Review: Getting a volumising perm at London's Karine Jackson

I have a confession. I last had a perm when I was 14. It was the year 2000, which is one of the worst years for hair. My mum is a brilliant hairdresser, and with such skill at my disposal I was always asking her to trim a bit here, add a fringe there, or bleach that entire section a bit no actually dye it back I don't suit blonde.

I loved my very first perm, and although mum went weak with the solution, anticipating my ever-changing style, it make my hair look full of volume and life. I was the envy of all my friends.

Skip forward to now.

Sandra from the life-saving Sophie and Lola (more on that to come) has crafted me a handmade floral crown for tomorrow, which happens to be my wedding day, which is exactly what I've been looking for. It wouldn't work with hair up, so I decided to go for curls. And rather than worry about them dropping during the day, a perm was in order.

Karine Jackson's salon, who I last visited last year for my pixie cut, was the first port of call, purely because they use organic hair dyes and perms. This means less damage to my hair and no chance of it reacting to my existing dye job and leaving me with green-tinted hair as I walked down the aisle. Plus, they won London Hairdresser of the Year and have been nominated in the London Lifestyle Awards this year. All these accolades mean they're really at the top of their game.

I have to tell you guys, two days later, perms are definitely the way forward.

A week before...

I met with Claudia (CLOUD-ear) a week before my perm in their Covent Garden salon. She sat me down with a few magazines and asked me what I wanted from my perm. Like an idiot, I muttered something about liking my hair when I curl it with GHDs. Rather than laugh in my face, which she had every right to do, she explained a perm will make my hair curly, but nothing like the result you'd get after GHDs or when it's run through tongs.

I wanted to go ahead anyway, so we agreed on a plan of action.

She snipped a section of my hair to process in the solution, and showed me a few photos of how my hair will more than likely look. Happy with what we'd discussed, I left the salon full of excitement. My straight locks were on borrowed time...

On the day

I rocked up to Karine's and was warmly greeted by Sam, who led me to the back mezzanine area and got me a coffee. While waiting for the show to start, I said a quick hello to the friendly American sitting next to me. She's a KJ regular and was getting her highlights topped up.

"Oh hi there! I love it here," she said, in a typically American accent. "Usually my hair can't take going so blonde, but the stuff they use is like a miracle. All the mums from school pop in when they get a second to spare."

Before we could chat further, Claudia came over and said a warm hello before leading me down the spiral staircase for someone to wash and prep my hair.

As before, this was such a relaxing way to start the two hour treatment. The guy was great at the massage, and ensured I was comfy throughout (because sometimes those sinks can cause painful neck damage and terrible cricks, let's be honest). With hair all washed and me feeling suitably sleepy it was time to head back up and for Claudia to get to work.

The perm: part I

As we'd talked about the week before, Claudia used a mix of roller sizes to ensure I got a natural-looking result rather than Shirley Temple style ringlets - not a good look for anyone over seven. My hair was sectioned, rolled and clipped into place. After twenty minutes my whole head was covered and it was time to add the solution.

This was a weird bit. As my was scalp exposed and hair pulled taught, the feeling of dripping water sent shivers down my spine. With a plastic hair-bib draped on my shoulders, I have no idea how she didn't spill a drop as it felt like it was running down my back. The solution didn't smell anywhere near as strong as it usually does. Claudia explained this was due to the organic nature of the product. So clients can have a perm and head straight out without worrying they smell a bit like cat wee (my words, not hers).

Once the solution was applied I was wrapped in plastic while a heater was set to work for seven minutes. Once that was done, my hair was blowdried to make sure I was getting a good set. Then it was just a waiting game.

The perm: part II

Once the time was up it was back downstairs for the solution to be rinsed away. My head felt so strange after 45 minutes of being in the rollers, and the hair wash was wasn't as soothing as the first one. My scalp felt really numb!

Claudia explained the process a bit more to me: the perm will last for about eight weeks as it is, and then it'll gradually start to drop. Immediately after the treatment it'll look very, very curly, but this is normal and I can wash my hair after 48 hours. By the time it gets to needing a retreat, my hair will look like it has a gentle, boho wave to it. Not a problem! The perm is permanent, as its name suggests, but as it's organic, it's not going to ever be as harsh as people would think.

In fact, I can book in for a dye just ten days after treatment, something not possible with peroxide and ammonia. 

The perm: part III

Once the solution was rinsed away I was led back upstairs to the styling chair where the towel containing my new curls was removed and I experienced the big reveal. I was shocked. There were actual curls there, and although more ringlet than soft, bouncy waves I was thrilled. It was so strange (as you can see from the odd face I'm pulling there).

Claudia used organic mousse, which is more water-based than anything else and won't make my hair look sticky, and asked me to shift my head so the back of the neck was resting on the chair. Gravity is needed to make sure the curls don't turn to frizz and she expertly softened the look using a diffuser and her hands.

After I was done she assured me it looks better once left to dry naturally, that all of her clients feel they get a better result at home with natural curls than the made-up look I had at that time - a new experience from a stylist as usually I can never quite get the same look once at home.

I left the salon with a spring in my step and in my hair. The entire process took just under two hours, and on more than once occasion I nearly drifted to sleep, it was that relaxing.

Two days later...

Immediately after I felt like a totally different person. I couldn't believe how different my hair felt bouncing around, and when I showed David he said he absolutely loved it.

I still haven't washed my hair yet, being about 35 hours after treatment, but I'm sure I'll update this once the wedding's over and I've perfected my new style. All I know for now is I'll definitely be back come December to get my hair curled again. I'm definitely a perm convert, and with a system as kind as is used at Karine's I can do so without feeling like it's going to damage my hair.

Home maintenance for permed hair

Use an organic shampoo and conditioner, or a gentle solution for coloured hair

Only comb hair when it's wet to run conditioner through it

Use organic mousse for best results, and twist it through hair before giving it a good zhuzh

Let curls hang to the ground and dry hair upside down if using a blow dryer

A diffuser will help, but can make hair frizzy

If you need to blow dry, use amedium heat and speed, and leave it 90% damp

Ideally, zhuzh hair with mousse and leave to dry naturally. It's the best and easiest way.
 
Karine Jackson Hair and Beauty |  24 Litchfield St, London, WC2H 9NJ | 020 7836 0300 
Volumising perm starts from £70.

Interested? Read on...

B12, the latest pick-me-up for body and skin

B12 seems to be the wonder-vitamin du jour at the moment. Sold as the answer to skin woes and sluggish days, over the last month we've put it to the test using TimeBomb's Complexion Cocktail with B12 for the skin, and 6 Vitamin Shots to wean us off the growing Red Bull reliance for energy during the day.

So. Did we get buzzed, or just a bee in our bonnet? (Sorry not sorry.)

A little about B for energy

Someone with a B12 deficiency would be tired, sluggish, weak with a loss of appetite. Left untreated it can be a cause of depression and poor memory. So this vitamin is needed to enjoy life. Literally.

It can be found in beef liver and clams (what a delicious thought) as well as fish, meat, poultry and milk. Aside from that, though, food products need to be fortified with the vitamin. So unless your really healthy cereal at £12 a box states it contains B12, it won't.

B12 is an ingredient in Red Bull. And so are a whole load of sugars, sweeteners and calories. I get through a few cans a day, so that's a lot of added junk. The 6 shot promises exactly what Red Bull does, a boost of energy for gym bunnies, office workers and mums on the run. It contains many of the same ingredients, with none of the sugars and only ten measly calories.

Get this: it also has 20,000 times the RDA of B12.

Twenty.

Thousand.

So I gave it a go.

After a week I found my concentration levels were still low. Blame the stresses of work, an award nomination and just general life drama. The shot contains caffeine so did give me a much needed boost before meetings and on my commute (it's five whole minutes so NEEDED).

At the end of the week, I didn't get the instant mental clarity I expected. But the thing I liked about it the most is it's handy. I don't always need a turn-your-wee-flourescent-yellow can of sweet drink that will rot my teeth (thanks Dental PR fiancé for the constant reminder). The shots are perfect for my handbag for work, and the gym bag before a work out. It's convenient and doesn't see me running to the loo every half hour either.

I did a bit more research and although no studies have shown B12 alone will affect energy levels in people with sufficient intake, for those who have a limited diet or need a boost these are a great answer to sustained energy necked in one go. Definitely take these to any summer festivals you have planned - it'll be worth it.

Each shot costs £2.50, or a box of 12 is £25. More info can be found here.

B12 for the skin

Hands up if your skin's feeling tired and just a bit blah recently? With pollution, poor diet and not enough water during the day, this can leave skin thirsty and dry. B12 has been hailed as a wonder product for faces needing a big gulp of hydration.

Timebomb also contains a type of naturally occurring sugar called hyaluronic acid, which is used in dermal fillers (which gives new meaning to the phrase sugar lips) and mesotherapy injections to revitalise crêpey skin. Obviously the product won't be sucked down deep into the dermal layers but as someone with a huge interest in aesthetics, I was intrigued to see how it would work on the top layers of skin.

Having spoken to a dermatologist, B12 has been shown to be effective in placebo-controlled trials for people with dermatitis. From the study, it was concluded that those using the B12 compared to the placebo creme had a very good response to the topical vitamin, compared with the placebo which scored very poor. So there's weight to its skin saving claims.

But. Does it WORK?

The cocktail is a liquid, very thin and watery. You can apply it to a cotton pad and pat gently over the entire face, or I added about seven drops into the palm of my hand and applied it very much like I do my Vitamin C serum.

I have very dry skin normally, so I found the hydration of this product alone wasn't enough for me and I needed to use my normal organic moisturiser on top of it. Probably not a great start for a supposedly hydrating wonder product. Had this been a lightweight creme it could have been a bit more useful, but then the reason it's not in a base lotion is so there's no dilution of product.

I didn't really notice a instant difference in my skin after applying, but after a month of near-constant use my skin does look brighter and clearer. I've been travelling a lot recently and the bottle is a handy size for my washbag. Also, as it's 100ml you can take it in your hand luggage for long haul refreshment. It's not cheap at £24, but the bottle will last a good 2-3 months with daily use making it a great little investment.

Read more about Timebomb's secret potion here.

Interested? Read on...

Tretinoin and Retinol: Are you right to be wary about Vitamin A skincare?

It's no secret there are a million lotions and potions out there promising the wearer better skin, from BB creams to sperm facials (seriously). But since the seventies, Vitamin A has been knows as a bit of a wonder for skin. It's anti-ageing, great for breakouts and makes skin glow.

Vitamin A and it's derivatives are found in over the counter skincare lines (an ingredient know as Retinol, a weaker derivative of Vitamin A), or can be prescribed by your GP or by a dermatologist (known as Tretinoin). If you've ever suffered with acne, you may have heard of Accutane (isotretinoin), an oral form of Vitamin A which requires regular hospital trips, dries out the skin and lips, and can cause severe birth defects.

Topical Vitamin A, though, increases the production of skin cells and thickens the dermal layer at a cellular level. So, mixed with a cleansing routine that sloughs away congestion and the top layer of skin, it promotes a healthy looking complexion. Basically, it gives you thick, soft skin.

It also helps with collagen production by stimulating the skin's fibroblasts to produce more. The more collagen your skin has, the more youthful it looks. Put very simply, it gets rid of fine lines, wrinkles, and helps scars look smoother. You probably know that collagen production slows down in our mid twenties, I've seen it myself and I'm 30 next year. OH THE WRINKLES. So anything that kick-starts collagen production is great.

It also helps reduce pigmentation from sun damage.

It's a wonder cream, surely. Who needs botox and expensive facials when you can just slap on some Vitamin A every night? Well, the reason why people fear it so much is because used incorrectly, it can cause you to look like you're a snake shedding its skin. Redness and irritation is widely reported as a side effect,  even in lowest of the low doses of 0.025%.

Clearly Vitamin A is a potent little beast.

So say you suffer from problematic skin. Say you're noticing lines appear where they never were before. How can you go about safely using Vitamin A?

If you're in no rush to get your skin looking grand, find an over the counter cream that contains retinol. It won't work as fast as Tretinoin, but it's perfect if you have sensitive skin or don't want the chance of peeling and irritation. Once applied to the skin, it takes an extra step to convert to the active ingredient found in prescriptions. But hey, those wrinkles and sun spots didn't appear overnight, right?

If you're suffering with scarring or want to see dramatic results, see if your dermatologist will prescribe you Tretinoin, but at no more than 0.3%. You'll need to apply it at night, leaving a two to three day gap between applications until your skin builds up a tolerance after a few weeks.

It should be on the top of your skincare priorities anyway, but Vitamin A does make skin more photosensitive, so a broad spectrum SPF of at least 30 should be worn every morning. Combine with a Vitamin C serum in the morning to protect the skin from oxidisation (you know what happens to an apple when you leave it out and it goes brown? That's oxidisation) and you'll be well on your way to healthy skin from the inside out.

So what do you think? Are you a fan of retinol and Vitamin A, or are you too timid to try it? Let us know the products you rate below.

Interested? Read on...

Fitspiration and the workout that'll have you in tears

New Year's full of resolutions. Quit smoking. Be happy. Get fit. Lose weight. So we asked ethical blogger Charlotte for her take on intensive workouts that have bloggers crippled in agony in their quest for the perfect beach body...

When I first heard about the Insanity Workout, I thought it would be like all the other workout DVDs you see lining shop shelves at this time of year. Something that’s a little challenging, but is also easy enough for people to do as their first workout. Because of this it didn’t cross my mind again until I started following a fitness blogger on Twitter. They seemed to have good things to say about Insanity.

I reasoned if a blogger, a fitness one at that, was raving about it, it's worth a look. Before purcashing the workout, I decided to read a few reviews. I found one. I started reading. I stopped reading. I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

For those of you who don’t know, Insanity is a high-intensity workout programme. You order a set of DVDs, and you’re expected to follow a 60 day schedule. Insanity’s designed to see you through 10 weeks. This seemed like a red flag in itself. I started working out regularly in November. One of the first things in my induction pack said that you should rest for 24-48 hours between workouts. This gives your body a chance to recover, which is especially important if you’re new to an exercise routine. Giving yourself enough rest is a sure-fire way to reduce your risk of getting injured.

If you’re doing an intense workout 6 days a week, you’re not giving yourself a good enough chance to recover. From what I’ve read, most of the workouts featured in the Insanity programme are based on pretty standard moves. Ski jumps, squats and high knee runs are things you’d probably do in any aerobics class. The difference here is that you increase your speed at the start of every circuit. This is what makes it difficult.

It’s also the cause of my main issue with Insanity. According to the review I read, the DVDs actually feature people crying in pain. A quick Google search also showed the stories of people who’d had similar experiences. If you feel any pain when exercising, that’s a sign that you need to stop. The company’s website (and apparently the DVD’s coach) state that you should take breaks if you need to.

It seems that a lot of people are ignoring this.

The whole point of exercise is to improve your health. While it’s fine to challenge yourself, there are limits to this. Pushing yourself far beyond these limits isn’t healthy; it’s counter-productive.

I’m not just talking about the physical side, either. So-called ‘fitspiration’ trends can make you feel like you’re not good enough. Like you’re a failure, if you have the nerve to rest your muscles twice in a week. That wanting to eat a biscuit is a sign of weakness. The company that produces the work out pushes the idea that if you haven’t toned every last muscle, then your body’s not acceptable. This sort of attitude is why so many people dread the thought of going to the beach.

If you want to improve your health, then good for you! But the whole key to being healthy is moderation. There’s nothing wrong with eating a few cakes every now and then. But if you want to get fit, you eat your treats in moderation. The same goes for exercising. Working out far beyond your ability isn’t going to help. I made this mistake in my first workout class. I had muscle fatigue for three days!

The best way to get fit is to build yourself up gradually, and to get plenty of rest. It doesn’t involve memes, embarrassment or self-destruction.

Interested? Read on...

Plaits, gel and ponies: Our hair trends for 2014

We’ve watched the catwalks with interest, consulted our crystal balls and are predicting a few hair trends for 2014.

Will bobs be back? Will Ombre be over? Will curls be cut? Here are our 2014 hair trend forecasts.

Messy ponies

If you’re a hairstyling aficionado, looking for a new look or just wanting to inject some pizzazz into your morning routine, next season ponytails are really jumping the hurdles. Try sectioning your hair into three ponytails tied together with ribbon, or backcombed roots with the rest swept up for a messy, carefree look. How about leaving half your hair loose and the other knotted and tied into place? It’s all about being creative and different.

Interested? Read on...

YouTube Beauty

Following on from our Here's How To... about writing sponsored posts, it got me thinking about another aspect of blogging: video reviews. A camera, an internet connection, a love of make-up and a Blogger account: all the necessary ingredients to rack up thousands of pounds a month, if a new breed of online celebrity is anything to go by.

These young stars are often paid generously to promote a company’s goods to their large fan base. Today, advertising with bloggers is more effective than traditional methods because it's very often a subtle means of promoting, rather than a full-on (and massively expensive) TV or editorial campaign.

After all, Zoe Sugg, of Zoella fame, has 2.5 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 900,000 Twitter followers who she communicates with directly on a daily basis, a very powerful tool.

Interested? Read on...

Dear Mr Lagerfeld... Chanel Dissolvant Doux Dissolvant Don't (lol)

In her latest bid to find beautiful brands that work, beauty creative director, Michaela Day, treats herself to a designer beauty item - but is it worth the price? We asked her to pen her thoughts on double C designer beauty...

"I’m on a trip in southern India, sitting on my colonial veranda in Kerala soaking up the dawn. The sun is flooding silver-pink across the heavens, a stunning backdrop to this watery paradise. I have a cup of hot chai beside me, a finished book at my feet and a cold, dead camera battery in my hand.

Obviously, there’s no wi-fi. Everyone else is sleeping through those very vivid curried dreams that a diet so much more spicy than normal can contrive.

So, what’s a girl to do with an unusual piece of me-time like this? Her nails.

Interested? Read on...

The Beauty Game: You’ll never see the beauty industry the same way again

We love discovering new writers. So when we heard about Michaela Day, a freelance beauty creative director, who penned The Beauty Game, we were hooked.

The novel tells the story of Zoe, a talented copywriter who is thrust into the beauty industry. She struggles with her new role writing legal lies about anti-aging creams (PAH), and when she discovers the vile secret the company is hiding, she puts her job, and her life, on the line to uncover the ugly truth about beauty. Cue: mystery with a bit of foundation thrown in.

Because when Zoe first enters the plush offices of global beauty empire Visage D’Or she doesn’t know her day cream from her night cream. She has no idea about the signs of ageing and she thinks uplift is a type of Wonderbra.

Interested? Read on...

Sparkling Passionfruit nail art tutorial

We know you lovelies like a good nail tutorial. So Swedish blogger Caroline Blomst has created a nail art design called the Sparkling Passionfruit Manicure, inspired by Rekorderlig Cider's limited edition Passionfruit flavour. (These guys also do that really sweet strawberry flavour too. Lush.) Caroline created the sparkling purple and nude nail art design to celebrate summer. So try out this fun and flirty tutorial!

Interested? Read on...

Beauty's Best of British

We're a nation of beauty lovers, spending millions of hard-earned pounds a year on products, perfumes and potions to make us thinner, leaner, smoother and more confident. But did you know a handful of everyday staple brands we know and love actually had beginnings here in Britain? From market stalls to hte Poole, here are a few that caught our eye.

Soap & Glory was founded by Marcia Kilgore, the brains behind FitFlops. She wanted to come up with a a fun and iconic beauty range, and so S&G was born. The cheeky pink and pastel branding and oh-so-funny puns (Sexy Motherpucker has to be one of the best names around) have won countless fans, and their perfumed body mists and butters are a firm favourite. With a recent rebrand hitting the shelves, they're a favourite of beauty bloggers everywhere. Check out Victoria's impressive collection (very cropped photo above!).

Interested? Read on...

The essential beauty packing list for any holiday

Our lovely writer Bess recently flew a few hours away to the island of Malta. You may have read about it. But with ever-decreasing luggage allowances (and strict rules on liquids if you're only taking hand luggage) packing for a week away can be tricky. So here's a mix of tried and tested fave products and new samples Bess took for her adventure holiday last month. Bonus: it all fits into one wash bag. Perfect for those stingy weight limits!

For face
Now I’m a skin care fiend, so prioritising space over products has been heart wrenching. Yet I’ve managed to narrow it down to:

Morning cleanser
Alpha H Balancing Cleanser with Aloe Vera

Interested? Read on...

Three of the best food supplements for the tired and cranky

Have you ever had an eight hour snooze, but woken up in the morning feeling like you've barely slept a wink? Or rocked up to the office in the morning and got the urge for a shot of caffeine just to get through the next few hours? Or that three o'clock slump, where time seems to go slower than a slug stuck in treacle? Yes? You're not alone.

Our lives are getting more and more demandng, and with smartphones making our work and social lives more accessible than ever, it's fair to say we're being kept awake, and busier than ever.

At the end of an eight hour day at work (if you're lucky enough to have one of those rare jobs you start at 9 and finish at 5) the last thing we want is to start cooking a meal filled with every single vitamin and mineral our bodies need.

Interested? Read on...

Are you organised or playful? What your make up says about you!

Have you ever wondered where Frieda Kahlo kept her paint brushes? Or where Emily Bronte kept the pen with which she wrote Wuthering Heights?

Probably not, but I’m guessing the answer to both of these questions is neither in the bottom of her handbag (with the loose change, old bus tickets and bits of Bombay Mix – I’m such a pig) or in some kind of slightly mucky looking bag she got free with a magazine.

And yet, that's the way I treat the tools I use, everyday, to create my very own work of art. The materials I use to conceal my darker than average under eye area, to add colour to my pallid cheeks and shape my relatively shapeless right eyebrow. Ok, so it’s no masterpiece, but it’s definitely better than the blank canvas.

Interested? Read on...

Here's how to... make your own beauty body and face scrubs (it's DIY we can all get behind!)

So, it’s spring. It’s supposed to be warm, right? I’m choosing to ignore the fact it hailed, HAILED, just five minutes ago and the sky is currently as grey as Philip Schofield.

Nevertheless *puts positive hat on* it's that time of year. The time when the sun finally pokes his head out of the clouds and sets a golden glow on the world. A glow that will offer a much needed shimmer to pasty white legs all over Britain. You’ve shaved/waxed/sugared/zapped and your legs are silky smooth, but after months of jeans, leggings and onesies they are looking decidedly pasty and patchy. Well, unless you’re sporting a Towie-esque glow, of course.

So, how can you bring them back to their best, ready to be shorts ready for festival season?

Sugar and salt scrubs are perennially popular, with good reason. They offer exfoliation and beneficial oils that sink in to the skin and offer moisturisation. But why spend a tenner on a commercially produced product when all the ingredients that you need can be found around the house, and you can customise the scrub to your own needs?

So, the first step is to decide if you like it rough, or if you are more of a gentle soul. Which are you, salt or sugar?

Salt offers the best exfoliation, so is great for removing dead skin and adding a just-scrubbed glow to skin. These scrubs also offer therapeutic benefits, which can help skin conditions and remove toxins and impurities from the skin.

Sugar scrubs are more gentle and are good for more regular scrubbing. So if you have sensitive skin, or don’t want a rough scrub, sugar is your friend. If you use brown sugar, it smells amazing, like treacle, when it dissolves.

So, now you’ve picked salt or sugar you need to add oil to the mixture. If you don’t want to buy a specific body or face oil then olive oil works fine, but you can gain extra benefits from using apricot, coconut or almond oil. Apricot is good to soothe and heal sore skin, coconut is good for dry skin and premature aging and almond is great for improving your complexion.

You need 1 part oil to 2 parts sugar/salt, it doesn’t matter whether you want to make one treatment or seven, as long as you stick to that rule. So, for instance 30g oil to 60g sugar.

You can stop at that point, and have a perfectly good scrub, but if you want added benefits then you can add essential oils and flower petals to the scrub. Here are a few ideas:

For even skin

10 drops of rose oil

2 drops of chamomile oil

2 drops of lavender oil

2 drops of lemon oil

For dry skin

10 drops of chamomile oil

2 drops of sandalwood oil

2 drops of carrot seed oil

2 drops of geranium oil

For oily skin

10 drops of lemon oil

10 drops of geranium oil

2 drops of rosemary oil

3 drops of juniper oil

So, get making scrubs – it’s fun and cheap and in no time you’ll be baring all with pride!

Interested? Read on...

Boy-eauty: when male grooming becomes, well, a bit scary

Oh men, what happened to you? You used to be such lovely, rugged creatures. Your hair would stick up, your shoes were scuffed and you had a builder’s tan. You were all wide shoulders, stubble and clothes that could do with washing.

Now? Now, you’re all buying face moisturisers, having spray tans, shaping your eyebrows and wearing meggings. Yes, meggings. Leggings for men.

I jest. I have no qualm whatsoever with men who decide they fancy a bit of personal grooming; whether it be a light moisturiser to soothe their dry skin after shaving or full on waxing ‘down there’. AKA a Boyzillian, apparently. Why shouldn’t men look after, or enhance their body like women do? Why shouldn’t men relax, treating themselves to a lavender oil bubble bath and a chocolate scented face mask now and again?

Interested? Read on...

A twenty minute fitness challenge for bum, boobs and bingo wings

If you're anything like me, winter's a pretty amazing time of year. There's mulled wine, warming stews with dumplings and endless mugs of peppermint hot chocolates. It's the one time of year you'll be covered up with layers of jumpers, jeans and coats, so indulging in those treats often goes unnoticed. Summer however, is a different story. With denim cut-offs and short summer skirts making an appearance in shops up and down the country, hiding the results of all that indulgence under a maxi dress can only last so long.

So in an effort to get in shape, I banished those bad foods and took action! But, I have to say, the squat challenge everyone's been raving about and I didn't get on. Of course I'd love a firmer bum, but I thought it was a little bit pointless given that other areas needed work too (I'm looking at you, upper arms).

Interested? Read on...

Summer skin: do you know your A+ BB, CC and DD creams?

First it was foundations. Then tinted moisturisers. Then the beauty world was hit with BB cream, followed by CC and now DD creams.

It seems the quest for us to feel comfortable with our own skin (as well as taking up basic letters of the alphabet) is one we still strive for to this day. And cosmetic companies have latched on to our quest for a flawless face.

Ask any woman what they think about their foundation and you'll hear the same old: I don't get enough coverage, I don't like how it doesn't last all day, I find it difficult to keep it on through the summer months. Unless you're a lucky one who's found your perfect foundation (I salute you - congratulations) or you have model-perfect skin and don't need foundation (in that case I hate you a little) then most of us need a little help in the foundation department.

Interested? Read on...

Just because I'm slim doesn't mean I'm healthy. At all.

This morning, I saw a Twitter conversation where a boy had said women over a size 14 were 'void' to him. A fair opinion if you ask me - we're not all forced to like the same features of whichever gender we're attracted to. I personally hate that weird V thing some men have. You know what I mean. The hard line on their abdomen. It makes me cringe. Properly cringe.

Of course, I know plenty of women-folk who'd happily sit there admiring many a toned torso so it's horses for courses.

I think the main thing that bothered me with Twitter Guy was the insinuation that larger ladies (in this case anyone larger regardless of  height, job, diet etc.) are immediately unhealthy because they're not stick thin. True, being morbidly obese is going to have an impact on health. But does carrying a few pounds mean you're automatically doomed to a premature death?

I'm slim. A size 6-8. 5'4". Sure, I have a bit of cellulite - name one woman who doesn't oh you can't too bad - but I'd say I'm generally lean, if slightly on the underweight side. The thing is, I'm not healthy. Far from it. Look at the picture above of me in Thailand for goodness' sake. I'm stuffing my face with the third banana and Nutella pancake of the night.

So, for starters, I'm ridiculously unfit. Gym memberships are wasted on me as I have neither the willpower nor the inclination to spend hours running on a treadmill. The cross trainer hurts my knees and thanks to back problems, the rowing machine does far more damage than good. I've just started a nightly half hour regime consisting of squats, lunges, star jumps, press ups and crunches, and I can honestly say on day 4 I'm still crawling up the stairs. You think I mean that figuratively? Cute.

I often wonder if I ever had to trek through the Andes like those rugby players from Alive if I'd make it. I'm 100% certain I'd give up before the first mountain. I'd be eaten by the strong around day 4.

Also, having a high metabolism means I eat as much junk as I want without putting on much weight. Any extra pounds I do find sticking to my hips (damn my Sicilian heritage) can usually be dealt with by cutting out that junk for a week. Some say lucky. I don't. Because I get the slump. That 3pm cloud of heaviness and slumber that descends like an unwelcome storm in summer. It's more than likely the sugars and processed ingredients of my mac 'n' cheese, but because I know I'm not going to put on weight, I eat that crap daily, caution to the wind.

If I was to compare my diet to that of someone 'voided' by Twitter Guy, I'd say mine would be shocking. It would probably look like this:

Breakfast
Nothing

Lunch (2pm)
Pret sandwich
Crisps
Two chocolate bars
Tea with whole fat milk
Jaffa Cakes
Dolly Mix
Red Bull

Snack (4pm - 7pm)
More Dolly Mix
Jaffa Cakes
Crisp
Wine (glass)

Dinner (9pm)
Pasta, or Thai curry (home made) or pizza (Papa John's)
Ben & Jerry's
Wine (half a bottle)

Snack (before bed)
Tea
Biscuits

Tragic isn't it. Healthy definitely not. But somehow, my diet's acceptable because I'm naturally slim.

So. Not all size 6 women are gym bunnies with Paltrow-esque diets and a love of yoga. Not all size 16 women are slobs, gorging on Bic Macs and sitting in front of the computer all day playing Bingo. Height plays a huge part in dress size - just because someone's in double figures does not mean they are obese. And this is a really prevalent idea that the young and ignorant seem to have. They forget the side effects from malnutrition in order to get that elusive Perfect Body can mean they end up with brittle bones, no periods, thinning hair, and unable to have children. That the models they see in mags are always Photoshopped to remove those wrinkles, lumps and bumps.That the health risks of being underweight are just as serious.

Having a bit of fat on you is normal. It's attractive. And it's kinda necessary for you to, y'know, be alive. True, not everyone thinks plus size is attractive. But just like I shudder at the thought of a man's toned torso and defined abs, not everyone thinks my shape or size is attractive. I get that. It can take time to feel happy with how you look. But the main thing is to be happy in your own skin, to eat a balanced diet, to get a good half hour of exercise a day and to live healthy lifestyle.

After all, sometimes looks can be deceiving.

Interested? Read on...

Models Own Summer Neon nails tutorial

Last week, it was all about our Art Deco nails. This week, it's about this year's trends. Summer should be all about bright colours. Neon though, is something else. Children of the early 90s will remember the horrors of polyester shell suits (stay away from naked flames) and shag bands. It's a scar on the minds of many.

So. If you're not a fan of neon skirts and bright blouses, you can still be bang on trend this year with these eye-popping talons.

Interested? Read on...

Don't risk wrinkes, or worse, this summer

We love a bit of fun in the sun. And last Bank Holiday was no exception. Parks were packed with picnickers, and beaches saw thousands of families pack their buckets and spades for a quintessential day out at the seaside. And why not? Who knows when the sun will make an appearance again, and on a Bank Holiday to boot? For one weekend, sunbeds were deserted in place of the real thing. And it was lovely.

With a recent survey revealing two thirds of people in their twenties think a tan is more attractive than Snow White skin, it's no wonder we jump at the chance of a bronzed bod at the first sign of sunshine. But there's a problem. Half us Brits think our skin colour is darker than it actually is. And while believing we're more bronzed than we actually are might not seem like a problem, it can cause damage when we decide to slip on a bikini and catch some rays.

Interested? Read on...