Off-Road

A shimmer with style

2012-02-29T20:31:26Z

This years spring range from Clarins is special in fact I'd go as far as to say its the best seasons collection for a long time. It offers depth, variety and a dose of innovation that Clarins has lacked for a while. The proof is the curious but captivating little clear tube, complete with the trade mark light gold top and compulsory 'C', that is masquerading as an Instant Light Blush. Available in 2 shades, these tantalising vial's are offered in a beautiful Pink or Coral liquid that glide over your cheeks, giving a high definition yet natural colour to your face. Perfect for the fresh first hint of the summer warmth that spring offers.

Using the doe foot applicator you are in control of how much blush you apply. Each dot gives an even and precise application that once gently rubbed over the cheek area leaves a healthy duo-chrome effect, with the offer of slight purple lights from the Vitamin Pink and a fine silver shimmer from the Coral Tonic - don’t panic, the shimmer wont highlight imperfections, but will give you a warm radiant glow creating the illusion of a sun kissed complexion. At no point did I experience the shimmer ganging up on me and hiding in small natural lines on my face! Instead it delivered a healthy radiance that said more hint and tint than a fully loaded shimmering blush.

Both colours worked well me me and will work perfectly with this seasons Spring colours and look, when less is more and natural is the look we all want. It applies like a cream, smooths like a fluid and finishes like a fine powder to deliver a transparent blush all day and well into the evening.

All of this said I did have to reapply a couple of times as the day and evening progressed just to keep the fresh look I'd loved on its first application. This I must point out is not a bad thing as it gave me chance to admire its perfectly formed bottle and secretly apply before popping it back neatly into the smallest of evening bags ready to accept yet more compliments on how wonderful my skin looked. The down side is the price at £19 for a 7ml bottle, that has an applicator I'm certain will not reach further than half way, could be classed as slightly on the expensive side or is it just one of life’s luxuries we just live with because we cant live without? - I'll let you decide.

I cordially invite you to step into Spring

2012-02-29T19:35:02Z

Nestling in the classic rouge box, a velvet pouch teases you with glimpse of the light gold case that offers you the promise of an ultra-fine powder with the hint of beige, peach and rose. Its silky soft consistency glides over your face to create the perfect matt finish this years spring is demanding.

Opening the classic Clarins case and you are greeted by a pin-wheel of beautiful colour tastful and inviting, offering a delicate base with a subtle shimmer. The pin-wheel flowers present an opportunity for choice between individual colouring or the excitement of combining all three, for a perfectly balanced breath of fresh air. Either choice gives you that perfectly natural 'me, but better' look.

This magical powder is just one part of the full Colour Breeze range. A range that offers Gloss Prodigy Lip Gloss, Instant Light Blush a unique, truly amazing cream Blush, Eye Quartet Mineral Palette use wet or dry it is long lasting and has an iridescent quality I love, Joli Rouge Lipstick, Wonder Length Mascara and Instant Smooth Line Correcting Concentrate. There is no reason why we all won't look truly amazing this Spring and perhaps even into Summer.

If you buy a face blush this spring make sure it is this one -retailing at £30 I'm certain every Clarins counter the length and breath of the UK will be busy selling this jewel in a crown of new and exciting products. Each one perfeclty balanced to offer colour and design to enhance your spring wardrobe.

Girl we will all look amazing thanks to great genes and Clarins!

10 miracles for your hair

2011-08-18T11:00:37Z

Imagine warn nights, long summer drinks and the distinct smell of holiday – welcome to a spray of Argan Secret Miracle ‘10’. The hair dryer provides the warm air, the glass of wine; the long summer drink and leave the rest to your own imagination – oh I’m such a dreamer!

This is one of many leave-in spray treatments I have over the years tried. Many are too heavy, too greasy, too leave –in – you get the picture. This however of defiantly different. Apart from the wonderful smell – which lasts just long enough for you to enjoy and then disappears into the night like the toned and tanned edonus you saw earlier at the bar! It leaves your hair feeling light, fresh and beautiful.

It’s called Miracle ‘10’ – that’s a big word miracle. However it does back up this statement by telling you what it will do – so lets examine the claims.

· Moisturises all hair types – some would say its hard not to with the list of nourishing ingredients
· Protects hair during thermal styling – I’m guessing that means blow drying and in my world the compulsory straighteners
· Gives brilliant shine – my hair has never had such a gloss that lasts all day
· Detangles – I spent a couple of days on a very windy, salty aired beech the other weekend and my hair unusually was pretty tangle free
· Controls frizziness – ticked for me the same weekend as the detangles
· Seals in hair colour – is this a polite way of saying it wont fade the dyed bits?
· Strengthens hair – can only e a plus
· Prevents split ends – so far no visible sign of a split end since my last cut a couple of weeks ago
· Shields hair from sun and wind damage – is this the same as 4 & 5
· Absorbs quickly with out greasiness – yes

All in all I’d award it 9/10. I’d minus the 1 point for application. You spray it on your hair and its quite a wide spray that if missed has a tendency to mark your wall. It does fade, but on mine has left a small dot pattern to the left of the mirror. I now spray in the bathroom – problem solved.

There are some may things listed as ingredients, but most do read as reasonably natural. There are plenty of fruit extracts and nut extracts along with water, hemp and fennel.

It retails around £14.00 for a 118ml plastic bottle, so great for taking on holiday to apply on dry or wet hair to get all the benefits listed about and you never know the tanned adonus may just stick around the bar!

Its cool and cutting edge with a hint of sex appeal

2011-08-17T11:00:26Z

VOI Jeans eau de toilette has so many tones and notes it practically plays a tune. It’s warm and inviting, with the pungent smell of floral and spices that seem to changes as the scent develops and the wearer grows into the fragrance.

First impressions count – and this fragrance will not disappoint in style and presentation. The box is oh so very VOI – designed to look like the back pocket of a pair of jeans – certainly one to stand out in any collection and it just gets better when you see the retro style followed through to the bottle – wrapped in a denim sleeve complete with pocket detail and again the signature V and zip fly detail on the reveres – all very cool, stylish and appealing to its target market of young trendy pant showing men.

This is a complicated fragrance that offers something for everyone and will appeal to men and girls alike – its not a universal fragrance; but I can see young girls borrowing a splash to remind them of their man!

The initial burst of lemon is unmistakable, quickly followed by a sutle hint of spearmint and bergamot. It then seems to temper it’s delivery for a second or to before delivering an undercurrent of fig and plum, giving it a sweet tone, mixed with vanilla and a slightly spicy cumin scent. As I said something for everyone and a fragrance to be worn by the confident late teens and early 20’s we all see driving their cars around town eyeing up all the pretty girls passing by.

Available at the Fragrance Store it retails for £25.00 for a 100ml bottle. A great birthday present or Christmas present, as this scent will appeal to so many of its audience both for it’s strong and confidant smell through to its stylish and slightly fun bottle. I can defiantly see this being dropped in the guy’s glove box for an extra boost when the right pretty girl walks past.

Good luck boys – the girls will be putty in your hands!

To scrub or not to scrub?

2011-08-16T09:02:06Z

Its the time of year when we either have a fabulous tan and are doing everything we can to keep it or we are about to get our fabulous tan in which case we are doing everything in our power to make sure it’s a good one. Which ever of these applies to you then ARK invigorating body scrub is an essential tool in the fight against flaky skin with a hint of cellulite.

It comes in a very smart looking 200ml tube in light cream with brown text – this makes it sounds as inspiring as a beige sock left in the bottom of the washing basket. Its not, its stylish, proud and a definite product to be left on display in the bathroom. One you wont mind any of your girl friends knowing you use!

I’d not been aware of ARK products before, but now I’m telling all my favorite girl friends about it. Available from House of Fraser stores and I’m sure a few more exclusive stores in and around our capital, ARK is one of my new best friends for delivering something that little bit special. It’s also the kind of product you would safely buy as a gift or receive if you were lucky enough.

It smells faintly of mint with a warm smell I cant quite put my finger on. I do know it contains Loofah – one of the world’s oldest and most natural exfoliating products known to man. When applied it gives a creamy texture not often found in exfoliating scrubs – they tend to be packed full of hard grit like particles that once they have ripped all your skin cells away leave a layer of gravel in the bottom of your shower that doubles as a foot scrapper for anyone who follows you in – unless of course you remember to rinse and scrub before creeping out of the bathroom! After the initial creamy texture, you start to feel the Loofah particles gently but forceful removing the dead skin cells, leaving a polished, fresh, smooth and energised arm or leg or whatever! You feel great and your skin does too. No stripping off your natural tan you slaved over for 2 weeks and a great preparation if the tan of 2011 is still to be taken.

There’s a whole range of products available from ARK. I’m certain although have not tried it, that if you followed the scrub with their nourishing body lotion the results would be amazing. I do have the Skin Response Serum to try, but you’ll have to wait for that review – I’m still thoroughly enjoying the testing phase!

For now, if like me you have not every really been a BIG fan of body scrubs, but used them because you know they are good for the skin, then go and buy yourself the ARK invigorating body scrub. Take it gently and watch as your skin takes on a healthier glow. This is well worth the £25.00 you’ll pay for it. But lets keep it a little bit of a secret – we only want our best girl friends learning about this little gem.

Get a tan with out looking like you Gran!

2011-08-15T20:11:00Z

Only tanatomicals would dare to call a body tanning lotion by this name – but I love it. I’ve tried a few things now by the anatomical guys and girls – some have been more successful than others granted, but they never fail to amuse me.

This time I’m sent a bright orange box that tells me my gran would have said moderation was the order of the day and she’d have had 18 children! My gran never believed in moderation and one child was more than enough for her! Inside the colour theme is followed through to the bright copper coloured 125ml tube with more wish words about your gran and the effects of the sun.

This is not a build up lightly fake tan, this is a - I look like gravy browning and I give you a good honest colour that lasts all day and night and doesn’t rub off on your clothes or even the bed sheets” fake tan.

It has a holiday smell so when your applying it you can imagine relaxing on a golden beach turning over every 30 minutes to get that ever so even rich colour. Warning – you need to be in striking distance of a sink with the tap already turned on and ideally someone waiting to drop a blob of soap in the palm of your hands. When I say its like gravy browning I mean the thick treacle variety of gravy browning. When I was a little girl we had a white dog – I wanted a brown one, so one day after his bath I took a packed of gravy powder and shook it all over him and then cried because he didn’t look like Sammy any more! I was 4, but when I first looked at this tanatomicals on my hands I was transported back 1972 and the horror on my mothers face when she realized what I’d done!

What I really like about this tan in a bottle is that it’s so easy to apply and you really don’t need hours of preparation that involves sanding machines and body scrubs. You just need to make sure you have nice smooth skin and apply it in 2 thin layers. 1 works, but I think a second application about 5 minutes after the first just gives you a really even good colour. It also moisturises your skin and leaves a very fait fruity smell rather than a chemically one I often find with other fake tans.

I’ve used it mostly on my legs and arms. I have tried it on my chest and tummy – both worked but for me it’s about the bits that are on show to the world. The rest I’m happy to be a last year’s faint hint of a tan colour, knowing I still have my holiday of 2011 to come.

There is a definite trend with the anatomical range – their products offer great value for money, they do as they say they will and they never over promises but always deliver. I’ve found my fake tan sole mate.

Is it a case of now you see it now you don’t?

2011-07-31T19:24:00Z

I like the idea of Fade Out Nourishing Night Cream. I’ve used the eye version now for a few months and if you read my articles you’ll know that I liked it and it worked for me. So I was excited when I was asked to try the night cream version.

It works in a similar way, by reducing the transfer of melanin into the upper layers of your skin. Us girls can be prone to developing small darker patches on our skin, especially our faces, its just another one of those things we have to put up with – a bit like stray eye brows and big pants! Well Fade Out have decided those days are over and released their night wonder cream.

Packaged with the typical clinical feeling that seems to be popular at the moment. The white and shades of blue deliver the message that this is a no nonsense product that demands to be taken seriously.

As some of you will know I have freckles. As I’ve got older they have faded, but somehow grown. I should clarify they are all as they should be and the sun I do expose them to has not caused any nasty effects. It’s just the way my freckles have changed as my skin and age have progressed through life.

I should also add that I have a bit of a phobia about really thick, sticky creams on my face. I don’t care if it promises the earth and I’ll look like Kyle in the morning – if its thick and gooey it’s not going on my face. So imagine how horrified I was when I open the 50ml pot to reveal the purest of white, odorless, thick looking cream. I braced myself and stuck my finger in. It was ok, it felt as light as a feather, it absorbed into the back of my hand as thought I’d added water, but left behind a clear smooth feeling that wasn’t sticky or heavy or well anything. It had gone, disappeared into my skin. So feeling brave I applied a generous amount to my face and neck – remember girls it’s our neck after the backs of our hands gives our ages away! It went on well, smoothly covering the skin and feeling as though it was being absorbed as I massaged it in. So far so good – or not. That’s when it started to have a heavy almost cloggy feeling. I felt as though I’d but a tone of old fashioned cold cream on my face. But then all of a sudden that seemed to pass and I was left with smooth skin and freshly made bed to jump into. Strange, but fleeting so manageable.

The following morning my skin felt lovely. All soft and hydrated. My eyes felt a little puffy so I think I may have applied the cream slightly too close to my eye contour area, but apart from that I was impressed. No over night eruptions of spots, no sticky, hot skin and no signs of faded freckles or other small imperfections being reduced. It was the first night maybe I’d expected a little too much?!

So for about 3 weeks now I’ve applied as instructed and the results are pretty good. The freckles seem to be standing the test of time, but all the other little skin discolorations I have are fading and I do think my skin looks fresher and brighter.

The clever bit is all about the active natural ingredients such as mulberry and liquorice and how the cream penetrates into the deep layers of your skin repairing, correcting and defending for the future or is that defending against the future? Either way this one works. I’m not getting bogged down in why, just take it from me its good and Boots I’m sure will tell you its selling like hot cakes and for £8.00 I’m not surprised.

I never knew the French for leg was La Jambe

2011-07-28T15:00:00Z

I also never knew I liked sushi or the solution to dry skin on my legs - That is until NIP + FAB wowed me again. Last time it was with their Frown Fix and this time with their Dry Leg Fix.

Lets start with the negative (the only negative) – Big box hides medium sized tube! I’m not sure the green message is quite being heard at N+P HQ. Look inside and the 100ml tube sits comfortably in half the box, they even add an extra piece of cardboard running down the length of the box so that the tube doesn’t rattle around! Anyway that aside I truly can’t find a single fault with the actual product.

Housed in a trendy white and line green tube this intensive formula gives you 24-hour hydration and a slight shine to your legs that I think enhances your natural/out of a bottle tan. It has a smell of summer, mixed with a hint of gooseberry fool! – Or is that my imagination? It’s quickly absorbed leaving a silky smooth finish that lasts all day. The addition of Shea Butter makes it really easy to apply – it doesn’t have that thickness about it that means it takes an age to work in. Also the added glycerin helps to build renewed skin cells that are intensely hydrated in turn helping to reduce small lines and imperfections.

To buy it’s a few pence over £10.00 from Boots the Chemists, so about middle pricing for a high street body moisturiser. It should be £100.00 a tube it really is that good. I recommended buying two of their Frown Fix, this time buy three of their Dry Leg Fix. No legs should venture outside with out this tender loving care being applied.

You wont be disappointed girls – I promise.

A look of style and sophistication

2011-07-27T16:53:00Z

There is something about how the colour of the packaging can instantly tell you or make you believe that a product is going to be a certain way and Filorga Serum anti-age absolute is no exception. It looks stylish, sophisticated and expensive. It has that air of ‘spa’ about it, that feeling of not having to tell you how much it is!

It retails at around £55.00 for a 30ml very smart looking bottle/pump. Cast away the dark brown/black and white box to reveal a white and pearl pump with an interesting way of opening, which eventually reveals the actual pump. I can see it tucked inside the neck but I can’t get at it! I pull, push and finally twist before it pops up like a jack-in-a-box at a children’s party.

I pump the top and nothing happens apart from the inner tube of pearl rises inside the clear outer casing, leaving you with no mistaking how much you are using or how little you have left. Eventually after a number of pumps and a good cm of pearl inner tube later and the pure white gentle looking cream is dispensed. All very spa in an - at home kind of way!

Designed for the mid to late 40 something’s market; it offers an alternative to more invasive surgery or surgical like treatments. The ant-age range delivers an innovative and reliable alternative in the form of an aesthetic medicine and cosmetic surgery rolled into a light cream that provides a tingling sensation when applied to the skin.

I think we must all remember that ageing is a process of nature and I’m not convinced there really is anything, we can use at home, that will really stop the ageing process or it signs. However I do believe this product is capable of temporarily reducing the signs. It might even provide a longer term solution if you’re lucky and if you’ve been lucky enough to nip - pun not intended, things in the bud at the first signs. I missed this boat – I think it passed quickly in the night and I woke with the signs comfortable sitting on my face! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t look bad for 40 something, its just I think my neck that gives me away. So, I’ve religiously been applying this serum everyday on my neck and I can see definite results. When I first put it on it gives a slight tightening sensation - perhaps this is the 55 unique ingredients working or just me standing and waiting to see if I can feel anything. Who knows, what I do know is that over the first 10-15 minutes the skin on my neck defiantly changes in appearance and once absorbed it makes applying any other cream easier and gives me an overall feeling of temporarily cheating mother nature – we all like to get one up on her don’t we girls!

I have to say I think this is a product that offers a real outcome to an aging problem. I’m not going to go as far as to say this will stop the signs of ageing – I don’t even think that’s what’s its designed to do- but it will reduce the signs and make your skin appear and feel smoother, tighter and have a more positive look about it. The packaging tells me the whole skin reveals a brand new energy – a slightly ambiguous statement to make, but if its saying that your skin will look tighter and brighter then its right, it will and if like me it makes you feel better, walk taller and maybe even catch the eye of a younger looking man then its doing what it says it will do and maybe even going that extra mile!

The purest of the pure?

2011-07-24T10:45:00Z

This product is all about the natural balance of your skin and enhancing the inner and outer beauty. Produced by The Purest Company from Australia it is designed to be pure, safe and highly effective with the use of holistic products to mimic the way the skin behaves naturally to bring you optimum results.

In a nutshell The Purest Company is one of the good guys – all ingredients are suitable for vegans and 100% natural botanical aromatherapy. The range is also formulated without parabens, sulfates, ethoxylated and petrochemical cleansers, propylene glycol, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours, animal ingredients and animal testing free. See told you they are one of the good guys.

A'kin Sandalwood & Sweet Orange Invigorating Body Scrub with Panama Bark & Vitamin B5 is a gel based body scrub that just happens to smell good. I’m being careful not to get too flowery about all its great properties. Lets not forget just because they tell us it’s the best, most natural and environmentally friendly product, doesn’t mean its nice or even good to use.

I’m not a great lover of exfoliating body scrubs. In my experience they are like taking sandpaper to your skin, they rub off your tan and leave the bath looking like you’ve emptied the toaster into it. This one however is a little bit different.

To start with it smells good – a light orange smell that wont over power any other smells you add to your shower routine. The ultra-fine beads of diatomaceous earth – look that up if you dare and see if you get a reference to pet food, pest control and naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock – interesting! Anyway they are designed to very gently scrub away dead skin cells, absorb toxic impurities and excess oils from your skin. They do make your skin feel smooth and soft and your everyday body moisturiser just absorbs so much more easily. I even found that any small dark patches I had on my knees from my fake tan have disappeared.

It does still leave a definite gravelly effect in the bottom of the bath. But this washes away easily and doesn’t require harsh cleaning fluids and a scrubbing brush!

I like this product, it leaves my skin fresh and silky smooth with a feeling of gentleness that has a faint smell of oranges and sandalwood. A good buy for £15.00 for a 200ml tube as I think it’s a product that used once a week would really benefit your skin and you only need a small amount of the gel formula for it to work its magic.

The A’Kin range is available from Holland & Barrett, Bentalls, John Bell & Croydon, Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic, www.lookfantatsic.com and www.eco-essentials.co.uk.