Tag Archives: skincare

September Beauty Favourites

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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.

Oskia Facial, One Aldwych Hotel

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I have often visited the One Aldwych bar for delectable cocktails, but have never ventured elsewhere in this luxurious London hotel. Last week I was invited to try the new Oskia signature glow facial in the health club at the hotel. Scheduled in for Saturday lunchtime, it was the perfect weekend timeout after a busy week at work.

The spa was quiet and calm. After a glass of citrus infused water, I changed into the fluffy bathrobe and went to explore. It is rare to find a central hotel with a pool (chlorine free) and I full took advantage of this facility, exercising with a few revitalising lengths before my treatment. There is also a sauna and steam room for guests who wish to relax and warm the skin, ideal before a massage or facial.

I was delighted to learn that Oskia is a British brand. The range of beauty products is made with natural ingredients and works effectively to promote healthy and glowing skin. Oskia is fast becoming known as one of the UK’s leading beauty brands, and it is great to see a London spa supporting a company from this country, when most opt for Parisian or American skincare.

oskia

The lovely Carleen took me through to the treatment room for my Oskia facial, 75 minutes of pure bliss. She quickly identified my skin as a mix of normal and combination and talked through my daily routine and use of products. Usually I am scolded for my lazy use of exfoliator or eye serums, but Carleen seemed to think I was doing a good job keeping my skin healthy. This facial is intended to illuminate the skin and boost radiance, but will be tailored to each guest, so the best results can be achieved. Carleen gently cleansed my face, used the brightening Micro Exfoliating Balm, and massaged my neck and face, which made me feel instantly at ease.

The facial involved a variety of Oskia products, each with its own purpose. After some deep cleansing and extraction, Carleen restored my skin with a soothing scented oil and added moisture around my eyes with the Eye Wonder gel. My favourite product was the Renaissance Mask, used towards the end of the treatment. This indulgent mask aims to awaken and add nutrients thereby brightening the skin and ensuring an even skin tone. While the mask soaked into my skin Carleen massaged my arms and feet, which was an extra treat. The facial finished with the Nutri-Active Day Cream, a great moisturiser for everyday use, lightweight and good for all skin types – it is ideal for use in the hot summer months.

After the treatment, feeling peaceful but famished, I was pleased to receive a delicious healthy snack from the chef at the hotel restaurant, Indigo. The filling but fat-free salad was made from

Quinoa with peas, broad beans and smoked almonds. It was very tasty with a spritz of lemon juice on top. If you feel like something a little more decadent you could choose a refreshing cocktail inspired by the nutritional ingredients in the Oskia products.

Near to the shops, theatres and restaurants of Covent Garden, One Aldwych is perfectly positioned. The heavenly Oskia facial would be a lovely addition to a girly day out in London.

More information on the Oskia treatments at One Aldwych here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 267

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Every summer I compile a list of my favourite summer beauty products. A heat wave is still causing temperatures to soar across Europe, and it is essential to use the appropriate lotions to sooth and protect your skin. Here are my pick of the bunch, great for using at home or on holiday.

Davines

Davines is a family-owned, sustainable haircare brand from Italy now distributed to 70 countries. I have experienced the products in several high-end salons and was impressed with the immediate effects and delicious scent. The Dede range is ideal for daily use, the shampoo and conditioner are both light and softening perfect for breezy summer hair. The hair mist adds moisture without weighing down the hair, I found it was good for my very fine hair.

ESPA

The ESPA Optimal Body Triserum is an indulgent nourishing product to firm and smooth the skin. It has a range of interesting natural ingredients including turmeric root which helps to even skin-tone and pigmentation. I loved the easy-to-use spray function so you can spritz your body all over after a shower. In the heat I found it could be used instead of moisturiser, but in winter you may wish to use it as an addition to give a richer coverage. This product ensures skin stays supple and soft even in the harshest weather conditions.

JurliqueThe natural Jurlique products always make me feel healthy and fresh.  When I am away on beach holidays I can’t bear to clog up my face with heavy products. This Rosewater Balancing Mist is the perfect solution to hydrate and wake-up the skin, just spray over your face in the morning and evening. A lovely product to pair with the spray is the Rose Silk Finishing Powder this light, translucent powder will give a light and natural coverage. I particularly liked that it removed the shine of my skin, and yet you couldn’t notice I was wearing make-up. Both products smell divine with a floral rose scent.

perriconePerricone MD is one of my favourite skincare brands. The products are results driven and the effects on the skin are amazing. For summer the duo of Hypoallergic Gentle Cleanser and Nourishing Moisturiser is good to thoroughly clean and moisterise whilst also brightening and softening the skin. Both products are particularly good for weather-worn dry skin with natural oils like Olive Polyphenols giving essential moisture back and repairing sun damaged skin. The Perricone products are also great for anti-aging thanks to the deep hydration.

KiYoKo

KIYOKO is a new lifestyle brand that represents purity, quality and design. This stylish silver tube of lib balm is 100% natural and is the perfect companion to keep in your bag throughout the summer months. I find even the tiniest amount of the balm intensely hydrates my lips and leaves them soft and silky so they don’t crack.

thalgo

Thalgo uses marine ingredients to create its products. The Hydra Marine 24h cream is a blissfully light daily moisturiser which adds a dewy glow to any skin tone. For an extra boost in summer try the Ocea Sun supplement capsules. These have powerful nutrients that will give the skin a radiant vibrancy in the summer months and replenish vitamins that are lost from sun exposure. I will be taking them religiously on my holiday next month.

Radical

As the name suggests Radical skincare encourages radical results for your skin. After a few uses of the the Hydrating Cleanser and Peptide Antioxidant Serum I noticed dramatic changes to my skin. My skin tone was more even and looked brighter. The serum is specially designed to eradicate or lessen signs of aging, giving greater skin clarity and reducing the number of wrinkles. I find that these two products are the ideal routine for before bed cleansing and moisterising, so that when I wake up my skin looks fresher and brighter despite how sleepy I am!