Imagine how delighted I was when a delivery from Shiseido landed on my desk with some gorgeous Skincare treats inside for me to test and review a few weeks ago. The beauty brand has somewhat of a cult following and established way back in 1872, they’ve got pretty good at perfecting their products — I was intrigued and  excited.

I’m trying The Skincare collection. A three step skincare regime designed to combat dehydration (I have combination skin) and manage moisture levels in the skin resulting in a glowing complexion and reduced signs of ageing. Sounds great!

Step one is the Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam. I am always a little weary of facial washes  (I find many drying)  so I approached this with caution. I couldn’t have been more wrong! This satisfyingly sized tube of cleanser feels rich and nourishing, soft and creamy and works into a lather instantly. When I rinsed it away my skin felt ‘squeaky’ clean (it’s now my favourite part of my daily cleansing routine).

Step two is the Hydro-Nourishing Softener which all at once exfoliates and helps the skin to retain moisture. This feels nothing like a regular exfoliator as it’s non abrasive and sweeps on to the skin using a cotton pad. It’s at this stage that you realise how super the cleansing foam is as there is never a trace of makeup or dirt on the pad!

Finally, my skin gets a real treat with the Day Moisture Protection (SPF 15) which is a lovely light lotion.  It’s quickly absorbed and the pump action bottle means the end to messy pots!

I’ve been using this trio of products for three weeks now and can safely say i have noticed a difference in my skin. It feels much healthier and smoother and is softer to the touch. An all round fabulous beauty discovery for me!

Beauty Review: Shiseido is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Annick Goutal’s exceptional perfume house with its evocative new fragrance. Evoking Camille’s childhood memories of Hollywood’s wartime movies – all satin, lace, gloved hands and ruby lips – and the image of her mother Annick dressing for an evening out. Mon Parfum Cheri is a celebration in itself, honouring Annick Goutal’s eternal beauty. Using a patchwork of inspirations, Mon Parfum Cheri promises to enrapture the senses. Mysterious Indonesian patchouli, ravishingly feminine sweet plum, notes of powder that suddenly rise to the surface and memories of the glamorous scents of days gone by. Irises and violets combine to seduce you with a velvet touch.

Shop the new fragrance here

Celebrate Annick Goutal’s 30th anniversary with new fragrance Mon Parfum Cheri par Camille is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

With the clocks going back and the nights drawing in earlier, it’s time to take charge of our skin.  Skin needs care all year round but it’s during the winter months where it really takes a beating and has to work its hardest, so it needs all the help it can get.  It can be hard to know what’s best for your skin but follow our simple guide and you’ll never need to worry about your complexion being as dull as the weather.

Increase the Moisture

Winter is awful for drying out the skin, with harsh winds as well as constantly fluctuating freezing temperatures and central heating. Upping the water intake is most people’s solution when wanting to add moisture, and this is a great habit to get into long term.  Short term however, the likelihood of your increased intake of H2O getting to the surface of your skin quick enough to make difference is unlikely. It’s a good idea to switch to a heavier  moisturiser, specifically at night so it can be absorbed by your skin while you sleep. We love Crème de la Mer moisturising cream for its thick and luxurious texture while still melting into the skin with out leaving any greasy residue.  If you find this too heavy for every night, you can cut this down to just two or three times a week.

Night serums are also a great way to help brighten up your complexion; the coveted Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair is perfect as it’s lighter than a moisturiser and helps to repair the skin over night giving you a fresh complexion for any early morning. If you feel like you need a bit more help on cold days, a lighter weight moisturiser is great to wear underneath your make up to protect skin. Clinique’s Moisture surge is perfect for this; the gel like consistency melts into the skin quickly making it the perfect base for make up application. Don’t forget about your lips! In winter we cannot live without Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream, whether it’s dry skin or chapped lips this is an all in one skin saver!

Wash Away a Dull Day

It’s a good idea to switch to a mild cleanser in the colder months; you don’t want to be stripping your skin of any natural oils you need to help you rejuvenate dull looking skin. Clarins Gentle Cleanser is great for this. With the effectiveness of soap in a formula as lightweight as cleansing milk, skin feels refreshed and clean without that post soap dryness. That being said there’s no need to forget about exfoliating. Dry skin still builds up so keep this as part of your skincare routine in winter but reduce it to times when you feel your moisturising routine isn’t working as effectively— perhaps once every two weeks. Things like moisturising masks are also a great thing to introduce into your winter routine to give your skin a real hydrating blast and the perfect excuse to cosy up on the sofa once a fortnight!

We love…

Clarins gentle exfoliator £17

Lancome Exfoliator £27.50                                                                           Rituals moisturising mask £17

Build a Good Foundation

The key thing to remember in winter is to lighten the tone of your foundation, what worked in summer will absolutely not match in winter. You usually need about two shades lighter to get a natural winter glow but this can depend on how much you’ve been in the sun and whether you tan at all (some English Roses may not need to change)! If you are in the market for a colour change, yellow based foundations are great for warming up your skin tone without making it look too unnaturally pink or flushed.  This is also a good time to go for a fuller coverage but again this can depend on what finish you like.  Estee Lauder Double Wear is a great option for this as it lasts all day and DOES NOT BUDGE! Light reflecting or luminous foundations are a great alternative for those of you who prefer a dewy finish and want to keep the subtle glow that you love in the summer. It also helps to lift dull looking skin rather than concentrating on a heavy coverage. We love the Nars Sheer Glow £29.50 and Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising foundation £29 depending on whether your skin is dry, combination or oily.

Don’t Ditch the Tan

Just because it’s winter, we’re big advocates of keeping the bronzer on the go. Don’t feel like you have to hide it away and become a paler, ‘winter’ version of your former self just because it’s cold. A gradual tanner or a light dusting of bronzer can perk up any dull complexion instantly, but do restrain yourself from your normal summer routine, you’re going for a slight winter flush not a Marbella tan! The Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder has two shades to choose from, the lighter one is great for any skin tone if you just want to add a flush of colour. Alternatively, Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel is great for mixing into foundation to get a subtle all over glow.

What can’t you live without this winter?

Shop our beauty department here.

Winter skin: A guide to keeping your complexion brighter than the weather is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Calling all Estée Lauder lovers!  The 2011 Estée Lauder Offer is here, just in time to treat a loved one, or yourself, this Christmas.

Get the Estée Lauder Professional Makeup Artist Colour Collection 2011 worth over £300 for just £50 when you buy any Estée Lauder Fragrance.

Be your own Colour Stylist with 31 colours, brushes and more. You’ll have everything you need to get great Holiday Style, all inside a chic red cosmetic traveler with elegant clutch companion bag and travel mirror.

This extraordinary collection includes:

• Deluxe Eyeshadow Compact with 18 coordinating shades (Summer Linen, Amazing Grey, Amethyst Spark, Flirty Lilac, Pink Flash, Purple Passion, Nude Fresco, Tranquil Moon, Peacock Blue, Smoky Ember, Berry Burst, Tempting Mocha, Ivy Envy, Chocolate Bliss, Ivory Slipper, Sandbar Beige, Hot Cinnamon, Rivera Rose.)
• Deluxe All-Over Face Compact (Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer, Estée Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Pink Kiss, Radiant Peach and Nude Rose.)
• Two Pure Color Glosses in Orchid Passion Shimmer & Electric Ginger.
  Three Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks (full-size, in Barely Nude, Candy and Fresh Plum)
• Sumptuous Bold Volume™ Lifting Mascara (10-day supply; in Black)
• Two Artist’s Eye Pencils (great for smoky eyes, in SoftSmudge Black, SoftSmudge Brown)
• Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (full-size 100ml.)
• Chic Red Cosmetic Traveller

To take advantage of this fantastic offer, simply follow these three simple steps:

Add the Estée Lauder Makeup Artist Colour Collection to your basket (worth over £300 but yours for only £50 if you follow the next two steps).

1. Add any Estée Lauder fragrance or fragrance gift set to your bag.
2. Complete the rest of your House of Fraser online shop and go to the checkout. Your discount will automatically be applied to the Blockbuster making it only £50.

When it’s this easy how could you resist? Who will you be treating this Christmas?

See the offer here

The Estée Lauder 2011 Colour Collection is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

To celebrate one our favourite beauty brands 1^st birthday, we’re offering an amazing gift with any £25 spend on Apothecary products.

Simply spend £25 in our Apothecary department and receive our gift to you – an Apothecary Candle for £1, usually £22.  Just in time to get cozy for winter!

Need some inspiration on what to get?  We’ve done some sums for you so all you have to do is pick your perfect match!

Korres fig body butter £12.50 + Origins Damage Reverse starter kit £15

Apothecary Bergamot & Cypress soap trio £21 + Rose bath melt gift box £4

Deborah Lippmann nail polish £14 + Green & Spring hand treatment £12

Trilogy signature skincare collection £19.50 + Smith’s rosebud salve tube £7.50

What will add up to your perfect purchase?

Shop our Apothecary Department here

Happy 1st Birthday Apothecary! is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

For 1 day only sit down with a celebrated M·A·C senior artist, learn new techniques, unleash your artistry, personalise your palette and find your perfect foundation shade. See below for upcoming dates and locations.

Beatties Wolverhampton, 20.10.11

DATE: THURSDAY 20^TH OCTOBER
LOCATION: BEATTIES WOLVERHAMPTON

TEL: 0870 192 5110

£25 BOOKING FEE, REDEEMABLE AGAINST M·A·C PURCHASES MADE ON THE DAY.
SPACE IS LIMITED, PLEASE BOOK EARLY.
TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT AND FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CALL THE M·A·C STORE TODAY.

House of Fraser, Bluewater 27.10.11

DATE: THURSDAY 27^TH OCTOBER
LOCATION: HOUSE OF FRASER BLUEWATER

TEL: 0870 192 5044

£25 BOOKING FEE, REDEEMABLE AGAINST M·A·C PURCHASES MADE ON THE DAY.
SPACE IS LIMITED, PLEASE BOOK EARLY.
TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT AND FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CALL THE M·A·C STORE TODAY.

Frasers Glasgow 09.11.11

SEMINAR

Join us at a M·A·C Seminar for an exclusive preview

of our holiday collection, exploring THIS SEASON’s

coolest colours.

Get a look that’s all glitter and ice.

Date: WEDNESDAY 9^TH NOVEMBER

Time: 6.00-8.00PM

Location: FRASERS GLASGOW, 0870 192 5038

£25 BOOKING FEE, REDEEMABLE AGAINST M·A·C PURCHASES MADE AT THE EVENT.
SPACE IS LIMITED, PLEASE BOOK EARLY.
TO BOOK YOUR PLACE AND FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CALL THE M·A·C STORE TODAY.

Shop M·A·C here

Upcoming MAC events just in time for party season! is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Expert Reviewer: Tiffany, Our Assistant Merchandiser on Skincare

So summer might look to be over already with nothing but dreary weather on the horizon but Decleor have just launched a new range that will keep autumn and all the bad things it does to your skin at bay. Their new Life Radiance collection has not only Decleor’s beautiful floral scents but also some fantastic discoveries in skin radiance; it includes active ingredients that boost the skin’s natural defences to create immediate and long-lasting radiance, or so they say. So I’ve been asked to try it out and give my humble opinion…

I started with the Aromessence Neroli serum, the first thing that strikes you is the absolutely amazing smell, and it’s beautiful. If you have never had the pleasure of smelling Decleor’s Aromessence serums please go and try it, the only way I can describe it is as relaxation in a bottle. I warm 2 drops in my hands, take in a lovely scented deep breathe then lightly apply to my face. I trace a figure of 2 over my acupressure points from the inner corner of my eye, over my brows to the outer corners then down cheeks and finally down to my jawline. Once on the skin it absorbs quickly and the scent fades leaving me feeling calm with beautifully soft skin.

Next I use the new Double Radiance Cream which contains the newly discovered Saro Essential Oil and Plant Prebiotic which boost the natural defences of the skin to provide immediate but also long lasting radiance. The cream comes in 2 separate tubes holding the different active ingredients that you mix together yourself. I pump a small quantity of each into my hand, then warm and mix before smoothing onto my face. This product again smells fantastic and goes on lightly and absorbing quickly; a second wave of aromatic bliss to set me up for the day.

I use both the serum and the cream morning and night but I also used the Life Radiance Scrub every couple of days. It comes out clear with small granules in a gel like base. I apply it to dry skin and massage gently with my fingertips before rinsing with water. This is the single best smelling scrub I have ever used as well being light and gentle on my face. As you massage the scrub the gel absorbs into your skin and the granules gently exfoliate. My skin immediately felt soft and perfectly smooth.

So enough with the what and the how… the results: my skin feels amazing, absolutely gorgeous. It’s soft, supple, smooth and glowing, radiant in fact, to the extent that I’ve actually been complimented on how good it looks by friends and colleagues. The process of applying the serum and cream is so enjoyable with such lovely scents that it feels like a treat every morning and night. The scrub has a great smell and is so light; it has none of the harshness that i’ve experience with other products in the past. I have to say I’m honestly grateful that I got to try these products as I would not have thought of radiance as something that was a skin concern for me but having seen the difference I would never go back. I couldn’t recommend it enough. Find the collection here.

(What’s even better is that you can go to store for a treatment and the cost of the treatment is redeemable against products!)

Expert Review: Decleor Life Radiance is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

The coveted Dior backstage confidential event is now on at House of Fraser stores until Wednesday 31^st August.

Launching their limited edition look for Fall, the Blue Tie collection is sultry and sexy with grown up tones of navy, sapphire and cobalt on a back drop of flawless skin and rose accents.  Visit any of the participating HoF stores and get your own personal 30 minute make up lesson with a Dior expert make up artist.  You’ll learn how to apply this seasons hottest catwalk trends, as well as how to adapt the must have Blue Tie collection to suit you best.

To book your place visit or call the Dior counter in any of the following stores:

Birmingham

Bristol

Cardiff

Frasers

Glasgow

Guildford

Jenners Edinburgh

Lakeside

London Oxford Street

London Westfield

Manchester

Sutton Coldfield

Places are extremely limited so book now to avoid disappointment and get backstage beautiful!

Shop the Dior Blue Tie collection.

Find your nearest store.

Dior backstage confidential is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

As a child I was dragged around antique shops by my parents, an experience that has led me to develop a passion for quirky vintage pieces and a love of all things kitsch.

It’s always nice to see new collections that are inspired by a bygone era, and this season is no different. Forget the ultra-modern this summer, and instead opt for vintage-inspired designs for you and your home.

For Her

Fitted florals, feminine heels and feline sunglasses are the sophisticated way to work this story.

For Him

Nothing says retro like classic Fred Perry – stick to the brand’s iconic check for effortless style.

For the Makeup Bag

Add a little liner and a slick of cherry lipstick for a beauty look that’d make Marilyn proud.

For the Home

A few carefully-selected retro pieces will give any living space a new lease of life.

Inspired by Yesteryear is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Ultra-cool and fuss-free, clean bright white is the ideal hue for those seeking contemporary sophistication this summer. Whether you’re looking to update your home or simply desire a little white in your wardrobe, this season’s must-have shade adorns an array of items for a perfectly pure finishing touch…

Ethereal with an edgy twist, white makeup is an easy way to work this on-trend colour. A light dusting of pale shimmering eye shadow will make eyes pop while a designer compact will add a fashion-forward accent to your makeup bag; try Sisley or Clinique’s selection of sumptuous shadows.

Next up, clothing. Ladies, white is the perfect shade for the warmer climes and will keep you cool and collected in the hazy summer heat. LK Bennett is renowned for its timeless dresses, and this clean white style works for the office, day and evening. Coast’s beautifully draped top is a chic accompaniment to classic denim – or try Levi’s skinny jeans to wear the hue from head to toe. Finish with a few white accessories.

Boys, this simple shade is a suitcase essential. A basic white tee works beyond the summer season – layer under a patterned shirt on cooler days – and is a faithful staple you’ll wear endlessly. Team with Ralph Lauren’s bright white shorts for a clean-cut holiday look, adding versatile leather flip flops for casual at its best.

White might not be the most practical of shades (beware chocolate and red wine), however it is an effortless way of brightening up your home. A few simple touches will refresh any room; sleek dinnerware, lighting, comfortable cushions and luxe hotel-style bed linen will transform your living space into a minimalist dream. Swap a classic champagne flute for Linea’s dramatic Olga glasses – a must for the ultra-modern table setting, or make a statement with a chic settee. Linea’s Harry sofa blends soft leather with a ‘50s-inspired shape.

So Fresh, So Clean: Breezy White Essentials is a post from: House of Fraser Blog