Have you discovered Duck & Dry yet?

‘I’m just popping to the hairdressers, Darling’ suddenly has a whole new meaning when you pass through the doorway of these chic London blow dry bars. Not only is the setting luxurious, but guess what, they have a bar. Yes, really, where you can order prosecco or cocktails. So why not make it a blow dry party? With group tables available, where you can drink and chat in between having your hair done, you can have a lovely social time and come out looking stunning too. Oh, and they have a nail bar – it just gets better, doesn’t it?

Duck & Dry currently have blow dry bars in five iconic locations – Chelsea, Mayfair, Islington, Spitalfields and Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. The system is simple and easy – there’s a set menu of services and styles with set prices and you can book on-line. There are special bundle prices too with free prosecco.

But there’s more, Duck & Dry have developed their own special range of hair products which use natural active ingredients and have been thoughtfully formulated to be the very best for your hair, and they’re rather special.

The Fine Feathers range is designed for fine hair. The shampoo adds volume and enlivens limp hair. It’s incredibly lightweight, and cleanses thoroughly. The matching conditioner is ultra-lightweight too and contains honey, virgin coconut oil and shea butter to add a boost of moisture and lustre to your hair. I tried these and my hair felt fabulous and smelt great.

In contrast, the Full Feathers range is nourishing and reparative for thicker and coarser hair. The shampoo contains aloe vera, coconut and essential oils so it leaves the hair incredibly smooth, strong and beautifully scented. The conditioner is a reparative blend of aloe vera, coconut oil and shea butter to strengthen and smooth each strand, restoring moisture, sealing split ends and fighting frizz. 

And the good news is, if you don’t live in London, or even if you do, you can buy these amazing products on-line too. The shampoo and conditioners are £18 and £20 each, but if you want a real treat, they come in a gift set with the Pre-Heat-Prep hair primer, which is enriched with natural actives and essential oils, and great for leaving a super smooth, frizz free and shiny finish. The gift set is beautifully presented in a sparkly pouch and at £50 would make a fabulous Christmas gift.

Another thing I really like about their website are the Hair Tutorials which explain how to use all their products, so that you can look as if you’ve just been to the hairdresser every day.

This brand is a great new concept and I love it.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

I am loving Babe Spirit, the new scent in the Babe range from Missguided. Apparently it’s targeted at teenagers, but surely I could still be mistaken for an eighteen-year old? What was that? Sorry I can’t hear you, and I shall wear this lovely perfume, so there.

The fragrance is beautifully light, so you can indulge in a good spray, even of the Eau de Parfum without fear of overdoing it.

It’s described as floating in an ocean of freesia, watermelon and candy floss, followed by a softening into waves of green floral accord – a base of soothing white musks and woody accords nestled in ribbons of spun sugar. I really can’t better this depiction.

With Christmas heading towards us super-fast, the generously-sized 80 ml Eau de Parfum is a lovely gift – beautifully presented with a RRP of just £30. However, hot tip, at the moment you can grab it on special offer for just £15 from thefragranceshop.co.uk

Check out these lovely gift sets too:

Gift set – 80ml eau de parfum with 10ml mini-spray at just £30

Gift Set – 80ml eau de parfum with 220ml body mist also at just £30

So there you go, that’s a few items on your Christmas present list which you can tick off. You’re welcome.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Do you feel a little melancholy when the clocks go back? Yes, the extra hour in bed is welcome, but it’s also a sharp jolt into the dark cold evenings ahead and the realisation that those balmy summer evenings really are behind us now.

But take heart. It doesn’t need to be miserable. Like the Scandinavian nations, who embrace their long wintery nights we can turn our home into a cosy sanctuary too, with clever use of atmospheric illumination from stunning wall and ceiling lights, and strategically-placed lamps. And if you’re looking for ideas, head straight to Pagazzi. A family company, they have the most fabulous selection of high-quality lighting. I’m in awe. Some of their designs are so unusual and stunning I’m almost looking forward to winter now.

Being a simple soul Maeve LED Lamp in Black & Gold or White & Gold really caught my eye. At just £29 this is a beautiful quality table lamp, and what I love is it’s battery-powered, so no trailing leads, just pick it up and place it wherever you need light. The marble effect glass shade and gold-coloured metal base are super attractive, whether by your bed or on a dining table.

But there’s more. I’m stunned by their selection of floor lights. They really do make an eye-catching feature even during the day, and at night their soft light creates such a beautiful ambience to the room. I particularly love the Mason Antique Brass Floor Lamp. At just over a metre high, this tall cylindrical lamp has a satin antique brass finish to the decorative tree design. I just want to keep staring at it. It creates a real focus to any room and is surprisingly good value at £199. If you love this design as much as I do you can also buy matching table-lights and lampshades. And if antique brass doesn’t work in your colour scheme, they do the same model in copper, white, grey or polished chrome – great options whether your living room is traditional or modern.

Their chandeliers are true statements pieces, such as the Lochranza Rustic Antler 6 Light Pendant at £349  or the Camburn Brushed Gold LED Halo Pendant at £129.

These are just my choices – but they have so much more. So, if you’re feeling the need to revamp your home and want to create an inviting winter escape from the weather outside, do check out Pagazzi for ideas you couldn’t even have imagined.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

So once again Christmas is heading towards us like an express train with faulty brakes. I love it really, but it’s easy to get into automatic pilot – turkey, cheap packs of cards, a box of crackers.

Sometimes we need to remember that life can be short – I’ve had a couple of reminders recently – and see how we can maximise the simple pleasures which we’re so privileged to experience. Can I suggest that a good place to start is by sending a beautifully-crafted Me & McQ card to someone you care about? They’ll be thrilled and treasure it, I promise you.

Me & McQ is a UK family company which has been making beautiful and distinctive cards for nearly forty years. Their cards have won the prestigious International Greeting Card Awards Competition (Louie Awards) twice no less, competing against the whole of the USA plus other countries – wow.

These cards are not just greetings cards – they’re mini works of art and are crafted by a small team of paper engineers and illustrators. They have cards for every occasion, but I’m blown away by their new 3D pop up Christmas Card collection. Twelve new designs, from traditional to amusing, they include Santa exploring his garden shed, sleighs topped high with presents, snowy village scenes and cosy Christmas tree designs. The festive lantern card is stunning, and they haven’t forgotten delightful nativity scenes too. The cards are laser cut, using premium quality paper and highest quality printing ink and they’re hand finished.

The cards are available from independent retailers nationwide, Fortnum and Mason, Harrods and www.meandmcq.com, at the very reasonable price of £6.99.

Can I also mention the lovely ‘Let It Snow’ story book written by Lauren Everdell and illustrated by Reuben McHugh, It has its own Me&McQ keepsake card to match and tells the story of a proud, free-spirited cat that learns a life lesson from his closest friend about a warm welcome. At just £6.99 too, this makes a special little extra gift.

Do check out the website for these and other lovely cards.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Do you suffer with ‘panda eyes’? I like pandas, but it’s not a great look on an evening out – or in my case whilst trying to do my best samba at a dance competition.

You may know that dancers use our own body weight in eyeliners and eye shadows. Like everything in the dance world, it’s about fantasy and illusion, and under the spotlights those huge dark-painted eyes look amazing. But, and here’s the problem, after spending simply ages creating a work of art where my eyes should be, a later glance in the mirror frequently reveals that my perfectly-defined violet eyelids have decamped south.

So I’m constantly on the hunt for ‘stay put’ makeups, and was excited to discover KVD Vegan Beauty. Created by a tattoo artist, it takes inspiration from this art-form and they really understand bold and dramatic makeup which doesn’t budge.

Eyeliner is integral to competition dancing – cat eye, winged, patterned or layered colour – the list gets longer, but these eye-catching (pardon the pun) designs are not restricted to the dance floor – people wear beautiful eye designs for a great night out too. So you’ll be pleased to know that Tattoo Pencil Liner Waterproof Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner definitely lives up to its name. In 17 different colours, it’s soft to apply, leaving a highly-pigmented clear line which can be blended or left to dry. Once dry it didn’t budge, even on my eyes. It was easy to draw graceful lines, or blend as a super long-lasting eye shadow.

The Moongarden Vegan Eyeshadow Palette is a dream – 12 shades, from matte base colours to the dramatic Metallic Cobalt and Satin Glitter Moss, all in a beautiful box designed by tattoo artist Myriam Lumpini. The key to their stand-out appearance and durability is their unusually concentrated pigment. Perfect for a Christmas party and a great Christmas gift.

Having deep-set eyes, my mascara often spreads onto skin, so how great that Full Sleeve Long + Defined Tubing Mascaraabsolutely doesn’t because it forms polymer sleeves around each lash which remain locked in place however much you sweat. It’s super lightweight, and again, packed with pigment, guaranteeing blackest black, long, defined eye lashes right until you decide to remove it, simply using warm water and finger pressure. This does exactly what it says on the tin.

So if you, like me love to dance hard but stay looking great, check out this great brand. The gel eyeliners are between £19 to £21, the mascara is £22 and the beautiful Moongarden Vegan Eyeshadow Palette is on special offer at £38. The website also provides useful tips on applying each product – do take a look.

By Dr K Thompson, award winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

St. Pancras International has officially unveiled its much-loved and highly-anticipated Christmas Tree, in partnership with Hatchards, the UK’s oldest bookshop and one of the station’s many iconic retailers. It is a brilliant partnership when one considers the magical ability of both books and train travel to transport people to exciting new places.

The St. Pancras International Christmas Tree has been a London icon for well-over a decade with a reputation for iconic brand partners and pushing the boundaries of what traditionally constitutes a Christmas tree. Over the years, the Tree has played music, displayed light shows and even snowed as part of its ambition to bring festive cheer to travellers and tourists.

The Tree also includes the Christmas Grotto, located on The Grand Terrace of St. Pancras from the 17^th of November. During their visit, children can meet Santa, enjoy activities with Elves, listen to stories and even take their parents for a trip to Hamleys and Hatchards where they can receive 20% off with their grotto ticket.

The 2023 Christmas Tree stands at 12 metres tall, and features a winding staircase, wrapping around 270 shelves with an impressive array of more than 3,800 books, which have been hand-painted and inscribed with titles of Christmas Classics such as Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” and many more. 

Within the tree there are eight cubby holes where children and adults alike can sit and fully immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas. In each booth, there are speakers which allow customers to select a five minute excerpt from an audiobook or reading provided exclusively by Penguin Books, featuring authors including Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith, Robin Stevens, Gabrielle Zevin, Alice Winn, Rick Riordan, Michael Morpurgo, Richard Osman and Tom Fletcher.  With each booth having two options, guests will be able to choose from sixteen different audios.

These cubby holes are a great free attraction for the whole family or the perfect place to take five and relax while travelling through St. Pancras. Do visit such a magical Christmas tradition at St Pancras International https://stpancras.com/ this most amazing of historic stations.

Photography – courtesy of Sam Lane Photography

Have you ever noticed that wearing a particular colour can make you feel good? When I had my ‘Colours’ done I was surprised and intrigued how my energy levels and emotions changed as the practitioner draped me in different-coloured fabrics.

Well Mike Booth, from Aura-Soma and founder of AEOS, believes that colours can benefit our consciousness and wellbeing. If this is all new to you, this link explains the philosophy.

So why are AEOS skincare products different?

Well firstly their active plant extracts, essences and essential oils are extracted from plants grown on their own organic, biodynamic Shire Farm in Lincolnshire, described as a thriving sanctuary, and the water used is drawn from an artesian well drilled on that same land. The basis of all their skincare products is oil from their own Spelt crops, a potent antioxidant packed with vitamin E, proteins and essential fatty acids, to revitalise, moisturise and regenerate, and is particularly good for very dry, prematurely aged, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

Their second distinguishing feature is the inclusion of tinctures of gems and crystals prepared using ancient alchemical techniques. Many people, including Mike believe crystals have cleansing, healing and vibrational powers.

And finally, a very unique aspect of AEOS is their focus on the healing powers of colour with the inclusion of 100% natural and plant-derived colours.

If you’re drawn to their Blue range this signals a desire for peace and serenity. These use skin-soothing chamomile with amethyst, turquoise and emerald, to help you slow down, breathe deeply and to soothe stress.

A desire for their Pink range indicates a need for more kindness, caring and love – remember to nurture and look after yourself. They’re enhanced with fire opal, rose quartz and rubellite to support the heart chakra.

If the Yellow formulations appeal, maybe you need more joy, happiness and self-confidence? This colour is associated with a balancing of the nervous system and centering. These include Harmonising Body Lotion with soothing calendula, and sapphire, turquoise and clear quartz, and Awakening Beauty Body Lotion, rich in crystal essences of fire opal, calcite and zincite.

If this has peaked your interest, then for only £9.50 you can try an AEOS starter kit in Blue or Pink to experience their benefits. These are great because they contain eight travel-sized (3ml) tubes – three cleansing products, an exfoliant, a conditioner, a serum, a hydrating mist and a moisturiser. They’re also really handy to grab if you’re going away for the weekend.

I really liked the products in the Pink range – easy to apply and they felt great on my skin. Maybe I need to include a little self-care in my life – hm?

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Do you ever feel bewildered by all the different moisturisers, serums, toners and everything else that are available to slap on your skin? I mean what are they, which should you use, and when?

Well a great place to start is Glow Recipe, because it was co-founded by skin care specialists Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, who have a passion to demystify the recipe for your healthiest skin.

They pair antioxidant-rich fruit with gentle yet powerful active ingredients to create the best skin care regime for you, and they also consider your complexion’s ever-changing needs. So if you have dry areas and oily areas (combination skin) or one day you wake up with a huge spot on your nose, just head to the Glow Recipe website and they’ll have something to help.

I love their website because you can search by your skin concern under the ‘Shop All’ menu. If you have a particular problem, be it hyperpigmentation, redness or dryness just click on the link and find exactly what you need. Equally if you want a particular ingredient, such as retinol or ceramides, then you can use the ‘Clinically Effective Ingredients’ links. If you have a penchant for a particular fruit ingredient – fear not, these links are listed too.

Then once you’ve decided on your purchase, head to the Cult Beauty website for some fabulous Glow Recipe deals.

I particularly love the Glow Recipe Plum Hydration Heroes – a boxed set of moisturiser and gloss lip balm. These are not just your regular moisturising products, but they’re specially formulated for intensive hydration. You’re probably aware that hyaluronic acid is a great hydrator, but these Heroes are packed with a blend of not just one, but five multi-weight hyaluronic acids to really lock in moisture for plump-looking skin. But there’s more, they also include another hydrator, polyglutamic acid, plus three antioxidant-rich plums (kakadu, illawarra, and burdekin) which hydrate, nourish, and rejuvenate your skin’s appearance. I can see why they’re named Heroes. At just £39 for the attractively packaged set at Cult Beauty these are definitely not just for Christmas.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.