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.

Bridal Hair - up or down

Freshly back from the honeymoon and I can't help counting down the days for the official wedding photos to arrive...  Once landed a little black book of ideas will be revealed.

My amazing hair stylist/make up artist Ellie Tobin popped by for 3 hair trials before the big day.  I couldn't decide between hair up, a stunning vintage 1930's sweeping chignon, or down, a soft loose more ethereal style, which personally felt was more me and suited the low back dress. 

Here is a peak, decision to be revealed...  

                          UP

                

DOWN

Thank you Ellie for being so creative and patient, I absolutely loved my hair, which held in one place day and night and the make up was just perfect! 

xx

http://www.elliemakeup.com

Off on the honeymoon!

Untitled, a photo by Mr and Mrs Harper on Flickr.

A Nailicious Milkshake Pastel

While on the search for the ideal bridal nail colour I came across Tendresse, a gorgeous soft pink pastel by Chanel, unfortunately it is slightly too pink for my wedding day, but perfect to glam up any spring summer outfit.

Originally form the Aquarelles collection, this super glossy ultra feminine sheer strawberry milkshake pink, applies ever so smoothly, with no streaks in sight, giving a pristine rich polish without the pallid, creamy/white tones or transparency most other pink pastels leave behind.

£17.50 each  

www.chanel.com

Happy Easter!

Hand made white chocolate eggs at the lovely Borgo Egnazia Puglia Italy.

Scents and Sensibility

Firstly apologies for my lack of recent posts, I have been snowed down with never ending wedding prep. Everything now seems to be in place and looking in decent order, so I am just about to embark on a well deserved Easter break, no excuse for a quick post and plenty more beauty/bridal tips to come post the event. 

My fiancé is not at all keen on my current scent Jo Malone’s Pomegranate,  so the last few weeks have seen me on a mission to find a beautiful wedding scent that we both love. This  has taken me on a sensuous journey through an array of delightful scents by Acqua Di Parma, Diptyque, Vera Wang, Miller Harris, Penhaligons, and Guerlain to name just a few... 

While on the hunt I came across Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain for him, a gorgeous medley of 
sparkling blackcurrant, green fig 
leaves, fresh rose pepper and citrus, 
Egyptian geranium and tuberose, combined with warm woods and a touch 
of eucalyptus. Simply Divine! (£60/£85)

I finally discovered my perfect scent in Annick Goutal’s Ninfeo Mio Eau De Toilette (£60/£79), a beautifully crisp, woody and sensual scent inspired by Ninfeo gardens in Rome.

Launched in 2010 this vivacious scent opens with the breathtaking vapor of Italian lemon, followed by the zest of fresh bitter orange tree combined with the essence of petitgrain. Gradually, the scent begins to unfurl into the aromatic undertone of an Italian garden, in which conifers thrive alongside lavender. The soothing warmth and soft fig leaf is brought to your nose by a cool breeze and a woody accord of  lemon tree captures the freshness of the citrus fruit in a downy cocoon.
 Fresh but with a warm depth, this is definitely an elegant boudoir classic for that special occasion, I can't wait to wear it!

Top notes: Italian lemon, Italian citron, petitgrain, bitter orange and galbanum. 


Heart notes: Lentisque absolute, fig and lemon tree.
 

Base notes: Woody accords.

Facial Extravagance with EVE LOM

The other week I was lucky enough to try the gorgeously luxurious Eve Lom Signature Facial.  A facial like no other that uses contrasting temperatures of hot and cold alongside a unique massage technique to thoroughly cleanse, tone and awaken the skin. 

Starting with the iconic Cleanser, the facialist begins with a thorough cleanse. The warm slightly grainy cleanser is smoothly applied to the skin in soothing circular motions, it is then removed initially with a warm cloth followed by a cool one for final removal.  The next step is the application of a warm paraffin hot-wax mask, this is the most surreal sensation. Your face is enveloped in layer after layer of soft warm thick wax, creating a comforting cocoon of warmth surrounding your face. The heat of the wax opens pores and deeply softens the skin. It felt so amazing,  that I had to ask my therapist to take a photo of my face, so I could see what it looked like, which is not as exciting as it felt, all I could see was a thick white film on my face. This wax truly gives the most unique comforting sensation. Following removal of the mask, a gentle extraction takes place to renew the skin’s surface and unblock pores.   

The next step is a half hour of lymphatic drainage to clear blocked lymph channels and to encourage decongestion, with a heavenly acupressure massage to the upper body to clear away tension. Following this, Eve Lom’s camphor based Rescue Mask is applied and removed with a hot, chamomile soaked muslin cloth, gently exfoliating the skin and removing dead skin cells. The final step, an ice-cold compress, is applied to refresh and revitalise the skin.   

My face was left feeling ultra relaxed with silky smooth soft skin that looked radiant and felt fully cleansed. There was no sign of the earlier extractions, which is always a good sign. In short, this luxurious facial gives instant radiance that lasts whilst de-stressing the face and mind at the same time. Two weeks on and my skin is still revealing the benefits even post my hen weekend!  
Eve Lom Signature Facial from £115 (90 mins) http://www.evelom.com

Sun Kissed

This fab new instant tan has saved me on two emergencies in the last few weeks, once when asked to attend a rather glam awards ceremony very last minute and the other when the usually trusty St Tropez didn’t live up to expectation on my pale pasty post winter skin.

What I love about it,  is the fact you gain an instant tan of which you can control the tone and depth on application. It gives your skin a lovely glowing golden bronze colour, that dries straight away, smells pleasant, doesn’t streak or rub off on clothes, yet it can never the less be washed off when ever you choose, leaving you in charge!  

                  

Before:

KARORA’s Instant Tan is the only natural instant tan currently available in the UK market today. Thanks to its skin enriching organic ingredients that include jojoba, aloe, horse chestnut extract, sweet almond and grape seed oil, it can be used both on the body and face. Free from parabens, chemicals, artificial fragrances and dyes, it is most definitely the safest option out there come rain or shine for an immediate sun kiss.

After:

£13.99 available at: www.karoracosmetics.com