Fantastic Elemis special offer!

Regular readers will know I'm a big fan of Elemis products, and this one is a gem.

If you're worried about ageing around the eyes, this could be the answer. Elemis' ‘See the Difference’ Eye Duo is an intensive anti-ageing treatment duo specifically formulated for the delicate eye area.

Available at spas, salons and selected retail outlets nationwide or shop online at www.timetospa.co.uk and from 4th – 31st May 2009, Elemis will be launching the limited edition ‘See the Difference’ Eye Duo in a stunning limited edition faux leather jewellery box for just £55.

Time to get shopping girls!

It IS ok to squeeze spots!

After years of being told NEVER to squeeze, cult beauty brand Karin Herzog have come clean, and told us what beauty therapists have known for years, squeezing spots IS ok if you know what you're doing.

I'm a big fan of the Karin Herzog products, so here's their guide to safe & hygienic home extraction:

Clean hands thoroughly before you begin.

Apply any of the Karin Herzog Cleansers to eye area, face and neck massaging for approximately 2 minutes then remove with a damp sponge.

Take a small amount of Mild Scrub, work into the face using small circular movements (avoiding eye area) then remove all traces using a damp sponge.

Blot the face with a tissue. Apply a thin layer of the Essential Mask or Oxygen Face Cream avoiding the eye area; apply in thicker layer on very congested areas. Leave for approximately 5-10 minutes.

Take three strips of cling film and place directly on top of the Mask. The first strip across the forehead, the second across the nose and cheeks, and the third across the chin and jaw area. (Allow breathing holes).

After 5-10 minutes remove the first strip of cling film from the forehead, then remove any traces of Mask with a damp sponge. Blot the forehead with a tissue. Study the area. If there are any blocked pores try a light extraction.

Take another tissue, rip in half and wrap both index fingers ready for extracting any blocked pores and blackheads (use a mirror). N.B.: When extracting, remember to always wrap the fingers with clean tissue. Never use your nails, only use the fingertips. Always use gentle pressure all around the blocked pore - if it does not want to come out, leave it until your next facial. Use a rolling movement in towards the blockage with fingers flat on the face. The oxygen mask will allow blockages to be removed without too much force if ready for extraction.

After extracting all blocked pores and blackheads from the forehead, its time to move around the face from the forehead to the right cheek, then the chin. From the chin to the left cheek, leaving the nose area until last as this is everyone’s area of concern with blocked pores and blackheads and will benefit from leaving the Mask on for as long as possible.
When moving around the face repeat steps 7 and 8 for each area.

When all traces of Mask are removed and after any extraction apply a small amount of Vita-A-Kombi Cream or Oxygen Face Cream. Massage all over the face to sterilise the skin.

N.B. Remember to never apply too much pressure during extraction. If blockages are stubborn, they will be easier next time.

Please Note: These home facial notes are designed to give you a taste of what a professional Karin Herzog facial can do. If carried out correctly it will give results but it is not intended as a replacement for a professional Herzog Oxygen Facial in any of our salons where the treatments are carried out within strict professional guidelines and where we recommend you visit if you have any real skincare concerns. Our salon partners offer a treatment, called the Bodicial, which lasts 2 hours and has body Lymphatic drainage as part of the treatment.

Karin Herzog accept no responsibility for any client who has been a little over zealous with the extraction. If in doubt, call our free phone hotline - 0800 0562428. A qualified therapist should always treat serious problems or cases of persistent acne. Your skin is delicate and when treated gently and with respect will reward you by looking its best.

New from Bliss: Best of Skintentions

I love Bliss products, great products in cool packaging that really work, so I'm really excited about their new moisturiser.

Best of Skintentions (£25) contains SPF 15, plus it has a UVA rating of PA++. It's said to preserve the skin’s youthful appearance by keeping it soft, supple and healthy-glowing skin and protecting it from the sun. Phytonutrient rich garden cress sprouts effectively detoxify the skin and protect against free radicals. Lychee extract reduces negative effects of UV irradiation on cell metabolism and provides essential moisture to the skin. A cocktail of vitamins, minerals and omegas promotes healthy skin function and serves as a daily ‘dew’ diligence for visible age prevention. SPF 15 protects your skin from both UVA and UVB. Tested for measurable UVA protection levels, best of skintentions should shield your skin against the biggest culprit of age acceleration and promotes a youthful complexion.

So will it live up to it's promises? I'll let you know!

Visit www.blisslondon.co.uk for more info, order online or find a stockist.

Banish cellulite with Karin Herzog

I've written about the wonders of Karin Herxog products before, and I'm going to keep on about them until everyone sits up and takes notice!

There are thousands of beauty articles out there telling you that it's impossible to get rid of cellulite, in fact, I've written a number of them myself. But when I discovered Karin Herzog's Dynamic Duo that all changed. You CAN get rid of cellulite, and you don't have to sweat in the gym, starve yourself, drink gallons of water, or go under the knife to do it.

Last summer I tested the Herzog Dynamic Duo, a combination of two creams - Silhouette a 4% oxygen cream, and Tonus B12. It had, quite frankly, astonishing results. Within three weeks my thighs and bum were smooth enough to be proud of on the beach! Obviously my beauty regime became lazy over the winter, but I've started using the creams again and can already see the results.

Julie Cichocki, the MD of Karin Herzog, tells me that there's a further development in the Dynamic Duo for this summer, Tone and Tan. A tanning element has been added to Tonus B12, so now you can add a gradual tan as you tone up your thighs and bum ready for the summer.

Tone & Tan is released on April 6th, but you can pre-order yours right now from the Karin Herzog website.

Check back next week for more info on how the Dynamic Duo works, plus some before and after pics (but not of my bum).

Are you suffering from ageing dysmorphia?

British women are trapped in a state of flux about how old they think they look versus their true age, according to a recent audit.

The audit, commissioned by anti-ageing brand Roc, reveals how women are continuously changing their minds about how well they believe they are ageing. Something which a psychologist has referred to as ‘ageing dysmorphia’.

More than half (55%) of the women said they looked younger than their years, but the irony is, when asked if they would like to look younger, 70% agree they would!

Psychologist Anjula Mutanda comments, “Women are experiencing something I like to call ageing dysmorphia. Every woman at some point scrutinises how well they think they are ageing which throws up a contradictory mixture of feelings - it is as much about what is going on in their mind and their self perception - which may sometimes be self-critical, distorted and negative: as it is about the actual lines on their face. What is clear, is ageing is an emotional minefield, with the audit also highlighting that the majority of women feel pressurised to stay looking young.”

So how do you feel? Do you think you look your age? Or even younger? How much does ageing matter to you? Is it possible to grow old gracefully or is looking younger all that matters? Let me know what you think!

New from Elemis: Pro Collagen Body Serum

It's not just our faces that start showing signs of age, worst luck - the skin on our bodies also suffers. So unless you're super-young and super-fit (and therefore I hate you), you're probably dreading spring time when we're all forced to loose the layers and reveal more flesh.

Pro Collagen Body Serum Intensive Lift (£45) is a new product from Elemis aimed at giving the skin on your body as much tlc as we normally give our faces. It's a light, non sticky gel that smells divine (rose and mimosa, yum) and is quickly absorbed. Apply to any areas of 'concern' (I'll let you decide which yours are) but Elemis reccomend bums, tums, backs of arms, backs of hands, boobs and décolleté (your cleavage and up to neck).

Among it's key ingredients are paracress (helps collagen production) and peptide pea pods (to strengthen skin firmness and elasticity), together with a host of other wonderful stuff this should result in the gel boosting your skins collagen and elastin.

I've been using it for 5 days so far, and my skin looks smoother and is definitely softer. Roll on springtime!

For more info, or to buy visit Elemis Time to Spa

Botox makes you happy!

We all know the pros and cons of Botox, but have you ever considered it could make you happier?

A new study has revealed that the injections can help alleviate depression. The research, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, shows that relaxation of the corrugator (frown) muscles leads to less facial feedback for negative emotions. The upshot is, it's harder to maintain a negative mood, putting you in a more positive frame of mind.

Dr Patrick Bowler, Medical Director of Court House Clinics is unsurprised by the results of the study, and reveals that this may be one of the reasons patients are less likely to give up Botox treatments during an economic downturn.

“For many years I have noted the positive effect of Botox cosmetic treatments on my clients, including some who have been suffering from mild depression. Despite the current recession we have not seen a decline in the demand for Botox in our clinics. We now have proof that alongside the ‘feel good’ factor that a cosmetic treatment can provide, there are also psychological mechanisms at work that show treatments such as Botox that prevent frowning correlate with a more positive mood.”

Dr Bowler put the theory to the test and the mood of 25 patients who had received Botox treatment for glabellar frown lines at Court House Clinics was measured and compared with patients who had received other cosmetic treatments. The patients treated with Botox showed a significantly less negative mood.

Personally speaking, it works for me. I suffer from frown lines. They make me look grumpy, which in turn makes me grumpy. Botox works wonders but it has to be administered by the right person, the cliché of a frozen face only happens if you get injections from somone who doesn't know what they're doing; there's a fine line between anti-ageing and getting rid of your natural expressions.

So girls, can Botox make you happy? Has it worked for you? Let me know!

Brits go nuts for Vanessa Hudgens' skin regime

We told you about the Neutragena Wave way back in November 2008, and it seems there's no chance of it's popularity fading. Latest sales figures show it's selling at a rate of one every five minutes, and that's in Boots stores alone!

So is this a cult product that we should all be using? Or are we being total suckers believing it can give us skin like Vanessa Hudgens?

Vanessa tells us "I’ve used a lot of cleansers, but I’ve never tried anything like the Wave. My skin looks softer right away – even my friends noticed.”

Fair enough, but let's not forget that Vanessa is 20 years old and completely stunning, Neutragena Wave may be fantastic, but it can't work miracles!

If you're one of the few women not to have tried the Wave:
Neutrogena Wave Starter Kit (with 14 pads), £12.71
Neutrogena Wave Refill Kit (30 pads), £4.88

If you have tried it - let me know how you got on!

Elemis: adding some extra beauty to London Fashion Week

Celebrity Make-Up Artist Lou Page is relying on Elemis to help her keep London Fashion Week models looking tip top throughout this week.

“Elemis products are always in my kit when I’m working on Fashion Week. My fave two products to use are the Eyes Awake Recovery Gel, as the perfect preparation product to revive the eyes before applying make-up. It’s great to lift and rejuvenate tired eyes and light in texture. Secondly, the Daily Redness Relief is a saviour to help reduce high red pigmentation. This is an essential prep before applying foundation to create a balanced even complexion.”

I can't guarantee they'll make you look like a model, but I'm a big fan of Elemis products - the Papaya Enzyme Peel is divine - but these products are definitely worth a try!

Bobbi Brown at New York Fashion Week

Great film of Bobbi Brown working her magic backstage at the Rachel Roy catwalk show. Amazing on the catwalk, but could you pull off that black/purple lipstick?

Clinique Even Better Make-up: Will this be the best foundation ever?

Clinique's latest wonder product is Even Better Make-up, designed to solve the problem which causes most women to buy foundation in the first place; uneven skin tone.

According to a recent study, uneven skin tone is the next big worry after lines and wrinkles. Not only does this new product claim to provide great coverage, but it's said to reduce hyper-pigmentation with continued use.

It contains antioxidants such as vitamin C, combined with Vitamin E, mushroom yeast extract, grapefruit peel and white birch extracts to break up and reduce the appearance of an uneven skin tone and help prevent it getting worse in the future.

Available from April 1st 2009 nationwide, the foundation will be available in 14 shades.

If it works, it will become a must-have product for millions of women. Watch this space for a review and more information.

Are you a beauty product oniomaniac?

Is your shopping obsession getting out of hand? Do you buy beauty products each and every week? Do you obsess about getting the very best products in the latest colours? Does shopping give you a kick? Is your bathroom full to bursting point with the latest creams and potions? If so you could be an oniomaniac - and it’s got nothing to do with onions.

Oniomania is the compulsive desire to shop, it’s been described in the US as the disease that could save the economy, and it could strike any of you beauty fans at any time.

Thanks to the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic, oniomania is the lastest buzz word. Now there’s nothing wrong with keeping up with the latest trends, taking care of your skin and giving yourself a little pampering. Let’s face it; if that wasn’t the case I’d be out of a job. But take it easy girls, please don’t hammer the credit card too hard, and I promise to introduce you to some great budget buys!

Brad & Angelina: The lipsticks!

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have topped a poll of the most kissable lips in the world, and to celebrate this (in a rather bizarre way), cosmetics website feelunique.com has immortalised them in lippy.

Yup you read it right, we talking about lipstick sculptures of A-list celebs. 'Micro sculptor', Willard Wigan has created a tiny Brad and Ang out of lipstick, and the pair are now up for auction on ebay.

It's mad, but in a wonderful way. Plus all the money raised goes to Breast Cancer Care - so get bidding!

Bobbi Brown spring collection

Bobbi Brown's spring collection is perfect for a Valentine's day pick-you-up. Think sparkly eyes and soft pink lips and cheeks, it's a subtle yet sexy look that suits everyone. I love the Blush Pink Creamy Lip Colour (£14.68) and the Sparkle eye shadows in Ballet, Silver Moon, Mica and Sunlight (£13.70).

TRIA laser hair removal: as used by Ugly Betty

Hair removal is big business, and nowadays more and more people are opting for getting shot of annoying hairy bits permanently.

Normally I'd recommend going to a salon for laser hair removal, but there's now a home system that delivers safe, great results. The TRIA Laser Hair Removal System was developed by the same team of scientists that invented the professional technology back in 1993. And, it uses the same laser technology as those professional devices, which are still considered the gold-standard among dermatologists and plastic surgeons. It's pricey, at £675, but if you're going to invest in a system - this is the one to opt for.

It's also become a must-have item for TV and movie make-up artists, including Kate Best, Makeup Department Head for the television series, Ugly Betty. She tells us "Not only does the TRIA Laser Hair Removal System remove hair, but it also improves the skin’s appearance -- it is smoother and the pores are smaller, so makeup application is much easier."

Click here for more info, or to buy a TRIA.

Extreme weather skin care

Yup it's still mighty cold out there girls, so those of you with sensitive skin will really be suffering.

If your skin flakes, cracks and generally acts up when the weather gets cold, this is the product you've been waiting for. Clinique's New Comfort on Call helps skin cope with these chilly days, cold winds and allergens. It's allergy tested and is also great for anyone with eczema.

Grab one now and save your skin while you can, it's staying chilly this weekend!
£31.23 from Clinique counters nationwide, or from Clinique.co.uk.

The permanent hair removal – down there!

I’m a big fan of bikini line waxing; it’s worth it for the increased sensitivity alone, but I’m talking neat and tidy, not pre-pubescent.

Bikini line hair removal stepped into the 21st century with the possibility of permanent hair removal – which means you can now get your pubes laser zapped and therefore permanently removed.

But let’s not rush into anything ladies; we really are talking permanent removal here. I know loads of ladies (and men) love the naked feeling, but do you really want a smooth, hair free fanny for the rest of your life? This is a great treatment to tidy things up – I’m talking about any straggly bits likely to stick out of your bikini. But if you fancy a hair free experience, get waxed; it’s less radical.

According to Dr Patrick Bowler, Medical Director of Court House Clinics:
“Patients actually enjoy Soprano XL as it is painless compared to conventional laser hair removal treatments. It can also be used on patients with darker skins providing an increased safety margin without any reduction in efficacy. This really is a big step forward in the treatment of unwanted hair anywhere on the body”

Well I can’t say I’ve ever ‘enjoyed’ a bikini wax, so you could say this is a huge step forward. But personally I’d like to keep my pubic options open…

For more info visit www.painfreehairfree.com

Is Botox more important that paying bills?

Despite the credit crunch, many people are not prepared to give up on what they consider vital beauty treatments.

Following a surge in demand for Botox treatments at the Harpenden clinic, Dr Jain, Medical Director at Riverbanks reveals that many of his patients are adamant that the credit crunch will not impact on their beauty regime and are prepared to make sacrifices in others areas of their lives instead.

"Demand for Botox at the moment is rising and just last week, one patient told me she'd be prepared to give up anything except her Botox treatments. It would seem that many people are considering this once 'luxury' spend as an essential part of their lives and one which they don't intend on giving up just because the country is in recession", says Dr Jain.

Should we prioritise beauty over paying bills? is looking good essential to keeping your spirits up or a crazy, vain waste of money? Tell me what you think!

Tips for fighting the cold

Your skin really suffers when the temperature plumets. My top snow busting product is Eve Lom's Creme Universal. Keep it in your handbag and slather it over your lips throughout the day to keep them from drying out. If you get severe dry patches anywhere else, apply a little before bed. Enjoy the snow!

The wrinkle filler that's flying off the shelves

Talk about going nuts for a new product, RoC have just released sales figures that show that women having been snapping up Retin-Ox Wrinkle Filler at the rate of one every minute!

The product combines Retinol with Hyaluronic Acid and RoC's DMC technology (which boosts the efficacy of retinol) and is said to immediately smoothes skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles day after day.

£29.35 from Boots.

Soap & Glory The Greatest Scrub of All

I think this one speaks for itself. It's a facial scrub, it's not too expensive, and it rocks. Enough said. £7.82 from Boots.