I am a big fan of L’Oreal’s Glycolic range - the gloss and 5 min treatment / laminator in particular are excellent and make a noticeable difference to the look and feel of my long blonde (highlighted) hair. Hard recommend!
Another one stupidly influenced to buy the Gatineau. It’s streaky as hell, and then doesn’t budge (would be great, except for the streaks). I will keep resolutely slathering until the huge pump bottle is empty, but then will revert to the Dove, which is cheap as chips, smells okay-ish and is easy to apply even after two glasses of wine.
And I have - yet again - been influenced by this annual beauty post. Last year it was SPF, this year a reminder of the joy of the Body Shop Grapeseed Hair serum.
My latest fake tan discovery are Tuscan Tan tanning drops, add to moisturiser and apply. They work best with a thick body butter and don’t smell gross. The colour is nice and you can build it up gradually.
I have been very fake tan averse for years (too much faff, plus the smell!) but last week, for a wedding, I bought St Tropez Self Tan Express. It’s a tinted mousse, so you can see where you’re applying it but this is what appealed to me: you leave it on for either one, two or three hours depending on your desired depth of colour, and then shower. The magic tan continues to develop over the next eight hours but you get to avoid stained sheets and pjs. Plus, the smell is not bad, even my husband remarked on it.
1) I'm so glad to read your thoughts on Hair Story as I have been very tempted on multiple occasions but as I think I have a similar hair type/texture to you I can now move on and save myself the VAST expense.
2) While visiting my parents this weekend a little cut out of your head from the recent Times photoshoot fell out of my mum's purse. It turns out she has been carrying it around in the hope of trying to match your lipstick on her next department store visit. Please can you share what it was so I can spare my mother/the makeup counter staff/myself (by proxy) the embarrassment of this quest?
Omg I am so devastated to reveal that on photoshoots make up artists almost always mix up a lip colour from various different ones they have on a palette. And they always have to do that for me because I am the strangest mish-mash of skin tones - my skin is yellow/pink and my lips are basically purple. Plus, the photo lights and the ink colours distort everything so it is a totally unreal representation. I don't mean to tell your mother what to do, but if I was her I would plonk myself down at a Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier concession and just try every red lip on that they've got and have fun choosing one that works for her xxx
Devastating indeed; I will break it to her gently and pass on your suggestion. Maybe she can present your little cut-out head as a starting point nonetheless. Thank you for your lovely reply! x
Hair Story was a disaster on me as well, my hair is too thick for that sort of caper, it just felt greasy and lank and weird. I enjoy a good wash with something sulphate-free that lathers up, like the Umberto Giannini Scalp Restore shampoo.
I fell for that Gatineau as well. Smells ok but IS patchy and frankly ST. Tropez is the original and best. Get some Vaseline for the knees, a mitt and you’re away. My new finds: lottie under eye concealer is amaze. It’s like a Vaseline under eye cover up. Love it and it’s dirt cheap. Oh and Elf bronze drops are less than half the price of Drunken Elephant and work beautifully. Summer is as you say a ballache. How to lose my menopause apron belly in a week and wax and tan and toe nails all begs a question: where did it all start? This beach body perfection quest? Guarantee a man and a clever Don Draper type at that, started it. Curses upon him.
Medik8’s Crystal Retinal - my lines are definitely softening, despite my initial scepticism (I’ve taken before and after photos to check!) I’m now using their Vit C and moisturing SPf and my skin looks amazing. My bank balance doesn’t though…
Bondi Sands Gradual Tanner - smells of chocolate and isn’t orange (I’m light medium skin) and wears off gently. It has a colour guide so no streaks and makes you look instantly tanned.
I've recently used Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer which is for the face. Mixed some drops with your normal cream before going to bed, apply to face and repeat for a few nights, and lo and behold a sun kissed face.
This is SUCH A Great Post (Especially as I *Almost* bought some Hairstory when it launched/ before Realising it was Over £40 !?) I am currently doing Lush/ Any shampoo bar and then Senspa conditioner… but I have fine hair, and I need to find a new conditioner because the patchouli-type smell is starting to bug me… Also, Still a big fan of Beauty Pie (Great Hand-creams) … and if I can be bothered to shave and moisturise my legs, I consider that I’m ‘Doing Well’ ; I have completely given up on the fake tan til August ! X X
I am pale enough that people constantly ask if I am tired (although also am constantly tired) and now swear by the Isle of Paradise self tanning drops in the lightest shade, you just drop a couple of drops into your regular nighttime moisturiser and slather it on. I am totally indiscriminate and never bother wiping eyebrows/jawline and it has never streaked, extremely mild smell (practically undetectable). I use it every 2 or 3 days and people stop mentioning how VERY TIRED I look.
I'm also very pale and have often been asked if I've had a bad night when I'm just coming in to work (!) I love the isle of paradise drops, so easy, and impossible to mess up .
I am a big fan of L’Oreal’s Glycolic range - the gloss and 5 min treatment / laminator in particular are excellent and make a noticeable difference to the look and feel of my long blonde (highlighted) hair. Hard recommend!
Another one stupidly influenced to buy the Gatineau. It’s streaky as hell, and then doesn’t budge (would be great, except for the streaks). I will keep resolutely slathering until the huge pump bottle is empty, but then will revert to the Dove, which is cheap as chips, smells okay-ish and is easy to apply even after two glasses of wine.
Curel spray is amazing - can’t live without it. Tan-luxe drops for face - mixed with moisturiser (zelens 3T. Luxe. Try it) does the job.
And I have - yet again - been influenced by this annual beauty post. Last year it was SPF, this year a reminder of the joy of the Body Shop Grapeseed Hair serum.
My latest fake tan discovery are Tuscan Tan tanning drops, add to moisturiser and apply. They work best with a thick body butter and don’t smell gross. The colour is nice and you can build it up gradually.
I quite like Mythic Oil by L’Oréal. For thick, curly frizz prone hair a tiny amount, sort of stroked through, does really settle that shit down.
I have been very fake tan averse for years (too much faff, plus the smell!) but last week, for a wedding, I bought St Tropez Self Tan Express. It’s a tinted mousse, so you can see where you’re applying it but this is what appealed to me: you leave it on for either one, two or three hours depending on your desired depth of colour, and then shower. The magic tan continues to develop over the next eight hours but you get to avoid stained sheets and pjs. Plus, the smell is not bad, even my husband remarked on it.
First time commenter! Two things:
1) I'm so glad to read your thoughts on Hair Story as I have been very tempted on multiple occasions but as I think I have a similar hair type/texture to you I can now move on and save myself the VAST expense.
2) While visiting my parents this weekend a little cut out of your head from the recent Times photoshoot fell out of my mum's purse. It turns out she has been carrying it around in the hope of trying to match your lipstick on her next department store visit. Please can you share what it was so I can spare my mother/the makeup counter staff/myself (by proxy) the embarrassment of this quest?
Omg I am so devastated to reveal that on photoshoots make up artists almost always mix up a lip colour from various different ones they have on a palette. And they always have to do that for me because I am the strangest mish-mash of skin tones - my skin is yellow/pink and my lips are basically purple. Plus, the photo lights and the ink colours distort everything so it is a totally unreal representation. I don't mean to tell your mother what to do, but if I was her I would plonk myself down at a Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier concession and just try every red lip on that they've got and have fun choosing one that works for her xxx
Devastating indeed; I will break it to her gently and pass on your suggestion. Maybe she can present your little cut-out head as a starting point nonetheless. Thank you for your lovely reply! x
Hair Story was a disaster on me as well, my hair is too thick for that sort of caper, it just felt greasy and lank and weird. I enjoy a good wash with something sulphate-free that lathers up, like the Umberto Giannini Scalp Restore shampoo.
I fell for that Gatineau as well. Smells ok but IS patchy and frankly ST. Tropez is the original and best. Get some Vaseline for the knees, a mitt and you’re away. My new finds: lottie under eye concealer is amaze. It’s like a Vaseline under eye cover up. Love it and it’s dirt cheap. Oh and Elf bronze drops are less than half the price of Drunken Elephant and work beautifully. Summer is as you say a ballache. How to lose my menopause apron belly in a week and wax and tan and toe nails all begs a question: where did it all start? This beach body perfection quest? Guarantee a man and a clever Don Draper type at that, started it. Curses upon him.
Medik8’s Crystal Retinal - my lines are definitely softening, despite my initial scepticism (I’ve taken before and after photos to check!) I’m now using their Vit C and moisturing SPf and my skin looks amazing. My bank balance doesn’t though…
Bondi Sands Gradual Tanner - smells of chocolate and isn’t orange (I’m light medium skin) and wears off gently. It has a colour guide so no streaks and makes you look instantly tanned.
I think the exact same thing with Azaelic Acid - Beauty Pie to Dermatica. The BEST.
I've recently used Garnier Ambre Solaire Natural Bronzer which is for the face. Mixed some drops with your normal cream before going to bed, apply to face and repeat for a few nights, and lo and behold a sun kissed face.
This is SUCH A Great Post (Especially as I *Almost* bought some Hairstory when it launched/ before Realising it was Over £40 !?) I am currently doing Lush/ Any shampoo bar and then Senspa conditioner… but I have fine hair, and I need to find a new conditioner because the patchouli-type smell is starting to bug me… Also, Still a big fan of Beauty Pie (Great Hand-creams) … and if I can be bothered to shave and moisturise my legs, I consider that I’m ‘Doing Well’ ; I have completely given up on the fake tan til August ! X X
I am pale enough that people constantly ask if I am tired (although also am constantly tired) and now swear by the Isle of Paradise self tanning drops in the lightest shade, you just drop a couple of drops into your regular nighttime moisturiser and slather it on. I am totally indiscriminate and never bother wiping eyebrows/jawline and it has never streaked, extremely mild smell (practically undetectable). I use it every 2 or 3 days and people stop mentioning how VERY TIRED I look.
however WARNING they do go out of date. i used a 2 year old bottle in april when i was looking 'tired' and woke up to orange face before work.
i cant be arsed with fake tan anywhere except a little on my face in drops, im just too pale.fyi the new garnier spf 50 'glow' is very good.
I'm also very pale and have often been asked if I've had a bad night when I'm just coming in to work (!) I love the isle of paradise drops, so easy, and impossible to mess up .
are you okay though? you do look a little tired
I have the bronzed body of a godess but the wrinkly hands of a wizened old hag😆Trust me though, it's a game changer x