The old ones are always the best...

The old ones are always the best...

There is nothing I love more than welcoming back an old friend. And that is just what happened with this product is. It is a product that often wins awards, and when you use it for a few weeks you can see why. What am I talking about? Estee Lauder, DayWear advanced multi-protection anti-oxidant moisturiser, that's what.

When I was in my early 20's this was a staple of my skincare, but I had to stop using it as it clogged my skin, seemed to sit on the surface and not melt into my skin, and would occasionally cause breakouts. A chance happening upon this product a few months ago in the form of a free sample, and I thought, why not try it again. With age my skin has matured, and now, knocking on 30, my skin loves this product. It turns out on closer inspection, the product boasts the technology to fight the first signs of aging. Probably a reason why when I first used it, my skin did not agree with it. And a great example that we should reassess our skincare with age.

With 50ml costing around £35 it can seem expensive but a little goes a long way. It absorbs easily, leaving my face radiant and moisturised all day, without the greasy feeling of some face creams. I can visibly see a reduction in wrinkles, with a smoother overall appearance of my skin. And the added SPF15 (which 10 years ago I would have shunned, oh how age changes us...) is that extra SPF boost we should all be using, whether or not our foundations have SPFs or not. Sun damage is the most aging damage of all.

I will be continuing to use this product, and perhaps review other products I have been using since my early 20s to see if they are still as effective as they used to be. The Summer is a great time to review your skincare so why not do the same?

So, I might be getting older, but I have the best tools in my kit to ensure my skin looks and is in great condition.

Stay Beautiful this Summer!

Stace x

8th June 2011

Foam hair colouring...a load of froth!

Foam hair dyes, a revolution in at-home hair dye... or not?

It's not very often here at Beautiful You we find a product we really don't like. Mostly we are astounded by the results of the beauty products we try. But just once in a while something will really disappoint us. And disappoint this product did.

John Frieda, Precision Foam Hair colouring, that's what I am talking about.

The company has spent a fortune advertising this product. Pages of adverts have been sighted in my monthly mags, television adverts on every ad break, no expense has been spared in getting the word out about this supposedly 'revolutionary' product, and of course, the other home hair colour brands have followed suit.

Now let me set the scene, I have been an avid at home hair dyer for 15 years. Yes, I would love to have my hair done at the salon, but the at home route is the more affordable one for many of us. I have stuck to the same colour 'Lightest blonde' and experimented only with two brands, both of which I cannot speak highly enough of. L'Oreal Excellence, for an all over colour twice a year and the actual 'revolutionary' Perfect 10 from Clairol to attend to my roots every month. No complaints, except, like everything in life, it could be easier...

So, finally the advertising worked on me and I bought a packet of John Frieda, expensive at £10 compared to my normal dyes which are around the £6-£7 mark and normally have money off offers or two for one offers every couple of months.

Firstly the instructions were very strange: mix the two chemicals and tilt the bottle 5 times. I tilted, not too much, but not to little and something happened. When I began applying the foam was reluctant to come out. When i did get a 'tennis ball' size, as described in the instructions, it seemed to disappear into my hair, even when I continued to massage it in over and over again. I attempted to cover my whole head, but failed miserably. I massaged and massaged and still did not have a head full of foam like the picture. A lot of the mixture in the bottle had not become foam even though I was squeezing with all my life to get more out.

Trying not to panic I was convinced the results would make up for this awful experience. Sadly they did not. My roots were only a shade lighter, not the 'light blonde' promised on the bottle, and the rest of my hair showed no change.

Following weeks resulted in dry, brittle hair which i still cannot do anything with and am nervous about dying it again with my old trusty hair dye.

Convinced I was not the only person who had this result I was happy to learn my own mother who also dyes her hair at home, was not convinced by the product, did not believe it gave her full coverage and also left her hair feeling dry and brittle.

Of course, I am sure many people out there love this product, and I am sure JF would tell me it was my hair type, or it doesn't work on over processed hair etc etc. But I felt the responsibility to inform you of my bad experience of this product.

Would love to hear from you if you love or hate this product - info@beautyu.co.uk.

And next? Better the devil you know, or the hair dye you know. I shall walk guiltily into my nearest chemist and beg my old brands for forgiveness for my betrayal and reform my 15 year relationship of loyalty I have previously given them. And hope they welcome me (and my hair) back with welcome arms...

Stay Beautiful!

Stace x

17th May 2011

Bare is beautiful

Bare is beautiful

It's very rare these days that a beauty range comes along and totally changes the way you do things. But one has...Mags talked about Bare Escentuals, Bare Minerals in her last blog, and echoing that, I am going to nod towards their foundation range.

I once read, that when you try a powder foundation you will never go back to a liquid one, but never believed it. Doesn't the powder stick in my wrinkles? Isn't it messy? Does it really cover my spots/black circles/blemishes? The answer to all these is yes. This product is a revolution and you need it in your life!

I have loved my liquid foundations for near on 15 years, so believe me, you are preaching to the unlikely to be converted. But after trying the range for only a week, I was hooked.

Why? I could never possibly create such a flawless finish that highlights my features but doesn't actually look like I have plastered my face in make up. It's subtle, it's like make up for grown ups! And better still, the fact that the minerals are natural, means it actually HELPS my spots, not like normal foundations which can suffocate and worsen spots. It feels light, as if no make up is on my face at all, and if I am off out in the evening, a simple top up suffices, rather than having to redo the entire face.

The foundation is SPF 15, and when you buff it on the skin, it acts like a liquid foundation. In a future blog i will guide you through how to apply the foundation. But for now, I couldn't wait to tell you how much fun i have had discovering this brand and changing my entire make up routine!

Mags has beautifully modelled the entire face in Bare Minerals make up before and after, so see for yourself!

And my liquid foundations? Firmly in the bin I'm afraid...

Stay beautiful!

Stace x

13th April 2011