No More Handwashing Bras

As anyone who has attended any of my classes or talks will testify, I’m a bit obsessed with bras! Nothing will make you look slimmer and more shapely than a good bra, so it is worth investing in high-quality garments. However, once you have invested your hard-earned cash in a bra, it’s important that you look after it properly so that it maintains it’s shape for a long time.

And until recently, the only way to do this was to hand-wash your bras (as washing machines rip out the under-wiring and distort the cup shape).

Thanks be to goodness however, my hand-washing days are at an end. Meet the bra saver:

The Snips Bra Saver is a light plastic pod, in which you store your bra during washing machine cycles. This protective shell guaranteed a thorough wash, without any damage, or elbow grease. It goes to prove that the best ideas really are the simplest ones.

This fantastic invention is available from Opoko.com for €14.99.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Jean Byrne's Style

I’m only getting around to reading yesterday’s paper now, and it seems that I missed the storm (if you pardon the pun) surrounding Met Éireann Meteorologist, Jean Byrne’s, rather controversial choice of attire on Wednesday night’s RTÉ weather bulletins. Click here for photo and full article on Examiner.ie.

Byrne has become known of late for her adventurous style, which, by all accounts, has some journos hot under the collar! Personally, I admire her greatly. Her clothes may not be for everyone. But that’s the point! Style isn’t about pleasing everyone else; it’s about pleasing you. What ever makes you feel happy and confident, wear it! Of course there is a thin line between embracing your personal taste and wearing what is appropriate and whether Byrne’s controversial dress is suitable in a mainstream work environment is surely questionable. However, she does work in Media and is known as a pioneering dresser, so I think the rules may be a bit different for her than the average worker! She’s a stunning woman, always looks extremely confident and polished, and has a great figure for fashion – so fair play to her I say. And as an aside, she is an avid supporter of Irish designers, which I hugely admire.

What do you think of Jean Byrne’s style?

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Concealer & Flash Photography

Under-eye concealer and flash photography are not always compatible bedfellows, as Eva Longoria discovered recently when she was snapped by Paparazzi in LA. I don’t have permission to post the images in question here, but click on the above link to see what I’m talking about. Essentially, her under-eye area looks ghostly-white in contrast to the rest of her face.

I’m not convinced that there wasn’t a bit of photoshop used to enhance this glare, as Eva Longoria’s make-up is normally flawless, whereas tabloids and paparazzi are unscrupulous. But, my purpose for highlighting (if you pardon the pun) this story today is that this is a common make-up misdemeanour. I know, because I was a serial offender! I look like a raccoon in many college photos, thanks to liberal use of YSL Touche Éclat (pictured below) in the early 00s!

This under-eye glare is caused by under-eye concealers and powders that contain “light-reflective particles” (YSL Touche Éclat is a common culprit). Light reflective particles are brilliant say for someone with mature skin or dark circles under their eyes. They act like tiny little mirrors that reflect natural light, thereby making the skin look fresh, youthful and radiant. Great in day-light; however, not so great on camera. You see, when the concealer or powder is exposed to the extreme light of flash photography, it’s almost like you have placed a giant mirror under your eyes. The flash bounces harshly off the light reflective particles, thereby making your under-eyes look scarily white in photographs.

So, how can you avoid this. Well, the main thing is to choose concealers and powders that don’t contain titanium dioxide (the light-reflecting ingredient). A quick trick is to avoid labels that contain words such as “brightening”, “luminous”, “radiant”, light-reflecting” etc. Apply your concealer on top of your foundation, blend well, and set with a matte powder. If you are particularly worried, you can use a mattifying / clarifying primer underneath your make-up. Finally, if you are going to an event where there will be lots of cameras, you may wish to choose a slightly darker shade of concealer than normal (but NOT darker than your foundation).

Now, if only I could figure out a way that we can all look like Eva Longoria!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Big SS11 Trend - Pajamas

I’ve often said it; the second I scoff at a questionable fashion statement, it’s guaranteed to become fashion’s latest big thing!

Last year I remember turning my nose up at shearling jackets and lo and behold we haven’t been able to move sideways for the past 6 months without being accosted by a woolly fleece.

And now, it seems, my disinclination towards the practice of wearing one’s pajamas outdoors is also in vain, as ‘outdoor indoor wear’ is Spring-Summer 2011’s ubiquitous trend. According to the top trendsters, it seems that this sartorial statement – which began in the aisles of Tesco et al – will dominate the rails this season.

Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang and John Galliano (see SS11 picture below) were all inspired by pajamas this season:

Photo credit: Dan & Corina Lecca, featured on HarpersBazaar.com

I’m yet to be convinced of this trend as I’m of the opinion that the only time pajamas should be outside is on a washing line. What do you think? Will you be sporting your pajamas with pride during Summer 2011?

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Plain Sale-ing

This is probably a worrisome confession to hear from a stylist, but I must admit that I am not a huge fan of sales. All the heat, messiness, crowds etc. breaks me out in a cold sweat. Nonetheless, I am a fan of a bargain, so here are my top tips to help you bag a bargain in the current post-Christmas sales.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Although I’m taking Roy Keane’s quote out of context here, the sentiment is the same. Ever before you hit the shops, make a list of items that you actually need and take this list with you on your sale expedition.

The early bird catches the bargain
Sales mania is a horrible; all that pushing, shoving, disorder and heat makes for a most unpleasant shopping experience. Get to town early when bedlam is still in bed and you can shop in relative peace.

Dress appropriately
Wear comfortable footwear (preferably flat) and don’t wear garments that have loads of buttons/fastenings. You’ll quickly tire of changing rooms if you have to unfasten/refasten 10 buttons every time you want to try on an item.

Look for quality, not quantity
There is no better feeling than that of being laden down with shopping bags. There is no worse feeling of looking at a wardrobe packed with garments, yet you can’t find anything to wear. Don’t get carried away with impulse purchasing at the sales; only invest in classic items that are of good quality, well-cut and have no shop damage.

Try before you buy
Even though the queue for the changing room may be a mile long, make sure that you try on every garment that you intend purchasing. It may look good on the hangar but not on you.

A bargain isn’t a bargain unless you really need it
Don’t convince yourself that you really need something just because it has a “75% off” tag. Only purchase items that you really need.

Heed the conditions of sale
Before you purchase an item, make yourself aware of the retailer’s conditions of sale. For example, most stores will not accept returns of sale goods.

Happy shopping!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Hide Undereye Circles

I’ve had a number of queries lately on the topic of dark under-eye circles - more pertinently – how to get rid of them! Well, the bad news is that you can’t eradicate them completely, but the good news is that you can do a pretty good job of concealing them with make-up!

What Causes Dark Circles?

Dark circles are cased by inflammation underneath the eye. This inflammation casts a shadow underneath the eye, which results in the ‘dark circle’. Inflammation can be caused by a number of things – illness, allergies, tiredness, dehydration, stress, smoking etc. so the first thing you should do when tackling under-eye circles is find the cause. Once you now what it is, you can manage it going forward.

Remove inflammation:

There are a few ways of reducing the inflammation that causes dark circles.

• Lifestyle changes: sleep (8 hours per night), water (8 glasses per day) and a good healthy diet will work wonders.
• Stay out of the sun: Dark circles are often created and exacerbated by sun damage. Always wear a minimum SPF15 when out in the sun.
• Cold compress: I find that pressing cold teaspoons against the affected area for a minute or so works wonders. Cucumber slices work a treat also.
• Caffeine: And no, I don’t mean drinking coffee! Eye-creams that contain caffeine are great at reducing dark circles. Gentle pressing cold teabags against the affected area also helps.

Covering Dark Circles with Concealer:

• Step 1: Using a concealer brush (small brush with synthetic hair, e.g. MAC 194), apply a small amount of peach/pink toned concealer over the dark circles (pink/peach conceals blue/purple). Blend thoroughly; I use a MAC #224 small fluffy brush for this.
• Step 2: Using your concealer brush again, cover with a yellow-toned concealer. I take the yellow concealer right up to the lower lash-line and down to the cheekbone. Again, blend well with a fluffy brush.
• Step 3: Once you are happy with the coverage, set the concealer with powder, using your small fluffy brush.

Caroline Recommends:

• Light / day-to-day coverage: Catrice All-Round Concealer Palette contains 2 pink and 2 yellow shades (ignore the green one which is supposed to cover red pigmentation, but isn’t very good to be honest) and is great value at €3.79.
• Professional / flawless coverage: Bobbi Brown Corrector (peach/pink toned e.g. “Light Bisque”) and Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (yellow toned e.g. “Sand”) are the best on the market.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Remove Snow Stains from Leather Shoes

I had a query from a client yesterday asking me how to remove ’snow stains’ from her leather shoes. Unfortunately she had to trudge through dirty snow yesterday and as a result the leather is stained.

Here are a few methods which may help to restore our reader’s shoes back to their former glory:

METHOD 1: WHITE VINEGAR & BEESWAX

• Step 1: Stuff your leather footwear with newspaper and let them dry out naturally. Don’t place them in front of a radiator or fire hearth.
• Step 2: Mix a cup of water with a tablespoon of white vinegar. Dip a clean cloth into the liquid, and then wring the excess out. Then, wipe the shoes/boots until the salt marks have completely disappeared. Let them dry out naturally.
• Step 3: Rub some beeswax into the shoes/boots with a clean, soft cloth which will condition and shine, and help to prevent future water / snow / salt damage.

METHOD 2: SHOE CLEANING PRODUCTS

• Step 1: As above, stuff your leather footwear with newspaper and let them dry out naturally. Don’t place them in front of a radiator or fire hearth.
• Step 2: Wipe the shoes with a clean damp cloth to remove any surface dirt.
• Step 3: Buff the shoes with a shoe cream or wax polish (in an appropriate colour), available from shoe shops. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

METHOD 3: STRANGE BUT TRUE?

• A recent texter to the Ray D’Arcy Radio Show suggested that buffing dry leather shoes with a peeled raw potato works wonders at removing ‘dried in dirty snow stains’! I have never tried this method so I can’t tell you whether it works or not.
• But, on the subject of strange, food-related cleaning methods, I know for a fact that rubbing leather shoes with the inside of a banana skin creates a blindingly good shine (albeit it can create weird banana-scented leather). Have you tried this?

Thank you to the team at Serendipity Shoe Boutique for their help in putting this feature together.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Body Shop Eye Make-up Remover

inding a decent eye make-up remover has been something of an elusive quest for me over the years. I’ve tried many, with most either stinging my eyes or leaving half the make-up behind. In the end, more often than not, I tended to use baby oil or Vaseline to remove stubborn eyeliner or mascara.

Whilst hanging around waiting for a flight recently, I happened across the The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover tucked away in the corner of the Duty Free. (Note: NOT the waterproof formula – word on the internet is that the waterproof formula stings a bit.) It worked out at about €7 for a 250ml bottle so I figured that I had little to lose by buying it.

I had all to gain as it turns out. This product suited my skin perfectly; extremely cool and soothing, it removes every trace of my eye make-up without stinging my sensitive eyes, and best of all, it doesn’t require half a litre of product and a packet of cotton pads per use either! Rose water is a main ingredient, which leaves my skin feeling fresh, and without any tightness or oiliness that I have experienced with other eye make-up removers. All in all, I’m very happy with it.

Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover

The one disclaimer I will put out is that the above review is based on my own experience of this product. Everyone’s eyes are different so a product that suits me may irritate you, and vice versa – so aways do a patch test before using any new product near your eyes.

Lastly, always use clean cotton pads on each eye to avoid cross contamination.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Cure chapped Lips

The recent cold spell has not only had a perishing effect on our land, it has also resulted in many of us experiencing a painful condition called Cheilitis, commonly known as ‘chapped lips’. Our bodies become dehydrated when we are exposed to extreme conditions (cold, wind, sun, central heating, air-conditioning etc.), which can lead to dry, cracked and peeling lips. Thankfully there are a number of excellent products on the market which can alleviate and eradicate these symptoms:

Best for Outdoor Wear – Blistex Daily lip Conditioner (€3.57 for 7ml)

Soothing, conditioning and long-lasting, this lip balm is ideal for outdoors. It contains key moisturising ingredients including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, aloe vera and collagen, as well as an SPF15 which will protect your lips from the sun’s harmful rays.

Best for Repairing Extreme Damage– La Roche Posay Ceralip Lip Repair Cream (€15 for 15ml)

Especially formulated for severely dry or sensitive lips, this soothing ointment will gently restore your lips back to full health.

Best Natural Product – Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (€3.95 for 8.5g)

Made purely from natural products (including lanolin, sunflower oil and coconut oil) this non-greasy formula offers instant relief to damaged lips. It also contains peppermint oil which gives a refreshing minty scent and tingling feeling!

Best for Preventing Damage – Vaseline Lip Therapy Petroleum Jelly (€1.09 for 20g)

Vaseline Lip Therapy has been used for donkeys’ years as a barrier against harsh elements and is still a market favourite today. With four variations now available – Original, Aloe Vera, Sun Protection and Rosy Lips – you’re bound to find a favourite.

Best All-Rounder – Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream (€30 for 50ml)

Not only does 8-Hour Cream act as an excellent lip salve, it also gives rapid and effective relief to dry skin, abrasions, rashes and burns. Furthermore, it has many cosmetic uses, serving equally well as a lip gloss, highlighting cream, brow gel and lash-thickener!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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