by Emma Parlons, Life Of Yablon
It has been a long, cold winter and typically, our flaky faces, frizzy hair and chipped nails prove it. But now that Spring is finally upon us it’s time to crawl out of hibernation and breathe life back into our neglected beauty regimes.
Turning my immediate attention to my biggest beauty woes (not helped by a week of helmet head and freezing-thawing hands in the French Alps), I have found some wonderfully luxurious solutions worth sharing;
Hapless Hair
The winter weather combined with hats, hoods and ski helmets has been far from kind to our previously luscious locks. Appreciating that the less than glamorous chinese-takeaway looking packaging might not be an indication of their quality, I indulged in Davines’ Melu shampoo and Love conditioner £13.10 / £14.35. It might have been the essence of Mediterranean herbs and fruits or, in the case of the conditioner, the fig extract and borage oil, but either way I was delighted to notice that, after only two washes, the shine was already returning to my dulled hair. Demanding more (of course), I was drawn towards the Indola Glamour range, and specifically the Glamour Precious Oil £15.95. Claiming to add ‘sparkle’ to your hair, I conditioned and styled with zest before standing back to admire some seriously luxe shine. And there was cynical old me thinking that only fairies could add sparkle….
Natty Nails
Usually a reshape with a coat of one of Essie’s glossy, nude polishes can save my bad nail day but months of rain, wind and snow have left behind some tatty looking talons. Glancing down at the keyboard at flaky and peeling fingertips, I realised I had a serious situation on my hands (excuse the pun!). So I, somewhat painfully, weaned myself off the vibrantly joyous new season shades from Filthy Gorgeous £9 and Avon £6 and trialed one hand with Dr LeWinn’s Renunail Nail Strengthener £17.50 and the other with Orly’s equivalent products.
Daily applications left me feeling utterly virtuous, and as for my nails, Dr LeWinn’s Nourishing Oil has totally transformed my ragged cuticles and has become a handbag mainstay. But I’d have to say that Orly’s Tough Cookie Nail Strengthener £14.70 wins the strengthening war simply because it dries quicker and smells marginally better.
Talking of super-speed drying, I should also introduce some nail magic by way of Bourjois’ One Second Polish £5.99. As if its drying time was not reason enough to skip to the shops, it also has a genius one-stroke brush making the equation: one nail – one stroke – one second. That puts the French at the top of the class, again.
Seasonal-Change Complexion
Stand back because I have a miracle product to hand. The C-Quence Energizing Face Masque from Environ £50 needs to be tried to be believed for its serious skin-glowing properties. Boasting an innovative ‘peeling’ system containing a high concentration of pure Vitamin C and Salicylic Acid, it’s handsdown the best face pack I have ever used. Period.
Once removed, I smothered and massaged my face with Sarah Chapman’s Overnight Facial £45 with its potent cocktail of antioxidants, omega oils and so much more. Beauty sleep followed and the morning revealed a happier and calmer face.
Fresh As A Daisy
A little spirit lifting as the April showers (hopefully) start to give way to some May sunshine wouldn’t go amiss. Dr Bronner’s range of magic soaps £4.99 are made with organic oils and contain none of the nasties usually associated with the cheaper ranges of shower gel. The citrus orange smell gave me a much-needed zingy lift in the mornings amid the usual school run rush. And to add a floral note to the new season madness, the queen of flowers herself, Jane Packer. Her Green Orchid Vetiver Lemongrass Eau de Parfum £45 for 50ml reminds me of her florist on the ground floor of John Lewis, Oxford Street and quite simply brings a smile to my face, whatever the weather.
