5 drops at night from this 30ml bottle of ANR should last three months
I was at dinner with a bunch of girlfriends last night and as ever, conversation got to beauty. The way it went showed that when it comes to beauty products, we as women straddle two camps.
The first is the sceptic camp, that really we’re all just a little doubtful that the super effective designer brands are going to make a difference. And really, our trusted Nivea or Olay does the job for us at a fraction of the cost of the latest hotly priced ticket. The second is the camp of the reticent convert: damn it this thing works and now I’ve reached the end of the bottle, my credit card is burning.
As it happens, the two star products mentioned last that struck a chord sat in the latter camp. They were a night time facial oil by Kiehl’s and a serum known in the business as ANR: last night’s objects of desire for our shared alter ego as the reticent convert. The first showed that a good facial oil is the new trusted friend of a late thirty, early forty something woman. Said devotee commented that her skin always looked wonderful next morning, when she had used this the night before. The second is Advanced Night Repair by Estée Lauder. Its devotee has in the past bemoaned her sunbathing antics and finds that this improves her skin when she uses it, a wistful look in her eye – at £41 (Kiehl’s is £38) it’s an outlay to the reticent convert.
It might make her feel better when I tell her that a 30ml bottle gives around a three months supply (five drops max each night). Cost per wear that’s around 45p a day, which is less than a Kit Kat. I almost said litre of milk, but that might make the r.c. feel guiltier still – milk is a staple. But there again shouldn’t great skin be, too?
Just by chance a special limited edition bottle like the one above arrived from the PR department this morning. They sent it to mark 30 years since the company pioneered the idea that skin’s night time recovery process can be helped along with the right ingredients – especially skin that’s damaged (that’s pretty much all of those over 35). I think it has my friend’s name on it.
SLS free and effective
Shampoos formulated without sulphates are finally improving. Sulphates or SLSs, which are listed as sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulphate on an ingredient list, are detergents and the traditional foaming agent used in shampoo, bubble bath and washing up liquid. They have fallen out of favour with those pursuing a more natural approach to beauty, because they can be drying or irritating to a more sensitive skin. Yet, they do the job and they rinse well, which until now was the problem with those shampoos formulated without it. They left hair dull, lank and well, greasy.
Things are starting to really improve, thanks to a new, coconut derived foaming agent. It can be found in Liz Earle‘s shampoo, which I highly recommend. It can also be found in this one, a Christmas present from a friend incidentally, it’s by Aromatherapy Care. I have used it a couple of times, it lathers well and rinses easily leaving hair feeling squeaky clean and ready for conditioner. The other SLS free shampoo I’ve been road testing is Rahua Voluminous Shampoo (Gwyneth Paltrow and Olivia Wilde are I’m told, fans ). It contains rahua (ra-wa) oil, which is has been used by women of the Amazonian Quechua-Shuar tribe to keep their hair healthy and lustrous, for centuries. It lathers less readily than the other two, yet is an effective cleanser for an oilier, finer hair type. Although no signs in the ingredient list (lemongrass, lavender, eucalyptus) it has a feint aroma of aniseed. And so back to Santa…
‘Coals to Newcastle,’ she said as she handed it over, sheepishly. Sweetly I smiled as I unscrewed the cap and inhaled its glorious frankincense, patchouli, geranium and orange and actually, I was delighted. Click here to buy Aromatherapy Care and here, or if you’re in London, swing by Harrods for Rahua.
New for February Bobbi Brown Ultra Nude Eye Palette
After all the beautilicious build up to Christmas – the sparkly make-up, the backcombed hair, the twinkly nails – when it really comes down to it few of us do an awful lot of it at Christmas. What with Christmas spent most often en famille, it’s the last place you feel the need to doll up to the nines. And if you’re anything like me, doesn’t it come as rather a welcome change? How relaxing and liberating simply to slap on a bit of tinted moisturiser and a lick of mascara of a Christmas morning. There are far too many other things to be thinking about. The turkey (ahem, we had beef), getting to the church on time (just), presents (so many), Champagne (welcome), stopping the dog from eating all the smoked salmon sandwiches (embarrassing).
And now I’m back having in truth spent much of the Christmas break knee deep in cosmetics as I tested, sniffed and reviewed a heap of 2011′s brightest new stars. This, for Marie Claire Prix d’Excellence, the magazine’s annual beauty awards. It’s a huge honour to be a judge. Yet still for me both Christmas Day and Boxing were delightfully low key.
My first hottie for 2012? Bobbi Brown‘s latest nude eye palette. It’s not out till February, but January will fly by, promise (£39, click here to reserve yours). It contains six soft brown, nude and taupe shadows – all you need for Spring’s soft new eye. Bobbi suggests teaming it with bright lipstick – a great, classic combination.
Happy 2012 x
Nazareth Scented Candle by Cire Trudon
Candles are a lovely thing at Christmas, especially since few Christmas trees seem to have that delicious pine scent in this day and age. Two of the best are Jo Malone Pine & Eucalyptus and Annick Goutal Noel. Jo Malone P & E is released as a limited edition over Christmas, so has a habit of selling out fast. Nöel (my favourite) combines pine bark with orange and mandarin – it’s Christmas bottled. Both are. Annick Goutal’s shop is at 109 Mount St, tel: 020 7629 8507 (if you’re prepared to pay P&P they’ll post, candles from £32). Jo Malone do mail order although this candle isn’t listed on the website. Call 0800 054 2939 (candles from £38).
If no luck with either, Cire Trudon Nazareth Scented Candle (£55) is worth a sniff – think spices this time: clove, cinnamon, orange and more. The hand blown red glass container is beautiful – these candles are a cut above. They have recently opened a small shop in Marylebone – click here to read my review for Grazia Daily. A visit right now will transport you back to Christmas circa 1890.
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