The day before Mother's Day, my brother and I were, as usual, stuck for ideas on what to get our mum and were wandering through a department store when my brother declared he had an idea and stormed off to the make-up and beauty section. He then went on to tell me in a very matter-of-fact way that this particular abrasive scrub from Origins was, quote 'just heavenly for the skin'. Even though I was shocked at his sudden camp personality, I have to say, I agreed with him. We bought my mum the product and I sneak into her room every now or then to use it on myself.

 

It's a very hard abrasive scrub which if you use more than once or twice a week can really irritate the skin but in moderation it leaves skin soft, smooth and feeling clean. Having used products from Garnier and Clearasil which didn't seem to make much of an improvement this is definitely the best I've tried. However, as always, the products I seem to like come with a rather large price tag. At the higher end of the high-street, this product 'Modern Friction' from Origins is a shocking £27.50. Even though it lasts a very long time as you can't use it very often, the price is probably just that bit too steep for me (and most people).

 

I've since tried out St Ives Apricot scrub (simply because it was on offer 2 for 3) and was quite impressed with the results. The finish wasn't as nice as the more expensive product but I loved the smell and the value for money was good. After a while, however it seemed to irritate my skin and so I've since stopped using it. Exfoliating is an important part of any girl's skin routine as it prevents pores from getting clogged and those annoying black heads from appearing.

 

Unfortunately for me, I’m still on the lookout for a good scrub!

 

The week is almost over here which means that on Monday Nic will be back from holiday and back on the blog so stay posted for more tips and tricks from her!

Jess

I noticed a couple of years ago that I had acquired stretch marks on my thighs and more recently my chest. Distraught at the thought of permanent scarring I immediately went to the shop and bought some Palmer's Cocoa Butter moisturiser which was supposed to reduce the visibility of the marks. I love this moisturiser as it leaves the skin extremely soft and also the smell is addictive, however I didn't really notice any change in the appearence of my scars.

I know use bio-oil which was very expensive for such a small bottle but I have to say I really am starting to notice the effects. The majority of my marks are fading right away and are nowhere near as noticeable as before. The product is expensive at around £15 for 200ml but I bought a 60ml bottle and still haven't finished it as you can use it sparingly and it is still very effective. Another option may be to try baby oil which I have also tried and this too appeared to improve the marks and is just a fraction of the price of the other products. The great thing about bio oil is that it also can be used on the face and really helps to even complexion and reduce redness.

 

Even if you don't have strech marks, using these products on a daily basis could help to prevent you from getting them and if you want my advice, that's definitely worth it!

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Nic has gone off on hols and so I will be filling you in on all the latest from fashion and beauty. Molton Brown are releasing a new range for next season and I was lucky enough to get to discover it.

 

Molton Brown - something you only come across in the most beautifully tiled and decorated bathrooms complete with fountains and personal hand-driers... well maybe they don't have to be that posh, but it is certainly not a product you would expect to find in your average household. I see Molton Brown products as special. If ever I were to have the pleasure of owning one I would definitely use it so sparingly that I still have it in 50 years time. Considering the price of these products you may be able to understand why this is the case for me, an extremely poor student.

 

The great thing about the products is that you do feel as though you are getting good value for money. The scents are so strong and powerful that they last a long time and the creams are rich in moisturiser and will leave your skin feeling softer than soft. If I had enough money to, I would definitely indulge and it would come before the beautiful tiles.

 

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending the release of the Autumn/Winter range of Molton Brown products. I know what you're thinking, surely summer has only just begun, but I guess there's no harm in buying your Christmas presents early! Some of the new products in the range are candelas in varying scents, my personal favourite of which is the rich and sweet inspiring wild indigo. These candelas are available in large and small sizes which come in a trinity. Unfortunately for me £49 is possibly a tad high a price to pay on a scented candle, but would make a nice present if your circumstances allow you to splash out. The burn time on the candelas is also very long as each one is expected to burn for between 70 to 80 hours.

 

Some of the new scents such as the black pepper and yuan zhi are darker and deeper in fragrance and so may be more appealing to men. The heavenly gingerlily products caught my nose in particular, especially the shimmer fragrance with its strong, sweet and yet clean smell with a subtle hint of spice. At £30 I think is a great bargain.

 

My afternoon was topped off with a hand and arm massage which was absolute heaven - I almost fell asleep in the chair! The great thing about these treatments is that they are complimentary in most stores which have a Molton Brown range. If you have 15 minutes to put aside I would recommend popping in to experience it for yourself and you'll be making regular trips after that!

 

Jess

Every girl (and well, the occasional boy) loves to shop - but when the weather is fine and dandy it can be a tough choice between hitting the high street boutiques at the weekend - or chilling out and relaxing in the garden or park.

 

Thank goodness that dilemma is no longer a problem with fabulous sites on the internet such as shop.com. For fashion - and especially beauty products - this site is a real find.

 

Another one I've become rather to addicted to (since discovering it on Trinny and Susannah's website) is notonthehighstreet.com. It's one of those beautiful places where you feel like you could just go in there and buy nearly everything to make your home and garden look fabulous (it also does great jewellery which is ideal for presents too). But back to gardens, thecontemporaryhome.co.uk does these wonderful little fairy light lanterns which can add a touch of magic to a barbecue this summer. I'd heartily recommend a good browse.

 

Anyway, enough about shopping, for the summer holiday is calling and it's called by the way of Sardinia. Sunshine, tasty Italian seafood and highly quaffable wines are but a two-hour flight away. I can barely wait.

 

In the meantime, our Life & Style assistant, the lovely Jess Edwards, will be taking over the reigns and keeping us up to date with the latest fashion and beauty news here - and on the Life & Style site.

 

Ciao for now!

 

There were tears in the office (nearly) when the day came, but come it did and we had say fare thee well to my fellow Life & Style Editor Ross Chainey. After mopping up the floods (and eating the cake) we saw Ross off on his merry way to a new post on the interweb.

 

But it's not goodbye forever, it is merely farewell for now,  for fear not readers, Ross will be back (he just couldn't stay away) writing for MSN as a feature writer. Well thank goodness for that. The Life & Style section just wouldn't be the same without his poetic words of wisdom. How on earth could we go on without Ross sharing his fitness tips with us?

 

Well the answer to that is, we simply couldn't. So health and fitness fans, watch out and listen up for great tips on staying healthy, looking good and feeling great coming soon to a computer near you. And in the meantime, no slacking now! Ross will be watching.

 

Just in case you've forgotten what he looks like, here he is enjoying a tiny glass of coke while sunning himself on holiday. We miss you Ross!

 

He sold more than a million bottles of his Reggae Reggae sauce after appearing on The Dragon's Den, and now Levi Roots has just launched his own cookbook.

 

Filled with beautiful pictures of Levi's hometown of Jamaica (he now lives in Brixton, London), the Reggae Reggae Cook Book is jammed packed with recipes from the Caribbean.

 

From the simple fried plantain, to the more adventurous saltfish fritters, there are 80 exotic recipes such as Mash Up Eggs, Saint Jago de la Vigo Salmon, Guinness punch, Rum Cake and Sweet Potato Pudding to tempt your taste buds.

 

Vegetarians will love the variety of veggie dishes and fans of Italian foods should check out the pizza and pasta with a tasty Caribbean twist. Perfect fare for a summer barbecue alternative.

 

For more information about Levi, visit reggae-reggae.co.uk or try out some free recipes from the book right here at cookwithlevi.com.

 

If you want to wake up with a cool zing this summer, then may we suggest a not-too-hot bath with Taer Icelandic's deliciously minty-scented bath oil?

 

Meaning 'pure' in Icelandic, Taer Icelandic uses natural, unique blends - including potent Icelandic organic herbs, vitamins, essential oils and minerals - which work to nourish the skin and help protect against premature ageing.

 

Myleene Klass is reportedly a huge fan - and Ruby Hammer says "The Taer Icelandic Active Firming Serum leaves my skin feeling lovely and matte, which is great after I've been in the sun as no greasy residue is left behind."

Start your summer regime with the Glacier Bath Oil (£35), coupled with the exfoliating Silky Refining Scrub (£19.50) for an invigorating cleanse. Follow with the Active Firming Serum (£47), which helps to reduce redness and diminish the appearance of fine lines caused by the sun - for a super-cool body.

 

Taer Icelandic is available to buy in Harvey Nichols stores, www.taer.com and www.musthave.co.uk.

 

 

 

Leonard of Mayfair's classic collection of shampoos, conditioners and colognes were originally crafted in the swinging sixties, when hairdresser Leonard Lewis's London salon was frequented by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles and Rod Stewart.

 

Now, fifty years on, the salon has just relaunched it's boutique range, featuring an everyday shampoo, scalp cleansing shampoo, conditioning shampoo and a signature conditioner, as well as a body wash and cologne.

 

Filled with gentle ingredients such as cucumber, witchhazel, ginger, horse chestnut and dandelion, the shampoos are designed to cleanse without causing sensitivity to the scalp, while the conditioners promise to 'imbue life into even the driest of hair types.'

 

With deep, woody undertones, the colognes and body washes are designed to help create a layered fragrance effect.

 

To find out more, visit www.leonardofmayfair.com.

 

 

 

This week we've had some rather controversial articles here on the Life & Style channel, which have got many of you talking.

Several of you got in touch over our article on Escaping violence and abuse, commenting that the piece was too focussed on women being abused rather than men. Thank you to those who did, we'll be asking our sex & relationships expert Dr Pam Spurr to write an article specifically geared towards men being abused in the near feature.

Our Death of the masculine man feature, which revealed that more than 60 per cent of young British blokes have admitted they don't feel masculine in a shocking new survey, also got many people chatting on the discussion boards.

 

Rounded man said: 'We need a man that is able to be in touch with his feminine side as much as with his masculine side without having to go overboard. Women should also be able to do the same with the result being a more rounded, balanced and wholesome human being and a less victim of cultural baggage, opportunism and downright ignorance. Enter the modern-man.'

While an anonymous reader added: "We women have got to the stage where we want a man to be everything...mend the car, do the lawn, be romantic, be the strong one, cry when watching a weepie movie with us, cook the tea, do the ironing.  On the other hand, we are having to do the shopping, go to work, take kids to school, share the ironing, cooking, washing (if we're lucky), be there when the kids are ill, take them to the doctors, dentist etc, be sexy, keep our figures etc etc.'

 

Black SRi commented: 'Pigeon holing chores is just backwards.  Look at how many female plumbers, electricians, mechanics, bus drivers and the like there are nowadays.  Typically 'male' jobs are being taken on by women so it stands to reason that men should be become adaptable too by doing 'female' chores such as washing, ironing, cooking etc.
 
'I agree with what's been said above, society and the media dictate human behaviour in many ways.  I can change a tyre, wire new plugs in my house, do DIY and at the same I have been able to wash, iron, cook and clean after myself for years.  I'd say that makes me more of a man but evidently society (and many women) may frown upon it.'

 

Our article on giving up alcohol, Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder brought many supportive comments from people who have decided to stop drinking, whether for a few weeks, a few months or forever. 

Brian Davidson said: 'I just stopped mainly for my healths sake, my wife also stopped at the same time. Strangely I've never thought about it much, I imagined it was going to be difficult and we had both drinking for many years - not alchoholics but drinking too much. One day I was a drinker, the next 1,000 I never touched even a drop. Look at the freedom I have now, I can drive anytime without any fears, another big bonus is no hangovers. I am not against drink my house is always well stocked with it, but it is only there for our friends.'

Mollynsam agreed: 'Most people associate alcohol with having a good time but since stopping drinking in 2000 I have never enjoyed myself so much without it. My only advice would be to take up something else to fill your leisure time with and honestly you do not have to get blasted to enjoy yourself it is a myth perpetrated by the breweries!'

 

Thank you to everyone who commented on our articles throughout the last month. Keep your views coming in.

 

All the best,

 

Nic

 

 

I'm a big fan of Zoya nail polish, in fact I'd go so far as to say it's my favourite nail polish of all.

 

The colours are lusciously bright and deep and the shiny finish beats all the others I've tried when it comes to longevity.

 

Now Zoya have introduced a new shimmery range called 'ChitChat'. Perfect polish for tootsies that are pedicured to perfection this summer.

 

Featuring six zingy shades, all of the new colours are layered over a shimmering golden base to create a sparkling sheen.

 

Gaia is an icy white metallic, Erika is a romantic pink with a rosy gold sheen, Bekka is an atomic lime metallic, Lianne is a gorgeous tangerine metallic, Annie is a vivid burnt orange and Elke is a bright berry red.

 

Zoya is available from leading professional salons, spas and branches of the Organic Pharacy. For stockist details call 0800 1116647 or buy online at www.zoyapolish.co.uk. Each shade is £8.95.

 

*All Zoya nail colours are free of potentially harmful industrial chemicals including Toulene, Formaldehyde and Diutyl Phthalate (DBP)

 

Fancy getting into the summer spirit as you do your summer shopping? Head no further than Bluewater in Kent, which has just launched a season of summer style with a glamorous seaside theme.

 

Take a break between shops and chill out by a beach hut, designed by the likes of Alesha Dixon, style icon Jasmine Guinness and Peaches Geldof.

 

Meanwhile, to help you find the perfect new wardrobe this summer, Bluewater's resident stylist Anna Moore has some top tips...

1.Body Shape
Love the body you're in!
Identify your body shape and wear clothes that accentuate all your best points and disguises your imperfections!

 

2. Colour
Don’t be afraid of wearing colour.
Identify the colours that work best with your skin, hair and eye tones and team them with complimentary and toning colours.

 

3. Trends
Be aware of trends, even if certain styles are not right for you – you maybe able to create a nod to them, which will keep your look current.
Accessories are fabulous for accessing trends.

 

4. Shopping
Be aware of budget and objectives. Do not be tempted to panic purchase. Try to consider what items will work with in your existing wardrobe before you buy.

 

5. Foundations
Begin with underwear that fits correctly. Always get measured and fitted for a new bra – it can make a huge difference to your body shape, confidence and even your posture.

 

6. Style
Find your own style. Try to visit a new shop/try on a new colour or garment shape every-time you go shopping. We all get stuck in a style rut, and need to think outside the box!

 

7. Everyday Basics
Items such as good fitting jeans, vest tops, t-shirts and white shirts should be considered in terms of fit and quality just as much as special occasion looks – after all you wear these things all the time!

 

8. Alterations
Never under-estimate the power of alterations – we do not all fit into the exact shop size – and may need to shorten hems or sleeves to get a perfect fit.

 

9. Accessorise
Accessories can make an outfit come to life. They are an inexpensive and accessible way to buy into the trends of the season and bring your look bang up to date.

 

10. Wardrobe
Organise your wardrobe by season, (storing other clothes away) and by colour – this will make it easier to make decisions in the morning.

 

To see Anna's, Alesha's or any of the beach huts, visit Bluewater any time up until August.

 

 

Gwyneth Paltrow may well be single-handedly responsible for bringing sky-high stilettos back into fashion right now, so fans of the sassy heel will be pleased to learn a new brand is launching the UK: Mary-Kyri shoes.

 

Australian born Mary-Kyri has developed something of a reputation for producing unique and contemporary stilettos that are made with comfort in mind.

 

Created entirely in Italy using leather skins in vibrant colours, Mary-Kyri shoes are made for 'elegant and passionate women who are not afraid to express their individuality', say the designers.

 

Celebrity fans include Kylie & Dannii Minogue, Megan Gale, Pink, Jade Jagger, Kate Moss and Fergie.

 

In Australia, Italy and New Zealand Mary-Kyri designs are stocked in prestigious boutiques such as Cactus Jam, Jean Brown, La Vetrina Di Beryl and Runway sitting alongside Stella McCartney, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Chloe.

 

To find out more visit www.mary-kyri.com.

It's that time again where we say thank you to everyone for all your comments on this here blog. And a special thanks to everyone who replied to the post WHO STOLE GRANDDAD'S PRESENT - it seems there are many people out there who have experienced things going missing in the post - and there really needs to be a clampdown on the few rogue posties out there who are giving the system a very bad name.

 

Eileen said: "I agree there are a few toerags out there who help themselves to the contents of the post, it has happened to me twice now and both times the Royal Mail has not been at all interested and more or less brushed my complaint under the carpet, no wonder they are having to close much needed post offices down and are being privatised."

 

While Cheesed-Off from Chichester added: "I buy a lot of things from Ebay and pay for recorded delivery which is money wasted when the postie doesn't bother to get me to sign for delivery.  I used to complain when things arrived damaged or unsigned-for and always got the same standard letter back saying they were terribly sorry and assuring me it wouldn't happen again. Now, every time I receive a parcel with a recorded delivery sticker on it which the postie hasn't bothered to get me to sign, I wait a few days, check the tracking number online, which always comes back as "untraceable" and then claim for the parcel.  They can't prove it's been delivered as they have no signature, so they have to pay up."

 

Hair straighteners became the other big issue of the month - and in particular, Remington's Wet2Straight hair straighteners, which cut out the middle man after the shower - that being the hairdryer.

 

"These straighteners are great!!!," commented one reader. "I have really frizzy thick kinda curlyish hair and they worked really well! Of course they work best with products such as heat protection sprays and stuff - and sometimes I need 'frizz serum' stuff as well, but still, they are amazing!!!"

 

But H had this sage advice for lovers of hair-straightening "The best way to use heated hair stylers is to use good quality shampoo, conditioner, serums, and thermal protection spray and most importantly DRY YOUR HAIR BEFORE STRAIGHTENING OR CURLING IT!"

 

It seems the jury's still out on the best way to straighten hair - and different types of hair may work better with different types of straighteners. Our best advice is to ask your hair dresser what kind of straightener would best suit your hair type as they are the experts!

 

Finally - thank you to everyone who replied to our Gorgeously grey eyes post. It's great to get advice from everyone on where we can find the little beauty products that can seem difficult to difficult to track down at first.

 

Bestest,

 

Nic x

 

Say it isn’t so…

Shock horror. Surely it can't be true! The death of the heel? But according to new research 95% of women questioned in the UK don’t wear heels and more than 3 in 5 do not know how to do their make-up! Is this end of femininity? Are the elegant days of Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe lost for ever?

Worryingly a further quarter of women admit to regularly leaving the house without brushing their teeth. Errrr dentist anyone? So has every lady turned to a ladette? Is elegance lost in the UK?

The research carried out by Bold 2in1 White Diamond & Lotus Flower suggests that women are blaming a lack of time and money, and a shocking third stating they ‘just can’t be bothered to try’. This may explain why a quarter of women do not remember the last time they felt elegant.

Despite this, 8 out of 10 women wish they could be more elegant in every day life. So in response, this summer the snappily titled Bold 2in1 White Diamond & Lotus Flower Elegance Boutique will be touring UK cities with a team of hair, make-up, wardrobe and perfume experts to help introduce a touch of elegance to women’s life and laundry.  For more information and advice, as well as the chance to win an exclusive limited edition ISSA wrap, visit www.indulgewithbold.com.

Loving high heels: Rachel Bilson

 

Is a question I’ve been asking myself since I posted an M&S card with £30 of vouchers on it to 82-year-old Bert.

You see, somewhere in between me posting granddad’s voucher card (which was inside an M&S card, inside a birthday card) and it reaching granddad’s mitts, SOMEONE decided to open the envelope, remove said vouchers, reseal the envelope and send it on.

Now this is not the first time this has happened to me – or undoubtedly anyone else. And it won’t be the last. Only last month I posted a parcel to my friend who is having a tough time working under lockdown conditions at the British Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was a simple parcel of fashion mags, books and a whopping great big bar of chocolate. It’s free to send stuff to British Embassies because of the great work people are doing out there in them. So, you wouldn’t normally send something registered delivery. But did it get there? Did it hell.

A few years ago my too-trusting Dad put some money in a birthday card for me and sent it via post. Of course it never arrived. And nowadays nobody would dream of doing such a thing. But the thing is, when I was little, I used to get sent fivers and tenners in the mail from my aunts and uncles for all my birthdays up until I was about fifteen. So why can’t we do it now?

The thing that really got me about Granddad’s present though, was that it said ‘Granddad’ on the card. And that someone dared to help themselves to a present that belonged to an elderly man. That stung.

Anyway, the point of this rant is this: I wrote to the postal service and they said that because Royal Mail has all been privatised etc, they can’t do anything about it. Instead we all have to pay through the nose for special delivery to stop people pilfering presents out of our letters or parcels. (And for the record, I know that 99.9 per cent of the people that deliver our post are wonderful honest and good people, it's just that a few scumbags are really badly letting the side down.)

But on mum’s advice, I also wrote to M&S, enclosing a receipt for said vouchers. Now it’s not M&S’s fault that someone stole them, but gawd bless that store, their people looked into the matter, saw that the vouchers hadn’t yet been used, cancelled them and sent me a replacement (recorded delivery, natch). Now how nice is that? What customer service! I was already a big fan of M&S (partly owing to the fact that our office is situated right over one) and always go there for lunch food. But I am so impressed, I’m going to make a concerted effort to think of them more when I need clothes/flowers/anything they sell. So thank you M&S. You are my new favourite store.

 

 

Toni & Guy’s label.m shampoo has been a favourite of mine for about four years. Ever since Catherine (my favourite colourist who has a magic way with highlights) recommended it to me, I’ve bought it as a special treat when my hair has been looking a bit lacklustre. (I use the Cleanse and Repair formula, which is great for anyone who has a partial addiction to hair straighteners, by the way.)

Now, since organic is becoming the way forward in the beauty industry, label.m has just launched its first ever certified organic range: label.m Organic. Featuring a moisturising lemongrass shampoo and conditioner which both smell deliciously citrus, this pair are also both free from artificial fragrances, sulphates, pigments, parabens and harsh surfactants such as SLS.

The shampoo costs £12.25 for 300ml and contains quince, oats and rice milk powder to deliver hydrating moisture, while soothing the scalp without surface build-up. The conditioner costs £16.75 and contains shea butter, rice bran and petigrain leaf oils to target dry/damaged areas.

Packaged in 100 per cent recyclable plastic, the range comes in minimally styled, neutral-toned, flip lid bottles and is available at all Toni & Guy and essensuals salons, or call 0870 770 8080 for stockists.