Friday 30 March 2012

How do we love this? Let us count the ways...

Today:  a glimpse of rustic chic, for the latest bit of Beauty Bible Bathroom Bliss.
     Can't tell you how much we adore this.  From the distressed barn board walls to great-grandpa's gilt-framed portrait...
     The lantern, and the rusty urns...
     If we're not much mistaken, that's even a headless statue, on the left.
     And of course, invitingly, we really really really like the claw-footed tub.  (Thanks are in order to The Decorista for sharing this...)
     We're not sure we'd like to bathe here every single day of our lives.  But stylish, or what...?
     So we're soakin' it up.

www.thedecorista.com

Thursday 29 March 2012

End this salon scandal!







We're horrified.
     As most of you know, we're all for sustainability in the beauty industry. So naturally, we were appalled to discover that 70% of salons and spas in the Birmingham area are throwing away glass, plastic, card and paper, with the rest of their trash.
     Though the study only covered the Midlands, we've a hunch it applies to the rest of the country, too.  Indeed, it's estimated that each year, as much as 43 million litres of recyclable waste are headed straight from salons to landfill.
     And even when some salons do recycle, it's down to the efforts of their own staff, who take waste to recycling bins themselves.  (Illegal, in some places.  Though commendable, as far as we're concerned...!)
     Three cheers, then, for BeautyRecycled:  a non-profit campaign started by beauty therapists in the Midlands who are as outraged as we are.  They've put together a 'pink to green' pack which outlines how spas and salons can recycle.
     What Beauty Bible is asking you to do is put pressure on the hairdressers, the beauty salons and spas that you visit to do more to recycle.  And sign up to BeautyRecycled.
     Currently, the situation's rubbish.  But if we all join together to help bring out change, that would be a beautiful thing indeed.

www.BeautyRecycled.org
Twitter:     @beautyrecycled
Facebook:  Search for Beauty Recycled

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Bravo for Caudalie!


We've been rather fond of Caudalie since we were first charmed by Matilde Thomas and her husband Bertrand, who were inspired to create their range by Matilde's farmily's vineyard, near Bordeaux.
     But they now deserve a serious pat on the (well-moisturised) backs for signing up to 1% for the Planet, an organisation whose members pledge to donate 1% of all takings - that's takings, not profit (and there's an all-important difference) - to environmental causes.  
     There are already 1,500 eco-responsible companies on board (and not enough beauty brands, in our humble opionion). Caudalie's packaging is already 50% recycled, they're working to develop sustainable sources of palm oil, and support reforestation of the Amazon rainforest.
     If that isn't worth raising a glass of Chateau Smith Haut-Lafite for, we don't know what is...!


Monday 26 March 2012

The secrets of healthy ageing











So who's the geezer?
     That's our mate, health writer Jerome Burne, actually.  And he gets to star on our blog because we need to share news of a free talk Jerome's giving in London based on the wisdom in his new book - called, um, The 10 Secrets of Healthy Ageing, co-written with another chum of ours, Patrick Holford.  (We keep vitamin-powered company, us.)  
     As Jerome puts it, 'As part of grown-up life, there are various things you learn, whether it's looking after your finances, learning to cook or becoming a parent.  Maintaining your health and preparing for a healthy old age should be a similar life skill...'
     We couldn't have put it better ourselves (and that's essentially why we wrote our own anti-ageing oeuvre, of course).
     The free 'evening salon' is to be held in London on Monday 2nd April, and you can click here to book tickets via the www.high50.com website.
     And do say 'hi' to Jerome, from Jo and Sarah...!

Find The 10 Secrets of Healthy Ageing on Amazon, here


Friday 23 March 2012

And now, the butch bathroom!

We have male readers.
     Truly, we do!  (In fact, we'd like to dedicate this post to Jason Ellis, who we don't know from a bar of Bronnley, but who 'Likes' our every Facebook posting.  Which is much appreciated, Jason!)
     So for once, we thought we'd share with you a distinctly male bathroom (as found on www.desiretoinspire.net).  To illustrate the divide between the sexes, as much as anything.
     Where is the pile of fluffy towels...?
     The shelf for cosmetics?
     Er, the cosmetics...?
     And the deep, inviting tub to soak in...?
     As you can tell, this industrial-chic space is not exactly to our taste. But the world would be boring if everyone was the same.  (And we've slightly enlivened it, in our imaginations, by imagining Michael Fassbender swaggering virilely towards us across the concrete...)
     Have a wonderful weekend.
     In which the only drenching you get is in your own shower room!

www.desiretoinspire.net

Thursday 22 March 2012

A better, bigger magazine























Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
     So we welcome the first print edition of SLiNK - subtitled 'Styling your curves and fashioning your life'.
     In other words, it's not for the size zeros of this world, but stands up for the many curvier and gorgeous women out there, with fashion stories, beauty, travel and (naturally!) a recipe or two.  (We believe life's too short not to enjoy food.  End of story.)
     Interestingly, it's also available in several different formats, to fit our different and ever-changing magazine-reading lifestyles.  You can get it for your iPad, as a .pdf or - for good, old-fashioned bedtime browsing - for the first time as a real-life glossy magazine!
     It's a big improvement on what's been available previously.
    
www.slinkmagazine.com

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Nutrition rocks!

















We've waited a long time for a headline like that.
    Even though as far as Beauty Bible is concerned:  nutrition does absolutely 'rock'.  We are what we eat.  And we know from talking to oh, just about a gazillion women over the years, that a woman's skin is what she eats, too.
    Funny,  then, that we still often encounter glazed expressions at the mention of the word.
    But f you've ever been in any doubt that nutrition can be fascinating, useful - even life-changing! - then you might want to attend one of the upcoming Nutrition Rocks Saturday workshops at the so-sexy St. Martin's Lane Hotel, pictured here.  They're led by Hala El-Shafie (she is, among other things, nutritionist to Meg Mathews and Davina McCall, as well as being resident nutritionist on ITV's This Morning), and are all about encouraging women to eat better for health.  (And develop a more positive body image, at the same time.)
     What's more, the workshops bring together celebrity make-up artists and fashion stylists to add a distinctly groovy edge to proceedings.
     In other words:  if you find yourself sitting around discussing Black-Eyed Peas, it's as likely to be the band as a form of protein-rich
dried pulse...

www.nutrition-rocks.co.uk

Dates are:

Saturday 14th April
Saturday 5th May
Saturday 3rd June
Saturday 23rd June
Saturday 22nd September
Saturday 20th October
Saturday 17th November
Saturday 1st December
    
     

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Give a Helping Hand (Wash)

























Love it when this happens.
     Initial supplies of Trilogy's Helping Hand Wash - which raises funds for Child's i-Foundation - sold out, you see.
     Happily, they've got their - er, hands - on further supplies.  And so can you.
     It's the latest in a series of 'beauty-gives-back' projects that Beauty Bible applauds.  All net proceeds from this wash go to the Foundation, which runs projects for abandoned babies and vulnerable mums in Uganda, placing children in loving homes.  (Have a look at the website, here. We kinda defy you not to well up.)
     You've got to hand it to Trilogy for this simple, effective idea.
     Not to mention the simple, effective product.

Find it at www.lovelula.com if you click here
  


Monday 19 March 2012

A Pukka way to better health























We are great believers in the concept of 'positive health'.
     Meaning:  it's not about waiting till something goes wrong physically or mentally, but working every single day to be the healthiest each of us can be.
     Sebastian Pole, of Pukka Herbs, not only shares that philosophy - but has now distilled his years of wisdom into A Pukka Life.  (Sebastian is a trained practitioner in Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and yoga, with a clinic in Bath.)
     It covers everything from food to relationships via spiritual wellbeing and the importance of 'stillness'.  (Stillness. Even saying the word makes us feel a bit calmer, on a crazy day...)
     We think you'll find it positively inspiring.

Find it on Amazon by clicking here
  

Friday 16 March 2012

Rule Victoriana!



















For all our 'junketeer' readers:  how often have you walked past a Victorian mirror like this - actually the top of a dresser, we think - and ignored it...?
     But look what can be done with a lick of white paint, and some vintage accessorising.  We found this on the Desire to Inspire blog - a new interiors 'find' or ours which we follow through Bloglovin - and are now on the look-out for something similar, ourselves.
     Looks fab, eh, with the heart prints, and the 'salvaged' basin...?
     We're pleased to share it as our little corner of Beauty Bible Bathroom Bliss, in the run-up to a relaxing weekend.
     May you be perfectly pampered, wherever you are.

www.desiretoinspire.net

Thursday 15 March 2012

Campaigning for a bald Barbie























Just want to add our voices to a rather wonderful campaign.
     Now, we're big fans of Barbie.  (At least, Jo is:  she owned one of the first-ever Mattel dolls, thanks to her New York-based grandparents.)
     Over the years we've watch the world's No. 1 doll morph through many incarnations.  Rock Star Barbie.  Hawaiian Barbie. Rocket Scientist Barbie.  (OK, we're making that one up...)
     But the one we want to see right now is Bald Barbie.  Yes, really.
     We have many, many friends who have lost their hair over the years, either through chemo or alopecia.  So we're totally behind the campaign organised by Jane Bingham (who lost her hair through chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and her friend Beckie Sypin (whose own daughter lost her hair) to persuade Mattel to produce a doll that can be given to children struggling with hair loss after treatment.
     It could be produced, they suggest, with a range of accessories such as wigs and scarves.  (And it can be done:  Jane and Beckie were inspired when Mattel produced 'customised' bald barbies for two individual child cancer sufferer.)
     So far, Mattel's resisting the pressure.  But we've signed the petition at change.org to persuade Mattel to go for it.  (And wouldn't it be nice if they also used the doll to help raise funds...?
     Will you join us...?

Sign the e-petition here
  
      

Wednesday 14 March 2012

For all you birds of paradise...













Regular Beauty Bible followers will know that teal lips and white eyebrows really aren't our thang.
     But we've always had a sneaking admiration for followers of Illamasqua make-up, who basically consider themselves walking works of art.  (And they are!)
     Well, Illamasqua - now owned by Joe Corre, who's the child of Vivienne Weswood and Malcolm McLaren - has a brand new website with some extraordinary how-to videos.  There's everything from 'Galaxy' nails to their BMX Warrior look (think Leigh Bowery-meets-Marie Antoinette) - which are works of art in themselves...
     And what we would say is that in amidst the kingfisher eyeshadows, the peacock-feather-esque false lashes, the violet blusher and the forest green lipsticks (you've got to love a shade called Apocalips!), there are some seriously wearable 'finds'.  We're raving, for instance, about their new Neutral Palette, which could become the Little Black Dress mainstay of anyone's make-up bag.
     Illamasqua is fun.  It's frivolous.  Just think of it as Dali does make-up, rather than Bobbi Brown.  And besides, wouldn't it be boring if everyone was the same...?

www.illamasqua.com

Tuesday 13 March 2012

brighton


































For some months the beauty world's been abuzz with news that ubercolourist Josh Wood has a new 'atelier' - in Holland Park - and now we know why half the famous heads in London are making a bee-line for W11.
     With permission from her usual colourist - Susan Baldwin at John Frieda - Jo was 'unfaithful' last week.   Stepped inside the Atelier's discreet black glass frontage, through the inner doors (very Get Smart, those ) to the industrial-style space (see above) - which is filled with plenty of the daylight that's necessary for great haircolour - and placed herself in Josh's expert hands.
     The result?  Brilliantly buttery blonde highlights from Mr. Wood, a terrific blow-dry from Marilyn (and a world-class manicure from the nail technician, which lasted a full week without chipping).
     For Jo's end-of-winter 'thirsty' hair (it's all that central heating), Josh prescribed a scalp exfoliation treatment, and a mega-moisture boost.  (There's a lot of 'fried' hair at this end of winter - and if you don't believe us, look around...)  We very much like the fact that the salon's not aligned to any one brand, cherry-picking the best for every individual, from ranges which span Wella to Léonor Greyl.
     Very definitely an 'A-list' experience.
     And haven't you got to love a man who wears desert boots like these...?

Josh Wood Atelier - 6 Landsdowne Mews, London W11 3AN/020-3393 0977 (that number may look weird for London, but it's right)
www.joshwoodcolour.com


     

Monday 12 March 2012

A beautiful thought for a Monday...






















What can we add?  We can only nod, smile, and agree.
     And tell you that this is available as a poster, via Etsy - absolutely our favourite site for unusual hand-made gifts.  (Well, the ones we don't find at the lovely local shops we are both lucky enough to have on our doorsteps...)
     A bientôt!

Find it here at Etsy

Friday 9 March 2012

In the pink for the weekend

As the creators of a series of rather pink books, we were probably always going to love today's Beauty Bible Bathroom Bliss offering, which we stumbled upon at www.housetohome.co.uk.
     But we're taken not only with the sexy colour of the walls.  (NB  Pink is a super-flattering colour for complexions, should you find yourself holding court in the bath.  Which, in a bathroom like this, you probably ought to...)
     Of course, we're also crazy about the reclaimed copper tub.  But mostly, about the giant plaster foot, which is just so stylish.
     Even if it could use a jolly good Margaret Dabbs medi-pedi.
     Have a great weekend...




Thursday 8 March 2012

The ultimate gift with purchase...?
















As regular readers know, we don't usually bother featuring Gifts With Purchase on this site.
     Unless something seriously sexy lands on our desk.
     In this case, with a bit of a thud.  
     The treats tucked into this special limited edition Harvey Nichols make-up bag are (illustrated by Will Broome) are almost too numerous to mention - but highlights include generous travel sizes of Eve Lom Cleanser, Lancôme Visionnaire and Clarins HydraQuench, ESPA 24-Hour Replenishing Moisturiser, Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials, YSL Shocking Mascara.  The finishing touch?  A swoosh of Elemis Pro-Radiance Hand and Nail Cream, and a dab of L'Eau de Chloé.
     OK, so you've got to splash out £110 to get your hands on it - but maybe you've some favourites you can stock up on...?
     If so, then get yourself to Harvey Nix from Monday 12th March or find it on their website, also from Monday.
    And it's a while-stocks-last item.
     Which they may not, for very long, looking at this.

www.harveynichols.com

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Fancy a Menopause Holiday?



















Yes, you read that right.
     And we mean a holiday focusing on the menopause, rather than a holiday from it.  (Alas...)
     We thought you might like to know that the lovely Grayshott Spa is offering a series of Menopause Retreats with the renowned Maryon Stewart, expert in natural alternatives to HRT.
     During this five-day escape you'll learn about foods, exercise, supplements and herbal remedies that can all ease symptoms.
     And of course, being Grayshott, there's a pamper factor:  supportive (and blissful) spa treatments.
     It's suitable for anyone who's hitting perimenopause, in the run-up to menopause, as well as women of un certain age...  The price is £1490 per person, all-inclusive, based on two sharing (although single supplements may be available...)
     According to a recent survey, 91% of women following Maryon's Natural Menopause Plan™ felt significant improvements in their symptoms, within a few months.
     You can also read Maryon's Top Tips for a Healthy Natural Menopause on the Grayshott blog, here...

www.grayshottspa.com
  
     
     

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Truly the people's hero product...
























Of course there's MORI.  And National Opinion Poll.  But one poll we're always interested in is the result of Dr.Hauschka's annual survey of their customers' No. 1 Fave Rave.
     And - cue drumroll! - here it is.
     Though we're not surprised.  This luscious moisturiser crams the extract of over 1,075 rose petals into each tube - and it smells like it!
     So:  look out for the special gold sleeves announcing the elevation of Rose Day Cream to 2012 Hero Product status.  (And do read the reviews on their own website, here.)
     A beauty hero, indeed.

www.drhauschka.co.uk


Monday 5 March 2012

Teal tales (in aid of ovarian cancer research)



Teal is one of the hot nail colours du jour.  
     And this month, OPI's Teal The Cows Come Home delivers a little extra feel-good factor:  £1 from the sale of each bottle of this gorgeous shimmering turquoise will go towards Ovarian Cancer Awareness.  This is an illness which is very often misdiagnosed (or even undiagnosed, until it's advanced, which is why ovarian cancer used to be known as 'the silent killer...') 
     Ovarian cancer support network Ovacome also just launched their BEAT campaign:  a useful acronym to help identify symptoms.  ('B' is for bloating that's persistent and doesn't come and go;  'E' is for eating less and feeling fuller;  'A' is for abdominal pain that you feel most days, and 'T' is for:  Talk to your GP.) 
     Find the special bottles of Teal The Cows Come Home at John Lewis or Selfridges or directly from www.lenawhite.co.uk.
     Even if you're not brave enough to paint it onto your fingernails then it's an instantly cheering shade for toes.  Cocooned as they still are under Wolfords.  What we would say is that while we never usually advise painting daring shades like this on fingernails if you're over, oh, about twenty-three, it does give out the message:  I care about this, a bit like a red AIDS awareness ribbon...
     And about that quid?  Every little helps towards the cause.  (And you get to show your fingers - or at the very least, those toes - are on fashion's pulse.)

www.lenawhite.co.uk
www.ovacome.org.uk

Friday 2 March 2012

A (bath)room with a view










This is for anyone whose bathroom looks out on a brick wall.
     Or a back yard strewn with slides and rusting Tonka toys.
     Or whose bathing space - er, like ours - is a jumble of random beauty products, teetering on the edge of shelves, poised to fall off and crush a metatarsal at any moment.
     It's the bathroom-view-from-heaven - and you'll find it at the Rayavadee Hotel in Krabi, Thailand, bookable through Tablet Hotels (we love them).
     We're sharing it with you in time for the weekend as our little bit of Beauty Bible Bathroom Bliss...