Category Archives: Beauty & Grooming

IS COLLAGEN THE SECRET TO YOUR BEST HAIR EVER? A-LIST HAIRSTYLIST JASON COLLIER SAYS YES, AND HERE’S WHY…

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Jason Collier knows a thing or two about what great hair looks like, having styled the likes of Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, Sienna Miller, Laura Whitmore and countless more. One thing he always tells his clients, is that great hair begins on the INSIDE! In fact, VB herself said she swears by liquid collagen just this week.  
 

We know that collagen is excellent for our skin, but did you also know it has a plethora of benefits for your hair too?

If you’re conscious about thinning locks, greys, and lacklustre ends, the following advice could come in handy.

great hair, hair, collagen,

Here, Jason shares the golden reasons why collagen can benefit your hair… 

‘Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and plays an important role in strengthening connective tissues. Collagen is naturally produced but, as we age, our ability to produce collagen diminishes – one of the reasons our skin starts to develop wrinkles and our hair can feel more lacklustre.

‘Post-summer I always see clients with hair in desperate need of a re-style and treatment; as well as recommending a good trim and/or re-style with a nourishing hair treatment, collagen will build hair from the inside out.

Put simply, hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin.Your body uses several amino acids to build keratin, some of which can be found in collagen, so this could help keep hair healthy long after your cut.’

He adds: ‘Collagen makes up 70% of your skin and your scalp is an extension of that, a healthy scalp could mean less hair thinning.’

1. Collagen may keep early greys at bay 

So many people have ditched the at-home hair dye so they’re not only looking for ways to disguise greys by opting for lowlights instead of all over dyes or balayage with a toner at the roots, but they also want to keep them at bay. Collagencan act as an antioxidant to fight cell damage as studies suggest free radical damage to the cells that produce hair colour may be one of the reasons for early-greying. Other reasons could include stress, poor diet which may damage melanin producing cells, too.

2. Collagen could help rebuild hair from the inside out

‘Post-lockdown has meant many clients have come in with locks in desperate need of a restyle and treatment, as well as recommending a good trim and/or restyle with a nourishing hair treatment, collagen will build hair from the inside out. Put simply, hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin. Your body uses several amino acids to build keratin, some of which can be found in collagen, so this could help keep hair healthy long after your cut.

3. Collagen could be the key to prevent hair-thinning

More and more clients, due to the stress of lockdown, have complained about hair thinning. As well as treatment shampoos, thickening sprays for a faux volume boost, regular trims to stop hair loss through splitting and a cleverly layered haircut – a collagen supplement could help. It makes up 70% of your skin and your scalp is an extension of that, a healthy scalp could mean less hair thinning. I love the LQ Skin Hair and Nails, which contains 7000mg of Hydrolysed Marine Collagen – there are studies which show evidence that marine collagen in particular is most effective. This one is an ingestible liquid shot. Liquids absorb into the body far more effectively than pills and one 50ml shot contains the same amount of active ingredients as up to 15 pills!.

JASONS TOP PICK 

LQ COLLAGEN SKIN HAIR NAILS MAX, £29.99 

great hair, hair, collagen,

Each daily bottle contains multiple key active ingredients and includes marine collagen (7000mg), hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, silicon, glucosamine, selenium and vitamins. Each bottle contains 7000mg of high bioavailability Peptan™ marine collagen.
LQ Collagen® | Developed for a Healthier and Happier You

Give the gift of clear skin this Christmas with skin:genius

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This Christmas, give the gift of clear skin with the multi-award-winning 100% natural skin:genius range.

skin:genius

Its special-price festive pack is beautifully presented in a cotton s:g bag and includes: a 100ml Cleansing Face Wash (Best Cleanse  Forever); 30ml Leave-on Purifying Gel (All’s Well That Gels Well); 50ml Calming Moisturiser (Soothe Operator) and 10ml Spot Zapper (Hits The Spot) alongside a cotton flannel and lavender bag.  Worth £75.00, this festive bundle costs £60.00.

 

Specifically formulated to prevent and reduce acne, breakouts and spot-prone skin in teens and adults, skin:genius is packed with anti-bacterial ingredients that tackle the bacteria which commonly cause these problems.  The synergistic behaviour of its natural ingredients – including Red Clover, Nettle, Roman Chamomile, Oregon Grape, Witch Hazel, Marsh Mallow and Calendula – reduces inflammation and redness while hydrating, calming and smoothing irritated skin.

 

Rich in anti-oxidants, skin:genius products bring positive results from using high-quality, proven, natural and organic ingredients that work with the skin. Unlike many other products, skin:genius® uses a high number of quality active ingredients in lower concentrations, reducing any risk of sensitivity to the products while multiplying the benefits. This means you can attack one issue from many angles, achieving excellent results in a powerful yet gentle way.

 

Its Cleansing Face Wash, Leave-on Purifying Gel, Soothing Moisturiser and Hits The Spot all help to keep the skin clear by tackling the causes – not just the symptoms – of troublesome skin. They smell and feel wonderful and would make a super gift for anyone with problem skin.

 

Cleansing Face Wash – ‘best cleanse forever’

Bursting with Calendula, Red Clover and Lemongrass, this gentle daily face wash effectively removes impurities and excess oil, cleanses and cleans the face without over-drying the skin. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action reduces rashes, redness and irritation leaving a more even skin tone.

Leave-On Purifying Gel – ‘all’s well that gels well’

This maximum strength, fast-acting gel tackles inflamed spots and reduces redness immediately, to quickly bring relief and results. Easily absorbed, it’s loaded with Oregon Grape, Nettle and Roman Chamomile to help tackle breakouts while preventing the bacteria that cause acne and spots. Its antioxidant and antibacterial ingredients help improve the skin’s immune function while reducing redness and irritation.  It works best when used at bedtime and left to work its magic overnight.

Soothing Moisturiser – ‘soothe operator’

Calming and light, this balancing moisturiser provides skin with long-lasting hydration while minimising the appearance of pores and scarring.  Babassu, Macadamia and Hazelnut nourish the skin and leave it feeling silky smooth. It is rich in vitamin E to aid skinrecovery and naturally collagen-boosting. Importantly, it contains ingredients that behave similarly to sebum which signal to your skinto stop producing this substance which, when produced excessively, leads to oily skin and blocked pores.

 

Spot Zapper – ‘Hits The Spot’

Designed to stop a spot in its tracks. You simply apply one dot of this maximum-strength, fast-acting gel as a direct hit to help restore calm. Loaded with Oregon Grape, Nettle, Roman Chamomile and Yarrow, Hits The Spot helps fight and prevent the bacteria that cause spots and breakouts. It’s also high in antioxidants to protect and soothe inflamed skin and reduce redness.

 

Sprout, The World’s First Plantable Makeup Pencils

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eyeliner, plantable, eco-friendly, sustainable, These makeup pencils are pretty special, and sustainable from start to end. Recycling in the beauty industry is notoriously difficult, but here’s a clever, patented invention by eco-pencil company Sprout World, that is designed to not only reduce waste, but give something beautiful and useful back to the planet.

Simply use the makeup pencils as normal, and instead of throwing them away when they become too small to use, flip them around, stick the end (green capsule facing down) into a pot of damp soil, and ta-da – beautiful wildflowers will start to sprout within 1-2 weeks!

Sprout Makeup Pencil
Where did the idea come from?

Sprout World is made up of 70% female employees. It was during a routine discussion about the waste problem within the beauty industry, that the team flagged how the majority of people in that room used make-up pencils daily, and therefore, they could potentially play a huge role in giving a second life (and a beautiful one at that) to products that would otherwise end up as waste.

Kind to the skin and planet

Sprout Makeup Pencil
Every element of the pencil is made from natural, kind-to-skin ingredients and materials:

100% natural and ethically sourced
Made from sustainable certified wood
Recyclable sugar cane cap
Plant-based soluble cellulose cap that dissolves when planted, releasing wildflower seeds
AllergyCertified, plastic-free and paraben-free
Sprout Makeup Pencils

Available as an Eyeliner (Black or Brown) and Browliner (Brown)

Price: £10.95 per pencil / £20.95 per two-pack

Stockists: amazon.co.uk and sproutworld.com

Niacinamide for your body?

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Niacinamide is a holy-grail skincare solution to help strengthen the skin’s barrier, prevent moisture loss, improve skin tone, reduce enlarged pores and provide anti-oxidant properties to protect against oxidative damage and premature ageing. This sought-after ingredient can often be found in facial serums, moisturisers and cleansers – but when did we decide good skin days just belonged to our face?

Elevate your daily body care with MESSIAH and EVE Body Cleanser .02 (£21 / 300ml) – a luxurious blend of premium, results-driven skincare ingredients including Niacinamide, AHA’s and Pentativin, so you can enjoy brighter, clearer, smoother, softer skin…from the neck down!
MESSIAH and EVE Body Cleanser .02 (£21 / 300ml, messiahandeve.com)

messiah and eve , body cleanser, beauty, review
  • Your daily skin smoother to gently reveal fresh, radiant, supple skin – without the scrubby mess.
  • Alpha Hydroxy Acids – derived from fruit enzymes to gently exfoliate, keep skin smooth and blemishes at bay.
  • Niacinamide – improves skin tone, brightens dull skin, strengthens your skin barrier and reduces trans epidermal water loss for hydrated skin all-over.
  • Vitamin E – a skincare staple that moisturises and protects the skin
  • Pentavitin – provides instant, deep hydration and protect skin from post-shower dryness.
  • And the scent! ‘Modern Unity’ contains a mix of bespoke blended French fine fragrances, combining essential oils and botanicals of blackberry, birch tar and guaiacwood – this mysterious and unique sweet, yet woody fragrance, is the embodiment of sophistication, designed to subtly last on your post-shower skin.
  • Responsibly designed – vegan, cruelty free, recycled and recyclable.

    • messiahandeve.co.uk    | @messiahandeve

Did You Know Truffle Is The Secret To Diamond Skin?

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With the seasons changing and the days becoming cooler, this can often take a toll on your skin. Most commonly, the winter weather affects our skin by drying it out; the combination between the cold outside and the heat of your house, contributes to this. This ‘winter skin’ can cause your skin to have a dull appearance, and even contribute to signs of early ageing.

SOS H20 may be your secret to diamond skin this winter due to its secret ingredient… truffle. Yep, that’s right, the secret to keeping your skin hydrated and youthful may just be your favourite ingredient in pasta.

 

SOS H20 , truffle, skin, skincare, moisturiser,

Mock-up created for smartymockups.com

Why Truffle is the secret to diamond skin:

  • Infused with nutrients, vitamins, and amino acids, which boost healthy skin with anti-aging properties.
  • Packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties from an enzyme called Superoxide Dismutase which repairs skin and helps to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. 
  • Rich in vitamins and amino acids, this ingredient will nourish the skin with hydration and boot moisture levels for softer, smoother skin.
  • Packed with ceramides and Vitamin C, your skin will be brightened and dark spots will be diminished.

​SOS H20, from £5, sosserum.co.uk 

  • Formulated with Green Grapes and White Truffle, the appearance of fine lines will be reduced, and skin will be brightened.
  • Infused with skin-perfecting ingredients including low molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid, to keep even sensitive skin moisturised all day. 
  • A silky formula, fast absorbing, that increases hydration, elasticity and suppleness as well as leaving the skin looking firm and toned.​

Offering UVA and UVB protection of SPF 30, this is the perfect daily moisturiser in winter. UVA rays are at the same strength in winter, as they are in summer, meaning that skin damage is just as likely to occur in the cooler months as it is the summer. Wearing SPF 30 everyday means that 97% of UV rays will be blocked, and skin damage will be reduced.

Intensely hydrating, soothing, and offering UVA and UVB protection of SPF 30, SOS H20 is the winter swap we all need to keep skin youthful and glowing throughout the colder months.

 

Hot Tools Hair Styling Products – Perfect For Christmas

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The most perfect Christmas present? Why, perfect hair of course. With the festive party season on the horizon combined with the hunt for the perfect gift  Hot Tools (two of which are on offer throughout November) – the award winning US hair styling brand which has launched this summer across the UK and Europe. Inspired by professionals and with more than 30 years of salon experience, the brand’s new Pro Signature range of styling tools has been created especially for a consumer audience.

 We love the The New Pro Signature Detachable Blow-Dry and Volumiser – Combining fast drying in up to half the time (versus drying and styling separately) with exceptional volumising for salon blow-dries and styling on-the-go in one easy-to-use tool with an exclusive detachable design. Currently £79.99 – on promotion with Argos 01/11-30/11 with £20 off. This fantastic brush really works. It is also super stylish. An easy shortcut to fab hair, what more could you want?

 

 

The New Pro Signature Digital Straightener – Featuring unique gold titanium floating plates and exclusive Pulse Technology® for ultra-sleek, long-lasting styles, time and time again. Automatic dual voltage also makes it the ideal travelling companion. Currently £59.99 – on promotion with Argos 01/11-30/11 with £20 off.
 
 

Hot Tools® Pro Signature Gold Curling Irons – The new Pro Signature collection includes a trio of Gold Curling Irons featuring iconic gold plating in multiple barrel sizes, delivering long-lasting, effortlessly beautiful curls, waves with reduced frizz and added shine. Currently £59.99:

Multiple Barrel Sizes for Different Styles:
25mm – Create bouncy, classic curls and waves
32mm – Perfect for creating polished curls or soft beachy waves
38mm – Create large soft curls and volume
Other great products in the range include:

Packing Your Hospital Bag with the Natural Birthing Company

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Did you know that September and early October are the most popular months for births?

 

With more mums-to-be going into labour this month than any other time of the year, Natural Birthing Company have put together a Birthing Essentials Kit to help these new mums prepare for the day. We love the Natural Birthing Company and think their products are fab.

Natural Birthing Company, pregnancy, birth, labour

Packing a hospital bag can feel like an impossible task, so to make it just that little bit easier the Birthing Essentials Kit contains everything that they may need when they go into labour.

The Natural Birthing Company Mama’s Moments Birthing Essentials Kit, £20, naturalbirthingcompany.com, boots.com, next.co.uk, feelunique.com

All designed to relax your body and soothe any soreness, they’re the perfect products to keep handy. Relax and Breathe, and Sleepy Mama have been designed to soothe your body and mind. Along with Bottoms Up which is formulated to provide relief to any soreness down below. Finally, Cool it Mama will be their labour companion, providing coolness whenever they feel they need it.​

 

Frost Loves Spanish Skincare brand Sepai

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With the last couple days highlighting that summer is nearly upon us, many of us realise that after the year we’ve had, our skin needs some TLC.
Spanish skincare brand, Sepai delivers ultra-performing, customisable skincare that mimics the effect of a personal trainer for your skin, with the ultimate concoction to condition your body. This bodycare cocktail hydrates, firms and revitalises skin.
I love Sepai Sublime Youth. This all-purpose rescue oil is deeply nourishing and leaves skin glowing. You can use it on its own or mix it in with your regular products. I cannot recommend it enough. It has left my skin looking so much better.
sepia , beauty, reviews