Eye Eye - Double-Ended

You may have read my previous post regarding my eyelashes, which have recently been the bain of my life. They went through a time of falling out, refusing to grow back, and leaving big gaps in between the two strands of lashes still on my eyes. Thankfully, it seems to have been a phase, perhaps it was stress, bad diet, the fact that they kind of ached and I had to pluck some of them out to ease the discomfort. The whole situation was stressing me out, which was probably making it worse.

One of the reasons I think they may have begun to grow back was the use of Ojon’s SWA Double-Ended Treatment Mascara. A few months back my mum and I were watching a beauty show on QVC and came across the Ojon SWA Double-Ended Treatment Mascara, offering promises of full, strong, and conditioned eyelashes. Now, my mum and I are not suckers for promises that sound rather fanciful and at first, we were quite sceptical. However, we decided to give it a go. The beauty of QVC is that you can try it and return it if you do feel it is quite for you. In addition, what would I loose, surely not more lashes!

Therefore, when the mascara arrived I pounced on it immediately. I have been using it every day for the past 3 months and felt that I had seen an improvement in my eyelashes. They certainly have grown back, however I cannot confirm that it is because of Ojon. One thing I can say is that they do feel stronger and more conditioned.

The double-ended wand consists of a white conditioning treatment, which you apply first to the lashes, followed by the black conditioning mascara. I applied a thick coat of the treatment then two coats of the black mascara. The overall effect offered think, long lashes like many other mascara brands, so you would not be swapping treatment for daily performance.

Unfortunately, mu mum did not like the black mascara as she felt it smudged on her lower lashes. Thankfully, she gave me hers so now I have double!

Ojon SWA Double-Ended Treatment Mascara

What Ojon say…

Ojon SWA double-ended Treatment Mascara -
Treatment: applies easily and prepares the lash for an enhanced and even mascara application.

Mascara: this rich and luxurious fluid formula glides easily onto lashes while allowing for a quick dry to avoid smudges. Gives lashes an intense and deep black colour

Nourishing treatment mascara from Ojon. Contains Ojon and SWA oils that penetrate the lashes deep within the shaft to help volumise delicate, fragile lashes. Mascara glides on easily and drys quickly giving you intense, smudge-free colour.

I would recommend this product if you have found yourself with similar eyelash issues, as there is nothing worse than feeling naked, especially in the eyelash department and you never know it might help!

Ax

Correcting Eye Make-up

Over the months, we have blogged about achieving fabulous eye make up.  But what happens when you make a mistake?  And there is nothing more infuriating than having to start all over again!  But fear not Beauty School Tryouts as I have discovered the product that should be in every girl’s make up bag.  Simple Kind to Eyes Make-up Corrector pen.

The Kind To Eyes Eye Make-Up Corrector Pen is the perfect tool to easily remove eye make-up mistakes including waterproof mascara. The precision tip allows you to correct mistakes leaving the rest of your make-up untouched. Perfect for even sensitive skin.  It is so compact, you can also pop it into your handbag on a night out to ensure your eye make-up stays perfect all evening.

Simple’s special blend of Simple cleansing goodness containing Pro-Vitamin B5, helps to gently cleanse and remove eye make-up mistakes.

The skin around your eyes is extremely delicate, so it needs to be treated with care. It's also one of the first places to show the signs of ageing, so it's never too early to start paying special attention to this sensitive area.

So enjoy the party season with perfect eye make up!

K x

Beauty For The Boys

Stuck on what to by the men in your life this year? I have a nightmare every birthday and Christmas as to what to buy my fiancée and this year; I think I have found the perfect present! Many men are still to embrace the grooming stuff, such as cleansing with more than just soap and actually moisturizing at all. However, Liz Earle has made it easy for the least interested man to take care of his skin without out having to have a bathroom cabinet full of lotions and potions. Liz Earle’s Cleanse& Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser for Men is a godsend! And here’ why…

The powerful yet gentle cleanser quickly and easily cleans away dirt and excess oils that can block pores, helping to reduce impurities that lead to spot-causing bacteria. It is suitable for all skin types, so even the most sensitive gentlemen can use this formula.

The plant-based cleanser is easy and simple, two steps is all it takes.

Step 1: Massage 1 or 2 pumps gently onto dry skin over face and neck. Free from mineral oil, its rich and creamy texture swiftly removes all traces of daily grime.

Step 2: Rinse the pure muslin cloth in hand-hot water and wring out before gently polishing off the cream to gently remove dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Splash face with cool clean water and follow with After-Shaving Moisturiser. To be honest if their skin isn’t particularly dry, then they don’t really need to bother with the moisturizer at all, if it’s not up their street. The cleanser itself is moisturizing enough!

The ingredient make this cleanser smell amazing, not at all perfumed to smell like one of the girlie cleansers. It has a masculine, spicy scent and is quite earthy. The naturally active formula includes the following ingredients.

Cocoa Butter - This rich, creamy butter which has moisturising effects on the skin is made from the roasted seeds of the cocoa tree, the same seeds that give us chocolate and cocoa.

Hops Extract - This herbal extract comes from the pinecone-like fruit of the hop plant and has astringent and toning properties.

Rosemary Essential Oil/Extract - This renowned and once sacred herb has been used for centuries in beauty preparations. Rosemary essential oil has a fresh pungent aroma and is very invigorating and stimulating. The extract has beneficial antioxidant properties.

Chamomile Essential Oil/Extract - This herb takes its name from the Greek kamai (ground) and melon (apple) because of the sweet apple-like fragrance it releases when trodden on. The essential oil is considered a gentle oil by aromatherapists and medical herbalists have used chamomile for soothing the skin for centuries.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil - Native to Australia, eucalyptus shoots are a favourite food of the koala. The cooling essential oil produced from the leaves and twigs has decongestant properties and is used by aromatherapists to ease muscular aches and pains.

D-panthenol - Otherwise known as pro-vitamin B5, this B vitamin is necessary for the normal functioning of the skin and has a moisturising effect. It also helps stimulate cellular renewal.

Glycerin - The glycerin we use is always vegetable derived. It is a humectant (attracts water), drawing atmospheric water onto the skin to aid hydration.

Beeswax - The beeswax used in Naturally Active Skincare comes from the honeycombs in which bees store their pollen. It has skin protecting properties and helps to relieve chapped skin.

I have asked my fiancée to give his opinion on the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and he noted the following, ‘my skin felt very hydrated after the first use, I do suffer from quite dry skin and it really has helped enormously. In addition I have a beard and this cleanser is great to use then trimming and shaping it and stops any irritation from the razor’

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

So treat the boys you know with this, the Starter Kit includes a wonderful muslin cloth so he has no excuse not to use it!

Ax

Apologies again...

Apologies again, this is now my third post in a row on nails. I am going through a bit of a nail obsession at the moment. There are a few reasons for this. One is that during the winter, there is one thing that always works for me and that is my nails. It can be raining outside and my hair will turn into a ball of frizz, the freezing wind can blow in my face all it wants and my skin can dry and my lips crack, but my nails will usually always stay ok, if not get better. During the winter we eat better, more wholesome foods and more often to keep warm and our energy levels up. Therefore, this is why I am in love with polish, as the efforts of shaping; manicuring and polishing are rarely in vain. Unlike the 45 minutes or so it takes to blow dry, straighten and ‘set’ my hair simply to go outside for 5 minutes and whoosh – frizz ball! The other reason is that I am engagement ring shopping so am conscious that my hands and fingers are being looked at, moreover, if and when I/we find the ring, I want it to be worn on perfectly manicure nails.

Therefore, what better way to continue my nail obsession than a little look at the new launch from God himself, Tom Ford. It is almost like everything this man touches turns to gold and this new launch is no exception.

Tom’s Scarlet Chinois, it my favorite of the range. The key according to colour choice is according to the experts 50 per cent what you like and 50 per cent what suits you. I’ve never been a big fan of the greige look, my hands end up looking dead and pale. Red all the way!

This colour is the perfect American red. It is extremely versatile and looks brilliant with this seasons camel, black and navy. The bottle oozes glamour and screams FABULOUS! I am dying to try it and as I have been informed by a reliable source that it glides on with no glooping or bubbling, dries efficiently and stays put. However, at £25 a pop I'm don't think I'll get the chance to test it out anytime soon!

Ax

The strip lash in a flash!

With the party season upon us, I wanted to share with you a new find of mine…the fabulous eyelash range, Blink+Go.

With kitcsh packaging and luscious lashes inside they are the perfect range that every girl should have on their dressing table to help them achieve the ultimate party look. With ranges called Flirt, Tease, Temptress and Heartbreaker it is no wonder that Blink+Go can transform us in seconds from girl next door to devastatingly sexy siren.

As it’s Christmas, I went for the ‘Tease’ range with little diamantes along the edge to add some sparkle.  Blink+Go says;

Seductive, intensive and ruthless.  Transform your eyes into gorgeous, smouldering man-magnets (they wont stand a chance!)…wear at your own risk!

So be warned Beauty School Tryouts!!

                                                                                                              

Blink+Go lashes are hardwearing and durable it is no surprise that they are a favourite with celebrities and makeup artists alike.  They also offer unique styles including auburn lashes for the fairer girls out there to gorgeous embellished designs for the festive and party season.   

So if you want to flutter and flirt with your eyelashes under the mistletoe this Christmas, make sure you pick up a pair of Blink+Go lashes!

K x

Fabulous Friday Nails

Ok so it is my second nail post of the week sorry, but I could not help myself. Sitting in my office I look at my nails and think – how dare I leave the house without out polish on. So I rummaged through my handbag (thinking there must be something in here) Ah ha! Mavala I love you! Onyx, a deep luxurious dark red almost black/brown. Two coats and bam! I am ready, as well as for my appointment on Monday with the jeweller. While on holiday a few weeks ago, my darling boyfriend, or should I say, fiancée proposed and I said yes. Monday we are ring shopping, so my nails must look their best – obviously!

Therefore, amid this excitement I am literally typing this post while my nails dry! Multi-tasking at its best!

Mavala – little pots of love like dim sum - £4.10 – Debenhams, John Lewis and Online

Ax

Wrap It Up!

I subscribe to a monthly box of goodies called GlossyBox, where you pay £10 plus p+p every month and receive a selection of up to five products to try. I will discuss GlossyBox further in a future post as I have mixed thoughts on the service, but for the moment, I want to discuss one of this month’s products. Nail Rocks, these are a relatively ‘new’ trend to the beauty market. The theme of transferable beauty has been around since I can remember, I recall using transfers on my nails as a child but now they have had resurgence, with other brands such as Violent Lips offering extreme patterns and allowing you to temporary ‘go crazy’ with your beauty look. Nail Rocks do not involve nail varnish and cut out the annoying waiting game of drying nails. Nail Rocks are strips of adhesive patterned / coloured wraps that you apply to the nail bed.

I received a pack of the ‘Furry Cheetha’ so this is how they are applied:

1. Push back cuticle.

2. Shape and file the nail edge.

3. Gently remove surface shine using a nail buffer or a smooth nail file.

4. Clean the nail using an acetone based remover.

5. Select the Nail Rock wrap nearest to your cuticle size. These can be trimmed to fit if needed.

6. Do not touch the adhesive side of the wrap that will be used on your nail.

7. Place at the cuticle edge and press FIRMLY on to the nail. Work from the cuticle edge applying pressure and smoothing the wrap from the middle to the outside edges of the nail.

8. If you have any creases, lift wrap slightly and stretch back over the nail. Apply pressure and smooth again.

9. Stretch firmly over the free edge of your nail and use your nail or a wooden hoof stick to tuck under the free edge.

10. Taking a smooth nail file, remove excess wrap by running file under the nail

They should last for up to 7 days on your fingers and 3 weeks on your toes. So far I’m 3 dyas in and one is peeling off already, however, this can be easily fixed by putting a coat of top coat on top to seal in down again.

I think they look great for fun parties, but not they’re not exactly my cup of tea.

Ax

Top Christmas Shopping Tip

Mum if you are reading this stop now! (well until after Christmas day)

So yesterday, I decided to go for a spot of self-torture and do a bit of Christmas shopping on my lunch break. Not such a bad Idea I hear you say? Well it is, I work just off Oxford Circus and it is a nightmare at the best of times, so venturing outside from November until January is pretty much suicide.

This year my mum gave me a Christmas gift wish list and on it was Molton Browns Suma Ginseng shower gel. Not such a toughie! Therefore, I was quite prepared as I had research, which shops to head to in advance to make sure they stocked what I was after.  

Starting from Oxford Circus tube station I first pop into John Lewis. Two steps in and the sheer number of people in this store already overwhelms me. I literally cannot move there are people everywhere; I cannot even see the brands to find what I am looking for. I have to leave. Next stop Debenhams…

So in Debenhams – looking for NICE make up brushes – forget it! Out I go… come on HoF must be able to help.

In House of Fraser, pretty much the same situation as John Lewis. Panic, I’m now running out of time, I now have sales assistants calling me ‘Madame…what foundation do you use?’….’Excuse me Madame…Have you heard about our new…’ NOT INTERESTED!!!! Then from the corner of my eye I spot the Molton Brown stand, in my way is the Nil Inc. nail station – I am in half a mind to climb across the tables while people are having their manicures – I refrain that is just rude! So I whip round, dodging more sales assistants spritzing some overly sweet fragrance in my face. Ah ha Molton Brown, how I have longed to get this far without tears.

So I am looking for the scent I need…looking…. still looking…. literally by heart is dropping by the second…YES there you are! Suma Ginseng Shower Gel AND Body Lotion…oh hello lovely sales assistant YES you can help ME! Do you gift-wrap? FAB! I was in and out within 5 minutes! The sales assistant and I joked at how busy it was and she assured me that her rushing to serve me was simply to make my life easier! It worked!

Molton Brown Suma Ginseng Bath & Shower

Molton Brown Suma Ginseng Body Lotion

 To make this even better Motlon Brown has a 10% off every product, this offer ends today so hurry!!!

So get in there now and get something delightful for someone special this year!

Ax

P.S – sorry for my lack of posts recently – I have been on holiday! Back to usual now!

Tie-riffic!

At the weekend, my friend asked if I could help her colour her hair with an at home colour kit she had bought.  I of course obliged.  I have helped her colour her hair before and in the past we have used a hair clip to secure the towel around her shoulders which never stays in place so most of the time is spent attempting to keep the towel in place so hair dye isn’t spilt anywhere.  But this time, we were saved the hassel of re-clipping the towel every five minutes as we used a fantastic new product called Tie Towel.

Tie Towel, a new home hair colouring product, is the brainchild of Manchester hairdresser to the stars, John Wood MBE. John has long been advising his clients, which include the cast of northern soaps Hollyoaks,

Coronation Street

and Emmerdale, on how to achieve salon-coloured results at home.  Many of them presented him with the same bug-bear: hair colour leaving towels and clothes stained, and towels falling from around their necks onto the floor, meaning colour was also staining bathroom suites and tiles.

John and his creative development team set about finding a practical solution, and Tie Towel was born. Tie Towel is made from 100% machine-washable cotton, and has been impregnated with unique stain resistors to make sure it repels bleach and tints, meaning it can be used over and over again. It also has an adjustable toggle feature to keep the towel in place during home hair colouring sessions, and has been sculpted to comfortably fit around the neck with none of the ‘bunching’ that can occur with normal towels, which can lead to colour running down the gaps and staining clothes.

“Tie Towel was invented to turn home hair colouring from a chore to a treat for the 8 million women who colour their hair at home in the UK,” explains John. “The salon version was launched three years ago and has won top hairdressing awards as well as critical acclaim – it was even used by the stylists on last year’s Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model on the infamous makeover day. It’s hugely exciting that we’ve been able to develop and launch a version for use at home, and early sales are telling us that it’s just what home hair colourers have been waiting for!”

Tie Towel made colouring my friend’s hair so much easier as we didn’t have to worry about hair dye going everywhere.  She said she felt like she was actually in the hairdressers so naturally I asked her if she was going anywhere nice on holidays to ensure it was really authentic!

K x

Beauty Bargains!

Wrap up your Christmas shopping for less on December 1st when over 120 stores and venues in Covent Garden’s Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard will be offering 20% off especially for this exclusive festive shopping evening.

From 5 til 9pm, shoppers of discerning taste will have the opportunity to purchase original gifts for friends, family and loved ones with 20% off throughout Seven Dials’ seven streets of independent boutiques, heritage brands, vintage stores and indulgent beauty and grooming salons, as well as nearby St Martin’s Courtyard – a beautiful open air shopping destination boasting a unique mix of stylish fashion, beauty and lifestyle boutiques and flagships. Cafés, restaurants and bars from both areas are also involved should you need a break from shopping or a relaxing drink and bite to eat.

Beauty and cosmetics stores involved include Benefit, Bare Escentuals, Kiehl’s, Shu Uemura, Neal’s Yard Remedies,  Miller Harris, Screenface and Organic Pharmacy to name a few.

There will be also be a host of in-store activities including DJs, live music, makeovers, gifts with purchase, complimentary food and drinks PLUS*:

• Pop-Up Bar serving complimentary drinks in St Martin’s Courtyard to those bearing the 20% off ‘Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard Shopping Voucher’.

• Free, luxury gift wrap service by Urban Angels at 71 Monmouth Street for the first 100 customers to bring an item purchased at the Shopping Evening to the value of £10 or more after 5pm) along with a valid receipt and voucher.

• 100 shoppers will be also selected at random and presented with a golden ticket entitling them to reach inside the ‘lucky dip’, which will be overflowing with gifts priced from £5 to £150 from stores within Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard.

• A free meal to the value of £25 for the first 25 people to arrive with a voucher at Gourmet Mexican restaurant Cantina Laredo from 6pm.

• A festive performance from local collective, Actor’s Rechoired in both Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard throughout the evening.

• Terrence Higgins Trust volunteers will be holding a collection as part of their Stand Up Stand Out Campaign to mark World AIDS Day (1st December). All donations will help Terrence Higgins Trust to continue supporting people living with, or at risk of, HIV and poor sexual health.

Participating stores and details of in-store activities will be released prior to the event on Sevendials.co.uk; Stmartinscourtyard.co.uk; Twitter @7dialsWC2 & @smccoventgarden, and Facebook facebook.com/sevendials & facebook.com/StMartinsCourtyard.

The Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard 20% Christmas Shopping Evening takes place on Thursday 1st December 2011 from 5-9pm. To qualify for 20% discount, shoppers need a ‘Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard Shopping Voucher’, which they can download for free at Sevendials.co.uk along with a list of participating stores and venues.

Happy shopping!

K x

A treat for your feet!

I have blogged a few times about how I love to have super soft feet.  I have done the fish pedicure and I regularly use my egg-ped.  Well I have now discovered another product that can achieve fabulously soft feet in a simple 3 step 20 minute intensive treatment.

MBeauty Magic Foot Moisturising Foot pack combines moisturising ingredients Shea Butter, Ginkgo, Peppermint, Almond and Vitamin E that penetrate deep into the skin to reduce callus build-up and help repair and soften cracked, split heels.

To use the Magic Foot Moisturising Foot pack:

1. Thoroughly wash and dry feet
2. Take out and unfold the boots and wear the boots on your feet.
3. Remove the boots after 15-20 minutes

My feet felt so soft and I love any product for feet that has peppermint in it as it smells so fresh!

So after a long day on your feet, I would highly recommend pampering your feet with this 20 minute treatment so they feel thoroughly moisturised and soft!

K x

Myleene Klass's Beauty Secret

Guess what Beauty School Tryouts; I have Myleene Klass’s secret to looking radiant: Seven Seas Health Oils Radiant You.

Looking good on the outside means taking care of yourself on the inside, eating a healthy balanced diet, drinking lots of water and making sure you get enough rest to help maintain a radiant complexion.

Seven Seas Health Oils Radiant You has been specially developed to help maintain healthy hair, skin and nails so you can glow from the inside out. Containing fish oil expertly blended with tailored combinations of vitamins such as biotin, L-cysteine and zinc, this product is ideal if you are looking for additional nutritional support for your skin hair and nails.  I know I certainly need additional nutritional support!

Myleene Klass said:

“According to a recent survey by Seven Seas Health Oils, making the best of what you’ve got, smiling once a day (a good laugh can do wonders) and keeping hydrated (which I always forget to do) are the top health and beauty rules to live by and I completely agree. I try to be kind to myself too – by sleeping more, doing my nails and taking Seven Seas Health Oils Radiant You which is a fish oil supplement expertly blended with biotin, L-cysteine and zinc to keep me looking and feeling great.”

“The top three health and beauty rules I live by are:

• I never ever go to bed without taking my make up off
• I take my Seven Seas Health Oils Radiant You to look after my body from the inside out
• I don't deny myself foods or start diets, as obsession can set in or you lose perspective”

Here's the science part:

Research has established the importance of omega-3 nutrients to our health. They have an essential role in every cell in the body, so their effects are far-reaching.

Factors such as stress, lack of exercise and 24/7 lifestyles have been linked to speeding up the ageing process, however according to research, certain vitamins and minerals in the diet, including omega-3 nutrients appear to help slow this process down. Ensuring you are eating a healthy balanced diet, drinking lots of water and making sure you get enough rest can help maintain a radiant complexion

Omega-3 nutrients are essential fatty acids (EFA) and together with vitamins A, C and E may help to maintain overall health and wellbeing including the health of your skin. Vitamin A helps to support healthy skin by contributing to normal cell turnover, helping shed old skin cells and produce new ones. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which can help protect your skin from free radicals and vitamin C is vital for the production and formation of collagen which is essential for helping to maintain the structure of the skin. L-cysteine is important for the detoxification and formation of skin, as well as the repair of nail and hair tissue and zinc may help maintain healthy skin. Biotin can also improve brittle nails and keep hair healthy.

So pick up some Seven Seas and say hello to healthy hair, skin and nails!

K x

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Range

Recently I was given the opportunity to try some products I have been desperate to use since it launched.  Liz Earle’s Botanical Shine range. I adore everything from Liz Earle, Cleanse & Polish being one of my most coveted products. Now Liz has put her expertise in skin to hair. The four-piece range has something for everyone, with a universal shampoo there are three specially designed conditioners, one for normal hair, one for dry and damaged hair and another for fine and oily hair.

I have been using the shampoo and conditioner for dry and damaged hair. I torture my hair daily with a hairdryer and straightening irons, and then suffocate it with hairspray and styling products. Therefore, my poor locks rarely get a chance to breathe.

Botanical Shine Shampoo – I love it! It has a scent that reminds me of two things; herbs and clean. However, not herbs in a horrible stuffy way, more fresh and uplifting. And by clean, I mean it is squeaky clean! You can actually hear is squeak when you run your fingers along it.

With West African shea butter, natural source vitamin E, shine-boosting apple and orange extracts plus naturally derived cleansers, Botanical Shine Shampoo gently cleans without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth. Better still, it does not contain sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate.

Botanical Shine Conditioner for dry and damaged hair – another love!! Conditioners often leave my hair limp, especially if its designed to repair damaged hair, as I have fine hair which get droopy quite quickly (hence the styling product overload) but this one is a really winner! My hair looked so shiny after use, felt soft, and not in the least bit dry.

Specially formulated with West African shea butter, yangu oil, blue seakale and shine-boosting apple and orange extracts, our ultra-rich colour safe conditioner leaves dry or damaged hair hydrated, under control, soft and smooth.

Liz Earle notes the following on how she and her team created the range

‘Creating one naturally-based shampoo for all hair types, free from sodium lauryl sulphate, laureth and olefin sulphates (all of which can irritate sensitive scalps) was a real challenge for us, which is why it took so long. Mainly because the usual more naturally-derived foaming ingredients don't perform very well as washing agents. They tend not to foam properly, can strip or fade colour-treated hair and cause static. We know this because we tested over 100 different formulations using many different kinds of ingredients. Then, our team discovered a new breakthrough ingredient which does deliver outstanding amounts of foamy lather that gently cleanses without stripping, drying or irritating hair or scalp.’

‘We have tested our shampoo on very many different hair types, from fine, limp hair to thick, coarse hair, young children's hair, older thinning hair, fine, wiry, colour-treated, permed – you name it, we have been there and tested on it! And the most exciting news of all is that our shampoo works wonderfully well on all hair types. Yes – just as Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser works for all skin types, so Botanical Shine Shampoo works well for all hair types.’

Ian, Liz Earle’s hair care expert recommends the following

One shampoo for everyone
When Liz and Kim first approached me with their concept for hair care; I was not surprised to find that they had once again come up with something truly original that could benefit everyone. In the same way, that Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser suits all skin types, their Botanical Shine Shampoo would suit and work on all hair types, including coloured and damaged hair.

So choosing the right shampoo is easy. All that is left for you to decide is which conditioner will be best for your individual needs.

Choosing and using the right conditioner
It is vital to choose the correct conditioner for your hair type and to use it in the right areas. Think of your hair as three separate parts – the roots, the mid-lengths and the ends – as each part might need slightly different treatment.

All the Botanical Shine Conditioners are very high-performance, colour-safe and packed full of botanical ingredients, so a little goes a long way and you only need to use a small amount of conditioner. Apply just enough to coat the surface of the hair – any more will be a waste, as the hair can only absorb a certain amount of hydration.

Do not assume that your hair type will always remain the same. Regular use of the Botanical Shine range can change hair texture, and as your hair becomes more manageable, you may want to alter your choice of conditioner. If in doubt, always choose the less intense option.

Fine hair: if your hair is long enough to catch back in a ponytail and your ponytail is only as thick as a finger, your hair is probably fine. Generally, people with fine hair suffer from a lack of volume and have hair that is often oily at the roots and flyaway at the ends. Avoid using water that is too hot or over-stimulating your scalp when shampooing, as both can increase the amount of natural oil you produce.

Recommendation: apply Botanical Shine Conditioner for fine or oily hair to the ends of the hair only. If your hair is feeling particularly parched, for example after a summer holiday, apply to mid-lengths too, but not the roots.

Normal hair: normal hair is neither dry nor greasy. It needs regular care to maintain and enhance its healthy lustre. Normal hair can sometimes become dry on the ends due to weather conditions, changes in your environment such as central heating, medication or regular swimming.

Recommendation: use Botanical Shine Conditioner for normal hair after shampooing on mid-lengths and ends.

Oily hair: the people most likely to complain of oily hair will either have fine or normal hair. It is vitally important that the scalp is not over-stimulated during shampooing as this can exacerbate the problem. Also, very hot water can make the scalp produce more oil, so wash with cooler water.

Recommendation: apply Botanical Shine Conditioner for fine or oily hair to the ends of the hair only to hydrate without making the hair look limp.

Dry or damaged hair: many people with dry hair or damaged hair find that it is parched, brittle and lacks shine. While shampooing, use warm water and vigorous massage to help the scalp increase natural moisture levels.

Recommendation: apply Botanical Shine Conditioner for dry or damaged hair from the roots through to ends to help reduce volume by adding hydration.

Grey hair: this hair type is often considered to be parched and dry. It is generally coarser than non-grey hair.

Recommendation: apply Botanical Shine Conditioner for dry or damaged hair to mid-lengths and to ends, although if you consider your hair to be thick and dry from the roots to the ends, apply this conditioner to the roots as well.

My recommendation is – get this for Christmas...Botanical Shine Christmas Gift

Ax