Dear readers, please treat this as the most exciting breaking news for beauty lovers.

Plant-powered skincare and make-up brand Chantecaille and London pharmacy John Bell & Croyden have just got married! Well, bit of exaggeration there but we’d argue it’s pardonable since it’s an ‘exclusive partnership’, they say (see…!). We couldn't be more delighted since these are two of the most gorgeous and luxurious names we know.

If you haven’t discovered the delights of John Bell & Croyden, we urge you to head to Wigmore Street, London W1, now. The lovely, light and airy store is our chosen one-stop shop for wellbeing and beauty of all kinds; there are knowledgeable in-house pharmacists plus super nice and helpful floor staff. And now there’s one of our most favourite beauty brands too.

We’ve been bowled over by Chantecaille’s exquisite botanical formulas, supported by up-to-the-minute science, since the range launched in 1998. The potency of the skincare is largely due to plant stem cells from sustainable sources – think raspberries, tomatoes and apples. The textures are always sublime. And make-up wise, we look like we want to look - like us, not overdone in any way just that bit prettier and more glam.

It’s still very much a family affair. Founder and industry legend Sylvie Chantecaille – a hero we love and respect – still leads the brand together with daughters Olivia, Creative Director and Alex, Chief Commercial Officer. Their brother Philippe channels his passion for art, wildlife and photography into creating ravishing cross media visuals for the brand.

As dedicated animal lovers, we’re delighted that Chantecaille has had a cruelty-free commitment from the start and never tested on animals. But much much more than that: Sylvie’s personal passion, matched by her family, has led to the brand giving a loud voice to urgent environmental issues.

Each season, one collection, often a collectable limited edition palette, is dedicated to celebrating and supporting Nature, from endangered species such as Monarch butterflies, elephants, gorillas, mustangs, wolves and sharks, to the wild natural environment - oceans and coral reefs.

So when Sarah was offered a makeover by a longtime Chantecaille make-up artist Eliza, it took all of two seconds for her to say ‘yes-please-when?’… And you can see the results above. Which took her off to the ballet at Covent Garden feeling, well, pretty as the picture.

The full list of products that Eliza used is below. (She’s also a reiki master, Sarah discovered, so wonderfully soothing to be with.) It’s always a wonderful treat to have an expert make-up ‘face lift’ and, even decades on in a beauty career, to get some new tips and tricks.

‘The Rose de Mai Eye Lift Gel was such a wow: really disappeared puffiness and fine lines, and perked up my eye area. I would never have thought of using a violet eyeliner but it really accentuated my dark brown eyes,’ Sarah says.

‘Sylvie recommended Le Camouflage Stylo concealer to us many years ago and it’s brilliant to brighten and lighten under eyes and in those shadowy corners either side of the nose. Sylvie also said “the most important thing as you grow older is a really good, very moisturising foundation to make skin look fresh and dewy” – and Future Skin really delivers; lasted wonderfully too, topped with HD Perfecting Powder. And I LOVED the lip look with a natural lip pencil all over, topped with a soft shiny lipstick.’

All the products used are listed below…

Pure Rosewater/£70 - buy here
24K Gold Serum Intense/£375 - buy here  
24K Gold Firming Moisturizer/£275 - buy here
Rose de Mai Eye Lift/£132 - buy here
Ultra Sun Protection SPF 45 Primer/£92 - buy here
Future Skin Foundation: Vanilla/£80 - buy here
HD Perfecting Powder/£68 - buy here
Le Camouflage Stylo (concealer): Shade 2/£50 - buy here
Waterproof Brow Definer: Light Taupe/£36 - buy here
Philanthropy Cheek Shade: Emotion/£39 - buy here
Luster Glide Silk Infused Eyeliner: Violet Damask/£30 - buy here
E/S Refill Ginger (eye shade)/£23 - buy here
Mermaid Eye Shade: Sylvie/£34 - buy here
NEW Sea Turtle Collection – Eye Trio: Warm (Lilac) – only available in store 
Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara/£66 - buy here
Lip Definer: Natural/£23 - buy here

johnbellcroyden.co.uk

Prize Draws