A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

There comes a point in our lives when we may find ourselves looking in the mirror, bemoaning the fact that whoever said “pevention is better than cure” was an ass.

All the sun-protection in the world won’t stop the inevitable ageing process, it’s a fact of life, and one that some women seem better prepared to deal with than others.

It’s at this point that you might find yourself searching for your own “cure”. From so-called miracle creams, lasers, supplements, injectables, and even surgery, there are seemingly limitless paths to explore.

Have you thought about a spot of DIY?

Tok-Tok, produced by UK company U-Biomed (and not to be confused with the death-defying mini-wagons on the streets of India – that’s tuk tuk!) claims to be the world’s first home beauty device that lets you ‘inject’ your own skin with anti-ageing therapies including the much talked-about Epidermal Growth Factor protein (EGF).

Regardless of potential gimmickry or efficacy, I think it shows an interesting shift in the direction of “cosmeceutical” treatments. We live in a world where our leisure time is compressed and our budgets increasingly squeezed, does the DIY beauty option fulfil our changing needs?

I think it also goes to show just how much more confident we’ve become in understanding, and even using, gadgetry within our beauty routines.

Which begs the question, would you inject yourself in the name of beauty?

Far, far away in a land renowned for pampering treats and coveted skincare, there is a treatment room and in this treatment room sits the bed of dreams.  With the push of a button, it warms your bum, lifts your legs and reclines your shoulders, cocooning you in a world of comfort.

After a long, hot day in early July, I was more than ready to sample this comfort courtesy of the brand new Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial at Liz Earle’s flagship store just off Sloane Square.  The treatment rooms are situated downstairs in the softly-lit basement away from the hustle and bustle of the retail floor.

The Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial has been designed to pamper both body and spirit and in true Liz Earle style achieves this with a holistic approach involving no machinery or external apparatus.  Beginning with a mini-consultation, we discussed my skin concerns (not many at the moment thankfully) and decided that I’d be suited to some general TLC and uber relaxation.  I’m always up for some uber relaxation, any time, any place.

I climbed into the treatment bed in just my knickers and because it is literally a bed (with blankies and everything) it does feel like you’re waiting for your kindly therapist to come along and tuck you in.  Which actually, she did, thanks to me not knowing where to put my hands.  Once comfortably relaxed (and waiting for my bedtime story), it was ready to begin the facial.

Of course, no Liz Earle facial would be complete without a Cleanse & Polish, it would be like eating chips without egg or watching Crimewatch without recognising a family member.  So with that in mind (and my eyes firmly shut), I pinpointed the telltale earthy aroma of the iconic product and let my shoulders loosen as the daily grime was massaged from my face and decolletage.

Cleansed, toned and gently exfoliated… I felt myself drifting off, infact I fell asleep more than once but was re-assured by my therapist that not only was this perfectly normal (after I let out an embarrassed giggle) but that it was most definitely a sign that she was doing her job well.  I had to agree with this the next time I woke myself up with what I wished at the time had been a much more ladylike snort.  Snooze aside, the best was yet to come…

Massage.  Oh Em Gee and all that shiz… it was like a troop of fairies alternating the waltz, frogmarch and cha cha cha across my face, neck and shoulders.  And just when you got to the point where you knew you NEVER wanted this to stop…. it didn’t!!  30 full minutes of gloriously choreographed face sculpting was mine.

Alas, all good things have to come to an eventual end and after 60 minutes, it was time to return upstairs to the real world.  I was given plenty of time to gather my clothes, thoughts and memories of how my leg muscles had previously operated before listening to a quick ‘de-brief’ from my therapist who had rightly deduced that I do not drink enough water.  Busted.

I have never considered Liz Earle facials to be particularly hard-working.  Relaxing?  Yes.  Great-smelling?  Naturally.  But peeking in the mirror displayed a pair of eyes that had been completely de-puffed and a jawline that looked positively defined.  Sure, I had the post-facial glow that ensured my makeup-less face still looked human but I wasn’t expecting to see such a tangible difference in something I hadn’t even previously considered.  I guess that’s what a good lymphatic drainage massage will do for you and the ‘sculpting’ effects from this one lasted at least a week.

The Liz Earle Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial* is priced at £65 for 60 minutes and is a thoroughly lovely way to wind down after a long day.

* I was invited for a complimentary facial as a guest of the brand.

I was recently invited to spend a few hours at Louise James Health & Beauty, a well-placed beauty salon just a short hop from Epsom in Surrey.  I sent Mr. L off to spend the afternoon at nearby Chessington with Leila whilst I got down to the serious business of relaxation.

The salon offers a range of treatments from the more traditional facials, massages and manicures to the latest Ultra Plus VPL (stop smirking, that stands for Variable Pulsed Light) laser machines that zap unwanted hair, thread veins, age spots, pigmentation and even pores!  Throw in some tanning, waxing and Pamper Parties for little ones and you’re looking at a complete one-stop beauty shop.

I settled in for one of Louise’s Exclusive Facials which incorporates a back massage (bliss), a cleanse (squeak squeak), a steam (sweaty), an extraction (oh yes!), the most incredible face massage in the world (fact) and a mask that in my case, smelt like weetabix.  The ambiance in the room was good with mostly dimmed lighting and the gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore… my solitary niggle was being able to hear the conversations on the other side of the door as clients came in to book appointments but in limited salon space, that’s a tricky one to address.

I emerged from my facial with not only the most incredible glow (proof coming up) but also some seriously impressive bed hair!  It was like having a 12 hour sleep condensed into 90 minutes!

check out the glow AND the bed hair! (excuse the phone photo quality)

The Salon uses Dermalogica and Louise was happy to talk me through the products she was using on me, why she was using them and the specific benefits I could expect.  All this followed an indepth discussion about my skin, how it was behaving and a bit of close inspection!  Aside from clearly knowing her stuff, it was a breath of fresh air to have the info relayed in a non-patronising manner.  Hair Stylists, take note.

Before heading back into the real world, I opted for a Jessica Cosmetics pepto-bismol pink on my nails which finally got to see the benefits of some expert shaping without the manicurist trying to insist on completely squaring off my nails… now that’s a rare occurence.

All in all, it was an experience that needs repeating.  I’ve had a few treatments over the years and for me, these things are as personal as a visit to the doctor.  I’m the kind of client who values her privacy, likes to know what’s going on during a treatment (but is sometimes afraid to ask) and appreciates simple warmth and friendliness.

Salon facilities, products and everything else aside, it’s Louise herself that makes Louise James Health & Beauty a must-visit.  Not only an experienced therapist but clearly an experienced people person who will ensure that time spent in her salon is time spent wholly tailored to you.  Through chatting with her for just a short while, it became apparent very quickly just how much pleasure she takes from her job.  It’s not rocket science, a happy, qualified therapist with good people skills will make for a very happy customer.  And I’m certainly one of those.

For more information on Louise James Health & Beauty near Epsom in Surrey, please visit the website www.louisekjames.com – prices start from £25 for a mini facial.

* I was invited for a complimentary facial and manicure as a guest of the salon.

This is a wordy one, consider yourselves pre-warned!

I spent last Thursday evening in a mild state of panic at the thought of what I might be letting myself in for…

I’d booked myself in for an “HD Brows” treatment at a local salon… I’ve been wanting one of these since I first heard about them a couple of months ago and I’d finally bitten the bullet.

But why the panic?  Well… it wasn’t real panic, more… slight anxiety.  I’ve never done anything to my brows other than (over)pluck them myself.  No waxing, threading… nada.  Was the beautician going to point and laugh, gasp in horror, back out of the room slowly or a combination of all three?

Let’s remind ourselves of my eyebrows in their normal state shall we?

There’s worse brows out there, I know… but mine could definitely benefit from a little help.

The treatment involves 7 steps, which creator Nilam Patel and her team claim will help you achieve the perfect brow.  Sign me up!

My technician began by asking me how dark I wanted to go.  I had a little wobble at this point… in my head, I was picturing Katie Price’s unflatteringly dark brows (they actually use Katie Price as a marketing tool, which nearly put me off the whole idea).

I ended up expressing that I wanted a good, dark brown that stopped short of harsh but that would negate the need for brow powder if I was feeling lazy.

It would have been helpful if she’d had some kind of colour/depth chart available.  It’s very hard to describe something like that without visual aids.  I was also expecting my technician to ask me some questions about how I wanted my brows shaped… but she didn’t!  I only realised this mid-treatment as she was waxing away.  My heart skipped a beat as I thought “Christ!  She could be doing anything up there!”  I scanned the room for Hello Kitty eyebrow stencils… thankfully there were none to be seen.

After we’d come to a vague agreement on how dark I wanted to go, my technician began tinting my brows.  While the dye developed, we talked about how popular the treatment was becoming.  Between the HD Brow, Eyelash Extensions and Shellac nails that she offers – her books are full in the run up to Xmas!  We are a vain lot aren’t we?!

She wiped off the excess and left my field of vision for a moment… I jumped a little when I felt her apply warm wax to my arch… I wasn’t expecting that!  Prior warning would have been good!  The waxing didn’t hurt at all… I was expecting it to be a little ‘ouchie’… but no, I’d happily go so far as to call it painless.

Compared to the other hair removal methods that my technician performed on me… waxing seemed to be the one she spent most time doing.  She waxed under my arches, at the ends of the brows and between the brows.  Threading was reserved for the top line of the brows only and tweezing just in a couple of places at the very end (this seemed to be done for precision).

She commented that my brows were particularly difficult to shape thanks to their curliness!  Eek!  She said that I would need a good, strong brow gel and spoolie to keep them in alignment… so if anyone has any recommendations, let me know!

Once my technician appeared happy with the shape, she gave my brows a wipe before trimming them and then reaching for a brow palette.  30 seconds later and we were done!  She passed me a mirror and I had a look…

I could see that they were a really good shape and looking far fuller than when I went in… someone had transplanted Brooke Shields eyebrows onto my face!  I wasn’t delighted about the fact that the dye was still so apparent… it meant that I’d have to spend the rest of the afternoon in town with comedy brows.

If this is standard practice, I don’t see the point in the 7th step of treatment… if brows are really dark from the tint residue still being on them, the last thing you want is to add to it by powdering them in with the palette!

I sat in Cafe Nero, sipping my black coffee with eyebrows that matched.  I’m talking this (though obviously perfectly shaped and two of them!)  Mr. L was sniggering into his tea and Leila kept eyeing me suspiciously through the crumbs of her Pain au Raisin.  I just kept my head down and plotted my revenge on the pair of them.

I was advised not to wash the area until the next day… this was to give the tint the optimum time it needed to ‘take’.  I was a little concerned that I might make them too dark by doing this but I’m a good, obedient girl and followed her advice… taking care to avoid the area when washing my face for bed.

Wanna see how they turned out?

I’m really pleased with them!

Is it worth the £25 I paid?  Yes!  And no…

I need to find out how much it costs to get them threaded and tinted locally… as if done well, this would produce the same result without the catchy “HD Brows” moniker.

Maintenance (according to my therapist) is needed once a month.  There’s no way I’d pay £25 a month on my eyebrows.  Not a chance.

So who would I recommend this HD Brow treatment for?  I’d recommend it for people like me… people who don’t already have a perfect shape that they’re maintaining and who wouldn’t normally leave the house without filling in and darkening their brows.  It’s a really good way to instantly transform your eyebrows and get yourself put on the right path for future maintenance.

If you have a big night out or an event you need to look great for… go for it.  It’s a convenient, all-in-one option.

We all want great skin throughout the year but we all want it that little bit more when we have a slew of parties to attend!

This Christmas, Sisley are offering 2 new Express Facials at Selfridges, a great excuse to include some pampering whilst doing your Christmas shopping!

The two new facials available are described as…

[stextbox id=”custom” caption=”Pre Party Preparation Express Facial” ccolor=”ffffff” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa” cbgcolor=”a9a9a9″]

Sisley’s new Pre Party Preparation Facial works to deep cleanse the skin and combines a gentle buffing cream to boost skin circulation whilst removing dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. This is followed be an intensely hydrating mask which plumps, firms and smoothes the skin. To solve the problem of dry, chapped winter lips, the facial combines nourishing lip treatments to leave lips soft and plump.

Skin is left glowing, hydrated and smooth providing a perfect base to apply your party makeup.

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[stextbox id=”custom” caption=”Post Party Recovery Facial” ccolor=”ffffff” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa” cbgcolor=”a9a9a9″]

Sisley’s new Post Party Recovery Facial begins with a deep cleanse to ensure that every trace of dirt and makeup is removed allowing pores to breathe again.  This is followed by a revitalising exfoliation to remove impurities.  Next, one of Sisley’s award winning skin saving masks is applied to help regain optimal condition of the skin.

To solve the problem of puffy, tired eyes the facial combines a soothing eye treatment to awaken tired eyes and eliminate dark circles.  Your skin is left looking bright, radiant and rested.

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A £35 booking fee applies, which is redeemable against 2 or more Sisley skincare products purchased on the day of the treatment.

The Background

I have been looking forward to this for months!

I booked my fish pedicure from Wahanda because they were offering a great mobdeal on a 25 minute pedicure.  Infact, I booked 2… one for myself and one for my husband who instantly announced that he’d rather sit through a game of cricket than go for a fish pedicure.  I took that as a hint and invited my cousin to come with me instead.

The night before I made sure to exfoliate my feet with a sugar scrub in preparation… I didn’t want those little suckers to get an easy ride!

The Salon

Aqua Sheko is fairly easy to find, just off Kensington Church St in London.  The interior didn’t seem quite as plush and swanky as the website photos would have you believe.  It’s quite a cramped and utilitarian space… and the decor just kept making me think of the Tron Light Cycle scene!

The Washing

First things first… a very softly-spoken and gentle male therapist washed my feet… I would have become quite caught up in the moment if it weren’t for the fact that the water felt practically sub-zero!  He apologised for this, but my goodness – must it be that cold?  You can see the reaction on my cousin’s face as her feet are washed (mind, she is a total wimp!)

Once my feet were clean and dried, the therapist carefully inspected them for cuts and sores.  I had two insect bites on my ankle which were covered with a plaster before I was shown to the tank.

The Fish

I was brave.  I didn’t even flinch!  I did giggle though.  Lots.

What I didn’t realise was that you’re supposed to put both feet in the tank together at the same time… it makes sense right?  Idiot.  I plunged one foot in and they all rushed to greet it!  Realising the error of my ways sharpish, it wasn’t long before I had both feet dangling into the water.

It tickles.  It feels like a jacuzzi but with a bit of gentle suction in places – especially if you get a couple of big ‘uns in your tank!  It’s not unbearable… but if you are VERY ticklish, you may not enjoy it.

Me?  I kinda loved it… I giggled A LOT and made little to no verbal sense.  I found it an uplifting experience and became quite fond of my little tank dwellers by the end of the session!

My cousin?  Not so much… she’s very pleased that she did it and wants to take a friend back as a birthday treat, but it’s more for the unusual experience than any therapeutic benefit.  It was just too ticklish for her – she said she probably wouldn’t do it again.

The Massage

Not included in the Wahanda deal, we paid extra on the day to get a 15 minute foot massage after our 25 minute dip.  It was a great way to finish off and having never had a foot massage before – I was amazed by just how good it made me feel!

My therapist spent a few minutes working on my big toes (she said that she could feel I had stiffness in my neck!) and oddly enough a few days earlier, I had woken up with a terrible crick in my neck!  It was only when we left the salon that we were able to really appreciate the benefits, both of us commenting that it felt as though we were walking on air.

The Conclusion

Post pedicure, my feet are much softer and smoother though I don’t think it’s as effective as a professionally-performed pedicure.

There’s a bizarre sense of camaraderie at Aqua Sheko.  The staff are well-used to people who are reluctant to take the plunge (har har!), they even keep an iPad on site to distract nervous fish botherers!  Patrons were happily chatting amongst one another, keen to reassure any newcomers that it wasn’t as scary as it may seem.

Would I do it again though?  You bet!  What a fun way to spend an hour.

The Video

It’s a terrible video… but I’m no You Tube Guru and it’s the best I’ve got – sorry!

Here fishy fishy from lipglossiping on Vimeo.

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I went to LUSH last week and one of the things that I came out with was this unattractive looking lump.

Looks like something I’d need a poopa scoopa for to be quite honest.

It smells foul too… whenever I have this anywhere near me, I keep getting flashbacks of when I used to empty my ashtrays.  I’m really selling it to you aren’t I?

I can forgive it all this though if it helps my scalp as it claims…

[stextbox id=”custom” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa”]Snake Oil treats dandruff and it smells like it means business. Melt it on to your fingertips, then massage it right into your scalp. Leave the lavender, tea tree and peppermint oils to do their work for twenty minutes or so, and then wash it off with Soak and Float shampoo.[/stextbox]

My hair is coloured, if it strips the colour… it’s going in the bin.  I was told in the store that it would be fine with coloured hair… but the SA was a male student with dreads and a vacant expression.  I’m trying really hard not to discriminate.

Have any of you guys tried the LUSH Snake Oil Scalp Massage Bar?  I’m usually a bit rubbish with anything that I need to put on my scalp.  When you have hair longer than a buzz cut, how the hell do you actually get the product onto your scalp and not just all over your hair?

You can buy the LUSH Snake Oil Scalp Massage bar instore or online.  I paid £4.15.

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By the way, I’m on the 4th wash with the Body Shop SLS Free shampoo/conditioner combo and I’ve promised myself 7 washes minimum with each new brand to give it a fair trial.  So far, it’s not looking that amazing…

Ordinarily… not a lot… a bag of Twiglets and a can of Rio Tropical.

But log on to Wahanda today, ‘cos they’re changing all that!

If you’re lucky enough to live near London, Birmingham, Manchester or HOT new Wahanda location LEEDS, then you can bag yourself £20 worth of treatments for a measly £2!

None of the links above are affiliated… though if you’d like to use my personal link to sign up (it bags me a £5 Wahanda voucher, you can do so here).

I’m going for this deal, I need my roots doing… with the voucher, it’ll cost me £10!  Could I love Wahanda’s Mob Deals any more?  Seriously…. I’ve never experienced such indulgent pampering in my life!

Remember this post?  I hinted at today’s Wahanda Mob Deal.

How cool (and completely freaky) is this?

Aqua Sheko are offering a 30 minute fish pedicure treatment for a pretty amazing price of £12.  Saving 60% off the usual price of £30.  I’m in London and away from home today and tonight, but if I can get my iPhone working on the Wahanda site, I’m totally in!

From the Wahanda site:

The Garra Rufa, a native Turkish fish are also known as doctor fish, the tiny toothless carp thrive in warm water and live off anything available – including dead, flaking skin.

I’m having an “OMG that’s gross but I wanna try it anyway” moment.  I’m guessing that if you’re REALLY ticklish, you may want to give this one a miss… but I kinda like it *blush*.

Mr. L hates anything touching his feet, so I think I’d be going on my own… which doesn’t sound half as much fun – spoilsport!

Anyone else up for a nibble?  I mean bite?  I mean… um…. anyone else fancy it?