Beautifully Delicious Honey and Almond Scrub

by Sarah-Jane

Body Scrub Review

This product is best for: high street shopping, normal skin, self tanning,

Price: Bargain!

I have been using quite a bit of fake tan lately and so needed to find a good body scrub as part of my fake tanning prep! It’s not easy being gorgeous hey?

I tried the new Honey and Almond Body Scrub from Beautifully Delicious. The bottle says it’s almost good enough to eat...and they aren’t lying. It has a beautifully sweet honey aroma, which isn’t too sickly, and the scrub was full to the brim with fine pieces of walnut shell allowing me to exfoliate any dry skin.

I have been using this once a week and my skin feels flawlessly smooth, moisturised...and smells absolutely great (until I apply the fake tan...!)

The Beautifully Delicious scrubs are also available in Papaya & Mango and Coconut & Shea and priced between £3.98 and £4.99. You can purchase these directly from Beautifully Delicious or from Boots.

Festival Hair Styling

by Sarah-Jane

So, it’s that time of year again, where we gawp at picture after picture of Kate, Sienna and co trotting around VIP areas at the hottest festivals, looking unbelievably stylish, enviably gorgeous and as though they have not given their hair any thought whatsoever. NEWSFLASH! They have indeed given it lots of thought and used key products to create the perfect festival looks.

I am off to V Festival next month so called on top industry stylists Mark Leeson and Leo Bancroft share the secrets on how to recreate their festival dos.

Kate Moss
Leo said: “Kate suits most hairstyles and over the years has tried almost everything. She always returns to her long, messy look, as seen at Glasto recently. Kate has had hair extensions applied to give her some length and volume back after a recent shorter look. Ask your stylist for advice on how extensions can help you achieve this look. For those of you with mid-long hair, it’s really easy. Use a sea salt spray on day old hair and srunch the ends with your hands. Glam grunge, it’s that simple.”

Jameela Jamil
“Rich brunette tones are a key trend right now and this moody, bitter chocolate colour is perfect for the gorgeous Jameela’s laid back festival style. To get the look simply blast hair until it is almost dry, using your fingers as a comb. Always apply a heat protection product before drying. Split hair into four sections (imagine four bunches) then twist each section and roll up into itself, securing with a hair grip. Apply heat for a few minutes then allow to cool. By the time you’ve packed your RayBans you’ll be ready to roll. Simply remove clips and run your fingers through to break up the curls. Finish with a spritz of sea salt spray to make sure your wave stays put all day long.” Says Mark.

Florence Welch
Leo says: “Florence has become a huge hair icon - her flame haired locks are everywhere. The colour aside, Florence often embraces her hair’s natural texture and never opts for anything too polished. This is the biggest theme on the 2010 festival circuit – glam grunge. A key product to create this look is Shu Uemura Liquid Fabric Mineral Texture Spray. Apply to damp hair and diffuse or allow to dry naturally for easy to manage, frizz free curls and waves. “

Emma Watson
Mark says: “The plait has made a huge comeback this year, the side plait and fishtail plait in particular. It has become the hairstyle du jour for stylish girls and women everywhere. Emma’s messy plait is a sure fire winner in the festival style stakes. This style works best on unwashed hair. Start by sweeping all the hair round to the desired side then plait loosely leaving an inch or so at the bottom. Secure with a covered band then gently tease the plait with your fingers to mess it up a little. Mist lightly with hairspray such as Goldwell Brilliance Sparkling Fix to give staying power and you are ready to go.”

L’Oréal Paris iPhone app

I have to tell you about a new application for you lucky iPhone owners from L’Oréal Paris. I downloaded it the other day and have been hooked. It’s a beauty junkie haven and a great app for those that want beauty tips and advice.

The application allows you to browse L’Oréal’s gallery of makeup looks, watch tutorial videos and complete the skincare and hair colour diagnostics to receive personalised product recommendations. Plus, and this is my favourite bit, the application has an interactive scanner which allows you to scan the barcode to get more product information and advice....or even find the nearest store to buy. Nifty!

If like me you love L’Oréal products then I would definitely recommend downloading this now, whether you just want advice on which products to use or just need some inspiration for a new makeover. It’s quick and easy to use and more importantly free to download.

Get the L’Oréal Paris app on your iPhone now....because it’s worth it! (Sorry I couldn’t resist).

French Connection Beauty Bargains

by Sarah-Jane

This product is best for: Sun Goddess, Bargain Hunters, High Street Shoppers,

Price: Bargain!

I love the summer, not only because the sun comes out to play - but also because all my favourite high street stores start their summer sales to make way for drab winter knits, knee high boots and beauty products to save your skin from harsh weather conditions! None of which I want clogging up my cupboards...yet anyway.

I went shopping this weekend and had a wander around the French Connection sale to find an outfit for my holiday next month. There were jumpsuits, maxi dresses, pink shorts, blue shorts, sheer blouses, and platform heels - a true fashionistas haven.

However what did I come out with? The Bronzing Essentials make up kit from the FCUK beauty range! I may not have a new dress to wear but at least I know this will give me a sun-kissed glow with from a silky bronzer and shimmer on my cheekbones with the Satin Finish Illuminating Lotion. The perfect size to fit into my ever bulging suitcase and what's more it only cost me £4 instead of £8, leaving me more cash to splash on more of their fantastic beauty products!

The sale runs across the whole French Connection store but make sure you check out the beauty range and grab a few bargains before they sell out!

TIGI Urban Anti+dotes Shampoo and Conditioners

This product is best for: dry hair, damaged hair, urban living

Price: Treat yourself!

Last week the lovely guys at my hair product favourite, TIGI, invited me down to the Bedhead Studios in Battersea to look at their new Urban Anti+dotes hair care collection - plus see their masters at work!

Now we all wish we could claim to be hair care angels but let’s face it the lure of over-dying, over-tonging and straightening is just sometimes too much to resist. And that’s where this fantastic new Bed Head Urban Anti+dotes hair care range comes in! For once we are encouraged to not lie about our hair sins and misdemeanours, but instead face up to them – and treat it!

Anthony Mascolo, TIGI’s International Creative Director said "hair has never been in more need of help with all the damage inflicted upon it from straightening irons and too much product. Once damaged, hair becomes coarse, porous, weak and difficult to manage and ultimately it will look unhealthy and neglected."

To help combat badly conditioned hair the new collection of detoxifying, repairing and rejuvenating shampoos and conditioners come in three prescription levels which are designed to drip-feed your hair with essential hydration and nourishing ingredients to help you repent against your hair crimes of the past!

Tigi Urban Anti-dote #1 – Re-energize Shampoo and Conditioner – for normal hair that needs a daily pick me up

Tigi Urban Anti-dote #2 – Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner – for dry, damaged hair that needs a moisture fix

Tigi Urban Anti-dote #3 – Ressurection Shampoo and Conditioner – for weak, brittle, chemically treated hair that needs an intensive intervention

It’s great to finally see a hair brand that doesn’t make you feel ashamed of your bad hair habits! We sat down and had a chat with the TIGI guys to hear more about the company and their products. All the hair designers have an influence in designing this new range so you know that as trained professionals they are looking for a product that actually works and it was amazing to witness firsthand the passion they have for it!

I collered one fo the stylists to get my own personal hair therapy and once I had confessed all, I was diagnosed as needing to use the Urban Anti=Dote #2, Recovery, designed to give a moisture fix to my dry and damaged locks. I used the shampoo and conditioner the next day...and it’s great. My hair was shiny and manageable and smelt great due to the scent of of Goji Berry and Papaya in the formula. If like me live in the reality of a busy urban lifestyle these are definitely worth a try. Make sure you pick the best prescription for your hair type – and give your tresses some TLC!

This range is available now at professional hair salons. For UK stockists visit tigihaircare.com or call 0844 844 094


If you like professional hair care ranges you try the Lumenèsse Age-Defying Colour Care, avaliable in Hydrating or High Volume ranges. This specialist hair care range has previously only sold in hairdressing salons across America. However you can now buy online at the new LatestinBeauty Shop, £13.99 for a 350ml bottle.

Shower treats good enough to eat

by Sarah-Jane

This product is best for: normal skin, high street shopping, fruity buys

Price: Bargain!

Everyone seems to being going smoothie crazy this summer! First we had a hair range from Schwarzkopf and now Radox are introducing Shower Smoothies. There are five delicious flavours to choose from and they all look good enough to eat. Whether it's the natural blend of chamomile and real cranberry in Soul Soother or a blend of coconut, real almond bits and myrrh in Totally Tropical, you will be sure to find your morning fix. My bathroom is starting to look like a health food shop with all these new summer products, but what’s good for the inside has surely got to be good for the outside?

I am a big fan of fruity flavours. There is something invigorating about a big burst of juicy fruitiness to wake you up in the morning so I couldnt't wait to get in the shower and try one. Surely they also count to your five a day which makes up for the piles of toast I consume after.

I honestly could not decide which flavour to try for, as they all smelt so gorgeous. In the end I opted for the Soul Soother as this looked like it packed a good punch to kick start me in the morning. It was a creamy and thick consistency that lathered well into smooth velvety foam. However I have to admit I wasn’t sure I liked there being real cranberry seeds within the cream as I literally felt like I was washing with a smoothie from my fridge! Still my skin was soft and moisturised and it was certainly a nice and refreshing start to my morning.

Radox shower smoothies are on sale now – plus for a limited period boots.com is offering them at £1.24 which is ½ the original price! Don’t miss out

Passing the Test of Line

This product is best for: high street shopping, natural makeup, long lasting makeup

Price: Treat yourself!

I had heard of long lasting make up – but felt quite sceptical about it. I had visions of drag queen streaks of eyeliner and clumpy lashes, thick applications to last the promised length of time. So when I was offered the chance to try Colorsports collection...I passed it on to a friend to try. My reasoning being that she goes for natural tones in her beauty style, and if it impressed her, then I knew we could be on to a new winning product!

Colorsport claim to be the ultimate in long lasting makeup providing luscious lashes and beautiful brows that can last for as long as 30 days! The perfect solution for busy mums, sports enthusiasts....or the good old fashioned party animal!

We all know how frustrating it is to spend hours beautifying yourself only to look in the mirror a few hours into an event to find yourmagic has disappeared. (Or rather smudged to the corners of your eyes). So I had my fingers crossed that Colorsport have found a way for us to look beautiful 24/7 without having to devote our lives to the task!

My friend tried out the Long Lasting Eye Definer.
“As an eye liner novice, I was a bit sceptical at how ‘user friendly’ the product might be, however I found using the liner pretty easy. It enabled me to get close to the lash line and so achieved a natural look which was what I was after. The black/brown colour is more natural than plain black. The colour could be as light or dark as you wanted as you can build colour with further applications. I was quite surprised that the liner seems to stand the test of time and yet is also easy to remove with eye make-up remover. I always had visions of the panda effect from eyeliner with dirty smudges around my eyes as the day wore on, but this stayed firmly in place and didn’t fade. I can’t believe the difference eyeliner makes to my eyes, they stand out and it made my lashes look thicker, longer and more dramatic!”

I have been trying to get my friend to try eyeliner for years – and it seems that I need to learn a few persuasions skills from Colorsport as they have succeeded where I have failed. She had instant sexy eyes in one stoke and is now a true convert!

I am off on holiday next month so am going to try out the Long Lasting 30 Day Mascara and brow dye kit! It sounds perfect for hassle and streak free beach beautiful makeup! Let’s hope there not a drag queen in sight! I will let you know my thoughts...

Colorsport retails at Boots, Superdrug and Asda. The Long Lasting Eye Definer retails at £6.99