The CH Blog

Caroline Hirons' expert advice, reviews and recommendations, all in one archive.

The function of the blog is to help you find what you do and don’t need in your skincare routine. From the core basics through to the spectrum of retinoid strengths and everything in between, the blog is an archive to breakdown jargon and present you with both my opinion and simple scientific facts.

Caroline Hirons, Founder and Qualified Skincare Expert

Taking a stand against Photoshop.

Taking a stand against Photoshop.

Following my post below on the still-can't-quite-believe-how-horrific-it-is photoshop job executed on Zooey Deschanel by Rimmel - I was contacted by Collin Resultime, who have featured previously on this site with...

22/02/2012

DJV Beautenizer Mascara

DJV Beautenizer Mascara

Just a quick one for the middle of the week! I was recently sent these mascaras - which turn out to be the best selling mascara brand in Japan -...

22/02/2012

The Horror of Photoshop

The Horror of Photoshop

Dear Rimmel. Zooey Deschanel is absolutely gorgeous. I imagine one of the reasons you wanted her as one of your 'faces' is that we girls see her as 'one of...

20/02/2012

Article image

Clinic on Thursday - Clinic is Closed.

Clinic is open for business! Remember that the more info you can give me, the better detailed, specific-to-you response I can give.

16/02/2012

Article image

Clinic Answers

Hi Everyone!As I'm visiting Mama Mouth for half term - the Clinic questions will be answered by Sunday this week.Thanks for your patience and for your support of the Clinic....

16/02/2012

Article image

Clinic on Thursday - Clinic is Closed.

Thank you for the amazing response last week! The Clinic is OPEN!

09/02/2012

Beauty News Round-up

Beauty News Round-up

This week's round-up - starting with... Stop the Press! Next Friday - 10th, Emma Watson - Hermione herself, is doing a P.A. in Selfridges as part of her role as...

03/02/2012

Article image

Clinic on Thursday - Clinic is Closed.

Ok here's the thing: I'm stupid busy at the moment. All for amazing reasons - but still - ridiculously busy. After kids, hubby, parents, 12 clients and growing, Give and...

02/02/2012

Aesop New Store Opening

Aesop New Store Opening

  Earlier in January I was invited to the opening of the latest addition to Aesop store outlets in London. Situated in Lexington Street bang in the middle of Soho,...

01/02/2012

It's about time.....

It's about time.....

My name is Caroline and I have a confession to make. Until a few weeks ago I had never sat behind the wheel of a car. Well, I am BRILLIANT...

31/01/2012

The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars

  One thing I love more than beauty? Music. Live it, breathe it...obsessed. It's how I met the OH. Singing on stage. (4 kids and 40lbs ago but whatever..) Last...

26/01/2012

STOP THE PRESS: SOAP & GLORY SUPER SIZE

STOP THE PRESS: SOAP & GLORY SUPER SIZE

Holy Crapbags! One of my favourite body moisturisers EVER - and one of Boots best-selling items - Soap & Glory's Righteous Butter, is launching in a MEGA 1 litre-sized Limited...

20/01/2012

My Daily

My Daily

Just a quick one - I'm over on My Daily today with my Hero Product.. No surprises for guessing what it is.... At least I'm consistent. MyDaily.co.uk

20/01/2012

Article image

Absorbency, medication and inflammation... a request from Twitter...and how to make the perfect cup of tea.

I've had a few questions on Twitter this week that take more than 140 characters to respond to!   Firstly, medication and the effects on the body and skin -...

20/01/2012

Paris - L'Opera

Paris - L'Opera

I went to Paris last Friday for work meetings and with an hour to kill between meetings I decided that instead of walking around L'Opera and ignoring it completely -...

15/01/2012

Beauty News Round-up

Beauty News Round-up

A little round-up of stories this week - first up...   A reminder. Invati - the new range from Aveda that I reviewed late last year is on counters now....

14/01/2012

Article image

Mineral Oil - a rant

I go on and on about mineral oil all the time and am always asked what I have against it. Here's the thing. It has no benefit to your skin....

14/01/2012

Article image

Marie Claire Best Beauty Twitter Awards

Well it would appear that shouting at people on Twitter about their incorrect/lame/wrong use of skincare is popular?! Yours truly has been longlisted for Best Beauty Twitter over on Marie...

09/01/2012

Guide to Paris - Part 1 - Travel and Champs Elysees

Guide to Paris - Part 1 - Travel and Champs Elysees

Years ago, when I was working for a big brand in Europe, I was fortunate enough to 'have' to visit Paris once a month - for work. Paris is also...

01/01/2012

Best of 2011 - The Best Reds

Best of 2011 - The Best Reds

I've never been someone to do things by halves. So when I rediscovered my love of lipstick earlier this year (having been a gloss chick for like..ever) there was only...

31/12/2011

Best of 2011 - Hairspray

Best of 2011 - Hairspray

Finishing off my Best of 2011? I know. Hairspray? Really? Well, yes frankly. I use it every single day and am a bit obsessive so why not? So without further...

31/12/2011

Best of 2011 - Fragrance

Best of 2011 - Fragrance

Pretty clear winner for me this year. Guerlain's Shalimar Initial is a gorgeous take on the original. Lighter, fresher and cleaner. A wonderful modern version of a true classic. An...

30/12/2011

Best of 2011 - Mascara

Best of 2011 - Mascara

Although I have not yet been tempted to stray from my usual choice of Chantecaille Faux Cils - frankly one of the best mascaras on the planet, on a permanent...

30/12/2011

Best of 2011 - Facial

Best of 2011 - Facial

Kicking off the 'Best of' series of posts for 2011 is Best Facial. I know facials. You can usually get a really good facial or really good value for money....

28/12/2011

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and yours a very joyful, safe and peaceful Christmas.

24/12/2011

Last minute Christmas loveliness (and a totally gratuitous picture of bloggers)

Last minute Christmas loveliness (and a totally gratuitous picture of bloggers)

Let's cut to the chase: time is certainly now of the essence. If you need help with your Christmas makeup get thee to John Lewis in Oxford St, Brent Cross,...

16/12/2011

Article image

Happy Friday and a Merry Christmas from Harvey Nichols!

This video is exactly why I love Harvey Nichols. NO other department store would do this. It's been a long time since I did a Walk of Shame - but...

09/12/2011

Article image

This little blog named one of 4beauty's Best Skin Care Blogs

Very chuffed to receive an email from the lovely peeps at 4beauty today letting me know we've has been named one of their Best Skin Care Blogs. So I highly...

07/12/2011

Eye Creams - Reviews and Recommendations

Eye Creams - Reviews and Recommendations

Following on from the Cheat Sheet the below are just a few of my favourites. If you have any specific questions about a particular cream feel free to comment. Best...

05/12/2011

Cheat Sheet - Eye Cream

Cheat Sheet - Eye Cream

There are two camps when it comes to eye cream: Those that definitely do Those that think it’s unnecessary and a waste of money Unsurprisingly I am very much the...

29/11/2011

Hall of Fame - Darphin Purifying Balm

Hall of Fame - Darphin Purifying Balm

If there was such a thing as a 'Church of Beauty' - I would surely worship at the altar of this product. I first used this when I worked in...

26/11/2011

CHEAT SHEET - WHAT FACIAL?

CHEAT SHEET - WHAT FACIAL?

Despite their popularity and the continued growth of spas and salons – the average woman in the UK has a facial ‘as a treat’ across three occasions, a birthday, Christmastime/celebration...

26/11/2011

New Launch for 2012 - Aveda Invati

New Launch for 2012 - Aveda Invati

Let's set the scene. The picture above shows my brother, my father and my uncle. Oh and me. Spot the difference? I'm the one with hair. Well, not counting Dad's...

21/11/2011

Heads Up! Elemis TSV - QVC 20th November

Heads Up! Elemis TSV - QVC 20th November

Attention all Elemis and QVC fans - Elemis's final TSV of the year is this Sunday 20th November and has 10 - yes TEN airings throughout the day. The Five...

18/11/2011

Evelyn H. Lauder 1936 - 2011

Evelyn H. Lauder 1936 - 2011

Source - Forbes 'In capturing a singular moment, photography has also helped me learn how to let go of things I want to hold on to so tightly. You can't...

13/11/2011

L'Artisan Parfumeur

L'Artisan Parfumeur

News reached me yesterday of the passing of Jean Laporte, the man who founded one of my favourite fragrance houses L'Artisan Parfumeur in 1976. L'Artisan was truly one of the...

11/11/2011

Brilliant Reds - NARS and Daniel Sandler

Brilliant Reds - NARS and Daniel Sandler

Having rediscovered the joy of a red lip recently, these two have moved swiftly to my everyday make-up bag and are beautiful, gorgeous reds. Impulse is part of Daniel Sandler's...

11/11/2011

New Fragrance for 2012 - Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang

New Fragrance for 2012 - Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang

Last week I had a sneak preview of new fragrances for Valentine's Day - the two stand out ones for me being Cheeky Alice from Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang's...

11/11/2011

Chantecaille Christmas - Updated

Chantecaille Christmas - Updated

Some prettiness for Midweek. These are coming soon to a counter near you - and being Chantecaille, they are gorgeous. Limited Edition Evening Duo Palette The Evening Duo is a...

09/11/2011

Cheat Sheet - Dry or Dehydrated?

Cheat Sheet - Dry or Dehydrated?

Cheat Sheet – Dry or Dehydrated? Are you DRY or DEHYDRATED? (or both!) Dry and dehydrated skins have similar characteristics, but different underlying reasons. Dry Skin – normally a skin...

07/11/2011

Aromatherapy Associates Christmas and Rose Skin Tonic - Review

Aromatherapy Associates Christmas and Rose Skin Tonic - Review

I'm a big believer in going to the experts in their particular field for product - i.e. don't buy your makeup from a skincare brand and don't buy your skincare...

04/11/2011

Diptyque Christmas

Diptyque Christmas

I'm a Diptyque fanatic. I trained in the brand and sold them when I worked at Space over 10 years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. One...

04/11/2011

Soap & Glory Cosmetics Launch

Soap & Glory Cosmetics Launch

Marcia Kilgore is a genius. I don't throw that word around thoughtlessly - she just IS. The woman behind Bliss and Fit Flops is in a league of her own....

03/11/2011

Product of the Week Giveaway Winners - balance Me and Beauty Works West

Product of the Week Giveaway Winners - balance Me and Beauty Works West

Firstly. Huge apologies. I was out of commission for a couple of days last week and then Max was sick for the following three days - and low and behold...

27/10/2011

Hall of Fame - Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream

Hall of Fame - Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream

I love it when I stumble across a product that over-performs and becomes a staple in my skincare wardrobe. This is one of those times. I bought this in New...

27/10/2011

DIOR SPRING 2012 - Preview

DIOR SPRING 2012 - Preview

If ever a collection was going to slap you back into beauty blogging territory it's this one. Although yesterday's press preview was entitled Spring 2012 most of these products will...

19/10/2011

Heads Up! NARS Christmas on counter early - and other NARS newness...

Heads Up! NARS Christmas on counter early - and other NARS newness...

I know it's unusual to post about Fall and Holiday together but: NARS Christmas (we're English!) Collection is on sale now in Selfridges. Two weeks earlier than advertised. Which means...

19/10/2011

A fragrant arrival in Chiltern Street - Cire Trudon Boutique Opening

A fragrant arrival in Chiltern Street - Cire Trudon Boutique Opening

This week I was invited to the opening of the divine new Cire Trudon boutique in Chiltern Street. Cire Trudon is the oldest candle maker in the world, founded in...

15/10/2011