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Tuesday
Jul272010

TRIED & TESTED | Yummie Tummie leggings

AT THE launch for Vital Juice Chicago a couple of weeks ago, we guests were given pretty great swag bags. Now, no offence, America, but you do pretty sub-standard swag compared to the UK.

OFTEN times they're simply stuffed with marketing materials and sachets of samples smaller than those on offer at beauty counters. Yes, I understand that we're not entitled to amazing goody bags but you think I'm going to write up something that's actually worth less to me than the effort to carry it home? Nope.

I'VE walked away with bags bursting at the seams in the UK, to go home and promptly trial what's inside, followed by a write up. I think brands are missing a trick in the US, with their lackluster goody bags.

However, Vital Juice clearly gets the game, and so did the brands (mostly) in their goody bags. Because I'm using the things I received and writing about them in various outlets. The Jurlique Citrus Silk Finishing Powder, the Blurb.com gift certificate, the Lara Bars, Karyn's lip balm and dark chocolate, Yum Nuts, Lemon Detox tea, Baggu bag (I love you, Baggu).... and a Yummie Tummie gift certificate for $100.

I promptly went online and purchased a pair of Yummie Tummie shaping leggings when I got home and now have to shout from the rooftops about them.

You see, they are a-ma-zing. Truly. 

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
Jul272010

SPA WATCH | The Fish Pedicure at Aqua Sheko

 

The Treatment

 

AQUA SHEKO, the first salon dedicated solely to the exfoliating Garra Rufa fish pedicure, has just opened up in London’s salubrious High Street Kensington and by the looks of it is doing a roaring trade. The therapists say clients come for weekly, bi-weekly and monthly treatments and even daily for those suffering from psoriasis – apparently the fish release an enzyme which helps in the treatment of certain skin conditions and different parts of the body can be dipped into the small pools and treated. The fish were originally found in hot springs in Kangal, Turkey and apparently love nothing more than to feast on dry skin, making one of the charms of this treatments the symbiotic nature for all parties concerned.

 


 

How Was It?

 

I TOOK my sister along as a treat, courtesy of a fabulous discount from new health and beauty site Wahanda (if you don’t know about Wahanda, check it out, daily hefty discounts on every beauty treatment you could possibly want) – I paid £12 for what is usually a £30 25-minute treatment. The sleek black salon is small with an open shop- front window that draws the occasional inquisitive look from passers by. There are not more than about ten raised leather seats each with its own little pool of about 80-odd fish of differing sizes, the largest being a couple of inches long.

 

 

WE WERE welcomed and made to feel very much at home before having our feet thoroughly rinsed to ensure they were free from any oils and creams, which can cause the occasional fish death. We sat down side by side with tea and water (there’s room in between seats to put your handbag) and then slipped our feet out of our white towel slippers into the pools – best to wear leggings or trousers you can easily roll up to beneath your knee. Be warned, the fish do immediately swarm, but as promised it isn’t at all painful. Just a heavy tickly sensation as they get to work all over your feet. I could hardly feel them on my hardened heels and was fascinated watching them attach their sucker mouths to my cuticles. The only slightly unnerving bit was when the occasional fish went for the softer skin around the ankle, but that was fine too. After 25 minutes our time was up and a therapist helped us out and dried our feet.

 

The Result

 

OVERALL, I was pretty pleased. The harder bits on my big toe and heel were definitely more sanded down and the sole of my feet near my toes was extremely soft. I was very happy to slip back into my flip flops and parade my tootsies back out on the streets of London. However, as my feet are quite dry, I could have definitely benefited from a dollop of foot cream or oil as is offered in the Deluxe treatment – £45 for 30 minutes fish-time plus 15-minute foot massage. Ten days later my feet are a little bit tougher round the edges but still presentable.

 

 

 

Aqua Sheko, 14 Holland Street, High St Kensington, London W8 4LT (07837 539 325).
Written for beautywoome.com by contributor Julia Rebaudo.

 

Monday
Jul262010

EXPERT SECRETS | Backs of the thighs... out of sight, out of mind

HERE'S A quick tip for all of you donning shorts and little tea dresses this season...

For all the bronzers, cellulite creams, serums, potions and lotions we buy, there's one thing we're really missing from this skincare equation -- proper application. I catch myself in this scenario all the time: vigorously rubbing into my legs said expensive cream. My calves get a good dose, the quads a bit less attention and by the time I get to the upper thighs and the backs of the thighs, I swipe my hands over them and call it a day. Seriously. And let's be honest. None of us buy leg creams for the look of our calves, do we? IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE BACKS OF THE THIGHS!

So, next time you get out the self-tanner, bronzer, cellulite cream, lotion, body brush or WHATEVER, pay attention -- the most attention -- to the backs of those thighs. You spend all that time, neck craned over your shoulder, staring at them in the mirror and yet... and yet we spend, oh, 90% of our product and energy on the calves and the other easy to reach and highly visible (to us) areas.

Image courtesy of fitnessexplore.com

Monday
Jul192010

HOW TO | Exfoliate at home without spending a cent (almost)

I WROTE THIS entire post and then my computer ate it. (My pulse starts to beat through my ears when that happens...)

Mainly, I was whinging about how so many so-called gentle or sensitive-skin exfoliators are just plain crap. Utter useless stuff. They’re cream cleansers with like 3 exfoliating beads in the entire over-priced tube. By taking out the scrubbing component, you think you can call yourself gentle? How about ineffective and lazy. It riles me. Exfoliation is good, even for sensitive (skinned) types like me. That’s what you’re doing with peels, microdermabrasion and all those acids. As a young girl with acne, I exfoliated religiously, and to this day rigorously thank St. Ives and Buff Puff for my lack of scarring.

Click to read more ...

Monday
Jul192010

TRIED & TESTED | Beauté liqui-gel stains

JESSICA LOVES THIS… Because there’s nothing better than a burst of bright, refreshing colour on those pavement-melting summer days. Get a beautiful, natural flush with berry Harlot and sanguine Fever or go bright and cheery with coral Neon and pink Flouron that are bang on trend for spring/ summer 2010. The multi-tasking lip and cheek liquid-gel stain is the perfect consistency (not a liquid, not a gel), size (perfect for that holiday carry-on or your handbag), easily blendable and long lasting. Between these four, there’s a stain that looks good on every skin tone and one that works for every mood or occasion.

READ THE FULL PIECE AT BECAUSEMAGAZINE.COM

Friday
Jul162010

Beauty blog link love

Have you tried Ellis Faas yet? Rae's reviewing a few of these super-luxe, super-chic products, starting with Ellis' Milky Lips line!

Armani Blushing Fabric Second Skin Blushers have caught Louise's eye.

No bruises here! Check out Maggie's soft pink and purple face of the day over at The Polka-Dotted Apple.

When do Lego's and cosmetics have something in common? When Jouer comes to town, that's when. Watch Jeweled Thumb act 5 and play with a recent haul!

Butter LONDON has some fabulous new nail shades for Autumn 2010 - come check them out on Lipglossiping!

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed gets up close and personal with the Burberry Beauty line!

Hell Candy attends the Edward Bess UK launch and is blown away by the beauty of everything (the make up AND the man!)

Jolie Laide Girl gets silky soft with Kiehls Lightweight Body Lotion.

Sarah from IHeartCosmetics shows you how to get rid of spots,simply and easily.

Dry skinned and on a budget? Eyelining thinks Boots may have a bargain solution!

Looking for a perfect red nail polish for summer? Take a look at Illamasqua's Alarm at Makeup4All.

Lipgloss86 conquers all fears and grabs for the epilator in a bid for fuzz free legs.

The Lip Print discovers the sweetest nail shades for spring and has a chat with Orly's Creative Director about what's hot for nails!

There’s a new mascara in town! Check out Tsahi’s review on Revlon’s new Luscious Grow Mascara.

Madame B Fatale talks about a product that supports a great cause!

***
Be sure to enter Phyrra's Summer Giveaway! Two winners, great prizes, open worldwide!

It's Pink Diva Beauty's birthday and you receive the presents! Have you entered?

Ever wanted to try LA's Prtty Peaushun? Now you can - Beautywoome is giving it away this month!

Reviva Labs wants to 
protect and prettify you with their Summer Skincare Giveaway on Prime Beauty.

The Pink Sith is celebrating her second Blog Anniversary with a Purple and Silver giveaway!