This week’s shoot is another from my absolute fav’, Miles Aldridge. Miles has a gift for finding the eerie “Stepford” in beauty and this shoot for Vogue Beauty, with model Caroline Trentini is no exception.
I have a book on the history of beauty products. Every so often, when I’m wanting a good scare, I’ll read one of the horror stories inside. Seriously, it gets so bad that even Stephen King would find it a step too far! It’s an unfortunate fact that we girls put ourselves through some pretty ridiculous “exquisite” torture for our looks. But, sometimes the best way to treat your body and subsequently your beauty, is to do a little Beauty-It-Yourself, and whip up some of these homebrew recipes.

Cucumbers – It’s become quite the pop-culture reference nowadays – Cruella De Vil like women trying to hold onto their youth with slices of cucumber over their eyes. But the science behind this little wonder-fruit, shows that it contains a mild-astringent that can help with those puffy eyes. Yep, TV really can teach you something!
Coffee – Caffeine is a great lip irritant and subsequently is used as an ingredient in a lot of lip plumpers out there. But what you may not know is that caffeine is amazing for cellulite too! Mix coffee grounds (no decaf, people) with a little olive oil to form a paste, and rub it vigorously into the areas you want to reduce cellulite. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse off before you smell too much like your local Starbucks!
Coconut oil – I love Coconut oil. I cook with it (it gives everything a hint of coconut flavor!), and I use it in my daily beauty routine. You may shake your head at using cooking oil on your face, but coconut oil is a whole different beast. Its small molecular structure promotes fast absorption into the skin and it is extremely high in antioxidants. Asian cultures have sworn by it for centuries, and I’m here to tell you I do too.

Olive Oil – Having trouble getting your makeup off? Just head into the kitchen! Olive Oil makes a great eye-makeup remover and takes off waterproof mascara in a flash. Just put a tiny dab on a cotton-round and gently sweep the area clean. Make sure to wipe away any leftover residue as you don’t want an oily pillow!
Avocado face mask – To achieve soft, youthful skin you can’t go wrong with a good avocado facial. Avocado’s contains lots of minerals, antioxidants and vitamins E and A, which is all good stuff for your face. All you need to do is mash the avocados like you are making Guacamole. Add a dash of sweet almond oil and apply to the face. Leave it on as long as you feel comfortable and voila, a revitalized face!
Beer Bath – The vitamins in the beer bath are said to rejuvenate your pores and relieve tension in your muscles (although drinking it helps with that too). It’s also great for your hair; yeast and hops help to swell the hair shaft and plump the cuticle, adding volume. The acidity of the beer helps remove product build-up. In the shower, pour a bottle of beer over your hair after you shampoo–just be sure to rinse with clean water so that you don’t end up smelling like a frat boy!