Fragrance Direct for Beauty –
Fragrance Direct has always been trustworthy for, well, exactly what it says on the tin. It was only in the last month, however, that I realised what a haven it could be for beauty loot of the unfragranced variety. Their inventory of discounted beauty products reads like a beauty junkie’s Christmas list MAC, Bobbi Brown, Rodial et al. The highlight of my initial haul was the Rodial Instaglam Eye Tint in Aspen, which was a massive £9 off its retail price. Th brightening concealer contains hyaluronic acid (a hydrating wrinkle-killer) and works a treat underneath the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit in Sand (£3 off through Fragrance Direct) which features a long-lasting powder to set concealer and stop it from sinking into any lines or wrinkles.
Other favourites from my cost-efficient haul include MAC Frost Lipstick in Tanerama (£2 off – an incredibly ‘club girl’ nude on pale skin but stunning when paired with a dark lipliner as it creates a much more dynamic and shiny hue), MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Bordeauxline (£1 off – the most flattering eyeliner for green eyes), and Bobbi Brown Brillant A Levres Lip Gloss in Hollywood Red (£3 off – a botanical and brightening soft red gloss with aloe extract & avocado, jojoba and chamomile oils).
MILK Beauty Massage –
I have been travelling, working, and working out so much over April and May that my body has been in slight revolt. Muscles off fleek.
Thankfully, I had booked in for a coconut oil massage with mobile beauty service MILK Beauty just before I left for three weeks and it completely transformed my entire body. With each massage, your therapist arrives with towels, essential oils, a super soft blanket, music and a massage couch to set up a perfectly serene space bespoke to your schedule. I decided to ‘host’ my masseuse in my kitchen as it is one of my largest rooms and has a floor to ceiling window (sunshine is very peaceful, to me). Sixty minutes later, my coconut oil-kneaded body felt brand new; knot free, awake, and ultra moisturised. This is a perfect post-flight treat.
Dermalogica Prescription Facial and Gluttony Manicure at PEINT –
Post-massage, I began to realise a few additional body parts were becoming ravaged by travel. Like many people, faux-oxygenated airplanes make my skin feel dull and dry. Something needed to be done before heading to Belfast’s chilly air (a personal skin irritant of its very own). I found reaolve in PEINT‘s Dermaologica Prescription facial. Knowing Dermalogica have worked miracles on my sensitive skin on previous occasions, I booked in with the small salon’s lovely ladies for the one-hour treatment and managed to fall asleep before she was even half-way through.
The facial combines a tailored consultation and assessment of the skin to target your treatment where you really need then. In my case, bringing everything back to life; a relaxing orchestration of cleansing, exfoliating, steaming, messaging and topical treating to result in skin so fresh it looked like foundation.
Seriously. They put a #nomakeup photo on their Instagram and I look no different when I’m caked in cosmetics.
When awake, I wrapped my time at PEINT with a Gluttony manicure. The real indulgence, of which, is the parrafin wax mittens and the face-to-face therapist time (the ladies at PEINT are honestly some of the sweetest around).
Mandara Spa, London
CACI Lift & Sculpt at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge’s Mandara Spa –
As Summer creeps up on us, so do the shorts, skirts, and – most intimidatingly – swimwear. Knowing it takes a certain level of confidence to bare thighs with pride, Mandara Spa recently extended their range of CACI treatments to include the Lift & Sculpt. As an alternative to surgery, the electro-massaging Lift & Sculpt helps tighten, lift and smooth the leg and bum area with zero pain. There is a slight discomfort during the treatment (comparable to a quick but soft pinch), but immediate results after only one session. In fact, if you ask the therapist to do one side of your body before the other and take a photo, you almost look like two bodies joined in the middle.
For the best results, a session of six or more is advised but if you’re looking for a confidence boost before baring your bikini body, a day at the Mandara Spa (one of London’s most sumptuous underground retreats) will not go to waste.
Tip: you aren’t advised to work out directly after your treatment so I would suggest utilising Mandara’s neighbouring gym and pool beforehand so you have nothing but the Balinese relaxation area to think about post-treatment.
Mythic Oil treatment at The House of RUSH –
Mythic Oil is one of very few hair oils that make a difference in my unruly, flaxen mane so I was thrilled to find out that The House of RUSH (the brand’s Piccadilly flagship) had introduced a Mythic Oil treatment. Though my recent re-introduction to hot yoga has done wonders to my body and mind, my neglectful non-use of hear protectant or hair oil has left my mop…well…moppy.
Under the care of my Canadian goddess of a hairdresser, Mythic Oil brought my curls and colour back to life. After a wash and treatment with their products, the oil was applied, I sipped on a cup of branded tea (featuring many of the oil’s natural ingredients) and watched as she blasted out the best and healthiest feeling blow-dry of my life. All in under one hour.
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