My Cut and Blow with Alison Roberts

On Wednesday I was invited down to Andrew Collinge for a complimentary cut and blow by Supreme Stylist Alison Roberts. Alison has been shortlisted for The British Hairdressing Awards -North Western Division (which I've been told are like the Oscars of the Hairdressing World). Whilst Alison was doing my hair I had a lovely chat with her and found out that she's a pretty amazing woman!

I walked into the Andrew Collinge in Castle Street in Liverpool on Wednesday at about 12.20 when I knew my appointment wasn't until 1pm but I was so excited. When I got in the receptionist showed me to a lovely comfortable seat to wait in until my appointment and offered a drink while I waited. Obviously I opted for a lovely cup of tea (which was spot on). While I sat with my cuppa I had a little nosey around and seen all the awards the salon had won and they were proudly on display around all their products they have on offer to purchase. Talking about their products, they have tonnes of TIGI products which I love loads! They aren't expensive either, a guy came in and bought a large barrel curling wand and it was only £35 which is great value. The salon itself is lovely, modern and bright, it just felt fresh and new.

 

Please excuse the poor pics with my fingers in the way!

When I met Alison she asked me what I wanted and I said I only wanted a trim but everything else was up to her. She decided on a long defined side fringe and layers in the front to frame my face. I was really happy with that and thought it would look fantastic. She sent me to be washed and conditioned and that was really where the experience starts. She asked the shampoo lad to use a number 2 on my hair which in my memory of TIGI is usually Recovery for Dry/Damaged hair. The guy was like magic, he gave me a head massage and I have never felt so relaxed in my life. 

Onto Alison herself, whilst she snipped at my hair I really wanted to find out more about her. I found so much stuff out. She's pretty much worked in two of the hairstyling capitals of the world London and New York. She lived in New York for 22 years and worked in a few salons during her time there. She said she loves Liverpool because this is where her partner is from and even though he is still back and forth from New York she loves working for Andrew Collinge (who she says is a pretty nice guy) in Liverpool. I also wanted to know what her favourite hair care products were and she says she loves TIGI Hair Reborn, MorrocanOil Light and she loves using Mason Pearson Brushes to which she refers to them as the Rolls Royce of Hairbrushes. 

I asked her about how she felt about being shortlisted for the award and what her portfolio was like that she sent in to be judged. She said she was really happy about being shortlisted and spoke to me about the prestige these awards have behind them. She said her portfolio was a mix of very geometrical styles and bold colours, which I think is amazing. I think she will really stand out from the crowd with those types of styles. I said to her that if you really love what you do then it reflects on the outcomes. I do wish her all the best of luck with the Awards on the 24th November.

Now to my final look, after all the amazing treatment I had at the Andrew Collinge Salon, I left feeling like a superstar with my perfectly trimmed and blown locks which just felt amazing. I don't think I've ever been so happy after a cut and blow in my life. Alison made me feel and look amazing and really put a spring in my step. Even the people in work noticed a big smile on my face because of my hair. 

The British Hairdressing Awards which are Sponsored by Schwarzkopf and will be held in the Grosvenor Hotel in London on 24th November 2014. I'm wishing Alison good luck at the awards and hopefully she will bring home a lovely new addition to the salon. 

Thanks for reading and for more of the latest news and reviews from the Beauty Hot Squad please follow us on Blog Lovin' 

Glossy Box August.

This month Glossybox celebrated there 3RD birthday, Which is absolutely baffeling I still rememeber everyone and there dog raving about there first ever box containing a full sized Nars product!

I haven't been a full on subscriber and have only ever gotten a few boxes (Mainly Limited edition ones) But I sighned up last month for the 4th of July box and thought i'd keep subscribed for a few months to test out the waters!

So lets see whats inside the box!

Figs & Rouge mini hand cream 

This colourful little tube caught my eye instantly it really is eye catching, The scent is Mango Mandarin and it really does smell beautiful. I own loads of hand creams but never have one on me when I need one so this handy little tube has gone to live in my handbag already!

Sample 20ml size worth £1.73 (Full size £6.95)

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer  

Now this isn't really a product that has ever really interested me, This is a pre shampoo treatment that you leave on for 20 minutes then wash of and wash your hair as usual. It is meant to boost elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine. I'm happy to give this a try as it really isn't a product I would ever buy.

40ml sample worth £6.08 (Full size £38!)

Yves Rocher Nail polish in Rose.

This teeny tiny nail polish is actually a full size! I don't get to wear nail polish very often because of work but seen as I have a bit of time off I can't wait to paint my nails with this, Upon swatch the colour is very true to the colour in the bottle and really packs a punch in pigment instead of really sheer as I imagined! 

Full size product worth £3.60

Lamour Lalique L'amour 

Ugh perfume samples! But seen as though there is 6 products this month I'll let this one slide, It smells ok.. not really my cup of tea as it is a very mature scent where as I love sweet fruity scents. But I'll use the little sample up.

Sample worth £2.68 (Full size £68)

Essence Long lasting lipstick

I got the nude shade in my box, I have seen this brand in Wilkinson's but never gave them a second thought this lipstick is pigmented but glossy, and gives a nice subtle wash of colour. Its simple and cute packaging I also really like.

Full size a bargain £2.29!

Kryolan highlighter Cashmere (Glossy box exclusive)

My last and final product is my favourite of the lot, This creamy highlighter is absolutely stunning it glides on the skin effortlessly and gives the most subtle stunning highlight, Multi purpose that can be used on eyes cheeks and lips. The price of this box is worth it alone for this product. 

Fullsize £12.95

So there we have it my August Glossy box totalling to £34.55 which is a fair amount and I'm happy with the box I'm still unsure with this box.. A £2.29 lipstick compared to a £20 full size cleanser but I suppose that's the fun of these boxes you never know!

What do you think of Glossybox are you a fan of subscription boxes ? 

Nicola x 

Health Conscious Beauty- Nailberry

Recently, I was very kindly sent these two beautiful Nailberry nail polishes to have a play with. Nailberry was founded by Sonia Hully following the success of her Knightsbridge nail salon. Sonia noticed that theere was a huge gap in the market for a health-conscious nail brand. Nailberry prides itself on its guarantee never to test on animals and its "4-free formula"- free from formaldehyde, camphor, tolulene and phthalate (DBP). In essence its a healthy beauty product. I'm one of those people who will buy anything if it promises to be healthy. Wheatgrass shots may be the most disgusting tasting drink known to man but if it's going to help my health i'm all ears! It makes sense to take this mantra over to my beauty products and i've recently started looking at brands using much more natural ingredients.

Unlike wheatgrass, Nailberry polishes come in the most beautiful colours. I opened up my little parcel like a child on Christmas morning and was greeted with the gorgeous "Young and Fabulous" and "Nut cracker". They're perfect for the transition from summer into autumn and are perfect for me as I tend to stick to neutrals or rich berry shades in the winter. I've had a mooch around the website and they really do have some gorgeous shades! I have my eye on "Mystere" and "Noir Berry" for my next additions.

On to the polishes! I found that I needed two coats for Nutcracker and although two were okay for Young and Fabulous I preferred using three for the full opacity. As I expected with a salon brand, the polish didn't chip as quickly as my drug store nail varnishes and probably would have lasted the full week I tested each one out on anyone else but me! A few people actually asked me if I'd had my nails done at a salon which was a lovely compliment. 

"Nut cracker".

"Young and Fabulous"

The polishes are a little pricey at £13.50 a pop but I do think the quality speaks for itself. If you happen to be around Knightsbridge, prices are between £12 for a mini manicure and £55 for a Nailbery Mani and Pedi. 

What do you think about Health Conscious beauty brands? Should we be seeing more of them? Who are your favourites?

Kate A x

Racinne Skincare

For the past few weeks I've been trying out some new skincare from the brand Racinne.

"Racinne is a company that seeks to help people feel beautiful in their own skin, no matter their appearance, age, or level of affluence. This purpose is derived from our conviction that feeling beautiful is never just about how one looks. More importantly, it is a matter of how one sees him- or herself in relationship with the world. With these principles at its heart, Racinne offers products and services aimed at helping our customers discover, foster, and celebrate their love for their own skin"

After doing a bit of research into the company I was eager to put these to the test. The two products I was sent to try out are from the 'Ultimate Hydra Perfection' range

First up is the 'Essentialift Supplement Serum' - I love a good serum and it's one of my favourite steps in my skincare routine. This serum is lovely and made my skin instantly feel smoother and look more radiant. However, my one seems to have a dodgy pipette on the top making it really difficult to get the product out. You can even see in the picture above it doesn't fill to the top and when I squeeze it again the product doesn't come out. So instead I have to turn the bottle upside down and tip it into my hand which isn't ideal and means I have no control over the amount of product I get out.

That being said I really do love the serum - it is suitable for all skin types and can be used day or night. I personally prefer using it in the morning as it gives my skin a lovely glow and leaves my skin well nourished for the day ahead.

After the serum I apply the 'Ultimate Defense Illuminating Cream'. The texture of this is really difficult to explain, its a very rich and thick cream but it feels really light on the skin and it sinks in instantly. It is incredibly smooth, has a very subtle 'spa like' scent and it is the perfect base for make-up. I don't use a primer when I use this moisturiser as there is simply no need for it. 

This cream also claims to 'activate the skin's natural regeneration of collagen, reduces fine lines and dark spots' which can never be a bad thing if you ask me! Again like the serum it gives a lovely radiant glow which I absolutely love and I've been really enjoying using this in the mornings. This also states that it should be used 'twice daily' however I only use it as day cream just for personal preference, I like to have separate daytime and nighttime skincare routines. 

Overall I really do love these products, they work really well together and are perfect if your skin is in need of a radiance boost! My only issue was the pipette on the serum but I'm sure that's just my bad luck and I got a dodgy one. 

You can view the full range of Racinne products here

What do you think of Racinne?? Let me know in the comments below...

Linda x

LDN: SKINS Gradual Fake Tan Review.

Hi beauties. If you’ve followed the blog for a while, you’ll know one of my biggest passions is fake tan. It’s possible I’ve tried all of the, what I would call, ‘well known’ brands, so when the opportunity arises to try out a brand I’ve not heard of, I jump at it!

I was very kindly sent the LDN : SKINS Gradual self tan lotion, in tone 2; medium, a self tan which offers me a golden yet natural looking tan, which is infused with organic benefits. Also included was the most amazing tanning mitt.....!

The packaging is quite simple, yet looks expensive and luxurious.

The lotion itself is an almost caramel coloured, thick lotion which smells absolutely divine, subtle hints of lavender and not in the slightest fake tan smelling at all, infact if I didn’t know different, I’d have thought it was a lavender scented moisturiser! The list of organic ingredients infused into this tan is absolutely immense...

Aloe Vera - A succulent moisturiser & natural healer. 

Avocado Oil - A rich source of Vitamin A & E, softens, moisturises & nourishes skin. 
Seaweed - Packed with vitamins & minerals to nourish & protect skin. 
Melon - Contains sugars, minerals & vitamins for intense skin conditioning. 
Orange Flower Oil - An excellent skin tonic - detoxifies & conditions skin. 
Grapefruit Peel - Stimulates circulation, tones & rejuvenates skin for a more youthful appearance. 
English Lavender - Promotes healthy, refreshed & flawless skin.

So, the application of tan. 

The tan, as mentioned comes with a tanning mitt. A VELVET tanning mitt. And let me tell you, it is amazing. My palms are kept safe from being dyed as it is waterproof, but to apply the tan with this mitt is heaven. It is the softest, smoothest, most luxurious mitt i’ve had the pleasure of using...and i’ve used a fair few. 

The lotion claims to provide a colour guide. This for me was probably the only dissapointing feature, as it DOESN'T have a colour guide at all. It is completely transparent when spread onto the skin. For this reason, I would be inclined to say that this particular self tan would be better suited to girls (and guys!) who have experience in self tanning and are comfortable in using a gradual tan lotion. Luckily, I'm used to self tanning so was positive I could provide myself an even tan without missing any areas!
The tan is left to develop over a period of 8 hours, I tanned around an hour before bedtime and left it overnight. 

Upon waking, I was pleasantly surprised with the results. It wasn't as deep as I'd usually go for, however I was a very natural looking, golden brown, which if you'll remember, is what the brand claims to give! It is very buildable and can provide a lovely dark tan, if you're patient enough to layer the tan over a few days for required results!

This photo was taken a week or so later where I tanned one arm, one layer, and left overnight for comparison purposes....I tanned the second arm not long after!

The biggest positive for me - does anyone else suffer with 'spotty legs' after shaving and then tanning, in which the tan seeps into open pores leaving your legs looking dotty?! My biggest pet peeve with fake tans! This one, DOES NOT do that! Hallelujah! 
I also noticed that the infused ingredients had helped soften my skin massively; a small patch of dry skin I suffer with on my arm had completely vanished! 

The only let down for me was the lack of colour guide, otherwise this tan is fantastic if you're looking for a natural tan suitable for daytime wear without being over the top and overly fake, with the option to build into a deeper, darker looking tan. 

LDN:SKINS Tan is available to buy here, ranging from £22 to £28 and is available in a lotion or mousse, instant and gradual! It is also available in salons, and may be available to purchase near you! You can check for local stockists here.

Have you tried this paticular brand before? Interested in trying it? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

xxx