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Check out my top picks from 'My Beauty Emporium', an exciting new online beauty magazine packed full of beauty trends and tips. What's more you can also select favourites from a gorgeous selection of hand picked natural brands sourced from around the world and have them delivered to directly to your front door! 

To receive a 20% discount off everything exclusively with Beauty Preen. Simply enter BeautyPreen on checking out at: http://www.mybeautyemporium.com Valid until the 11th of April

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The New Chelsea Day Spa

A brand new sister spa to the hugely popular The Chelsea Day Spa on King’s Road has just opened its doors in Fulham.  Lucky enough to be invited to the opening celebrations, I went to check it out last night with my good friend speakingbeauty. It was a fun filled evening of pampering and bubbles, where we were both treated to a fabulous Jessica manicures and a very precise brow threading. 

This new Day Spa/Blow Dry Bar, is immaculately designed with a fresh elegant feel.  It features two nail stations offering wonderful Jessica manicures, a luxurious cushioned pedicure bench with retro butler sinks and its very first Chelsea Blow Dry Bar, that has a unique signature express treatment called The Chelsea Day Blow Dry that only costs £15 (additional £5 for long hair). No cutting, or colouring, just wash, blow and go! 

Downstairs there a two treatment rooms where you can treat yourself to a host of pampering treats, that include prescriptive Darphin, HydroPeptide and TWELVE facials, plus personalised Aromatherapy, Swedish, Hot Stone and Deep Tissue massages.

I Iove that you can help yourself to a choice of light refreshments in the spa’s self-serve café area, it makes you feel straight at home. Living just down the road its such a treat to now have somewhere I can easily pop into to have a quick and reasonably priced beauty fix before a night out.

www.thechelseadayspa.co.uk

Platine Précieux Preview

Last week, the most beautifully fresh looking pearl-like metallic silver/grey eyeshadow was unveiled at the CHANEL Spring/Summer Ready to Wear 2013 Paris Fashion Week Show. It is called ILLUSION d'OMBRE Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Platine Précieux  and is exclusive to the  "Souffle de Liberté" collection, which will be available in March 2013. Here's a sneak preview from backstage. I for one can't wait to get my hands on it! 

Instant Vitamin Boost

Nothing plays more havoc with the skin than the changing seasons, especially going into winter with the heating back into full swing. 

A few months ago I had a Kirstin Florian Facial at the Dorchester,  it was super cleansing and gave my skin and amazing hydration boost, that left it looking plump and healthy for weeks. Keen to keep up the routine I left with a cheeky purchase of the Rejuvenating Spirulina Masque (£47). Now that my skin is in desperate need of a vitamin boost, this mask is working wonders. Suitable for all skin types, it looks quite unusual,  a very dark green thick paste that smells rather sea like, something I would definitely recommend that you apply in the privacy of your bathroom or at Halloween... However packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins and Chlorophyll with a key ingredient of Blue-Green Spirulina Algae, it gives an instant nutrient boost to dull looking skin. What I love about it over clay based masks, is that it doesn't dry into a cakey paste making your face feel tight, it stays lovely and moist, leaving your skin, soft, soothed, hydrated and cleansed. 

Key Ingredients of: 

Spirulina Algae Contains 63% protein, 8% minerals and a full spectrum of vitamins including A,C & E to nourish and rejuvenate the skin and Pacific Rim deep cleansing Clay to Refine the appearance of pores with Rosemary Leaf Extract to  stimulate circulation and promote an even skin tone.

Available at www.kerstinflorian.co.uk

High scents meet high street

I am very excited to hear that one of my favourite British perfumers Miller Harris have just launched their first ever collaboration. A bespoke range of male and female fragrances concocted by the one and only Lyn Harris have been unveiled at M&S beauty counters throughout the country this week.

Lyn Harris leading British perfumer and founder of renowned perfume house Miller Harris,  has developed a brand new range of 3 male and 3 female fragrances. Lyn Harris' signature style is defined by her love of naturals and her precision use of them in all her creations. This range is crafted from the finest blend of raw natural ingredients for the highest quality, to ensure that each scent evokes its true British heritage. With Miller Harris perfumes ranging from £62 for 50ml, the collection gives you the same authenticity and timeless scent at a snip of the price, as at M&S they retail at just £25 each!  

“This project is something that I passionately believe in; to deliver unique fragrances that not only smell good but have true authenticity - Marks and Spencer is part of all of our heritage and being brought up in Yorkshire, it was a little piece of luxury and so, for me. I have always wanted to touch more people with my creations so, working with Marks & Spencer gives me this pleasure and opportunity. After my extensive training in France with some of the greatest masters in perfumery, I feel as though it is my duty to share my expertise with the great British public by creating inspiring and quality fragrances.” Lyn Harris 

For Her:

La Rose, La Fleur and my definite favourite La Poudrée -  A oriental classic scent made with an exquisite blend of fruity notes that include raspberry and peach nectar as well as floral notes such as soft rose, orange flower, iris, vanilla and musk. 

For Him:

Le Noir, Le Sauvage  and my top pick for him Le Cologne - A Fresh and vibrant citrus fragrance with Bergamot from Sicily, lemon, orange from Seville, French rosemary and thyme on a base of vetiver and amber. 

 Available at Marks & Spencer - £25 for 50ml 

Shades of Autumn

Loving the look of Jessica's new A/W collection 'Sweet & Spicy'. A decadently rich and sumptuous collection that takes inspiration from the beauty of Eastern spice markets. Earthy tones and sparkling shades deliver a versatile palette of which each colour can be worn alone, or combined for a striking layered effect. I am lusting after Cinnamon Kiss (£9.75) the beautiful deep crimson red with   shimmering particles and can't wait to try it! 

A collection to die for...

Yesterday I popped into the Dorchester Spa for some girlie evening pampering with a friend, I had a rather wonderful Kerstin Florian facial, more on that to come. I just wanted to quickly share the lavish Essie polish collection they have on display by the nail bar. Looking rather like an art installation, this jaw dropping collection consists of 1,760 bottles available in every colour possible, an astounding choice. How hard it must be to choose....  

 The Dorchester Spa, The Dorchester, Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA/020-7319 7109

www.thedorchester.com/dorchester-spa

A First for Chanel - The London Pop Up Store

Yay, I have finally managed to pop into Chanel's new beauty pop up shop in Covent Garden. Open until Christmas this gorgeous boutique is the first of its kind and entirely dedicated to the world of Chanel. The beautifully designed interior exquisitely showcases Chanel's signature scents, skincare, colour cosmetics and an amazing array of nail colours, that include cult classics, limited editions and latest launches concocted by the one and only Peter Philips. With an exclusive preview to London's first Chanel Nail bar for just £20 (redeemable against any purchase) one can try all the latest nail colours on the spot. There are also makeover stations with expert Chanel make up artists and for an instant quick fix, make-up vending machines will be arriving this autumn.

"In order to be irreplaceable one must be different" Mademoiselle Chanel

The gorgeous new Distraction, a light red toned corral infused with small shimmering fuchsia particles that glimmer in sunlight, a summer must and already on my fingers... 

This boutique is perfect place to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon with a girlfriend, whilst indulging in all Chanel has to offer. My nail collection is definitely looking healthier and its rumoured theres still more  to come, a  Chanel treasure hunt around London! I have yet to find out more... 

www.chanelcoventgarden.com

Going for gold

Debuting golden nails, British Olympic gymnast Lynne Hutchinson recently tweeted a photo of her rather dazzling Union Jack nails courtesy of NAIL ROCK.

These fab new nail wraps are the perfect way to quickly glam up your nails and embrace the spirit of things. They are said to last up to 7 days on nails and 8 weeks on the toes. Each at home nail wrapping treatment takes approximately 15 minutes to apply with no drying time required. Go Team GB!

 £6.95 a pack available at http://www.nailrock.com

La creme de la creme

On turning 30, I have recently treated myself to perhaps the most extravagant product I have ever purchased, however it has definitely been worth it... 

Through hearing endless praises on Sisley's Intensive Night Cream it is something I have been wanting to try for a while. This iconic regenerating cream is designed to preserve the skin's suppleness, softness and firmness, prevent the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles and restore a fresh youthful-looking glow. I have to say it seems to be true to all of the above, I have been using this night cream for over a month now and when ever I apply it before going to bed I wake up with a glowing, hydrated complexion with fine lines looking a lot less prominent, I have also noticed that if I forget to use if for a few days such as weekend away, my skin loses its glow and suppleness, so it is definitely something you need to use every night for full effect. 

Formulated with botanical extracts  specifically selected for their potent softening, regenerating and strengthening benefits the Intesive Night Cream works on all skin types with key active ingredients that include:  

• Aloe Vera:moisturizes - encourages healing
• Calendula - softens
• Chamomile - decongests and calms
• Sea Rocket - fights dandruffs and oiliness
• Ginseng - revitalizes and regenerates
• Lily (white) - moisturizes and softens
• St John's Wort (Hypericum) -  protects
• Tomato - stimulates and revitalizes

Directions for Use:

Apply at night to thoroughly cleansed skin.

Top tip:  
On purchasing my treat at Harrods I was told that if I purchased two Sisley products I would receive a complimentary Sisley facial, so I brought my husband his favourite men's cream (surprisingly he started using Sisley before me!) and got myself a sumptuous full hour facial!  You have to have the facial on the same day as the purchase, but is was definitely a must. I left Harrods relaxed and glowing and put off further shopping for the day...  

£192 available at: http://www.harrods.com

Pure Opulence - Chanel's New Bombay Express

To accompany Karl Lagerfeld's stunning Paris-Bombay mash-up show back in December, Chanel have recently launched an exotic, gorgeously opulent metallic make up collection called Bombay Express. Designed by Peter Philips, this Limited Edition range conjures up 'a specific vision of India', incorporating the lavishness of 'princesses', 'jasmine' and opulent 'Maharajas' 

The sumptuous New nail polish called Diwali (£18) instantly caught my eye, a gorgeous pale vintage gold/silver that's named after the traditional Indian festival of lights. Easy and quick to apply this streakless shimmering metallic colour, glimmers in gold or silver depending on the angle your fingers capture the light. Such a beautifully clean colour that goes with any complexion, as unlike some more yellow toned golds such as last years Peridot, it isn't too rich for pale skin tones. Diwali is most certainly a must this summer to brighten up your day and has just worked its magic on my slightly scathed post flower arranging fingers.

The Limited Edition Bombay Express collection is available exclusively in Chanel boutiques, Harrods and Selfridges 

Flower Preen

I have taken a little break from my current job to have a dab at floristry design, something I have always dreamt of learning. So for the next 2 weeks I will be preening away at flowers. 

Here's a sneak peak of what I've been up to today!  Not to worry Beauty is still very much on the agenda... 

Hand Tied

Oasis

When in Cambodia - Spa Number Two

On the last lap of our trip in Asia, we indulged ourselves in ultimate luxury at the gorgeous Song Saa private island. One of the first boutique resorts of its kind in Cambodia, this magnificent island is set in the beautiful sapphire waters just off the Gulf of Thailand. Surrounded by untouched islands with virgin rainforests, tropical reefs and glistening white beaches. This island truly is an unspoilt paradise, with a focus on conservation and luxury, it is somewhere you can unwind and indulge in peace, beauty and calm. The perfect end to a fantastic honeymoon. 

The Song Sa Sanctuary Spa is currently located in a hillside villa with view accross the ocean and green surrounds. In the near future there are plans to re-locate the spa within the rainforest canopy of the adjoining private island, creating treetop treatment rooms. 

On arrival at the island one is offered a reviving foot massage. At the spa you are greeted with a friendly welcome and given an incense stick to reflectively place next to a Buddha for a moment of calm. The Song Sa Sanctuary is based on the principals of stillness, healing and blessings, aiming to provide a sacred space for rejuvenation, embrassing the Buddist tradition of 'Metta Bhavana' - loving kindness.  

Later in the week I indulged in an Ananda Facial 60mins, using gorgeous all natural Ila products. This massage focused facial uses techniques derived from the Shaman women in Mexico, who work on marma points to open energy centres of the face, releasing a blissful flow of energy throughout the body. I have never had such a relaxing facial, the muscles of my face felt jawdroppingly chilled, in fact after this treatment, I had to take a little nap before dinner . I loved the fact that while the mask was applied your feet, legs, hands arms and neck are massaged giving your whole body a thorough pampering. 

http://songsaa.com

When in Cambodia

On the honeymoon we came across two fabulous spa's in Cambodia, here are my experiences at the first.

While visiting the Angkor Wat temples we stayed at the amazingly calm and luxurious Heritage Suites hotel, tucked away in a courtyard of greenery removed from the bustle of busy Siem Reap. Nothing was more tempting after a long day trekking around the temples in 40 degree heat than a much needed top to toe 3 hour pampering session at its Bodia spa. 

This wonderful Relaxation 3 hour package included:

15min Steam
75min Bodia Classica Aromatherapy Massage
30min Salt Scrub

45min Vitamin Facial  

15min Hydrating and nourishing body treatment

Possibly one of my favourite spa packages experienced to date, as the whole sensory treatment was so tranquil and relaxing, not once did it feel rushed, in fact it felt longer than 3 hours. The massage pressure was adjusted to perfection, as was the room temperature, atmosphere with lit candles and the  beautiful scents, I actually fell asleep at points, which never usually happens to me. My skin felt amazingly soft and nourished and all aches and pains from travelling where eliminated.  The products used for this treatment are all organic and locally sourced ingredients, for example the Vitamin Facial uniquely included natural yogurt and freshly crushed mango. Walking into the spa you enter a courtyard full of green plants and water features, which instantly transport you into a sense of calm. To top it all off the value for this treatment was astounding, at a mear 105USD for 3 hours in heaven. 

http://www.bodia-spa.com

Royal Red

In celebration of the Jubilee, my nails are currently adorned in Jessica's Royal Red.  This sumptuously rich, glossy red,  is a must for gorgeously regal nails. 

Jessica's Royal Red £9.99 @ http://www.johnlewis.com

British Bling

What could be more suiting for this Jubilee weekend than celebratory patriotic nails. Essie have the perfect combo and whats more you can get them at a discount price through the 'Best of British' sale at Cocosa. 

Aruba Blue, a luscious Safire blue -  Blanc, a creamy white -  First Dance, a dramatic rich red

£7 @: www.cocosa.com/Beauty/

Iconic Radiance Booster - Celebrating 10 Years

I am a massive fan of the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel and use it once a week to exfoliate and smooth my skin. In this current heat wave it works amazingly well to unclog pores and instantly refresh the skin.

Finding normal grainy exfoliators too abrasive, I switched to the Papaya Enzyme Peel a few years ago and love the way it leaves my skin super smooth, moisturzed and glowing. Using a natural fruit enzyme extracted from Papaya and Pineapple sourced in Africa, the enzymes work instantly gently dissolving superficial dead skin cells at the same time as giving the skin a much needed moisture boost with its blend of natural milk proteins.  On application, simply smooth over cleansed skin and leave for 10-12 minutes then remove with a damp cloth, there's no rubbing required making so it is excellent  for sensitive skins. This peel is also fab for a quick  radiance boost before a night out.


Celebrating its 10th year anniversary British brand Elemis have created this pretty summery limited edition of the Papaya Enzyme Peel launching in-stores on the 1st of June. Designed by Laura Oaks a british designer widely recognised for her unique 'digital decoupage' featuring layers of vintage and hand drawn imagery, while also using her own photography. 

Working alongside the charity SOCO for every product sold Elemis will provide a 5-in-1 a vaccination to immunise a child in Africa against 5 leading diseases with and hope to donate 50,000 vaccines.

£28 available from the 1st of June @: www.timespa.co.uk

Beau - Nails on the go

After many colour investigations I  finally decided to go for gel nails on the wedding day, again it was hard finding the right colour, wanting a soft natural pink tone, I tried quite a few brands only to find  most colours far too yellow, white or pink. 

Someone recommended Beau by CND Shellac,  which was instantly a hit, a perfectly balanced soft  natural pink, with a promise of 14 day wear, mirror finish, zero dry time and no nail damage.  I have to say it lived up to most claims. I love the fact it dried then and there under the UV lights, no mess, fuss or worrying of smudging.  

The finish was supper smooth, glossy with a shiny fresh look, that would usually die within a day or two with normal polishes, but in this case lasted over 2 weeks. Towards the end of the second week and due to fast growing nails it was definitely time for removal, however being on the honeymoon in Cambodia with no acetone remover in sight, I was rather naughty and peeled them off, a big no no as this strips the surface of the nails leaving them slightly brittle and dry, however after a good dose of the nourishing Jessica Phenomen Oil, my nails are back to normal. I would definitely try Shellac again it is ideal for a fantastic finish when on this go.

The colour was a lovely soft subtle pink with tiny glistening particles that reflected the light beautifully. 

Beau week one: 

Beau towards the end of week two:

Applied @ Glo Beauty in Fulham glospraytanningandbeauty.com £30

Beauty & nature at the Chelsea Flower Show 2012

Check out the beautiful the L’Occitane Immortelle Garden, awarded a prestigious Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week.

This garden is designed by Peter Dowle, who has brought together key plant species inspired by the breathtaking Corsican landscape, so naturally put together it looks like it's been at home in Chelsea for years. Immortelle grows wildly along the Mediterranean coast and is the main inspiration for this organic design, which also features further plant species that grow naturally in Corsica such as myrtle, lavender, daises and verbena, all key ingredients in L’Occitane’s beauty products. 

L’Occitane’s award winning Immortelle skincare range is sourced from organic fields in Corsica and has been said to possess key anti-aging properties. The remarkable plant has an exceptional longevity and its shape and colour never fade, even when it has been picked. In 2004, L’Occitane launched their very first large-scale organic Immortelle plantations in Corsica and thanks to the partnerships established with local Immortelle growers and distillers, 44 hectares have now been successfully cultivated.