Top products for shiny & smooth hair

Let me level with you here: I am a strong believer that changing your hair quality is pretty much impossible unless you are committed to the cause! Straight & shiny locks made an appearance at the Chloe S/S '14 show so I have wrapped up my top tips on how to protect your hair during the colder days to come, along with getting your 'do S/S '14 ready.

Moisturiser.  The Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat is one heck of a silky smooth formula and to top it off it smells heavenly! Post shampooing I slap it on my hair  from tip to root, wrap up it in a towel and leave for 20 mins. Given it's thick consistency I would recommend to only use this product once a week as even after blow drying my hair does feel a tad weighty. But in the days that follow the application, my hair always feels shiner, healthier and less frizzy!

Smooth, quench & hydrate. The Nicky Clarke Moisture Conditioner does just that! The formula is infused with wheat protein & moringa oil that work together to neutralise static and eliminate flyaways - both key components to create more manageable hair.

To Set. I switch it up between the Ojon Dry Recovery Hydrating Creme, Percy & Reed Finishing Polish and Percy & Reed No Oil, Oil. 3 products that are equally great at protecting my hair. First up is the Ojon Dry Recovery, this is a great light-weight product for hydrating your scalp especially if you tend to over-do it on the blow drying front during autumn. Percy & Reed are hands down my fave hair brand (my next venture is to get my hair done at their salon!) for a few simple reasons: their fun packaging, cute product descriptions and the fact that their products all the smell the same - don't ask why but I like consistency! Both of these products were part of a trend pack I picked up from ASOS (a great way to try out products before committing to the full size) and will be my go-to's this autumn/winter.

Autumn haircare is bit of extra graft but it's important to not load up your locks and weight your scalp down with a load of products. I would say stick to 3 or 4 that comfortably quench your scalp and don't over-hydrated!

* image courtesy of Vogue.com

Beauty Insider: Stephanie O'Reilly, ASOS Beauty Buyer

"Initially I wanted to be a fashion buyer, and directed all of my studies/work experience towards that. But Beauty and I turned out to be a match made in heaven. I've always been interested in cosmetics but it never occurred to me that I could turn it into a full-time job. Once I told people about the job I had landed at ASOS, everyone assured me that it was the “perfect” job for me. My career highlight would be my first day interning for the British Fashion Council at London Fashion Week. A photographer took my photo and my mum found it in Vogue 3 months later!

As a teen I was a bit over-handy with the eyeliner. I originally used a Dior pencil on the inside of my eyes and then swapped to the MAC Fluidline to do flicks on my eyelids - a style which I have now parted ways with. But a teen beauty staple that is still holding it's own in my make-up bag is the MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation and I do still love it. My daily make-up look is NARS Sheer Glow foundation followed by Nars Pressed Powder over the top (an absolute must for sealing). I wear mascara and I always do a bright lip. I have been attached at the hip to Stila After Glow in Festive Fuchsia all summer. I started wearing it in Ibiza and have put it on almost every day since! For going out in the evening I tend to re-apply foundation in a shade darker and use bronzing powder over the top. I keep the lip and eyes the same. I occasionally work-out. I will top up my lipstick before and put my hair up in a ponytail but then leave both after, and just go home to shower it all off!

In the mornings I run a bubble bath and eat my breakfast whilst I wait for it to fill up. People think I am completely bonkers for having a bath every single day but I think it is such a nice way to start your morning! I then dry my hair on the alternate days with my GHD Air hairdryer (a godsend!), tame it with GHD Salon Straighteners and  in-between washing I look to my TONI&GUY Dry Shampoo. I prep my face by cleansing with the Elemis Fresh Skin Exfoliating Facewash . I'm ashamed to say I don’t moisturise my face before I put my make-up on in the morning but I find it tends to dilute my foundation and leaves me quite shiny! I apply my make-up, decide on an outfit and hit the road.

I apply  fake-tan twice a week during summer, and then once a week for autumn but give up completely in winter. I swear by NIP+FAB 360 Body Glow, which I didn't originally realise was a fake tan!  If I can remember before I go to sleep I use This Works Perfect Skin Moisturiser and Rodial Dragon’s Blood Eye Gel, after taking off make-up with Johnson’s baby wipes.

My style is extremely colourful. The brighter the better in my opinion. My beauty reflects this with a vibrant lip and always coloured nails. I wear an awful lot of pink so my hands and toes are usually a varied shade of fuchsia!"

Laser Hair Removal: 2nd Treatment

I'm not going to deny it, I was not looking forward to my 2nd treatment of Laser Hair Removal! As mentioned in my last post the main change has been the reduction of ingrown hair and overall smoother skin. I am happy to say that the pain level reduced dramatically during my 2nd treatment *phew* which was due to their being less hair on my legs. Also I was more prepared for what was to come and I was even able to go up a stage on the pressure meter!

Have I seen a reduction in hair growth? Well I'm shaving less and less which is a good sign but I am not quite there yet....

Reiss Parfums: Grey Flower

I was more than intrigued when British fashion house Reiss decided to take a dip into the perfume pool. Having previously worked with the brand on a styling project, I can say that the Reiss customer is someone who looks for pieces that are luxurious and modern but affordable - these are all factors that I was expecting from their debuting fragrance collection.

Launching this Autumn is Grey Flower for Women and Black Oudh for Men. On first whiff these are two very bespoke fragrances,  I am not opposed to wearing aftershave (heck they often stay on longer than perfume!) but after smelling Grey Flower I instantly knew it was the one for me! Musky and spicy in equal amounts; the Armoise and Pimento Berry balance out Sequiona Wood, Jasmine Noir (my fave!)and Cocoa Leaf to create a deep fragrance that is powerful and feminine.

The perfume is housed in a modern metallic bottle that is simple but classic - which reflects the artisan approach to design that Reiss are known for. Also you may have noticed that my bottle is engraved! This is an exclusive at Selfridges and makes the perfect touch if you are gifting this fragrance.


If are on the lookout for an Autumnal fragrance then definitely give this a try! It's currently exclusive to Selfridges but will be hitting Reiss stores nationwide from September 26th 2013.

Backstage Beauty: NYFW S/S '14

From the Mullevays bringing back the ultimate downtown LA look with printed hair extensions and sharp winged liner (think Nicole Richie circa 2001) to a punchy matte orangey/red lip at Parbal Gurung, New York served up some beauty wonders. I will be rounding up my fave beauty this show season along with the notes on the products used backstage!

Rodarte
Make up 

Radiant Cream Compact Foundation
Nars Brow Gel
Radiant Creamy Concealer
Larger Than Life Eyeliner & Larger Than Life Mascara
Floralies Satin Lip Pencil
Matte Multiples in Anguilla and Altai

Hair

Frize-Ease Flawless Finishing Creme

Frizz-Ease Curl Reviver Styling Mousse 

Finish with a side-part and don't forget about the zebra print extensions!

Philip Lim

Make up

Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer & Illuminator 

The Multiple in Luxor 

Duo Eyeshadow in Iceland

Hair

Twin Curl

Grip Super Hold Mousse

Elastic Hair Spray

The look: Tie the hair like you would a shoe lace.

Alexander Wang

Make up

Aqua Gel Moisturizer

NARS Concealer 

The Secret... the brows were brushed using a lip balm.

Hair

Redken Quick Tease

Redken Powder Refresh - for a matte finish.

The look: Think au natural hair, avoid beach waves and head down the '90s tousled hair route with lots of volume.

Prabal Gurung 
Make up

MAC Coffee Eye Pencil
MAC What a Blast Lip Pencil & MAC Orange Lipmix

The look: The bold lip is everything. Charlotte Tilbury ditched mascara and blush to create a look that was fresh and modern.

Hair

OSiS Hair Spray
OSiS Sparkler Shine Spray

With show season in full swing look out for more backstage beauty bits....

*images courtesy of Vogue.co.uk 

Beauty Hotspots: Berkeley Health Club & Spa

When visiting the one-of-a-kind fashion trunk at the Berkeley hotel (one for all you vintage mavens!) I was taken for a tour around their Health Club and Spa.

Within seconds I was taken out of the hustle and bustle of London and transported into what felt like the English countryside. The experience was complimented by a scorching London day and what better way to cool off than heading over to the open-air pool and secret garden with a skyline view! - a swim whilst being able to see the Shard, what more can you ask for...

A spa day wouldn't be complete without a massage and the 85 minute Bamford Body massage (that includes shiatsu, meridian and swedish massage, yup you read that correct!) is right up my street. Along with the massage I also have my eye on the OSKIA facial which helps illuminate the complexion, the perfect post summer pick me up. I have already planned a trip with mummy the next time she is in London and of course I have to treat her to Prêt-à-portea afternoon tea....

Monday Must-have: & Other Stories Bouclé Greige Nail Polish

The key to finding a subtle polish shade is knowing the difference between what the colour looks like in the bottle and how it will look on your skin. And as someone with tanned skin this can be somewhat of an issue!

The latest shade to strike my fancy is Bouclé Greige from & Other Stories. On first instance the formula is quite thin but with a little help from the thick brush and a second coat, I managed to achieve the ultimate barely-there shade. I think it's safe to say that the & Other Stories obsession is becoming an issue but at £5 a pop can you really say no?!