Miracle product: Golden Silk Oil

 I like a multi-tasking natural product, so I was keen to try Golden Silk Oil, which claims it can be used on the face, hands, body and hair.

It's natural camellia oil, extracted from camellia flowers; though don't be mistaken into thinking it smells floral, as it has virtually no fragrance. 

Camellia oil has been used by the Japanese for centuries, and as well as healing the skin, it's claimed to have the ability to balance sebum in human skin that can be caused by diet, pollution, hormonal imbalance or ageing. It contains vitamins A, B, C and D as well as a host of other good stuff such as beta-carotene.

So far I'm loving this little bottle of oil. I've used it on my face at night in place of night cream and woke the next morning to super soft, hydrated skin. I've used it on dry lips, where again it's totally sorted them out. I've even used it under make-up, it absorbs really easily and provides a great base for foundation.

Best of all I've been using it on my hands, not only is it sorting out their constant dryness, but my nails are better than they've been in months. My nails really tend to suffer through the winter, they become dry and brittle and split easily; nothing has ever come close to sorting them out before. Right now, after only a week of using Gold Silk Oil, they're long and strong.

Approved by the Vegan Society, this oil is so gentle it can even be used on kids (it would be fab as a baby massage oil).

You can buy Golden Silk Oil from www.gentlebodycare.co.uk, and it costs £11.50 for a 30ml bottle.

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.

Kiss it Better

Cancer is a scary thought for all of us, but as a parent, I can't possibly imagine how devastating it would be to find out your child has cancer. But the fact remains that cancer is the biggest disease affecting children today. A chilling thought.

The Kiss it Better campaign raises money to fund research into the causes and treatments of childhood cancer.

It's the brainchild of a former beauty editor, Carmel Allen, whose daughter was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital (who treat one 1 in 9 kids with cancer) for neuroblastoma.

Carmel explains: "The premise was really simple, Kiss it Better is something every parent says and does when their child is sick or injured. I wanted to turn Josephine’s experience into something positive and to help make a difference to the lives of children with cancer everywhere."

This year Clinique have created a special limited edition Smoothie Kisses Lip Gloss set, featuring the latest launch from Clinique, Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour. This fabulous set of four glosses is sold in a cute pink bag, and is available exclusively through House of Fraser (nationwide, UK) during February, with £4 from every purchase going to the Kiss It Better campaign (£2 donated by Clinique, £2 donated by House of Frazer). The set retails at £22.50.

If this set doesn't float your boat, a £2 donation will able apply to all Clinique lipsticks or lipglosses sold at House of Fraser stpres nationwide (UK) throughout February 2011 (£1 donated by Clinique and £1 by House of Fraser). So there's no excuse not to buy something!

If you can't make it into store, try House of Fraser and the Clinique website.

To find out more about Kiss It Better, or to donate to Great Ormond Street Hospital, visit this website.

Elemis’ Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow

A run of illness, busyness and generally not looking after myself has left me looking a bit shabby. The bits everyone can see - hair, face, hands, haven't done too badly, but the rest of me...well it's an embarrassment.

So, a plan of action:

1) To shed a few pounds. I must stop eating biscuits.
2) To tone up. I went to yoga this week and I'm doing a 5 mile walk with friends tomorrow.
3) To scrub up. I need to start using a fabulous body scrub!

Lounging in a luxurious bath is not enough for my sorry-for-itself skin, I need buffing up! Enter Elemis' Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow.

Unlike similar products it doesn't separate before use, so you don't have to stir it before sticking your hand in. Take just a small amount in your hands and rub it onto your body (be careful not to drop great blobs of it in the bath like I did the first time - oh the waste!). It smells divine, has a salty, yet oily feel and does wonders for your skin. Pay extra attention to knees and elbows, but rub it all over for silky soft skin.

It contains three oils, Kukui Oil which has restructuring properties as well as sought-after anti-ageing and softening virtues, Japanese Camellia Oil which is easily absorbed into the skin to nourish and condition and is rich in plant collagen and Jojoba Oil to moisturise and regenerate the skin.

Add to that lime peel and ginger (which is subtle, I'm not a big fan of the smell usually), plus the essential sea salt for making the scrub, well scrubby, and you've got yourself a fab product. Plus is comes in a glamorous red tub, which will brighten up any bathroom.

£35.80 for a 410g tub, which look set to last for months. Buy via Time to Spa, or from Elemis counters.

Finally back!

Sorry I've been missing in action for so long.

My daughter and I both had the dreaded swine flu, and yes, it is as bad as they say.

Then we went away for New Year (Center Parcs rocks), the just after we got back my daughter broke her little finger. So after a weekend in two hospitals and two sets of X-rays later, I have a seven-year-old who's actually revelling in not being able to do anything for herself. Seriously, her finger is strapped up and doesn't hurt as she can't move it, but she's loving the attention.

Anyway, enough moaning, it's a new year, and I have products on my desk that I need to try and tell you about...so I'm just going to get on with it!

Sorry.....

Hi everyone,
My daughter and I have had suspected swine flu. After a week of feeling like Hell, we're getting better, but we're still very tired, snotty and coughing constantly. So Beauty Cult is taking a break over Christmas while we both recover fully. Have a happy Christmas, and I'll see you all in the New Year.
xxx

Ask a beauty expert

Have you got any burning questions that you'd like to ask a beauty industry expert? Well here's your chance to get it answered!

P&G, the company behind some of the biggest names in the industry including Max Factor, Olay, Clairol, Pantene, Sebastian and Sassoon, are hosting a live online event, where you can put questions to their team of beauty brand ambassadors.

When is it?
6pm Tuesday 7th December


Who'll be there?

• H&S ­- Peter Lux - Creative Beauty Director for H&S
• Max Factor & Caroline Barnes - Award Winning Make-up Artist
• Olay & Kathy Rogerson, P&G Technical Expert
• Pantene Pro V & Kathy Rogerson, P&G Technical Expert
• Clairol & Kathy Rogerson, P&G Technical Expert
• Silvikrin & Michael Douglas - Wellaflex Silvikrin Creative Director
• Braun & Nicola Joss
• Gillette Venus & Nicola Joss
• Oral B & Dr. James Russell - TV Dentist & Oral B Ambassador
• Sebastian Professional & Carly Roberts - Lead Creative Colourist from Marc Antoni & Dom Capel - Creative Stylist for Sebastian Professional
• Wella Professionals Colour & Cristal Ludqvist - Creative Colour Director at HOB Salons
• Wella Professionals Care & Style & Desmond Murray - Atherton Cox and Wella Care & Style UK ambassador
• Sassoon Professional & Bruce Masefield - UK Creative Director for Sassoon Professional

How do I join in?

• Just go to this link http://www.pgbeauty-live.com/
• Add in your e-mail address
• Create a password 

So there you go, easy peasy. You can register now to save you time on Tuesday, and I'd start thinking about your questions in advance. If you need a bit of inspiration, here's what I'm going to ask.

To Desmond Murry of Wella Professionals Care & Style: "Can damaged hair ever be repaired, or does the damage have to grow out?"

To Kathy Rogerson, of Olay: "Why did Olay change its name from Ulay?" (sorry, but product name changes bug me, I'd like to know how brands justify them).

And finally I'll ask Dr James Russell: "Do you believe they'll ever be a home tooth whitening product that can match a professional dentist treatment?"

So there is it, a simple way to get your questions answered by some of the big brand insiders.


* This is a sponsored post for P&G via Handpicked Media.

Organic Colour Systems: a new way of hair colouring

I've put my hair through a lot. Colouring, straightening, Yuko, IHR, daily blow-drying...so it's not surprising it's in poor condition.

It’s true that some of these things I could avoid. But as a very dark brunette who's going very, very grey, colouring is a must, so I have to have my roots done at least every 6 weeks.

To top it all, I have an incredibly sensitive scalp. Hair dye tends to sting when it's been on for more than 5mins, and for the next two - five days I'm generally very itchy and flaky. And when I say flaky I mean I probably lose an entire layer of skin on my scalp. It’s unpleasant, and it's a lot to go through to cover the grey.

So you can see why I was intrigued to find out about Organic Colour Systems from Herb UK, a completely new way of colouring hair. This system contains really low levels of PPD, whic is the stuff that's in all permanent hair colours, to make it, well permanent. Organic Colour Systems contain 0.6%, but according to EU regulations, dyes can contain up to 6%. PPD is the ingredient most people who have reactions to hair dye are allergic to, and to make it even more tricky, it's one of those ingredients that can have a cumulative effect, one day you don't react, the next your head swells up.

I was lucky enough to go to Karine Jackson's salon to try out Organic Colour Systems. I was sent a skin test beforehand just to be sure I wouldn't have a reaction to the colour, and in all my years of having my hair coloured, this is something that’s never happened before!

My stylist, Arash, explained the processes to me. Unlike standard hair colours which are put on to dry hair, this system is put onto wet, just washed hair. After the wash my hair was wrapped in a hotel towel to open up the cuticles and prepare the hair for the colour. Once the colour is on you’re popped under the heat while it develops. Unlike normal dyes, it smells lovely, a sort of herby liquorice smell.

I was on high alert for my scalp stinging, and although it prickled very slightly, it was nothing compared to what I've put up with in the past.

I was really pleased with the colour, which matched my previous shade well – and yet managed to look a tad more natural. Even Mr Beauty Cult commented on how natural it looked, so it must be true!

Now normally the itching begins the next day. So I waited, and waited. And there was nothing. Just as I was about to jump up and down the joy, three days later the flaking began. When I brushed my hair mid way through the day I could see large flakes, and this carried on for about 36 hours or so and is now (five days later) just a small amount of small flakes. This might sound bad to you, but to me it’s much better than my usual experience. There was no itching, no scratching, and no sore areas from itching too much.

Plus, using the Organic Colour System means I’m doing less damage to my hair, and hopefully long term its condition will improve.

The lovely Karine is determined to get to the bottom of the problems, so she’s invited me back again in 6 weeks when we’ll hopefully solve my itchy head issues once and for all. She’s also recommended I get a Mason and Pearson brush, and give my hair and scalp a good brush daily to really exfoliate it.

I’ll report back again after that! I’ll also let you know how well the colour lasts – though at the moment it’s looking great.

A colour with Arash costs £64, and a cut £33.50 if done with colour, or £43.50 on it’s own.

To find an Organic Colour Systems salon near you call 01590 613490

The Karine Jackon salon is gorgeous, and I'd highly recommend Arash.

Karine Jackson
24 Litchfield Street, London WC2H 9NJ 
020 7836 0300

All of a flutter: M2 Lashes duo

We all want longer, fuller lashes. I'm pretty spoilt; mine are long and quite thick. But I'd still like more! Luckily, there are two new products for me to try.













M2 Beaute has a duo of products that claim to show results after 6-8 weeks.

1) Eyelash Activating Serum
Apply direct to the base of the lash line on the upper eyelids in the evening after cleansing. It comes with a fine brush, so it's easy to get it in the right place.
2) Eyelash Revitalizing Gloss
Apply morning and evening directly onto the lashes - it comes with a mascara wand, so it's simple to apply and only takes a moment to dry before you can apply mascara.

Now it's pricey stuff, the Eyelash Activating Serum is £120, and the Eyelash Revitalizing Gloss is £45. So you would expect to see serious results. So I'll update you as to how I get on. In the meantime, the lovely Cosmetic Candy is also running a trial, complete with very detailed 'before' pics of her lashes. Check it out here.

If you want to try it for yourself, the M2 Beaute range is available from Harrods, or online.

Organic Surge: beauty with a conscience

I've noticed the Organic Surge range in Waitrose lately, but didn't pay it a huge amount of attention because a) I'm a skincare snob and only use fairly high end skincare products and b) at the time I didn't need any shower gel, hand soap etc. But what I didn't know about the brand, is that they have ethics.

Organic Surge has a mission to create a better life for the most under privileged people in Africa.  Through profits made from sales, Organic Surge has donated funds to help provide accommodation, food, medical services and education for people in genuine need.


Alan MacKenzie (pictured above), Founder of Organic Surge tells us: "We are proud that, in 2009, Organic Surge donations funded the Baby Care Unit in Kenya Children's Home in Nairobi. The Baby Care Unit cares for 48 sick or abandoned children, from newborns to two-year-olds and Organic Surge funded all costs for nursing care, food and staff for the full year."

Now I think that's pretty amazing. But what I'm truly amazed about is that they don't shout this message from the rooftops. I'm more likely to buy products if I genuinely believe that the company making them is trying to make the world a better place, not just line the pockets of their shareholders.

What's more, if you buy any three Organic Surge skincare products from Boots between now and 25th November 2010, you can get £10 back from Organic Surge just by keeping your receipt, filling out a form online, and sending the form and receipt to Organic Surge by the end of this year.

I haven't tried this range yet, but I'm going to. Because if a beauty company can be based on more than superficiality then that's something I want to be a part of.

UPDATE: I have now tried the Tropical Bergamot Hand & Nail Cream - gorgeous, feels like a high end products (& I have been using Creme De La Mer), and Spiced Lily foaming Bath - wonderfully relaxing and left my skin super soft.

Now here's a pic of the products so you know what to look out for when shopping in Boots, Waitrose, John Lewis or Ocado.

All I want for Christmas...

I'm posting this just in case my husband happens to be reading. Subtle eh? All I want for Christmas are these two gorgeous items.

These Alex Monroe earrings match a necklace I was given for my birthday. I love it, and have been lusting over the earrings ever since.

The bag is from Whistles, a fabulous soft grey leather which will work for everyday use or for evenings.  Nuff said.

So what do you want for Christmas?

Sisley pre and post party facials

Christmas is hard on your skin. Cold weather, central heating, alcohol, lack of sleep and party make-up all put your skin through it's paces - just at that time of year when we want to be looking great. 

Help is at hand as Sisley have come up with a gem of an idea with their pre and post party facials. These two express facials especially developed with the Christmas party season in mind.

In a nutshell, the Pre Party Preparation facial smooths, refines and plumps up the skin making it perfect for make-up applicaiton. The Post Party Recovery facial gets you back into condition the morning after, rehydrating, adding vitamins and minerals and generally undoing the damage that alcohol and lack of sleep can do to your skin.

Both facials are available at the Sisley counter in Selfridges London. A £35 booking fee applies, but it's redeemable agaist two of more Sisley skincare products if bought on the day.

If you want to be super-organised you can pre-book your facial for before or after your next big party night. Call 020 7318 3475 to make a booking.

Win a pair of Etre Touchy Gloves!

Want to win some fab gloves? Well look no further! 

You may have seen my post singing the praises of Etre Touchy Gloves. As a long time cold hand sufferer, these gloves have been a revelation to me.

The clever little fellas keep your hands warm and allow you to keep texting, iPading and telephoning to your hearts content. They are made with 100% lambs wool, so they're lovely and soft, and come in a range of nifty colours and designs.

They also allow you to eat cake, go fishing, use chopsticks or take photos, all while keeping your hands toasty! Just think what fun you could have :)

The very lovely people at Etre are giving away three pairs of these fab gloves (worth £19.99 a pair) all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a pair is follow this blog and add a comment to this post telling me what your favourite handcream is. Easy eh?

Rules: Only one entry person.
You must follow the Beauty Cult  blog to enter
Winners must reply to notification of winning within 48 hours, otherwise we'll pick another winner.
Only open to UK residents (sorry).
Competition closes at Midday (GMT) on 29th November 2010

Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel

I was sent this product a year or so ago by Elemis, and to be honest, didn't really know what to do with it.

Last weekend I was (rather stupidly) running down a steep muddy hill wearing a pair of wedge boots. It's the sort of thing you do when you've got a seven year old (well maybe not the wedge boots, but I don't wear flats). Anyway, I fell and twisted my ankle, ouch. And I felt like a fool.

At home that evening it was really hurting, and a couple of paracetamol didn't really help. Then I remembered this product. It contains arnica, witch hazel and birch and Elemis say 'it is perfect for tired legs and muscle tension'. I applied a thin layer and it really helped. It cooled down the whole area AND helped the pain. I used it morning and night for a few more days and I'm sure it really helped my sore ankle get better faster.

Now at £27 it's a little pricey to have in your first aid kit. But it has many others uses including cooling your legs on long haul flights, to soothe aching muscles after exercise, or to help relax at bedtime.

Instant Refreshing Gel is available online at Time to Spa, or from your usual Elemis counters.

Etre Touchy Gloves

I get very cold hands. (actually hands and feet, but we'll save feet for a future post). And I do LOVE my iPhone. I own lots of gloves, some cheap, some expensive, some with fingers, some without. The fundamental problem with gloves is that in order to keep your hands really warm (surely their main purpose?) they need fingers, and gloved fingers can't do all the stuff that fingers are supposed to do. Therein lies the problem.

Enter Etre's Touchy Gloves; they're normal woolly gloves, with the ends of the thumb and digit finger missing. Simple idea, yet it makes such a difference. Not only can use my iPhone and iPad (I know, I'm such an Apple girl) with these babies on, but I can also rummage in the bottom of my bag, find my keys and open my front door in them - result.

Yes the ends of my thumb and finger get a little chilly, but I scrunch my hands up when I'm not texting or whatever. It's a small price to pay. On the tube today a woman opposite me could not stop staring at my gloves, either she wants some, or she's some sort of hand freak.

They come in many nifty colour combinations, but the lovely PR people for Etre sent me the black with grey tips, which I love. In fact they're just like the ones in this picture of someone using an iPad, which isn't me as my nails are purple today and my hands are much smaller than those.

They're £19.99 which isn't cheap for gloves, but at least you'll get lots of wear out of them, if like me, you usually buy gloves that end up living in the bottom of your handbag.

You can see the whole range on the Etre shop site.