Argan oil is so much more than hair oil; it offers valuable healing and protecting qualities due to its active substances triterpenoids (I had to Google it!) which work to heal the skin tissue, cool and soothe inflammation whilst nourishing and protecting the skin.

With twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and containing essential fatty acids, argan oil hydrates, helps in the healing of skin ailments and protects against premature aging caused by oxidation.

I tried the Argan Oil Bodycare Replenishing Body Butter and Emulsifying Body Dry Oil from Sally Express. The range is 100% natural, organic and chemical free so gentle enough to use on even the youngest skins. Both have a slight fruity fragrance so don’t worry, you won’t go around smelling like hair!

The Body Butter is thick and creamy but completely non greasy so it absorbs into the skin well and leaves your skin looking and feeling hydrated. The Emulsifying Body Dry Oil contains Moroccan Argan Oil, jojoba oil and rosemary extracts to help restore skin’s moisture and improve elasticity. It too is non-greasy and quickly absorbed into the skin. After bathing simply spray onto damp skin and rub in.

As these are natural and organic I’ll be using them on my children too but they are perfect for anyone who likes soft, smooth, hydrating products.

That said, I couldn’t talk about argan oil without talking about hair. I’ve started using Argan Secret Oil from Marrakesh in between washes if my hair is looking a bit dull.

The benefits to hair are well known but I’ll list them again:

• Adds shine
• Prepares hair for heat-straightening
• Protects hair from heat styling tools
• Speeds up drying and styling time
• Helps to soften the hair and reduce frizz
• Helps to protect from sun and wind damage

The Argan Oil Bodycare collection is available from Sally stores nationwide and www.sallyexpress.com.

Argan Oil Bodycare Replenishing Body Butter – £12.98/226g
Argan Oil Bodycare Emulsifying Body Dry Oil – £14.99/177ml
Argan Secret Oil from Marrakesh – £14.99/60ml

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Vogue even called the range: “The most innovative artistic nail varnish.” I don’t quite understand the science behind it, all I know is that it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Most textured nail polish calls for a coat of colour and usually a top coat to give the textured effect. Not so with Illamasqua Speckled Nail Polish; one bottle of polish does the job nicely.

I tried Freckle, a nude, and Scarce, a candy pink.

I think Freckle is the perfect nude for brown skins. The key to a good nude is finding one two shades lighter than your skin tone and up until now they’ve all been a tad too light or a tad too pink. Freckle is exactly the right shade. And why have a plain nude when you can have one that looks like mini chocolate eggs?

Scarce is a candy pink which I didn’t think would suit me (hence it only being on one finger) but it’s a thick creamy pink which I think looks really good too. In fact these two colours are so universal I imagine they’ll complement everyone.

They’re not too expensive at £14.50 a bottle but they look so good I think they’re more than worth it.

Illamasqua Speckled Nail Polish – £14.50/15ml

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Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Compact Foundation – £32
I have to admit this is my second time using a compact foundation. My very first foundation was MAC Studio Fix and I stuck with that for years before moving over to liquid. Now I’m a firm liquid user I couldn’t see myself going back to a compact. Bobbi Brown has convinced me though. I have the Long Wear liquid and the compact version of the foundation is perfect for applying makeup on the go with its sponge applicator and mirror. Walnut is a perfect colour match to my skin and it looks smooth and natural as it covers imperfections without looking cakey or masky.

MUA Cosmetics Spring Collection – £4
You might think ‘do I really need another nude make up palette?’ but when it’s only £4.00 yes, yes you do! The MUA Cosmetics Spring Collection comprises a primer, fix mists and concealers but most were too light for my skin tone. The Undressed Me Too eye shadow palette contains 12 warm, classic shades that should suit everyone. Shades Naked, Devotion and Shy are perfect for highlighting the eyes, while the shimmery tones of Fiery, Lavish and Dreamy help give a more sultry effect. Use Tranquil, Exposed and Wink to contour and transform your day look into a sexy smoky eye. I keep Undressed Me Too in my bag so I have something on hand that I can use to update or totally refresh my look.

Good Things Total Wipe Out Cleansing Wipes – £3.49
Talking of refreshing my look; I love a good cleansing wipe. When I get home in the evening the first thing I do is use one to get all my makeup off. I need a wipe that gets all the makeup and London grime off my face without stripping my skin clean and leaving it taut and dry. Each Good Things Total Wipe Out Cleansing Wipe has aloe vera, vitamin E and Raspberry and cranberry extracts which makes it suitable for sensitive skins and it cleans and refreshing while hydrating the skin. They are also biodegradable (perfect for festivals) and free from parabens, sulphates, mineral oils and animal-tested ingredients.

Models Own Artistic Duo Polish – £6
Plain nails seem to be a thing of the past so it makes sense to sell the base and top coats together. Models Own have coordinated their bestselling colour polish and the most popular nail effects and created eight different colour combinations. I tried Jade Flakes – Jade Stone and Snowflakes; a jade green base coat with a silvery glitter top coat. It’s a lovely colour that really stands out against brown skins and I received quite a few compliments wearing it.

WEN by Chaz Dean 5-in-1 Cleansing Conditioner - Kit from £57
If you read this blog regularly you’ll know I’m somewhat obsessed with conditioner and hair treatments. My hair is thirsty; there’s no such thing as too much conditioner when it comes to my tresses. My latest find is from US stylist Chaz Dean. I love a good co-wash but with this cleansing conditioner, I use one product to get the benefits of five. The cleansing conditioner is crammed with a blend of herbs, botanicals and pro-vitamin B and is designed to replace your shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, detangler and intensive conditioner. Saving time and money, it doesn’t lather (it’s SLS free) but creates a smooth foam and gives your hair a good clean without being too harsh. The cleansing conditioner is part of the Sweet Almond Mint kit which has been specially formulated for dry, damaged and frizzy hair.

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This time, I didn’t have a particular goal other than to give my digestive system a rest. As I suffer from IBS I’m very careful what I eat (no sugar, gluten or dairy) but still felt like I’d overindulged during the festive season.

To ease myself into a period of no chewing, I opted for the Plenish Cleanse Level 1: Harmony*. The website describes it as being “designed for those who know their diet and lifestyle are in major need of an overhaul. This cleanse is a gentle detox for those who have little experience with cleansing as it’s the easiest to stick to.” Their words not mine!

Every day you consume the following:

1 x Sweet Sexy Green
1 x Pineapple²
1 x Mind Body Green
1 x Spicy Limonade
1 x Beet Box
1 x Cashew Milk

You might think you’ll be hungry but to be honest, I found it really hard to get through all six 500ml bottles in one day. You’re allowed as much herbal tea and water as you like so prepare to do a lot of visiting to the loo! The green juices are the hardest to swallow; the others taste more like regular juice/squash.

A three day cleanse costs £240 which you might think is a lot of money but when you consider that a good juicer costs at least £150 and all the organic fruit and veg is at least another £50, the time and effort saved and the fact there’s no washing of the juicer, it’s worthwhile. Besides, how often are you going to use that juicer really? After my cleanse last year, mine is gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere. The Plenish Cleanse system is really easy; just reach for a juice, consume and recycle the bottle.

Before the juice arrives you are sent an email with instructions on how best to ease yourself into it, details of support available during your cleanse and advice on how to break the cleanse on the last day.

The first day of any diet/new eating regime is always the hardest but once you know you can do it for one day, you know you can do it for the other two. I had a couple of mild headaches on day 1 but I’m putting that down to the toxins leaving my body.

Although weight loss wasn’t my primary reason for doing the cleanse, it was a pleasant side effect! Over the three days I lost 4 pounds. I felt lighter, cleaner and my skin, hair and tongue (surprisingly) felt and looked much better too.

If you’ve got a big event coming up (wedding/summer holiday) or you just want to give your system an overhaul, I would recommend doing the Plenish Cleanse for the 5 days to get the maximum benefits.

For more info and to look at the other levels of cleanse available, visit www.plenishcleanse.com.

*PR sample

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Burberry Prorsum Fall 2012

Bb Straight Shampoo is the first ever sulphate-free cleanser from bumble and bumble. Sulphate is known to irritate the scalp, strip the essential oils from hair and cause the hair to dry out which can lead to breaking and damage meaning it isn’t very good for colour treated and /or Afro hair.

Bb Straight Shampoo is a mild formulation that helps to reduce frizz and flyaways. Better yet, it is paraben free so perfectly safe for use on coloured or chemically treated hair.

It contains patent-pending Concern-straight Technology which unfurl sand calms hair, increase manageability and reduce frizz.

I love this shampoo! I often find sulphate free shampoos so very different from ordinary ones; they do clean the hair but they don’t leave it feeling as soft and smooth. I know that’s not necessarily a bad thing and that it’s probably chemicals leaving a nasty film on my hair but sometimes I do miss the soft feel of an ordinary shampoo.

Bb Straight Shampoo is so moisturising I had to check I hadn’t used the conditioner instead. That’s how good it was! While it doesn’t lather as much as a shampoo with sulphate, it does bubble, a little goes a long way and it leaves the hair clean but not stripped and so deliciously soft. It also smells good.

Bb Straight Shampoo is part of the ‘Straight’ range which is comprised of a conditioner and a blow dry cream. The range isn’t cheap but I think it is worth every penny.

Bb Straight Shampoo – £23/250ml

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My friends always say that long hair is wasted on me as I usually wear it off my face and up in a ponytail. Now I’ve added colour to it I am making a conscious effort to wear it down more so I thought I’d try about the new Label M Advanced Pro 28mm Tongs to add some movement and body to my hair.

The tongs features include:

Tourmaline and Ceramic Technology for 100% static free results
LCD digital display indicator and ready light
Built-in microcomputer
Fast heat up & heat restoration
Adjustable temperature control from 80-210°C (I use it at 180)
Safety stand and cool tip
Rubber coated soft touch handle

I started by parting my hair from side to side in four sections to make it easier to work on. I then took each section and parted it down the middle so each side had 2 sections of hair. I then divided those 2 again and curled each area away from my face. This is the size of the curl the tong gives.

I looked like a poodle afterwards (not the look I was going for) so once I’d let them cool I raked through them with my hands and this is what it looked like.

It’s big but not too big and my hair has that swingy TV bounce. My hair holds a style pretty well so save from a couple of sprays of my Elnett Heat Protection Spray it should stay like this for at least a week.

I’ve tried barrel tongs before but I find the lack of a clamp means the curls just don’t look right (or maybe I’m just not very good!)I like the size of the curl the Label M Advanced Pro 28mm Tongs give and think its perfect for those with short to medium length hair.

Label M Advanced Pro 28mm Tongs – £44.95

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Finding the right red nail polish for dark skin isn’t as complicated as you might think; there’s plenty available out there.

I think red nail polish is a timeless trend that never really fades and it’s a surefire (pardon the pun) way to jazz up your hands. These are my three current favourites:

Nails Inc. Concrete in Marble Arch
Textured nails aren’t going anywhere and in my opinion, nails inc. are on top of their game when it comes to bringing catwalk trends to the high street. Along with leather nails, they also have concrete textured polish available in a bright red. When I say textured; I mean textured! It looks like you have little grains on your nails (so not smooth concrete then!) and it’s slightly rough to the touch. It’s a lovely bright yet matte red but it does sometimes catch on your tights. Despite that, I think it looks great, it’s really easy to apply and it’s dry in ten minutes.

Givenchy Le Vernis in Coral
Technically more of an amber/orange, against my skin, I think it has something of a reddish hue. The colour is very, very matte; I added top coat hence the sheen. I like that it comes with a short fat brush which makes application quick and easy and it’s one of the best matte polishes I’ve come across. The colour is quite bright so perhaps not one for those of us who are used to only ever wearing nude! (out May 2013)

Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Fire
This is a bright shocking red and I love it! It’s the truest red of the bunch and, as it’s from colour lovers Dolce & Gabbana, the pigments are very loud. If you are after a classic red, Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Fire is just what you need.

Which is your favourite?

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When I read about the new Ojon Rare Blend Deep Conditioner I knew it was something I had to get my hands or should I say hair on. Anyone with Afro hair, but especially those who have treated it with colour or chemicals needs to use this product.

The conditioner contains three butters and seven oils which are known for their nourishing and shine enhancing properties. I like to know what I’m putting on my hair and if you do to, take these ingredients in:

• Ojon Oil penetrates the hair shaft to repair and seal the cuticle and helps to build up hair’s natural resistance to future damage.
• Indian Kokum is rich in essential lipids, is known for its nourishing properties and is traditionally used to hydrate skin and condition hair.
• Brazil Murumuru Butter contains oleic acid that helps retain moisture in skin and hair and gives a healthy shine to damaged or over-processed hair
• African Shea Butter is high in vitamins A and E and provides essential nutrients that help strengthen and hydrate hair.
• Rouge Oleifera helps protect while reducing flyaways and adding shine and manageability.
• Tahitian Monoi Oil adds shine and protects hair from both heat and environmental factors.

The conditioner itself looks a bit like Cadburys Creme Egg filling; it is a two colour product – the ivory colour is to soften the hair and the amber colour is to nourish, repair and condition.

You can use it daily but I like to use it as a deep conditioning treatment. When I had my hair coloured at Daniel Galvin, the colourist told me there is no such thing as too much conditioner for coloured hair. With that in mind I applied the Rare Blend Deep Conditioner in the morning and washed it out in the evening.

My hair felt amazing afterwards. My tangle teezer glided through my hair with ease and my hair looked, felt and smelled wonderful. I love this product, as anyone with curly or Afro hair knows; shampoo we can be flexible on but when it comes to conditioner we need the good stuff. Ojon Rare Blend Deep Conditioner is the good stuff.

In clinical studies the conditioner reduced friction force and improved ease of combing by 98%. Curly girls will love that statistic!

Ojon Rare Blend Deep Conditioner – £29/150ml

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They are all the rage in Australia and won Glosscars Best New Lashes, were winners of the ‘Lashes Face Off’ Road Test (beating all other major global brands) and are the number 1 selling lash product in Australia.

Freezeframe Instant Lash Brush On Extensions are different from other lash extensions in that you simply brush them on. Although it looks like mascara, it isn’t. The tube contains lots and lots of tiny lash extensions and you gently brush on (to the tips only) and wait until they bond to the ends of your lashes. Keep brushing them on until have your desired lash length.

As you apply the extensions, they attach to your natural lashes, then to the tiny extensions you’ve added and so on and so on. You can add up to 4 – 8 mm this way. As you’re only applying to the ends of your lashes (I repeat, not the roots) it helps to use an eyelash curler first so the tips of your lashes are very visible.

Wait a few seconds then apply your favourite mascara. As you can hopefully see in the photo below, the lash extensions are a decent length so while they definitely extend your lashes, it still looks very natural.

The difference is immediately visible; in fact my extended lashes were almost touching my eyelid that’s how long and curled they were.

I am a huge mascara fan; I’m constantly on the lookout for products to elongate, volumise and curl my lashes and the Freezeframe Instant Lash Brush On Extensions certainly deliver on this front.

Freezeframe Instant Lash Brush On Extensions – £29

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I feel very ‘New York’ whenever I use Kiehl’s products; the simple packaging makes me think of Spring Street, Bleeker and East Village-y. New York is very much my spiritual home. But I digress.

The Masque contains Hyaluronic Acid, a substance that is naturally present in the human body which is able to hold more water than any other natural substance. Combined with ingredients that help replenish skin’s water reserves, just one night of wearing this left me with hydrated and fresh feeling skin in the morning.

The masque is thin and watery; not too dissimilar to egg whites. To use, apply a generous layer of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque on to your clean skin. Leave it on for ten minutes and wipe away any excess with a tissue. Don’t remove it all though; you want it to work its magic while you sleep.

Overnight, the intensive moisturizing treatment helps boost skin’s ability to retain water, which leaves your skin feeling hydrated and looking healthier. Fresh and dewy is usually associated with youth and while it won’t knock ten years off you, it does leave your skin looking and feeling bright

I find the masque quite rich so I recommend you only use it once a week unless your skin is feeling particularly parched when I’d use it twice max.

It has light scent and is gentle enough for even those with sensitive skins. A definite addition to my weekly skincare routine.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Hydrating Overnight Masque - £28/125ml

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