Famous Dave's Tanning Mousse

Ok, prepare yourself- this review might get a little too enthusiastic- I cant really explain how long it has taken for me to find a tanning product that creates a tan that is both dark, but still natural-looking for my pale skin. But I have found it: Famous Dave's Professional Tanning Mousse!

I never thought I would find the perfect tan in a product with a comedy name, never mind trust a guy named Dave to turn me golden brown...but this tanner has manged to produce the most flattering tan I have EVER managed. Even my legs (which notoriously seem to streak or just ignore the fact I apply fake tan and stay pale) turned an even, golden, brown.

The mousse is easy to apply, both absorbing and drying quickly. The mousse does turn quite watery when applied to skin, but this means it can be blended before it dries- to prevent streaks. The mousse has also got a tint so you can prevent missed spots. Over time it fades evenly, with some gentle exfoliation so even if the tan was just for a special occasion you wont look strange when it comes to wearing it off.

Oh, and when you apply it it smells of amaretto/almonds, although after a while there is quite a strong fake-tan smell, so this is probably best applied at night.

After I applied to my face I was a little worried the colour was going to be a bit too dark, but it turned out fine, even drawing a couple of compliments- asking if I had been on holiday (I wish I had, but even a holiday wouldn't result in such a good tan!) I still had a couple of dark patches, but I think that's my fault for not being quite thorough enough with my pre-tan exfoliation, so definitely wont blame the wonderful Dave.

Famous Dave's is available in mousse, spray and lotion form with special formulas for face or lighter skin. They also have a scrub available to avoid the dark bits, as mentioned before. This is no 15 minute wonder, Dave is well worth his fame.

Priced £19.99 from http://www.famousdave.co.uk/

Coral make-up: Susan Posnick

Coral is one of those make-up shades that suits every skin colour, from the palest to the darkest coral suits all. A sweep of coral blush brings a healthy glow or bright coral toe-nails just scream summer and compliment a tan.

A great way to introduce coral into your make-up is with dual-function make-up, so you can adapt it for different looks and wear it the way that works for you. Susan Posnick is a fantastic range of dual-function make-up, which is great for skin as it is all mineral based- so actually lets skin breathe.

Susan Posnick COLORME in Carmelia is an easy-to-apply face color for cheeks and eyes. Colorme comes in a small self-dispensing pot with an built in puff and mirror for easy application. A couple of gentle taps of the puff and the colour starts to flow- producing a gorgeous coral shade with a hint of shimmer. The colour is perfect for summer evenings to compliment sun-kissed cheeks and add a refreshed glow.

Susan Posnick COLORFOREVER in Janis is a long-lasting lip colour with a tint on one end and a lip conditioner on the other. To get long lasting colour, apply the tint first and allow to dry for around minute, for a more intense colour the tint can be reapplied. The lip conditioner can be applied over the tint to add a gloss and plump lips up. The lip conditioner can also be used on its own to keep lips in top condition. Janis is a fairly deep shade of coral, for summer looks fresh with a gloss applied to create a transparent lip-colour.

Baby soft skin: Johnson's

Johnson's Baby Lotion is one of those magic beauty products that is multi-functional, smells yummy and is bank-balance friendly. Baby Lotion is a great cleanser, eye-make remover and face and body moisturiser. Johnson's also has a light, fresh smell that is on par with my other favorite beauty basics favorite range- Dove.

Having recognised that adults too want faces as soft as a baby's bum, Johnson's have recently launched a range of products that are perfect for grown up babies! Including Johnson's Soft Wash (£2.99 for 400ml) and Johnson's Baby Soft Cream (£2.29 for 200ml). Both products are packed with moisturisers, and the familiar Johnson's Baby Lotion scent, leaving you fresh clean and with as close to baby soft skin as you can without turning back time.

Dr Bronners magic liquid soap review

Soap- a beauty basic, but rarely a luxury. Personally I am not a huge fan of soap, rarely finding one that manages to leave skin both clean, and soft. Having tried and failed in the past, and usually being left with tight, dry skin in the process I am usually quite reluctant to try new soaps but with the promise of magic from Dr. Bronners Magic Soap I just couldn't resist giving it a go.

Dr. Bronners is a brand that is well established in America (The No 1 natural soap brand in the US and apparently loved by many a Hollywood celeb including Sandra Bullock, and Drew Barrymore). This is not just a traditional soap, it is also available in a multi-functional liquid form, certified Fair Trade and organic and in a range of scents- including citrus orange, almond, peppermint, eucalyptus, rose, baby mild, lavender and tea tree.

Having tried both the almond liquid soap and the citrus orange solid soap my favorite scent of the two is the citrus and texture is the liquid. Dr. Bronners liquid soap claims to have a whopping 18 uses... including helping to heal cuts and bruises, skin conditions like acne, dermatitis and psoriasis. Plus washing body and hair, fruit and vegetables, using as a mouth wash, cleaning surfaces and even floors! Pretty impressive list, but personally I will stick to using it on my face and hands!

The liquid soap is available in a handy 118ml (£2.45) or 236 ml (£4.99) from nationwide from leading health shops including Fresh & Wild, Planet Organic and Whole Foods.

Fruity beauty: MOP Gentle Pear Shampoo

MOP (modern organic products) is a whole range of certified organic hair products that claim to be for the customer who 'seeks product purity without sacrificing luxury'. Packaged in appropriately modern-looking packaging that does hint at being luxurious/expensive- so looks good on display in the bathroom.

The Gentle Pear Shampoo is designed for sensitive scalps, and children/baby's hair as it contains no harsh lather additives or chemicals that can irritate sensitive types.

My favorite thing about the shampoo is the smell, its a fresh fruity smell (of pear, obviously) but is still light and not overpowering. I have found this shampoo really great for everyday use for for my fine hair and sensitive scalp- because it's gentle it doesn't weigh hair down, leaving my hair clean and shiny but without sacrificing the volume, a result that is less than easy to achieve with most products, trust me. I also suffer from an intermittent sensitive scalp and having used this shampoo for 6 days my scalp is happy as can be.

MOP Pear Shampoo is £10.95 for 300ml and available from http://www.mophair.com/

May bank holiday weekend sunshine: testing sun cream

Gorgeous sunshine hit London yesterday, so it was the perfect time to test out some sun protection creams. There is an endless range of sun creams out there with the normal sun creams, to clear gels, to sprays. There is a choice of texture, and level of protection to suit everyone.

There is a huge problem in Britain with the attitude to skin protection in the sun, as our weather is so un-reliable when there is the slightest hint of warmth then everyone just jumps out into the sun and cooks themselves in an attempt to get a bit of colour. As a general rule, the colour most people get is red- not a good look. I was out in the sun in Hyde Park yesterday and the amount of people who were lying around nearly naked was astounding- and I can guarantee these people were so desperate to get a 'tan' that they skipped any sun cream at all, and are probably suffering today.

Not to sound preachy at all, but its just not fun being sun burned- trust me, I know I have burnt myself enough to have learnt that it is never fun and never 'turns brown the next day', the only thing it does is stay red and then peel. I have such pale (and traditionally English) skin that even a full two weeks of August sunbathing in Portugal only left me with a slightly golden colour and a few darker freckles (that is using sun cream) Perhaps if I had skipped it I would have been darker, but who wants to look like a raisin by the time they are 30 when you can get a tan out of a bottle quite easily- I think skin is so important, it deserves to be looked after.

SO, if you have decided that looking after your skin is the way forward below are my reviews of a couple of sun care products that I have managed to try out recently.

Miss Malibu SPF 30 Disappearing Pink Lotion (£TBC)

Miss Malibu products are really cute, and this tiny pink bottle is the perfect size to throw in your bag so that if you have an impromptu sunny day then you always have some protection on you. I really liked how light this cream was, rubbed in quickly and didn't leave the greasy film that some sun lotions do. The smell, colour and texture of the lotion really reminded me of baby lotion- which is a really good thing, as I love Johnson's Baby Lotion, it's one of by basic beauty staples.

Soltan Once Face SPF 25 (£9.99 from Boots)

Soltan is my usual go-to brand of sun care for the annual summer holiday. Just the smell makes me think of summer sun, so using it in May makes me feel like my fortnight abroad isn't as long away as it seems. Using specialised face creams for sun protection is really important if you want to prevent skin breakouts that can be caused as most sun care creams are not non-pore blocking, and can be too heavy for the face. They can also make you shine like patent leather. The Soltan cream absorbed quickly and didn't leave me too shiny, but I did have a quick dust of powder over my nose.

Malibu Babes Sun Gel SPF 15 Sun protection gel with carrot extract (£TBC)

Another Malibu Babes product, this one isn't as nice as the disappearing pink lotion. The gel is cooling and water resistant though, so probably more suitable for pool-side holidays rather than lying in Hyde Park. The gel contains various skin-cooling ingredients which mean that you don't actually need to rub this in, and just let it dry on skin, another reason it is better for hotter climates that London in May.

Sun Pass Mountain Expert SPF 20 Medium Protection Radiant Complexion Cream (£13.30 for 40ml available at Boots)

Sun Pass is the first sun care cream that I have come across that contains bronze pearl particles to illuminate tanned skin. This enhances whatever tan you have and adds a shimmering radiance to skin but without making skin greasy. I have been using this as a day cream recently as an alternative to foundation on sunny days.

Aftersun: AstaSun Skin Support System (£7.99 for 150ml available from http://www.powerhealth.co.uk/ & health food stores nationwide)

AstaSUN contains astaxanthin, a powerful anti-oxidant. Antioxidants are important to counteract the ageing effects of the sun on skin, so aftersun products are the perfect place to put them. Even though I slathered sun lotion on all day and largely managed not to burn yesterday, I did manage to miss a few spots on the back of my shoulders. So, to make sure these bits don't suffer too much I slathered on some AstaSun. AstaSun claims to "protect against UV light and ageing, as well as being a paraben free formula it contains no chemical colours and will help tighten and tone the skin" quite a range of claims for an after-sun, happy to give it a try though!

The smell is interesting, I cant quite place what it reminds me of- a mixture of almond ice cream/marzipan and yoghurt...which is more pleasant that it sounds! Quite a soothing smell, its perfect to apply at the end of a day in the sun. Absorbs quickly and leaves skin as pampered as some of the best body butters out there. My main criticism of AstaSun, which will probably sound a bit picky but I have to be honest- is the pump, it only delivers a very small amount of product, which means that if you wanted to apply the cream all over it would take forever. As I was only applying to a small spot it didn't matter too much though.

One for the boys: Yon-Ka mask for men

The beauty world is one that is mostly inhabited by women, but that doesn't mean that the boys don't want a bit of pampering too. This is not to discredit the many men out there who are embracing the benefits of beauty products (although I still think man-scara is going too far). There are many who love a bit of a scrub and some moisturiser, but as a general rule they would treat wearing a face mask as being on-par with going out in their girlfriends knickers on the effeminate side.

That is till there was a 'man mask', especially designed by the lovely Yon-Ka people to specifically meet the needs of male skin and treat the skin-signs of fatigue, stress, and overindulgence. The man-mask provides a deep-cleansing, detoxifying treatment especially to give male skin a bit of a pampering boost.

In practice (when tested by my lovely male volunteer) the mask is fairly thin in texture, compared to other clay-based masks, but smooths on evenly and dries within about 10-12 mins. The clay leaves skin really deeply clean, and the orange essential oil leaves skin feeling revitalised, whilst counteracting the potentially drying effects of the clay. Overall, the mask got a rave review.

The Yon-Ka range is available from http://www.feelunique.com/ with the mask priced £24.30 including delivery (RRP: £26.40)

Smashbox: bases

I really like primers, especially in summer- they help keep make-up in place, and provide a smooth base to help hide any imperfections. Primer can also be used alone without foundation over it for a lighter, more natural effect which still looks that little bit better than just bare skin.

It can be hard to find the right primer for your skin type, if you tend to have greasy/shiny skin then last thing you want is an oil-based primer, which will just slide off skin, along with the rest of your make-up. If you have dry skin, you don't want a matte base or your skin will end up looking crusty (not a good look).

Luckily there is a huge range of primers and bases out there, so you should be able to find one that works for you. A good place to start the search is with US make-up brand, Smashbox, their make-up bases, primers and skin enhancers are regularly cited by beauty editors as the product of choice- which from people who have the whole world of make-up available to them, is a pretty good recommendation.


The multi-award winning Smashbox Photo Finish (£23.24 http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/) from is the original and as the name suggests offers a picture-perfect photo-finish for skin. Not only does this product make skin look HD-ready, but it is also packed with skin-boosting goodies including vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea.


The base smoothes on easily and leaves skin velvet-soft and perfectly primed for the application of base. Applying foundation is so easy over the base, it is easier to blend and the texture is smooth. Over the day skin stays pretty much perfect, with only one light application needed over the notoriously-shiny nose area. By the end of the work day skin still looks even.


As Photo Finish is also available in a 'light' oil-free version (£22.02 from http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/), great if you need more than the one light application or if you want a little extra protection against summer-shine.


The clever people at Smashbox have also created a solution for dull-looking skin- 'Artificial Light Flash' (£19.29 http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/) adds a warm touch of radiance to skin and is perfect for highlighting cheek bones and adding an up-lighter effect to the under-eye area.


Smashbox is available at http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/ or QVC.

Lovely lilac and perfect purple

Lilac, and generally all shades of purple is one of those magic colours that has a shade to suit every skin tone which probably explains why lilac and purple are really 'on trend' make up colours this season.


Nail colour is the easiest way to introduce any trendy shade to update your overall look, especially in these 'crunch times as even the most expensive and extravagant nail polish is still fairly cheap (compared to a whole new outfit). Plus, in a season when day-glo brights are the 'hot' colour to be seen in, it is far less daunting to flash the colour on your fingers or toes than wear a t-shirt in a screaming fluorescent highlighter green. Not that I would say fluorescent highlighter green is a great colour for nails or anywhere, but you get what I mean....


Anyway, back to the wonders of purple. There really is a shade to suit everyone, from deep dark blackberry right through to the palest violet and all in between. Then there is the choice between shimmer, translucent or matte... the list is endless. To make the choice a little easier I have tested out a handful and below are my humble opinions:



Dark purples:

No7 Blackberry Speed Dry Nail Colour (£6.10 from Boots)


This is a really deep, almost black, shade of purple with just a hint of shimmer to highlight the warmth of the purple. No7 nail colours have high levels of pigment so are reliable if you only have time for one coat.


No7 Vivid Violet Stay Perfect Nail Colour (£6.10 from Boots)


Perfectly named, this is a really vivid violet, a deep purple with a metallic sheen. This shade looks best with a couple of coats to give is a real pop. This is a really fun, bright colour and perfect for summer.


Spa Ritual in Solitude (£19.50 for a set of three exclusively from QVC)


Solitude is another deep shade, that looks brighter in the bottle than it looks on nails but a couple of coats will really bring out the warmth of the purple. The best thing about Spa Ritual nail colours is actually the bottle, which has a rubber coated lid for grip to make sure that the lid never gets stuck on with nail polish gunk- excellent feature and should be adopted by all nail polish makers!



Mid-Purples

Zoya Professional Nail Lacquer in Zara(£9.25 from http://www.zoyapolish.co.uk/)


I have been recently introduced to Zoya polishes, and I love them- any brand that names a range of nail colours after my favorite guilty pleasure (The Hills) has got to be good. Aside from the 'Gossip' range of colours there is also a huge selection of shades which are all free of potentially harmful industrial chemicals including Toulene, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) and Camphor.


Zara is a gorgeous mid-purple shade with a golder shimmer running through it and would look fantastic with a summer tan. Zara does need 2-3 coats, and can be sealed with a top coat (Zoya Armor is fab) to make it really last. I did three coats of this colour and a top coat and it lasted 4 days with no chipping.


George Nail Polish in Lavender Fantasy (£1.50 from ASDA)


The perfect simple mid-pastel-purple. Needs two coats to create an even colour but once on looks fab. This is the perfect shade of purple to suit everyone.


2True nail colour number 12 (£1.95 from Superdrug)


Another mid-purple shade, but this one has a pinky/purple shimmer running through it for a warming alternative to the Zoya golden shimmer. This one needed a full three coats and a top coat to look even but the pinky/purple shimmer is really pretty and at £1.95 who can complain?!



Pale purples/lilacs


Zoya nail lacquer in Miley (£9.25)


I never thought I would say this, but I love Miley. Not Miley Cyrus, obviously- I cant stand her (sorry, personal opinion- it's just not right for someone to be that confident at the age of 15/16 or however old she is...) ANYWAY, back to nail colours- Miley is a gorgeous transparent pale lilac that is a more modern version of the transparent pink for a french manicure, looks really pretty and lasts a really long time.


2True nail colours in shade 11 (£1.95)


2True have also got a fabulous paler purple shade, again with a hint of shimmer- but this time is silver which really complements the pale lilac.


Mavala nail colour in Violette (£3.66 from http://www.richardjohn.co.uk/)


Mavala are the kings of the nail varnish world, producing colours since the 80's they really know what they are doing. Violette is a pretty pale matte/pastel purple, a couple of coats leaves a colour that is ever so slightly transparent but even. Topped off with a glossy top coat and you are manicure perfect.

Like the Spa Ritual nail polish, one of my favorite things about the Mavala polish is the packaging- Mavala colours come in tiny, cute 5ml bottles which means no drying out, and wasted product- as the 5ml will last as long as the trend. Mavala polishes are the best way to use your nails to keep up with fashion trends.

E.Funkhouser New York: rather funky

E.Funkhouser is a range of cosmetics from extravagant make-up artist Eddie Funkhouser. The range includes a beautifully packaged range of colours that span every colour of the rainbow.

The range includes everything from essential tools, to brow defining powder to gorgeous multi-shade bronzing powders (which look too good to use). I have tried out not one, but four of the E.Funkenhouser nail colours - and I have to report that these are rather fabulous!

The four-pack contains the following shades- clear, pearlescent white, shimmering baby blue and bright metallic purple. The shades glide on smoothly and leave nails looking manicure-perfect. The coloured shades do need a couple of coats to leave a gorgeous shimmery and even shade. But once on the colours last around 3-4 days with no chipping.

The clear varnish doubles up as a base and top coat to give the colour a bit more staying power. For a unique look you could paint the nail with the bright metallic purple, and then the tips with the white- for a modern alternative to the WAG-classic french manicure.

Go to http://www.efunkhouser.com/ to find out more about the range. The set of four colours are priced £13.95

Tan review: Fake Bake

Rumour has it that Fake Bake is the brand of choice for celebrity self-tanning, on this basis I figured it must be pretty darn good before I even tried it.

There is a huge range of tanning products in the range from the wash-off faux glo, to air-brush instant tans and of course Fake Bake Original. With so many to choose from there is a tanner for every skin type.

Fake Bake Radiant Golden Glow Fair is a gradual self tanner for fair-skin, so if you want to start your fake bake gradually (which is obvious from the name). Fake Bake's magic ingredients work with your individual skin tone to turn the ideal bronzed colour, the specially designed fair formula contains a limited amount of the fake bake magic so the colour only develops gradually (as it says on the tin) to give you a subtle colour. This is good for maintaining a summer-holiday tan, or for a gradual way to get ready for summer.

Fake Bake Original is the original (and best?) of the range, for some reason the colour of the packaging is a little intimidating for those of us who don't want to look like we have been tangoed. But after a deep breath and some careful application it does turn a lovely natural (albeit darker) colour. This is not a product for first-time-fakers as it is liable to go wrong but when applied with care leaves you glowing.

Fake Bake Airbrush is another one that is not for the first-timers, this does offer an instant tan that is easy and quick to apply, but does need to be applied with care- it can be good to rope someone else in to make sure you don't miss bits (obviously someone you are comfortable around, or wear a bikini for holiday-tan lines). This is a great product if you want a tan in a hurry.

Fake Bake has also cottoned on to the fake-tan mousse trend, I have to say I am a big fan of mousse tanners- they are easier and quicker to apply than lotions, but you have more control than you do over sprays- to me it is the best of both worlds. The Fake Bake Mousse is no exception, easy to apply and delivers the same healthy golden glow of the rest of the range, my one tip for mousse is to apply with a fake tan mitt to ensure it blends to avoid streaks and missed spots.

Remember to exfoliate carefully before, wear gloves and moisturise your dry bits. Also, remember to exfoliate every other day after application to ensure it fades gradually.

You can get Fake Bake from the wonderful http://www.wantthelook.com/ at a fabulous 15% off. Including the luscious smelling passion fruit pre-tan Fake Bake scrub.

Product review: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula multi-repair cream

On my mission to find the perfect fake tan, I have also discovered it's pretty essential to find a super-effective moisturiser to tackle those extra-dry bits to prevent them from going too dark/orange.

Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula multi-repair cream is one of those clever products that manages to deeply moisturise without feeling heavy or leaving a greasy film on the skin. Perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive as it is fragrance free. The cream can be used on the body or face and comes in the ideal travel sized bottle- just in time for summer holiday season!

Priced £3.99 for 50ml (small enough for flight hand-luggage) this is a dry skin saviour.

One for the boys: Osmium for men

My helpful male tester has been diligently been sampling a variety of shaving products recently and one that has stood out from the bunch is Osmium for Men's Age Defend Shave.

Osmium is a luxurious plant-rich non-foaming shave cream packed with skin-boosting Siberian ginseng and juniper, aloe vera and chamomile and eucalyptus oil. Age Defend Shave promises to protect, soften and soothe the skin whilst providing for an ultra-close and comfortable shave.

In practice this is one of the shaving products that stood out, non-foaming like traditional shaving lotions but the plant oils mean that the razor glides over skin offering a close shave that doesn't irritate. Skin is left soft and soothed afterwards thanks to the eucalyptus oil and menthol, so no razor burn or irritated skin post-shave- making it ideal for men with sensitive or dry skin.

Osmium is available from http://www.osmiumformen.com/ or 24-hour order line: 0845 450 3874. The shave cream is priced £13.50 for 125ml.

Australian Gold Forever Bronze Sunless Clear Continuous Spray

On my continuing mission to find the perfect summer glow I have recently been trying out a 'proper' self-tanner, rather than the gradual tanners I have been testing. For the perfect tan, where better to turn than to than the land of the constant sunshine- Australia.

Australia Gold are one of the leading brands for tanning lotions designed for use with sunbeds (not that I would suggest using them if you care about your skin or health at all) but obviously they know a thing or two about getting glowing. The products not only harness their extensive knowledge of tanning, but also some key skin-saving native Australian ingredients including tea-tree and aloe.

The continuous spray also has the added benefit of vitamin E to give skin a boost, whilst it turns a gorgeous bronze. I have been testing the medium-dark formula, which initially worried me, as there is certainly nothing 'medium-dark' about my complexion, but after testing I am really pleased with the colour. I did focus the spray on my legs rather than all over as legs looks good with a deeper glow, plus if it goes wrong its the easiest bit to hide...

The spray is clear, so you have to be careful to cover all-over as there is the danger of missing bits. The spray doesn't smell great when applying, but this doesn't linger like it does with other products. It dries quickly so there is no hanging around naked trying not to touch furniture. I really liked the colour that developed, it was a bit deeper than I am used to but this was a good thing, deeper but still natural. The only down(under)side to Australian Gold - see what I did there - is that it doesn't fade evenly, and it is essential to exfoliate regularly to ensure it looks as even as possible.

Available at http://www.australiangold.co.uk/ and salons nationwide priced £19.

Smashbox: O-Gloss Lipgloss

Smashbox is a huge brand in the US, but is fairly limited in the UK, only available at House of Fraser in Belfast and selected UK airports but luckily for those of us who don't live in Belfast or lead a jet set lifestyle then there is http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/ or QVC.

I have heard loads of buzz about Smashbox so jumped at the chance to try a few of their best sellers (which I will be reviewing gradually over the next few days), but to kick things off I tried the rather fabulous O-Gloss.

O-Gloss is a revolutionary 'intuitive' lip gloss, which goes on clear, but then transforms to the perfect shade of pink for your skin tone. This is not a dramatic colour change, but a really natural translucent pink shade that is super-flattering. The gloss texture is great, and not at all sticky and really lasts. This gloss is ideal for day as the colour is subtle and the fact that it's light means you wont feel 'over-done'.

Smashbox O-Gloss is £12.72 from http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/

Banish under eye bags!

Just a quick post with a tip on how to banish under eye bags. Use a light reflecting cream such as Eyeko Cream and then top off with a light concealer such as DuWop. The light reflecting bits illuminate and make you look wide awake.

Eyeko Cream is £4.99 from Superdrug (or online http://www.eyeko.com/)

Skin wonders for stopping shine

Summer is fantastic, the sun and the warmth just makes everything seem warm and rosy, but the downside is that the lovely warmth is that it does have a tendency to make skin greasier, and the heat can make make-up slide off. Of course some skin types - greasy and combination - can have this problem to deal with all year round but summer can bring it out the face-slick in even the mattest of skin.

To tackle the shiny-face syndrome (that is a medical term....) you can do a number of things:

1. Get rid of shine with make-up.

2. Use skin care to absorb oil throughout the day.

3. Use skin care to balance the skin and treat the problem.

For each of these methods of getting rid of the shine I have tested a range of products and here are my favorites:

1. Shine-control make-up

No7 Shine Free Make-up base (£10 from Boots)

The No7 Shine Free base offers serious mattifying power, the white cream is fairly thick and has to be rubbed/blended in quickly or you risk it creating a white layer that resembles tooth-paste residue. But once rubbed in this base really does banish the shine all day long.

It can be work alone or under make-up so is ideal for warmer months when most people tend to simplify their make-up routine.

2. Skin-care to control

Simple Oil Balancing Moisturiser (£3.99 from Boots/Superdrug)

The Simple moisturiser contains Zinc to absorb oil and a natural anti-bacterial to help reduce blemishes. The best thing about this moisturiser is how fresh and light it feels and it does mattify skin and keep it less-shiny than normal. This is a great product for combination skins year round as it moisturises AND controls oil, so you get the best of both worlds.

3. Treat the problem

Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier (£32.38 from http://www.wantthelook.com/) - 15% off RRP!

Dermalogica is skin care system researched and developed by the International Dermal Institute, so it is no surprise that the range is renowned for fantastic results. The Clearing Mattifier contains 2% salicylic acid, this active ingredient is a keratolytic that causes the cells of the epidermis to shed more readily, which prevents pores from clogging up.

Oil and water free, the solution contains organic silicones which melt easily into skin to smooth and create a matte effect that lasts all day, with the added bonus of disguising fine lines. Only a tiny amount of product is needed to mattify, so although this isn't a cheap option it will last all through summer (and beyond).

Crystal Clear Skincare No Shine Serum (£42 http://crystalclear.co.uk/)

Like the Dermalogica product, Crystal Clear No Shine Serum contains salicylic acid to treat the cause of overly-greasy skin rather than just mask it. The unique formulation combines a brilliant sebum-loving blend of active ingredients that combat surface oil, lightly quench the skin and help tighten open pores. Salicylic acid, a tried-and-tested acne-fighting ingredient, provides anti-bacterial protection and energy-generating Tourmaline revives skin radiance.

This is a lighter, more fluid solution than the Dermalogica one, so if you want something that treats the problem and also moisturises then this is ideal. With the added radiance boosters then this is a great product for summer days, and it even smells of oranges- yum.

Brighten Monday with shiny hair: Aveda brilliant spray on shine

Monday mornings are generally rubbish, this is a fact. The weekend is over and the long week is looming ahead in all its glory. What better way to perk-up the start of the week than with a good hair day?

Mondays are hard enough as it is without having to worry about sorting out an elaborate hair style so my top tip is to wear hair as simple as possible, just wash and dry and then finish with a good shine spray- to make your hair sparkle, even if the only thing you want to do is crawl back into bed.

Aveda is a fantastic hair brand and they make a product that is very deserving of it's cult status- Aveda brilliant spray-on shine. A light spritz is all you need to make your hair a glossy mane of gorgeousness, make sure you are especially light if you have fine or greasy hair as all shine sprays can weight it down. This spray can even add a gloss to blonde hair (tried and tested by me!) which can be notoriously difficult to get a shine on- darker hair colours are generally the glossier of the hair world.

The spray is available from the fabulous website http://www.wantthelook.com/ which I have mentioned before. At 15% less than RRP this is THE place to stock up on hair and beauty goodies- the Aveda Spray-on Shine is £10.20 (RRP £12).

Beauty basics two: Deodorant for the boys

Last week I wrote a post on the fabulously glamorous subject of deodorants, this post is a follow up to that especially for the boys out there.

Deodorant is pretty darn essential for boys, especially with all the sport and general sweating that they seem to do so they shouldn't be forgotten- especially in summer when they need a little extra help in staying fresh and lovely.

Here are a few interesting sweaty facts in case you have any doubts about how much men sweat:

• The average man sweats about 1-1.5 litres of liquid a day


• Each person has 3–4 million sweat glands


• Men are sweatier than women, even when you take body size into account. Scientists tested volunteers in a laboratory mock-up of a sweltering car. Men lost 250 g of sweat per hour, which was 70 g more than the women (New Scientist 1 June 2002)

Top tip:

The latest development in the anti-stink world is using silver.

Historically silver has also been used in salves for burn victims and to purify water and scientists are currently looking into using silver again, in place of chlorine, in water-purification systems such as those that service swimming pools. No drug based antibiotic is as effective as silver because silver nanoparticles kill all types of fungal infections, bacteria and viruses within 6 minutes of contact, including antibiotic resistant strains. Research to date has shown that bacteria have been unable to develop any immunity to silver and unlike other metals such as lead and mercury, silver is not toxic to humans.

The obvious benefits of silver being used in deodorants is for the anti-bacterial properties as these will kill the cause of the smell, as it is not the actual sweat that smells but the bacteria that grows there.

The lovely people at Nivea have managed to harness the powers of silver and package it into a super-effective Men's deodorant, Nivea Silver Protect (£TBC).

Obviously as a girl I didn't test this out, but I found a willing (and sporty) male helper to do so instead. He loved it, because it works (even when doing sport, apparently) and smells really nice- not over powering but still masculine. So, there is a recommendation- and just in time for the hot summer months.

Hair removal cream from Veet

Traditionally I have not been a fan of hair removal creams, they are generally smelly, messy and just about as effective as the less smelly, less messy shaving. But, as a beauty junkie I know that products do change and develop over time so just because I didn't like it one time, this doesn't mean I will never like it.

So when a friend recommended the Veet in-shower hair removal cream, raving about how easy and effective it was then I just had to give it another go. Partially convinced by the in-shower claim I thought it would be a bit easier and less messy than previous attempts that had me hovering around the bathroom, legs caked in smelly gloop waiting for 10/15 mins for it to burn away my hair.

So, as for the experience- the cream doesn't smell of roses, but does smooth on nicely and doesn't pong QUITE as bad as previous versions. So after smoothing it on, I hopped into the shower armed with the two sided sponge to remove the gunk after the allotted time. The packaging did warn that some of the cream would wash off under the water, but as it should only take around three minutes to work then I wasn't too worried. About 40% of the cream washed off under the water and the remainder came off with the help of the sponge. With a rough and smooth side for normal/delicate areas.

Having rinsed, dried and moisturised I was impressed with the results. Legs felt smooth and soft and the effect lasted around a day longer than shaving and re-growth is a little softer. Now all the lovely people at Veet need to do is develop an in-shower cream that sprays on, or in some other way is a little easier to apply. But overall, I am a fan and will be using again.

Jergens Naturals Ultra Hydrating Body Moisturiser: review

Made with 96% natural ingredients, Jergens Naturals Ultra Hydrating Body Moisturiser is an ideal combination of skin softening ingredients, including Jojoba Oil- helps improve skins ability to protect itself, Avocado- deeply moisturising with vitamins A, D and E and Olive Oil- packed with antioxidants and skin softening vitamins.

The best things about the Ultra Hydrating Moisturiser are that it is light and fresh to apply and smells really lovely- fresh with a hint of floral. This would be a great moisturiser for those with normal skin, my only (very) minor criticism is that it is a little light for dryer skin types. It absorbs quickly and does leave skin soft but I found it too light for my hands, but perfect for general moisturising.

Gradual tanning: Five of the best

Summer is looming, and no matter how fashionable the pale and interesting is I cant help but long for a bit of a glow. As a naturally fashionable (read: pale and interesting) individual, I need a bit of help in the tanning department and without wanting to go from translucent white to orange overnight then gradual tanning is the answer.

Not all gradual tanners are the same (obviously) so I have been diligently trying out a selection to find the five best for Summer 2009.

Best for dry skin:

Dove Summer Glow (£4.99)

Available in fair to medium and medium to dark so you know you wont go too dark too quickly this gradual tanner is fab for dry skin as it is packed with the classic Dove moisturiser. This also means that it replaces the horrid biscuit smell with the fresh Dove fragrance so is perfect for applying in the day time.

Best for control:

Piz Buin Self tanning lotion with colour dial (£17.99 for 250ml)

The handy colour dial means you can be as gradual as you like with the tanning, starting gently and moving up in tan-intensity as you like. This is a genius idea so you can have total control over your shade and still go as dark as you like, gradually.

Best classic gradual tan:

Johnson's Holiday Skin (£4.99 for 250ml)

The original gradual tanner has gotten gradually better over the years since it first launched in 2005 (yes, I cant believe it was that long ago either) over the years the formula has improved, as has the smell and the colour gradually moving towards the ideal gradual tanner. Also available in fair to medium and medium to dark, Johnson's is a good gradual tanner to start with if you are a fake-tan virgin.

Best light colour:

No7 Gradual Tan (Face £10.25 Body £9.75)

Available in a face and body version, the No7 gradual tan is great for a really light gradual tan for paler skins. The colour is really gradual to develop so is best for the paler skins on the spectrum. Separate face and body creams mean the different textures are more suitable, helping create a more natural tan. The face cream has the added bonus of being SPF 15.

Available from Boots.

Best colour:

Tan Truth Secret Sun Daily Gradual Tan (£4.95)

Tan Truth gradual tan creates a really nice natural glow and smells light and fresh. The colour does develop naturally, but I found this one to be a bit stronger than some of the other gradual tanners. Great for use on legs, which look better with a bit of a stronger colour.

Visit http://www.beautyexpress.co.uk/ for stockists.

Top tip for gradual tanning: Don't forget to exfoliate regularly, moisturise elbows/knees/ankles/heels and wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from gradually turning bright orange.

Beautyjunkielondon top summer beauty tip on Handbag.com

Check out the link below to Handbag.com (one of my favorite coffee break reads) to see a top beauty tip from Beautyjunkielondon that was chosen as the best in their first Twitter competition.

http://www.handbag.com/Groups/twitter-bikini-body-competition/v1

What are your top beauty tips for getting ready for summer?

Not glamorous, but essential: Deodorant

Deodorant, I know it's not sexy or glamorous but it is pretty darn essential. What is the point in primping and preening and generally looking fab if you have sweat stinky pits?

Doing a tried and tested for deodorants seems appropriate at a time when the temperature is starting to rise and the threat of being stuck with your head in a fellow tube travellers smelly armpit looming, the last thing you want is to be that tube traveller- you want to be able to raise your arms with confidence all summer long!

Having tried a few these are my favorites:

Best for a clean and fresh scent:

Dove Original Aerosol (£2.49 150ml)

I cant get enough of Dove products, the smell is so refreshing and clean, especially in the original range (which includes a roll on, stick and cream in addition to the spray). It is a classic that cant be faulted. The range now includes a huge range of scents there is something to suit everyone, but I am going to stick with the original.

Best for full-on sweat prevention:

Sure Maximum Protection Anti-Perspirant Deodorant (£4.99 for 50ml)

I was pleased to see that Sure had released a more hard-core anti-perspirant in time for summer. This is really effective and is best applied at night so it can work over night and in theory work all the next day, but an extra spritz of another deodorant in the morning cant hurt and can only make you feel more confident.

Best for sporty types:

Adidas Action 3 (£2.29 for 2ooml)

Smells fresh and is really effective even when exercising. You can really trust one of the worlds biggest sports brands to come up with something that works. The Adidas Action 3 is also available in a tiny handbag sized version which is really handy for staying stink-free on the go.

Lord and Berry Summer 09 collection

I was recently introduced to a rather fabulous make-up range called Lord and Berry. The range includes a selection of eye and lip colours that are all based on current fashion trends so totally up to date.

Normally I am more of an eye-make up than lipstick girl, as I always find anything more than a bit of pink gloss looks a bit 'too much' for me. But I do love to experiment in the safety of my bathroom with dramatic colours and more extreme looks, but don't normally dare venture into the real world.

Having said all this I have found a very bright, very dramatic, lipstick that I actually like in the Lord and Berry Summer 09 collection. The Vogue Semi Matte Lipstick in Red (£9.90) is exactly that- very very red.

The bright red is a bit intimidating, but when worn with simple eye make up can look really pretty and fresh. The semi-matte texture is really modern, and can work for day (if you are brave enough) or night. If you wanted to change the effect you could slick a bit of transparent or shimmery gloss over the top. One of the best things about the colour is that it suits everyone, whilst having a bit of a Saturday night pampering session with the girls they all tried the colour and it looked good on all of them, so if you have brown, ginger or blonde hair this colour will suit you. The cooler undertones mean that it is better for paler skin tones, with the fuschia version better for darker skins.

Lord and Berry is available from House of Fraser with the Summer collection in store from this month.

Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo

I always cringe when I hear people say you shouldn't wash your hair every day- you wash your face every day and take your hair to all the same places? So why wouldn't you wash your hair every day too? The main problem people will have with hair is not using the correct shampoo for their hair type. If you find washing your hair every day makes it dry, then you aren't using one that is moisturising enough for your hair, it is some trial and error but worth it in the long run.

Another tip for hair, is to deep cleanse once a week. Your hair, like your face, can benefit from a good deep-clean on a weekly basis. I have long been a fan of using a deep cleansing shampoo followed by a deep conditioner once a week.

My new favorite deep cleansing shampoo is Bumble and Bumble's Sunday Shampoo- aptly named for a weekly cleanser. The shampoo lathers up really well and smells fresh, rinses clear, taking with it the build up of products and leaves hair squeaky clean. Follow with a deep conditioner that is suitable for your hair and then if you can, let hair dry naturally. Your hair will thank you for it.

One word of warning, don't be tempted to use the shampoo more than once a week as it can be a bit too harsh. Once a week (on a Sunday, if you follow the packaging) is the perfect amount to refresh hair and keep it from getting weighed down by product.

Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo is available from fantastic beauty website http://www.wantthelook.com/ priced £4.25.

http://www.wantthelook.com/ is a great site to stock up on cult products in one place including Bumble and Bumble, Fake Bake and Dermalogica plus you can get beauty advice and search for product by hair type. Next on my shopping list is the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray for summer waves in my hair. I challenge you to visit the site and not find something you love!

Scrub up for summer

Getting ready for summer means scrubbing off the nasty layer of dull, dead skin that tends to build up over winter. Exfoliation should be one of the key parts of any good beauty routine, even in winter it is a good idea to exfoliate weekly to keep skin fresh but at the start of summer you can step the routine up a gear and scrub up every other day for a couple of weeks and then aim to do so perhaps twice a week.

Facial exfoliators should be more gentle than the ones used on your body as the skin is more delicate, and its also important to be really careful around the eye area. There are two types of exfoliator that can be used on the body salt scrubs and sugar scrubs, salt scrubs are a little rougher and more invigorating and sugar scrubs are softening, a little gentler and tend to be more appropriate for dry skin.

For the face:

Resurf.a.stic from Blinc is a wonder product for exfoliating the face, I first came across this product when it was recommended for a men's product feature I was working on but there are no rules when it comes to beauty so on the recommendation of my male tester I tried it myself. Resurf.a.stic is a glue-stick like product that is the perfect gentle texture for use on the face (for men or women). It is packed with diamond-shaped particles that slough off dead skin in an simple, mess-free way, leaving fresh glowing skin behind.

For the body:

(Sugar scrub)Boots Extracts Organic Cocoa Scrub (£7.50) smells good enough to eat, and is packed with gentle sugar particles in an organic cocoa softening base to scrub skin and leave it soft and lovely. The best thing about the cocoa scrub is that is feels really luxurious but is only £7.50 for a huge tub.

(Salt scrub) Virgin Vie Day Spa Buff and Polish Salt Scrub (£15) Fresh and invigorating citrus scent will wake you up with one sniff. A little messy to apply but this oil and salt based scrub is good for first thing in the morning. The oil will also leave a light veil of moisture on your skin, leaving you feeling smooth and silky all day long.