Night Shift

by Laia
Our skin does most of its regenerating and detoxing while we sleep, so just before going to bed is perhaps the optimum time to apply creams and oils that contain active ingredients.

The choice of products on the market is vast, but if you want to go organic, you may enjoy Bio Etic's Night Cream – the hero product in its skin-care range. Rich in Omega 3 oils – derived from Inca Inchi oil from Peru – it also contains shea butter, sesame oil and is lightly fragranced with rose essential oil. It is soft, nourishing and kind to the skin and guaranteed to give you environmental peace of mind, which in itself may reduce wrinkles, as the company is squeaky clean when it comes to fair-trading and respecting the environment.

Neon Classics

by Laia
Neon colours have certainly made a comeback this summer. An 80s throwback guaranteed to brighten up the dullest of days. But they need to be used sparingly, so nail varnishes offer just the right amount exposure. And there's no need to rule them out if you love natural products and are into the 'greener' side of beauty.

Nubar, from LA, is a range of strong nail varnishes brand-new to the UK. They are available in vivid neon colours for summer and classic deep cherry shades for autumn/winter, and the great thing about them is that not only do they look great and go the distance but they are also free from toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, phthalate and toluene.

We love their hot pink, it really is hot.

Femme Fatale

As ever more fragrances hit the shelf and department arena it becomes ever more difficult for smaller brands to take some share of voice. So we are quite happy to spread the word for Romano Ricci's niche brand 'Juliette has a Gun'. Just having launched his third fragrance, Citizen Queen, what better way to spread the word than to hook up the camera and talk to his current and future fans about his brand and his latest composition. Listen (and watch) here to Romano explain to ModetteTV how his fragrances are linked to Shakespeare. Oh, and if you were wondering, Romano is Nina Ricci's grandson.

Orlane to find its way to the UK

One of the gems we have found on our travels is Orlane which you cannot miss in most of Paris' upscale department stores with its beautiful displays. Apparently, 'before our time' Orlane was selectively available in the UK, but these days we had to cross the Channel for our purchases. However it would appear that Orlane is no longer an excuse for a trip to the 1st arrondissement, as among some press releases about the latest new launches, we were told that Selfridges are to serve as the launch platform for Orlane's reintroduction to the UK in the next 12 months. Although Orlane is not for the credit-crunch faint-hearted, looks like Orlane is focussing on quality, rather than quantity and will only be available through a selective and limited number of exclusive retailers.

Not much more is known about launch timings or products, but it would not come as a surprise if they try and establish themselves as a "luxury and effective" skincare brand on the back of their latest Facial Kit launch. Self dubbed 'the Cinderella Effect', the kit is aimed at very active women with big wallets. The three step kit, which contains a serum, facial mask and finishing cream, is priced at a cool €135 for six applications. Ouch. Then again, Orlane promises 'enhanced complexion' in seven minutes. We are awaiting the jury's verdict.

Back to Black

To frequent readers it shouldn't come as a surprise when we say that we have a soft spot for Marc Jacob's Daisy. So we thought it was worthy to mention that the Alberto Morillas designed fragrance is marking its first anniversary by the launch of a luxury special edition. Rumour has it that the composition will remain largely unchanged albeit a little more concentrated, however the big eye-catcher is its smartly designed bottle in black, decorated with the trademark daisies which will now be in gold. Very sophisticated! Due to hit specialist outlets in August.

Power to the Cosmo reader!

Cosmopolitan announced their 2008 Beauty award winners Tuesday morning. Exciting part we found, alongside the two extra awards to "recognise long-term continued success and cutting edge-excellence", were the 'Reader's kiss of Approval' awards which were decided by public vote via the Cosmo website. At LatestinBeauty.com we can only applaud that as consumers are given ever more voice to share their opinions thanks to the internet, prestigious events like the Cosmo Beauty awards are embracing this development, rather than try and slow it down! Rather than simply listening to the experts, what can be better than take active part in the discussion with the experts through voicing your own opinion?

The judge panel itself was made up of a variety of beauty experts such as make-up artist Daniel Sandler, skincare guru Anastasia Achilleos, and Cosmopolitan Beauty director Ingeborg van Lotringen. Among others they awarded the Cosmo Classic Award to YSL Touche and the Beauty Breakthrough Award to L’Oréal Paris Derma Genesis Cellular-Youth Nurturing Skincare SPF15 Day Cream. Furthermore 1.8 million (!) Cosmo readers gave, via magazine and on-line votes, the 'Kiss of Approval' to the following 16 products:

Lips: Ultimate lipgloss – Lancôme Juicy Tubes
Eyes:: Ultimate mascara – Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara
Cleansing: Ultimate cleansing wipes – Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes
Face: Ultimate foundation – Maybelline New York Dream Matte Mousse Foundation and Ultimate blusher – No7 Natural Blush Cheek Colour
Skincare: Ultimate moisturiser – Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser
Anti-ageing: Ultimate anti-ageing product – No7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum
Bodycare: Ultimate hair-removal product – Gillette Venus and Ultimate body lotion – The Body Shop Body Butters
Hair: Ultimate hair colourant - L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss and Ultimate shampoo & conditioner – Herbal Essences Shampoo & Conditioner
Toolkit: Ultimate hairstyling gadget - GHD IV Styler
Suncare: Ultimate suntan lotion – Boots Soltan Moisturising Suncare Lotion With Advanced Triple Protection SPF 15
Scent: Ultimate scent – Chanel Chance Eau De Parfum
Men: Ultimate aftershave – Boss By Hugo Boss Eau De Toilette
Hands & feet: Ultimate nail polish – OPI Nail Lacquer

Cult-Beauty.com posted the full list of Awards, so have a look on their blog.

A new dimension to skin care

by Laia
It’s July, I’m in London and it’s raining. As I arrive to the Darphin press office (soaking wet!) I feel like I have entered an oasis of calm and tranquility. I am greeted, offered a glass of mineral water and shown downstairs to their office to find out all about their latest range…

If your skin feels dull, flat and two dimensional, you’re not alone. Pollution, humidity, poor nutrition and stress are all contributing factors to our skin feeling slightly dry and lifeless, which translates into a lack of luster and shine -otherwise known as a healthy glow! Which is why Darphin, has created 3D couture skin care: an individualised programme that includes three complementary daily formulas: a serum, an oil and a cream selected to address your skin’s needs.

It couldn’t be simpler, and once you try these products on your skin, they smell and feel so amazing that you will never want to be without them…

Christina smells sexiest!

Of course fans of LatestInBeauty.com have known this for weeks, but the official results are now in and apparently British men preferred women to smell like Christina Aguilera on a date. Well, smell like her perfume. In a quick response, new Mum Christina said: "I always said British men had great taste - or in this case, sense of smell!" You charmer, you.

Interestingly enough, when women were asked in a blind test on celebrity fragrances what they would wear to attract a man on a date, J-Lo's Glow came out on top. Just to prove that men really do come Mars and women from Venus. The study, conducted for Lloyds Pharmacy, also found that the preferred fragrances in testing bears no relation to sales. The discrepancy in scent vs. sales points to the image of the celebrity in deciding the winner in the paparazzi perfume wars.

But then, step away from the paparazzi influence and try for yourself on LatestInBeauty.com!

Beauty with Hed Kandi

We like quirky link-ups, particularly when they make sense and are not too far 'out of the box'. So Hed Kandi's Body fragrance grabbed our attention immediately. Started out as a compilation brand in 1999, Hed Kandi is now a global clubbing phenomenon spanning a record label, radio shows, clubs, over sixty albums and much more. And now they have got into the habit to launch a body fragrance alongside their new Album releases. Clever really when you think about it, especially when after a three hour House session you still try to feel confident. We tried the 68. Serve Chilled fragrance, which comes in a stylish, small container and is easy to carry in a small purse. This one was a little bit too flowery for our liking (but then jasmine is the Marmite among flowers we are told), but with a whole range of album and fragrance launches there is something to suit every taste.

Try John Frieda Weather Works on LatestInBeauty.com

We have just added a large number of John Frieda Weather Works™ Weather-Proofing™ Style Sealant Creme samples to LatestinBeauty.com for you to try.

John Frieda openend his first salon over three decades ago in New Cavendish street and has since grown into a worldwide brand that has become the favourite of countless beauty experts, celebrities and consumers worldwide. After years spent working with chemists to develop the perfect prescriptive solutions, it was his Frizz-Ease® Hair Serum that would not only revolutionize hair care, but eventually land in Allure magazine's "Hall of Fame" and singled out by InStyle as "Product of the Decade".

Continuing his quest to drive innovation in haircare John Frieda is now introducing Weather Works™. Weather Works™ is a haircare regimen consisting of shampoo, conditioner and styling creme designed to a range of three products designed to shield your hairstyle against humidity, static, UV rays - even wind! But decide for yourself, go and snap up a Weather-Proofing™ Style Sealant Creme and determine for yourself if you like it!

Or if you already love it, go to the John Frieda website and apply for a membership at the John Frieda Elite club.