won’t smash and saturate the inside of your bag with scent.

Try: Yves Saint Laurent Elle Eau de Parfum Purse Spray and Refills, a beautiful lipstick-inspired purse spray with a beautiful Peony and Patchouli scent.

5) Quick-fix for out of control hair
There are all sorts of things that can make your hair rebel, but humidity is one of the major culprits. Excessive heat and bad weather can make your carefully styled hair fall flat very quickly, so always carry some quick-fix provisions with you. Bobbles and hairspray are a dream team when it comes to sorting out troublesome hair. Tilt your head upside down and spray hairspray onto the roots for lift, and then pull it into a ponytail. It’s out of your face, but still looking glamorous.

Try: Tigi Rockaholic Fun Times Flexible Hairspray 75ml, this bag-friendly miniature hairspray has a great scent and is flexible and non-sticky.