I’m all about the volume. Big hair makes just about anyone look more youthful, healthier and downright sexier. This isn’t just a case of my personal preference for tresses, it’s a scientific fact that the diameter of the hair shaft diminishes as we age. The same goes for health – many illnesses and treatments cause hair thinning or loss resulting in a lanker, more brittle mane. The question is, how can we get Cheryl-esque locks without maintenance-heavy extensions?
I wrote an earlier post on Lush Big Shampoo, which I really like for its all natural ingredient list and boosting formula. L’Oreal’s Fibrology range is the scientifically researched, aggressively advertised, glossy big brother of the Lush version – with a whole mega-range of L’Oreal sibling products to use alongside.
To quote good old Jennifer Aniston – here comes the science bit. The products contain an ingredient called Filloxane which penetrates wet hair and widens each strand by up to 60%. Pretty impressive findings. What’s more, the thickness increases with each wash and stays put.
I purchased the shampoo, conditioner and booster (to be sandwiched in post-shampoo and pre-conditioner). The booster is an odd product. The texture is watery and difficult to apply. Instructions to use a similar quantity to conditioner (annoying when the tube is only 30mls and nearly twice as expensive) had scores of reviewers on Boots.com reeling.
After showering, my hair definitely felt different. Much like the Lush product, it made the strands feel coarse – a dream if you need your style to have staying power. Not an option however, for ladies fond of silky, stroke-able tresses or shine devotees. I’ll be honest; I didn’t notice a difference in terms of bulk, at least not at the beginning. However after a few weeks, I was getting compliments at every turn. Colleagues were saying my hair looked “amazing”, had “so much body” and even seemed (laughably given my penchant for blow drying and straightening the life out of it) “healthy”.
Encouraged in my quest for volume, I persevered with the products. And continued getting compliments. Friends who have tried the range have reported nothing short of hair miracles.
L’Oreal may have cracked the code on this one. A cheap and cheerful answer for girls who crave a boost without nasty extensions. I predict a host of copycat products in the coming months...
Saturday 15 March 2014
Tuesday 21 January 2014
Soprano XL Laser Hair Removal at Courthouse Clinics
For years, my friends and I have discussed the idea of getting laser hair removal. The dreamy look of every woman when contemplating a beautiful world in which she would never have to shave, Veet or wax again cannot be underestimated. I had gone so far as to buy a few of the coupon site deals screaming promises of money off – only to find laser sessions could only be redeemed in Barnet, and only on a Thursday at 11am. Anyone unable to commit to shaving their own legs due to inconvenience was never going to travel the length of London on a work day to have that problem sorted out for them.
The thing that really propelled me towards laser is the impending reality that one day, far in the future; I may have to live with a boy. How I will get around my weekly full body tan whilst retaining some semblance of mysterious allure is difficult enough, but add in the expectation of eternally hairless limbs and I’m screwed. Or dumped. Now forget all this feminist chat, I’m as pro-equal pay and opportunities as the next girl but I do like to be well-maintained – and if that means I’m more attractive to the opposite sex, well that’s great too. I don’t just de-fuzz because there is a boy on the scene.
I asked around my beauty journo friends for the best laser place in town and was swiftly given the number for Courthouse Clinics. They use a Soprano XL laser there – which they reckon is more effective than the standard IPL. It works on all skin tones – a new development in the world of laser where previously only pale skin and dark hair could be treated. I bought a course of treatments and although it doesn’t come cheap, the hassle it will get rid of is priceless. The first area I wanted to de-fuzz was “down below” – a fairly daunting prospect although I was assured the Soprano XL was practically pain free. After a skin test session, I started my treatments. Typically, sessions will last between 15 minutes and half an hour – I was amazed by how fast it was over with. Cool gel is applied to the area before the laser gun is placed on the skin. The therapist then rubs the gun over the skin repeatedly. This warms the skin up – on a few occasions I felt it became a little too hot and “prickly”, in which case they are happy to turn it down a few notches. You’ll be placed in all the same hideously embarrassing poses you have to pull at the waxists, so be prepared – it is invasive. Hair takes up to two weeks to fall out after the sessions so don’t be expecting instant miracle results!
I completed my second session a few weeks ago, and my results are amazing so far. I was sceptical about how quickly hair growth would slow down or stop but even after my first session there was noticeably less regrowth. Following my second, there is practically nothing left. My only gripe is the fact that after such a quick outcome, I have paid for an 8 session course!
I’ll keep you updated when my course is finished – but until then, I urge you, get lasering!
The thing that really propelled me towards laser is the impending reality that one day, far in the future; I may have to live with a boy. How I will get around my weekly full body tan whilst retaining some semblance of mysterious allure is difficult enough, but add in the expectation of eternally hairless limbs and I’m screwed. Or dumped. Now forget all this feminist chat, I’m as pro-equal pay and opportunities as the next girl but I do like to be well-maintained – and if that means I’m more attractive to the opposite sex, well that’s great too. I don’t just de-fuzz because there is a boy on the scene.
I asked around my beauty journo friends for the best laser place in town and was swiftly given the number for Courthouse Clinics. They use a Soprano XL laser there – which they reckon is more effective than the standard IPL. It works on all skin tones – a new development in the world of laser where previously only pale skin and dark hair could be treated. I bought a course of treatments and although it doesn’t come cheap, the hassle it will get rid of is priceless. The first area I wanted to de-fuzz was “down below” – a fairly daunting prospect although I was assured the Soprano XL was practically pain free. After a skin test session, I started my treatments. Typically, sessions will last between 15 minutes and half an hour – I was amazed by how fast it was over with. Cool gel is applied to the area before the laser gun is placed on the skin. The therapist then rubs the gun over the skin repeatedly. This warms the skin up – on a few occasions I felt it became a little too hot and “prickly”, in which case they are happy to turn it down a few notches. You’ll be placed in all the same hideously embarrassing poses you have to pull at the waxists, so be prepared – it is invasive. Hair takes up to two weeks to fall out after the sessions so don’t be expecting instant miracle results!
I completed my second session a few weeks ago, and my results are amazing so far. I was sceptical about how quickly hair growth would slow down or stop but even after my first session there was noticeably less regrowth. Following my second, there is practically nothing left. My only gripe is the fact that after such a quick outcome, I have paid for an 8 session course!
I’ll keep you updated when my course is finished – but until then, I urge you, get lasering!
Saturday 4 January 2014
New Year, New Nails!
I read about the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover on a beauty website – the author called it life changing – a tad overzealous but I decided to give it a go. It comes in a pink pot filled with a nail polish remover soaked sponge. Dip your finger in the hole in the centre, twist a couple of times (the blurb says 1 second – it doesn’t quite do the job in that time, but almost) and remove. Every trace of varnish, even black and deep staining shades, is gone! If you are wearing a glitter polish you may have to go in for a few dips to make sure there are no remnants. The scent left on your nails is fruity and added almond oil nourishes the nail bed – although I always recommend washing your hands after using any chemical containing protect. This beauty must-have is a steal at £4.99 – although even the most dexterous of us would face a challenge manoeuvring our toes into the pot – I suggest you tackle the pedicure with an old-fashioned cotton wool and liquid formula!
This cold weather has left my nails very dry and flaky, meaning even when I do go for a coloured polish; bits chip off within a day or two. I read that having a layer of polish on protects nails from the environment and seals in that all-important moisture so I have been experimenting with clear polishes. The first I tried was Alessandro Pro White at £7.85 which leaves a subtle shine. This pigment in this counteracts the yellow tone on nails and makes tips look whiter. In strong daylight, the pink part of the nail has a lilac hue which creates an overall manicure effect – although the purple tint can be so strong there is a tendency to look slightly hypothermic! I also gave the Ultraviolet Top Coat by Guerlain (£18) a go. The formula itself has translucent purple tint and the boudoir style bottle is irresistible. This created a stronger manicure effect, making my nails glossy and the tips stark white against the nail bed. If you happen to be in a dark club you are also in for a treat – the UV pigment means you will glow! I’m a sucker for a nice bottle, so the Guerlain wins over the medical looking Pro White for me – although the actual outcome of both on the nails was much the same.
Happy polishing!
Tuesday 31 December 2013
Review: No7 Perfectly Bronzed Quick Dry Tinted Lotion
Previous readers of this blog will know my predilection for a spot of tan. Fake, false, anything but the real deal. I sometimes try to get on my high horse and spout lots of anti-tan chat about sun beds and cancer, but really my skin just refuses point blank to change colour. Not a freckle in sight, not a hint of redness after a day baking on the beach, absolutely zilch. If I thought it were physically possible, I would claim that I reflect sunlight.
Thus, I have tried every fake tan on the market. I don't much enjoy spray tans (never dark enough after showering, have to leave the salon in London looking like a rather grubby coalminer without the aid of a car to hide in, no thanks), I'm very much a DIY girl. I had brief dalliances with Rimmel Sunshimmer, L'Oreal Sublime Bronze gel (the pungent smell still reminds me of my school days), Xen-Tan and St Tropez (too green). I have an on-going fondness for Vita Liberata, Sally Hansen and now, I can add No7 Perfectly Bronzed to the list. I popped into Boots needing a tan fix pre-pay day. I was in no financial state to invest in my trusty Vita Liberata, and as I had just changed my white sheets, Sally Hansen-ing my entire body wasn't a viable option. Friends had mentioned the No7 tan before and I had tried it in the past but hadn't been a fan. I think my downfall was the colour choice - I chose Light/Medium for my extra pale skin tone, which resulted in an almost imperceptible hint of tan, certainly not sufficient to protect my fellow partiers from a blindingly pale and deeply unhappy Irish girl. There are conflicting thoughts on tan shades from experts, but I always follow the advice I read from the Olsen twins make up artist - the darker the tan, the more naturally olive it will look on your skin. Paler tans will simply impart a more orange shade - not what any self-respecting tanner is after. This time in Boots, I knew better. I choose the Medium/Dark Lotion and skipped away a mere £9.95 poorer.
Now for the application. The lotion itself is a mid-brown cream, when rubbed on the skin it gives a very slight tint but not much - excellent news for bed linen countrywide. It smells inoffensive and does dry fairly quickly without a sticky residue unlike many others on the market. I used a tanning mitt for application, it's creamy texture works well on a mitt rather than latex gloves - which I think are simply an aid to streaking. I showered the next morning as usual. Once dried, my skin felt hydrated and smooth. There was a slight lingering smell which was well covered once I applied a scented moisturiser. The colour was excellent - this is definitely a once-only application - coming from me this is high praise indeed. Over the next few days the colour didn't crack or dry out, by the 5th/6th day I looked slightly patchy where the tan had worn off. Pretty good going in a world where a good fake tan usually goes bad within 3 days!
The price, colour and endurance make this an inexpensive staple in my beauty cabinet, I have used it religiously since my first try and have no complaints. When you can buy three bottles of this for the price of one department store tan, who am I to argue?
Thus, I have tried every fake tan on the market. I don't much enjoy spray tans (never dark enough after showering, have to leave the salon in London looking like a rather grubby coalminer without the aid of a car to hide in, no thanks), I'm very much a DIY girl. I had brief dalliances with Rimmel Sunshimmer, L'Oreal Sublime Bronze gel (the pungent smell still reminds me of my school days), Xen-Tan and St Tropez (too green). I have an on-going fondness for Vita Liberata, Sally Hansen and now, I can add No7 Perfectly Bronzed to the list. I popped into Boots needing a tan fix pre-pay day. I was in no financial state to invest in my trusty Vita Liberata, and as I had just changed my white sheets, Sally Hansen-ing my entire body wasn't a viable option. Friends had mentioned the No7 tan before and I had tried it in the past but hadn't been a fan. I think my downfall was the colour choice - I chose Light/Medium for my extra pale skin tone, which resulted in an almost imperceptible hint of tan, certainly not sufficient to protect my fellow partiers from a blindingly pale and deeply unhappy Irish girl. There are conflicting thoughts on tan shades from experts, but I always follow the advice I read from the Olsen twins make up artist - the darker the tan, the more naturally olive it will look on your skin. Paler tans will simply impart a more orange shade - not what any self-respecting tanner is after. This time in Boots, I knew better. I choose the Medium/Dark Lotion and skipped away a mere £9.95 poorer.
Now for the application. The lotion itself is a mid-brown cream, when rubbed on the skin it gives a very slight tint but not much - excellent news for bed linen countrywide. It smells inoffensive and does dry fairly quickly without a sticky residue unlike many others on the market. I used a tanning mitt for application, it's creamy texture works well on a mitt rather than latex gloves - which I think are simply an aid to streaking. I showered the next morning as usual. Once dried, my skin felt hydrated and smooth. There was a slight lingering smell which was well covered once I applied a scented moisturiser. The colour was excellent - this is definitely a once-only application - coming from me this is high praise indeed. Over the next few days the colour didn't crack or dry out, by the 5th/6th day I looked slightly patchy where the tan had worn off. Pretty good going in a world where a good fake tan usually goes bad within 3 days!
The price, colour and endurance make this an inexpensive staple in my beauty cabinet, I have used it religiously since my first try and have no complaints. When you can buy three bottles of this for the price of one department store tan, who am I to argue?
Tuesday 10 December 2013
Review: Lush Big Shampoo
I’m a big fan of volume. Anything that promises to make my hair bigger, bouncier and downright outrageous in height is worth the money as far as I am concerned. So when a friend recommended Big Shampoo by Lush, it is safe to say I was fairly intrigued. I don’t usually believe the hype around shampoos and conditioners which claim to give you sleekness, volume or silky curls – as long as it doesn’t leave my hair lank and heavy with product I’m happy to roll with it.
For starters, Big Shampoo doesn’t come cheap. At £11.50 for a pot (it comes in a useful screw top tub rather than the usual tube) it certainly isn’t your typical Boots buy. The texture is reminiscent of an abrasive sugar scrub - this definitely isn’t like any shampoo you have used before. Rubbing the citrus scented granules into your head is counter-intuitive, it feels like you are simply tangling and pulling the strands. However after a minute or two, satisfying foam appears and the salt disintegrates. A good conditioner is a must après-Big Shampoo as the hair will seem slightly matted (hence the sea salt – for that beachy effect). After applying a detangling spray and pulling through carefully with a wide toothed comb, dry as normal. This is where the magic happens.
During blow-drying, I noticed a stiffness as I ran my hands through the roots and lengths – almost resembling a chalky (although invisible) coating. This made my hair sit taller and stay set – it barely moved – a feat even Elnett can’t achieve. It smelt glorious all day, a heady mix of lemons, limes and vanilla. People commented on my new “big” hair, a colleague even noting that I had probably gained a few inches in height due to the volume I was sporting on top.
£11.50 may be a bit steep for your average shampoo, but the catch is that this is far from average. Go forth and volumize, children!
For starters, Big Shampoo doesn’t come cheap. At £11.50 for a pot (it comes in a useful screw top tub rather than the usual tube) it certainly isn’t your typical Boots buy. The texture is reminiscent of an abrasive sugar scrub - this definitely isn’t like any shampoo you have used before. Rubbing the citrus scented granules into your head is counter-intuitive, it feels like you are simply tangling and pulling the strands. However after a minute or two, satisfying foam appears and the salt disintegrates. A good conditioner is a must après-Big Shampoo as the hair will seem slightly matted (hence the sea salt – for that beachy effect). After applying a detangling spray and pulling through carefully with a wide toothed comb, dry as normal. This is where the magic happens.
During blow-drying, I noticed a stiffness as I ran my hands through the roots and lengths – almost resembling a chalky (although invisible) coating. This made my hair sit taller and stay set – it barely moved – a feat even Elnett can’t achieve. It smelt glorious all day, a heady mix of lemons, limes and vanilla. People commented on my new “big” hair, a colleague even noting that I had probably gained a few inches in height due to the volume I was sporting on top.
£11.50 may be a bit steep for your average shampoo, but the catch is that this is far from average. Go forth and volumize, children!
Wednesday 20 November 2013
Dinner at Evans & Peel Detective Agency
Maybe it’s the budding actress in me, but God, I do love a bit of roleplay. Especially when that roleplay involves a night out and a bit of time travel. Enter stage right, the Evans & Peel Detective Agency. Behind an entirely unassuming door on an Earl’s Court side street is this little gem of a find: the sort of quirky, you-don’t-find-it-anywhere-else place that reminds me why I live in London. Ring the doorbell for your appointment (that’s booking to the non-detective layman), and step inside to be transported to a prohibition era office, complete with typewriter and obligatory green shaded lamp. The “detective” will ask you about your case – when making a booking you’ll need to be creative enough to come up with some sort of back story – and it’s up to you how far you take the roleplay. After hashing out the main facts of your case, you’ll be asked to sit in the waiting room, which emerges when the resident detective pulls back their sturdy bookcase. Ah ha – a speakeasy!
Thankfully (for some) there is where your acting for the night ends. The decor inside the dimly-lit space is in keeping with the times, apothecary style cabinets take up space behind the bar, cut-glass beakers sit on tables and light shades and curtains are full of velvet and tassels. The cocktail menu takes reference from the era with creative names and even more creative ingredients – ranging from cardamom to beetroot. The food menu takes second place to the drinks, encompassing mainly glorified bar snacks. Nearly everything has been smoked, some dishes more successfully than others. The mac ‘n’ cheese is glorious – the pulled pork with corn chips less so.
This is the sort of place one could end up spending a lot of money. With cocktails starting at £10 a pop, and the sort of dark lighting which invites a heavy night, don’t be surprised if your bill (and your hangover) reach epic proportions.
Thankfully (for some) there is where your acting for the night ends. The decor inside the dimly-lit space is in keeping with the times, apothecary style cabinets take up space behind the bar, cut-glass beakers sit on tables and light shades and curtains are full of velvet and tassels. The cocktail menu takes reference from the era with creative names and even more creative ingredients – ranging from cardamom to beetroot. The food menu takes second place to the drinks, encompassing mainly glorified bar snacks. Nearly everything has been smoked, some dishes more successfully than others. The mac ‘n’ cheese is glorious – the pulled pork with corn chips less so.
This is the sort of place one could end up spending a lot of money. With cocktails starting at £10 a pop, and the sort of dark lighting which invites a heavy night, don’t be surprised if your bill (and your hangover) reach epic proportions.
Monday 18 November 2013
Review: Model Co Cheek & Lip Tint
For years I rallied against using a liquid blush, assuming it would only serve to dilute and rub off underlying foundation/bronzer. I stuck steadfastly to Nars Orgasm for years - until two brand new palettes broke into tiny pieces for no apparent reason. Paying £21.50 for the privilege of a broken blusher – I think not. So I gave in to the hype and decided to try out Model Co Cheek & Lip Tint in Rosy Red. Don’t be put off by the word “tint” – this isn’t as scary as the infamous Benetint. I don’t care how many beautiful faces that stuff graces, I find it nearly impossible to apply. This squeezes out of the tube to become more of a cream gel and is easy to swirl onto the cheeks with your finger. It blends easily but as with all cream/gel/tints do take care to work fast (it will dry in quickly) and be sparing – you can always add more. The colour is less of a red and more of a fuchsia pink which works well on complexions with blue/purple undertones (anyone vaguely Celtic will understand this). The tint has excellent staying power and even I don’t feel the need for a top up when I get the mid-afternoon pales.
Given that this is technically a multitasking “Cheek & Lip” tint, I should really be reviewing its wonderful pout enhancing qualities too. Sadly, a look like a small child experimenting with my mother’s make up when I dare wear vibrant lip colour so I’ll have to pass on that front.
All in all, an excellent product – and a damn sight easier than carrying round a blusher compact and brush in your clutch!
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