TrendLife Beauty

A one-time burly, boozing bloke of Oz, Shane Warne has trailblazed his way to looking primped, preened, polished and pretty. In becoming the most infamous metrosexual on the planet, Warney has left sports fans worldwide agog. Male grooming no longer carries the shame tantamount to a golden duck and thanks to Shane’s keen participation in looking like the fictional boyfriend of Barbie, Ken, Liz Hurley is now famed not only for wearing a dress attached with safety pins but for transforming her man from beer-swigger to serious swagger. It seems the male population are keen as ever to be well-groomed; and one man who doesn’t like to miss the boys’ bandwagon is our ever familiar, Adrian.

Having put the King of Shaves Azor 5 Razor to the test, and wooed a woman in the process, our Adrian wished to follow in the footsteps of his Aussie icon. Unfortunately my mother was unwilling to donate to his plastic surgery fund, or splash out on the Estee Lauder Resilience Lift products that are both rumoured to be behind Shane’s transformation. Instead, mummy, I and Adrian all agreed that Shane is seemingly dapper thanks to hair removal. Ironically, just four years ago, Shane fronted an ‘Advanced Hair Studio’ campaign for their hair loss treatments which promote re-growth. Yet fast forward to 2k11 and the hairs that Shane so coveted on his head are no doubt being trimmed on the ear and nasal areas.

Unsightly hairs that sprout in these places can be controlled with The King of Shaves nose and ear hair clipper. Adrian is a man on the go, and as a man about town it’s important that his grooming regime can be played out in or out the shower. This lifesaving little number is shower-proof, and can therefore be used wet or dry to remove nose and ear hairs as well as tame unruly eyebrows. Comprising of two advanced ceramic interchangeable totary and vertical trimmers and two heads; whether Adrian’s heading out on business or heading out with his honey, he knows that there’ll be no unpleasant hairs joining him on his jaunts.

There was a time, when every hair follicle that sprouted from my head was silky soft, sensationally straight and short of split ends. Indeed, my mane bounced with healthy shine and as I tottered along Fulham Road, local gals about town whose tresses hung in a fine limp frizz gazed longingly at my display of hair finery. I was however, nine months old, had inherited my father’s thick black locks and was pampered from top to toe by my first time parents as though I was on a lifelong visit to a health retreat.

Fast-forward twenty-one years and my mother understandably no longer tends to my every whim. Having been granted sole custody of personal bodily matters from aged seven, when I made it be known my locks longed for more than L’Oréal Kids Very Berry Strawberry Shampoo and my idea of bathtime fun was not alongside Molly Matey Bubble Bath; my diva behaviour blossomed. Going alone in the hair and beauty world has allowed to me to discover a professional haircare range that combines the ultimate in product excellence and glamour; Neäl and Wolf. The brainchild of Neil Capstick, his debut range stems from his extensive experience and understanding of salon and salon owners, providing the ultimate combination of luxury and function whilst being an accessible range of products that make us women feel special daily.

Neäl and Wolf’s Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo and Conditioner are a duo that lavish one’s locks with oodles of lustre. Cleansing the hair and leaving it fresh and full of shine, the Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo, with its infusion of silk and milk proteins, boosts moisture to deliver easy to manage locks. The Ritual Daily Conditioner acts as a diligent accomplice, detangling hair and leaving it smooth and ready to style with liquid shea butter extract, creating brilliant shine. Blow-drying bars are the hip joint of the moment; and with A-listers and red carpet honeys placing hair on tandem with fashion, blow-dry services are in mega demand. Neäl and Wolf’s Silk Smoothing Blow-dry Balm offers a daily acquisiton of glamour; putting an end to tangles and frizz, its hydrating wheat protein complex provides moisture, balance and manageability. For those beauties lusting after a barnet speaking volumes, Elevate Volumising Lotion turns the limpest of locks into spun gold; luxuriously thick hair filled with body and oozing glossy class. To maintain a head of hair that shimmers with shine, Neäl and Wolf’s Glow Super Shine Spray adds long-lasting gleam that transforms hair leaving it glimmering with glitz. A ten product range, the Neäl and Wolf collection also includes an Intensive Hair Treatment, a Hold & Shine Spray, Sculpting Lotion, Heat Protection and Pliable Paste.

For fragrant locks that oozes hair primping prowess, Neäl and Wolf are the turn to products to achieve beautiful tresses, creating hair so heavenly that even Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty, will be lusting to get her mitts on this heaven sent range.

Prices between £10.95-£11.95

www.nealandwolf.com

With the onset of cold, dark winter mornings upon us, the mere thought of the changing of the seasons sends shivers down my spine; I look upon this time of year with a sense of utter dread. Not one to feel the chill, arising before dawn compels me to apply my make-up in artificial light; and thus my intentions of looking like a flush-faced filly are superseded by an artistic display of Dynasty-esque make-up upon my visage. Yet, A/W 2011 is set to see a significant milestone in my aspirations for a rosy complexion. Revlon’s No. 16 Pink Powder Blush is a trusty powder that requires a couple of strokes on the apple of the cheeks to create a pretty in pink sheen without reliance of daylight. Soft and polished, it is an absolute essential for creating healthy flushed cheeks in an instant for that all important winter boost. Flattering, and without the dreaded tell-tale shine, it also leaves an overtly natural look which works well on both foundation-based and au natural skin. Long-lasting and offering a flawless and glowing professional look, this is one for the handbag for girls on the go to achieve a beautiful, streak-free burst of colour.

£3.50

www.yuyubeaute.com

You only have to alight from the London Liverpool Street service to Southend, and onto platform 4 at Brentwood Station, to be met by the aroma of fake- tan, eyelash glue and hairspray; they are it seems, a ubiquitous greeting to visitors. My own stomping ground of King’s Road, Chelsea is laden with boutiques and bars frequented by Sloane Rangers, a far cry from the greasy spoons and launderettes of King’s Road, Brentwood, where the train station lies. I was however, totally unperturbed by my welcome to Brentwood; beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I was certain where this natural beauty was lain; Sugarhut Nightclub.

Indeed, at the centre of a bevy of beauties, was the TOWIE starlet in question, Billie Faiers. Billie’s stunning looks have amassed her a legion of both male and female fans; men want to date her, girls want to be her. Thanks to Billie’s foray into the beauty industry through her partnership with natural cosmetics and skincare expert, Vanessa Blake; us girls really can emulate her striking beauty.

In fitting with the Vanessa Blake ethos, Billie’s Mineral Finishing Powder is completely natural in being paraben-free and rich in minerals and essential oils to boost and protect the complexion. Light to apply and benefitting from a luxurious creamy texture, Billie’s Mineral Finishing Powder offers flawless coverage and gives an air-brushed finish which lasts all day long.  Soft and gentle, it controls shine to create an overtly natural look and has well and truly stolen my heart as a make-up must-have.

Whilst many of the original partnerships in TOWIE have soured, Vanessa Blake and Billie Faiers are a duo that ought to continue their missionary work for an eternity, so that women across the nation can look as gorgeous as Billie through a beauty house whose natural no-nonsense skincare sits against its mineral beauty competitors as a much deserved winner in the field.

£27.99

www.billieslook.com / www.vanessablakecosmetics.co.uk

Each day, ticket inspectors across the nation patrol our public transport, issuing penalty fares to those travelling without a ticket. Indeed, I am often greeted by ‘Derek’ aboard the 8.37 to London Waterloo who is out to catching thieving Tommy’s. Whilst aptly-named drab ‘Derek’ is inspecting tickets in his attempt to combat fare evasion; I am inspecting the feet of my fellow passengers.

An all too familiar dating nightmare is being met by drop dead gorgeous hunk of a man with a shocking display of footwear; he will just not suffice as boyfriend material. Similarly, a woman may be clad in this season’s finest from head to foot; but put a foot wrong in the shoe style stakes and she is a fashion disaster. Feet, it seems, make a look complete.

Sunny weather necessitates appropriate footwear, which prompts exposure of cracked heels and chipped nail varnish. I often shudder at those around me on the train, happy to parade a heinous exhibition of their tootsies. For those who’ve committed a crime onboard, ‘Derek’ uses his walkie-talkie to alert the driver. I long to one day prise the device out of Derek’s hands and put out an urgent call for a chiropodist, beautician and footwear specialist for carriage three, these people need attention, and urgently.

To ensure that I will never follow suit in committing such horrendous crimes, I enlist the foot expertise of Margaret Dabbs on a daily basis. Having set her own up clinics over 10 years ago, Dabbs is at the helm of the field. Her Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion is a beauty blessing. Penetrating dermal layers, it also moisturises, replenishes and revitalises the skin, leaving the feet feeling illuminated, refreshed and light. It is therefore no surprise that in 2011, it won a Look Fantastic Award, as well as ‘Best Foot Cream Award’ in 2008; this is a luxury treatment offering fantastic results. Similarly, with its use of Emu Oil, the Intensive Treatment Foot Oil provides effective relief from dehydrated, cracked and broken skin and nails with long-lasting effect to ensure that us girlies are looking tip-top-to-toe fabulous. The Margaret Dabbs Foot File is perhaps one of the most innovative beauty products I have come across in a long while, and deserves star status. Designed using Compressed Crystal Technology, it removes hard skin from the feet, and has long-lasting re-useable pads to remove layers of dead skin quickly.

A trio of exemplary products to tantalise the tootsies that’ll be adored by the heart and sole.

Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion - £25

Intensive Treatment Foot Oil - £20

Foot File - £24

www.margaretdabbs.co.uk

Hot on the lips and top of the tips from the beauty pack this season is Bourjois’ Smile Enhancing Gloss. I am a lipgloss lover; always keen for sheen from the pick of the slick in my quest for the perfect pout. Having been granted with a gloss that produces a shiny set of smackers and whitened nashers was quite simply a no-brainer; it was coming with me to Sugarhut, Essex where I hoped to flaunt its fabulousness to the Brentwood bunch.

I was in the “Brent ‘hood” to attend the launch party of Minnies Boutique Online Store and was expecting my fellow partygoers to have skin the colour of dark mahogany wood stain and teeth the shade of Pure Brilliant White on the Dulux colour chart. Indeed, I was not wrong. CM14 is one postcode where its female residents are unfamiliar with going au naturel. Instead, local gals pay homage to spray tans, false eyelashes, vajazzles and a make-up bag synonymous to the hand baggage allowance of a low-cost airline flight to their overseas playground of Marbella. Yet, it was the Framboise Hollywood Smile Enhancing Gloss ‘pon my pout that caused one of my fellow partygoers, Harry Derbidge, to make his excuses from the gaggle of autograph-hunting girls that had formed around him, to shrill “Oh my gawd, I luv your lipgloss hun”.

After a quick application of the tooth brightening effect gel and gloss onto my teeth and lips on Brentwood High Street, I’d entered Sugarhut feeling as sweetly satisfied as Micky Norcross and his money-spinning sugar-coated nightclub.  Upon exiting, I was pictured, beaming ear to ear by The Daily Star; sure-fire proof in the pudding that Bourjois’ Smile Enhancing Gloss breeds star quality. 

Framboise Hollywood & I made our way home from Brentwood, Essex bubbling with excitement at the night we’d shared together; Framboise razzle dazzled in all her glossy glory all night long. Indeed, so ravishing is she, Ms. Hollywood faces an imminent departure from the UK to glamorously gleam abroad, in the sunshine celeb-filled state of a seemingly different Brentwood to the TOWIE stomping ground; Brentwood, Los Angeles.

Available October 5^th in 6 shades from Boots & Superdrug (in store and online)

£8.99