Author Archives: Sophia Mead

JUMPING ON THE BAMBOO BANDWAGON

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Every day we are learning about new trends, ingredients and ‘game changing’ science that will be the answer to our beauty worries.

The latest one to land in our inbox is Bamboo – one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet.

So, what are the supposed brilliant benefits of Bamboo?

  • Promotes healing – Bamboo contains methanol that boasts powerful anti-inflammatory properties that soothes and regenerates the skin.
  • Enhances radiance – Bamboo actually contains 70% natural silica – an organic compound that’s essential for the body and maintains the elasticity in the skin to keep your skin looking healthy, supple and radiant.
  • Strengthens & repairs – Bamboo extract can help to strengthen the outer barrier of the skin that protects it from bacteria and environmental pollutants. A stronger barrier makes it easier for the skin to fight off particles that can potentially damage and prematurely age it.
  • Reduces melanin production – Bamboo extract can reduce melanin production, helping dark spots and areas of hyperpigmentation fade away. Great for repairing skin after the summer months.
  • Hydrates skin – Thanks to the proteins, lipids and amino acid that it contains, bamboo is an unbelievable natural skin hydrator.

 

LET’S GET BAMBOOZLED!

Give these products a try

Naturaline Swiss Cosmetics Bamboo Body Lotion (£8.99)

Extracts of organic Bamboo optimises the moisture balance and elasticity of the skin to leave it smooth and supple.

Korres – Water, Bamboo and Freesia Eau de Toilette (£30)

Opening with fresh Bamboo, the EDT develops into notes of aromatic Freesia and Lotus Flower, before settling on a Sandalwood base. The unique formula is based on Water, one of the primary elements of the universe, and a symbol of purity and clarity.

Eborian – Korean Skin Therapy (£29)

BAMBOO MATTE is a 2-in-1 hybrid moisturiser that combines a sensation of intense hydration with a matte finish in one single step. Captured in a fine cream with a powdery effect, its Bamboo Waterlock complex protects the skin barrier from drying out while the Bamboo powder makes an excellent natural mattifier, to leave skin shine-free and matte.

 

Frost’s favourite… IMMERSIVE BAR

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London is packed with immersive bars that will amp up your drinking experience but we’ve discovered a GEM on the outskirts of Chelsea that’s brilliant for groups and those looking for a bit of role play and escapism.

A WESTERN WONDERLAND – MOONSHINE SALOON

Sometimes in London, you stop and really take in your surroundings and think, ‘Yep, I live in the best city in the world’. We had that feeling when we were being questioned by the County Sheriff in Moonshine Saloon about Stinky Pete’s whereabouts, while we were dressed head to toe in Western gear, naturally.

The Moonshine Saloon is a ‘bring your own liquor’ establishment and recommends you bring a 35cl spirit. We took a 70cl and learned they only use 35cl anyway so don’t get caught out, although they do return the bottle after your session.

From the outside on the calm streets of Chelsea, the venue can go somewhat unnoticed but as soon as you enter you’ll be feeling like you’ve entered West World. The actors don’t break character at all and engage with you throughout, playing out a storyline as they go.

It’s fun, it’s harmless and it’s a great excuse to practice a Southern accent.  Visit the Moonshine Saloon website to book.

 

 

FROST’S FIVE TIPS FOR A ‘FESTIVAL READY’ FACE

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Want to know what our favourite thing about summer is? Besides the heat, pool parties and endless excuses to consume ice cream? It’s the makeup. So many great opportunities to experiment including bronzed beach looks, festival glam and rosy glows in the evening sunshine.  We’ve pulled together our top tips for prepping ahead of finessing that that al-fresco partying look so take note, take flight and enjoy the final furores of festival season!

 

  1. Prep your skin before you go

Your skin is going to need a bit of TLC during the festival, thanks to the occasional bevvy you’ll enjoy (ahem…) right through to the constant UVA and UVB exposure (which can be really damaging for skin). So, in order to make sure you’re giving your make up the best canvas, use a hydrating cream and treat yourself to a deep cleanse.

 

  1. Know your look

Now, we’re not saying less is more (because we’re all about the excess when it comes to ‘Fezzy Glam’, but think of it this way – it’s not always appropriate to mix leopard print and zebra print, is it?! Make sure you have the full image of the look you want (and complimenting swatches) ahead of setting off. You don’t want to be ‘the one that threw it together’ now, do you?

 

  1. Be realistic

How likely is it that you and your friends are actually going to be commit to the intricate ombre face art you’ve seen? If it seems a bit ambitious, plan some designs that are achievable and quick to complete so that you don’t sacrifice on the quality of the look.

 

  1. Set up for success with a setting spray

You’re going to be hot, you’re going to be dancing and you might even be smooching so make sure you invest in a strong setting spray. This will be your best friend for making sure that look you’ve perfected sticks with you as you party hard into the early hours.

 

  1. Dance, clear skin, sleep, repeat

We’d recommend not being ambitious with expectations around your skincare during your trip. Are you really going to do a double cleanse, tone and exfoliating treating after a session in the tent? Probably not. BUT, if you are doing a weekender and want fresh festival face each day, try your best to remove the look the night before and apply an overnight mask – it’ll hydrate your skin and give you a fresh canvas for the next day… or should we say ‘the next partay!’

LA Girl Cosmetics has shared its favourite festival looks, to give you some inspo for the festival scene. Check out their site for more ‘must haves’.

 

BYE-BYE BORING BLOW DRY!

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Let’s be honest here, the main reason washing your hair is such a drag isn’t the refreshing time in the shower. It’s the lengthy blow dry process. Blow drying in the summer? Far too hot to handle. Blow drying in the winter? Nuh-uh, we’re cold and want to snuggle down in bed. Blow drying in the morning? Too much effort for our sleepy heads. You get the gist.

Enter, PowerDry.ME! PowerDry.ME is the brainchild of a Canadian brand, Design.ME, which is selling out of this beaut blow dry essential across the pond. The spray decreases your drying time by up to 50% (really!) so technically you can have a brilliant blow and style in half the time– WIN.

It’s a specially formed micro emulsion which coats hair fibres, while controlling frizz, offering heat and UV protection and smoothing and conditioning your hair. It also has a really soft, sweet scent too – a bit like a traditional bubble bath!

Ready for the super complicated usage instructions? Here we go…

  • Mist onto damp hair from roots to ends
  • Dry
  • Style

See, miracles do happen!

How much? £14.95 for 230ml

I need it! Visit Sally Beauty (online or in store) to purchase.

Frost’s Favourite… MASCARA

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The segment that brings you the lowdown on what we’re absolutely LOVING each week!

What’s wonderful this week?

Oh My How High mascara by butter LONDON

 

 

Prove it…

OK, so hear us out. Mascara can be your best friend or your worst enemy – we rarely find that it’s the ‘middle ground mate’. We can confirm, that Butter’s OMHH mazzy will be the yin to your yang, the Holly to your Fern and the Beyoncé of your make up bag (sorry ‘chelle and Kel’).

Its thick bristles helps to make your lashes really dense. Perfect if you’re a volume seeker.

The piece de resistance of this beauty though, is absolutely the length it brings to your flutterers. The curved wand can really connect with your lashes and helps to dramatically pull them up and the traditional thickness of them collects enough of the product to apply a generous coating in just a few sweeps.

Like any mascara, best results come once lashes are curled and primed however if you don’t have time for these steps, you’ll still get great results from OMHH only.

Hook me up!

Purchase this beauty essential here: https://www.feelunique.com/brands/butter-london/Eyes

NOTE: Frost’s Favourite is not influenced by any sponsor or gifting

 

 

LK Bennett branches into fragrance

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London based LK Bennett, mostly known for its clothes and beautiful handbags, has decided to take a slice of the fragrance market with the launch of Signature. At Frost, we can’t get enough of its fresh, citrus scent and stunning art-deco inspired glass bottle, dressed with the iconic LK Bennett branding.

Unlike some of our favourite perfumes, Signature’s distinct tones will be noticeable long after application and everything about this product screams luxury. If you buy just a 30ml bottle, you’re getting that luxury at a fraction of the price too!

Scents apparently include ‘hypnotic’ top notes of citrus, pepper and rhubarb. Heart notes of rose, jasmine and ylang ylang add a floral flavour, with base notes of warm woods, dry amber, musk and vetiver.

Signature is available in three sizes (30ml – £35, 50ml – £49 and 100ml – £69 and is available to buy on www.lkbennett.com

THE HUMBLE GRAPE – RESTAURANT REVIEW

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London wine bars are two a penny but when you find one you like, just like a lucky penny, you’ll never let it go.

We were invited to try the Humble Grape’s latest opening at the lively Devonshire Square, pretty much opposite Liverpool Street station. Tucked away on Devonshire Row, The Humble Grape is extremely humble in size (see what we did there?) so we’d recommend booking your table in advance but this hideaway is certainly every wine lover’s dream.

Each wall is decorated with some of the finest bottles of wine you could imagine and, what’s more, they’re doing Retail Monday every (you guessed it) Monday. All the bottles can be purchased at their cheaper retail prices. All day long. The team advised us that it’s a hugely popular event and we’re not ashamed to say a Monday visit is already in the diary.

One of the things that surprised us most about this place was its incredible quality of food. Like the venue size, the menu is ‘humble’ but offers a fantastic selection of meats and side dishes, as well as a few mains to line your stomach if needed. The kitchen is tiny and fully visible from the seating area so at first, we were a little apprehensive about how the food would compare with the fantastic wine but we’re delighted to say that we were pleasantly surprised on a ridiculous scale.

The quality of the meats is second to none and the Iberica pork dish was mouth-wateringly tender and packed with flavour. It was topped with the most delicious slice of chorizo we might have even eaten and was accompanied by what we consider to be, quite possibly, the most deliciously crispy garlic potatoes.

Essentially, what we’re trying to say here is that we completely taken aback and fell in love with the food straight away. As a foodie, it was an incredible bonus and while the wine was extra tasty, it would be the food that pulls us back. Quality not quantity is clearly their motto.

We definitely do need to give a nod to the wine though but also the service. The waiting staff clearly knew their stuff and could of course partner every wine with every dish on the menu.

For us, the standout tipple was the Weingut Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc I, 2015, Pfalz, Germany and whilst the wine isn’t especially cheap per glass (roughly averaging at around £10) you definitely won’t be looking back towards your Blossom Hill after you’ve sipped this Sauvignon!

Finally, we’d be doing a disservice if we wrapped up this review without touching on the atmosphere. This bar is cosy, yet sophisticated but unlike some wine bars, doesn’t even have a whiff of pretentiousness. It’s clearly a place you can go to sit back, relax and enjoy some good food, good wine and the good company you’ll be taking along with you.

So, next time you fancy a genuinely great glass of wine or an incredibly tasty and reasonably priced dinner at a place that has a feel like your splashing out but no price tag to match, give The Humble Grape a try.

We were guests at The Humble Grape.

Book here: https://www.humblegrape.co.uk/wine-bar/liverpool-street/

CUBANA WATERLOO  – RESTAURANT REVIEW    

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The amazing city of London, which we’re lucky enough to live in, is known for its celebration of cultures and Cubana celebrates culture like no other.

Just a stone’s throw from Waterloo station, Cubana is pretty tricky to miss when you pass it on the street due to its wall murals, brightly coloured outdoor seating area, authentic Cuban music blasting from its speakers and the traditional food stand out front (which you can purchase at insanely low prices). As soon as you head inside, you feel like you’ve been transported from London to Cuba, with Mother Mary statues and bold bright colours covering every single surface.

The highlight of Cubana, aside from its décor, has to be the food. Cubana does everything from main stand out dishes through to sharing tapas and individual bites and sweet, delectate desserts. You could definitely manage a few sides to go with your main and given the flavours are so good here, I’d definitely recommend it. The chorizo croquettes, lime covered chicken wings and yukka chips (a bizarre texture to grasp if you’re unfamiliar but incredibly tasty!) and the Pollo Criollo (free-range chicken, seared and casseroled in fresh orange, onions, garlic and sherry) was sweet and delicious. Definitely order yourself a side of their slaw too. It’s creamy, well-seasoned and goes with everything.

We ordered a few of our bits as starters and were getting a little nervous when we were waiting a while but it turns out everything was brought over as art of the main so definitely be really clear if you want your food staggered. In all honesty though, we really didn’t mind because it meant more of a feast to pick at!

The drinks menu is really reasonably priced and they do a two for one happy hour which even holds on a Saturday (quite difficult to find in the City!) which is from 4pm – 7pm and offers two for one on certain cocktail glasses and also jugs. A great bargain which we found drew the crowds in as soon as 4pm struck. If you fancy embracing the Cuban culture I’d recommend the strawberry and mango colada which genuinely just tastes like a smoothie (so drink responsibly!) but you also can’t go wrong with the jug of mojito to share. Absolutely packed with mint (and rum!) this is insanely refreshing and quite easily one of the best mojitos in town.

The venue is really open with high ceilings and is staggered across two floors which are split into three rooms. If you can, we suggest trying to get one of the podium tables. They’re both raised up and are really secluded so you have your own, sectioned off taste of Cubana (you’ll need to book these though because they only have two in the venue).

Don’t just consider Cabana as a daytime eatery though. We’re told the weekend evenings get LIVELY with live music and salsa dancers. Should you be heading down there soon, expect to see us back there!

You can book Cubana here: https://www.cubana.co.uk/

We were guests at Cubana restaurant and asked the owner to describe what’s good about the venue in his own words. He said: Cubana is London’s freshest, juiciest bar-restaurant, where you can enjoy authentic Cuban and Latin-American dishes, freshly-prepared with free-range produce, the very best Mojitos and fresh tropical cocktails and late night live Salsa – all at reasonable prices