|
|
|
Archive for the ‘Tried & Tested’ Category
« Older Entries
Friday, May 4th, 2012
I don’t know about you, but I take ages to prepare for a summer holiday – and I’m not just talking about packing or my body. It’s the logistics of preparing my skin, worrying about the sun causing it to slide off into my pina colada (not ideal) and the toll sun, sea and sangria takes. Help is at hand though with a new treatment by Karidis Non-Surgical. Summer Splash is a pre-holiday essential; the treatment starts with a Hydra facial to rejuvenate and prepare your skin (meaning less need for a full face of make-up plus semi-permanent eyelash extensions.
The treatment begins with a full Reveal Imager Skin Analysis to highlight any red areas, brown spots and sun damaged skin and tailor the treatment to your needs. The facial itself uses a mini-vacuum-like pen to remove dead skin cells; unlike other similar sorts of facials, it also deposits moisturiser onto your skin to keep it fresh and hydrated. The facial only took around 20-30 minutes and was completely painless (it’s the same sensation as a vacuum nozzle on your face, yet smaller and much more helpful…). Even though I wasn’t jetting off on holiday the next day, my skin stayed super luminous for a few days afterwards. I think it gave me one of the best bases I’ve ever had from a facial – once I’d applied light foundation on top, it positively glowed. It’s a super speedy skin perfecting genius (wish I could have one at home!) Combined with the semi-permanent lashes, I’d recommend this treatment not just before your summer holiday, but before a big event, party or weekend away.
Priced at £199, Summer Splash is available at Karidis Non-Surgical in St John’s Wood or Syon Park, London.
Tags: Eyelashes, facial, karidis, skin, skin care, summer splash
Posted in Treatments & Salons, Tried & Tested | View Comments
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
JOICO Color Endure
What they say: “An intensive treatment that protects hair color and dramatically improves the condition of your hair, giving a shiny, vivid result.”
What you say: “The bottle is a good colour, but aside from this the packaging is a little dull and isn’t something that would jazz up your bathroom shelf. It smells gorgeous with a flowery and fruity scent. Unlike some other hair masks the texture is very light once on and I really liked this. Once my hair was dry it did feel noticeably softer and shinier, but what I really didn’t like was the build-up of product that it left on my hair. It was left feeling quite heavy with the product and became greasy quite quickly. The heavenly smell and softness that it gives unfortunately aren’t enough to win me over as the heaviness of the product puts me off buying this hair mask or even recommending it to a friend,” said reviewer Libby Elmes, London.
Brocato Vibracolor Fade Prevent Treatment, £11.75
What they say: “Brocato’s treatment is an intelligent approach to color protection – extending and protecting the life of your hair color. This treatment offers a moisture-balancing blend of nourishing ingredients that is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants.”
What you say: “I’m a matter of fact girl; I like products that do what they say they are going to do, look cool in my bathroom and don’t make me smell like a bouquet of flowers all day. For all of those things Brocato VibraColor Masque gets a tick. Packaging is sleek and would look at home in the most chic of bathrooms, it has a slightly ‘hairdresser’ smell which I like (more professional chemical than flower!) and it feels nice in your hands and on your hair. The one thing I would say is that if you have lots of fine hair like me and use too much of this masque it would be too heavy on your hair and look a bit flat by the end of the day. Tiny quantities are needed – pea sized really,” said reviewer Gem King, London.
OCS Aqua Boost Reconstructor
What they say: “Packed full of natural extracts, this treatment will restore damaged or dry hair.”
What you say: “Great packaging, pump dispenser so you can control the amount you are using, no spills. My hair had just been coloured and was really VERY dry, much more than normal. I used the produt a number of times and it made little difference. But on normal, fine hair it would probably work better. Probably great product but didnt help me much in adding hydration to my very dry hair. It did however make it a little easier to comb through. It felt like a gel, water-based. I prefer my hair mositurisers to feel more like a moisturing cream in the hand – like a face moisturiser. I wouldnt recommend this to a friend as it seemed to do nothing to my hair. HOWEVER it may work great on someone with fine, not so dry damaged hair, but if you have a hair stress and need something to work instantly then i would go with something else,” said reviewer Sally Hillman, London.
Tags: brocato, colour, hair, hair colour, hair mask, hair masque, JOICO, ocs
Posted in Tried & Tested | View Comments
Friday, March 16th, 2012
DrLewinn’s Renunail Nourishing Oil, £11
What they say: “A new and improved formula containing a blend of nourishing oils, herbal extracts and multi-vitamins to condition and soften the cuticles.”
What you say: “I suffer from really dry cuticles, so I liked the product because once I used it every day it did everything it claims and made my cuticles feel moisturised and stopped me getting those dry bits around the sides. It wasn’t too greasy, and found that it was absorbed into the skin quite quickly,” said Kornelia Kaczmarek, London.
Gadi 21 Minerals Cuticle Oil, £5
What they say: “Replenishes, strengthens and nourishes, leaving no residue.”
What you say: “Every manicure I have, the manicurist moans about my cuticles so I religiously applied this product to help improve them. And improve them it did. Unlike other cuticle oils I’ve used in the past, this wasn’t too oily and absorbed well into my skin. Thumbs up from me!” said Corrine Challis, Cambridgeshire.
Maison d’Anu Ginseng Cuticle Oil, £9.95
What they say: “Moisturise and protect cuticles with this healing oil infused with healing ginseng extract.”
What you say: “I loved that it was easy to apply, didn’t spill easily and it felt light on the skin. It didn’t make the tips of my fingers greasy, though it left a greasy film on the cuticle afterwards and made nail polish difficult to apply. However, it kept my cuticles moisturised and protected for a few days. The product is completely odourless, which is a pity. I didn’t feel as if it is was a ‘luxury’ products, but a good basic cuticle oil”, said Kath Eastoe, Chelmsford.
Tags: 21 minerals, cuticle cream, cuticle oil, dr lewinn, dr lewinn's, gadi, maison dAnu, nail care, nails
Posted in Tried & Tested | View Comments
Friday, March 9th, 2012
 Beever Volume Dust, £13
What they say: “Use it to create volume, revive yesterday’s style, create extra texture, or absorb any product that has overloaded your hair. Ideal for reviving any style midway through a night out.”
What you say: “Easy to apply though does spill onto shoulders but easily wiped away. Makes hair have a nice matt texture, great for up-do’s. Handy sized package too,” said reviewer Jude Robson, London.
bigsexyhair Powder Play, £10.85
What they say: “Powder Play Volumizing and Texturizing Powder is the perfect product to add volume to any hair type no matter the style or texture. Instantly liquefies itself when applied allowing hair to absorb the product and provide full, voluminous textured hair. It is weightless, odorless and colourless on hair!”
What you say: “First impressions of the product were not good as I actually found the writing on the packaging hard to understand and had to read the small print to find out how to apply it. I tried the product and found the texture quite like sand when i accidentally got it on my skin. However the product did manage to put some life in my day old roots, but not quite like they were promising on the bottle,” said review Amy Heron, Burwell.
Nicky Clarke Tease Me, £14.50What they say: “Nicky Clarke has made a breakthrough using the latest in hair technology to bring you instant backcombing! Tease Me creates effortless high impact volume and dynamic texture in seconds. The Tease Me applicator also allows you to direct the product in specific areas and get right into the roots where you want the most amount of volume, it is just so easy to use!”What you say: “I expected big things from this and it didn’t disappoint; the applicator made it SO easy to use and dispensed a good amount of product straight onto the hair, instead of having to ‘pour’ it either onto my hair or into my hands. It definitely gave me a nice lift. Loved it!”, said Veronica Kenny, Kent.
Tags: beever, bigsexyhair, dust, hair, haircare, Nicky Clarke, powder, styling, volume
Posted in Tried & Tested | View Comments
Friday, March 2nd, 2012
Benefit POREfessional, £23.50, 22ml
What they say: “Pro balm to minimise the appearance of pores.”
What you say: “When I wear foundation, I often have quite visible pores – when I applied this, they disappeared. I first used this product on a night out and at the end of the night, several people commented on how fresh my make-up looked! The texture is amazing, it felt like velvet and I’ve been recommending this to anyone who will listen. It’s definitely my new staple”, said reviewer Lyndsay Smith, North London.
AirBase Makeup Prime, £39.95, 30ml
What they say: “Airbase Prime evens your skin to give the perfect base for silicone make-up. Its moisturising properties make it ideal for everyday use and it is formulated to help ensure your make-up lasts all day.”
What you say: “A jelly like substance, this primer was easy to use and robust enough to take on the go. Whilst it didn’t reduce my pores massively, it did give me a much more even toned complexion before applying foundation. I think it’s quite expensive for the amount you get but a little does go a long way,” said reviewer Jaine Playle, Colchester, Essex.
Estée Lauder Idealist, £46, 30ml
What they say: “This fast action serum is proven to signficantly reduce the look of blotchiness, past blemish marks and discolourations; instantly, skin looks fresher and more radiant.”
What you say: “I loved the smell of this product, really fresh and citrus like. It absorbed easily and quickly into my skin, immediately minisming pores of my T-zone. I believe long-term use of this product would greatly improve my skin tone,” said reviewer Sarah Watson, Newmarket, Suffolk.
Tags: airbase, airbrush, Benefit, Estee Lauder, pore minimiser, porefessional, primer, skin care
Posted in Tried & Tested | View Comments
Friday, February 24th, 2012
 Green People Fruit Scrub Exfoliating Stimulating Facial Cream, £9.95, 50ml
What they say: “An effective natural exfoliating face cream for deeply-cleansed, radiant skin”
What you say: Reviewer Katie Tillard said: “The base of the product was really rich and very creamy. As someone who doesn’t exfoliate often, I would have preferred a few more granules within the cream, but overall, I loved it”
Burt’s Bees Citrus Facial Scrub, £10.99, 55g
What they say: “Uncover smooth, soft skin with this scrub”
What you say: Reviewer Olivia Lawson said: “The scrub was definitely grainy and felt like there was some exfoliation going on but not so bitty that it felt like half my tan was being ripped off! It was a little bit of a faff to dig a bit of the mixture out of the pot without getting it underneath my fingernails but after washing it off, my skin felt smoother but also hydrated, which I liked, as normally my skin feels tight and dry after washing.”
No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator, £11, 75ml
What they say: “Reveal fresher, clearer, younger looking skin within 4 treatments”
What you say: Reviewer Jen McKenzie of Highschool Hollywood, said: “Firstly, I loved the sleek packaging. I can get quite bad skin when working in London, the dirt from the city air and tube commute really affects it. However, this product cleared the redness up very quickly and after a week of using it every other day, my skin looked glowing! It wasn’t as ‘bitty’ as other exfoliating scrubs I have used, primarily it appeared quite smooth but the more you work it into your skin the more you can feel it working. I loved that it also made my hands really soft from rubbing it onto my face!”
Tags: Boots, burt's bees, facial scrub, green people, No7, skin care
Posted in Tried & Tested | View Comments
Monday, November 21st, 2011
Walking into the Thai Square Spa in Covent Garden, I immediately left my baggage at the door and was transported to a faraway, exotic land. Before changing, I had to remove my shoes, a touch I liked but wondered how I’d have faired without pumps on. The changing room was a bit of a downfall – it was plenty big enough for one person but if you happened to be sharing it with someone else, it was quite cosy. No room to be shy here!
The treatment began with a cup of specially blended tea and a foot bath, before my therapist washed and cleaned my feet. The treatment itself is designed to aid lymphatic drainage and stimulate the body’s healing powers – all I cared about was the amazing massage going on. My therapist knew the exact points at which I suffer tension from and kneaded them away quickly and efficiently, checking all the time that the pressure was OK and that I was comfortable. I’ve had many lymphatic drainage massages before but what I loved about this treatment was the mix of the two massage techniques, so it was both relaxing and revitalising.
Apres massage, I was invited to relax in the ‘chill out’ area (pictured above) where I did indeed relax with a cuppa and magazines. Perfect end to a perfect massage.
Tags: lymphatic massage, relax, spa, thai spa square
Posted in Treatments & Salons, Tried & Tested, Uncategorized | View Comments
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
If you suffer from dry, frazzled or damaged hair (and let’s face it, most of us do), look no further than Aveda’s Damage Remedy Haircare Kit, a range of products which help repair and moisturise damaged hair, smoothing the hair cuticle and instantly repairing damage.
With my long, curly and consequently often dry hair, I was excited to try this product which has a great reputation amongst beauty insiders for doing exactly as it says on the bottle.
I’m pleased to report that after using the shampoo and conditioner, which have that lovely plant extract-infused Aveda scent, my hair was squeaky clean and super soft. Once I’d combed through my hair, which was definitely less tangled than usual straight away, I added a healthy squeeze of Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair, a lovely-smelling leave-in conditioner which helps protect against heat drying and chemical processing. I loved the texture of it, which was silky and moisturising, and the result, which meant my curls were defined and swingy.
My hair was left soft and shiny with an improved texture – which is no easy feat, believe me – so this is a product I would definitely try again.
If you fancy giving your hair a little TLC, the mini Aveda Damage Remedy Haircare Kit is available as luxury samples through Latest in Beauty – visit www.latestinbeauty.com to add to your basket. Plus, you’ll receive an invitation to a London-based Aveda counter* where you’ll receive a free Aveda Comforting tea whilst being pampered with a stress-relieving hand massage and an expert hair consultation.
*The Aveda invitation is valid in Harrods, House of Fraser Oxford Street, House of Fraser City, House of Fraser Westfield, Liberty and Peter Jones Sloane Square.
Tags: Aveda, Damage Remedy, Damage Remedy Rescue, haircare, review, tried and tested
Posted in Natural / Organic beauty, Tried & Tested | View Comments
Monday, October 10th, 2011
Something a little different today – I’ve been testing out some slippers which offer beauty benefits for your feet!
If, like me, you like high heels or chic but frankly ill-fitting shoes and often find your poor tootsies aching at the end of the day – or if indeed you are experiencing the beginnings of bunions or your toes seem pushed together, these fabulous slippers might be for you!
Beech Comfys are the ultimate pedicure tool whether on holiday or at home and double as comfy lippers which actually have beauty benefits for your feet too. Beech Comfys basically feature individual cushiony soft toe separators which can help to realign the bones in the feet, improving posture and banishing bunions caused by high heels.
It took a few days for my feet to adjust to the slippers – I had to physically place my toes in the separators, though when I did it was perfectly comfortable – but to my surprise, within a week or so, I was able to slip my toes into them with relative ease. I know from having done yoga how important it is to spread your toes – it helps you have better balance, better posture and lessens back and feet problems in the long run – so that is the philosophy behind the slippers.
I have to say I was really pleased with my Beech Comfys – they are very comfortable, feel very supportive for my feet and are handy for doing my pedicure! You can check out the range at http://www.lovethoseshoes.com/beech-comfys/. One thing I would recommend though is going a size up – I’m usually a 4 and the size 5-6 fit me perfectly.
Do let me know what you think if you try them out!
- Jessica Luper
Tags: Beech Comfys, feet beauty, yoga shoes
Posted in Beauty News, Tried & Tested | View Comments
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
It’s an exciting week at Latest in Beauty as we can offer our members a luxury-sized (and we mean luxury-sized!) legendary product to add to their kit – Mirenesse Sexy Secret Weapon Mascara with Plastic Fantastic Brush.
This Australian-brand mascara really lives up to the hype – and it’s had a lot of it. Awarded “Best Mascara Ever” (Good Medicine Magazine, Australia), “Most Innovative Mascara” (Real Simple Magazine, USA) and “Best Prestige Mascara” (New Woman Magazine, Australia) to name but a few awards, its exclusive breakthrough water-based natural formula gives you really full, curly,lush, thick sexy lashes in a formula that is smear-proof, sweat-proof, smudge-proof, sleep-proof, flake-free and water resistant.
Of course I had to try this for myself. Being of Essex origin, I can’t help but favour fake-looking lashes that ideally create a small wind when I bat my eyelashes. So – did this product live up to the hype? I have to say, I was very impressed. The mascara works on a ‘tube’ basis, meaning the liquid coats each lash, forming a tube around each. I found my eyelashes went super-curly – just as curly as they would usually be when I use an eyelash curler alongside my usual mascara, which is a result – time-saving and space-saving! My eyes looked wide open, my lashes about twice as long and no clumping – each lash was very defined. It’s a natural falsh-lash look, not heavy or clumpy, so ideal for everyday use or for night time use when used with eyeliner.
Just a final note: remember that when you wash off tube mascaras, it looks like your eyelashes are falling out and/or small spiders’ legs are in your sink. I’m used to this as I’ve used these kind of mascaras before but if you’re not, don’t panic, just gently wash without rubbing too hard and the product will come off!
Don’t miss out – you can order this fab mascara worth £20 for just £4 at www.latestinbeauty.com/lxs.
-Jessica Luper
Tags: mirenesse secret weapon mascara
Posted in Tried & Tested | View Comments
|
|
|
