Category Archives: Beauty & Grooming

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads Review

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I have previously reviewed Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Serum, which I loved and thought made a real difference to my skin. It was even our product of the year so I had high hopes for the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads. The first thing I have to say about them is how convenient they are. Usually exfoliating requires massaging a scrub into your face and I always worry I am rubbing too much or not enough.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial PadsreviewThese are just presoaked pads which smell of citrus (which is lovely and soft- not overpowering), and have bumps on one side. You wipe it over your face, neck and decolletage.The pads are small but do the entire area. It says use the pads once or twice a day. I do it almost every day.

I don’t have any wrinkles yet but the pads leave my skin brighter and exfoliated. I feel my overall skin texture and tone has improved. In fact an annoying patch of dryness that was so noticeable on my neck it actually looked a bit orange has now gone. The pads also have witch hazel and blue daisy in them to soothe and tone.

I love these pads. They are a mild chemical peel but are still gentle and they do not sting my sensitive skin. They leave a temporary tackiness just after they are applied but this does not linger. I highly recommend these pads and at £12.95 for 60 pads they are very cheap for what they are. A warning though: these are a mild chemical peel so after you have used them you must use an SPF if you go out.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads are available from Boots and Superdrug.

Fudge Urban Colour Festival Pink Hair Chalk Review

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Pink hair was huge in 2013, and it still shows no sign of waning. Coloured hair is still very much ‘in’. For those who want to be a bit daring without the permanence there is something new for you: hair chalk. It’s such a good idea it is hard to know why it hasn’t been invented before.

pinkhair

Fudge Urban Colour Festival Pink Hair Chalk is just a tub of hair chalk that is very easy to use. I put it on with my fingers, (they looked very fetching after. Not), and…that’s it. Pink hair. You can also make the colour pastel with the ice white hair chalk. You just mix the two together.

I have seen a lot of blonde women with this chalk and the pink is very obvious and striking. If I had layered my pink more I think it would have been much more pink; it was still obvious- and looked great-on my brown hair. It lightened it and the pink was a beautiful, if subtle, colour.

I rang 2014 in wearing the festival pink hair chalk, it is great for something a bit different and fun. It only costs £4.99 and when I ran water over it, it didn’t seem to budge, only doing so when I used shampoo. Fudge Urban Colour Hair Chalk is a ingenious little product: a great idea that works. It also comes in purple, blue and red. Available from Superdrug

 

TRESemme Platinum Strength Instant Rescue Shot Review

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TRESemme Platinum Strength Instant Rescue Shot Review, hair, review, beautyMy hair always needs conditioner. Otherwise it is just like a big ball of frizz. It never used to be like that, only happening after I dyed my hair a lot in my teens (don’t do it kids). How I miss my old hair….

So now I even take conditioner with me even when I am traveling. TRESemme Platinum Strength Instant Rescue Shot is handy for this. Each tiny little tube can do 1-3 conditions depending on the length of your hair. I recently cut mine to just below my collar bone and can use it 3 time generously.

It is convenient; you only have to leave it on for 60 seconds to the most damaged part of the hair or from middle to end, it says don’t put it onto the roots but I do as my hair gets really dry and frizzy there. The world doesn’t end. In fact, it just stops the frizz.

So does this ‘rescue’ my hair? Yes. It is a good, convenient conditioner. It only costs £1.49 per shot which I think it quite reasonable. It leaves hair super-soft. It also doesn’t weigh hair down. Which, due to my fine hair, is the thing I hate most about conditioner. Very impressive.

TRESemme Platinum Strength Instant Rescue Shot available from Tesco and Superdrug

Permanent Make Up Artist Karen Betts Interview

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Why are we doing an interview with a permanent make up artist you may ask. Permanent make up isn’t very ‘Frost’ usually, but Karen Betts is different. She gives the gift of confidence to those with illness. Like people who have lost their eyebrows to cancer. Karen has changed the lives of many individuals with medical permanent tattooing. See the photo below as an example. The other two pictures are Karen with Arlene Phillips and Katie Piper.

makeupeyebrows karenbetts katiepiper

When and why did you first become interested in your profession?

I personally ventured into this field in 1996 after a childhood friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was not content with being just a pillar of support and wanted to be able to do more. At the time I ran a hair and beauty salon and a conventional tattooist used to rent one of my rooms, I thought to myself if you could adorn people’s bodies with such complex art why could you not develop a technique that would subtly enhance or replace facial features such as eyebrows. That is when I started my research and discovered a micro pigmentation course in the States.

 

 What, if anything, has given you a competitive edge in this field?

 

My desire to always learn more, continuously develop my skills and share this knowledge with all who carry the Nouveau Contour name. I am not precious and love showing my students techniques I have developed that improve the quality of a treatment plus I am lucky to have a fabulous relationship with the manufacturer of the Nouveau Contour equipment and pigments and year on year we work together to develop and improve our products, we now have over 82 fundamental pigment colours to choose from, the largest range in the industry.

 

Describe your typical working day.

 

I am up very early most days and I do a few hours work on the computer managing my 8 brands before catching the train to one of my 3 training academies in Yorkshire, London or Milton Keynes. I absolutely hate to waste any time so once on the train the laptop is back out and I work solid until I reach my destination. I then either prepare for a training class or a full days clinic where I perform on average 10 permanent cosmetic procedures a day. Then you have guessed it, back on the laptop working on promotional plans, critical paths, training manuals, special offers, and budgets… I could go on and on but in essence I work constant all day every day until either my partner or very patient assistant shouts at me to eat something or go to bed. If there was 8 days in a week I would work them all.

 

 What do you enjoy most about your job?

 

The feel good factor you get when you watch someone’s face light up after his or her treatment is just amazing!

 

 What’s been your biggest professional achievement to date?

 

Whilst a lot of my clients are memorable in their own rights 2 clients over the last few years have really pulled at my heartstrings and tested my capabilities. The first is a lady named Julie who was born with a cleft lip. Julie’s cleft lip has affected her confidence for as long as she can remember, aware that the shape of her lip had held her back and prevented her from making the most of her life I wanted to give Julie the perfect lip shape she had always dreamed of. To restore a cleft lip using permanent cosmetics requires a real level of skill that does not come over night but I am happy to state that Julie was overwhelmed with the results and quoted “Karen created the lip shape I had been looking for my whole life”. Her smile and the big hug she gave me at the end of her treatment spoke volumes and I am not ashamed to say, made me cry.

 

The second lady many people will recognise as her recovery from a brutal acid attack in 2008 was documented in the TV series ‘Katie Piper – My Beautiful Face’. I was honoured when I was able to help Katie. Over a twelve month process, I was able to recreate Katie’s lips, brows and eye definition. Over time our personal and professional relationship developed and in 2012 I was announced as the official and exclusive permanent make-up consultant for The Katie Piper Foundation.

What advice would you give to somebody wanting to become a permanent makeup artist?

 

As Permanent Cosmetics is a very precise procedure, the need for the correct training and support is of the utmost importance. I would advise anyone considering a career in this field  to first attend an insight day if the company offers one, this gives the person an opportunity to discover:

What is permanent cosmetics?

Do I have what it takes to be a successful permanent cosmetics artist?

What are the training options?

How long will the training take and how much will it cost?

What equipment do you need to perform treatments?

What treatments can I train in?

What do I need to do to ensure I get return on my investment?

People also need to look for a company that not only listens to what they want from their training experience but whose trainers actively carry out procedures on a daily basis.

Continuous professional development is paramount in this field as techniques and equipment are improving year on year therefore people should look for training providers who offer continued learning with free workshops and shadowing days.

I also recommend that they ask themselves the following questions:

Am I prepared to change someone’s face?

Have I got the determination and drive to make this a success?

 

What skills can people learn at the Nouveau Contour Training School?

 

We offer a developmental training programme designed to turn absolute beginners into elite permanent cosmetics artists. Our foundation courses range from 8 to 31 days long and the student can choose the training option that best suits their lifestyle and financial budget. For a full explaining of our training options visit http://pro.nouveaubeautygroup.com/nouveau-contour/training-options/

 

What are the pros and cons of permanent makeup?

 

In today’s increasingly fast-paced world, it can be hard work looking our best all the time. Juggling a career with home life is tough and our appearance isn’t always a priority. That’s why each year in the UK; thousands of women and men opt for permanent cosmetic enhancements as a timesaving way to look their best with minimum effort.

 

No longer considered a treatment just for the rich and famous, men and women of all backgrounds and social standing are opting for permanent makeup procedures as a way to save time and in many cases boost confidence.

 

Permanent makeup is also ideal for people who take part in sport, have difficulty applying makeup or are allergic to cosmetics. It can also help to camouflage scarring and bring life-changing benefits to alopecia sufferers and to people who have had breast reconstruction work or have experienced hair loss following chemotherapy treatment.

 

The only downside is there is some poorly trained permanent cosmetics artist offering treatments. Research your technician and be very clear about the result you want to achieve. The main risk is choosing a poorly educated technician just because they may be less expensive. Permanent makeup should be considered exactly that – permanent. Whilst designed to fade you should always regard the treatment as irreversible and when deciding on your technician you should always research the company they trained with, the equipment and pigments they use and indeed when they last refreshed their skills. I would also recommend that you ask to view their portfolio and do not be afraid to ask if it is their own work they are presenting to you.

 

Is there any ‘look’ that you’d refuse to do? For example a very unnatural/dramatic look?

 

With permanent make up it is not about following fashion trends but subtly enhancing or replacing someone’s natural features, obviously I can improve area’s, for example, as we mature we loose volume in our lips and I can use clever shading technique to create the illusion of a softer, plump more youthful mouth, but on the whole I do not look to other people to create permanent make up looks as it is more important to understand the individual personality, lifestyle and look of the person I am treating.

 

 As well as Katie Piper, have you had any celebrity clients?

 

Over the last 16 years I have been able to use my skills to help thousands of ladies both for cosmetic and medical purposes and I pride myself on treating every client exactly the same no matter who they are or what their profession.

 

I am discreet and professional and many high profile clients come to be because of that therefore I can not disclose all my celebrity clients. However on my website with their permission you will see that I have treated Amy Child’s and her manager Claire Powell, Coronation Street actresses Sally Dynevor and Cath Tyldesley, Sugababes Jade Ewan, Olympian Jade Johnson, choreographer, TV presenter and judge of Strictly Come Dancing Arlene Phillips, Spanish model Elen Rivas, TV presenter Lizzie Cundy, TV presenter and model Sue Moxley.

 

Do a lot of celebrities have permanent makeup nowadays?

 

Yes they do and in turn these celebrities speaking out about the benefits of permanent make-up has resulted in many new clients coming to see me for a consultation/treatment for both cosmetic and medical treatments.

 

 What’s the most fulfilling thing about your job i.e. Helping survivors restore confidence

 

I feel privilege everyday that I have a skill that can help rebuild so many people’s confidence and nothing I have achieved beats the look on a clients face when I have restored a feature that they have lost through illness or an accident.

 

What’s your motto, or the key premise / message of your business?

 

My motto is always smile, laugh and try to remain positive even when things are going really bad. Life really is too short to be bogged down with negativity.

 

The key message of my business is education, education is a powerful tool and I have built my training schools on the premise that at Nouveau Beauty Group we offer long term careers not just course, we want all our students to be the best they can be and actively promote continued professional development. I have been in the beauty business for over 20 years and still do not claim to know everything, I love surrounding myself with people from other industries that I can learn from and often I implement their advise into my business model.

 

What are the advantages of permanent makeup over regular makeup?

 

The benefits of permanent makeup over conventional makeup are immeasurable, one example is in the summer when the temperature increases and makeup can sweat off or indeed wash off if you are on holiday and fancy a dip in the pool. With subtly applied permanent cosmetics designed to mimic the most natural makeup look, ladies no longer have to worry about pencilling their eyebrows back in or their eyeliner smudging.

 

I also recommend everyone to watch the video testimonials on my website as these are real women sharing their personal experience of why they opted for permanent makeup and defy anyone to not understand the advantages of permanent makeup over conventional makeup for those living with an altered facial appearance as a result of an accident or illness.

http://www.karenbetts.co.uk/

10 tips on fighting the festive flab in the New Year

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getfit lose weight10 tips on fighting the festive flab in the New Year By Garry Kerr, Head of Training and Operations at British Military Fitness

Nom, nom, nom…extra eating: During the winter and especially over the festive

season we typically eat more than we would normally and exercising is a great way

to burn those extra calories and keep yourself in shape so when spring finally arrives

you’re in tip top shape! Here are some tips to help you beat the Christmas flab!

 

1. Keep a fitness journal

 

A workout log can help keep your exercise routine on track when you’re

struggling to stay motivated because it will show you how far you’ve come

since you started, and therefore how worthwhile it is to keep going.

 

2. Commit yourself.

 

Get moving! Just do it! There is no time like the start of a New Year. You’ve

got the indulgences of Christmas behind but it’s important you commit. Why

not write all the classes you can attend in your diary so they are viewed as

actual appointments and you’re less likely to cancel.

 

3. Set short-term goals

 

Having something specific to aim for, such as losing a certain amount

of weight or entering a race / marathon for example the Major Series

in the Spring will help you stick to your training

plan. But make sure your goals are achievable. Setting and failing to reach

outlandish targets will put you off.

 

4. Find the fun in it

 

Exercise should not feel like torture. After all, you have made a conscious

decision to do it. You can take great pleasure from overcoming challenges

and progressing with your fitness alongside other people.

 

Does that mean that it will be easy? No. In order to change your body, you

need to experience ‘overload’. This means that you need to keep challenging

your body in order to increase your fitness levels. You will however improve

your fitness levels if you rest and recover properly after each workout.

 

5. Reward yourself

 

Once you’ve hit one of your targets reward yourself. By training and

committing to your training you’ve earned the right to spoil yourself. Whether

it’s a new item of clothing or fitness-related gadgets or clothing – enjoy your

achievements.

 

6. Use visualisation

 

If you don’t believe that you can do that final burpee or make it through

those final reps, you certainly won’t be able to but by picturing yourself doing

it before you try it, you’ll create a mental template that can translate into

success.

 

7. Eating right

 

Food is 90% of the health and fitness battle. You can make great changes

just through making small adjustments to your eating habits alone. While

changing any habits may seem like a daunting task, there is a wealth of

resources available to guide you. By eating a regular mix of proteins, fats and

carbohydrates you will reap the benefits of your physical training routine. You

will have both the energy to perform and the nutritional foundations needed

for recovery. This exercise and nutrition relationship will help you to achieve

your goals

 

8. Be realistic

 

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Unfortunately, while over-used, there is some truth

in that saying.

 

A healthy approach is to aim to improve on yesterday. By repeating this

process you will start to feel like you have made great improvements over a

course of weeks, months and years. It is also important to consider where you

want to be.

 

9. There is gain without pain!

 

While exercise should be challenging in order to encourage the body to adapt

and therefore improve, it should not lead to any injuries.

 

Many people, particularly those new to exercise can become over enthusiastic

because of the physical changes that they experience. Our bodies can only

truly complete exercises at 100% intensity for a number of seconds. Exercises

completed over the course of an hour-long session are performed below

maximum intensity. You should therefore focus more on your technique and

try to work as hard as possible but not push yourself to the point of nausea.

 

10. Abandon an all-or-nothing attitude

 

Don’t think of exercise with an all-or-nothing approach. If you unexpectedly

miss a session, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on track tomorrow.

Remember; exercise and fitness is a way of life, it’s not a destination.

 

This Book Will Make You Calm, Confident, Happy, Sleep Book Reviews

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January is all about becoming a better person. Hope is high and a feeling of renewal is in the air. So this series of This Book Will Make You…books came at the right time to be reviewed. Let’s find out if they can make you Calm, Confident, Happy and Sleep.

This Book Will Make You Calm, happy, confident, sleep

This Book Will Make You Calm

We got sent a lot of books on becoming calm at Christmas time and I think we all know why! We are all becoming more stressed in life and becoming calm will improve your health and life in general. The book helps you tackle anxiety and stress, it has great relaxation techniques, helps you handle panic and maintain a work-life balance. I love the techniques, graphs and strategies. I learned a lot reading this book. It is easy to lose perspective in life and forget about looking after yourself: this book reminds you what to do, and gives you lots of great, new, information too.

This Book Will Make You Happy

Being happy. One of the greatest pursuits of human beings. We seem obsessed with happiness and trying to achieve it. Following on from the format of the other book- and all of the books- the book has strategies, tests and graphs. It focuses on CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) which has become trendy and mainstream, which is not to put it down in any way, I have heard amazing things about it and it works for a lot of people. The book helps you challenge negative thoughts, combat anxiety, manage your emotions and stop procrastinating.

There are positive mind maps and the three biggest crimes against happiness. A great book to bring you closer to happiness.

This Book Will Make You Confident

Everyone wants more confidence and everyone goes through wobbly periods This book promises the tools to build your self-belief and realise your full potential with practical exercises and the latest CBT research. Each book lets you know how it all works and what CBT is. They have great mind maps and techniques which I find very useful. This is a helpful book which helps you deal with insecurity, nature self-belief, challenge your inner critic and play to your strengths. Good book.

This Book Will Make You Sleep

I have been having trouble sleeping so was happy to review this book. Especially after finding myself cleaning the oven at 2am. That is when you know you have a problem. CBT, tips and exercises fill the book, sleep myths are dispersed, sleep facts are given and the book gives great advice. I find myself sleeping better after reading it. Recommended.

This Book Will Make You Calm, Confident, Happy, Sleep by Dr Jessamy Hibberd & Jo Usmar

Released 6 January 2014

This new series for busy, creative people will give you the tools to deal with common problems from anxiety and lack of confidence to sleeplessness and general wellbeing.

Psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd and lifestyle journalist Jo Usmar draw on the latest cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to show how to develop coping strategies and learn practical techniques to tackle a range of problems quickly and effectively. From reducing worry and boosting energy levels to breathing and mindfulness techniques, these accessible, handy-size books will make your life more serene, stress-free and fulfilled.

About the authors:

Dr Jessamy Hibberd is a clinical psychologist who worked for the NHS before setting up her own private practice. She is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).

Jo Usmar is a freelance journalist and editor. She has contributed to a variety of national media, as well as writing a regular relationship column for Cosmopolitan. She has appeared on TV and radio commenting on lifestyle and relationship issues.

 

Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power Cream Review

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Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power CreamI hate waxing. I just don’t understand it. Why go through the pain? You have to grow out the hair before you can wax it, and your skin ends up looking like a plucked chicken.

Which is why I love cream hair remover. It is so easy to use and leaves your skin super smooth. so I was excited to review Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power Cream. I had never tried it before and had high expectations. It says on the packaging that it gives you smooth legs for up to seven days and only take five minutes to remove all visible hair. Big promises.

You apply the cream with the spatula provided in a thick, even, layer and then get into the shower and leave it on for three minutes, avoiding excessive exposure to water and then rinse off. After you have rinsed, your skin is incredibly soft and moisturised with no hairs. I am very impressed.

The cream is gentle and kind to skin. It has a natural blend of key ingredients: mineral rich clay, mango butter and acai palm. I use it on my legs and bikini line. My skin looks amazing afterwards and it lasts for the promised week.

This cream is one of my favourite products of 2013. It is easy-to-use and it works. Which is what every women wants in a beauty product: convenience, reasonable price and a great product. This is the best way to remove unwanted hair. A must buy.

Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power Cream is available from Boots.com

OCÓO The Beauty Drink Review

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unnamedI had heard about the new beauty drink, OCÓO, before we were asked to review it, and it really caught my attention. Being your best self usually requires time, effort, and money. So something you can just drink which makes you more beautiful? I’ll take it.

Now the review. The packaging is beautiful as I would expect, the colour looks like cola and the smell is not awful like a lot of drinks. It tastes nice too.

I did feel healthy after I drank it as it is fulll of vitamins, however, just being sent one bottle to review means I cannot know whether or not the drink has a real impact on my ‘beauty’.

OCÓO Left a good impression on me. I think it could be a quick and easy way to get the nutrients you need. It is certainly a good idea.

 

OCÓO The Beauty Drink is based on scientific proof that beauty care is more effective from inside the body, rather than from outside.  Bringing together natural and beauty boosting ingredients, OCÓO contains 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamins and vital substances to boost the appearance and health of skin, hair and nails.

 

The goodness inside

A renowned team of leading dieticians and dermatologists played a key role in OCÓO’s three-year development.  OCÓO’s active ingredient complex contains anti-oxidative power from vitamin-rich Power Berries (pomegranate, açaí, aronia, blackcurrants, red grapes and cranberries), extracts of green and white tea, ten essential vitamins and traces of zinc, selenium, copper, iodine, essential B-vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12) and vitamins C & E.

 

·         Pomegranate: Powerful antioxidant and supports the immune system

·         Acai Berry: Contains omega fatty acids and anthocyanin to help boost healthy collagen

·         Aronia Berry: Contains the highest oxygen-radical absorbance capacity value of all the ‘super food’ berries

·         Red Grapes: Harness anti-oxidative potential that is 20 to 50 times higher than Vitamin C or E

 

Why it works

With its active ingredient complex, OCÓO works from the inside out.  Synergetic effects make the ingredients work even better together than if they were to stand alone. Because the ingredients come as a delicious fruit juice – as opposed to tablets – they reach the body in the form of a solution, which enables greater absorption.  Unlike traditional beauty products, such as creams and lotions that do not penetrate deep into the skin, OCÓO supplies even the deepest layers of the skin with important nutrients, precisely where these vital nutrients are needed!

ocoo beauty drink Harvey Nichols

Key beauty benefits*

·         Anti-Aging: Zinc and Selenium contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative, environmental damage.

·         Skin Care: Niacin, Biotin and Iodine contribute to the maintenance of normal skin.

·         Collagen Formation: Vitamin C contributes to increased collagen production in the skin improving function and increasing skin’s elasticity and firmness.

·         Hair: Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation; while Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.

 

* Permitted Health Claims, see EU Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012, published in UR-Lex Journal, Volume 55 (2012). www.ec.europa.eu

OCÓO is available from Harvey Nichols and Amazon