Skin Science - Lunchbreak Lift

I really loved the Skin Science products I tested recently, so I'm happy to report that on 17th, 18th and 19th July the Skin Science Lunchbreak Lift facial is available in Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London.

It's a 30min treatment which promises to leave skin energised, plumped, lifted and glowing - and all for only £30 which is redeemable against any Skin Science products purchased on the day. Personally I'd go for the Bio Active 24hr Protective Complex Cream with SPF 15, it's fabulous.

Call  020 7235 5000 Ext: 2705 to book your appointment.

Boo Boo Velvet Hands

Boo Boo is one of my nicknames for my little girl. Let me explain. She's called Bonnie, which became Bonnie Boo (due to her resemblance to Boo in Monsters Inc),  which turned into Boo Boo. Daft, but it works. So when I heard of a range of products called Boo Boo I was keen to find out more.

Boo Boo is a 'mummy and baby range'; it's free of parabens, sulphates, TEA, petrochemicals, synthetic colours, PEGS and DEA, so it's pure and natural stuff.

The range now includes a hand wash and hand cream, which not only smell gorgeous, but do a fab job of keeping my hard working hands clean and soft.

Key ingredients include marshmallow root extract, white water lily and centella - a herb that's claimed to firm and strengthen the skin. It's all good stuff, and I've enjoyed testing them.

The trouble is although I'm a mum, I'm not really a 'mummy' any more. My girl is going to be eight soon, and I'm soooo over anything that looks like it's been designed for parents. These are great products, but I'm stumped as to why they've been packaged up like nappy cream.

I'm a sucker for hand washes and hand creams. But if it's going to be out on display in my house, then I like it to look good. Currently on display in my kitchen you'll find the classic Neils Yard blue glass bottles, so you'll get where I'm coming from. So although I love these products, for me they lose out on aesthetics. However if you're a yummy mummy you'd be a fool not to invest in some because my hands really are beautifully soft since I've been testing them. Plus my daughter thinks it's very cool that there are products names after her.

Boo Boo Velvet Hands (£10.99) and Velvet Hand Wash (£9.99) are available from Harrods, Wholefoods or online at www.boobooshop.com

Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel

I never feel that my face is clean unless water has been splashed on it, so I hate cleansers you remove with cotton wool and always favour those that need a muslin cloth and water.

My favourite cleanser of all time is Eve Lom, a close second is Karin Herzog's Professional Cleanser. But now Elemis have brought out a contender with their new product, Melting Cleansing Gel.

It's a similar proposition, you massage it into the face and remove with 'warm mitts' er...or a muslin cloth.

Key ingredients include the 'it' oil of the moment - argan, plus rice silk, assai fruit and rosemary leaf.

For me it's a close runner up to my favourites, it leaves my skin feeling deep-down clean, and it doesn't dry it out or leave a residue. Elemis claim it's suitable for all skin types, and as with the Eve Lom, I think this is probably true and that sensitive skins may really feel the benefit.

Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel is on sale this month, RRP £19.40 for 125ml, which makes it a cheaper option than many.  Get yours from TimetoSpa or any of the usual Elemis outlets.

Nivea Pure & Natural

 Sponsored post

It's good to see that the larger, high street beauty brands are launching more natural based products, and the latest contender is Nivea with it's Pure & Natural range.

The range includes face, body and hand care, and the products contain 95% natural ingredients and are free from parabens, silicones, colourants and mineral oil

An ingredient that features in many of these products is Argan oil, a great source of Vitamin E and a natural antioxidant.  Nivea say it's long been a beauty secret of  Berber women from Moroccan, and have sourced their aragon oil from a cooperative in Mogador the Argan Oil which supports the Berber Women and provides the rural population with a stable income. 

Nivea Pure & Natural is affordable on even a small beauty budget, starting at just £1.99 for the lip balm, £3.05 for the handcream and £8.49 for the anti-ageing day cream.

Something I'm particularly impressed about is that all the Pure & Natural cartons include the FSC logo, signifying recycled, sustainable materials and responsible forestry management.  The containers are also smaller to ensure they take up as little space as possible, reducing the number of transport journeys required. 

Nivea Pure & Natural is on sale from February 20th, 2011. 

Find out more at www.nivea.co.uk

Please note this is a sponsored post for Nivea, in conjunction with the lovely people at Handpicked Media.

Can mineral water make you look younger?

A recent study has show that drinking Willow Water, a mineral water from the Lake District, can reduce the appearance  of wrinkles. Now, this is the sort of press release that really makes me sceptical!

We all know that drinking water, and generally staying hydrated keeps skin looking more plumped up, and therefore naturally reduced the appearance of wrinkles. So where's the story?
 

The trial took 54 men and women aged between 24 and 43, half of them were given 1.5 litres of Willow Water to drink per day, the other half drank 1.5 litres of a 'leading brand of mineral water'. Curiously, the results even shocked the medics involved in the trial.
 

Harley Street doctor Peter Ashby, FRCS, said he had been surprised when he analysed subjects’ complexions: “I must admit I was sceptical when I was first told about the study – I thought it was going to be a waste of time but in all honesty I was amazed that those drinking Willow Water did see an extra improvement in their wrinkles” 

After eight weeks the doctors found an average 20% reduction in the appearance of wrinkles across the entire study, with women showing an average 24% reduction. However, and perhaps proving that none of us drink enough water, the placebo group also saw a reduction in their wrinkles - by 19%.

So the women in the group's  wrinkles were 5% more reduced that those who just drank standard mineral water. Apparantly this is due to the salicin and high levels of calcium in the water. Salicin is an anti-inflammatory agent that is produced from willow bark. It's closely related in chemical make-up to aspirin, and when consumed, it is metabolized to salicylic acid - the very same stuff that's put into many anti-ageing creams.

While that's scientifically interesting - I'm not sure it's a significant enough amount to justify buying one particular type of water. But then again maybe if I was particularly troubled by wrinkles I'd give it a go, I hear on the grapevine that the girls from Coronation Street are all trying it.

Willow Water is priced at around £1.80 for a 1.5 litre bottle, or you can get a discount buying in bulk from their website.

And if it's not for you, at least make sure you drink a couple of litres of something every day - and alcohol, tea and coffee don't count!

Could I look as good as Cindy Crawford?

Today I was sent two products from Cindy Crawford's beauty line - Meaningful Beauty.

Now personally, I'm suspicious of celeb branded products of any sort. I nearly died with irritation when the only oven dish that suited my needs was a Jamie Oliver one. If something's good, it should just be good, no need for the celeb branding. But maybe that's just me.

I've spent some time on the Meaningful Beauty website, and watched a very cheesy video with clips of ladies with perfect skin describing how they now have perfect skin like the 'icon' Cindy Crawford. Don't watch it, it's enough to put you off the brand before you've tried it.

But I'm going to try and put my cynicism aside. The range was developed with Dr John-Louis Sebagh, the famous cosmetic surgeon who is the brains behind the Dr Sebagh range. So there are serious credentials here, way beyond those of a model with fabulous skin.

I was sent the Eye Creme (why not cream? is Cindy Crawford French? I don't think so) and Glowing Serum, and I do need a new eye cream and I definitely need some glow. Reading the ingredients list there's nothing worrying, so I'm not concerned I'll get a reaction. Plus the Glowing Serum contains Vitamin C, and I've just been reading about the benefits of stabilised vitamin C  in beauty products - so I'm willing to give these a go.

So who knows, maybe they will make me look as good as Cindy, I mean we've got a lot in common, both 40ish (she's actually older than me, ha!), both married with kids, both....oh bugger that's where the similarities end. I'll give them a go and report back.

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!

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.

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.

Bag an A-list Christmas bargain with Karin Herzog

I love Karin Herzog products, and so do celebs; Victoria Beckham, Uma Thurman, Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Aniston and Madonna are all huge fans.

This Christmas Karin Herzog are offering 3 for the price of 2 on all products (including gift sets). So get shopping now! My personal favourite is the Dynamic Duo, the only products I've tried than genuinely do reduce cellulite.

Visit for Karin Herzog website for more info and to start shopping.

Bliss: new Blood Orange and White Pepper range

After a search to find customer's favourite scent, Bliss have launched the Blood Orange and White pepper range.

It might sound a bit odd, but believe me this scent really works. The orange is gorgeous, like Sicilian oranges in the warm sun with a dash of spicy pepper! I love the shower gel (£16), a new addition to my morning routine. The range also includes a body butter (£23) and a sugar scrub (£28).

Free Clinique products!

Want to know how to get free Clinique goodies this Christmas? Then read on.

Those lovely people at Clinique are launching ‘12 Days of Christmas Giving’, which means from December 1st – 12th anyone who spends £35 or more on Clinique products online will receive a luxury Clinique gift.

Better still, you can choose which gift suits you most. Pick from:

The Gift of Beauty which contains All About Eyes 5ml, High Definition Mascarain Black and Deep Comfort Body Butter 40ml all in a white Clinique wash bag.

The Gift of Glamour which includes Take The Day Off Eye Makeup Remover 30ml, High Impact Mascara in Black and Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Currant 5ml in a silver Clinique wash bag.

The Gift of Clear Skin which includes sample sized treats of Anti-Blemish Solutions Clear Blemish Gel 15ml, Anti-Blemish Cleansing Bar 15g and Anti-Blemish Moisturizer 15ml in a blue Clinique wash bag.

The Gift of Mens Grooming which includes Skin Supplies For Men Face Scrub 15ml, Skin Supplies For Men Maximum Hydrator 15ml and Skin Supplies For Men Regular Strength Face Wash 15ml all packaged in a grey Clinique For Men wash bag.

So get shopping at www.clinique.co.uk!

Great products for acne or spots

Spots are a pain. Whether you suffer all the time, or just get the occasional zit, here's my guide to getting and staying spot free.

Product wise, there are two approaches when trying to get spot free. Blitz them, or soothe them. It’s easy to overload your skin with products if you’re spotty and getting desperate. But try treating your skin delicately and you may find it will calm down and heal itself, which should results in less spots.

Dr Hauschka products are pure, organic and gentle. Try cleansing Cream (£12), followed by Facial Toner (£18) and Normalizing Day Oil (£18). The Day Oil can feel a bit odd, it may appear oily but it will help your skin balance its oil levels.

An Origins survey claims that 84% of people asked said that their skin was soothed and calmed by the Mega-Mushroom Programme, and having tried it I’d agree. If you buy just one product make it Origins Mega Mushroom Face Serum, (£40 for 30ml, or £50 for 50ml).

Eve Lom’s magnificent Cleanser (£48 for 100ml lasts about six months, £78 for 200ml) is also a great product for sensitive spotty skin. Follow Eve’s technique of applying, removing with a hot muslin cloth, and then applying a cold muslin cloth, for the best results.

If you need to take it up a gear, check back here next week for my guide to some tougher spot products.

Get skin like Vanessa Hudgens

Have you ever wondered how Vanessa Hudgens keeps that perfect complexion? Believe it or not, she uses a vibrator! OK, not that sort of vibrator, it's actually a vibrating power cleanser.

It's the Neutrogena Wave, a gadget with a vibrating action and disposable foaming pads, which work together to remove make up and dirt and getting your skin super clean.

The Wave might be new to us Brits, but it's best seller in the US, with almost 1.4 million sold between January and August 2008.

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens said: “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.”

Now I can't promise it'll give you Vanessa's youthful glow, but as least you'll feel like you've tried!

Neutrogena Wave is available from Boots. Power Cleanser with 14 pads, £12.99. Pack of 30 Refill Pads, £4.99

New from Dermalogica: MultiVitamin Thermafoliant

Want to get your skin REALLY clean? This may be the answer. Dermalogica have taken exfoliation to another level with the introduction of MultiVitamin Thermafoliant, part of the brilliant AGE Smart range. Not only does is ensure you get rid of dead cells, but it also warms up on your skin, perfect winter skin care. Out soon for £35 and sure to be a hit.

Karin Herzog give to Children in Need

Karin Herzog make fab skin care products, and they're a generous bunch - donating 10% of today's retail sales to Children in Need.

I swear by Dynamic Duo, the only cellulite cream I've tried that genuinely works. So order online, get a smooth bum AND help Children in Need.

Soap & Glory move into skincare

Cult beauty brand Soap & Glory is one of my personal favourites. With fabulous fifties inspired packaging and gorgeous smelling products the products are both affordable and desirable!

Luckily for us, Soap and Glory have expanded into skincare. With names such as Catch a Wrinkle in Time, Mighty Mouth and my personal face, Glow Job, these are sure to be a massive hit. Available in Boots and Harvey Nichols.

Get intimate with Eve Lom

If you despair of your skin, help is at hand as skincare guru Eve Lom is hosting 1-2-1 consultations! You can get the chance to meet Eve at Harrods on the 26th November 2008.

During the 15 minute session she will analyse your skin and make a personalised skincare recommendation, as well as sharing some of her best kept skincare secrets. Each appointment will end with the consumer receiving free beauty products worth more than £40!

Tickets for a consultation with Eve are priced at £25, get yours by calling the Eve Lom counter at Harrods 020 7730 1234 ext: 2781. Tickets are redeemable against any Eve Lom product purchased on the day. So get dialing...