A volcanic spring in your bath tub!

The Japanese know a thing or two about well-being, and Yunohana bathing salts bring that knowledge right into your bathroom.

Harvested from the steam of volcanic springs, the salts are rich in trace elements and minerals including iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium and gold. And the benefits are remarkable, from dermatology to rheumatology!

Detoxifying, revitalising and relaxing!

Just 20 minutes, two or three times a week for six weeks is recommended to reap the benefits and experience the long term effects, but even just the once made me feel like a new woman!

Yunohana is available in selected organic stores in France and on the website www.lemondeestbio.com

Le Bon Marché have it all!

Le Bon Marché in Paris now stocks all the amazing Athena Cosmetics products!

The new improved formula of RevitaLash® is better than ever! Packed full of botanicals and peptides the results are spectacular and fast - I have clients telling me they see the results in just 3 weeks!

And arriving on shelf this week is Mascara by Revitalash®! This high performance, clump-free formula and custom designed brush will separate and define your lashes for an eye-popping finish!

Take your hair to the Spa!

I recently discovered these fabulous organic products by L'Instant 2Moss in Paris.

At their elegant institute, which is more "spa" than hair salon you can have personalised hair treatments and massages to ensure the well-being and beauty of your hair, and even get a cut and blow dry.

L'Instant 2Moss use only natural and organic ingredients. Their hydrating and purifying shampoos, conditioners, oil and day cream leave your hair silky, shiny, healthy and smelling wonderful too!

The products can be ordered from the website, bought at the institute or at Le Bon Marchè Paris.


L'Instant 2MOSS - 5 square de L'Opéra Louis Jouvet - 75009 Paris - tél. + 33(0)1.44.56.03.66

Looking forward to what's new in 2011!

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2011.
Watch this space for what's the world of cosmetics will bring us this year!

Made in Japan

Whilst browsing at my favourite Beauty Monop store in Paris, it was recommended that I try Japanese company DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil. I was sceptical because I am not a great oil lover, unless it's on a salad, and taking off my make up with anything oily has always been unpleasant, mucky and leaves my eyes all puffy. Not a good look for me! But I trust the advice I get at Beauty Monop and gave it a go. To my surprise it was a pretty painless experience and I woke up this morning with smooth clean skin and not a puff in sight! The Deep Cleansing Oil is DHC's top seller worldwide, but some of the other products in their range now look tempting. Their packaging style is more scattergun than harmonious, but if the products within are as good as the oil, then they are worth a try!

Like thermal undies for your lips!

Okay, it's officialy cold! No matter how wrapped up we are in hats, gloves, scarves and winter woolies we can't avoid the harsh effects of the cold air on our faces.

Glowing cheeks is one thing, but sore cracked lips is unacceptable!

I have been using Dermalogica's amazing Renewal Lip Complex for a while now as my daily lip treatment to restore delicate tissue, minimize contour lines and help prevent the signs of aging (which it actually does) but now with this winter freeze I don't leave home without it!

With no artificial fragrances or colours it's magic in a tube.

What an angel!

Surya Brasil's Amazonia Preciosa skin and haircare, Sapien Men, Hand Sanitizer and Surya Henna ranges are now on shelf at Ethnic Angel, a wonderful new supermarket in the heart of Paris.
Not just a supermarket, but a voyage of discovery, Ethnic Angel offers its patrons the chance to savour treats from around the globe. The ground floor reminds me of La Grande Epicerie with it's diverse selection of exotic yet elegant groceries, then up to the first floor for an array of beauty products from Japan to tahiti, Israel to the Ivory Coast, Brasil to Morocco need I say more!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Okay, so this picture has nothing to do with the cosmetics industry, but hey! it's my blog and I like it!
However this could be a good ad for that great brand Yes to Carrots!

Face lift for Sapien Men!

New look Sapien Men by Surya Brasil is hitting the shelves. This excellent organic hair, face and body range for men have received accolades world wide, but now have a visual presence to match the high standard of the products!

Bravo to Surya Brasil!

Surya Brasil's Sapien Men's aftershave cream and facial scrub have been awarded a recommendation by L'Observatoire des Cosmetiques the prestigious cosmetics guide. And to add to that honour, a further six Surya Brasil products will receive the same accolade in next years « Guide to the best cosmetics 2011-2012 »

Travelling smart!

In my quest to hang on to my personal effects whilst flying round the world, I've stumbled onto this little gem.
Travalo is a pocket sized 8cm refillable perfume atomizer spray bottle that can be filled in seconds. With its unique pump action there's no need for a funnel, so no spills which means you don't have to suffer an accidental perfume overload. Packing an incredible 50 sprays plus a small window to see when you're running low, this aircraft grade aluminium bottle is safe and tough enough to carry your favourite fragrance wherever you go... and it's even allowed in your hand luggage!

Tasty fragrances!

There's a fine line between the beauty industry and the food industry, and I'm often enlisted to consult on those cross over projects.

So whilst scouring this years SIAL Paris for interesting and unusual innovations I discovered this attractive and just plain tasty range of organic food flavourings that tickled my sensorial taste buds like expensive perfume.

Brum' is a new concept of airless aluminium spray cans containing organic essential oils and natural flavours to enhance or even replace fresh herbs, flowers and citrus fruits. From black pepper and fennel to grapefruit and geranium, it's like Chanel for food lovers!

Love my face!

Thanks to my myface cosmetics, I have made the transition from summer glow to autumn glam without missing a beat!
myface cosmetics make it easy for non-professionals to get the make-up artist finish. Divided into the three skin tone categories, fair, medium and dark, each range allows the consumer to get the right blend of colours to suit their complexion. Lipstick tones match blushers which in turn compliment the foundations. So no more unnecessary purchases, it's a one stop shop to looking good.

Nailed it!

Well the French beauty consumer has spoken! Or at least let us in the business know that even in a recession looking good matters right down to our finger tips.
Statistics show that in the past year colour cosmetics sales in France's mass retail have risen by 2.6% with Nails leading the pack at whopping 10% rise. Eyes are next with a 2.7% rise followed by Face at 2.6% and Lips at 1.2%.
There's nothing like a little colour to lift the spirits!

From ice lollies to fat loss!

The Zeltiq technology was developed after scientists in the US noted that children who sucked a lot of ice lollies had unusually hollow cheeks.
The reason for this they discovered is that fat cells freeze and die at a much less extreme temperature than skin and muscle cells.
According to testimonials from people who have had the treatment it is "uncomfortable" but not painful and recovery time is short. I've checked around and the price is quite high (approximately 1000€ per session), but still a better solution than liposuction! I'm going to wait for the day we can all buy a Zeltiq at the corner store (remember the Walkman?!)

A change is in the air!

How many times have you had to reluctantly give up your favourite lip gloss, hand cream, even mascara because you forgot it was in your bag when going through airport security! Even having carefully measured out my toiletries into flight friendly containers, there’s always something that gets forgotten. Well there was good news at the meeting of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) last week in Montreal for those of us who can’t live without our lotions and potions. Within the next two years the current restrictions will be lifted thanks to new explosive detecting technology.
My question today is what actually happens to all the good stuff that gets confiscated?!

2000 years of looking good!

How does an olive tree span 2000 years? That was the question that prompted the founders of Millea, in collaboration with “Nicolas Alziari” the world-renowned makers of fine ‘grand crus” olive oil since 1868, to create this range of high performance organic skincare. Ecologically responsible, certified organic by Ecocert and dedicated to sustainable development, Millea offer their clients the opportunity to participate with the kit “an olive tree for life”. Each kit contains three olive tree seeds to be planted as a small gesture in maintaining the balance of nature!

Peel, Seal and Reveal

They say never judge a book by its cover, but with MD Corrective Care that’s what first caught my eye. The bright, colourful and inviting packaging made me want to take a closer look, and when I did, I found that the within those fun covers were medical grade power packed formulas that simplify professional skincare. MD Corrective Care's second skin technology addresses aging skin, oily and acne prone skin, sensitive skin and photo damaged - hyper pigmented skin. I especially like their “Instant spot lightener” for those “old lady” freckles.

My latest "Coup de Coeur"

This fun, scrumptious brand of organic skincare Pulpe de Vie won the "Coup de Coeur" at this
year's Beyond beauty, and it's not hard to see why!
Their values are simple: Innovation, Quality, Efficiency and Sustainable Development. They source locally produced organic ingredients, reducing their carbon footprint to a minimum and helping small fruit producers diversify their organic production!
The products also look great, smell wonderful and the web site is terrific. Definitely a brand to watch!

Beauty and beyond!

Well, it's that time again.
Beyond Beauty opens at the Porte de Versailles on Sunday September 12th for 4 days.
I am expecting the usual mix of innovation, the latest technology and a look at the new trends about to hit the market.
It is not the biggest beauty show, but it is certainly one of the best!
See you there......