Pamper and Preen at Paul Edmonds, London

I had the pleasure of returning to one of my favourite London salons recently.  Having not visited in some time I was keen to find out whether it had maintained its first rate reputation and whether anything had changed.

What I have always loved about Paul Edmonds is that inside from the hustle and bustle of the Brompton Road this salon is much more than a hairdressing salon but a sanctuary where you can escape the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Offering a range of beauty therapies from make up facials to pedicure, visitors can now take advantage of two private salons where individuals or small groups can enjoy a private pampering.

Often salons look very clinical but Paul Edmonds salon manages to escape this façade and excels with a luxury home away from home feel within the two-story retreat.

On my visit I was treated to experience the colour gloss treatment.  This can either infuse a burst of colour to your existing shade or a clear gloss can provide a healthy shine that will last for up to two weeks making it perfect for those Christmas parties.

After a consultation with the stylist we selected a clear gloss and after being prepped and preened was led away to the wash rooms where the gloss was applied while I enjoyed the comforts of my massaging chair.  Ten minutes later I had returned to my chair for the gloss to work its magic while I sipped on a fresh juice and browsed through the hefty collection of magazines – nothing like a good catch up on the gossip!

The half hour flew by and I was back in the chair enjoying a head massage in addition to the chair massage.  Unfortunately this had to come to an end and I was led downstairs for the blow dry.  Now I always think a good blow dry says a lot about a salon and with particularly tricky hair (relaxed Afro hair) I often find salons don’t quite meet the mark.  While it may look good in the salon, the results are really a couple of hours later when it has either maintained its look or frizzed up to double the size.  My stylist was excellent – he talked me through the products he was using and offered advice on how I can blow dry at home (I still haven’t quite mastered it in the same way but still trying!) 

The results were excellent, in addition to having a silky shiny mane, the gloss has added a protective layer that kept it looking perfect for days.

The Colour Gloss Treatment at Paul Edmonds starts from £40.

If you want to gift someone (or yourself!) with one of the treatments available at Paul Edmonds this Christmas, the salon has recently gone digital with ‘the CARD,’ a reward card for all your hair and beauty needs; simply preload the card with credit online and enjoy the special offers and benefits that you can access.

Paul Edmonds: 217 Brompton Road: Knightsbridge: London: SW3 1HW

www.pauledmonds.com

Heavenly Scent

On a winters evening when we’re all snowed in sometimes our home really is the only sanctuary on offer.

Capturing that perfect mood when in the home isn’t always possible but scented candles offer an escapisms as scents and smells from the world over catapult us to different moments in time.

Take a look at some of my best picks for getting in the mood this winter:

Organic Candles

So Organic candles are as they say on the tin - 100% natural plant wax, these candles contain only pure essential oils and plant wax from a sustainable source to fragrance the candles.  In time for Christmas So Organic has three exclusive blended scents to invigorate - Inspiration, perfect to get you in the creative mood and help you concentrate on getting things done; Sensual for  those times when you want to create just the right mood with a heady blend of Orange, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang and Relaxing where you can take a little time out for yourself and enjoy the beautiful aroma of Geranium and Lavender.

Available in 2 sizes –  Small votive (burns for yup to 15 hours) - £4.00
each or large that burns for 30-40 hours priced £12.00 each from www.soorganic.com.

Pure Indulgence Candles

What better way to wind down and relax than in a serene candle lit room, with the sweet smell of a tropical paradise.  Spa Paradisa specialises in producing great scented products including their range of candles, at very affordable prices.  For just £5 help yourself to relax and unwind with the ‘Indulge your Skin’ candle. Its rich fragrance of ylang-ylang, perfectly blended with sweet aroma of jasmine, provides the ultimate exotic fragrance to remind you of a tropical island paradise. 

The Spa Paradisa candles are available in Debenhams or www.next.co.uk and cost £5 each, visit www.spaparadisa.com for more information.

Gifting Candles

St Eval have long been ruling the roost when it comes to candles.  With a fragrance to suit every mood, the decision can be difficult as the shapes, sizes and fragrances of the beautiful candles mean you are spoilt for choice.  The Scented Tins from the St Eval Candle Company are great for Christmas.  Beautifully decorated the tins comes in three limited edition scents - Figgy Pudding - the sweet and fruity scent of Christmas; Inspiritus - the warm scent of spices and cloves and Orange & Cinnamon - a traditional Christmas fragrance. 

The Scented Tins are priced £8.45 each and are available from www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk.

Ormonde Jayne’s Casablanca candles have gained a big following with Elton John and Yasmin le Bon known to buy them in bulk.  This great scent comes in a Mini Scented Candle Box Set along with a Osmanthus, Sampaquita and the Ta'if 75g candle. 

The set is priced £54.00 from www.ormandejayne.com.

Festive Candles

Wax Lyrical has launched its limited edition Christmas range which includes the luxurious blend of vanilla, sweet caramel and white jasmine to produce the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh range.  Working well in traditional and contemporary homes, the scent is available in a range of choices including the dramatic pillar candle, reed diffuser and pretty metallic teal light holders.

The range starts from £4.99 from www.wax-lyrical.co.uk.

Comforting Candles

Aromatherapy Associates have launched a brand new Comfort Candle, as an addition to their gifting collection.  Conjuring up a sense of the warm and exotic, the blend is set to use rose and ginger to enlighten the senses and create a heart warming atmosphere and infectious aroma.   

The Comfort Candle is priced £24.00 from Aromatherapy Associates on 020 8569 7030 or online at www.aromatherapyassociates.com. 

Evolve Pamper Mini Gift Set

This luxury bodycare sampler contains four of Evolve’s best-selling bodycare range designed to prep winter bodies to party going perfection.  Inside you will find Radiance boost body, Skin glow body cream, Heavenly body polish and a Skin cocoon body wash.

All the products are jam packed with fruits such as Kalahri melons, goji berries and Amazonian Pracaxi oil goodness that now only cleanses and detoxes but moisturises and leaves a gentle glow to keep you looking party perfect.  As an added bonus 50% of the profits go to Peace One Day, a charity dedicated to furthering World Peace.

Lynx Twist Washbag

We haven’t forgotten the men this year - in true traditional style what would Christmas be without a Lynx gift set?!  This Lynx Washbag set contains the essentials you need for when on the go – Deodorant and Shower Gel. 

Available from www.boots.com

Heavenly Oils from Aromatherapy Associates

Aromatherapy Associates has a range of beautiful limited edition gifts fresh for Christmas 2010.  Beautifully presented in a gorgeous purple box with a chic matching grosgrain ribbon so you don’t need to worry about fussing with gift bags and wrapping paper! 

A great stocking filler is Aromatherapy Associates’ Heavenly Oils are two new Limited Edition Bath & Shower Oils – ‘Silent Night’, containing wild camomile and vetivert to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep, and ‘Clear Dawn’, which incorporates ravensara and eucalyptus, to help revive the senses and refresh the mind.

Heavenly Oils (2x7.5ml) are priced £12.00 and are available from selective spas and retailers nationwide.  You can also purchase direct from www.aromatherapyassociates.com or

020 8569 7030.

A Tartan Tale Giftables from MAC

Make up giant MAC will be giving a nod to the Scottish this winter with a new range of gifts that are cheeky, fun and completely rocking it out! The range, called A Tartan Tale, includes 6 Dashing Lassie Eye Shadows, 6 Beauties Play It Cool Eye Shadows, 6 Twists of Tartan Eye Shadows, 6 Reelers and Rockers Eye Shadows, Happily Ever After and A Fabulous Fantasy Lip Kits, plus A Triumphant Blush and Hark The Heraldry Face Kits which make awesome gifts for a loved one!

The range is available now from all leading department stores.

Exquisite gift set from Neal’s Yard Remedies

The ‘Exquisite’ gift set from Neal’s Yard is one of the brand’s many beautifully pre packaged gift options that comes in one of the standard environmentally friendly card boxes complete with vegetable-based inks so the ethical ethos of the company doesn’t end with the organic skincare products themselves. If you aren’t familiar with the Wild Rose collection, the enriched wile rose is perfect for repair, firm and smoothing of the skin with a delicate hint of a musty rose. Included in this gift set are the Wild Rose Beauty Balm, Wild Rose Beauty Concentrate, Wild Rose Body Elixir, and an Organic Muslin Cloth.

This gift set is priced £45 and is available from www.nealsyardremedies.com

‘Pop In’ to Cleo B’s

We love to shop and Christmas is one of the best excuses and with more reason when some fabulous pop up shops that start to appear with some little wonders that you struggle to find elsewhere.

One of these is the Cleo B Pop In shop that is open right now for one week only until 8th December. Luxury shoe designer Cleo B will be selling the AW10 collection with a 25% discount, along with 15% off leading brands including Ahilya luxury hand woven cashmere scarves, Jada Turkish-inspired jewellery and Meli Melo unique handbags.

The Cleo B boutique is located at 147 Ebury Street, London, SW1W 9QN

Ormonde Jayne launches new London store

Ormonde Jayne celebrates its tenth and most exciting year with the launch of the new flagship boutique in London’s Sloane Square next week. This store will be the third for Ormonde Jayne within the city

Designed by Caulder Moore, the smoked glass and antique gold walls give the store Ormonde Jayne’s trademark sophisticated decadent look. From the distinctive black frontage polished brass signage and red glass projecting sign, through the windows you can see suspended smoked glass boxes with halo illuminated polished frames that encase the displays.

The store will also feature the new Perfume Portraits that allows small groups to be private hosted. Perfume Portraits is the new complimentary service to find your signature scent by smelling the raw ingredients of the seven perfume families.

You can find the new store located at 192 Pavillion Road (site of the old General Trading Company) in London.

Big news for Beauty Fanatics - House of Fraser

House of Fraser’s beauty department is heralding a new era as the department store launches its Apothecary; an exclusive new retail concept.

The new House of Fraser Apothecarys, being rolled out one by one across the UK, will be cutting edge beauty emporiums where customers can discover new brands, with the opportunity to understand and experience the product in a relaxed environment.

Combining existing brands such as Molton Brown, Laura Mercier and Xen Tan, with exclusive new brands Electric Body, Filorga, Ceveria Terenzi and House of Fraser’s very own beauty brand the Apothecary Collection!

The Apothecary Collection has been specifically designed to complement the concept.

The range contains a Body Collection, Hand Collection, Travel Collection and a beautiful Candle.

For more information visit. www.hof.co.uk

Harvey Nichols Birmingham to stock high end skin range care from Bodhi

Great news for gals and guys in the Midlands – Harvey Nichols Birmingham is one of the first retailers to stock high-end skincare brand, Bodhi, which has been causing quite a stir in the beauty world.

The Botanical Therapies range, which includes indulgent shower and bath products, is based around seven scents that rejuvenate the skin and indulge the senses.

The seven scents available as part of the range are: Galangal Spice, Jasmine Falls, Mint Thé, Palmarosa Verde, Pep Noir, Rosemary Chi and Ylang-Ylang Incensa. Each has its own unique quality, from confidence-boosting to relaxing. Suitable for both men and women, the range is made entirely in the UK, apart from the essential oils.

Each therapy comes in a standard bottle (250ml) and is priced at £22.50. As an introductory treat, with every purchase over £45 from Harvey Nichols, customers will get two free 50ml travel size bottles in an organza pouch.

The range will be launched exclusively at Harvey Nichols in time for Christmas.

Paul's Boutique launched 24/7 fragance

Paul’s Boutique, the funky fashion brand favoured by celebs and the rich and famous, has ventured into the world of fragrance with a new scent entitled 24/7.

Specially developed this ingenious product gives you the only fragrance you will ever need to take you right through the day. The gorgeous 24/7 set includes three 10ml bottles of complimenting fragrances, AM, PM and 24/7, formulated to take you effortlessly from morning through to night.

Cleverly included is an adorable gold applicator that each bottle can be carried in, attaching this like a charm to your bag means you have the perfect fragrance wherever you are! At only £20 this set of three fragrances is truly a bargain!

Fragrance and body mists are available at www.pauls-boutique.com and selected Boots stores, Fenwick, Bank and ASOS.

Atkins

I have tried the cabbage soup diet, Weight Watchers, Slimmers World…you name it, and the only thing that seems to budge those unwanted few pounds is Atkins.  Sometimes the diet gets a bad rap but it has recently been reinvented with a focus on including more nutritional goodness as opposed to the previous ‘no carbs’ focus, so in order to lose those wobbly bits byChristmas I am giving it a go!

Last week I ordered my Starter Kit which came over the weekend and included a introductory book, some great recipes and some shake supplements and Atkins bars (which are great to snack on in-between meals)  Check back to see how I am getting on!

If you are interested in learning more, visit www.atkins.uk.com

Christmas Gift of The Day

I LOVE Christmas and everything to do with it including the fantastic new limited edition bath and shower range from Imperial Leather!

Available in two different flavours – ‘Tempting’ with Passion Flower and Rice Milk and ‘Precious’, with Night Blooming Jasmine and Cotton Milk – both ultra luxurious and great for a cheap pampering at home! 

With news of the Savoy opening last month and the legendary Savoy Grill to open just this week, it is one of our favourite places to visit when in London. Great news has reached me that for a limited time only customers who spend £100 at the Savoy Spa, will also gain access to the privilege of using the state of the art Gym, Steam Room, Sauna and Pool – not bad! These facilities are usually only offered exclusively to guests and will make your experience even more indulgent. The £100 spend can be a combination of both treatment and product purchase.

For more info visit www.thesavoy.co.uk




Terms & Conditions: Offer available from 1st Nov 2010 – Apr 2011. Treatments must be booked between 9.00am-6.00pm.

Dannii Minogue launches first Project D fragrance

You may have followed Dannii Minogue as she launched her Project D fashion line with her friend Tabitha Somerset Webb on her ITV2 show… well following its success she has now launched her first ever fragrance that comes in two different options – a set of three purse sprays – Dawn, Day and Dusk priced £24.50; and the Project D signature scent, a 50ml EDP priced £33.50.  

The fragrance is available in time for Christmas right now from the Perfume Shop.

Top Picks for Christmas

More and more Christmas tunes are appearing on the radio and one by one the decorations are creeping onto my street so in preparation for the festive season, in the lead up to Christmas, I will be checking out some of the best beauty and general gifts in a special ‘Gift of the Day’ guide so watch this space!

My first pick has to be Philosophy’s delectable Christmas range which always comes in the most elegant packaging!

Aside from the tasty product names they are genuinely good products that smell good enough to eat (don’t try it!)

The clever packaging acts as a reusable case that open with a bit of sparkle making them a beautiful gift to give.

The Warm and Toasty gift set is one of Philosophy's 2010 Christmas range and is priced £20.50 from John Lewis www.johnlewis.com

Detox Bliss

Whether it is one too many mince pies or that last bellini cocktail that will send you over the edge, after the festive season, most of our bodies are crying out for a break.  New Years is the perfect time to detox and get fit and we’re here to help you on your way!

Wash away those winter blues

Green People’s aim is to offer handmade health and beauty products that use naturally active certified organic ingredients. Ingredients are carefully chosen to nourish and enhance the skins natural beauty which is why we love this deluxe Organic Sensuous Sugar Scrub, a body exfoliator that uses pure cane sugar crystals to draw out toxins and remove unsightly dry skin. It is deeply nourishing with Avocado oil; rich in Vitamins A and E and Rosehip oil with its regenerative properties, £17.50

www.greenpeople.co.uk

Detox, invigorate and energise body and mind with Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil.  From Aromatherapy Associates, it really is the perfect antidote to morning bleariness, general weariness and the effects of over indulgence the night before.  A refreshing, stimulating, wake up blend, this light bath and shower oil supports an effective circulation with cleansing and purifying properties.

www.aromatherapyassociates.com, www.spacenk.com

With purifying eucalyptus and lime essential oils, Crabtree and Evelyn’s Seven Seas Bath Salts, 907ml, £35.00, combines mineral rich sea salts harvested from around the world to give the ultimate purifying bathing experience.  Minerals help deep cleanse whilst almond oil and seaweed extract condition the skin. 

www.crabtreeandevelyn.co.uk

Skin Care

Face Masks

What better way to begin your at-home detox than to pop on a face mask.  Amirose Self Heating Green Tea Mask, £3.99, is overloaded with antioxidants and vitamins to

prevent damage to the skin caused from environmental exposure.

www.amirose.com   

Detox your way to younger, smoother, toned looking skin with the luxurious Skin

Nutrition Marine Detoxifying Body Mask, 200ml, £60.00. Bursting with macrobiotic marine extracts and Vitamin B3, the clay mask can also be used as a detoxifying body wrap as well as a daily purifying body mask. Applied around the whole body and allowed to remain on the skin for 20-30 minutes, the Marine Detoxifying Body Mask is purification at its most indulgent.

www.skinnutrition.com

Micheline Arcier’s latest Clay Mask 'Purifiant', £20, is another excellent product for enlivening the complexion and counterbalancing the effects of excessive food and drink. The mask harnesses the powers of living clays - with mineral salts like silica, calcium, magnesium and titanium - to absorb and remove impurities from the skin.  It's the perfect antidote to the party season and is truly luxurious treat for partied out skin.

www.michelinearcier.com

Luxury Creams

For skin that looks washed out and dehydrated, look out for ingredients that will nourish and brighten the skin to restore a dull complexion.  Royal Jelly is one of nature’s most nourishing substances that will inject the skin with over 130 nutrients, 17 amino acids and multiple vitamins which will boost the skin’s hydration whilst adding a natural glow.  Try Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Creme specifically formulated with Royal Jelly for achieving naturally radiant and vibrant ski, £17.95,

www.HQhair.com

Wrap It Up

Perfect for chocoholics, Germaine de Capuccini has launched Deluxe Chocolate Body Wrap, a luxury full-on chocolate experience that pampers and hydrates the skin whilst actually reducing cellulite.  The scientists at Germaine de Capuccini harnessed the huge benefits that cocoa provides to create a body treatment that’s smooth, warm and delicious, just like chocolate.  Prices start from £40.

www.germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk

Hair Care

We all know that an excess of parties, festive fun and unhealthy food can play havoc with your hair so it’s vital that it has some pampering.  Schwarzkopf Professional’s ESSENSITY range is perfect for getting it back to shape while leaving it healthy, vibrant and glossy. The damaged & coloured range is enriched with fine filtered organic essences of Goji Berry, known for its anti-oxidant properties and to contain beneficial nutrients such as amino acids, minerals and vitamins – perfect for detoxing!

Call in the Professionals

If all this sounds like too much hard work, why not pay someone else to do it for you with a stress free spa or salon visit:

Ark's Toxin Relief Massage (London) Using an aromatic detoxifying oil to stimulate the elimination of toxins from the body through massage and essential oils. The body is cleansed, refreshed and relaxed.

55 mins, £65 www.arkhealthandbeauty.com

Beautytek Salon, (nationwide)

The revolutionary treatment is the perfect way to shift those extra pounds. Beautytek, is a completely non-invasive weight-loss treatment which uses micro-current technology to stimulate any sluggish cells. Tiny electrical impulses are automatically sent to these cells to kick-start it back into action. This means that any trapped fat can be released into the blood stream and either used up as energy or expelled naturally.

www.meditechclinics.co.uk

  

Gerard's Green Tea Abdomen Treatment (the Spa at The CityPoint Club and select spas nationwide)

Stimulating circulation to help remove blockages leaving the tummy feeling soothed and less swollen, this massage encourages the natural elimination of waste and could be thought of as a non-invasive colonic therapy.

40 mins, from £60 www.thecitypointclub.com and nationwide www.gerards-uk.com

Hydrahealing Spa (London)

A well administered colonic treatment exercises, tones and rinses the bowel, aiding the removal of built-up waste and detoxing the region. Far from being unpleasant, colonic hydrotherapy leaves you feeling clean and revitalised while boosting immune and circulatory functions as well as skin conditions.

60 mins, £80, www.hydrahealing.com

Titanic Spa's Detox Package (Huddersfield)

Your day begins with a detox bath which will revive tired muscles with aquatic jets whilst detox elements are absorbed into the body. A stimulating and energising aroma detox cocoon body wrap is followed by a Decleor aromaplastie illuminating facial to complete your cleansing journey.

2 hrs 15 mins, from £165 www.titanicspa.com

Hard Work!

Last but not least, if you want to shed those extra pounds quick fast, then good old fashioned exercise will definitely help!

If you're on a tighter budget, then I would highly recommend this ebook to rejuvenate your skin with natural, organic, home-made recipes. Click below to read!

www.tinyurl.com/325ll96

Be at one with Nature

Ok so rubbing the contents of your garden may not be the best way to get in touch with nature, but with a growing number of natural and eco-friendly beauty products from our favourite brands, there’s now even more opportunities to look great on the outside and feel good on the inside.

Bath and Shower

Natural products can often heighten the senses bringing smells from far flung exotic destinations, so start the day on a high and laver up with some tropical aromas.

Radox’s new Tea Infusions is a range of creamy shower and bath products containing tea, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, perfect for helping to revive and replenish both body and mind.  The Green Tea Infusion balances the beautifying qualities of green tea with the delicate fragrance of jasmine, to help calm your mind and soothe your body.  Radox Green and White Tea Infusions are available in both bath and shower options, at a pocket pleasing £1.99.

Inspired by exotic destinations from around the world, interior designer Alan MacKenzie has launched Wild Organics, taking notes from nature’s most exceptional wild flowers, and combining them with Eco Certified formulations.  The Wild Organics Marshmallow Butter Sugar Scrub is an indulging sugar based scrub to exfoliate and buff the skin.  Marshmallows are rich in minerals and vitamin B both renowned to smooth the skin, and combined with avocado oil and shea butter, help renew and condition.  

£28.00 from www.wildorganicsbeauty.com  

Skin

If like me, every morning you reach for a cup of coffee and a pot of skin cream then how about combining the both.   These two unusual pairings have joined forces in a new skin care range – Priori CoffeeBerry® Natureceuticals. Believe it or not, CoffeeBerry® extract is one of nature’s most potent botanical, derived from the whole fruit of the coffee plant and scientists believe it is the most powerful natural antioxidant ever discovered.  Priori Coffeeberry® Natureceuticals is the first, and currently the only, all natural cosmeceutical line with the range including a Revitalising Cleanser, Tightening Serum, Radiance Eye Serum, Daily Complex, Night Complex, Brightening Facial Complex, Body Emulsion and a Professional Botanical Enzyme Masque.

Prices vary, www.outlineskincareco.uk/priori-coffeeberry

Ethically sourced and community traded, Boots Extracts range is ideal for those of us who believe in beauty with a purpose. The ingredients are purchased from suppliers that allow their workers to have a say in how the money they make is used locally. 

All the Extracts products contain the moisturising Organic Cocoa Butter, farmed by a co-operative in Dominican Republic and the nourishing Shea Butter, which comes from a women’s’ co-operative in a village in Ghana near Wa.

Prices vary, www.boots.co.uk

For a bit of added zing, Paul Mitchell’s Lemon, Sage and Tea Tree will definitely leave you invigorated and ready to take on anything.  The new Lemon Sage Energizing Body Lotion™; is a delicious recipe of zesty Lemon, Sage and Tea Tree to deliver the wake-up call your skin needs.

Through Tea Tree sales, Paul Mitchell® helps to fund its Global ReLeaf® programme, an initiative that plants three million trees a year worldwide - so get clean to be green!

£11, Paul Mitchell® Tea Tree is available from selected salons.

Make up

We’ve been firm fans of mineral make up for some time now and last year we looked at some of the best that money could buy.  Since then, it’s a trend that has continued to grow and even more cult beauty brands are adding new lines while new mineral make up brands continue to emerge.

Sweeping the board at the recent Natural Health Awards, make up line Elysambre is a new refillable brand boasting all-natural plant based organic ingredients.  We took a liking to the winning Elysambre Lip Gloss, available in over 20 stunning shades, containing 100% natural ingredients.  This non-sticky gloss is made of 85% plant-based active ingredients to moisturise and protect lips the safe way.

£3.95 (case) £10.99 (refill), www.naturismo.com

With its new fresh ground technology, Elizabeth Arden’s Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 20 takes the mess out of loose powder mineral makeup and gives a pure, non-drying, perfect application.   Infused with minerals, rich with antioxidants and natural skin smoothers, it is also enriched with sea water complex and non-drying ingredients.

£22, www.elizabetharden.co.uk

Hair

There must be something in the old wives tales and myths we used to follow - lemon juice, mud and oils that give your hair that sun bleached look or magic spark.  With hair care becoming even more advanced, there’s a lot more choice and the key ingredients don’t seem that far from where we started with nature itself!

Surya Ucuuba Restructuring Hair Mask is an ultra hydrating mask created in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest and helps to inject moisture and elasticity into curly, fragile hair using carefully selected ingredients native to the Amazon rainforest.  The Ucuuba Seed Oil is a fatty acid similar to that of Shea Butter which provides a rich emollient for fragile hair.

£10 from Liberty and www.liberty.co.uk  (Ecocert & PETA)

Hairdresser Paul Edmonds has created four bespoke hair treatments exclusively available within his salons. The premise for these treatments is for clients to experience a unique and tailored recipe, which is presented in its rawest form and mixed accordingly to individual hair type.   The Nourishing Botanic Clay Treatment hails from the Alborz Mountains in Iran and is a nourishing clay treatment rich in minerals and nutrients that adds lost moisture and condition to hair. (100% natural and suited to most hair types with exception to Afro-Caribbean).

£50, available at Edmonds and Paul Edmonds, London. 

The Miracle of Minerals

With the latest trends for mineral cosmetics hailed as the beauty ‘Holy Grail’, offering good-for-you make up that delivers flawless results, I take a look to see whether they are as good as they sound.

There must be something in the air as a surge of popular US brands such as Afterglow Cosmetics www.afterglowcosmetics.co.uk, Youngblood www.dermapure.eu, bareMinerals www.bareescentualsuk.com and Bare Escentuals www.bareyoursoul.co.uk have all recently launched in the UK.  Celebrity fans Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston have been raving about the ‘mineral miracle’ so is it worth a jump on the mineral bandwagon?!

If you are a stranger to mineral make up, try comparing it to a vegan - the simple premise of mineral cosmetics is based on the philosophy of blending 100% pure, high-quality ingredients, combined with cutting edge technology to create hypo-allergenic make-up that is kind to skin but does not compromise on quality and effectiveness.  This means that sleeping in your make-up no longer needs to be a beauty sin after all!

Top make up artist Laura Mercier who launched her own mineral-based product line back in 1996 strongly believes in the many benefits of the mineral based cosmetics: “Mineral makeup is more than a trend.  It is "make up" product that is actually good for the skin for several reasons.  It provides the skin with minerals that promotes a healthy complexion and offers excellent SPF protection.  Mineral make up gives the look of radiant and natural skin while not clogging pores and is perhaps the easiest foundation to apply.  It is especially nice to wear in the summer because it feels as if you are wearing nothing on the skin but at the same time it remains water-resistant.”

There are many myths surrounding the world of mineral make-up, especially with such a vast surge in launches and general interest.  One common misconception is that all mineral make up is pretty much the same – not true!  ‘Mineral’ is quite a loose term as any product containing minerals as an ingredient can be labelled ‘mineral make up’.  Meredith Osborn, Director Global Brand Awareness for bareMinerals, says the discrepancies between brands occur due to the fact that "mineral makeup formulas generally fall into two large camps - those that take care not to use ingredients such as preservatives, binders and fillers, such as bareMinerals, and those that do add fillers, artificial colours, binders, preservatives, and other chemicals to their formulas”.

The good thing about ‘true’ mineral products is that they are free from pore-clogging, drying fillers such as talc, which often constitute up to 80 per cent of conventional make-up formulations to stretch dyes further.  Layers of overlapping mineral crystals prevent excessive moisture loss while still allowing the skin to breathe.  The formulation is also free from the top three sensitivities – perfume, chemical dyes and preservatives - and masks any imperfections or redness making it ideal for most allergy prone skins so what more can we ask for?!

As we become increasingly aware of what we put on our skin, more and more people are choosing mineral make-up as an effective, natural alternative so we’ve put a few to the test and picked out some of the top products on the market: 

Proto-col

A fantastic range of foundations, concealers, finishing powders, blushers, bronzers and eye shadow kits which are all jam-packed with vitamins A, C and E, for a natural healthy glow.

www.proto-col.com

Becca

Becca has recently added a number of new mineral products to its line such as the Mineral SPF Primer, £33.  This ingenious SPF 30+ primer has an oil-free formulation, a silky matte finish and a cocktail of anti-oxidant vitamins to prime and protect the skin pre-makeup.  

www.beccacosmetics.com

Jane Iredale

Amazing Base, £35 (€55) is a loose powder of micronized minerals in a jar, with an SPF 20, for a dewy look.  It is long-lasting, requiring just the slightest touch-up, making it especially popular with brides. These minerals are available in thirteen colours within three tones - warm, cool and neutral.

020 8450 7111 www.janeiredaleuk.com

Youngblood

The range includes the popular Natural Mineral Foundation, £35, which acts as a foundation, powder and concealer all in one.  In sixteen shades from light and medium to dark there is a shade to suit all.

www.dermapure.eu

The Body Shop

The Body Shop is also paying homage to nature, with an exciting new mineral make-up range - Nature’s MineralsTM Make-up.  Launching in September, the range will consist if pure minerals and a large brus collection of high density to guarantee that the loose powder is held in place between the bristles for smooth and even coverage.

www.thebodyshop.co.uk

Fake It!

Top Ten fake tan products


The clocks have gone back and we’re officially in winter so in preparation for those Christmas parties ahead combat the pale effects of the long winter with my top picks to keep the winter warmers at bay

Pro-ferm Afterglow, £75.00

Pro-ferm is the definition of high-science beauty with this product taking over eight years to develop.  Afterglow is a two-step tanner which tans and moisturises, stimulating the skin’s own repair mechanism to keep your skin looking young with a sun kissed glow that works with your body’s natural sugars to form a suitable colour for your skin tone.

www.spacknk.com

Caudalie Soleil Divin, Self-Tanner, £17.00

Fed up of the unpleasant odours of the usual self-tanners?  Well check out Caudalie’s self-tanner which sounds good enough to eat with a hint of white frangipani, watermelon and lemon leaf.   Application three times a week ensures a healthy glow and gradual build up of colour day-by-day.

www.spacenk.com / www.beauty.com

True Blue Spa, Select-a-shade self tanning lotion, $18.50

The selling point of this self tanner is the customised glow control colour dial.   You can customise the intensity of your self tan by adjusting the setting of the dual chamber to deliver just the right combination of colour to suit your individual complexion.  The light moisturiser is formulated with rich ingredients to pamper the skin, including Glycerin to help skin retain moisture, Aloe Vera to soothe and smooth skin, and Vitamin E to moisturize, condition and protect skin.

www.bathandbodyworks.com  

Palmer Cutler Self-tanning milk, £150ml £28.00/200ml £32.00

Launched in spring 2008, actress Patsy Palmer and Charlotte Cutler, have introduced the award-winning Palmer Cutler self-tanning range which boats numerous benefits for the skin.  The tan, with a huge celebrity following including Kate Moss and Lisa Butcher - to name just a few, is available in two shades - light/medium and medium/dark

Available from John Lewis Beauty Halls nationwide.

Elemis Total Glow Self Tanning Cream, £21.00

An easily absorbed, self-tanning lotion which gives a natural, golden tan 2-3 hours after application.  If you’re looking for a quick cheat to top up an existing tan, this is the perfect product as it can be used as a moisturiser to prolong your tan – your friends will never know!  The cream contains Macadamia Nut Oil, which is an anti-oxidant, along with Instabronze, Elemis’ own complex formulation of DHA which reinforces melanin synthesis in the skin.

www.elemis.com

Fake Bake Airbrush, £26.95

WAG and celeb favourite Fake Bake has undergone a massive re-branding recently upping its stakes in the fake tan offering with some fantastic new packaging and a new range designed specifically for people with fair skin called Fair Collection.  We still can’t enough of Fake Bake’s Airbrush which guarantees fast drying in minutes as the air brush sprays at 360 degrees and evenly covers all of those hard to reach areas.

www.fakebake.co.uk

Rodial Brazilian tan LIGHT, £39.99

With the success of Rodial’s Brazilian tan DARK, Rodial has introduced the Brazilian tan LIGHT, designed specifically for lighter skin tones.  The gel is infused with heaps of active ingredients, including avocado, coconut oil and caramel, which firm and tone, boost collagen production and restore and repair the skin.  Celeb users include Chloe Sevigney and Kirsten Dunst.

www.spacenk.com

SunSpa Tan in a Can, 60ml £6.99/150ml £14.95

SunSpa’s Tan in a Can is a great product for a quick spray with great results.  It comes in a 150ml or there is a new mini-sized version which is ideal for topping up fading tans, pre-holiday tanning or filling in strap marks.  For a glamorous sparkle, SunSpa’s SunSparkle, available in bronze or gold, is an imaginative new treatment that will give you a beautiful golden tan with an added touch of sparkle.                                    

www.sunspatanning.co.uk

Caudalie Tinted Moisturiser, £17.00

If you are after a subtle glow, look no further than Caudalie’s Tinted Moisturiser for a product which enhances, evens and brightens your existing complexion.  It glides on like a rich luxurious moisturiser and blends in with the skin’s natural colours leaving no marked or accentuated lines with a healthy complexion that glows evenly. www.spacenk.com / www.beauty.com

ModelCo Translucent Tan, £28.00

By far one of the most convenient and easy to use self-tan airbrushes with added light- reflecting pigments.  This illuminating mist evenly covers your skin leaving it with a shimmery, youthful glow with a scent of pink frangipani.   It can be used on its own or over the top of makeup for a dramatic look.

www.spacenk.com

So put some colour in your life and get yourself a much-needed fakeover!