A story to tell: Art de Parfum

When I hold a bottle of perfume, it always seems intriguing to me. This is not just a bottle of perfume; it is a story that needs to be told. Each perfume has its own way how it was created and it depends on its creator. It’s always the question where the flowers have been harvested, what flowers or fruit did they use, what was the ratio between different scents or perhaps even what inspired this scent. The story of  a perfume is not just that it was created, it is a love relationship between the fragrance and the creator. For creator of niche perfumery Art de Parfum, Ruta Degutyte, we can say all of this is true. She found her love and passion in perfumes and is now unstoppable in her inspiration to find a scent that will delight people. She shared how it all began and what brought her to this very specific perfume world.

Creator of Art de Parfum Ruta Degutyte

You have quite a business background. How does it feel creating your dreams now that you are doing what you love?

Yes, it feels amazing indeed. I have never been happier and more fulfilled in my life.

Trusting yourself and one’s instincts about what is right for business. Making and selling fragrance is a tricky business because you have to figure out how to make something so intimate, so personal relatable to people on a larger scale.

Does it get difficult at all?

Depends on the perspective of the things. Being in highly competitive industry keeps me alert and on my feet most of the time. However, I am used to lots of pressure, so I find it rather exciting.

Tell us what inspired you to start creating perfumes?

Perfumes was my expensive hobby for quite a while now. However, I never quite thought or planned thoroughly to own a perfume line until I went to South of France and met a few people from the industry that opened my eyes as well as new opportunities.

What does the process of creating a perfume looks like?

I don’t think you can put creating a perfume in any structure. It’s a like inspiration either you have it or you don’t. I never push the things or put it into a strict timeframe as I believe in natural flow of ideas and their realisation. Theoretically, it’s concept creating, formulation, sourcing of ingredients and packaging, testing and launching.

What do you love the most in this process?

I really love sourcing the ideas and ingredients, however, mostly assessing and testing final scents. It’s like looking at a newly born baby. I also highly appreciate the feedback of new scents of my panel groups and friends.

Which was the first perfume you created? Tell us its story…

Excentrique Moi was the first one in the line.  I was inspired by how we all can change one moment to the next. I think our personalities are not entirely fixed. So there’s an exciting shift between bitter and spicy, sweet and innocent in this perfume.

We can be all four seasons in one day. The notes are deliberately balanced between sweet, cozy accords such as hibiscus, black tea, spicy dried fruits, and bright lemon, and then a wilder, sexier green side brought in by the bitter herbs.

As more and more people wear my perfumes, I am curious to find out what the personal associations are for them. These perfumes are, after all, not about me, but about those who wear them. That’s as it should be.

What kind of perfumes do you create? And who for?

I create fragrances that are long lasting (extrait de parfum concentration), scents for various occasions either for sea lovers (Sea Foam), statement perfumes like Excentrique Moi and Signature Wild, vigorous Gin and Tonic Cologne as well as alluring elegant Sensual Oud.

Identifying a niche where you fit in is very important. Our fragrances appeal to sensualists and to minimalists alike, so that’s obviously a gap need that I want to fill. Art de Parfum is the antithesis of a mass-market fragrance brand – we are small, intimate, and highly curated. Our products appeal to a specific market, people who are looking for something really special and individual. I like to think of the people who choose Art de Parfum fragrances as classy iconoclasts a secret, crazy sensual side.

In what way is Art de Parfum better from any other perfume brand?

I take ethics very seriously. I believe that everyone has the right to a small, portable piece of beauty in their lives, be it a bottle of my perfume or an exquisite painting. But I don’t believe that animal cruelty should be part of the price tag.

Our products are all cruelty-free, nano-free, and GMO-free. Our bottles are made from recyclable materials and our packaging is all biodegradable. It took time and effort to ensure that our business was ethical from top to toe, but it is worth it.

Also, all the raw materials used in my perfumes are ethically sourced. I make sure that our perfumer doesn’t use any raw material that has a question mark of its sustainability, ethical harvesting, or impact on local hunting and farming communities. I don’t use any animal-derived products either. If you want to see our full range of promises on ethics and animal cruelty, please go to our website, www.artdeparfum.com, and you’ll find all the information you need there.

We also do not use any colorants. So the fragrances we make are of its natural color. The real color of pure juice.

What can a perfume “give” to its wearer?

Aesthetic satisfaction, confidence, feeling good sensation, style, uniqueness, boost of positive energy, I hope (smiles).

What should a woman (or a man) pay attention to when choosing a fragrance?

The occasion I suppose is the most important. The fragrance may be inappropriate if worn at the wrong occasion. Imagine you are on a formal meeting wearing something very overpowering.

What do you personally seek in fragrances? What is your favourite scent?

I always seek to wear a fragrance that is fitting me, my personality and style. I put more air on a bright side of fragrance, however, I might surprise myself with something very different from what I described. The perfume is also highly emotional choice. Sometimes you feel for a certain scents and also stay loyal to the ones you love.

Dress or fragrance – what is more important for a woman?

Both. It comes in a duet. The fragrance is only an enhancement of the style of a man or a woman.

Where can we find Art de Parfum?

In Bloom Perfumery, Covent Garden or online: www.artdeparfum.com at the moment.

What are your plans for the future?

I am currently working on a new scent which will be launched worldwide in a few months time.

 

Dress of the season: off-the-shoulder

I can’t say on general but every time I order a piece of clothing online I wonder what I will get. Will it be of good quality, will it look like the one on the picture, will I look the same wearing it as the model online? All those questions are rolling in my head so I am always a bit nervous when I am opening the package. This time I was too.

However I was pleasantly surprised. As soon as I opened the parcel I found that the colour of the dress matched the one on the image, promoted online and when I put the dress on, it was match made in heaven. If you ever wonder what your favourite summer dress should be, then here is an answer for you. Bardot dress is top style for this summer and with this style from Peacocks you won’t be disappointed. The dress falls perfectly on your body, the size fits and there are no extra centimeters of garment that you don’t know how to hide. The dress is simply as you see it. The length is perfect and ends just above the knees , which makes the dress perfect to be paired with heels or flats.

When it comes to the style itself, this is the most sought about style of the season. If you don’t already own one of off-the-shoulders dresses, then my advice would be to get one today. They have been the hot deal of last summer and they are certainly staying on-trend this year. And let me tell you a little secret; you can get this pink Bardot dress from Peacocks (www.peacocks.co.uk) for a real bargain – only £10 for the dress. The offer is valid only until the 28^th of June, so better hurry up. You can choose between 4 different colour ways: pink, black, vertical candy stripes and on-trend cut about print.

How to style it? You could wear it with high heels but I for one always prefer to style off-the-shoulder dress with flats. Flat sandals are (to me) the most perfect type of footwear for this dress and I would only add a ring and a small (straw) bag.

Ash Poison Studded Sandals Rocher Gold Leather & Gold Studs Sandals (£144 in sale) from www.myfashiontribu.com; Straw bag Maison de Nimes at House of Fraser (£40); Ted Baker Jackie Jewel Stack Ring Gold (£45) from www.jewellery4.co.uk

Made in Italy: Leda di Marti

Made in Italy is synonym for good quality, wonderful designs and excellent taste. All of this is also Leda di Marti. This young and talented designer was born in Italy, so all of the above comes naturally for her. She is particularly inspired by the South and Calabria, two parts of Italy that are, by her words, an inexhaustible sources if inspiration. Leda creates daywear in most magnificent colourful prints and with designs that will for sure make this summer even hotter. Read her story and be wowed by her way of seeing Italy. 

What is your brand about?

Designer Leda di Marti

At the base of my LDM brand are the South and Calabria: for me inexhaustible sources of inspiration. The strong colors, the powerful and explosive nature, between seas and mountains, have always fueled my creative tension. Calabria is a generous land with sinuous shapes … as for me it should be the woman. But there is not only Calabria in my creations, I’m interested in all the south, that fantastic land that in ancient times was called Magna Graecia.

Did you always dream of becoming a designer?

Yes, since I was five years old. The gift that I appreciated most were pastels and brushes, with which I could spend hours drawing. The beauty of my work lies in the ability to dream, which has its origins in childhood and never ceases to grow.

What are some of the challenges you faced when you started designing under your own brand?

The main challenge is to be recognizable among many existing and established brands. From the choice of the press office, to that of the production laboratory and sample of trust: often the real challenge is to make everyone agree. If the common objective is the same and the commitment is shared, however, there is no brake that holds and the mark must necessarily take off.

What are Leda di Marti’s qualities?

Leda Di Marti is a brand entirely Made in Italy, which is its first quality. It is a brand dedicated to a land, and even more to a sense of belonging: the true Italian Mediterranean style. The target is medium-high and the type of woman who can wear it is both a twenty-five year old and a fifty-year-old because many items are transversal and cross over decades, while others are dedicated to a specific age group.

You studied and worked abroad. What kind of experiences would you say this brought to you?

Working and studying in the two biggest fashion cities, together with Milan, as NYC and in London, helped me to consolidate an awareness of my style, which is influenced by the cosmopolitan way of life, fused with the strongly Italian spirit. From my experience NYC, which for me is a second home, I learned that the woman must be comfortable and practical as it must be free to travel in style, so all my clothes are stretched and allow a wide movement, while remaining extremely feminine. From my experience in London I realized that my most intimate desire was to dress strong and sensitive women, who found in the leader an ally with which to face the surrounding world, and not a piece of art that obscures its beauty.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I find inspiration in nature and in ancient myths that are so felt and still alive in my land. The main source of inspiration is my ideal woman: a modern Claudia Cardinale who with her strength and her charisma represents in the world, with her Mediterranean roots, a vigorous and dynamic Italian style.

Tell us more about your Spring-Summer 2018 collection…

Summer 2018 is a triumph of cedars, bergamot and broom flowers, finished by a whirl of chillies in a sea of ​​blue fish: symbolic image that represents the dreamlike union of the sea with the land. The colors are sparkling and explosive, just like me! The models are suitable for a complete and broken look: the shirts are paired with Capri-style trousers, in ankle, in cotton twill. The two prints become, then, beautiful long skirts with slits, which give Positano a touch to the look.

Are all the patterns painted by you?

All my collections share a passion for hand-painted prints. Every fantasy is in fact hand drawn by me with watercolors, digitized and then transposed onto fabric. It is the drawings that define the distinctive trait of the brand.

How do you know what kind of pattern do you want to make?

I am guided by instinct, which is my beloved advisor. The yellow and red colors are tipical of this summer, so I think I have guessed! For the Fall Winter 18 collection, for example, I reproduced the cactus (figs with paddles), typical of the South of Italy and they will be, again in a thousand different ways, the true protagonists of the next season!

In what way and why is “made in Italy” important to you?

Made in Italy is one of my keys to success, without a good base of “know how” you can not aim abroad. My product comes from the South, and there local companies produce my collection with dedication, following a tradition of decades. Made In Italy is the representation of my own culture, following slow fashion mixed with modern techniques of sewing.

Who is your typical customer?

My typical client certainly has a strong desire for uniqueness and at the base of his choices there are garments that tell a story.

What about your personal style? What do you feel most comfortable in?

I have a fresh and light, carefree style. I love the flowing shapes and the sparkling colors. I especially like being visible and recognized instantly. There is nothing more beautiful than being appreciated for your good taste!

How do you unwind?

I relax listening to chamber music, drawing abstract shapes that could become details of my next collection! I love reading, especially biographies of great personalities of the past who have left their mark, like Caterina de ‘Medici, my favorite; and walking around the city centers, looking at how people are dressed, how they move, how they behave in public, which is a great pleasure for me and also a great study.

What is next for you?

I am planning to join other fashion weeks, apart from the Milan one I have already done this year. I am launching the  e-shop and working on some collaborations with different brands, as I love to create synergies, especially between women.

You can find out more about the brand at www.ledadimarti.com.

 

Royal wedding fever

Not long now till Prince Harry will marry Meghan Markle. The wedding of the year is only a couple of days always and we are all wondering what will Meghan wear? What designer did she choose? What kind of jewellery will she have, will she break any royal rule or will she follow the tradition? So many questions arise when we are talking about the most important day and soon we will know every single detail.

Until then we can all enjoy this fever with some royal wedding inspired jewellery. Pearls and diamonds, gold and silver, it has to be elegant with a royal touch. These lovely pieces are just that.

ADORE Cushion Slide Stone Bracelet (£59) @ watchshop.com; Chupi Comb (£220) @ www.chupi.com; Gemporia necklace (£357) @ www.gemporia.com; Karen Millen Crystal Ribbon Stud Earring (£25) @ www.karenmillen.com;  Susannah Lovis Edwardian style ruby and diamond cluster ring (£8,000) @ www.susannahlovis.com

Love is in the stars

The combination of rose and black is becoming more obvious in jewellery world and I personally love it. Much more than gold and silver that might have been with us for centuries and still look as chic as ever. Sometimes it is so refreshing to bring something new so the new colour combinations in jewellery always impress me.

I couldn’t help but noticed one pair of earrings standing out from the crowd. When I saw them, I immediately fell in love with them. With their elegance it was love at first sight. It is simply something that works for me and my style. It has rose in and black and a touch of silver. These star earrings are just a thing for warm sunny days we’ll be enjoying now.

Karl Lagerfeld Star & Chain Earring (£59) – karl.com

How about you, do you see yourself wearing them? Perhaps in a sleek combination of white and powder pink? The elegant top with cut-puts gives plenty of options for earrings to stand out. Striped white trousers are a reminder that “carpe-diem” is not just a saying while sandals give the outfit a glamorous note. I love how the bag finishes everything in a luxurious way, making a statement on its own.

Top Altuzarra (£595) – mytheresa.com; Sandals EGO (£29.99) – ego.co.uk; Bag Launer (£1460) – launer.com; Trousers Paisie (£80) – paisie.com

 

3 pairs of shoes you have to have this spring

When it comes to shoes, I like to follow one simple rule: more is more. I know this sound like we all live in big consumer world but I am guilty. Guilty of loving shoes! Being deeply, madly in love with shoes. When spring comes, I go crazy for shoe shopping – or at least window shoe shopping. While browsing online I spotted these beautiful styles that you just have to have this spring.

Mules/loafer

It’s a whole new thing this season but to think you can actually wear your loafers in a careless way is just breath-taking. Do you remember your mother always saying “take care of your shoes!”? Well she would be shocked with this new trend but that’s just one more reason to like it so much. Be a little rebel with these loafers turned into mules that look cool with black jeans, grey T-shirt and green parka.

Lola Cruz Glitter Loafers (£180) @ myfashiontribu.com ; T-shirt Chiara Ferragni (€118) @ www.chiaraferragnicollection.com ; Denim trousers Marc Cain (£215) @ www.marc-cain.com ; Sorry not sorry parka Mosse Knuckle Canada (£357) @ MooseKnuckleCanada.com

The lovely gingham

Perhaps it’s the big flower, perhaps it is the gingham pattern, perhaps it is the sky light blue or perhaps it’s the fact that they look incredibly comfortable while being chic but I love this shoe style.  It’s a perfect way to beat the April showers or to make yourself a colourful day. I would go with different shade blue dress, a pink rain mac and a statement necklace.

Shoes Chie Mihara (£240) @ www.chiemihara.com ; Dress Zara (£17.99) @ www.zara.com ; Jacket Miss Selfridge (£39) @ www.missselfridge.com ; ASTRA JEWELLERY Follow Your Dreams Necklace (£89) @  www.astrajewellery.com

Spring print

It can be floral or it can be tropical but spring print gives your shoes a lovely vibe. This style is especially chic if you wear it to the office on days when you will want to escape the everyday grey routine and just feel alive. These shoes, the pink skirt and the yellow top will be a guarantee for stealing attention and be noticed wherever you appear.

Shoes Van Dal (£90) @ vandalshoes.com ; Norma Kamali skirt (£420) @ www.mytheresa.com ; Leda Di Marti Yellow Blouse (£202.40) @ www.sods.co.uk ; ADORE Organic Circle Hoop Earrings (£49) @ adorejewery.com

 

Beauty tips for your face

When it comes to the beauty routine every woman has its own. Over the years you have probably learnt a trick or two about how to take care for your skin, how to apply your makeup or what you need to have to achieve your desired look. However sometimes a beauty secret from the expert (or a regular woman who found out what works best for her) is a welcomed addition to what you already know about beauty. We looked for the best tips for your face that will simply keep you beautiful.

Apply sunscreen everyday

No matter the weather a cream with SPF should be applied on your skin every day. Apply sunscreen if it is sunny, rainy or cloudy outside because 80 per cent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays pass through the cloud. This will protect your skin before premature ageing, sun damages and ski irritations.

Raw potatoes for under-eye area

If you have a very sensitive under-eye are and often have puffy eyes and dark circles under your eyes try this trick with raw potato. Put raw potato slices on the affected area to soothe the eyes; leave them on for 10 minutes while you lay down and relax. After 10 minutes rinse with lukewarm water. Raw potato will help decrease water retention and lighten dark circles.

Tricks of contouring

Because our faces are three dimensional applying a single tone foundation makes our faces appear flat. With contouring you give it a nice celebrity-like shape. Apply highlighter to areas on your face that would usually catch light while still creating enough shadow to emphasize your jaw line and cheekbones. First apply foundation as a base. Sweep the bronzing powder over your cheekbones  and to each side of the nose and blusher across your jawline. A touch of highlighter in the corner of your eyes will give you a wide awake look.

Don’t use makeup sponges

Sure they are great help when applying foundation but they are not cost efficient. They soak up more liquid foundation than they what ends up on your face which results in two problems: you have to constantly buy new foundation and new sponges. Foundation brush is a better solution as you not only use less foundation but also apply it more evenly and with better precision.

Natural glow

Of course using  blush is part of your makeup routine and it does give you that spring cheeks look we all look for. However don’t use too much blush as the effect will result in no-natural, fake look. Only apply blush on the apples of your cheeks.

Brows in line

Don’t you just hate when your eyebrows do whatever they want. No matter how much effort you put in organizing them there is always one hair leaking out somewhere. To keep them in line spritz an old toothbrush or a clean mascara wand with hairspray and brush the brows.

Freeze your eyeliner

If your eyeliner is crumbling while you are putting it on your eyes you should put it in freezer for 15 minutes before applying your makeup. This will make sure that it glides along your lash line without effort. It seems crazy but it actually works.

Exfoliate your lips

Are you wearing lipstick every day? Then you know that dry and chapped lips are not working well together with a lipstick. Keep your lips in perfect condition by exfoliating them. Apply lip balm on your lips and scrub them with a toothbrush to get the perfect pout. Don’t be too rough though so you want damage the skin. After finished simply wipe away excess flakes with a tissue.

Tweezing

If you don’t have high pain level or hate how much it hurts when you are tweezing your eyebrows prepare your skin before you start. Dab a cotton ball soaked in warm water or cream over the affected area to soften your skin and always pluck your hair in the direction of growth.

Keep skin under control with ice cubes

Massage an ice cube over your face until it melts to keep fat cells, acne and wrinkles at bay. Do the ice cube facial massage every night before you go to bed. This will help you smooth your complexion and promote blood circulation. Do wrap the cubes in paper towel or a baggie to prevent delicate blood vessels to break.

Contemporary and unique: Catherine Hills Jewellery

Art is her passion. Her way of life. This devotion for art shows in everything she creates. Catherine Hills, jewellery designer who also created jewellery for Harry Potter movies, was surrounded by art ever since she was a little girl but it was jewellery that won at the end. Today she creates contemporary pieces with attention to detail and individually designed. Catherine Hills explains why, when and how jewellery took over her world.

How did you start with jewellery design?

When I was at art college, finishing my foundation course, I had to decide what discipline I was going to specialise in for my BA.

Despite always thinking I would do book illustration, I decided I was more interested in 3D design and thought it may be easier to make a living as a jeweller!

Were you always interested in jewellery design?

My parents are great collectors of antiques, decorative arts and all things beautiful. Silver, ceramics, and small objects were strewn around our home, as I grew up.

I have always loved wearing jewellery. I remember when I was in the sixth form at school, we were allowed to wear our own clothes. Most girls wore pearls, or small gold studs, but I wore huge wooden brightly coloured parrot earrings… it was the mid 80’s!

What kind of jewellery comes under the name Catherine Hills?

Catherine Hills Jewellery has a strong identity with an emphasis on detail, movement and texture.  All these combine to create stand out, feminine, yet ‘edgy’ contemporary pieces.

The use of individually designed, batch produced, components in singular and multiple combinations, are rhythmic, decorative and tactile, culminating in pieces that are audacious and timeless.”

“Distinctive, detailed and diverse.  Catherine’s jewellery is for men and women who value texture organic forms and individual statements from what they wear”.

Retail Jewellery Magazine, 2001.

It is very much of its time but echoes of the past are sustained by the makers attention to form and surface.”

Wendy Ramshaw OBE, 2009.

Lots of your work is custom made. Do you prefer working on client’s wishes or designing from your own vision?

They are completely different jobs; both are satisfying for different reasons. When a client comes to me with their own design, or a design they have seen elsewhere, its lovely when I can make the idea come to life for them. I guess if I had to choose; I prefer making pieces that I have designed myself. I find the design process, the most exciting part. I have so many more ideas than the time and money to create them!

You also created jewellery for Harry Potter films. How is it to design for something so imaginary? And to work on such a big project?

It was really exciting and definitely one of the highlights in my career.

Seeing the actors bring the jewellery to life on the big screen, in the films, was fantastic. I only wish I could have gone on set! I  made the jewellery in my workshop in London and later in Kent where I moved, in 2008. It always had to be made to a very fast deadline and was collected; so I never got involved ‘on set’ at Leavesden studios.

Where do you look for inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is nature and the human form and my work is influenced by the granulation technique of ancient civilisations.

I like to visit museums, galleries and aquariums, as often as I can to sketch.  Travelling is a great source of inspiration; as not only do I relax and de-stress, but I have the time to see interesting places and new things to inspire me.

Who is a typical woman that wears Catherine Hills Jewellery?

My customers are generally 30 to 60 year old women, who like their jewellery to be slightly different, yet affordable and wearable. Having said that, when I last did Goldsmiths Fair, I sold my one of a kind brand new large statement collar necklace to a woman in her 70’s. It was marvellous to see an older lady comfortably wearing such a striking  and theatrical piece of jewellery.

Jewellery is obviously a big part of your life. What does it mean to you personally?

My grandmother gave me a Silver charm bracelet when I was a young girl. I loved the bracelet and every year she would have a new charm added. I had a wonderful relationship with her and the bracelet still gives me much joy and comfort.

I have been making my daughter a charm bracelet with charms that mark a special occasion or are relevant to her life and family. I have found some charms in antique shops and others made by jeweller friends.

I have some very special pieces of jewellery made by some of my dear friends. Sometimes we swap our work; which is a great way to get beautiful jewellery. I, also, on very rare occasions buy, or get given, pieces of jewellery but its never from a shop, or a chain its always made by someone I know and that makes it very special.

My wedding ring was designed and made by an amazing Swiss Goldsmith friend from the RCA. My husband commissioned him. It’s such a beautiful and special piece of jewellery. Most of the work I wear, is made by the hands of very special people and to me, that is magical.

It still gives me personal pleasure when I see a stranger wearing my jewellery, as they pass me in the street. I once saw a lady wearing my necklace at Wimbledon, it was very satisfying indeed.

Do you believe jewellery tells a lot about person wearing it? In what way?

Jewellery like clothes, tells a story.  People are more often than not, conservative with their jewellery. They wear small classic pieces, like a pair of diamond studs but sometimes you see someone, who is wearing striking, bold, pieces and I find that very exciting. Large statement rings and unusual necklace always catch my eye.

What about yourself? Do you want to go all bold and big with jewellery you are wearing or do you swear on more classic pieces?

I wear both big and bold and smaller more classic pieces, depending on my mood, or where I am going.

Time is often the problem for me, as it is for many women. It takes time experimenting with your wardrobe and jewellery, seeing what works together.  Often I grab the same necklace and earrings, as I know they go with anything. I’d like to make more time to get dressed up in some of my older, more bold pieces of jewellery.

Do you have a piece from your collection that you especially cherish?

I own an Oxidised Silver Baroque Armour Collar necklace, a very large statement necklace that’s fabulous when dressed up for a party, or worn every day with jeans and boots. It’s my most favourite piece of jewellery that I made and people are drawn to it.

To look for more info, visit www.catherinehillsjewellery.com

 

 

Easter edit

Easter is only a week away and stores are full of Easter stuff already. Well they have been for weeks but Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs and colours like yellow, green, pink and blue didn’t have much influence on me until now. Now I am fully aware that it isn’t long now that I will eat too much, sleep too much and forget about healthy lifestyle for one weekend.

That’s Easter. It had been and it always will be. However Easter is also a spring holiday and we like that it is sunny, warm and joyful. Because it is the signifier of the arrival of spring,because we know that days will get longer, that we will get more sun and that we will be able to bring colourful clothes form our closet.

So this story has one big theme written all over it: EASTER. It is inspired by all the colours that you can spot practically anywhere. At the same time it is also the first spring edit that lets us know that it’s not long now until winter gets completely forgotten. Pastels in all shades are the theme of Easter edit.

1. Hobbs bag (£149) – hobbs.co.uk; 2.Airfield coat (£639) – airfield.at; 3. Links of London Bunny Charm (£50) – linksoflondon.com; 4.Bonprix trousers (£26.99) – bonprix.co.uk; 5.Roland Mouret dress (£2495) – rolandmouret.com; 6.David Hampton Wallet (£110) – davidhampton.com; 7.Ted Baker Watch (£121) – tedbaker.com; 8.Alex Jay Clutch (£185) – kristinagoeswest.com; 9.Lola Rose Ring (£165) – lolarose.co.uk

Dry skin brushing

There’s nothing better than clear and bright skin. That’s why it is very important that you don’t neglect your skin care. Regular exfoliation and everyday use of moisturizer do miracle but there is one secret recipe that not only makes your skin look good from the outside but also has all the good benefits on your body. And it is cost efficient.

Dry skin brushing is part of Ayuverda’s cleansing philosophy and has both beauty and health benefits. With regular dry skin brushing you remove all dead skin cells but also help lymph system to do its work. As we lose one third of toxins through our biggest organ it is especially important to leave the pores clear, remove all obstacles and allow skin to breathe. Not only is this way our skin active but that also causes that the toxins are safely removed from our body system whereas if we neglect it they stay in our body which results in loss of energy and bad health.

Benefits of dry skin brushing

There are so many good benefits of dry skin brushing:

• It is an excellent exfoliator as it removes dead skin cells, cleaning the skin and keeping it fresh, vibrant and free of breakouts.
• It stimulates production of oil what gives skin more moisture but also help it against premature ageing.
• Regular brushing also stimulates blood circulation and the result is that the toxins move thought the body faster.
• Another good benefit is that it increases the muscle tone and reduces the appearance of cellulite which makes a good excuse to start practicing it now to be ready to show your legs in shorts.
• As it is part of Ayuverda’s cleansing philosophy dry skin brushing is recognized as a miraculous treatment and the rejuvenated skin cells and nervous system and strengthen immune system just confirm all the good properties.

How to dry brush your skin?

Get yourself a brush with natural bristles but you can also use loofah. Don’t use synthetic or nylon brushes as they may damage your skin.

If you are new to skin brushing practice it three times a week until your skin gets used to it as it turns a bit pink every time you are doing it. This is totally normal. Once you know how your skin takes this treatment you can do it every morning before taking the shower. Always dry skin brush before taking the shower, you don’t want your skin nor your brush to be wet.

Begin with the left side of your body and with legs. Start at your feet and ankles, move upward the leg towards your heart with circular motions.  Follow the way lymphatic fluids flows through your body. Move to your stomach and make clockwise circles. Then do your back, chest, neck and arms. Don’t forget the back of your arms.

Avoid the face and don’t brush over sensitive, inflamed, soar and sun burnt skin.

After you are done washing and your skin is slightly pinky take a shower to remove all dead cell and other impurities. Apply a moisturizer to nourish the skin.

With regular skin brushing your skin will stay young and fresh, collagen production will remain on high level and surprisingly the skin will have more moisture than before.