The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible Reviewed

Yesterday I finally got my hands on a copy of the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible by Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley (Kyle Cathie Limited, 2011). It was worth the wait. I spent a good two hours soaking up their words of wisdom which go beyond skincare and cosmetics tops to provide some practical and sensible advice on fitness, yoga, diet and supplements.

Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible by Sarah Stacey and Josephine FairleyBeing a skincare and cosmetics junkie, I already have some established favourite products so there was nothing in the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible that was likely to persuade me to forsake my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish while on the moisturiser front, Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar and Decleor’s Hydrafloral remain my firm favourites. That said, I will be reviving my Liz Earle Skin Repair moisturiser – not for my face, but to try as a neck cream because – once again – it gets a great write-up category.

Anti-ageing miracle creams

But let’s forget moisturisers for a moment because the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible puts the spotlight on what they describe as anti-agening miracle creams. Interestingly, their top-scorer is L’Occitane’s Immortelle Divine Cream but the one that caught my eye was the Neal’s Yard Frankincense Nourishing Cream. Frankincense is such a wonderful scent that to use this as a night cream sounds like a blissful experience. That’s the first tick for my shopping basket and I’ll let you know how I get on with it.

 

Anti-ageing hair products

Other products that caught my eye include Head & Shoulders hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Colouring your hair tends to make it dry and I, for one, am definitely in the market for good hydrating shampoos. I’ve tried a number of different products, few of which have delivered the desired results (John Frieda’s Brilliant Brunette Conditioner is my current favourite). Head & Shoulders hasn’t been in my bathroom since my twenties but, if the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible is correct, then it’s time to take another look so this is another one for the shopping list.

Anti-ageing body treatments

On the body treatment side, dryness is a common complaint for women once they hit their forties and fifties. L’Occitane’s almond based range gets good reviews in the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible. I’ve tried the shower oil from this range (and loved it) so I’ll definitely consider adding the body products to my list.

Also favourably reviewed by the girls is Decleor’s Aroma Sculpt Divine – the thought of sculpting is enticing but price points mean this will have to go on the wish list. (Decleor’s Excellence de L’Age product is another one of the recommended anti-ageing miracle creams). Although Decleor is a bit on the pricey side if you’re just purchasing to try out the range, their gift sets around Christmas are very good value and watch out for their in-store promotions which sometimes offer really good value. If you’re in Dublin, you’ll find a Decleor counter in Clerys and in House of Fraser or you can purchase online from the QVC, the shopping channel.

Anti-ageing hand and foot care

Like the body, feet too seem to become drier with age. Thanks to a stroke of luck, I recently won Bliss’s Sage and Lemon body moisturiser so I’ve been using that extravagently for foot massage and moisturising. Bliss is well named! But, based on the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible, I’ll be saving up and adding Aveda’s foot relief to my shopping list.

For hands, Liz Earle’s Hand Repair is favourably mentioned as are a number of other naturally-based product. The one I’ve selected for my list is the Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Hand Cream on the basis that it’s not expensive and I’ve seen some good results from Weleda products.

Eyes

I’ve blogged recently about the importance of the eyebrow and Shavata remains my favourite for shaping and grooming the brow, but based on the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible reviews, I’m now adding Soap & Glory’s Arch de Triumph Brow Shaper to my list of ‘must purchase’ items. And, if you’ll parden the pun, the other product that caught my eye is the Bourjois Effet Smoky Pencil. I want one of those!

Conclusion

Overall, the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible is an informative read that is as enjoyable as a good chat with your best friends. It’s a pity that it’s not yet available for the Kindle because I would love to have it with me whenever I am shopping for skincare and beauty products. I’ve only touched on some of the topics it covers – there’s lots more, from coping with sleeplessness to dealing with sunspots and rosacea, from getting over aches and pains to the facelift diet. Do get your hands on a copy if you get the chance. You’ll enjoy it!

Izzy’s Anti-Ageing Beauty Wish List

  • Head & Shoulders Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
  • Marks & Spencer Advanced Formula Solutions Anti-Redness Serum
  • Aveda Foot Relief
  • Soap & Glory Arch de Triumph Brow Shaper
  • L’Occitane Milk Concentrate Firming & Smoothing with Almond Milk
  • Decleor Excellence de L’Age Sublime Regenerating Cream
  • Decleor Aroma Sculpt Divine Rejuvenating Cream
  • Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish
  • Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Rejuvenating Face Serum
  • Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Hand Cream
  • Liz Earle  Hand Repair
  • Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Nourishing Cream
  • Bourjois Effet Smoky Pencil

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment   Beauty, Budget beauty products, Cleansing, eyebrows, Feet, Food and Drink, Foot lotion, Haircare, Hand cream, Health, makeup, Mature skin, Menopause, Menopause symptoms, Natural skincare, Perimenopause, Pilates, Skincare, Weight Management, Women's health, Yoga

Weleda to the rescue for winter-worn hands

Weleda Wild Rose Day CreamThree months of cold mornings and the fact that I hate the feel of gloves means my hands have taken a battering this winter. In the last few days, things reached a critical point and some TLC is very much in order.  I’m fussy about the fragrance of products I use on my hands because I like to sleep with my hands on the pillow so I’ve started using Weleda’s Wild Rose Day Cream last thing before I go to sleep. It’s a deep nourishing moisturiser and, yes, it’s meant for your face but I think my hands are worth it. There is something about the scent of rose that is comforting and soothes the spirit. My local natural food shop and pharmacy both stock Weleda and, compared with similar brands, it’s pretty good value for money.

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Menopause Survival Kit

Ten essentials for Menopausal women

This list is deliberately unpunctuated so as to mislead you as to my actual age – if you don’t understand this point you may be too young to read the rest of the list

  1.  iPod – there are times when you need to tune the world out
  2. Hand cream – hands reveal age too quickly
  3. Decent and comfortable shoes – because contrary to the previous point, the feet are actually the first thing to go
  4. Trainer heels – because contrary to the previous point, you don’t necessarily want to end up in flats for the rest of your life
  5. Assorted sanitary protection – we know not where nor when
  6. Comfort balm – take your pick – mine is Origins Peace of Mind – a little dab to the back of the neck does wonders to restore the equilibrium
  7.  A sense of proportion – or failing that, a sense of humour
  8. A cranky ‘free pass’ because crankiness goes with the territory so don’t beat yourself up if you fall victim now and then
  9. Wet wipes – because it’s not always possible to take a shower in the middle of the working day  – nor, indeed, is it possible to travel with a bed fan
  10. Credit cards – if all else fails, retail therapy will usually provide a modest lift
One comment   Hand cream, Humour, Menopause, Perimenopause, Shoes   , , ,  

Manicure madness

© Oleg Ivanov | Dreamstime.com


Last weekend I paid 55 euro for a manicure. Extravagant, I know, but as any woman worth her salt will tell you, hands are the first thing to go – well first visible thing to go – and mine were a mess through neglect, bleach, gardening, and various other forms of abuse.

So the manicure had been in the back of my mind for some time. I kind of expected to have my hands lovingly immersed in that hot paraffin wax stuff that they sometimes use, and to have all manner of lotions and potions applied, so that I would emerge after 40 minutes with hands that looked more like mine and less like my mother’s.

Instead for my 55 euro I got a quick exfoliate, a wipe with a damp cloth, the application of some anti-aging hand cream, a file and polish, and a free bottle of nail varnish to take home.

I have to tell you, ladies, I was disappointed – not just at the loss of the 55 euro but at the fact that the hands really weren’t that much better than before I parted with my cash. So, this weekend, I resolved to do better and without any outlay of cash (although it is important to bear in mind that I have a wardrobe full of the finest ingredients) I managed to at least equal, if not improve on last week’s indulgence. For what it’s worth, here’s the routine.

Wash hands with L’Occitane lavender handwash. Smells divine. You feel pampered immediately provided, of course, that you like lavender.

Exfoliate hands. I used L’Occitane’s foot exfoliator. Okay. So I’m a rebel. I could have gone for Origins Dermabrasion which was also in the bathroom or for Philosophy’s hot salt scrub but the L’Occitane is the creamiest of the bunch and that’s what my hands deserved this week.

Next, an innovation all my own – the hand mask – 50/50 Liz Earle Brightening Treatment and Liz Earle Deep Nourishing Mask. Hands soak it up in minutes. Entirely. This speaks volumes as Liz Earle fans will know. (It means hands were in dire need of moisturisation)

Next, the file and polish which included applying a nail oil (cheap as chips from the Suhada range at Lidl) followed up by a protein treatment (Nails Inc). Then the polish – Leighton Denny – and then the top coat. My Nails Inc top coat is too sticky to use so I had to improvise and used the Scholl top coat from the toe nail brightening kit. I’m nothing if not improvisational.

Finally, hand cream. Liz Earle. I’ve only got a small tube of this one so I save it for special occasions.

Total time investment: less than 10 mins start to finish.
Total cash investment: negligible seeing as I already have all the stuff although I clearly do need to go out and purchase a new top coat.
Value for money: Well the hands look moisturised and feel softer – so yes, the home treatment is worth it.

The 55 euro salon treatment definitely isn’t.

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Handy Tips with Serum

Origins A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian - 1.7 oz.I blogged a few days ago about how the cold weather has been taking a serious toll on my hands this year so I’m back today with an update to share the results of an experiment.

On my right hand, Origins Skin Guardian which I have been wearing daily under my moisturiser for the last couple of weeks. It’s a product I absolutely love.

Loccitane Ultra Cotton Shea SerumOn the left hand, L’Occitane’s new serum which I blagged a sample of on Friday. 

Now, 8 hours later, I can report that the L’Occitane hand looks more moisturised – so much so, I’d be tempted to get the serum to use as a treatment for my hands.

But, for the face, texture wise, I found the L’Occitane a little too slippy on the skin so I’ll be sticking with the Origins under my daily moisturiser at least until winter is out of the way.

I’ve also been experimenting with my Bare Escentuals today – mixing a pot of Fairly Light foundation with a pot of Medium Tan and hoping that the result will look okay tomorrow. Fairly Light can be a little pasty when I’m tired, but Medium Tan is a little too intense for my winter pallor. I’m hoping the mix will be just the ticket – and will save me having to invest in a new shade. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Leave a comment   Hand cream, Menopause