NB Batiste is currently on offer in Superdrug: 3 cans for £3.49, making it even more unbelievably bargainous!
Showing posts with label haircare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label haircare. Show all posts
5 February 2011
Essential measures #7 Batiste dry shampoo
NB Batiste is currently on offer in Superdrug: 3 cans for £3.49, making it even more unbelievably bargainous!
13 September 2010
Neil George Indian Gooseberry Hair Treatment Oil - LOVE!
I received a sample of this when I placed an order at Beauty Expert recently. Previously I wasn't too sure about the idea of using oil on my fine hair, however last time I had my hair cut at Eleven in London, my colourist Jason used Moroccan oil on my hair before blow drying it which resulted in a beautifully silky finish, so I thought I'd give this one a go too.
I applied the Gooseberry oil after washing and conditioning my hair using my usual Kiehl's Sunflower shampoo and Aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner, whilst my hair was still soaking wet. The first thing I noticed was the smell - divine! It's sweet and faintly tropical - in fact I'd love a perfume scented like this, albeit only in the summer.
You're meant to smooth the oil on to the lengths of hair but avoiding the roots. Rather than towel drying I then clipped my hair up and let it dry that way as I wanted to see what the effects of the oil were without any interference.
In the morning, I was astounded at the softness of my hair, the curl definition, and lack of frizz. I'd been worried that the oil would weigh my hair down and leave it limp, but it was exactly the opposite. It was bouncy and healthy looking.
I tried it again a few nights later and the results were slightly different, but this time I put my hair in a towel afterwards instead of letting it dry naturally. I think due to the towel, the curls weren't quite so defined the next day but my hair was still gorgeously glossy, silky and shiny. I felt like my hair colour had been enhanced too - my 9 week old highlights seemed revitalised. I decided to straighten my hair a bit with my GHDs, and they also seemed to work much more effectively than usual, plus my hair definitely looked silkier and again the colour enhanced.
Even if these claims can't easily be substantiated, I'm not exaggerating to say that this is just about the ONLY product I've ever tried that has done anything positive for my curly hair, and I love the fact that it will also work when I straighten. I also think this will be a gorgeous thing to take on holiday to smooth into sun or sea damaged tresses as well. It's expensive, but I will certainly be investing, especially as I've now squeezed just about every last drop out of my sample.
£34 for 118ml at Beauty Expert.
I applied the Gooseberry oil after washing and conditioning my hair using my usual Kiehl's Sunflower shampoo and Aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner, whilst my hair was still soaking wet. The first thing I noticed was the smell - divine! It's sweet and faintly tropical - in fact I'd love a perfume scented like this, albeit only in the summer.
You're meant to smooth the oil on to the lengths of hair but avoiding the roots. Rather than towel drying I then clipped my hair up and let it dry that way as I wanted to see what the effects of the oil were without any interference.
In the morning, I was astounded at the softness of my hair, the curl definition, and lack of frizz. I'd been worried that the oil would weigh my hair down and leave it limp, but it was exactly the opposite. It was bouncy and healthy looking.
hair morning after application - trust me this is a good hair day for me!
I actually took this pic for a post on MAC paint pots but you can just about see the hair
According to the Neil George website it is thought the benefits of Indian Gooseberry include "promoting healthier hair, stimulating hair growth, nourishing and moisturizing the hair and scalp, supporting and strengthening hair follicles resulting in less thinning of the hair, maintaining youthful and lustrous hair color, and preventing premature graying."
Even if these claims can't easily be substantiated, I'm not exaggerating to say that this is just about the ONLY product I've ever tried that has done anything positive for my curly hair, and I love the fact that it will also work when I straighten. I also think this will be a gorgeous thing to take on holiday to smooth into sun or sea damaged tresses as well. It's expensive, but I will certainly be investing, especially as I've now squeezed just about every last drop out of my sample.
£34 for 118ml at Beauty Expert.
3 February 2010
Calling all curly girls
I've just about had it with my stupid curls! 31 years of age and I'm still unable to manage them. So much so that I'm seriously considering getting a Brazilian blow dry and some new GHDs, having a fringe cut in (something I've always yearned for) and living the rest of my life as a straighty.
The right cut... the best products.... the correct way to dry.... all of these curly hair secrets are still completely unknown to me. I once had a fantastic experience, at a salon in Nottingham, where two stylists spent half an hour twirling thin sections of my hair before drying it under a lamp. The result? Gorgeous, glossy bouncy ringlets that stayed curly and glossy until I washed my hair (and returned to the inevitable dullness and frizz).
I've spent the last ten years unsuccessfully trying to recreate this myself - no stylists since then (even in some of the more renowned London salons such as Trevor Sorbie) have offered to style my hair in this way, and my suggestions to do so usually just resulted in some half hearted twiddling. I hunted out one of the most highly recommended curly hair salons in London, Unruly in Notting Hill, but left a bit disappointed in my rather lackadaisical stylist and with rather crunchy curls (albeit a good cut). I've had triangles, steps, boy-short hair (surely the ultimate curly hair no-no) - all sorts of hair disasters in my quest for the perfect cut (and stylist), the only consolation being that my hair grows very quickly so most disasters are fairly short lived.
Here's a typical example of me with rubbishy curls - straggly, dull and badly cut (and dyed, ugh, not a good look!)... you get the picture (nb this was also taken a few years ago!)
and here's me with beautified straight locks....
I've tried the 'cult' curly products such as John Frieda Frizz Ease serum and Aveda Be Curly. Not good results (does serum do anything at all for curly hair? I'm not convinced). The most success I've had has been with Toni and Guy's Label M curl cream. I use this in my current routine, which involves washing and conditioning hair with head upside down in shower (to encourage curl separation) using a moisturising shampoo and conditioner combed through, rinsing, then shaking head in a 'dog out of the rain' style fashion to further separate the curls and get rid of excess water, than gently scrunching in a bit of the curl cream (again with minimal 'interference' to the curl as I was advised at Unruly) before letting my hair dry naturally or with a diffuser (I've found letting it dry naturally gives a glossier but looser curl, whereas the diffuser gives a curlier but crunchier and frizzier curl........ nothing is ever simple as a curly girl!)
I do love having my hair straightened, I feel glamorous and 'together' and I do find my features somehow look better. But, as my mum points out in that way only mothers can do, straight hair 'just isn't me'. I just want to figure out how to make my curls look their best before they start thinning and going grey, which I'm sure isn't too far down the line!
So come on curly girls, tell me your secrets - what products you use, how you wash and style your hair, good styling tools, where you get your hair cut... let's make 2010 the year of ravishing ringlets!
Just thought I'd finish with this pic of Billie Piper in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, as I think her curls look absolutely adorable here. Although there is definitely frizz present, it somehow looks cool with this style. (I can, with a lot of effort, make my curls look like this, but they always fall out after a couple of hours).
The right cut... the best products.... the correct way to dry.... all of these curly hair secrets are still completely unknown to me. I once had a fantastic experience, at a salon in Nottingham, where two stylists spent half an hour twirling thin sections of my hair before drying it under a lamp. The result? Gorgeous, glossy bouncy ringlets that stayed curly and glossy until I washed my hair (and returned to the inevitable dullness and frizz).
I've spent the last ten years unsuccessfully trying to recreate this myself - no stylists since then (even in some of the more renowned London salons such as Trevor Sorbie) have offered to style my hair in this way, and my suggestions to do so usually just resulted in some half hearted twiddling. I hunted out one of the most highly recommended curly hair salons in London, Unruly in Notting Hill, but left a bit disappointed in my rather lackadaisical stylist and with rather crunchy curls (albeit a good cut). I've had triangles, steps, boy-short hair (surely the ultimate curly hair no-no) - all sorts of hair disasters in my quest for the perfect cut (and stylist), the only consolation being that my hair grows very quickly so most disasters are fairly short lived.
Here's a typical example of me with rubbishy curls - straggly, dull and badly cut (and dyed, ugh, not a good look!)... you get the picture (nb this was also taken a few years ago!)
and here's me with beautified straight locks....
I've tried the 'cult' curly products such as John Frieda Frizz Ease serum and Aveda Be Curly. Not good results (does serum do anything at all for curly hair? I'm not convinced). The most success I've had has been with Toni and Guy's Label M curl cream. I use this in my current routine, which involves washing and conditioning hair with head upside down in shower (to encourage curl separation) using a moisturising shampoo and conditioner combed through, rinsing, then shaking head in a 'dog out of the rain' style fashion to further separate the curls and get rid of excess water, than gently scrunching in a bit of the curl cream (again with minimal 'interference' to the curl as I was advised at Unruly) before letting my hair dry naturally or with a diffuser (I've found letting it dry naturally gives a glossier but looser curl, whereas the diffuser gives a curlier but crunchier and frizzier curl........ nothing is ever simple as a curly girl!)
I do love having my hair straightened, I feel glamorous and 'together' and I do find my features somehow look better. But, as my mum points out in that way only mothers can do, straight hair 'just isn't me'. I just want to figure out how to make my curls look their best before they start thinning and going grey, which I'm sure isn't too far down the line!
So come on curly girls, tell me your secrets - what products you use, how you wash and style your hair, good styling tools, where you get your hair cut... let's make 2010 the year of ravishing ringlets!
Just thought I'd finish with this pic of Billie Piper in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, as I think her curls look absolutely adorable here. Although there is definitely frizz present, it somehow looks cool with this style. (I can, with a lot of effort, make my curls look like this, but they always fall out after a couple of hours).
14 January 2010
Products du jour
Pinched the theme of this post from Make up and beauty musings. Haven't had time to blog any swatches etc so thought this would be a quick way of giving a little beauty update til the weekend, when I hope to report on some new Guerlain purchases and do a nail of the day.
HAIR
I've recently started using a permanent all over colour on my hair after my 6-month old blond straggly highlights were starting to annoy me. So I've gone for a lovely dark glossy brown with kind of an auburn tint. I was getting a bit frustrated at how quickly the colour faded then realised I wasn't using a colour prolonging shampoo and conditioner (doh!), and so I purchased the Aussie Color Mate range, which is on sale in Boots, Wilkinsons and a few other places at two for £6.
So far I've been really pleased, it smells nice and has brought my color back to life a bit (although those damn highlights are starting to show through again now, what a mistake that was!)
Anyway I'd recommend these for affordable colour care, but I'm definitely no expert in this area, so if any of you other colourers out there have any products you'd care to recommend, suggestions would be gratefully received!
SKIN - FACE
My skincare routine is a bit of a mismas at the moment.. but it seems to be working! After finally, aged 31, learning what my skin type is after a facial (combination), I think I may be now be free of those annoying shiny squares in the middle of my forehead that spoil most of my 'night out' Facebook pics
Ridiculous!
So basically, I had an amazing facial in November at the Decleor spa at the McDonald hotel in Manchester. Afterwards I purchased the Ylang Ylang oil, and since then I've purchased the YY night balm and the Mattifying moisturiser. The oil goes on beneath the moisturiser in the morning and the balm at night. I'm also adding a few drops of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair over the top. The only problem with this routine at the moment is the lack of SPF, so I'll have to remedy this come spring / summer.
I also had a Dermalogica facial at Renata Brown's wonderful salon in Crystal Palace. My skin still looks clear and quite soft almost a week later, v impressed, and I've been using the Dermalogica pre-cleanse every day, which seems to be working although it does sting my eyes a bit.
Finally I've been using the Kiehls Abyssine eye cream since August, when I finished my tub of hideously expensive Sisley eye cream that didn't really do much for me. My boyfriend actually picked this for my birthday (I said anything Kiehls - I do have a slight obsession - and he remembered that I'd run out of eye cream... good skills I thought!). Actually I really like this - it's so light that at first I didn't think it could be doing anything, but actually it does seem to be moisturising round that area and is a good base for make up and concealer. I do think though that the best thing anyone can do for that area is drink lots of water and get lots of sleep!
MAKEUP
I'm actually trying to give my skin a bit of a break from make up at the mo (sacrilege!), however my fave products at the moment are:
Kiehls Tinted Moisturiser - love this, gives me fresh looking, glowy skin and just enough coverage for broken capillaries, acne scars etc.
By Terry concealer - great undereyes and for any bits the above doesn't quite cover
Nars Amour blush from the Lust for Life palette - gives cheeks a nice, subtle, wintry flush
MAC charcoal brown for my eyebrows, currently in a horrible state as I'm growing them out to get them threaded again!
Nars medea lip laquer, Nars Pigalle lipstick or Shiseido Honey Tea lipstick - nice rosy brown wintry shades (Pigalle is pinker and creamy in texture, Honey tea is glossy) or just my trusty Eight Hour Cream which actually is not quite cutting the mustard in this skin ravaging snow / central heating weather despite it usually being a saviour for my lips in the winter, so I'm on the lookout for a seriously heavy duty lip protectant.
For the evening, I'm also loving Lancomes Blush Subtil highlighter on the cheekbones, can't remember the name but its a shimmering champagne colour, lovely texture, which works very well with Nars' matt brown brush Zen in the hollow when one needs a sharp cheekbone (which we all do from time to time n'est pas??)
Brushes - MAC 266 for brows, my new half price Lancome powder brush, No 7 concealer brush and Ruby and Millie's fab blusher brush are my essentials. I'm on the lookout for a new eyeliner brush - suggestions welcomed again.
And finally my trusty Shu eyelash curlers with, when i feel like it, Lancome Hypnose mascara.
SKIN - BODY
I'm currently trialing Bio-Oil. Having been plagued by stretchmarks on my hips since I was about 13 (unfair I know though thankfully they have faded and not worsened as I've aged), I've always been interested in this oil, and picked some up in Superdrug recently as it was on offer. I haven't tried it on the hips as yet but I am applying it on my chest twice a day (it recommends using it twice a day for three months to see results) to see if it will have any effect on the worsening wizened skin that seemed to appear out of nowhere when I hit 30 - (I blame one very hot holiday in Turkey when I was 16 for this!), as it says the oil helps dehydrated and ageing skin. So I'll update on this in three months perhaps with before and after shots if I'm brave enough! The reviews on MUA for this are pretty mixed so I'm not expecting anything spectacular but we'll see.
I'm also using my Clarins and L'Oreal body scrubs as detailed in my last post, and my Kiehls Hand and Body Lotion with Aloe Vera and Oatmeal which I adore and am going to post in separately shortly, though sadly they've discontinued it in my favourite fragrance, Vanilla. I do need to replace this with the Creme de Corps though as it's another thing not quite cutting the mustard in this horribe winter weather.
Hand cream is Clarins Hand and Nail treatment - nice, pleasant smell and absorbs well but wish it had SPF.
I'm not fussed about shower gel - can't see the point in spending lots of money on something that gets washed away. Boots Botanics do a lovely soft sea sponge though that seems to make it go a lot further.
SCENT
None at the moment as I've lost my beloved Kiehls Original Musk oil!
NAILS
Again having a break but Essie Mink Muffs and OPI A oui bit of red are both recent favourites.
Well that's the closest thing I have to a winter routine. Have made a few exciting new purchases recently so hopefully will get round to blogging about them soon!
HAIR
I've recently started using a permanent all over colour on my hair after my 6-month old blond straggly highlights were starting to annoy me. So I've gone for a lovely dark glossy brown with kind of an auburn tint. I was getting a bit frustrated at how quickly the colour faded then realised I wasn't using a colour prolonging shampoo and conditioner (doh!), and so I purchased the Aussie Color Mate range, which is on sale in Boots, Wilkinsons and a few other places at two for £6.
So far I've been really pleased, it smells nice and has brought my color back to life a bit (although those damn highlights are starting to show through again now, what a mistake that was!)
Anyway I'd recommend these for affordable colour care, but I'm definitely no expert in this area, so if any of you other colourers out there have any products you'd care to recommend, suggestions would be gratefully received!
SKIN - FACE
My skincare routine is a bit of a mismas at the moment.. but it seems to be working! After finally, aged 31, learning what my skin type is after a facial (combination), I think I may be now be free of those annoying shiny squares in the middle of my forehead that spoil most of my 'night out' Facebook pics
Ridiculous!
So basically, I had an amazing facial in November at the Decleor spa at the McDonald hotel in Manchester. Afterwards I purchased the Ylang Ylang oil, and since then I've purchased the YY night balm and the Mattifying moisturiser. The oil goes on beneath the moisturiser in the morning and the balm at night. I'm also adding a few drops of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair over the top. The only problem with this routine at the moment is the lack of SPF, so I'll have to remedy this come spring / summer.
I also had a Dermalogica facial at Renata Brown's wonderful salon in Crystal Palace. My skin still looks clear and quite soft almost a week later, v impressed, and I've been using the Dermalogica pre-cleanse every day, which seems to be working although it does sting my eyes a bit.
Finally I've been using the Kiehls Abyssine eye cream since August, when I finished my tub of hideously expensive Sisley eye cream that didn't really do much for me. My boyfriend actually picked this for my birthday (I said anything Kiehls - I do have a slight obsession - and he remembered that I'd run out of eye cream... good skills I thought!). Actually I really like this - it's so light that at first I didn't think it could be doing anything, but actually it does seem to be moisturising round that area and is a good base for make up and concealer. I do think though that the best thing anyone can do for that area is drink lots of water and get lots of sleep!
MAKEUP
I'm actually trying to give my skin a bit of a break from make up at the mo (sacrilege!), however my fave products at the moment are:
Kiehls Tinted Moisturiser - love this, gives me fresh looking, glowy skin and just enough coverage for broken capillaries, acne scars etc.
By Terry concealer - great undereyes and for any bits the above doesn't quite cover
Nars Amour blush from the Lust for Life palette - gives cheeks a nice, subtle, wintry flush
MAC charcoal brown for my eyebrows, currently in a horrible state as I'm growing them out to get them threaded again!
Nars medea lip laquer, Nars Pigalle lipstick or Shiseido Honey Tea lipstick - nice rosy brown wintry shades (Pigalle is pinker and creamy in texture, Honey tea is glossy) or just my trusty Eight Hour Cream which actually is not quite cutting the mustard in this skin ravaging snow / central heating weather despite it usually being a saviour for my lips in the winter, so I'm on the lookout for a seriously heavy duty lip protectant.
For the evening, I'm also loving Lancomes Blush Subtil highlighter on the cheekbones, can't remember the name but its a shimmering champagne colour, lovely texture, which works very well with Nars' matt brown brush Zen in the hollow when one needs a sharp cheekbone (which we all do from time to time n'est pas??)
Brushes - MAC 266 for brows, my new half price Lancome powder brush, No 7 concealer brush and Ruby and Millie's fab blusher brush are my essentials. I'm on the lookout for a new eyeliner brush - suggestions welcomed again.
And finally my trusty Shu eyelash curlers with, when i feel like it, Lancome Hypnose mascara.
SKIN - BODY
I'm currently trialing Bio-Oil. Having been plagued by stretchmarks on my hips since I was about 13 (unfair I know though thankfully they have faded and not worsened as I've aged), I've always been interested in this oil, and picked some up in Superdrug recently as it was on offer. I haven't tried it on the hips as yet but I am applying it on my chest twice a day (it recommends using it twice a day for three months to see results) to see if it will have any effect on the worsening wizened skin that seemed to appear out of nowhere when I hit 30 - (I blame one very hot holiday in Turkey when I was 16 for this!), as it says the oil helps dehydrated and ageing skin. So I'll update on this in three months perhaps with before and after shots if I'm brave enough! The reviews on MUA for this are pretty mixed so I'm not expecting anything spectacular but we'll see.
I'm also using my Clarins and L'Oreal body scrubs as detailed in my last post, and my Kiehls Hand and Body Lotion with Aloe Vera and Oatmeal which I adore and am going to post in separately shortly, though sadly they've discontinued it in my favourite fragrance, Vanilla. I do need to replace this with the Creme de Corps though as it's another thing not quite cutting the mustard in this horribe winter weather.
Hand cream is Clarins Hand and Nail treatment - nice, pleasant smell and absorbs well but wish it had SPF.
I'm not fussed about shower gel - can't see the point in spending lots of money on something that gets washed away. Boots Botanics do a lovely soft sea sponge though that seems to make it go a lot further.
SCENT
None at the moment as I've lost my beloved Kiehls Original Musk oil!
NAILS
Again having a break but Essie Mink Muffs and OPI A oui bit of red are both recent favourites.
Well that's the closest thing I have to a winter routine. Have made a few exciting new purchases recently so hopefully will get round to blogging about them soon!
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