TheBalm launches on Zuneta!

These last few days of sun have really put me in a good mood! Spring is definitely in the air.
And what better way to celebrate the arrival of Spring than sharing the good news that TheBalm is launching on Zuneta in a matter of days?
This sassy brand is designed for ladies on the move- multi-functional products that are easy to use and packed with gorgeous ingredients- no nasties here!
"Youth is both a state of mind and a product of your makeup bag," says Marissa Shipman, founder and CEO of TheBalm. "The brand is fun and nostalgic—perfect for women of all ages." With a "beauty in five minutes" philosophy, TheBalm's multiuse, super fun products have become their calling card. TheBalm is the brand to go to for quick-fixes and innovative beauty solutions.

I love the two shadow/blush All In One’s……Hot Mama is a dreamy pinky-peach, perfect for those summer nights. Down Boy is a flirty baby pink that deposits just the right amount of colour into those rosy cheeks!

Don’t forget Bahama Mama- bringing a bit of fun to the world of bronzers.

Loving the packaging, loving the formulas, loving the care-free attitude to make-up.
Because at the end of the day, girls just wanna have fun!

Best Exfoliators

Guest blog entry alert!
Susannah Taylor, ex Beauty Editor at Vogue, has pulled together her favourite Exfoliators for us this month.

Its time for a Spring Clean!

Luminous, polished-looking skin is now available to us all thanks to a new age of exfoliators and DIY skin peels, says Susannah Taylor.

Central heating and bitter weather can leave skin looking dull, clogged and lacklustre. Whilst the temptation might be to slather on more moisturiser, what your skin really needs right now is a deep cleanse to reveal the fresher looking complexion that awaits us all underneath the detritus. Exfoliating products should be as essential in today’s product arsenal as a good moisturiser and SPF. They wipe away a build up of dead skin cells that everyday cleansers won’t budge, unblock pores, increase cell turnover, help slow the ageing process and reduce skin problems such as pigmentation and fine lines - not to mention making the most immediate visible difference to the luminosity of your skin. And whilst we can pay a fortune for modern exfoliating spa treatments such as microdermabrasion and salon skin peels, there are now many fantastic DIY products that offer equally effective results.

The type of exfoliator you need is dictated by your skin type. If your skin is dry, rough or flaky, then a skin polish, used twice weekly would be your best bet. Original scrubs were a bit like applying sandpaper to skin and probably did more harm than good, however, modern-day polishers such as Malin and Goetz Face Scrub, £26.43 are much more refined. Containing natural jojoba meal and technologically advanced polyethylene beads this product stimulates cell renewal without irritating, drying or stripping skin.

For oily/ combination skin, Korres’ Olive Stones Facial Scrub, £13.70 effectively deep cleanses pores and removes excess sebum, leaving skin noticeably more radiant and less greasy.

And for sensitive skin, Jurlique’s Daily Exfoliating Cream, £16.64 is a very gentle, non-granular exfoliating cream rich in oats, almonds and honey that lifts away dead skin cells without irritating or upsetting skin’s pH balance.

An alternative to the face scrub is one of the new age of at-home skin peels - still gentle on the skin, they contain fruit acids and enzymes that work a little deeper than grainy scrubs. One of the latest is Rodial’s Glamtox Peel, £68.51 which creator Maria Hatzistefanis created because she wanted “ A gentle yet effective face mask that would replicate the effects of a face lift without the recovery time.” Describes as “the ultimate at-home facial,” it contains fruit acids to reduce the appearance of fine lines and age spots, as well as French clay to decongest and purify. Weekly use leaves skin refined and luminous whilst keeping environmental damage at bay.

For older, oilier skin, or skin in need of a serious overhaul, your face will hugely benefit from an acid peel. Again non-irritating and safe for home-use, the small amounts of acid breaks down the congestion between cells, removing dead debris and therefore allowing other products like anti-ageing moisturisers and facemasks to work more effectively. You can’t beat award-winning MD Skincare’s cult Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel £53.83 which consists of two sets of pads soaked in contains Glycolic Acid, and Salicylic Acid and Vitamin A, C and E. Benefits of daily use include firmer skin, line and pigmentation reduction, reduced pore size and a less redness. Not to mention a salon-style glow that, thanks to creator Dr Dennis Gross is no longer just the privilege of the Hollywood jet-set.

Permanent Blow Dry

This morning I was introduced to the phenomenon that is Permanent Blow Drying. If you have very thick or frizzy, unruly hair- this is apparently the perfect solution! Lasting anywhere between 2-4 months, your hair basically remains fully tamed, soft and generally gorgeous. For those of you that spend too many minutes of each day wrestling with hair straightners and hair dryers, this is apparently a way to get your life back!

There are two places to get this done as I understand. Daniel Hershon and Michael John salon. Having spent 20 mins or so with Bonnie at Michael John (and meeting some of her DELIGHTED customers) I am extremely tempted to take the plunge. At £200 it is not the cheapest treatment in the world, but think how much time you would buy back! All you have to do, after having the treatment, is a quick blast with the hairdryer, and possibly a quick onceover with your straightners if you see fit, but that is all! And the best thing? The treatment is totally weather proof. No more frizzy hair from the rain, from the sun, from the humidity on holiday.

Apparently the treatment takes a few hours to apply and you can't wash your hair or have it up in a pony tail for 2-3 days afterwards so you don't get any kinks in your hair. Bonnie also explained that it works best on coloured hair.

Has anyone tried this? If so, please feel free to comment below and let us know what you think of it?