Archive for the ‘Tried and tested’ Category

I have a confession to make – I am a high maintenance blonde. By that I am referring to the insane lengths I go to get my chemically treated, frizzy curly mop look halfway decent. As well as my normal makeup jobs, I now regularly consult for a luxury brand, where I have to look absolutely immaculate. It’s an eternal struggle that goes on pretty much daily so when Urban Retreat invited me to sample their Rahua Omega 9 treatment, I could hardly say no. I have contemplated having my wild locks tamed by a Brazilian blow-dry to save me time – although the chemical side of the process is something that worries me – but a natural way to get my hair looking good is definitely welcome.

I had already heard great things about the wonderfully wholesome Rahua Hair Care range from Cult Beauty’s Alexia, as they were the first to sell it in the UK. I then met the charming people behind the brand last summer and was bowled over by the enthusiasm they had and how natural this collection actually is (free from synthetics, parabens, sulphates). Deriving its potent ingredients from the oil of the rahua nut and ungurahua oils found in the Amazon, the products seek to nourish the hair follicle from within, rather than the usual coating it in silicone to create an artificial shine. Rahua has become a massive hit in the upmarket salons of New york which is another good enough recommendation for me. The shampoo and conditioner do not come cheap but you only need a very small amount so it will last you a long time.

For the £35 treatment the lovely James washed and conditioned my hair – the hair masque is about 15 minutes long – then gave me a fantastic blow-dries that made my hair look sleek, shiny and healthy. I always like my hair best the day after a blow-dry when it has settled a bit  and the best news that my normally coarse and unruly mop still felt soft and shiny three days later which to me is the main test of not only a great blow-dry but also of fantastic products, to which I am now completely addicted. emma day

I’m exactly a week away from commencing my second quarter of life (yes, I will live to be exactly one hundred) and in a bid to stave off any semblance of maturity, have hit the bottle.

I’ll admit, it seemed pretty late in the day to be getting a dip-dye. The trend’s been around for so long that every man and his dog (within a three mile radius of Dalston) have two, three or even thirty tone hair. However, like most things, it’s taken a year’s worth of subliminal brainwashing to convince me that it’s a greeeeeat idea and so, (finally) here I am.

For those of you unfamiliar with Dalston, it’s probably not the first place that would spring to mind if you were in line for revamp. Unless you wanted a new tattoo – in which case, get yourself to Haggerston pronto! Bleach has been garnering a reputation amongst those-in-the-know as the place to be if you’ve a lust for reinvention.

In the same spot as good old WAH Nails (of which we at CB are HUGE fans), Bleach on Kingsland Road is unquestionably cool. The white space has walls lined with cuttings from only the trendiest mags, together with Polaroids of previous victims clients (Pixie Geldof’s a fan) to make a glorified mood board and provide hours of amusement when you’ve finished your book and are still getting yo’ hay-er did.

I was greeted by Matthew – elbow deep in violet toner but no less charming because of it – who sat me down and left me just enough time to slurp a coffee and  think about bolting make myself comfortable. I was armed with a picture of Abbey Lee Kershaw, the courage of my convictions and, um, not a lot else.

Fast forward almost FOUR HOURS and I look like a shiny new ‘My Little Pony’ with the swishiest pink mane in town. Matthew concentrated the bleach on my lower layers, to create flashes of brighter colour that peek through the more muted top layer. He was also very careful to create a shade that wouldn’t jar with my natural strawberry (*ahem* ginger) tones and left tiny sections au naturel, to highlight the pink tint and give a sun-kissed holiday vibe.

All in all, I feel much better about my imminent birthday (and slightly like a superhero). The only downside is that it need to be very protective of my colour and have stocked up on masses of the brilliant Sachajuan Color Save Shampoo and Conditioner.

For inspiration and prices visit http://bleachlondon.co.uk/ – there are Bleach salons in Dalston and Topshop, Oxford Circus and if the SS’12 catwalks are anything to go by, I would make an appointment asap as this is one trend that refuses to dye a death… verity douglas

Despite the fact that for most women, waxing of some sort is a tedious but necessary part of our beauty routine, most men still shy away from the prospect of having their body hair ripped from its follicles – funny that. However more and more are braving the wax to achieve a smooth, hair-free body and with summer holidays looming, many hairy fellows might be thinking about taking the plunge. We decided to send a hirsute guinea pig down to The Refinery in Mayfair to try out a classic back and shoulder wax and report back on his experience.

Our newbie found the atmosphere of the male grooming salon to be spot-on – not intimidating, but stylish and with the look of a gentleman’s club. His therapist, Simran, began by cleaning the skin on the back and applying tea tree oil and lavender balm. Then came the wax – and let’s be honest, it’s always going to be painful, especially on the first time and if you have thicker hair. As you’d expect from The Refinery, an establishment that aims to make every treatment as luxurious as possible (even the ouch-inducing ones), the wax was infused with gold, to give the skin a sheen, and soothing chamomile.

After the waxing was finished, he was given some lotion to put on his back and told that after three weeks he should use a loofah to exfoliate the area to prevent ingrown hairs. You also shouldn’t shower for 24 hours, and avoid swimming for 72 hours to avoid irritating the skin. In conclusion: it hurt a bit, but wasn’t remotely as scary as our newbie had expected, and he’s delighted with the results and already planning to make his next appointment and looking forward to a hair-free summer.

Back waxing costs £35 at The Refinery, 60 Brook Street, London,  W1. 020 7409 2001

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If you have long hair which refuses to do anything interesting, one of the best styling tools to try is heated rollers. They do a fantastic job of turning a frizzy mess into smooth, sleek curls or waves and as an absolute beginner I found the Babyliss Pro Ceramic Rollers surprisingly easy to use. I started by looking for how-to guides online – Youtube has an incredible amount of videos showing you how to put heated rollers in, and if you’re a complete newbie like me, they make the whole process far less mystifying.

It’s harder to get the curl to last on freshly washed hair, so leave it ’til the day after you’ve washed your hair and you’ll get a much better effect. Plug in the rollers and switch them on, and while you’re waiting for them to heat up, start sectioning off your hair – scooping up the top area and clipping it out of the way, then creating a horseshoe-shaped section from ear to ear and fastening that with a clip, so you can work from the bottom up.

The Babyliss Pro rollers are pleasingly chunky and colour-coded, so you can handle them easily by the ends even when they’re hot. I used the fattest size (red) to wind sections from the bottom layer of my hair, rolling them right up to the scalp and pinning them as firmly as I could with the pins (which have coloured tips so you can match the size easily.) I think the rolling-and-pinning comes with practise, but for a first attempt I was quite pleased with how secure the rollers felt when they were in my hair. I used the smaller blue and white ones on the middle sections of hair, and picked up any escaped whispy bits with the smallest white rollers. In an attempt to make the curls stick and not fall out as soon as I’d removed the rollers (my past experience), I liberally sprayed my hair with hairspray. And then waited…

Twenty minutes later, I started gingerly unwinding the rollers – you’re supposed to tilt them vertically and let the curl just drop down naturally, so you don’t pull it straight. And lo and behold, I had curls! Not stupid tight ‘boingy’ curls, but lovely natural soft curls, with an impressive shine (this is thanks to the ceramic technology) and they actually resembled a red carpet hairdo that you might see on a celebrity! For a first attempt, I was astonished by how simple they were to use and how professional the final result was. With practise, as I get used to pinning in the rollers and leaving them for the optimum amount of time, I know the finished effect will look even better. Thumbs up Babyliss Pro, you’ve completely converted this hairstyling cynic.

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Well there has certainly been a lot of hype about Moroccanoil, with beauty critics calling it ‘a new miracle treatment for unruly hair’ and although I had heard some amazing things about it, I was dubious… at first.

All the hype surrounding this product is due to one ingredient, Argan Oil. Argan Oil is said to have very high levels of Vitamin E and saponins which soften skin and regenerate hair. Morrocanoil contains an ‘argan oil-infused’ formula along with Vitamin F (Omega 6), Vitamin A to improve elasticity, Vitamin E to protect against free-radicals, and Phenols to shield against environmental stressors.

One of the main advantages of this product is that it really does reduce drying time, and thus heat styling damage. I’ve been using it for about two weeks now, putting 2 pumps in my towel dried hair and then blow drying. It certainly looks shinier and feels softer, and as the instructions say, all of the product will be absorbed, leaving no residue like you get with some hair serums. Your hair just soaks it up. It also has a wonderful fragrance like incense and gives great UV protection to your hair, which is just as damaged by the sun as your skin. Overall, if your hair has been damaged by heat styling or chemicals and is in some serious need of TLC, this product is worth a try. After years of abusing my locks with the straightening irons, I have found something which has begun to replenish them. I just hope it lasts with the rate I keep using it…

One aspect of the brand which I found interesting is that the products are registered under a free trade program, which provides socioeconomic support to thousands of families in the southwest region of Morocco (where the ingredients are harvested). Revenue from the project provides income to families and helps improve the working conditions of rural women. Makes you feel a bit better about spending money on this product, and it is an investment, but trust me…once you use it, you won’t go back. nadine bourne

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Cult Beauty expert and A-list make-up artist Emma Day took the Slendertone for a spin – find out how she got on…

“This interesting device actually came to my attention via one of my many slightly obsessive conversations with a dear friend who, despite having nothing to do with the beauty industry seems to know more about the great, good and not so good of the anti-ageing world than I do. One thing we are unanimous about is that we will never touch botox and want to try natural methods to beat the aging process. She was considering buying one of these and asked me to find out a bit more about this product before she parted with her £300… So I dutifully followed this up and contacted the Slendertone people to see if this really does live up to its hype….

How can I describe the look of the Slendertone facial massager? To me it reminds me of a Walkman headset, for some reason I was expecting it to be much bigger but it’s actually a pretty small and neat design which fits easily in a handbag. You attach gel pads onto the electronic sensors, place them over the lower part of your face and then use the guage on the handset to adjust to the level of current that feels comfortable. You can tell quite easily if the current is too high and the sensors in the wrong place as you will get an ‘attractive’ eye twitch and the machine will squeak at you! Initially I found the squeaking a bit disconcerting as I thought I had out the gel pads on incorrectly but soon figured out that it’s actually there to help you with placing the device properly. The gel pads are quite tricky to put on and do need to be regularly replaced as they need to stay moist and once the ones that come with the initial set run out, they do not come cheap, at £25 a set. However, enough of this technical stuff – what you guys want to know is does this baby actually WORK? Is it worth the money?

I have had a few anti-ageing facials in my time and a good one involves working the facial muscles in order to lift the face and restore that youthful perky look that the years and stress can diminish. We can all use the best creams going to get good texture, hydration and eliminate fine lines but what no cream will do is LIFT the face around the jaw-line, that can only be done with surgery and massage. There are three different programs you can do with Slendertone – Lift, Radiance and Massage and you are advised to do this five times a week, for 20 minutes per session. I decided on the Lift program and have now used this for just over a month and although I can’t really say conclusively until I have been using this for a while, at this point I’m impressed readers!

My skin seems DOES seem very even and firm and although I am pretty lucky to have unlined skin for my age, I have gone through the excesses of the Christmas period somehow  looking pretty perky to the point a number of people have commented on it. My skin does seem to be quite “springy” and I’m not having to use much product to make it look good – it seems to be doing it all on its own… However, I’m in my 30s and I am very considered with my skin-care and a non-smoker – I would be interested to see how this works on a lady in her 40s but as far as I’m concerned, I think this one is a winner and I’m going to be continuing using it. Thankyou Slendertone, I’m going to keep up the good work.”

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I am a hairdresser hussy, shamelessly flitting from one salon to the next in search of the perfect relationship with a stylist who, like, totally gets my hair… Well after many years of searching I think I may have found The One. Her name is, well… should I tell you? I think I won’t, but she works at the Trevor Sorbie salon in Covent Garden and she managed to turn my lifeless mop into something to be proud of.

A great hairdresser needs to be able to listen to their client, and really hear what they’re saying – what are their concerns? Their hopes and dreams for their hair? How important is it to their personal sense of style, their identity even? If they ask for something truly dreadful, that won’t suit them in a million years; the hairdresser has to find a way of gently but firmly suggesting that this might not be the best thing for their hair. If they insist, they must find a solution that won’t compromise their hairdressing principles, but will still satisfy the customer.

While my hairdresser was trimming, shaping and styling my lacklustre locks, she explained that they were suffering from a build up of product. The Trevor Sorbie range is tested in the salon before it hits high streets across the land, so they know that it delivers on its promises, but they also use different ranges in the salon and my grubby tresses were given a thorough going over with a brand called Pureology, which is vegan, zero sulfate and incredibly effective. It was interesting to hear that while the Nordic market demands products that give volume, hold and root lift, the English customer is more concerned with getting their hair to be smooth and flat.

We debated the myth that during times of recession, people sport shorter haircuts, and as economic ‘green shoots’ start appearing, so people start growing their hair longer. According to the stylists on the salon floor, this is actually true! I asked whether people still come into the salon clutching photographs of celebrities and asking for their hair, and this does happen, but interestingly most women are resistant to the more edgy, ‘editorial’ looks we see in magazines. Just because it’s a hot trend, that doesn’t mean real women are going to request it. A cut like Emma Watson’s gamine crop might have got the fash-pack in a tizzy, but it would take a brave woman to lop off her long, feminine locks to recreate the look, and most don’t. Trends come and go, but what my hairdresser has found is that season in, season out, women simply want hair that’s flattering, feminine and healthy – and that invariably means long (but not too long.)

Trevor Sorbie understands how vital a head of healthy hair can be for a person’s confidence, and that’s why he founded My New Hair, a not-for-profit organisation for people suffering medical hair loss, offering advice and wig customisation. “My New Hair isn’t just about hair, it’s psychological medicine for women suffering from hair loss through illness and for many of the women I have seen, it’s the missing link in their treatment… Finding a cure for cancer and alopecia is a medical task but supporting the wellbeing of those people suffering the effects demands much more than a doctor can provide. How can a patient feel positive and strong when their personal self-image has been rocked to the core by baldness? Giving women back their hair – hair that looks natural, attractive and feminine gives them back a little of the confidence to face the world in their darkest hour. It was my personal experience of helping a family member during cancer treatment that inspired the idea of ‘My New Hair’… This is not about earning money, it’s about using my skills to give people something truly meaningful and now my handpicked peers across the UK are joining me in doing the same.” www.mynewhair.org

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Cult Beauty expert and legendary make-up artist Valentine Alexander reveals her new favourite product…

“Why is the new Givenchy Photo Perfexion Light foundation a cult product?

Magical coverage that evens skintone, but with total transparency. I love the pro-sponge applicator. One of the first things I see on womens’ faces is a “streaky” aspect from putting on the base with a foundation brush- these brushes are fine for pros but not foolproof in the hands of women on the go… The sponge applicator on the Givenchy Photo Perfexion allows for perfect coverage and blending, just under the jawbone.

It comes in a very true range of colours for all skins. Photo Perfexion is high-tech second skin that lasts through the day and also contains an anti-aging serum, so skin is plumped and looks years younger.” valentine alexander

Celebrated make-up artist and Cult Beauty expert Emma Day tells us about her foolproof way to kickstart the new year…

“New Years resolutions always amuse me as invariably they are things that we all burst with enthusiasm about doing for the first three weeks of January and then real life kicks in and we all go back to our naughty habits of old. Over the Christmas period, I take a break from the gym and like most people, eat and drink a little bit more than I should. I then come out of this self-imposed indulgence to transform myself from something rather grey and slug-like into a gorgeous (I wish) rejuvenated butterfly at the end of it. The first thing I wanted to address was the texture of the skin on my body. Don’t get me wrong – I am pretty good at slathering on luxurious body creams and body scrubs (I love the Elemis lime and ginger salt scrub and brush) but something more than a bit of home DIY was required by this point.

I booked in for a Body Sculpting Cellulite and Colon therapy treatment and headed off to the Elemis day spa in Mayfair which is a delicious gem of a treatment centre – tucked away behind the main drag of Mayfair. Fairly decadent and self -indulgent for first thing on a Monday morning – but hey, thats the kind of girl I am and thats what got me into this trouble in the first place.  I was ushered downstairs by the lovely Lola into an uber luxurious Moroccan-inspired treatment room. This is designed to be a mixture of quite intense massage to stimulate the circulation all over the body and then more localised massage just under the rib-cage to get the colon behaving itself again and I have to say, I did laugh out loud when I was being pummelled on the backs of my thighs as I wasn’t quite expecting the strength of it, but it was not unpleasant and its also a sign that there are unhappy little toxins under there waiting to come out. Throughout this I was instructed to breathe deeply, in and out. I was then buffed with my favourite Lime and ginger body scrub and covered in the detoxifying fennel and birch peel-off body masque and then wrapped up in cling-film that heats up so the masque could get to work and draw out the nasties. Once this had done its magic, it was literally peeled off my body and I was smoothed over with the Body sculpting lipo-refining serum and firming cream. The final treatment was a really delicious scalp and head massage. If I could have one of these every day for the rest of my life, I would happily sign up.

Once back in my clothes how did I feel? Well my jeans were slightly looser, I smelt like heaven, my skin was clearly in much better condition than when I came in and extremely velvety. I did go straight to the loo and was told that this would happen a bit more regularly over the next few days. However, for this treatment to really have a major impact on cellulite I would say you would have to invest in the two a week, four week program. I would recommend this if you feel like you need a bit of a body re-haul or have a holiday coming up and are going to bare all or even if you are in a new relationship and intending to bare all – after all its Valentines coming up! Would I go back and have another one ? I really like the quality of Elemis products, I love the smells and I totally trust the therapists. Absolutely!”

Cult Beauty expert and A-list facialist Sarah Chapman says clean skin is the foundation of beauty: “Cleansing is hugely important in order to encourage and maintain healthy functioning skin. It’s a step in our daily routine that is highly underestimated. Thoroughly cleansed skin improves its function by removing dead skin cells, excess oil, dirt and pollution and increases blood flow to the surface in order to promote cellular renewal and provide the perfect base upon which to apply your serums or moisturisers, ensuring maximum absorption. Without a thoroughly cleansed skin you may as well forget the rest!

In my experience natural oil-based cleansers are the best for all skin types as the oils have a natural affinity with the skin, allowing it into the pores and to adhere to dead skin, sebum and daily grime lifting it out. The best way to cleanse your skin is to melt the product between your fingertips and smooth evenly over the face. Using a firm pressure with your fingertips and knuckles, massage the product with vigour, spending a good minute or two to really increase blood flow to the skin. Always work from the centre of the face out to help drainage, clearing tough blockages and puffiness.

When the skin takes on a rosy glow remove the cleanser – how you do this is a personal preference. For sensitive or delicate skins you may prefer to just rinse with warm water (avoid it being too hot or cold as this could cause broken veins) or for an added exfoliating cleanse for oily, dry and roughened skins the use of  mitts or a muslin cloth will benefit your skin’s texture further. For heavily congested skin or the removal of a good night’s make-up, you may benefit the skin’s health by doing a double cleanse to really ensure the skin can breathe.”

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With your purchase of a Classic Sonic Cleansing System receive a free replacement brush head worth £20!

You’re tired, you’re face feels dry, knackered, you’ve spent the last few weeks partying, you’ve promised never to touch alcohol again (at least for this month), you’re in need of a facial fix. If this sounds familiar, then look no further than the O2 Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusion Facial with Julia Hart at The Hale Clinic. I have never been more impressed with a treatment than with this one. Madonna and, err, Katherine Jenkins echo my accolade.

The key ingredient is a patented serum, which is blasted into your dermis (about 2mm into your skin…the bit where many skincare advertisers claim their products reach, but don’t) using oxygen. The tool used to administer the magic serum is a spray gun, the type of which I haven’t seen since the late 90′s when I first started modeling – a make up artist used one on me for a shoot for I.D mag, it looked really cool in a futuristic way, until she dribbled the make up pot over my new trousers.

After the oxygen blast, my skin felt incredibly firm. Its hard to tell from my pics as I have a crap camera, but when Julia had finished spraying half my face, she asked me to pinch both cheeks. The difference was insane. The side that had been treated (the right side of the image >>) was so taut it nearly slipped through my fingers, while the other side squidged firmly. This is due to the hyaluronic acid, a deep moisturiser that also stimulates collagen production, a bit like watering a dry plant back to life. *ZZZING*

Step 1. Steamer on. I’m not a huge fan as it smells a bit like old socks, but it is an excellent way to open up your pores which in turn lets your (good) products permeate deeper. Their Rejuvenate Cleansing Gel was applied in lovely sweeping movements. Steamer off.

Step 2. Exfoliation… across the nation (‘earmenow)…and resurfacing with Enzyme Peel by Medic8. This takes away the surface layer of skin, tidies it up and smooths it out.

Step 3. Steamer on. The heat stimulates the active enzymes in the peel and makes them work harder at sloughing off the dead skin cells.

Step 4. Clairisonic was meant to be used to whip those enzymes into harder labour, but it needed charging. Sometimes machines aren’t better than the human touch…hooray for that.

Step 5. C-esta Serum by Jan Marini with powerful anti-oxidants, which pummel through the lipid barrier when used with the Baby Quasar. This little baby is the offspring of the Mamma Quasar (can’t remember the actual name but it should be judging by the size of it) and is a hand held tool with 37 or so little LED lights. The reason why Julia uses it is because it is better at controlling where you point it. I asked for extra attention to the lines from my nose to mouth and around my eyes or obicularis oculi (…feeling like a smarty pants so thought I’d give you the official term for the muscle that surrounds our eyes plus it sounds like something Harry Potter might say before slaying Voldemort).

Step 6. Intraceuticals Oxygen Rejuvenate Serum (cue angels singing). This serum is as good for you as Mum’s home cooked dinner, with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins and Peptides in abundance. There are other serums that you can add if you like, Atoxelene serum with hexapeptides, which is basically topical botox. The serum is poured into the little pot that sits atop the barrel of the spray gun, the trigger is gently squeezed and out shoots a stream-line blast of oxygen and serum. The gun is at the end of a machine that filters air from the room you are in, cleans it and blasts it through the epidermis to the dermis, the short distance having been nicely cleaned for ‘The Royal Goodness, Oxygen Rejuvenate Serum” by the previous procedures.

Step 7. Other half is finished. Hyalruonic layering with a hydration gel and then moisture binding cream are applied in beautiful and relaxing sweeps. These 2 products help to keep the infusion of oxygen and the serum in place.

Step 8. To finish, Julia rubbed rosewood oil into her hands and hovered them over my face and asked me to take 3 deep breaths. Heaven.

When I got home, my face felt a bit sunburnt (due to the LED lights), but this wavered within a couple of hours. My face looked and feelt bloody amazing and the effect lasted over a week. I just wish that I could be like Madonna and buy my own oxygen machine (£10,000) for an unlimited supply of the serums (£200 for a pack of 10). olivia inge

If you could only change one thing about your appearance, what would it be? Losing that last pesky half stone? Thicker hair? For me, it was whiter teeth. So I paid a visit to Cult Beauty expert and celebrated cosmetic dentist Tim Bradstock Smith at the London Smile Clinic.

The London Smile Clinic is about as far from a traditional dentist as you could possibly imagine. It’s a very chic, glossy set up – chill out music, leather sofas, a fridge full of fizzy water. As I filled out my forms, I covertly watched a glamorous blonde woman waiting for her final appointment. Her teeth looked amazing. I was filled with hope. Flicking through the comments book was even more encouraging – it was full of grateful scribbles from very satisfied patients, saying how their beautiful new smiles have changed their lives – landing them that promotion, boosting their confidence etc. It’s all designed to make you feel completely at ease – as if you were paying a visit to the hairdresser’s, rather than facing the dentist’s chair.

But before I got anywhere close to my Bright Smile appointment, I had to endure a sobering session with the hygienist first. I’ve always been pretty smug about the state of my teeth – after all I go to the dentist every 6 months for a check up and there’s never anything wrong, I only have a couple of fillings and it’s generally all good – right? Nope. Apparently I still had lots of plaque from not brushing or flossing properly. Oh. One hardcore clean later and my teeth and gums were scarily clean, and ready to be whitened a few days later.

According to Dr. Tim, everyone is born with slightly different coloured teeth, and what you eat and drink (red wine, coffee, curry) also contributes to their colour. Some people have a yellow base, while others have a grey or brown undertone. Most opt for the Bright Smile in-chair whitening treatment, as the results are instant (and who doesn’t love a bit of instant gratification?) At £795 it might not be cheap, but you’re also given the at-home kit to maintain your teeth’s whiteness. If you choose the at-home kit on its own, that costs £425 and it takes 2 – 3 weeks to achieve the same result as the in-chair option. (The ultimate results are exactly the same; it just takes a little longer to get there.)

The in-chair treatment takes up to 2 hours, consisting of four 20-minute sessions with the whitening gel and light on your teeth. During this time you can watch a DVD on some amazing sunglasses (gadget-fans will love these). You then take your own customised gel trays home with you to top up the treatment for a few days afterwards. You can also use them to get a boost of whiteness before a big event like a wedding. The whiteness lasts as long as you maintain it by avoiding things like red wine and coffee. You should be on a ‘white diet’ for the first 24 hours after the treatment (don’t eat or drink anything that you wouldn’t want on a white shirt!)

The results are impressive – I can’t stop grinning and most importantly, I’m determined to maintain the whiteness by brushing and flossing diligently and avoiding coffee and red wine (which quite frankly will be good for my purse and my weight.) Oh, vodka’s fine though. Good.

The London Smile Clinic, Ground Floor East, 40-44 Clipstone Street, London, W1W 5DW Tel: 020 7255 2559 www.londonsmile.co.uk

If like me you (a) love shopping and (b) love facials then the launch of the new QuickBliss spa at Debenhams on Oxford Street is the perfect winning combination of my two favourite pastimes.  (Seeing how long my spilt ends have grown is another, but can’t see that taking off in the same way) You can have an edited version of the legendary treatments that started the spa revolution, such as the ‘hand aid’ to soothe parched paws or ‘glamour-eyes’ which will get your peepers looking party-ready.

You will then emerge from the Bliss cocoon, restored and refreshed, and ready to elbow small children out of the way for the freebie chocolates that always seem to be prevalent in department stores at this time of  year.

If however you prefer to have a little bit of spa r n’r at home, (with your own unlimited supply of chocolates) then feast your eyes on some of Cult Beauty’s offerings, which will help you to look even more fabulous in time for Christmas. We heart…

Invigorate Bath Milk by COMO Shambhala, £24

Invigorate is the original COMO range made using an aromatherapy blend of Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender and Peppermint essential oils. It is popular the world over with the lucky people who have had the chance to visit COMO Shambhala spa resort in Bali; and for those who haven’t, a little whiff of this will transport you there for the duration of your bath. It is natural, non-drying and refreshingly unisex in scent and packaging. It feels clean and light and comes in eco-friendly packaging.

Gentle Rose Exfoliator by Elemis, £25

This beautiful exfoliating gel from Elemis uses Moroccan Rose Absolute, cucumber & micro-spherical Jojoba beads to make it the most indulgent facial scrub you will ever experience. The Vitamin C-rich cucumber is an antioxidant that will simultaneously moisturise, soothe & refresh skin, the rose will leave your skin luxuriously scented & tiny jojoba beads gently slough off dirt & dead skin cells to reveal skin that’s as velvety as a rose petal. This is ideal for sensitive, mature & dehydrated complexions.

For more information about QuickBliss appointments 0844 561 6161

We all have long stressful days, weeks, months…

So what to do to alleviate the woes? Nothing can be better than a visit to Ushvani Spa,which is regarded by Quintessentially Pure as one of the Best Spas in the World.

Situated in the heart of Chelsea, this is the brainchild of Usha Arumugam who visualised a Malaysian Day Spa that offers the best of everything. It does not disappoint. Truly, if I was being churlish and looking for faults – I could not find one. From the moment I walked through the beautiful doors (yes they are), I entered a tranquil, exquisite world, where attention to detail is sublime.

Everything runs like clockwork, nothing goes wrong. Every inch of the spa is spotless, and the decor is breathtaking. The Hibiscus flower, which is the signature ingredient in the Ushvani products, features subtly in the hand crafted wood panels throughout.

There are treatment rooms for men, yoga studios, a couple’s suite ideal for any two people wanting a joint pampering treat, and ladies’ treatment rooms. On the ladies’ floor there is also a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, a brilliant experience shower that has a variety of water pressures, heat, colours (you still have to dry yourself unfortunately).

The staff are amazing – friendly, professional, beautifully groomed and most importantly brilliant at what they do. My massage was the best I have had, and Lauren the therapist was just wonderful. The extensive training paid off hugely. I had a Malay Massage, which is more detox, de -tress rather than stimulating. There are no words…

Anybody who thinks they deserve the best, you must treat yourself. stacia prince

Ushvani, 1 Cadogan Gardens, London, SW3 2RJ www.ushvani.com | 0207 730 2888 | reservations@ushvani.com

I have had a fair few facials in my time, but in truth, after the initial glowy relaxed feeling, the effects never last very long. But the facial I had yesterday was quite different. I tried the Skinesis High Definition Facial at Cult Beauty expert Sarah Chapman’s South Kensington clinic and it was a revelation. Sarah’s legendary facials are rated by high society, royalty, beauty editors and celebs alike – she counts Naomi Watts, Queen Rania of Jordan and Jemma Kidd among her many satisfied customers.

My therapist, Tarryn, was a font of wisdom on all things skin (and advised me on my shoulder pain too) so I left feeling equipped with the knowledge to look after my skin more diligently as well as feeling that the treatment had made a significant improvement.

My skin has rosacea and some broken veins and the overall redness really bothers me. Tarryn explained that I should be using a broad spectrum sunscreen every day (she didn’t let me leave until I’d been smothered in Factor 50) and taking off my make-up with a gentle creamy or oil-based cleanser. I should avoid AHAs, heat, exfoliating scrubs and drying masks, and I should dose myself up with vitamins, particularly Omegas 3, 6 and 9 which are found in oily fish. They have anti inflammatory properties and will help plump up skin, balance hormones and regulate sugar levels.

And so onto the treatment:

The High Definition facial is ideal if you have a big event coming up (and with London Fashion Week looming, this is me). It’s designed to immediately brighten tired skin and give you the sort of glow that will look amazing even under a harsh photographer’s flash. The treatment combines good old fashioned botanical active ingredients with the high performance whizzery of the Omnilux Revive LED Therapy machine and a mild lactic peel.

After cleansing my grubby face thoroughly, Tarryn embarked upon the first step of the facial – a peel using lactic acid. It’s not really a full-on peel (I had panicky visions of Samantha in Sex and the City and her red blistered face) – it’s a gentle, mini version. It tingled, but was over in minutes. This is designed to brighten, exfoliate and hydrate, as well as encouraging the skin to ‘heal’ itself faster so you get more new skin.

The mini-peel is followed by the application of serums and masks which are packed with hyaluronic acid (which sounds scary, but is incredibly good for feeding the skin), peptides, antioxidants, vitamins and proteoglycans to boost results.

Then comes the science bit: my eyes were covered with pads and the Omnilux Revive machine was placed over my face and switched on. What followed felt a little like staring directly into the sun, but after a few seconds I got used to it and it’s not remotely harmful. The benefits of LED light therapy are widely acknowledged by modern medicine – the light is absorbed through cell receptors to increase cell energy and collagen production.

A final slathering of colostrum and the distinctive fast tapping, pinching and knuckling that is the trademark of a Sarah Chapman facial massage and I was done. Glowy and relaxed, but much more than that – with healthy-looking skin and the know-how to keep it going.

The Skinesis High Definition Facial costs £130 for 1 hour. Skinesis Clinic, 106 Draycott Avenue, London SW3 3AE, United Kingdom 020 7589 9585 www.sarahchapman.netsarah chapman, facial,

phoebe frangoul

Paul Merritt appears to have taken all of the usual hair salon stereotypes and put them in a box that was lost in the move to his new Gosfield street salon in central London. The space is serenely massive, an urban cathedral to cutting, with just two chairs for customers. Just 2 minutes from Oxford St tube this space has VIP haven written all over it.

I wanted to remind my hair of the colour it was when I was 8, in the ‘vain’ hope of encouraging a DIY attitude to lightening. This might be a step too far, but the consultation with colourist Sarah Gazzard and then Paul left me feeling confident my wishes were noted (rather than the too frequent reaction of, Uha yup uhha, as they reach for the tools to roll out the signature stock cut they give everyone else).

Paul is charming, with an intuitive, unstructured technique to cutting; so chilled and simple you know a lot of work has gone into making it that way! After the highlights had been put through, he dried my hair all the time gauging my lifestyle and how much time I wanted to spend styling, taking me through shaping ideas and lines he thought would work. Then a snip here, a ruffle there, watching it fall, slowly building a style that would hold anything from a Dynasty level slickness to a fall out of bed, swoosh down an alcheselzer and slump off to work moment. Happy customer pictured right with Paul!

If you want to have an obscure Ecuadorian hair treatment, this will not be for you, if you want a tremendous hair cut far form the madding crowd, this is the place for you.

Prices start from £150 for a cut and £80 for a colour – for more information call 020 7631 5018 or email by clicking here.

Facials to me are better than fine wine, chocolate and wasabi coated peanuts. Thats not to say I do not partake in all of them, but it is the offer of a facial that gets me most excited.

So when I was asked to have a facial from a new brand, Nannic, in a salon I had not previously visited, I was overjoyed. The salon is Andreas, in Pavilion Rd, Knightsbridge. If you are after glamour, modernity, and expensive frills… keep away. However, if you want an amazing facial, in a traditional, nay old fashioned salon (still with a barber’s revolving sign outside), by a supremely lovely and expert therapist then BOOK NOW.

Feeling relaxed as I walked through the door, I was greeted by the delightful Satiroulla, who was polite and charming even though I was 3 1/2 hours early (note to self- look in diary more often). She told me her clientele mainly consists of ladies and gentlemen who are from the worlds of politics, banking and law. Discretion is her middle name, but it’s also important that the service they provide is of a high standard, for her discerning clients. I tried to get her to name names, but this lady was professional through and through.

The Nannic facial starts with a cleanser and exfoliator based on white willow bark, and the next step involves a machine called the NBE500, and a cream. The machine comines electromagnetic heat with the product. The use of the heat facilitates the deeper absorption of all the active ingredients in the serum. So the benefits include promotion of faster cell renewal and turnover, increasingthe moisture levels of the skin, strengthening the muscles and reducing the size of your pores. The cream used is specially stabilised to not be affected by the heat. This part of the treatment is actually quite relaxing, not at all painful although it feels as if you are having your face ironed.

The final step is an algae based mask that applied all over your face, once you have said it’s ok to do so, including mouth and eyes. All you have uncovered, and your route to survival, are your nostrils! I should imagine this may panic some people, but where facials are  concerned, I am a hardy customer.

The result at the end is staggering. In fact, Satiroula “ironed” only half my face first, and what a difference. It truly rejuvenates. Ideally one should book in for a course of six treatments for really long term results.

Thoroughly recommended. stacia prince

Visit www.nannicuk.com for more information.

MV Organic Skincare came highly recommended to Cult Beauty from a few different sources, including Daisy Lowe. Maggie Gyllenhaal and CB Expert, skincare goddess Nichola Joss. So when I heard the founder Sharon McGlinchey was over from Australia to introduce the range through her signature facial I jumped at the chance to trial it.

Sharon started her career working on a beauty counter for Clarins, then trained as a beauty therapist. The more she learned, the more she started disregarding the teachings when formulating this intelligently sourced range 10 years ago (she still does all the sourcing to ensure quality, after being hood-winked by a couple of suppliers in the early days. Apparently it is quite common practice for suppliers to make lower-quality second batches because people are less likely to check once the production is in process).

For my facial Sharon used the Gentle Cream Cleanser to remove dirt and make up, then the famous 9-Oil Cleanser to deep clean my pores (apparently one should use this only after dirt has been removed because it absorbs deeply into the dermis and could take the dirt with it). The 9-Oil cleanser smells AMAZING. She then massaged the clay mask (magnesium and minerals key to this, more so even than the actual clay) tailored for my dry skin by adding the Rose Booster oil. After she had rid my face of all impurities, Sharon smoothed the Rose Protecting Moisturiser all over my face and neck which absorbed almost instantly, calming my sensitive, dry skin to the texture of butter.

While the mask was working Sharon practiced Reiki on my body, throwing an instant mantle of calm over me. Which in turn relaxed my whole face, I walked out of there looking like I had to cares of a recent Lottery Winner after telling the boss exactly what do do with that memo! alexia inge

We’ve noticed that some of the most famous faces on our TV and cinema screens have gone from looking  ‘good for their age’ to ‘frozen’ – possibly as a result of a Botox habit getting a tad out of control. When this wonder treatment was originally developed to treat migraines by paralysing the facial muscles, it was also found to have the marvelous side effect of smoothing skin and banishing wrinkles, so celebs and then ‘civilians’ started to get hooked on the beauty benefits. But many have gone too far, and now Hollywood directors complain that their actors can’t display emotion and many A-listers are sporting that weird ‘pillow-face’ look which comes from an overly smooth brow and plumped up cheeks.

There has to be a better way, and Sculptra might be it. Sculptra is an injectable form of poly-L-lactic acid (a biodegradable synthetic polymer from the alpha-hydroxy-acid (AHA) family) that stimulates the body’s own production of collagen, making it ‘think younger’.  It’s not made from human or animal sources and doesn’t require a skin test prior to use. Sculptra works by mildly irritating the area. This triggers the skin’s safety response of producing more collagen, which in turn tightens the whole area naturally without that puffy, wind tunnel look.

Sculptra now has FDA approval for cosmetic and medical use in the US, but it’s been used on the NHS for  over 25 years in dissolvable stitches and to help AIDS patients’ faces recover from the ravages of the illness which leaves them looking gaunt.

Cult Beauty’s Jessica tried out Sculptra and gave us her honest opinion on the treatment (yes, it does hurt!) and the results (in a word: amazing).

“It’s all about the avoidance of a surgical look – you want to look good for your age, not half your age. Sculptra encourages your skin to behave as if it were younger – producing collagen like a teen and restoring sunken cheeks to a youthful fullness. Age 32, I found myself doing that thing where you pull up your skin to see the change and Sculptra gave me my cheekbones back! It fights the ‘sag’ in a gradual, subtle way that Botox doesn’t – using your own collagen to lift skin back to where it was.

The only downside: each time you go, there are a lot of tiny injections straight into the lower layers of the skin – the first couple don’t hurt, but I had over 50 in a session! They put a topical painkiller on so I recommend asking for a lot of that! You can take Paracetamol (or Valium in my case…not good with needles!) before you go which helps take the edge off the pain.

I did 3 sessions, each 6-8 weeks apart. The effects take time to develop. When you first have the treatment, your skin does look plumped up, but that’s just the effect of the injections, not the actual Sculptra itself. It does take time for the natural collagen to be stimulated.

Dr Danny Vleggaar (Head of Dermal Rejuvenation and Substitution Therapy at the Nouvelle Clinique Vert-Pré in Geneva) has explained that one of the subtle changes that happens to most people as they age is a loss in volume due to the weakening of the facial muscles, fat loss in the cheeks and reduced firmness of the skin. Women tend to lose more volume around the chin, while men’s foreheads can get smaller and they can combat that with Sculptra. It’s really important to go to a practitioner who understands how the face ages and what makes people attractive. Leading Harley Street plastic surgeon Angelika Kavouni at www.cosmetic-solutions.co.uk, focused on bringing up my cheekbones and the ridges between my mouth and nose.

Sculptra doesn’t cross the line for me, unlike Botox – it’s about stimulating the body to fix the problem and there’s no foreign substance sitting permanently in the skin, so I’m more comfortable with that. Sculptra is broken down to lactic acid – a natural substance found in the body. The treatment diminishes wrinkles because the skin is being plumped out, but more importantly it combats the ‘sag’ so you look ‘well’, rather than disconcertingly frozen or unrealistically youthful! It’s been a year since I had the treatments and I’d definitely go back for more.”

Photo courtesy of Dr Danny Vleggaar

Side effects? The most common side effects include some tenderness at the site of injection, with bleeding (due to the injections), redness, bruising and mild swelling. These effects may last, on average, for 2 – 6 days.

Don’t use: If you have a known allergy to Poly-L-Lactic acid or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. phoebe frangoul

For more information on Sculptra visit www.sculptra.co.uk

I am  in week 6 of my Lumea laser trial, about to have Session 3 of 4, and will now update you with the activity of my underam hair since Session 2, a fortnight ago.

There is very little to say… in two weeks my disposable razor has been used precisely ONCE. Yes, I repeat ONCE. My underams are virtually hair-free. On average, I would need to shave them twice a week to look neat and tidy, but once in a fortnight is just fabulous.

I am going in for next session now, so let’s see if the next two weeks produce a complete lack of shave… bet you are wishing the days away for the next report! stacia prince