Moving time

I am moving house and waiting to be reconnected to the Internet.

Hopefully will be back online soon.

In the mean time have a look at my top5 most read posts.

5.   Honey Honey

4.   Vogue Bambini

3.   Sun protection facts

2.   Zpagetti

1.   Elizabeth Taylor

Hester's hall of Fame

Its time for another hall of fame entry, the 2nd product going into my long list of favourites is:

Tinted moisturiser.

Tinted moisturisers are a great foundation alternative, perfect for summer or when you want a more casual look.
 I love natural looking skin and with a tube of tinted moisturiser you not only nourish your skin, add SPF but you also even out your skin tone giving a fresh dewy look.
For everyday makeup a tinted moisturiser is all you need. If you have some spots or dark circles under your eyes you can always use a bit of concealer for some extra coverage, but leave your foundation in your cosmetic bag for evening looks.
I don't think tinted moisturisers are hydrating enough to replace your day creme so I would always apply your daily moisturizer first. Smooth your tinted moisturizer on top and if needed a little dap of concealer and your skin looks healthy and fresh.
Most tinted moisturiser have light reflecting particles these act like tiny little mirrors bouncing the light back and therefor making your skin look more even and radiant.
Tinted moisturisers are  almost fool proof, as the coverage is sheer having a tinted moisturiser one tint darker or lighter doesn't make that much of a difference. But a skin colour match is always the way to go.

My favourite tinted moisturisers are;

Lancome Hydra Zen Neurocalm teinte
The ultra-moisturising soothing formula hydrates instantly and locks in moisture for up to 12 hours. Enriched with botanical extracts, and easy to apply, its fluid texture - enriched with pure lightweight pigments - immediately blends into the skin.
This tinted moisturiser comes in 4 colours.

Bobbi Brown SPF15 tinted moisturiser
This 3-in-1 moisturiser hydrates and protects skin while offering sheer, natural-looking coverage that blends smoothly. Thanks to emollients and skin-conditioning Jojoba Oil, this lightweight formula glides on easily and leaves skin feeling soft and supple.
This moisturiser comes in 7 colours.
Bobbi Brown also does a moisturising balm for  dry skin.

Clinique Moisture Surge tinted moisturiser
Refreshingly lightweight formula provides a no-makeup look and feel, yet covers imperfections with a natural, hydrating touch. Oil-free.
Comes in 6 colours.


Go on, have a go, leave your foundation in your drawer and use a tinted moisturiser for the rest of the week. I know you will never go back :)

Photographer Ian Hooton

Room with a view

Next week I'm moving home so my big interest lately is everything interior. Hours are spend with my nose in lifestyle magazines, design books and web shops. On one of my evening browser sessions I stumbled upon a Dutch web shop, kado om de hoek, they sell everything to do with decorating your home.
In this hop I found the best window foil ever! If you are not familiar with window foil, its a frosted film you stick on your window. The light can still get in but you cant look trough, giving your living room a lovely bit of privacy from those nosy people walking down the street.
Here in the UK you can only find plain frosted or stripy window film, but the kado om de hoek shop sells the foils from Strossel design, a Swedish design company, and they are fab!!
I went for the Curiosa one, decorative and functional what else do you want?

Have a look at their other designs.

Want to buy for yourself click here

Real Simple

Magazine editors spend weeks working on the perfect cover for their magazines, as that is what sells a publication. The people at Real Simple did a perfect job as I spotted the mag as soon as I stepped inside the news agents and didn't even had to flip through the pages to know that I wanted to buy it.
Isn't the picture on the cover gorgeous? Loving the blue tones with the lime.
I've had seen Real Simple magazine before, flipped through it once or twice but never purchased a copy until now.
Their tag line is, life made easier, and in this American magazine you can find lots of tips to indeed make your life easier. Tips on decoration, organizing, quick recipes, fashion advise and interesting articles. definitely worth buying again!
Have a look at their website by clicking here

Real Simple magazine August 2011

You've got mail

With all the emails, text messages and bbm's you sometimes forget how nice it is to receive some proper postman delivered mail. Today I found a very sweet card in my postbox.

According to my friend J's desk calender the first of August was the day of friendship, and the task for that day was; make a friendship bracelet and send it to your friend. That's how this beautiful bracelet made it into my postbox today, how sweet! It goes brilliant with the other bracelets I've been wearing this summer.

Talking about Friendship day, I just read an article; How to be a better friend in Real Simple magazine. Have a read and maybe make a bracelet for your friend as well!

Not so relaxing spa break

After two weeks of hard work and just before a week of the madness that is moving house I decided I needed a little treat so booked myself a pedicure/manicure treatment at the O spa in canary wharf.
The pedicure was lovely and my toes look presentable again with a lick of Essies Coral reef.
When the manicure started my therapist said they just received a phone call from the shopping centres security team that rioters might be on their way to the building and they might have to close up shop.
Very relaxing news on your pamper afternoon ;)
You probably seen on the news that London have had some awful riots over the last couple of days, and the city is still tense. When the spa got a call that their head office, around the corner of the spa I was in, was closed by the police I decided it was time to leave. Better safe at home and paint my nails myself then the chance of being stuck in a riot with perfectly done hands.
Done my nails myself and they are vibrant shade of pink now, O.P.I's Cherry Blossom, as you can see in the top picture. I love O.P.I. nail polishes they are so easy to paint on and last you a good couple of days. For all their amazing colours click here

The spa treatment I booked trough groupon, www.groupon.com you just sign up on their website and every day you get emailed the best deals in your area. This can be a diner, spa treatments, a holiday, workshops etc. You have to buy the voucher within 24 hours of the deal going live but the voucher itself is valid for months.
My 90minute (well it should have been..) mani/pedi was only £28 instead of the usual £80, a great discount!!

If you're in London keep safe, stay inside and paint your nails ;)

Coral Reef Essie

Sylvian Heach

A few months ago I did the hair and makeup for the latest Sylvian Heach campaign.

The brand is not very well known over here, but they are a big kids wear brand in their native Italy.

The outfits have a great heritage look, hot hot hot for this autumn!

The beautiful images are shot by Igor Borisov on location in west London.

Hope you like them.

A felt coat

I was in my favourite shop, Anthropologie yesterday, oh the joy!
I can wonder through their  London's Regent street store for hours. They sell amazing clothes and accessories but my favourite of the 3 floors is the basement, the home ware section.
While scanning the shop for presents to buy I came across this felted soap by Fiat luxe. I've never seen a bar of soap in a felt coat before, but having a look on google it seems to have been around for ages.
These handmade bars of gorgeous smelling soaps, I went for the verbena one, are wrapped in wool to create a soap and washcloth all in one. Wool has anti fungal properties and will retain its freshness. The felt shrinks along with the soap as you use it. And you can even reuse the casting once the soap has finished, just slit it open and put a new bar in.
Have a look here on the website of Fiat luxe to see all the different fragrances.

A peek in to the world of Anthropologie

Don't live close to a Anthropologie shop? You can buy everything online as well! Click here

busy busy bee

Am on a 10day work stint and no time to update the blog.
Will be back soon, in the mean time a picture from my balcony, enjoy the sunshine!