Holland & Barrett Free Skin Care Consultations

Here at LatestinBeauty we believe that we need to understand our unique skin types and profiles before we buy products to ensure they are really suited to us. That’s why we are excited to discover that Holland & Barrett are holding FREE skincare consultations with Yin Yang Skincare experts nationwide – to celebrate the launch of the all-natural British beauty range into its stores.

Their trained experts will be able to advise you how best to improve the quality of your skin via your skincare routine, lifestyle and ingredients and recommend products to look out for. Plus as an added treat complimentary mini-facials will be available in selected stores.

The Yin Yang’s range have a uniquely fermented soya protein base to them. This mimics the skin’s own proteins for rejuvenating and restorative benefits. And all the Yin Yang products are balanced to a pH level of 5 to give you optimum skin health – to maintain and support the skin’s natural acidity.

Visit Ying Yang Skincare for details on times and dates or ask at your local Holland & Barrett store.

Rapid Lash Enhancing Serum

by Sarah-Jane

This product is best for: long eye lashes, high street shopping,

Price: Splash the Cash!

Every woman wants longer, thicker looking lashes. It’s why between us we spend thousands of pounds on new mascara products that all promise to enhance your lashes. Well now Rapid Lash has come on the scene and is claiming to clinically prove it!

Using Rapid Lash Enhancing Serum every day for eight weeks will apparently give you 50% longer looking natural lashes! It contains an innovative high performance formula to improve appearance, protect against breakage and be full of vital proteins and vitamins to replenish and fortify lashes and brows.

It sounds too good to be true right? Well you can try for yourself as Rapid Lash Enhancing Serum went on sale in Boots stores and online yesterday, priced at £39.99. Get your elbows out as I think you may be joining the rest of the female population at the till.

We have managed to get our hands on one so if you want to wait 8 weeks we will let you know the results!

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.