MINERAL MAKE-UP: Susan Posnick's new collection

At ELIXIR we love mineral make-up. It sits on the skin beautifully without highlighting large pores and wrinkles. One of the best brands is by international celebrity make-up artist Susan Posnick.

Susan is passionate about her brand and insists that it contains the highest-quality minerals and the highest concentration of them.

The star-product in her collection is COLORFLO, a mineral-based, light-diffusing, SPF26 foundation (pictured above) in powder form that brightens the skin and makes beauty simple.

This self-dispensing, portable and refillable brush contains highly pigmented iron oxides, plus Vitamins A and E, providing beautiful, natural coverage. Micronized Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide provide the most powerful and natural sun protection available, SPF26.

The luxurious, natural goat hairs in the brush are considered to be the best fibres by make-up artists and help provide a flawless finish. Simple to apply, COLORFLO covers like a liquid or cream foundation, with the smooth finish of a powder. COLORFLO is sweat proof, water resistant, and gently floats on the skin, creating a radiant glow without looking shiny.

Light diffusing particles help soften fine lines and create a virtually invisible finish. COLORFLO is available in 13 shades – including a perfect shimmer and bronzer; shades to suit Asian skins and pinker tones for English rose complexions. The skin-loving minerals will not clog your pores or irritate sensitive skin; in fact, the ingredients are so gentle you can apply COLORFLO immediately after all skin treatments, including Microdermabrasion, to cover redness. Simply, CLICK. DUST. GO – refills are available which means you can change shade to suit the season!

COLORFLO retails for £39.95 in the UK with the refil costing £21.95

The range is available from premium salons and spas nationwide and all products are also available via mail order.

Look out for her new lipstick range which gives you moist sexy lips in colours which suit almost everyone - and they come with a magnetic cap so you won't loose it!

Stockist enquiries: 020 8997 8541 www.skinbrands.co.uk

MENTAL HEALTH - GAIL RUNDLE CAMPAIGNS FOR EQUALITY

Stand Up. Stand to Reason…

By Gail Rundle
Investment banker, wife and human being on her campaign to put mental health issues on an equal footing with other body health problems....

Hi. My name is Gail. Now let’s get one thing straight….I’m fifty years old. For those of you who succumb to contemporary myth, that makes me a ‘wizened’, menopausal old hag with a face as lined as a grid reference map, as I sit sipping luke-warm Ovaltine and tapping my pink furry mules to the lachrymose ballads of Val Doonican.

Nonsense, I say, and Hoorah for the menopause! This morning I decided to tidy the landslide of papers in my messy study. Yet here I am, relaxing with a gin and tonic and enjoying my favourite Led Zeppelin tracks while I chat with you. Yes, Mesdames, growing older disgracefully has many benefits, not least of which is the realisation of what’s important. And dusting isn’t.

And there’s more…On my fiftieth birthday last year I threw away my big knickers and treated myself to some serious lacy numbers. I also made three wishes for the coming decade, two of which have already come true. My first novel is now underway. It’s a comedy and so what if I laugh at my own jokes? However, my biggest wish was to work in mental health, as I have bipolar illness.

I was diagnosed in my early twenties and have spent the subsequent thirty years managing depression and hypomania. I say ‘managing’, because I was able to forge a career in investment banking which took me to over sixty countries. I have known times from the black hole and empty soul to the soaring ascent of hypomania….

But I digress. My wish came true when I read a newspaper article featuring Jonathan Naess, and ‘Stand to Reason’ the mental health charity he founded. It’s wonderful to be part of something so empowering for service-users. The charity campaigns for the rights of all who suffer mental ill health and that’s one in four of us at some point in our lives… Is there anyone out there who doesn’t know someone who has suffered depression, or anxiety? Somebody’s mother, somebody’s partner, somebody’s sister, somebody’s friend. It could even be you. And it is certainly me.

Stand to Reason is a service-user led organisation that works with and for people with mental ill health in the way that Stonewall has for gay people: raising the profile, fighting prejudice, establishing rights and achieving equality. We are committed to fighting discrimination and stigma, challenging stereotypes and changing attitudes.

We have a vision of a changed world, one in which it will be common sense or ‘stand to reason’ that people who have experience of mental distress and ill health deserve the same respect and consideration as those with physical ill health and problems.
Stand to Reason is tackling discrimination and stigma in the following broad areas: business and employment, politics, culture and media, education and health.

Why not read about our work at http://www.standtoreason.org.uk/ ? Or better still, join us? Membership is free and we are the fastest-growing membership-based mental health charity in the sector.

Dear Reader, delighted to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you better in the coming months when I address some of the issues raised in this column and share some of my experiences…

Gail K Rundle, Business Development Director, Stand to Reason.
http://www.standtoreason.org.uk/ 07747 105432 You can also email Gail at info@standtoreason.org.uk

BEAUTY MOST BEASTLY

Is it really possible to morph from this to this with cosmetic surgery?

Without having any concern for this?

WE LOVE THE ROLLER-BLADING PENSIONER

At ELIXIR magazine we love rollerblading pensioner Geoff Dornan.

He is the fantastically fit septuggenarian who was fined by a UK court for 'endangering the public' by skating through a shopping mall.

We at ELIXIR think Mr Dornan should be given an award. At the age of 71 years he skated with respect to others, unlike others half his age. We assume the only reason he was caught because he did respect the law and stopped when he was asked.

The retired youth worker, who says regular skating keeps him fit and healthy, had now had his rollerblades confiscated by police.

The truth is that the rather large people in our community are far more of a danger. For example, how many times has a public bus braked abruptly and the huge person next to you come dangerously near to squashing the nearest passenger.

Mr Dornan, who now has a 2,075-person Facebook group devoted to him, was rollerblading in the seaside town of Southport, Merseyside and CCTV footage from a Marks and Spencer camera recorded in October 2008.

Outside court Mr Dornan said: 'In the months during which I have been unjustly deprived of my blades, I was shocked to discover how swiftly the health of someone of my age can deteriorate.
'At the time of my arrest, I was as fit as a flea, and entirely free of pain. Yet by Christmas, I found myself confined to bed with severe back trouble.'

He added: "I would never want to put anybody in danger and always adopt a good skating practice, which means nobody should ever feel threatened. I don't believe I'm a danger to anyone. This case should never have been brought to court.'

We have all seen people, mostly young men in my experience, cycling on public pavements even past policemen who take no notice. Since most policemen and women on foot appear to be overweight maybe if they were given some rollerblades they might not only get fit but also be fast enough to catch the real criminals rather than OAPs?

Is this what happens when you take too much human growth hormone?

World's oceans will soon be ruled by IMMORTAL SELF-CLONING JELLYFISH SHOCK

When I see stories like this I so wish I was editor of Fortean Times!

Apparently most jellyfish die after having sex, but this jellyfish, known as Turritopsis Nutricula manages to cleverly revert back to a juvenile state after mating - effectively becoming a baby again and living forever. It must be a man!

Scientists say the 5mm long jellyfish can do this iforever , which explains the huge rise in the population that wash up on our beaches.

Soon, the sea will be a white mass of pure jellyfish, although when jellyfish-infused beauty products start hitting the shelves from 2012 the poor little Turritopsis Nutricula will get hunted to extinction. That will teach them for being so clever!!

ORGANIC REJUVENATION FROM NEW ZEALAND

Eating lots of Vitamin C is one of the best ways to boost your immunity naturally, especially in winter. Newly launched in the UK is JASON Natural Cosmetics which are packed full of the powerful antioxidant Ester-C which is the main active ingredient in their new anti-ageing collection.

This comprehensive range consists of nine hard-working products which by the way are great value for money. The unique formulation of pure active ingredients penetrates deep into the skin to minimize the signs of ageing and fight free radical damage revealing softer, smoother, more radiant, youthful skin. Regular use of these skin-smart products will intensely hydrate the skin, restore suppleness, improve skin elasticity and leave skin healthier and younger looking.

Our favourite is the Max Instant Facial which exfoliates and hydrates the skin with the oils and Ester C and gives you an instant glow! Every product has the aroma natural orange oils is orange.(unfortunately our blog turns them blue!).JASON is available in Whole Foods, selected Waitrose Supermarkets, John Bell & Croyden, Fresh & Wild, Planet Organic and selected Health Food Stores nation-wide.

Super-C Cleanser 6oz. RRP £9.95
Combines the antioxidant Ester-C with natural surfactants to gently cleanse your face. In convenient and travel-friendly pump packaging, this citrus-scented cleanser is divine solution for wiping away the day’s dirt.

Super-C Toner 6oz. RRP £9.95
The Ester-C complex combines with natural botanicals for a fresh antioxidant-rich toner, ideal for minimising pores and balancing the skin’s Ph.

Ester-C Lotion 4oz. RRP £14.95
Synergistic blend of Ester-C, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin E help stimulate collagen production, giving you a youthful glow. This light formula gives the perfect amount of daily hydration.

Ester-C Crème 2oz. RRP £14.95
This rich formula drenches the skin in moisture; helping to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Ingredients include antioxidants Ester-C, Vitamin E and Alpha Lipoic Acid.


Ester-C Hydrating Masque 2.5oz. RRP £14.95
A treatment masque that erases dry spots and leaves your skin feeling silky soft and dewy fresh. A perfect pick me up for skin in need of a moisture surge.


Ultra-C Eye Lift 0.5oz. RRP £16.95
Brightens and lifts tired eyes with natural antioxidants, healing Aloe Vera Gel and soothing Rosehips. No need for the scalpel with this clever eye lift!


C-Lite Skin Toner Balancer 1oz. RRP £16.95
This product naturally minimises the appearance of age spots and other skin discolourations while balancing skin tone.

Hyper-C Serum 1oz. RRP £24.95
Ester-C, Sodium Hyaluronate and Alpha Lipoic Acid blend together in this fruity, fast-absorbing serum to boost collagen production and combat signs of ageing.


Vita-C Max Instant Facial 4oz. RRP £24.95
This luxurious natural facial treatment maximises the antioxidant benefits from the rest of the Ester-C range. The light creamy texture absorbs quickly into skin to help fight signs of ageing.

More about the Jason range

JASON is committed to creating distinctive, pampering products that delight the senses, soothe the soul, respect the planet and animals and promote health and well-being in our daily lives.
Providing safe, effective, natural and affordable personal care products since 1959,

JASON is a pioneer of the eco movement committed to caring for you and your family from head to toe. JASON products are free from any synthetic ingredients that harm the environment or irritate the skin and have not been tested on animals. JASON products do not contain Parabens, Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulfates, mineral oil, lanolin or petrolatum.

Get a Glow with Glōtherapeutics - new anti-ageing skincare from the US

We love mineral makeup - it really does turn back the clock because of the way it sits on the skin and the beneficial effects of the minerals. One of the best on the market is from the US - glōMinerals - which has a beautiful array of colours.

Now glō has introduced a new range of skincare products for home and insalon treatments.

There are seventeen ‘at home’ products that work to improve the health of skin, and also to prepare skin for their range of professional insalon glōChemical Exfoliation treatments.

The magic ingredients throughout the range, are the glōComplex which contains Spin Trap, Carmosine, Alma and Niacinamide.

The glōSerums are the hero’s of the skin care collection that are designed to create a real change in the appearance of the skin. Their effects include brightening, soothing, enhancing and helping to impede the ageing process. All of these products are "cruelty free", dye free and paraben free.

Our favourites include three of the basic products from the glōConditioning Collection including the:

Ø glōConditioning Milk Cleanser £13.50 – Wash away impurities and sooth skin with this creamy cleanser containing Grape Seed Extract, Jojoba and Safflower Oil.

Ø glōConditioning Tonic £13.50 – This balancing tonic contains Rose Hip Seed Oil, Camomilla and Hyaluronic Acid.

The glōSerums are potent concentrates including anti-ageing star ingredient, hyaluronic acid. Try the following:

Ø glōSuper Serum £67 – the real star of the collection, this amazing serum contain the ultimate in anti-ageing formulations leaving skin radiant, healthy and youthful. Brimming with a high concentration of Peptides and Growth Factors it works hard in the fight against ageing, whilst Retinol enhances the skin’s clarity.


glōSpecialty is a collection of products to complement skincare systems and chemical exfoliation treatments by adding healing and protective benefits to reach optimal results. There are products for all skin types.

In Salon Treatments:

glōChemical Exfoliation – Provide customized programs for each individual to help achieve subtle, gradual or astonishing transformations. Designed to stimulate a fresh appearance and improve the appearance of fine lines, imperfections and discolouration.

glōAdvanced Systems – Advanced professional treatments that will cultivate high intensity results carried out under the supervision of a doctor. These products are for achieving advanced performance.

Visit www.gloprofessional.com for more information or call 0800 121 8116 for stockists details.