Davines Top 10 Haircare

I recently learnt from the wonderful hair team at Root Salon how important good quality hair products are for the health of your hair. And so I was excited to discover the Davines range, an Italian beauty brand who ensure that none of their products have any nasty sulfates (chemicals which are harsh and damaging to your hair and scalp). Davines have a huge range to cater for all hair types, and present their collections in minimalist modern packaging… what’s not to love?! I’ve picked my ten favourite products for you to try, they make brilliant stocking fillers…

Davines

SOLU SHAMPOO – This ‘clarifying solution’ shampoo is suitable for all hair types. I found this light shampoo left my hair feeling moisturised and shiny, without any unwanted heaviness.

Davines

MINU SHAMPOO – Let’s be honest, most of us have some colour in our hair… to preserve and look after coloured hair, try the Minu Shampoo which I found illuminated my dip dye blonde tips. This shampoo has blossom extract in the ingredients and smells floral and lovely.

Davines

NOUNOU SHAMPOO – For curly and brittle hair I would recommend the rich and nourishing NouNou shampoo. This citrusy shampoo will replenish the nutrients in very dry or damaged hair.

Davines

NOUNOU HAIR MASK – This rich repairing mask is the perfect follow on from the NouNou Shampoo. I left the mask in my hair for 5 minutes after application and after washing out my hair was wonderfully soft and silky.

Davines

MELU CONDITIONER – I’m always on the look-out for a multi-purpose conditioner. The Davines Melu Conditioner was lovely to use, leaving my hair soft and light but also adding volume and shine.

Davines

ALCHEMIC CONDITIONER – Bright coloured conditioners can be a little terrifying to use, so when I saw the vibrant purple hue of this product I thought twice about putting it on my head! But the Alchemic conditioner has wondrous effects. It can be used as a mask and left in the hair for 10-15 minutes… in this time it will brighten the tone of highlighted or grey hair. For me, it removed the unpleasant coppery tone of my blonde tips and left my hair looking much more natural.

Davines

VOLU HAIR MIST – This leave-on formula is brilliant for adding volume without weighing down hair. The mist has a lovely fragrance that will leave your hair smelling fresh all day.

Davines

BLOWDRY PRIMER – I always aim to blow-dry my hair as they do in professional hair salons, but it is impossible. This blowdry primer helps to tame your locks before drying and it adds a little texture whilst also protecting against heat and humidity.

Davines

OI ALL IN ONE MILK – This is one of my all time favourite hair products… as the name suggests, the Davines all in one milk conquers every hair conundrum. Apply to towel-dried hair and it will hydrate and nourish your hair whilst also taming frizz and enhancing volume. The little bottle is perfect for taking away on travelling trips.

Davines

DRY TEXTURIZER – I choose hairspray dependent on smell. This Davines dry texturizing hairspray has a delicious vanilla fragrance and also provides a natural hold to the hair without being sticky to touch.

More information and buy all the Davines products here.

September Beauty Favourites

At the start of a new season I always review the new beauty products, keen to give my skincare routine a refresh for the change in climate. This year there are more lotions and potions than ever to try, wrapped in beautiful new packaging and smelling heavenly.

beauty products

I’ve selected my favourites from the amazing array above to tell you about…

YSL

There is something instantly alluring about the YSL branding… perhaps it’s the slick and simple design, or the luxurious golden packaging. Now that the sun is retreating I have been using the YSL bronzing powder religiously to keep a balmy glow for as long as possible. The ‘sunstone’ shade gives a very natural colour to the skin, and the powder is so fine it makes you look as though you are bare-faced but perfectly bronzed. Priced at £35.

Perricone

I am a big fan of the Perricone MD skincare, so when they announced a make-up collection I was excited to try the products. Immaculately packaged in chic, minimalist bottles, this brand looks as good as it feels. These lovely products are designed to add a touch of colour to the face whilst also offering healthy benefits. I particularly love the blush and eyeshadow which are creamy and silky on the skin and give a beautifully radiant boost to the skin. Priced at £29 each.

DHC

DHC is a popular skincare brand from Japan. I am an addict of make-up remover wipes even though I know they dry out the skin, so I was relieved to discover this natural option. The DHC Make Off Sheets are made from 100% cotton and remove all make-up and dirt whilst keeping the skin’s moisture. Perfect when you are feeling lazy before bed. Priced at £7.95.

Kerastase

I have always loved the Kerastase ranges, and love it when the hairdressers I visit use the haircare products. The ‘Specifique’ range is specially good for oily roots and sensitised lengths. I have a sensitive scalp and I find this shampoo soothes the skin and nourishes my hair leaving it extra shiny and soft. Priced at £17.90.

This Works

I try to avoid fake tan, but loved the effect of the ‘this works’ gradual tan lotion. I used the skin miracle product every day to even out skin tone and then every few days added a coat of the ‘Perfect Legs Gradual Tan’ which gives a streak-free natural glow. Both products give the skin Vitamin C and E whilst adding moisture. Priced at £38 each.

Essie

Essie have recently had a rebrand, the bottles are now a funky twist shape. Pick a pretty pastel shade like ‘fairy tailor’ or ‘touch up’ for sophisticated nails, or just put a layer of the high quality top coat to add strength and shine to your nails. Priced at £8.99.

Stila makeup

The Stila ‘perfect me, perfect hue’ is a lovely palette for eyes and cheeks. The hues are carefully chosen to complement each other with five eyeshadows and two blushes, in matte and shimmer finish. I tend to use the paler colours during the day, and the darker shadows for evenings out. It is great to have all the colours in one palette, saving space in your make-up bag. Priced at £28.

Paul & Joe

The Paul & Joe packaging makes me smile, with bright colours and cute cartoon patterns, it stands out on a shelf of skincare. The sun protection body mist is extremely useful for warm days on the go. The refreshing spray is easy to use, and includes SPF20 so will keep your skin protected from the sun. I find the bottle a very convenient size as it fits in any handbag and the bright colour means I can always find it quickly. Priced at £12.

La Roche Posay

I have only recently discovered the French brand, La Roche-Posay. The products are perfect for acne-prone skin, but also great for normal skin types. I am always on the lookout for the perfect moisturiser, and have fallen in love with the ‘Effaclar Mat’, it has a gel texture so isn’t too heavy on the skin, but still feels luxuriously rich. The formula is also brilliant at reducing pore sizes, so I use it particularly round the t-zone area of my face. I can also highly recommend the ‘Effaclar Duo’ range, which aim to combat spots and red skin whilst also hydrating the skin. For more coverage try the new ‘Effaclar Duo Unifant’ which acts as a subtle concealer whilst also healing the imperfection. Priced at £9.67 and £11.

Dermalogica

After warm weather I find my skin is dry and stressed. The Dermalogica skin hydrating fluid gives skin a boost, and is particularly good mixed in with your daily moisturiser. I used this magic little bottle before bed for 3 nights and immediately noticed a difference in how my skin felt in the morning. This product should also help reduce fine lines. Priced at £39.90.

Liz Earle

Liz Earle has been a favourite of mine for a while, natural products which smell delicious. The ‘cleanse and polish’ is an award-winning cleanser which removes all dirt and make-up whilst also moisturising the skin. I found it is best used with a muslin cloth, both morning and night. The best thing about this product is the delicious smell, flavoured with rose and lavender, it leaves you feeling refreshed and smelling amazing! Priced at £15.50.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 197

Having my hair brushed as a very little girl was a nightmare. I have very thin hair but lots of it… easily tangled and painful to brush, a £2.99 plastic implement from the local pharmacy would just not do. Mason Pearson was a great option when my mum discovered this luxury brush brand, with thick but flexible bristles that are perfect for troublesome locks. Soon my younger sister and I both had one, an essential part of our morning routines. The Mason Pearson brushes are classic and traditional, and with no way to differentiate between brushes sibling squabbles soon became the norm too.

Let me introduce you to Rock & Ruddle, the lovely little company producing hairbrushes which solve all your hair problems. I met with the R&R ladies last week for chocolate and chatting at Rococo. Jackie and Alexandra met in their twenties when they were both working at L’Oreal. Years later they combined their knowledge of beauty and started Rock & Ruddle aiming to fill a noticeable gap in the market for a hairbrush that was both great quality and great design. The company began a couple of years ago after extensive research, and continues to thrive with stockists throughout the UK, though the main shop is online.

Visually they are very jolly with colourful and comical patterns and illustrations. Clare Mackie’s ‘Cats and Dogs’ design is particularly sweet. The pictures are printed into the plastic rather than on the surface ensuring the pretty pattern lasts forever. The hairbrushes are made in a traditional style with tufts of boar bristle. The natural bristle distributes the hair’s oil down each strand giving the hair extra gloss and shine. I really appreciated the additional nylon strand included in each tuft which gently separates the hair and detangles knots. The brushes are available in two sizes: Small (£20) and Large (£30). More reasonable than similar brands, but with loads more personality, Rock & Ruddle tick every box.

A thoughtful present for a friend, or a gift for mother’s day, the Rock & Ruddle products are a high quality and fun alternative to the boring brushes currently available on the British highstreet.

I have got a ‘thoroughly modern’ bright pink brush which I love. Buy a beautiful brush here.