Beauty in Brief - A Straight Talking UK Beauty Blog

On May 20, 2013 by Samantha

The free spa day: An afternoon at the Marriott Gateshead

Thanks to the lovely folk at New Look I found myself with a free spa day on my hands. This isn’t one of your blogger freebies folks, this little treat came courtesy of good old fashioned customer privilege and I couldn’t approve more.

Now when I say spa day I should pre-empt that with the fact my own expectations were pretty damn low. Said spa day came with no treatments and so I knew that this was basically a use of the facilities at a nice hotel kind of deal. Still, free is free!

The choices near me were all Marriott hotels and I went for the Metrocentre location, being as it is around 5 minutes drive from my house.

The positives

Modern, immaculate changing rooms. I’m a bit of a stickler for good changing facilities and these certainly weren’t a disappointment.

Small, yet superb sauna and steam room

Functional quiet gym area with a distinct lack of posers in the weights section (definitely a good thing)

Conditioner provided as standard in the showers. Finally a venue recognises straw like hair is not a good look.

The negatives

Tiny shallow pool. Like really tiny. And so shallow that at 5ft 8 I found it nigh on impossible to actually swim a full length.

Swimming lessons running during my visit (I had been advised these would be finished by 12 but this was not the case). The Parents sat along side pool watching said lessons made for an interesting stroll across to the sauna in swimwear. Luckily I was having a rare confident day or this could have caused a mini breakdown…

My take

All this said I enjoy any chance to get to an actual gym without paying for the privilege and the standard of facilities is very high, the size of the pool is just such a shame. Memberships were around £40 per month which although not outrageous, I do feel is a little overpriced for what is really a token nod towards a pool.

All in all it’s a three star experience. A decent freebie but a good sized pool and spa treatment are required to make this a truly special experience worth paying for. To me a spa day should be a treat and not just a functional experience, so I’d recommend they put a little more thought into how a customer could spend more than an hour or two here.

Cue illustrative graphics….

Ta dah!
On May 3, 2013 by Samantha

Real beauty

The term ‘real beauty’ troubles me in the same way that people talking about ‘curvy’ women being ‘real women’ does. The implication being that anyone who has the audacity to be slim is somehow fake and a lesser person for it. Dove are well known for their campaigns around ‘real’ beauty and for the most part I think they do a good job of highlighting the importance of a healthy body image but their most recent campaign has left a nasty taste.

You’re more beautiful than you realise is a fantastic tagline. The video grabs your attention and the results are genuinely interesting, so what is it that bothers me? Well strangely for a beauty blogger I don’t believe that beauty is the be all and end all. One of the voices at the end of the video talks about beauty influencing confidence (fair do’s) but also the jobs you go for, your career aspirations and ambitions. Honestly, I don’t know how I stopped myself from shouting out ‘what the hell is this shit?’ at my desk. You really want to be spreading these kind of ideas Dove? Really?

As if women don’t have enough pressures to deal with on a daily basis, you’re going to start adding that into the mix. Do me a favour and go do one.

Let’s stop peddling this kind of absolute BS and start telling the truth. Beauty is not the same to every person, and if it was the world would be a very boring place. Oh and just FYI those memes doing the rounds on Facebook and Tumblr about what is and isn’t sexy aren’t doing anyone any favours. That Marilyn figure can be just as out of reach as that stick thin model and neither makes you more or less of a woman.

Here endeth the rant.
On March 22, 2013 by Samantha

Spring time in the North East: Breakouts and hibernation

Hey you, hows it going? Long time no speak! Life got in the way a little bit there. Work got in the way. Trying to summon the courage to leave the house in a climate that wants to freeze my face off gets in the way.

Spring time in the North East is pretty damn glorious. An impressive 0 degrees on average, snow at least once a week, hail. All that good stuff. How’s a girl supposed to look her best in this weather I ask you?

My skin is struggling, hell my body is struggling. I’ve been dealing with breakouts worse than anything I experienced as a teen. I’ve tried tea tree oil, toothpaste, nightly sudocrem mask and those bitches just keep on coming back for more. Right on the chin. Front and centre.

And you know what spots love more than anything? Stress. Can’t get enough of the stuff. So when you stress out over the state of your face, you’re only causing more spots. Fabulous, just what you need.

Also normally at this time of year I’d be running, and when I don’t do some form of exercise I end up feeling less than amazing about myself. I tend to think of beauty as more of a holistic thing, it’s more than beauty and skincare and, as much of a straight out of a woman’s magazine BS statement this seems, it really is all about wellness and confidence.

With that in mind I feel I need a bit of a kick to get started again, I’m not one for fad diets but I do need a change to get me out of this eat all the carbs and hide indoors habit.

My requirements are threefold:

1. Not too much of a faff.

2. Will not bankrupt me with the cost of so-called super foods.

3. Is not that crazy Beyonce maple syrup/cayenne pepper drink diet thang. Sorry Bey it’s not for me.

Your recommendations pretty please…
On February 23, 2013 by Samantha

Beauty disappointments

Over time we invest a lot (in my case a hell of a lot) in the various lotions and potions that make up the beauty and skin care selection on our shelves. Amongst my own modest *cough* selection are a true mix of must-haves, high end, bargain basement, and utterly disappointing beauty products.

Discovering new products can be a joy but there is nothing worse than wasting your hard earned cash on beauty disappointments.

Here are my worst offenders…

Liz Earle Superbalm

I love most of the Liz Earle products but this one left me cold. The product itself tends to go very grainy soon after it is opened, it does absolutely nothing for my skin instead it feels like it just sits on the surface feeling slightly oily and smelling a little too old lady for me. Oh and it’s £20 a pop. Next.

Lush Bubblegum lip scrub

Lush products smell, well, lush. But what you’re doing with this product is basically just rubbing scented sugar on your lips. Sure it smells good but it’s just to harsh and grainy for such a sensitive part of the face. No thanks.

Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof mascara

Ok, ok, so this was a complete airport impulse buy so my expectations weren’t sky high but seriously this was clump city. So bad I’ve only just retrieved this from the bottom of the drawer it was languishing in to check the name.

Any nail strengthener, ever

They never work. Ever. My nails still bend and split, no formula can ever correct this. Perhaps I am just not destined for perfect talons. Sigh.

So those are mine, share your beauty disappointments in the comments and help others avoid your mistakes. Over to you!
On February 19, 2013 by Samantha

The only TOWIE beauty tip you need

“TOWIE Sam?”

Yes dear reader, TOWIE. The Only Way Is Essex. The very same.

“Are you drunk?” You, quite reasonably, ask.

Well, not right now…

I absolutely promise you this is the one and only time I shall share TOWIE beauty tips. Cross my heart, pray to Jesus, swear on the life of my first born.

It’s from the days when I found myself addicted to this particularly ridiculous brand of reality TV. Glass of wine close to hand to dull the voice telling me it was sick and wrong. Luckily these days I’ve moved onto higher caliber programming, such as Made in Chelsea for instance… I’m only half joking.

I’m guessing your opinion of me has plummeted since you started reading, but don’t leave yet. Guys I watch this crap so you don’t have to!

So, dear reader, shuffle to the edge of your seat, you need this beauty knowledge in your life.

The one and only spot treatment you need, recommended by Chloe off of TOWIE (you’re hooked now I can tell), it works so fast it’s virtually a miracle treatment. Cue drumroll…

Sudocrem.

Yup the nappy rash cream. Seriously, it’s true. Apply a layer just before bed and you’ll virtually clear up your skin by morning. AMAZEBALLS.

I actually saw this episode last year and then, my skin being more eczema than spot prone, forgot all about it. However, recently I’ve been coping with some combination skin issues and this has proved to be a life saver. Big thanks to Cara Grant for the reminder.
On February 12, 2013 by Samantha

What’s in the box?

You know when you get one of those annoying cards from the postman? The one that says you were out (or alternatively, we didn’t even try to ring the bell we just sneaked away before you saw us), your parcel’s now waiting for you at a depot that’s only open every third Friday between 10.45 and 11:07 and screw you if you can’t get there then? Yeah they suck right. Well normally they do. This one was a good’un.

The folks at Urban Beautique, the ones who sent me the amazing Selixir Peace balm, surprised me with a gorgeous box of goodies.

*cue girly scream*

Inside the packaging it looked like this….

So yeah, you’re rolling your eyes now. Blogger gets sent freebies. But wait don’t go anywhere just yet, you haven’t seen the amazing lipstick. The best red I have EVER tried. The colour is Bing Cherry but I have Christened it KAPOW!!!

More on the rest of the box coming soon, I just had to share this one with you as I think you’ll agree it’s pretty special.

This lip colour is from the Laura Mercier range, it survived a night out intact (tested by drinking strawberry beer from a plastic cup, classy) and it’s available right here for £18.50.
On February 7, 2013 by Samantha

Signature scent

There are women in this world who just ARE style. You know these women, they are the ones that look ‘put together’, They are manicured within an inch of their lives and they make it all look so effortless. These are the women who never have a hair out of place and leave a haze of Chanel in their wake.

I am not one of these women. But the one part of all this I can achieve? The Chanel.

Whilst chatting to one of the girls I’ve known for years I realised that I had been wearing Chanel Chance for nigh on a decade. When money is no object Chanel wins my vote every damn time.

Sure I’ve tried others, but none have stacked up. Please let’s not dwell on the time I purchased ‘fragrances’ from The Body Shop in a moment of weakness and ended up smelling like a scented candle for weeks.

I love light floral fragrances, and it’s so difficult to find this done well, so many fail and end up in cheap nasty territory. So whilst the likes of No.5 are never going to be my thing, here are my top 3 perfumes.

1. Chanel, Chance.

2. Givenchy, Ange ou Demon le secret.

3. YSL Cinema

None are exactly budget… Oops.

What are your favourites?
On February 2, 2013 by Samantha

Makeup for the lazy girl

A miraculous transformation takes place in my flat most mornings. See what I mean?

scary face

normal face

It’s a triumph of modern beauty that I look human before 10am if I’m perfectly honest. This is how that particular piece of magic happens, an everyday makeup tutorial for the lazy girl if you will.

Alarm goes off. Snooze.

Alarm 2 goes off. Snooze.

Alarm 3 goes off. Stretch. Stick big toe outside the duvet. Consider options. Realise I still need to get paid. Get up.

Make huge pot of coffee. This step is essential. Skipping this key step can result in random items being found in the fridge, eyeliner mistaken for lipliner, keys forgotten, etc.

Look in the mirror. Weep silently. Commence skin care routine.

Assess eyebrow situation.

Apply concealer (No.7 in fair) to red patches, this is likely to include the majority of the facial region.

Apply foundation (No.7 Perfect Skin Foundation in Cool Vanilla). Congratulations you have reached the blank canvas ghost phase. Do not under any circumstances attempt to leave the house as at this point you are likely to frighten small children.

***You were meant to get a photo here but I look so deranged I just can’t post it.

Top up coffee. Add colour.

It’s bronzer time. I use a mini kabuki brush from E.L.F with their matt bronzer. It isn’t one of my favourites as the palette design means you have to be careful to blend it correctly. Difficult prior to midday.

Next up a sweep of my hero blush and we’re on our way to socially acceptable.

Not convinced face

Still awake? Finish off that pot of coffee. Now you’re ready to tackle eye makeup.

Best to keep it simple at this hour. Sweep a neutral colour across the lid (I use a No.7 trio), add a couple of coats of Maybelline’s Great Lash Mascara in black.

much better

Now do something, anything really, with your hair.

normal face

Congratulations, you may leave the house. Or make more coffee. Your call.
On January 20, 2013 by Samantha

A beginner’s guide to fake tan

As someone who isn’t really into the whole overly done look I’ve always been a little hesitant about fake tan. Years of orange perma-tanned schlebs on our screens has done nothing to alleviate this. Please, why would you want to look like that? And how on earth do you get to this stage? Does one coat turn to 20, is it like a drug? So many questions, but I digress.

Now normally I embrace the pale, and if I’m feeling particularly ghost like I’ll slap on some Rimmel Sun Shimmer for a night out but now it’s like my eyes have been opened. I’ve found a fake tan that does not smell like digestive biscuits and now I’ve finally, FINALLY got the application cracked I kinda like it!

If you have the fake tan fear remember these two essentials:

1. Exfoliate

Seriously, do it. Do it well. Scrub that dead skin away thoroughly. And after you’ve exfoliated? Give your skin a good scrub with body wash to remove any oily residue. This was my big mistake, I used an oily exfoliator then wondered why I was in streak city. So naive.

2. Get a tan for your skin tone.

Ladies, let’s talk about the way you try to go from ghost to nigh on Caribbean complexion. It just ain’t gonna play. Build up the colour gradually. Remember you can always add more but good luck with toning down the orange…

I recommend Abi O’s Soft Sun for English Roses for the body, it has the best smell of the brands I’ve tried. And for the face? I love St Tropez’s radiance self tan for face, no irritation, no dryness just a healthy glow.

What are your tanning tips? Or do you embrace the pale?
On January 13, 2013 by Samantha

Selexir Peace Balm: What price do you put on good skin?

It seems that my rants on the various skin complaints that plague me have not gone unnoticed. Towards the end of 2012 I was approached by the lovely people at Urban Retreat Beautique to review a product from their new Selexir range. To say I was excited would be a slight understatement, after all this is bona fide beauty blogger territory!

When I checked out the value of the product on it’s way to my humble abode my stomach did a little flip. £99. Ninety-nine of your English pounds for a 75ml skin care product. Suddenly my expectations were raised sky high. Would unicorns leap from the tube? Would the packaging be plated in 24ct gold?

The product in question is the Selexir Peace Balm. It arrived in a thoroughly understated manner, no velvet pillow or fanfare, just regular ol’ mail. So what did this wonder have to offer?

Well first of all this product looks, smells and feels expensive, and I mean that in the very best way possible. The simple yet elegant packaging is straight out of a high end spa, the cream itself is thick and luxurious and the scent is one of natural, organic beauty goodness.

Described as a “rich balm for intensive care of extremely dry or irritated skin” this is certainly a rich concentrated product. Selexir products are paraben, paraffin, silicone and petroleum free as well as being safe to use on babies over 3 months old, so safe to say this is a serious product for very sensitive skin. I’ve been using it sparingly on problem areas of dry skin rather than as a general hand or face cream so your 75ml does in fact go a hell of a long way.

There are also definite noticeable benefits. Termed an ‘instant serenity treatment’ it calms and soothes dry skin, so no stinging or raw feeling to be had. I’m also yet to have a breakout of eczema whilst using this product, and of course I can’t be 100% sure this isn’t a coincidence, but I certainly think it has improved the condition of my skin this winter which is a small miracle in itself.

At £99 for the larger size at 75ml it’s a considered purchase indeed but perhaps to be expected from a product launched in Harrods. On the plus side the smaller 30ml size would definitely see me through the winter and at £39 that starts to look a lot more reasonable. After all if it works for you that could be prescription charges and over the counter products you no longer need to purchase.

If it wasn’t for the price tag I would be shouting about this product from the proverbial rooftops.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin