Festival Fabulous

Nothing better than combining a little bit of work with a lot of pleasure! Off to the Isle of Wight festival I went, armed with some Batiste Dry Shampoo. To me dry shampoo is something I must have heard off way back when I was still a child, probably around the same time when people predicted that all cars would be made out of plastic. (Are they now?) But to the point, dry shampoo never made the bathroom shelf in our home and had long since forgotten by me. So great to be sent some product to try out, promising it is a great alternative 'when the showers are minging and you're too busy singing' - hmmm, work on that slogan, guys. But in fairness, although it is definitely not an alternative to a proper wash and shampoo in my book, it did add volume to my hair, did not leave a greasy film, and I did feel that my hair was, well, dare I say it, refreshed. It probably takes some getting used to, and not sure I am daring enough to use it at work 'to mask a heavy night out', but given it worked on the Isle of Wight, I am probably brave enough to give it a go to revive beach hair, or just to freshen up mid day. Come to think of it, my work is pleasure!

It's a Wrap

by Laia

This is the season to get your bikini body into shape. With a bit of luck, you will be planning a holiday or mini break that will include wearing a bikini. So we have taken the traditional tried and tested route and sampled the Guam Fanghi D'alga range. Yes, it's a bit messy, but it really does deliver - ask any Italian woman in-the-know (there must be a reason why more than a million women use it over there!).

Guam is an anti-cellulite range that detoxes using seaweed, vitamins A, B, C and D3, plus lots of minerals to feed and nourish your skin. Mixed with clay, it draws toxins out through the skin, giving you a tighter, smoother finish.

There is a salon treatment and an at-home version. We were brave and tried it at home (check for your local stockist on 0870 0589661). All you need to do is apply the mud around the desired areas and wrap yourself up with cling film. Then wait for 45 minutes before showering it off. The mix will feel hot, tingly and strangely satisfying. Just make sure you are alone when you do it as it's a messy business, and that you don't run out of cling film…

Lovely Lolita Lempicka

One of our favourite designers is bringing out a new fragrance shortly. Although the original was a little too fruity for our liking and despite our sources telling us that its new flanker 'Fleur Defendue' ie forbidden flower, is even more so, albeit paler, we love Lolita Lempicka's designs enough to give her new fragrance a mention. Not sure when it will be available in the UK, but we will let you know, and until then her website is definitely worth a visit.

Fascinated with dressing up (weren't we all?!) from a young age, she started making her own clothes from when she was 12. So you can see where she comes from when she describes her life as a fairy tale: after studying at the Studio Berçot and working for Cacharel, she created her own brand, Lolita Lempicka. Her first catwalk show was laced with a masculine-femine style, showing how she was influenced by Yves St. Laurent's couture, and earned her the name 'queen of the tailored suit.' Have a look at her designs, they are mysterious, assertive and beautiful. We will let you know when and where Fleur Defendue will be available.

Raising a Few Eyebrows

by Laia
Your eyebrow shape is crucial to your image and can even become your trademark – think Brook or Kylie. It can simply make or break a look. But which is the best shaping method?

Personally, I like threading. Not only do the therapists have total control over the shape they are creating, but also - because they follow the hair in rows - the results look natural and clean.

We spoke to threading guru Shavata, who runs her own eyebrow bar in Harrods’ Urban Retreat. Read on to find out who her favourite celeb eyebrows belong to and whether less is more…

LatestInBeauty.com: How important do you think eyebrows are to a person's image? Eyebrows that are unruly can give you a very ungroomed look. We take a lot into account when shaping someone’s eyebrows, such as lifestyle and age, as this will affect the chosen shape.
LatestInBeauty.com: How often would you recommend eyebrow shaping? Definitely every six weeks, but I would recommend to have them shaped every month.
LatestInBeauty.com: When did you learn the technique of threading? I picked up the threading technique over the years, as it’s a traditional method of hair removal in India. My friends and family were the first to teach me, and I naturally became involved.
LatestInBeauty.com: How does the threading technique differ from other methods such as waxing? We offer both methods at my Shavata Brow Studios, as it’s really a personal choice. I personally prefer threading, and the results are very similar to waxing. It is simply an alternative method.
LatestInBeauty.com: Which celeb’s eyebrow shape is your favourite?
Many celebrities have great eyebrows; Natalie Imbruglia looks great - very groomed! - as does Elle MacPherson. I always ask my clients to bring with them images of celebrities they like when choosing their eyebrow shape, so that we can get an idea of what shape they like and, as important, whether it suits them.
LatestInBeauty.com: We have seen eyebrows looking fuller recently. Is this trend here to stay? Yes, always. Fuller eyebrows have certainly been a prevalent theme for several seasons. On the catwalk this spring we saw defined and maximised eyebrows, with bold, dark pencilling or shading on or around the eyebrow for dramatic effect. Fuller eyebrows don’t have to be bushy and ungroomed, they are just an enhancement of what you already have.

All things bright and beautiful

It's not quite Beauty per say, however as we love beautiful things we thought it is worth mentioning that London Jewellery week is upon us! Even if you are like us a member of the club for cash strapped admirers, there is still plenty on offer. The whole idea behind the week is to showcase one of London oldest trades, promote latest designs and give new designers an opportunity to showcase their ideas. And some are absolutely brilliant. Have a look on the website to plan your itinerary, you can do a variety of things, such as look behind the scenes at some of London's oldest Jewellery workshops, to celebrity spotting at some of the catwalk shows. And while you're at it, if the promotional offers do not sway your decision, just see if you can attend some of the fabulous shows.

E45 Summer Range

E45 is one of those brands that we quietly have been enjoying and admiring for years. As the "Ronseal for dry skin" (It does exactly what it says on the tube!") a small survey among our friends revealed that it had 100% coverage on their beauty shelves. Not bad for a relatively quiet brand, just goes to show what a little product effectiveness does. But low and behold, following the huge increase in TV marketing spend on fragrances (try and recall some fragrance ads from the early 90s - you'll be struggling), E45 is bowing to the trend. So, soon the #1 dry-skin brand 'as recommended by Healthcare Professionals' and discovered by friends, will feature on the small screen with its endless Moisture range. Just in time for summer, its Body milk and Care Replenishment Cream promise to keep dry skin moisturised in the sun for up to 24 hours. I guess that as long as E45 continues doing what it is meant to do without all the fuss, we will still admire E45 as the unpretentious genius that it is.