Archive for the ‘Tried and tested’ Category

As a naturally pale blue/white person means that my dark-cream-coloured teeth show all the more, which is not just unattractive, it is very ageing. There are lots of options out there from toothpastes (apparently Discus Dental Day White is good), to chemistry-set-vibe home whitening kits, to professional laser therapies and veneers. Unfortunately none of the ones that work are cheap.

EU regulations concerning the concentrations of bleach in over-the-counter whitening treatments stop them from being much more effective than regular brushing alone. Apparently a good floss will do more to whiten the appearance of your nashers than these watered-down products.

After consulting with dental expert Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith, I decided to go with Bright Smile treatment at his company The London Smile Clinic. Tim advised I use a sensitive toothpaste for 2 weeks before the treatment to combat any sensitivity, and to thoroughly clean my teeth just before the treatment so that the bleach is in direct contact with enamel rather than plaque.

The treatment involves wearing a brace that holds your mouth in place and protects your gums. A gel is then placed on your teeth, which is activated by pulses of blue light focused at your teeth in four, 20 minute blasts. All of this while you wear a Star Trek-style visor entertainment system across your eyes, which plays the movie of your choice to pass the time and distract you from the slightly ungainly position you find yourself in.

I found that apart from the ridiculous ‘Glee Club Smile’ position one has to hold, the treatment was pretty much pain-free, with only 48 hours of hot/cold sensitivity post treatment. A mould is taken of your mouth at the beginning of the session and you leave clutching bespoke whitening trays that fit like a couture dress, very satisfying! This home kit is designed to boost the whitening even more, it took mine from an A2 to an A1 in total, which I am super happy with. (see right)

Top tips:

1. Before going to the expense of whitening your teeth, check you are eligible. Hold white paper up to your teeth, if the colour is greyer whitening will not work for you, if it is yellower, go for it!

2. Chase staining liquids like coffee or red wine with water, it takes 30 seconds for the pigment to penetrate, so water will wash it away.

The BriteSmile whitening treatment is available at The London Smile Clinic , £950 for the BriteSmile package – 020 7255 2559.

I skipped off to my consultation dressed in my ‘hair salon best’ in a bid to distract attention from my mangled mane. But alas, my efforts were in vain as eagle-eyed Billie spotted my criminal hair habit from the tube station and after treating me to a glass of wine and her words of wisdom, I conceded that it was time to take myself in hand, and place my hair very firmly in hers.

Not only is The Chapel so beautiful it made my eyes water (imagine Helena Bonham Carter’s house sans Tim Burton, with more hair brushes) but it is also a world away from the conveyor belt atmosphere that originally put me off hairdressers, sending me to the salon better known as ‘Mum’s kitchen’.

After too many botched bobs and dodgy dye-jobs, it was with more than a degree of trepidation that I surrendered my coat and my follicles. However, my nerves were totally unjustified. A few minutes with the lovely Billie was all it took to kiss goodbye to my weaslaphobia (google it).

Billie asked me about everything from my lifestyle to my favourite t-shirt and with a little help from her magical technicolour tonal indicator, I discovered that my quintessentially “English” complexion looked best with cooler shades, that calmed my ruddiness and made my blue eyes *pop*. Hence with the help of several colour charts and my insistence that no ammonia was to go anywhere near my head, she chose a super-duper conditioning treatment that would dip my natural colour only slightly, whilst nourishing my sorry excuse for a barnet.

The next phase was to decide on my cut, something I had decided on many moons ago and never had the courage to execute. Bangs, the sort of fringe that Lou Doillon would be proud of. And I wanted it. Cue Daniel, who spent the best part of half an hour trying to talk me out of making a rash decision, until he realized that my heart was well and truly set. “A fringe it is then!” said Daniel. Verity + the Chapel = Fringe + Happy.

A sanctuary just up the road from the City, stepping through the door is like stumbling down an exquisitely decorated rabbit hole and finding another world. Billie ensured that not a single strand of my overly long tresses was overlooked – a painstaking process for her and a thoroughly restful experience for me. I was presented with a glass of wine and ushered over to a velvet sofa to allow my colour to develop, before having my locks lopped with such precision it made Edward Scissorhands look like an amateur. Perfectly straight and expertly feathered, it was time for the moment of truth…to bang, or not to bang? I screwed my eyes shut and took a deep breath as Daniel held my hair aloft with scissors aimed thrillingly ominously, before tentatively half-nodding my consent. As I felt my hair fall into my lap I tentatively opened an eye to see myself exactly as I was before…only better.

Although Mum’s Kitchen is economical and hair-brushing is boring, I think the Chapel might have knocked her off the top spot and unleashed my inner Rapunzel. verity douglas

Contact The Chapel on 0207 520 0460 or email – islington@the chapel.co.uk

I have recently become a massive fan of cleansing balms, which are very much the locale of the hardened beauty junkie, especially the Organic Wild Rose one from Neal’s Yard. Rather like Marijuana is meant to lead to hard drugs, I became addicted to cleansing balms after falling in love with facial oils, it’s a slippery slope!!

Givenchy just invented a new cleansing balm category: The Cleansing Balm Serum and I think it’s a cult product in the making and has been designed to keep up with the ever evolving make up technologies as products become more and more ‘kiss-proof’. Clean To Sublime applies as a cream, but when you massage it into your face, it transforms into a light, oily balm that melts even the most waterproof of mascaras.

On Saturday night I went for a twiggy-60′s-eye and found the balm did an exceedingly good job at 3am on Sunday morning when used with little, skill, sobriety or lighting. alexia inge

Available at Givenchy Counters Nationwide from 1st April for £22.00 for 125ml

I bow to the eyebrow, the curtains to the windows of the soul! We all do senseless things as teenagers. I am sure I did worse than most, but for this piece I’ll focus on the time I shaved the end of my right eyebrow off…don’t ask…

As if to punish my erstwhile teenage ways, the bloody thing stubbornly refused to grown back until I used Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For, which reunited the symmetry of my face in 4 weeks.

So now with two complete brows, only ever waxed to keep them neat, but surprisingly fair and in need of definition against my olivey skin. Styling my new-found brows has frequently left me looking like the lovechild of Denis Healey and Brooke Shields, until I recently discovered blinc eyebrow mousse. It comes with a mascara wand to apply the light formula, which I thought will be tricky but the colour only seems to adhere to hair not skin. Very easy to apply, styles the hairs into place stays all day and most importantly looks natural. I may even choose to dispense of my fringe….coming soon to Cult Beauty. stacia prince

Now that cosmetic companies have pushed the lengthening, thickening effects of mascara to the best existing technologies can muster, it is currently all about the applicator.

Revlon Double Twist has a good evening-wear formulation, it brushes on easily without clumping, is water resistant and stays there for a good 6 hours without creating dark new moons under your eyes. It is the brush that makes this product interesting. It looks like the love child of a hedgehog and a kids bath toy, mixing traditional bristles that catch all the hairs and molded rubbery fronds to define the shape.

If you have small eyes I don’t think this is for you as the brush is bulky and you’ll end up getting the goo everywhere. I found it worked well for my owl-like peepers, collecting even the tiniest hairs and shaping them into a nice curl. alexia inge

Available in black and blackest, £8.99 stores nationwide.

When I think of Givenchy make up I think of packaging that looks rather like it should feature in Bond films – you know the bit when Q says, “Don’t touch that!” as the blusher turns rocket launcher and blows up a bit-part actor in the background – rather than the actual products.

I recently tried the Photo-Perfection Fluid Foundation and was really impressed. It has a light feeling on your skin even though it has an SPF 20 and covers general imperfections well – I still needed to use concealer on a spot that was brewing though.

It contains skin brightening ingredients such as Ivy extract (circulation booster) and Kombuchka (skin plumping black tea extract). But the aspect I most liked about this product was the luminosity it delivered to my face.

Whereas most foundations conceal and flatten, this one seems to add a subtle glow akin to that one gets after a facial, sex or a vigorous gardening session! Apparently this is down to something called ‘Optical Brightners’ which refract light, teamed with skin conditioning ingredients that boost the skin’s natural reflective capabilities that lessen with age. alexia inge

Available for £28 at Givenchy counters nationwide.

There is no denying that the DiorShow mascara range is one of the most enduring of make up cults, we at Cult Beauty are always interested to hear about extensions to the range, in this case called DiorShow Extase Mascara.

The promise is that this thickening, lengthening formula contains spherical black pearl pigments and something called ‘Metamorphosis Powders’ that expand by ‘up to’ 50% after application building and lengthening. Rather like the Lancôme Hypnôse Drama it has a tiered brush, which in my experience works well to coat the varying lengths of lash that grow along one’s lid.

I have yet to trial this because it is not currently available in the UK, but the reports from top US bloggers like Beauty Snob and Temptalia are good. I just wish the company would be more straightforward with its marketing, what the HELL are Metamorphosis Powders? They sound like something one would buy in the Middle Ages after a bout of blood letting and leach therapy!

Olay has been churning out the new products recently, especially forging ahead with the Genomic Technology (the study of how genes can be turned on or off to slow the ageing process) with the flagship Professional Pro-X line. They have made their name producing affordable, skincare that does a hundred things at once and can always be relied on to make your skin feel really good.

The latest product to hit the UK is the Definity Colour Enhancer, a multi-tasking complexion enhancer, anti-ageing serum with Olay’s Essential Glucosamine Complex – proven to tackle wrinkles and ageing pigmentation problems – and SPF 15 moisturiser in one. The interior of the transparent bottle contains a characteristic  swirl showcasing the trio of ingredients, it smells amazing and gives a good level of moisturisation throughout the day.

That said I don’t think this product is one of Olay’s best moments. In trying to check list so many functions, it is excelling at none. The foundation doesn’t give much coverage and the formula feels heavy on the skin (probably the SPF) making one aware of it, like one of those jumpers you will inevitably get from your Gran this Christmas!

Available from February exclusively to Boots – stores nationwide.

My winter coat is replete, all remnants of any colour from Autumn has left my skin leaving me with a pallor not that far removed from a plucked chicken. Having very light blond hair was making me look terribly washed out and dare I say it, OLD! So I decided to consult Cult Beauty hair expert Paul Edmonds.

Paul suggested adding some more apricot hues to my ashy blond hair to tone down the blues which were washing out my complexion. I was a little worried about dyeing my hair darker, but the results really warmed my whole countenance.

I have noticed Madonna has been doing a similar thing for a little while now, as have Diane Kruger and Sarah Jessica Parker and it really works to soften their strong features, with an instant anti-ageing effect.

I fully plan to go back to my original ashy blond in the summer when a little browner, but for right now the winter coat is staying. alexia inge

A half head of highlights at Paul Edmonds London – prices ranging from £85 for a Junior Technician and £150 for an Artistic Director

Paul Edmonds Salon,217 Brompton Road, London, SW3 2EJ.  0844 770 9410. www.pauledmonds.com

You will never find a black girl without some kind of hand moisturiser in her bag. (If you do come across one, well then she’s an anomaly.) If her hand cream runs out, trust me, it’s a mini disaster. As this time of year, it is even more essential that hand cream is a permanent fixture in my handbag. As one constantly on the lookout for products that work (old, new, cheap, or pricey -if it work’s, I’m loving it), I’ve been trying out tons of creams to stop my hands from looking like Keith Richards’ face. My favourites at the moment are as follows:

AESOP Resurrection Aromatic Hand Balm. Not too sticky, smells amazing with Mandarin, Rosemary leaf, Lavender, Cedarwood and Orange extract. And the packaging is so cool.

Floris Hand Treatment Cream. It is infused with so many bits like Babassu, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera that it cannot be anything but good.

Jo Malone Vitamin E Nourishing Hand Treatment. Super great to put on before bedtime. (What is it about night time that wants to suck every bit of moisture from you!?).

Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Therapy. An old favourite. I am such a sucker for the nostalgic, but not too twee, packaging. The Rosewater is divine, but there are tons of other fragrances to choose from – okay perhaps not tons, maybe four or something.

Last but not least, God bless L’Occitane. Their products always have Shea Butter in them, which I love anyway, but I have a soft spot for them for a completely different reason. When I popped into the New York store a few years back, I was recovering from a nasty car accident and still had some dressing down my neck and across my chest. The wonderful store manager came to speak and sympathise with my plight , and by the end of it she was like my new best friend. We hugged, she gave me millions of samples and I have loved L’Occitane ever since. Nice story, huh? And it’s all true.

For a glistening sparkle in a range of alluring shades, we’re loving Bobbi Brown’s Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow. The award winning eyeshadows now have an added touch of glitter for dazzling eyes with a sultry, velvety sheen. Our favourite is Starry Purple a rich peacock purple that’s brilliant for creating smokin’ party peepers.

£16.00 from Bobbi Brown counters nationwide.

December is upon us and my diary is filling itself with more suppers, sojourns and soirees than I can shake a cinnamon stick at. What I need (apart from a wardrobe full of McQueen) is a great mascara. The sort of lash lengthening, volume enhancing, man melting wonder-wand that will make people look at my face and not notice I’ve worn the same outfit to the past three parties.  Hence, when an appropriately shaped packet from Max Factor arrived at CB HQ last week, it was with smug satisfaction that I emerged from our brawl, triumphant. My spoils held aloft like the bridesmaid with the bouquet (minus the obligatory mint satin dress).

Their Lash Extension Effect Mascara does pretty much what it says on the tin. I am yet to make anyone keel over in amazement at the stupefying length of my eyelashes…but think it’s only a matter of time. The wand is long enough to make sure it gets to every little lash and there’s not a clump in sight! The tapered brush coats your lashes from root to tip with a single sweep, lengthening and separating quicker than you can say “Lash Extension Effect” but it doesn’t add volume.  And at £10.99, it’s a lot more economical than a months worth of new dresses.

Available in stores nationwide. verity douglas

Last week, I battled my way through a downpour to “Eleven” Hair salon on Blenheim St for a Brazilian Chocolate and Keratin hair treatment. My hair was looking like a hippified (and soaked) version of Donald Trump’s embarrassing barnet, I needed help.

My hair type is not particularly “rebellious” or unruly, but it was in need of some love after 10 years of over styling. This technique seemed like the perfect antidote as it “smoothes and creates shiny, healthy- looking hair without the use of strong chemicals. Perfect for dried out hair during the winter months”.

Upon further digging, I found that this treatment has come under fire, mainly in America, because of the high use of formaldehyde. Small doses of this chemical (used to embalm dead people) are all around us, but what concerns scientists is the effect it has when heated. When used in manufactured products (you wouldn’t believe the places this stuff crops up in – 2nd hand smoke, latex paint, nail varnish), formaldehyde breaks down slowly under normal circumstances and is not rapidly released into the environment. Heat and moderate humidity levels hastens the break down and releases the chemical.

Part of this treatment is to lock the solution in with hot irons. Cue poisoning, hair loss, sore throat, headache, itchy eyes and worse if you are a smoker… all this flashed before my eyes.

Slightly PETRIFIED by the thought of loosing my hair (many many reports of this) and the other noted effects, my first question to David was will I be reduced to shaving my hair off a la Britney Spears in her kerrrazy days. He reassured me that there is only 0.02% formaldehyde and that my locks would be in safe hands. They were.

The treatment takes 2 hours and consists of a shampoo (twice), hair is 90% blow dried, treatment is applied in sections as a colorist would, hair is completely dried and then ironed. The hot irons close the cuticles, locking in the moisture and magic. They also made my eyes water a little. Goggles would have been useful. I don’t care how silly they look.

My hair has been a joy to behold. All the wispy, straggly, underneath layers of hair are poker straight. I can literally wash and go – no hair dryer, no irons, no fly-aways. I thoroughly recommend this treatment to anyone who spends most of their morning blowing and straightening their locks or for those lucky buggers hitting the beach this Christmas or those who are cash ok, time poor, for this treatment will set you back £200. It works best with European hair and is safe to use if colored.  With afros’, the opinions have been mixed. It will soften and smooth, but this is not a relaxer. And I don’t have an afro. Damn it. I’ve always wanted one.

You are not meant to wash or style your hair for at least 2-3 days. So, as sod’s law would have it, I had a modelling job the next day and the look was curly.

No real harm done, it was nice to wash the solution off and the results say it all. After nearly a week, my hair is still seriously glossy, soft and straight with a little twist at the bottom. I couldn’t have done a better job and I have had no side effects except compliments from strangers… olivia inge

Eleven Hair Salon – 0207 491 2390

Rather like finding a pair of jeans that makes your arse look fabulous while also allowing blood flow, happening upon the right moisturiser is one of the holy grails of beauty.

As is generally the way with jeans, this eureka moment is not cheap at £95.00 for 50ml, but Dr Kadir’s Matrix Moisturising cream is absolutely amazing for dry, winter-beaten skin. It has an SPF of 22 (UVA & B protection), an extremely effective Hylauronic acid delivery system that plumps fine lines in minutes and something called MMP Inhibitors which I haven’t heard of before (apparently MMPs are enzymes that degrade collagen). Whatever they are they are working wonders on my skin.

In the winter I always get a really parched face, especially around my nose leading to a rather ‘overly-festive’ look and this moisturiser has balanced my skin to perfect dewiness…result.

Available at Beauty Slave

Is it a brooch? Is it a pendant? Yes. Yes…and a solid perfume to boot! Who’d'ave thunk it? Why, Marc Jacobs of course, together with those cunning marketers at Coty. Since Daisy launched way back in 2007 the fragrance has made quite a name for itself thanks to the so-kitsch-it’s-cool packaging and girly-to-the-point-of-saccharine scent. Which is not to suggest that this is one of those cloying floral perfumes that tweenagers the world over douse themselves in as soon as they have pocket money to spend at the local chemist. Daisy is aimed at a far more discerning tweenager; the sort who carry their school books in a vintage Prada back-pack and are au fait with all things ‘fashion’. Oh. And 24 year olds with a love of anything even vaguely on the wrong side of twee. (That would be me).

So, if you’re looking for something for your 12 year old niece this Christmas, you could do much worse than to stuff this little flower in the toe of your ‘little flower’s’ stocking. Just don’t be surprised if she rolls her eyes and exclaims “Urgh, Daisy was soooooooooooooo last season! Haven’t you heard of Lola?” verity douglas

Available nationwide now for a limited time only. r.r.p. £25.00

“You look tired,” Esther Fieldgrass, owner of Kensington’s EF MediSpa informs me knowingly. Before I can protest she’s reeling off all the things I should be doing to keep my skin looking plump and fresh. Vitamin D and Omega 3, 6 and 9 found in fish oils are vital. Damn, I knew that, why did I stop taking those supplements? Soon I’m lying down ready for my Old Fashioned Facial – an eyelash tint and eyebrow shaping makes this ‘old-fashioned’ – with therapist Mina who’s been instructed to pay particular attention to my tense neck; “Best hands in the business,” Esther tells me.

Cleansing my face with cosmeceutical CosMedix’s Benefit Clean , Mina says my skin has good structure, no sun damage (whoopee!) before tut tutting about blackheads and telling me to make sure I clean properly around my ears – whoops, how old am I? While she deftly massages my face and prepares for the extraction (facial-speak for zit-squeezing) I suddenly become very aware of how seriously Mina takes her job. She gets rid of every last blackhead and despite my wincing I’m really pleased with such a thorough job.

And now for the magic ingredients – eyelash tinting and eyebrow shaping. After delicately applying the black eyelash dye (no stinging, thank God) Mina starts massaging my neck and shoulders, and boy is she good. She gets into my knots in a way many facialists just don’t bother. She also incorporates the massage with Reiki on my head and back of neck – this is truly divine. We decide my eyebrows actually don’t need any attention since years of plucking has given them a super-defined shape.

As well as a replenishing Pure Enzymes exfoliating mask, Mina continues to ply my face with moisture-inducing products – I get particularly attached to the Eye Believe Liquid Crystal Serum and Emulsion Intense Hydrator which makes my skin feel extremely springy and moist. Though these products are pricy Mina swears by them, saying they completely cleared up her acne after years of looking for a fix. The proof is in the pudding I guess – her skin looks amazing. Post-facial I’m glowing and peachy and looking super-pretty with my newly-tinted lashes – hurrah! - julia rebaudo

Old Fashioned Facial – £145 for 90 minutes. Optional extras include hand rejuvenation massage (£25), manicure (£15), pedicure (£18). www.efmedispa.com, 0207 937 5554

Very Hollywood was developed by the same perfumers (Laurent Le Guernec & Pascal Gaurin) who created his original scent, Michael, in 2000. I was not a fan, but then I believe very sweet perfumes have their place and it’s called 6th Form College.

This scent is also sweet, but in a bergamot-citrus-raspberry way, it is also floral with hints of wet jasmine, ylang ylang and gardenia. But there is a grounding, earthy undertone with iris, vetiver and mossiness that stops this being too teen.

Once the pink, sparkly girliness mellows from first application it has a lovely femininity to it, great for the evening, accompany with a frock! – alexia inge

Available at stores nationwide in 30ml (£33.28), 50ml (£46.98) and 100ml (£66.55) bottles.

GMTV hair guru Richard Ward is one of the latest additions to the Cult Beauty stable of thoroughbred experts. Italian Vanity Fair recently hailed Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa as one of most ‘ultra-glamourous salons’ not only in Europe but the world, cementing Richard’s Italian reputation as ‘Señor Golden Scissors’.

With these accolades in my head I joined the reported 1000 people a week who trust him and his army of stylists to mold their locks into something chic and fabulous. The cut I wanted was pretty straight forward – long layers, feathered at the front – and much as this would bore most professionals to tears, my stylist went about it with the same enthusiasm as she would an asymmetrical, half sheep cut with a double twist… Everything about the experience was quick, clean and professional. No faffing around, price justifying extraneous techniques and no false dripping politeness. A great experience for a busy professional. If you like theatre, a half hour hair wash and three different shaped hair driers, this will not be for you.

The spa, just off Sloane Sq. is beautifully designed and massive (5,000 sq ft in total), a shrine to the quest for beauty. It even has a bar for when that quest becomes to difficult to face without a gin and tonic!

For more information or to book an appointment please call: 020 7730 1222, email info@richardward.co.uk or visit the website.

Like most women, the arrival of a new anti-cellulite treatment makes me go weak at the (somewhat orange peely) knees. If it comes with enthusiastic testimonials and astonishing before and after pics, so much the better. It’s not that I have a huge cellulite problem, and I have accepted the fact that I will never ever wear hot pants, but I would just like to erase the pitted bit that has swallowed the demarcation between my butt and my thighs.

And so it was that I jumped at the opportunity to try the Adonia LegTone. Not only does it claim to reduce the appearance of cellulite by up to 47% in 9 minutes, but if you use it for 6 weeks it will reduce it by up to 70%. What’s more, the company gave it away with the Oscars goodie bags, so it must be good, right? Wrong, unfortunately.

The Adonia website does boast impressive testimonials but alas this “Time-tested Greek Beauty Secret” did next to nothing for me. According to founder Dr Mark Binette, the formula contains ‘a hyper-concentrated blend of 23 organic oils from plants of the Aegean eco-system’ combined with plant stem cells designed to help reinvigorate your body’s own sluggish stem cells. I googled this though, and various scientists have already dismissed the idea of reinvigorating your stem cells in this manner as suspect, if not downright ridiculous.

Following the instructions, I put it on each leg twice every morning and evening. Each time I waited for 9 minutes and checked for a transformation. And every time, I left the bathroom disappointed. Adonia claims the serum will last for up to 60 days but I only got 12 days out of mine. I wasn’t particularly liberal with it either – just a couple of drops on either leg. And in that time, I didn’t see any magical butt lifting or smoothing going on. I think my front-leg cellulite may have smoothed out a fraction but as the butt area was of most importance to me, this was little compensation. Perhaps I just don’t have the correct form of cellulite to feel the benefit of the Greek Adonia plant stem magic?  But at £53 a bottle – which did not last 2 months, in my case – you might be better off spending your money on tinted spectacles…after all, if we can’t see it, it’s not there, is it?  - Elspeth Waters

Adonia LegTone is now available at www.adonialegtone.com, £53. 

Ah, forgive the silence; I have been holidaying in sunny Sardinia, but don’t worry, I didn’t leave my beauty head at home.

A lot of black women I come across think that being on a beach holiday is the perfect opportunity to be a ‘natural’ beauty – i.e. no base, Vaseline instead of lip gloss, etc etc. I, however, beg to differ. Of course I am not an advocate of looking like Jordan meets Danny La Rue while walking along the beach, but come on ladies, even on holiday, there is a reason God gave us Mac, Nars, Lancome et al. So with that in mind, despite packing lots of ‘just in case’ products, these five things turned out to be my fail safe beauties.

Prestige Mascara - Okay I have used tons of mascaras – some that cost three times as much as this – and I have to say, this mascara has blown me away. It’s great! You get really thick, full lashes and it doesn’t smudge. Though I have no idea if it’s waterproof – I can’t swim so the water never got past my chest. For those who didn’t know, swimming and black hair are not really great buddies. £4.99, available at Boots stores nationwide.

RMK Oil Cleanser - When I die and go to heaven, as well as my purple velvet made to order sofas, I will be taking this cleanser. It is the one thing that cleans my face perfectly regardless of the hardness of the water. Available at Selfridges.

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream – Great for sunburn, peeling and a multitude of other skin complaints. Yes, black people burn in the sun too! Available at all good department stores.

PIXI Lip Blush – I love this lip stain. It is matte – without being drying – giving you super-natural looking bee stung lips and a colour that lasts nearly all day. £16.00 from www.pixibeauty.com

Olive oil - On day two of my holiday I went to the supermarket, bought the biggest bottle of olive oil I could find and literally doused my hair in it. “Why?” you ask? Because the sun was turning my hair into straw, that’s why! The olive oil worked wonders though; my hair really softened up and by the end of the week I had a semi normal looking Afro.