Tallulah Mineral Gloss: Review

Tallulah Mineral Lipgloss is a really modern liquid-mineral formulation, taking all the benefits that we know and love in powder minerals and put it into a fabulous collection of lip glosses.

I did wonder what the texture of a mineral lip gloss would be like, somehow I imagined it to be chalky rather than slick?! This was completely unfounded as the lip gloss glides on beautifully leaving a pretty sheen that doesn't feel sticky at all.

I have tried the 'Brazilla' shade, reportedly the most popular in the range- a pretty berry shade with a golden shimmer. The gloss looks more natural on that you would expect from the tube and feels really light and easy to wear- perfect if you prefer your make-up to feel subtle and 'barely-there' rather than thick and gloopy.

Tallulah Cosmetics are available from http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/ I have mentioned this site a couple of times before in my reviews of the US brand Smashbox products. JBD is fast becoming the place to go for the up-and-coming brands and trends in make-up. Tallulah Mineral Glosses are priced £14.69 incl. VAT.

Sassoon Salon: Review

This Friday and Saturday (more about this later) I was lucky enough to have been invited to have the ultimate in follicle-pampering at the Sassoon Salon in Covent Garden.

The salon is in the ultimate Covent Garden location, on Monmouth Street in the trendy seven dials area. The salon is large with a sleek interior and an impressively stocked reception/foyer full of all the must-have products to care for hair (not just the Sassoon brand).

I was invited for a cut a colour, to review the salon and had an appointment lined up with Colour Director, Alliah and Salon Director, Roni. On the day there was a slight spanner thrown into the works as I hadn't had an allergy test so was unable to do the full head of colour as planned so we decided to go in a different direction and go for a full head of highlights.

The first step for the Sassoon experience was a thorough consultation with both Alliah and Roni on what I wanted and what would work colour-and-cut-wise. Although I am pretty much willing to try any product in the name of beauty, my hair is something I am a bit of a stick-in-the-mud about being determined to keep it long and blonde as it has been since I was little.

Once shades and style were decided, we got going with the process. This was relaxing and gave me a wonderful chance to catch up on some very important reading (Vogue, In Style, Red....etc) Alliah was helped out by assistant Poppy, who competently took care of the washing/conditioning side of things.

In the end, my own botched scheduling meant that I had to split the colour and cut over Friday and Saturday and I am really grateful to how flexible the salon was to this change. It meant that when it came to my cut on the Saturday, Roni could spend the time she needed to work her magic on my rather drab looking hair to bring it back to life. Having discussed what I was hoping she could achieve whilst keeping the length, Roni got to work.

Overall the result is fantastic. The highlights have brought back the naturally golden tones I naturally had in my hair (before I got carried away with the blonding colours) whilst still remaining bright blonde. The cut is simply well-done making it ridiculously easy to style, whether I am going for a messed-up, casual style or a sleek and straightened look- both work equally well with the expertly done cut.

I am really pleased with both the colour and style, both are precisely what I was looking for. I really felt like I was listened too, and as a result I have a colour and style that work for me rather than just tick the current trend boxes.

To book an appointment at the Covent Garden Sassoon Salon call 020 7240 6635 or to find another Sassoon Salon visit http://www.sassoon.com/

Post-glasto clean-up

Beautyjunkielondon didn't actually go to Glastonbury but for all of those who did- a good shower gel is in order to scrub up and recover from the mud and the heat (great combination...)

Palmolive have released a pair of limited edition shower gels this year called 'Marrakech Sunrise' and 'Madagascar Sunset'. Having never been to Marrakech or Madagascar I can't vouch for the authenticity of the scents, but I can report that they smell good. The Marrakech Sunrise (the green one) is my personal favorite, with a more refreshing rather than relaxing scent.

The gel lathers up well without needing a huge handful, rinses clean and leaves skin feeling soft rather than dry and tight and only costs £1.46- but as mentioned before is only available for a limited time so if you want to have a sniff for yourself then head to your nearest supermarket or highstreet chemist.

Fairtrade cosmetics launch

As of 24th June, the Fairtrade Foundation has put it's special stamp on a number of beauty companies including Boots, Bubble & Balm, Essential Care, Lush and Neal’s Yard. To deserve the stamp of approval from the Foundation, each of the products must contains one or more Fairtrade certified ingredient such as cocoa butter, shea nut butter, sugar or brazil nut oil, benefiting disadvantaged producers from countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Of the brands that have secured the approval of Fairtrade I have tried two; Boots Extracts Sugar Scrub and the Neals Yard Frankincense Moisturiser (although I haven't posted about this one).

By using Fairtrade products you can give your skin and your conscience a nice ethical glow, knowing that the products are sourced from farmers that in turn can reap the benefits, plus an extra premium to re-invest in the community.

TB-Gate: a beauty blogging uproar!

Decided to add my own two-cents about this Total Beauty article malarkey. If you aren't already aware of this then to start with you should read the article to get an idea of what this is all about. To give you the gist, the CEO of Total Beauty has come out saying that PR's/brands shouldn't work directly with beauty bloggers to arrange product reviews. Of course, this is not just a sweeping statement by MR CEO of Total Beauty, but it is qualified by the fact that he works with bloggers- but of course THIS is OK.... Anyway, read it and decide for yourself your view on the piece (link at the bottom of this post)

The article has causes quite a stir in the beauty blogging world as it essentially is a direct criticism of our ethics and directly implies that all we are is puppets of the PR and marketing industry and personally, I take objection to this.

I would like to take this chance to explicitly say that Beautyjunkielondon does NOT get paid to write reviews of products on the blog. I do however receive free samples from PR representatives, but stress that regardless of this all reviews are 100% honest and based on MY OWN first hand experience of a product, or that of a friend if they are not suitable for me. In this instance I will interview the tester to get a thorough view of what they think of the product.

The relationship I have with PR's is vital for the existence of Beautyjunkielondon and I really appreciate the support they offer. But as grateful as I am for the support, I will ALWAYS review products honestly and this is the gamble that they take when providing the samples to test. I fully trust that all good PR reps are well aware that this is how it works when they provide samples, there is always the chance that review wont be 100% positive.

The appeal to readers of beauty blogging is the uncensored honesty and freedom that they have to write truly honest reviews of products. When have you read an honestly negative review in a magazine? And don't get me started on the tie between advertising and editorial....

Anyway, saying that PR's shouldn't work with beauty bloggers inherently implies that the blogger will simply regurgitate the press release as provided by the PR and this is simply not the case. I read a number of blogs and never read anything that reads like a press release. The thing to remember is that beauty bloggers have taken the initiative to go out there are start the blog, we are not puppets and we are not so naive to the PR/marketing spiel that we will just write as we are told.

Any good PR who is confident in their product should feel comfortable with taking the gamble and working with bloggers. But if you don't feel confident in your product then you probably will shy away from the uncensored world of beauty blogs, that's the decision you take as a PR.

Anyway, that's what I have to say on the matter. I am pleased to have built some good working relationships with PR's and feel confident that these will continue, as will this blog.

To read the Total Beauty Media post click HERE

To read some other beauty bloggers responses to this see below:

British Beauty Blogger - I whole-heartedly agree with this response!

Beauty and Fashion Tech News and Reviews

Rodial Glam Balm

Rodial is one of those brands that has built an amazing reputation, but sadly I have never quite been able to justify the expense of the products. Although much of the range has the pages of Grazia and other glossies raving about the results including Tummy Tuck (I really want/need to try this out, based on the amazing reviews) and Brazilian Tan (available in both light and dark) but with prices for these products along being £97.87 and £38.17 respectively, you can see why I have gone for the cheaper options...

Until now that is, through the wonders of writing about beauty I have been lucky enough to be able to try out one of Rodial's fabulous products- 'Glam Balm' (which has a heart-stopping RRP of £60.68)

Ignoring the price for a moment, Glam Balm is a really good product. Like the cult-classic Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream, this balm can be used for pretty much anything: as a lip balm (plumping AND moisturising lips), a wrinkle filler, add a glow to eye-lids/cheeks/wherever you want a bit of gloss.

The Glam Balm is lighter in texture than the 8-Hour Cream and instantly melts into skin on application. It can be used as an overnight skin boost and claims to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in 30 days. When applied to lips it leaves them feeling instantly soft and smooth but without the tacky feeling of a gloss. Glam balm is also great as a smoothing hand cream- although at this point I have to bring up the price again, I can't help but feel that £60.68 is an awful lot to spend on a hand cream (on my current budget at least!)

I can 100% see why people want to spend large sums of money on Rodial products, they are un-deniable high-quality but personally, I will have to wait a few years before I can justify the price (although I am still dying to try out the Tummy Tuck!)

Smashbox High Definition Concealer

Some days, you just need a little extra help to get your skin looking flawless. American brand Smashbox has the answer with their' High Definition Concealer.

The concealer is pretty heavy duty, so if you have a bad breakout or a really late night this is your saviour. The consistency is quite thick and you really only need a tiny amount to get a high level of coverage- any more and you will be left with a 'cakey' look. As you only need a tiny amount, the concealer will last ages- excellent value for money.

For a lighter finish you can mix the concealer with a touch of moisturiser or an illuminating cream- this is probably a good option for Summer, which calls for a lighter make-up routine.

I have been testing the fair/light shade (second from left) which is the perfect pale, with warm undertones shade for my pale but pinky skin- such a typically English complexion.

Smashbox is available from one of my favorite online make-up stores http://www.justbeautydirect.co.uk/ priced £18.98

Another day, another tan review

Yep, I am still testing out self-tan lotions on the diligent hunt for the perfect one. I have found some good contenders so far (Famous Dave's and Spa Paridisa being the top-rated so far) but that doesn't stop the search.

Vie at Home (ex-Virgin Vie) have a range of self-tanners across the brand including both gradual, instant and wear-off depending on what level and permanence of tan you are looking for. I have been testing out the Sunshine Skin, a wear-off tanner. Sunshine skin comes in the 'traditional' lotion formula that isn't tinted, so maybe not the tan-of-choice for first-timers, but saying that- this was actually very easy to apply and I found that my skin was left both moisturised and pretty much streak-free, although I still had the issues around my feet that I just cant seem to avoid.

The colour was definitely on the subtle side, so this would be a good product if you are pale or want to build a tan over a couple of applications but don't have the patience for a gradual tanner.

The thing that was most striking about the Sunshine Skin was the smell, it really reminded me of CK-One! (I just had another sniff now, and was temporarily transformed back to my teens) The CK-One scent does get taken over by the fake-tan odour, as with most tanners but it is refreshing to have something fairly pleasant to smell when you are applying. It doesn't hurt that the bottle is quite pretty too, like all the Vie at Home packaging.

Sunshine Skin (£12.75 for 125ml) for more info visit: http://www.vieathome.com/ (there is a sale on at the moment so stock up!)

Fragrance review: Narciso Rodriguez 'Essence'

Let me first start by saying that fragrance is one of those very difficult things to review as smell is such a subjective area of beauty. Can I also qualify this review by saying that I am by no means a 'professional nose' and that this 'review' is wholly based on my own personal opinions and that if you do like the sound of what you read I suggest you go out and smell the fragrance for yourself rather than take a leap of faith and buy-before-you-sniff.




OK, after that 'legal disclaimer' introduction, I can move on to talking about the new Narciso Rodriguez fragrance 'Essence'.





First impressions count with a new perfume, and this one does not disappoint, with a simply-elegant box, that opens to a beautiful chrome and glass bottle that is smooth, streamlined and generally rather gorgeous (see the picture, although this doesn't quite do it justice) and not to be too perfume-speak cheesy, the bottle does reflect the sensuality that the perfume is trying to capture. What I am essentially trying to say is that the bottle is very pretty, so at least if someone buys you this fragrance as a gift and the smell isn't your thing you can still proudly display it as bathroom-decor (the bottle is designed by award-winning Ross Lovegrove, industrial designer, so it is no surprise that it is beautiful).

Having said that, the smell is also rather gorgeous and since the bottle arrived at my door last week I have used this every day. As I said at the beginning, I am no professional nose but sniffing this perfume the main things I could smell are something that reminded me of talcum powder, something floral and yet something that had a hint of masculinity. This almost matches up with the PR-spiel that describes the perfume as: "notes of rose petals, powder notes of iris and hints of amber resulting in a floral, powdery musc fragrance." Not bad for an amateur!

The eau-de-parfume is £50 for 50ml for more information go to http://www.essence-narcisorodriguez.com/

Beautyjunkielondon: Beauty junkie's online survey

Hello lovely beautyjunkielondon readers.

I am currently doing a bit of research into the wonderful world of online beauty and would love to get your input on the topic!

If you can please complete the survey I have created (link below) or share your experiences/opinions in the comment box below that would be fantastic.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=MSTEIsev5Z3HbJfMU6ZO1w_3d_3d

Thank you!

Beever Hair Products review

Male or female, with short hair? Then you should check out Beever. Beever is a hair range with four products (all £10.50), designed for different looks and hair types including:

1: A shaping paste for medium hold and a semi-sheen effect.

2: Moulding clay with extreme hold with a matte effect.

3: Gloss Putty, light to medium hold with a glossy texture (this one can be used on long hair too).

4: Mattifying Paste, light to medium hold with a matte finish.

Beautyjunkielondon has longer hair so I have enlisted a handy little helper to test out Beever numbers 2 and 4.

To help put this in context, my handy little helper has dark blonde hair that is short and fairly fine. Bearing this in mind his favorite beever is number 2: "It holds my hair in place, without looking glossy or greasy or too perfectly done."

Feedback on number two was "Held hair fairly well but found the matte finish on this one made hair look a bit dull, number two was matte but looked a bit fresher."

The Beever range is available on line and has quite a funky website: http://www.beever.co.uk/

One for the boys: Simple for Men

Fathers day this weekend, so good timing for a 'one for the boys' post. If you are on a budget but don't want to scrimp on quality for Daddy dearest (or any of the men in your life) then Beautyjunkielondon has the answer: Simple for men.

Simple are generally the experts in skincare and to be honest I was surprised it has taken them so long to launch a men's line. But some things are worth the wait and according to Beautyjunkielondon's male tester Simple is one of those things.

Containing Aloe Vera, Tea Tree and Willowherb to combat the sensitivity caused by daily shaving the range includes all the basics a man needs including Hydrating Face Wash, Soothing Shave Gel, Soothing Aftershave Balm and Hydrating Daily Moisturiser.

Beautyjunkielondon describes the Hydrating Face Wash as "Leaves my skin clean with a tingly sensation but not as dry as other face washes."

The sleek black packaging means that even the most label-obsessed man will be happy to have the range in the bathroom cabinet, in fact they blend in rather nicely with the Clinique for men range....

The beauty of a gamble

Have just been sent the link to a new game on the Jergens naturals website and I'm a little worried it has un-earthed the gambler in me as when my five spins for the day were up I was disappointed!

You can win a whole host of wonderful prizes on the game, here is a warning though- you will be hooked! If you don't win you are still entered to win a spa break. Oh, and in case you were wondering- I didn't win anything this time, but will be back tomorrow to try again...

http://www.jergens.co.uk/spinning-machine.htm

e.l.f. Mineral Glow Bronze

e.l.f. is fast becoming my favorite make-up brand. With each product I test out, I'm more and more impressed with the consistently high-quality and astounding value that is offered by the bargain brand- with most products being the bargain price of£1.50!

The most recent testing-piece has been the Mineral Glow in Bronze, which at a whopping £5 is one of the most expensive pieces in the range (yep, £5 is the most expensive!) The mineral glow offers something a little extra than the normal mineral base, leaving skin radiant and glowing.

I came across this product when thinking about down-sizing my make-up routine for summer- when the sun comes out, who wants to be stuck inside pasting on thick layers of make-up? The elf Bronze Glow is perfect for adding a sun-kissed glow for the summer months, all you need is a nice fat kabuki brush and away you go.

If you are pale skinned, like myself, then make sure you only do a light dusting and don't apply too soon after moisturiser or else you risk looking like you left the house part way through a mud mask. Alternatively there is a paler version of mineral glow available if you don't want to go for the bronze look but still want to look radiant- it's next on my e.l.f. shopping list.

For more info on e.l.f. go to: http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/

To see a twit-pic of the Mineral Glow in bronze, click here

Battle of the body butters: a fight for the softest skin

For the past few weeks I have been working through the onerous task of testing out a series of body butters (not really, my skin has never felt better) on the quest to find the ideal body-softening treat. When testing these pots of buttery-soft goodness there were a number of things to look for:

Texture: How thick is the butter? How well does it absorb into skin? How does skin feel after application?

Smell: Fresh? Clean? Fruity? Rich?

Moisturisability (I made that word up): How soft is skin after applying? Does it feel more pampered than after regular moisturiser? How soft is it at the end of the day?

I decided to mark each of the body butters out of 10 for each of the above categories along with a bit of description. With this in mind, I got testing and here are the results:

Dove Body Butter for extra dry skin(£4.99)

Texture: This Dove product is pretty much what you would expect from a body butter, a really thick cream that absorbs in easily without leaving a greasy film on the skin. 9/10

Smell: If you are a regular Beautyjunkielondon reader then you will be aware that I am a huge fan of the Dove classic scent- I love how fresh and clean it is, and the body butter is no exception. 10/10

Moisturisability: Skin is left instantly soft and stays that way all day long. 9/10

Marks and Spencer Mango Body Butter (£5)

Texture: This body butter has a slightly lighter texture than the other body butters. Absorbs easily and leaves skin soft and smooth. 7/10

Smell: The best thing about this body butter is the fantastic fresh and fruity scent. There is something so refreshing about the smell of mango, something about it is so reminiscent of holidays! 9/10

Moisturisability: Not as heavily moisturising as the other body butters, but the lighter texture is light and refreshing. If you have dry skin then this probably isn't the cream for you. 7/10

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter (£4.99)

Texture: Gorgeous thick texture, absorbs in well and leaves skin soft without a filmy residue. 10/10

Smell: Obviously, being a cocoa butter product this smells strongly of cocoa butter so may be a personal preference thing. I like the smell, but prefer to use this as a skin softening night-time treat as find the smell a little strong for day time. 7/10

Moisturisability: This body butter left my skin soft and fantastically smooth. Just what you want from a body butter. 9/10

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Body Butter (£4.99)

Texture: The texture of this is very similar to the Dove body butter, heavier than a normal cream but still absorbs well and leaves skin soft without a film. 9/10

Smell: Completely odourless, if you have sensitive skin or want something that doesn't interfere with perfume then this is ideal. 8/10

Moisturisability: Leaves skin soft all day long. Perfect for sensitive, dry skin. 9/10

Spa Paradisa Coconut and Frangipani Body Butter (£8 from Debenhams)

Texture: Probably the thickest of the body butters I tested out, but still absorbs well. As it is so thick a little goes a long way. 8/10

Smell: This body butter smells of holidays. I reviewed the Spa Paradisa Gradual Tanning Cream a while ago and completely fell in love with the smell. The body butter smells equally as fragrant as the tanning lotion, reminding me of the smell of clothes that have dried in hot summer heat. Based on the smell of this I am going to have to get the watermelon and pink grapefruit version! 10/10

Moisturisability: A little goes a long way to leave skin soft and well moisturised all day long. 8/10

Dove Pro-Age Rich Body Butter (£6.99)

Texture: The pro-age body butter is a lighter texture than the Dove original body butter with a more lotion-like feel. Absorbs well but did leave skin slightly more 'filmy' than the other butters. 6/10

Smell: Strangely, doesn't have the same Dove scent as the original body butter. Still fairly fresh but just not quite the same as the original. 7/10

Moisturisability: Great at leaving skin soft and moisturised, but would be better for dryer or more mature skins that need a little extra help. 8/10

One final thing to say, before I am all body-buttered out- the only issue with using body butter regularly is that you may find you get used to skin being so pampered and moisturised that when you revert back to using lotion it doesn't feel like it is being as effective. I would suggest using body butters perhaps once or twice a week to 'top up' skin as an added boost to your regular moisturising routine.

Essie Neon Nails

Neon nails has always been a trend that I have been a bit nervous to try, till I was introduced to the the cute little pots of Essie Neon's in 'Perky Purple' and 'Flirty Fuchsia' by The Lanes Health and Beauty in Brighton. Cute pots of eye-popping colour that will work for both tanned and pale skin- what's not to love?

My personal favorite is the Perky Purple (top right), a really bright neon purple, but not quite as 'highlighter-esque' as the 'Flirty Fuchsia' (bottom left). I painted my toe-nails this fab purple shade for Saturday night- it added a dash of bright colour to my white-jeans and grey-top combo.

One thing to note though is, that these colours are BRIGHT and as hard as I try I still manage to make a mess of painting my own toe nails so it's worth paying a professional to do it for you if you want your neon nails to look their best!

Organic Surge Fresh Grapefruit Conditioner

I have been testing a few all-natural/organic products recently including the Think Happy Organic Surge Fresh Grapefruit Conditioner (£4.88). I was on the hunt for fruity beauty products when I came across this one and have been testing it out for a couple of weeks now.

I have a mixed opinion of this conditioner, to start with the positive- I love the result it has on my hair. Leaving it smooth and silky and not weighed down.

But on the down side I am really not keen on the smell. I do find that fragrance is a really subjective thing, but I just don't detect 'fresh grapefruit' in this at all, instead I smell something that seems to remind me of my Grandma's old peoples home...

Normally fresh grapefruit is, quite a 'fresh' citrus scent and perhaps the organic factor means that all the normal chemicals and preservatives that help create the normal grapefruit smell I am used to have been replaced with something more authentic, that takes a bit of getting used to?

Anyway, despite the smell I have still found myself using this on a daily basis- so go out there and give it a sniff yourself and see what you think. Personally, next time I will probably go for the citrus mint....

www.organicsurge.com

Minty fresh and Naked

Summer, the time to get naked.


No, I'm not being rude, but I am recommending a fabulous range of products from the brand, Naked. The range is 97% natural and suitable for vegetarians and promises that they don't test their products on Bambi, Lassie or Skippy so animal lovers can rejoice and get Naked (still not being rude).


The Balance Recovered Deep Cleanse Shampoo (£3.91 from Boots) contains peppermint leaf and sorrel leaf extracts to deeply cleanse hair and remove build up and toxins that can leave hair lank and lifeless. The mint and sorrel leaf combine to create a fresh and herby scent that is sweet without being overpowering. The shampoo smells of fresh mint, but is 'fresher' than some mint products out there that are so minty they leave a tingle.


The detox shampoo does leave hair squeaky clean and unlike some shampoo's my hair felt soft without following with a deep conditioner.

For more information on the range go to http://www.nakedbodycare.co.uk/ or alternatively become a facebook fan http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Naked-Bodycare/74617431157?ref=ts ) or follow on Twitter page http://twitter.com/nakedbodycare- I do like a brand that is keeping up with the social networking trends....

100th blog post: Some non-product beauty tips

For the 100th blog post I thought it would be good to write about some home-made beauty tips and tricks and ways to get beautiful, with-out forking out for expensive beauty products.



Homemade body scrub: Mix epsom salts with olive oil for a detox/moisturising scrub.



Fake tan errors: Use a wedge of lemon on streaks and dark spots to fade them quickly.


Spots: A dab of toothpaste on a spot will help to dry it out. Cover the blob with a bit of tissue to help stop getting toothpaste all over your bedsheets.


Under eye bags: I can't say I have ever tried this one, but apparently haemorrhoid cream works a treat on under eye bags....alternatively, try putting two spoons in the freezer for about 15mins then remove and place them under your eyes, this will feel really refreshing and help reduce puffiness.


Olive oil: Olive oil can be used to condition hair and to soften skin. Put olive oil onto dry hair and wrap in a towel (that will need a wash after) or cling film (for best results) leave on for as long as you can and then rinse out. Follow by a shampoo and condition to leave your hair soft and silky.

I also found that for an over-night moisture boost, a drop of olive oil in your normal moisturiser and apply over-night.


Do you have any home-made beauty tips? Comment on this post or email beautyjunkielondon@gmail.com

A smile is for life, not just for national smile month....

National Smile Month is coming to a close on the 16th of June and I think it is the perfect time to remember that looking after your teeth is something that should be done year-round, to make sure your smile is as 'Hollywood' perfect as can be.

Oral-health is one of those things that is very easy to ignore, until there is something wrong and that's why National Smile Month is so important, raising the awareness of how vital it is to look after your teeth and gums, especially since there is a proven direct link between oral health and other parts of the body, with gum disease in particular being linked to serious health issues including diabetes, heart disease, infertility, strokes and premature births.

As looking after your teeth is so important I thought it would be good to look at ways to care for your teeth, whatever your budget.

Budget

If you want to look after your teeth and get a 'Hollywood' smile on a budget there is a huge range of options available to you (you only need to visit the toothpaste isle of a supermarket to see what I mean). Make sure that when you are looking for a tooth-paste that it contains fluoride.

If you want to get a whiter smile on a budget then go for Colgate Plax Whitening (£2.10 for 250ml) with a mint-fresh taste and whitening ingredients, this paste also contains ingredients to tackle plaque and bacteria so you get the best of both worlds- a blindingly white, and a healthy smile.

Make sure, that even if you are on a tight budget make sure you visit an NHS dentist every six months, with a check-up costing around £15 it's certainly worth the cost, if it prevents having to fork out for a full set of dentures.

Bargain

If you have a bit more money to spend and want a bit more of a pampering treat for your teeth that is far more fun that the usual trip to the dentist. Newly opened in Covent Garden is Smilepod, like a nail-bar, but for teeth the Smilepod offers a range of treatments including teeth-whitening, diamond polish and even tooth-jewellery. Prices range from £35-£495 depending which treatment you want to go for.

I sent one of my beautyjunkielondon little helpers to go along and test out the diamond polish treatment, and report back. Following the treatment my helper said his teeth felt really nice, smooth and like they had been really deeply clean, best of all the treatment is nothing like the normal dentist visit:

"The staff are all really friendly and the treatment progressed at my pace- if I wanted to stop for a drink, or just have a moment to pause then that was all fine. I was really happy with the result and would certainly pop back for a treatment, visiting the dentist is not my favorite thing to do so it's worth going somewhere nice to make something that's normally a chore more pleasant."

One of the treatments to note at Smilepod is the 'Smokers Makeover', priced at £125 the treatment isn't cheap but it's far cheaper than smoking! Plus, if you have managed to kick the habit then you deserve to treat yourself and erase any last signs of being a smoker.

For more information about smilepod go to http://www.smilepod.co.uk/

Blowout

Covent Garden seems to be the place to go for a new and refreshing outlook to oral health. Another new addition to the neighbourhood is the Covent Garden Dental Spa, which I was lucky enough to try out.

The Dental Spa is a totally different dental experience from the moment you walk through the door, you feel like you are in a posh salon, not a dentist's waiting room. On arrival I was offered a drink and taken to the relaxation room. After 15mins in the most amazing massage chair I have ever experienced I was ushered into the dentist's chair and greeted by the lovely Dr Flora Chigwedere, who talked me through the treatment process.

After being lowered back into the chair I had that slightly nervous feeling that I get when I visit the dentist, but Dr Chigwedere made me feel totally at ease whilst she gave my teeth and gums a really thorough examination, all of which I could watch on the screen over my head. A very bizarre but fascinating experience watching a camera go around the inside of your mouth....

The treatment was really thorough and far more luxurious than the normal dentists. With prices starting at £50 for an initial consultation, it is admittedly more expensive than the standard dentist. If you find the dentist a scary experience then the soothing environment and massage chair are a decent investment.

The Covent Garden Dental Spa also offers a membership programme that is a way to ensure that your tooth care programme is taken care of over the year with monthly payments of £18, which includes two dental examinations per year plus two hygiene visits a year and any necessary routine bite wing x-rays. Membership of the Dental Spa also entitles you to 10% off any of the other treatments.

As part of my treatment I will be trying out the take-home whitening treatment and will get blogging about the results but in the meantime, for more information go to http://www.coventgardendentalspa.co.uk/

For more information about National Smile Month go to http://www.nationalsmileweek.org/

Aloe fresh

Aloe Vera is a well-known skin-saviour for a whole manor of things with it's magic soothing and healing properties it makes the perfect ingredient for skin care. Vaseline has a huge range of aloe-vera based skin care, in loads of different formulas so you can find something that suits your skin type and preferences.

I have been testing out the Vaseline Aloe Fresh Moisturising Gel (£4.99 for 200ml) recently, to see if it is worth it's skin-boosting reputation. Pleased to report that the gel is fantastic, smells gorgeous and leaves skin soft and moisturised all day long. The gel is light and I did have my doubts about how effective it would be at keeping my skin feeling soft all day but was pleasantly surprised. I have also discovered that the gel is fantastic for soothing sun-burn.

Now I would just like them to make a perfume that smells as wonderfully fresh as the gel!

No 7 Limited Edition

No7 are becoming quite famous for their special edition ranges of make-up (remember the gorgeous rainbow palette from last summer? I loved mine- till I dropped it on holiday!) well, this Summer they have another equally gorgeous 'Power Palette' (£13), which is stunning both on the outside and in. The outside is an explosion of bright neon and silver and inside contains a range of shades: vibrant green, apple green, lilac, metallic silver and soft mocha. All colours are water-resistant, so perfect if you are heading to Glastonbury (a monsoon is predicted this year) and want to add a bit of funky colour, perhaps to distract from the inevitable greasy festival locks.... the palette includes a handy extra-wide mirror, for easy application on the go/in a tent.

As a bit of a colour magpie, my immediate favorite is the vibrant green (far left), a beautiful aqua-marine shade that is perfect to compliment a summer tan if you are off on holiday. But for day-to-day wear the soft mocha (far right) is ideal. A simple brown shade, with a hint of metallic to keep it fresh and modern.

The palette is a limited edition (only available till 14th July) so hurry up and get one (or two, just in case you drop one on holiday like me- you will be kicking yourself when you cant find one because they sold out!)

For twitpic click here

Beauty to beat the tube strike with...

Listening to all the honking-horns outside my window and reading all the stressed out tweets about horrendous grid-lock and long walks to work today and tomorrow got me thinking about which beauty treats are must-haves to beat the stress of the London tube strike and here are my recommendations...


To relax after a stressful journey or at the end of a stressful day:


Tisserand Soothing Body Lotion with Organic Lavender, Ylang-Ylang and Bergamot (£8.50 from www.tisserand.com)



There is nothing like lavender to sooth body and mind, this neat little pump-action bottle is perfect to pop on your desk for a quick soothing treat for your hands when you reach the office (probably best not to start a full all-over body lotion session at work). If you prefer something soothing to help you chill out after a long day, then use at home for all over relaxation- ideally applied before bed to help you drift off into an aromatherapy-induced slumber...




The lotion is light, so not best if you have dry skin and it does smell strongly of lavender so if you are not a fan then probably best to avoid, but personally I like the smell of lavender and do find it relaxing.




If you are stuck waiting for a bus in the lovely early-summer drizzle:


Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Hairspray (£8.50 for 125ml from www.philipkingsley.com)


Philip Kingsley is one of the leading authorities in hair, with his world-famous Elasticizer being of cult-status for over 20 years. The weatherproof hairspray is a non-aerosol hairspray that promises to deliver protection, hold and shine whatever the weather. As it is non-aerosol you have to go easy on the application, spray a couple of squirts from a distance to make sure the spray doesn't make hair go crispy (my hairspray pet-hate).




This spray does offer good hold and protection from the elements, but the fact that it is non-aerosol means that it is better suited for thicker hair, that doesn't suffer from a lack of volume.



If you have to resort to walking to work:


Vitage anti-oxidant skin protector SPF30 (£13.70 http://www.cosmestore.co.uk/)



The first point I should make, before talking about Vitage is that anti-oxidants and SPF skin care should be a daily part of any skin routine. Don't get sucked into the belief that because the sun isn't out you don't need an SPF- if it is daylight, then it means the sun IS out- no, it might not be as hot (as you would like) but the UVA and UVB rays are still managing to quietly and slowly suck the youth out of your skin- so protect it, unless you like the shrivelled raisin look at 30?


Onto Vitage... anti-oxidants are fantastic for any city-based beauty junkies who are exposed to higher levels of pollutants than country-dwellers so need a little extra skin protection to keep your face glowing.


This lotion is light and easily absorbed and doesn't leave a film on skin like some face-creams that contain SPF. It does have a hint of that 'summer' smell which might help you ignore the fact that you are stuck walking to work in the drizzle....



AND FINALLY....If you are trying to get somewhere important but in a que of about 5,000 people looping twice around Liverpool Street station and feel like your head may explode....:



Then try Bach's Rescue Cream (£5.15 for 30g.) packed with the same soothing, anti-stress, benefits as the famous Bach's Rescue Remedy but with added moisturising, skin-soothing benefits to prevent the signs of stress from showing up on your skin. Suitable for anywhere that needs a soothing, moisturising boost Bach's Rescue Cream is the holistic equivalent of Elizabeth Arden's famous Eight Hour Cream.

I can't promise this will get you anywhere on time, but at least your skin will feel soft when you arrive.

Fruity beauty: M&S Sweet Lips lip gloss

Marks and Spencers (M&S) have a fab and fruity collection of lip glosses that only cost a credit-crunching fabulous £2.50. The best thing about the glosses (other than the price) is that the taste and texture is really similar to more expensive brands, such as Lancome's cult 'Juicy Tubes'. Available in strawberry, grape, sorbet, orange fizz, pink ice and sun glow- I got to try out the yummy strawberry flavour.

The strawberry version is good enough to eat and kind-of reminds me of strawberry flavour pick-and-mix sweets. The gloss is non-sticky and lasts fairly well but is packed with glitter, which is a bit of a pet-hate of mine.

It's a personal choice thing, but I prefer my lip products (and generally, all of my make-up) glitter free. Luckily though, despite the fact that the tube looks like a 13-year-old's make-up bag exploded inside, the M&S gloss contains really fine particles and on application the glitter isn't at-all obvious and actually looks pretty good, creating an even, all-over shimmer.

But just a point for though, why are there so many lip glosses out there that seem to think glitter is a good look, especially those that contain just a couple of large chunks of glitter- how is that going to look good? Is it because us girls are meant to be attracted to shiny things so a bit of glitter is going to make us want to buy these products more?!

To see a 'real life' pic of the lip gloss click here

Simple Junior Board of Skincare Advisors

Quick post for any teens reading, or to pass on to any beauty-mad teens that you might now...

Leading UK skincare brand, Simple is offering budding young entrepreneurs across the country the fantastic opportunity to get involved with the development of new teen-focused Simple ranges as part of the UK's first Junior Board of Skincare Advisors.

The Junior Board of Skincare Advisors will help guide everything from new product development to packaging and communication affecting the teen skincare market.

This is not only a chance for some business-minded teens to get some fantastic experience but also an opportunity to get your voice heard on what makes YOU and other teens really tick. Something that even the coolest of people just cant help but get a bit detached from as they get older- as much as they will hate to admit it. So it only seems logical that those that will be using the products should have input into their creation.

The Junior Board will consist of 12 young people, aged 12 – 17 years from around the country who will become the teen faces and voices of Simple, giving them an unparalleled opportunity to be part of the world of Skincare. They will be provided with Simple skincare products to try as well as a full reference for them to use on their future CV demonstrating the credible business experience they have harnessed with Simple.

Applications will be accepted until Monday 15 June 2009, via the recently-launched Teen Simple pages on http://www.simplejuniorboard.co.uk/ which attracted 45,000 teenagers to join within 5 days of launch!

Spa Ritual nail polish in Jet Setter

I last included Spa Ritual polish in my post about purple colours, and now have another one to add. Not purple, this time a far more subtle, pretty shimmering shade of pale neutral-pink. Appropriately names 'Jet Setter' for the summer holiday season, the subtle colour is ideal for a quick application to make nails look perfectly ped/manicured in no time at all. The colour is a subtle, warm, neutral with a hint of shimmer that really compliments a summer tan.



I have two favorite things about the Spa Ritual range, one- the rubber lid (extra grip, so no stuck-on lids) and the numerology behind each of the names. The names each have their own dreamy descriptions, so you can match your polish to your personality AND your outfit. For example Jet Setter is described as...



Jet Setter

Numerology: 246=2+4+6=12=1+2=3



Expression and Warmth. The artist.



Get out of town. See the world. You need a change. Think international, if only for dinner.



Now, I don't pretend to understand how numerology works or where the 246 numbers came from- but I like the description, and the images it conjours up. Isn't that partly what make-up is all about? A bit of fun, aspiring to be the best version of yourself with a hint of escapism?

The picture on this blog doesn't really show what the colour is like at all- to see a 'real' picture of the shade click here

Models Own Pale Peach Eyeshadow

In my ongoing investigation of coral make-up shades I have come across a great loose powder eye-shadow from Models Own in Pale Peach. Personally I have been a tad sceptical of using shades of pink around the eyes as it tends to lead to people asking if I have been crying.



This pale peach shade is an exception to the rule as it contains shimmery particles, which makes it look really pretty and healthy. The colour does look quite strong in the pot, but this is of course in a concentrated version. One of the benefits of loose shadow is that you can apply really gradually to ensure you get just the amount of colour and vivid colour that you want.



Models Own products are available at http://www.modelsownit.com/ the eye shadow is priced £5.

In response to queries from some readers about using 'real' pictures to accompany the blog and twitter posts, I have made my first venture into using Twitpic to post a 'real-life' picture of the product I have been testing. The picture isn't a swatch, or a picture of the product applied but it does give an idea of what it looks like in a non-touched up picture. http://twitpic.com/6rb0f



As always, appreciate feedback so if this helps please do let me know!

Lulu’s Blast to the Past Dermabrasion

Regular exfoliation is a really vital addition to a good skin care routine, helping to slough off dead skin revealing fresh, smooth skin that you want to show off to the world. I have covered some exfoliators before and mentioned the difference between different types of scrubs, exfoliators and microdermabrasion creams.

In my experience, the finer the beads the better a result, as the smaller beads tend to come in higher concentrations and do a better job in scrubbing skin till its perfectly smooth. A great dermabrasion product is Lulu's Blast to the Past Dermabrasion from the Time Bomb range.

This is a very highly concentrated exfoliation solution that comes in a really cute spherical pink package. Containing Magnesium Oxide Crystals that are softer and more uniform in particle size than other exfoliation products, this prevents skin damage. Because Lulu's Blast to the Past is so highly concentrated only a tiny amount is needed, something as small as a peanut sized amount will cover your whole face. Massaging the concoction into face for around 30 seconds and then rinse with luke-warm water (or cold, if you want to feel really refreshed) will leave your skin completely smooth and refreshed. Just take a look at creator, Lulu's, impressively youthful face- she obviously knows a thing or two about turning back time.

When you have rinsed your face make sure you apply a really good moisturiser to ensure skin is left feeling well looked after.

Lulu's Blast to the Past is fairly pricey at £30 for 45ml but as you only need a tiny amount then it will last for ages, and the pot is pretty so can double up as bathroom-decoration!

Lulu’s Time Bomb skincare range is available from www.lulusplace.co.uk and QVC

Salon review: ARK Holland Park

The ARK chain of health and beauty salons have a ten year history, with the Fulham branch being first to 'set sail' followed by a further three salons opening across various South West London locations including Holland Park, Putney, and Wimbledon.

I was lucky enough to be invited to visit the Holland Park branch to try out the signature ARK facial. The ARK is a 70 minute treatment using in-depth Dermalogica Skin mapping to tailor the treatment to the specific needs of your skin.

ARK therapist, Sheralynn ushered me into a lovely tranquil room, surrounded by ARK candles and playing soothing music. At the end of a long week, this soothing treat was just what the doctor ordered. Sheralynn explained exactly what would happen during the treatment, starting with a deep cleanse making sure my skin was squeaky clean and ready for it's close up. At this point I was put under a bright light so each of the 12 sections of my face and neck, as defined by Dermalogica, can be closely examined and 'diagnosed' for its condition, and prescribed a solution.

I have always been tempted by Dermalogica facials, as a big fan of their products it always made sense that the treatments would be equally good. The only thing that has been a bit off-putting is the feeling that I might get told off for the condition of my skin. Despite writing about beauty and having an over-flowing bathroom stacked with products that promise solutions my skin is still somewhat lacking in perfection (hence the ongoing search for a perfect foundation to cover the flaws).

Luckily Sheralynn didn't tell me off at all, but did enlighten me to the condition of my skin. I was surprised to learn that my forehead is actually de-hydrated, when I always thought it was oily- proof that you learn a new thing every day. I also took the opportunity to get some advice about a few of my problem areas that no amount of magic products seem to be able to help. I was advised that the lines around my eyes that I thought were either premature ageing, or hereditary are most likely caused by de-hydration, and using a good eye cream will help solve them.

Following the deep cleanse a strange bubbly concoction was applied to my nose and chin (problem areas for congestion) whilst a moisturising treatment was applied to my cheeks and forehead. During the mask treatments I was offered the choice of a arm and hand massage, or a neck and shoulder. I went for arm and hand.

After a facial massage with skin-boosting oil a further mask was applied, with two layers through a muslin cloth, one of which smelled quite strongly of oatmeal so I assume this was to soothe my sensitive cheeks. I was left to relax for a few moments whilst Sheralynn fetched some hot towels for the final stages of my pampering treat.

At the end of the treatment I was totally relaxed and my skin was feeling fantastic. The Dermalogica facial is a great starter facial to give you a really accurate idea of the condition of your skin, and to make sure that you are using the right products.

The ARK salon is a really welcoming and not at all pretentious salon with a really comfortable ambiance with a number of treatments and packages on offer, including a set of four Dermalogica facials that can be taken over a year, so you can have your skin analysed regularly enough to adapt your skin routine to suit different seasons.

The ARK signature facial costs £70 for 70 minutes.

http://www.arkhealthandbeauty.com/

Vie at Home Pop Colour Jelly Blush

If you are a regular reader of this blog then you may have seen my recent post on coral make-up from Susan Posnick, coral is a universally flattering shade and perfect for complimenting a summer glow.

If you don't fancy achieving that glow through minerals or lip gloss, then another alternative is a gel-blush. Gel-blush gives a really fresh and healthy glow, and looks really natural. Vie at Home's (Virgin Vie's new name) pop colour jelly blush, in Quirky Coral is a gorgeous translucent coral, that is really easy to apply and blend to get your cheeks glowing. Only a tiny amount is needed (and by tiny I mean about half a pea-sized drop) to blend smoothly into cheeks, leaving a totally natural looking flush. If you do want a stronger, less natural look then you could re-apply to get a more vivid colour, but personally I prefer the natural look.

The pop colour jelly blush is going to be one of my summer make-up must haves, easy to apply and looks gorgeously natural, the ideal summer addition when you want a pared-down make-up bag, but still want to look gorgeous and glowing.

Vie at Home's Pop Colour Jelly Blush is £9.50 http://www.vieathome.com/

Salon review: The London Organic Hair Salon

Welcome to the first hair salon review on Beautyjunkielondon, and for the first review we have a slightly unusual concept: The London Organic Hair Salon.

Recently opened, in Beckenham, the salon uses only organic products. The top treatment is the unique 'seaweed enlightening', an organic version of highlights. By replacing the nasty bleach with a 100% amonia-free, lightening concoction containing seaweed extracts to condition whist lightening this treatment is one of those things that make you ask- 'why didn't they do this earlier?'. The treatment comes with a healthy amount of scepticism- how is seaweed going to manage to lighten my hair as effectively as bleach? If this is so great they why aren't they doing it everywhere?

Now for the review, I already have very blonde hair so I thought it would be better to send along someone where the difference will be noticeable- so I sent along my lovely friend LW to test the treatment out. To put the treatment in context, LW started out with rich brown hair and is no stranger to dying her hair- so is familiar with the slight danger factor that going shades lighter can pose- you can end up a rather nasty, brassy, ginger. Thankfully, this was not the case at The London Organic Hair Salon.

LW reported back that the salon was easy to find, and on the surface appears very much like a normal, fairly posh hair salon. On arrival LW was greeted by stylist Kate, whilst appearances said 'posh' (read: snooty) both Kate, and assistant Sarah were both friendly and down to earth with none of the snootyness that you often find in up-market (again, read: snooty) salons.

The initial colour consultation worked as a two-way process, with LW explaining what she wanted and Kate suggesting some things herself. When they moved on to the colouring process LW was pleased to find that the "The dying process was the same as usual, using foils, but the dye didn't have the horrible stingy ammonia bleachy smell. In fact it smelled quite nice."

Now, I know how nasty the strong ammonia smell can suck, and make your eyes water and generally be quite unpleasant, so this is a major plus.

But what really matters is the results.....drum roll please......pleased to announce that LW's hair is as blonde, if not more blonde than bleach usually makes it. As if that wasn't enough, her hair feels good as apparently the natural plant oils help repair hair whilst dying it. In her own words "I'm extremely happy with the result and would definitely go back again."

Success all round then. The only scepticism that I am left with is- 'As the treatment is great, so why on earth are they not doing it in all salons?!'

A half head of highlights at The London Organic Salon costs £55, around the same price as a normal salon. So well worth making the switch from old-school bleach to get your hair sun-kissed this summer.

To book your appointment call London Organic Hair Salon on: 020 8650 0555

Tried and tested: make-up removers

Putting on make-up is the fun bit, but of course you have to get it off at some point too. To make the boring part of make-up as quick and easy as possible then you need a decent make-up remover. Many products claim to remove make-up, but are about as effective as rubbing your face with coal. Below are my opinions on three of the best make-up removers that I have tried.

Caudalie Paris Cleansing Water (£14)

Caudalie Cleansing Water is one of those products that make me wonder if someone has just stuck some water into some fancy packaging and marketed it to beauty-suckers, like myself. But it isn't, it is actually a really effective cleanser that can be used all over the face and eyes to remove make-up, effectively ridding the face of all traces of slap. I'm not sure what the magic is that the Caudalie people put in the water, but I like it- it leaves the skin as clean as with soap, and as fresh as with toner.

No7 Cleanse and Care Eye Make-up Remover (£6.90)

Double action eye-maker remover that effectively strips off even the toughest eye make-up. This does such a good job of getting rid of make-up that I was actually shocked to see what my eyes looked like with absolutely NO make-up on, as I was so used to leaving traces of eye-liner and mascara stubbornly stuck to my lashes. The pump action dispenser also means you have control over the amount you use, making it last longer than most removers.

Yes to Carrots Eye and Face Make-up Remover (£6.99)

This is the only cream cleanser that I have chosen to include in the list of favorite make-up removers (I like variety) and for good reason. Many cream cleansers are simply not that effective, but Yes to Carrots does a really good job getting rid of all make-up, including the difficult bits around the eyes. The creamy texture leaves skin feeling soft and moisturised- like cleanser and moisturiser rolled into one carrot filled package.