ghd Limited Edition Precious gift set

'Tis the season to be stunning....

Make all your Christmas wishes come true with this Limited Edition ghd Precious gift set available now from e-tailer with a conscience http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/.
The set contains everything you need to create stunning seasonal styles. The exquisite box will be the perfect present to find under the tree!
Inside this gorgeous box set you will find:

Black and silver baroque ghd IV styler- for endless, exquisite styles
Travel hair dryer - get real heat on the go, ideal for traveling
Heat resistant roll bag - keep your styling essentials safe with specialist styler and hair dryer compartments.

-These are Limited Edition once their gone, their gone! So get yours asap to avoid disappointment! And don't forget, purchase your pair at http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ and you will automatically donate 5% of the order total to your chosen charity at no extra cost to yourself! What are you waiting for?

http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/hair-limited-edition-precious-straightener-great-price-wwwshoptobenefitcouk-p-1907.html

Get the look- step by step

Go glam this Christmas with this seasons hottest look- Big bouncy curls as modelled here by the effortlessly stylish Lauren Conrad. No doubt Lauren has a stylist to get her looking this glam for a red carpet event but for us mere mortals here's how to create the look at home:-

• 
  You want your hair to have lots of volume for this look so start off with a body building shampoo like Paul Mitchell Extra body daily shampoo and follow with Paul Mitchell Extra Body daily rinse conditioner. Concentrating on the lengths and ends to avoid weighing down the roots.
• When wet, spritz hair with ghd thermal protector to prevent damage from heat styling. Also add a volumising product such as Paul Mitchell Extra Body Sculpting foam to give your style lasting body and flexible hold.-
  
• Tip your head upside down and blast the roots then dry the rest off with a big barell brush like Tigi surreal XXL anti static radial hair brush.taking care to lift the roots with the brush as you go. -
• TOP TIP- finish blow drying with a blast of cold air to seal the cuticle an dgive the hair extra shine.
• Take section approximately one inch wide and comb through so it's smooth.
  Lightly mist the hair with ghd creation spray to hold the curls for longer and smooth the product through with your fingers.
• Insert the ghd IV salon styler vertically at the roots, and with your free hand hold onto the ends of the hair. Rotate the styler 180 degrees and then glide down the length of the hair until you reach the ends. Release the curl, catch it with your finger and wrap around.
  TOP TIP: The slower you move the styler, the firmer the curl will be.
• Apply a polishing serum to the hair for extra definition like 'Tigi Sfactor One Curl at a Time'. Use your fingers to dress and separate the curls, and then lightly mist with Tigi Masterpiece hair spray.-http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/tigi-head-masterpiece-300ml-p-1075.html
• TOP TIP add extra body to fine hair with celeb favourite; Racoon hair extensions ( see October Blog below for more info)

Everything you need to create this look is available from charity e-tailer http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ and dont forget 1% of every purchase made is donated to charity. Glamour with a conscience!

xoxo

Dear Santa....

Christmas is all about giving. We all love the thrill of tearing open that first present on Christmas morning, whether its a bottle of our favourite perfume, that new mascara off the telly or the brand new glitzy pair of hair straighteners from ghd we have been lusting over (yes I know I'v already got a pair but I haven't got a pair in that colour and just look at the pretty bag it comes with...) But glamous gifts aside, christmas is also a time to give something back to those in need. Wouldn't it be great if you could treat all your friends and familly to all the latest must have hair and beauty products whilst still giving something back to charity? Well now you can - make www.shoptobenefit.co.uk your number one place to do your christams shopping this year and 5% of everything you purchase will be donated to a charity sector of your choice including childrens health charitys and cancer care and whats more you can get all your presents beautifully gift wrapped and sent to your loved ones with just the click of a button!

Here's the top ten most wanted gifts all available from 5 star salon and charity e-tailer shoptobenefit.co.uk

1.Ghd limited edition box set

2. St Tropez complete bronzing set

3.Dermalogica skin kit

4. Coleen fragrance

5.Paul Mitchell curling wand

6.Jessica zen spa revitalising citrus tote

7.Clarins Eau Dynamisante bath and body gift set

8. Tigi hair kits

9.Dermalogica shaving kit

10. www.shoptobenefit.co.uk gift voucher

Happy shopping! xxx

Winter Skin

Winter Wonder Products, October 2009
When the temperature outside drops the temperature inside evidently rises. Within days the condition of your skin & hair can be as dull as the weather if you have not made the necessary changes to your beauty routine.
Over the last few weeks salon clients have been concerned about the lack luster of their hair and the dryness of their skin. Low humidity, heavier clothing, central heating, warmer bathing and environmental assault can leave skin feeling dry and itchy and hair dehydrated and flat. Most people start slathering on lotion and hope for the best, but there are more effective ways to prevent and combat winter beauty woes. Everyone changes their wardrobe for winter, but most don’t change their beauty routine.
Here are ten top products from shoptobenefit.co.uk a professional hair and beauty retailer and 5 star salon, to help you with stay on top this winter.

1 Clarins Extra Comfort Cleansing Cream, for dry or sensitized skin 200 ml, £22.00 http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state ‘Switching to a cream cleanser during winter months restores soft, smooth skin and luminous radiance. This cream also feels and smells wonderful, you almost look forward to winter’.

2 St Tropez Complete Lotion Bronzing Set , £45.00 http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state ‘False tan continues to sell through the winter despite the lack of sun but our top tip for a flawless tan is preparation and for the tan to look good the skin must be hydrated. We recommend this set as it includes the multi-use tan optimisers which not only prepare the skin for the perfect tan, but also helps to keep the skin moisture rich. Includes the original salon-inspired Bronzing Lotion 8oz, Body Polish 240ml, Body Moisturiser 240ml, Latex Gloves and a Buffing Mitt. Saving £18.50.

3 Dermalogica Dry Skin Care Kit, £24.00 contains Essential Cleansing Solution 50ml, Multi Active Toner 50ml, Intensive Moisture Balance Moisturiser 22ml, Gentle Cream Exfoliant10ml and Climate Control Lips (see below) 0.15oz. http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state ‘These kits from Dermalogica are extremely good value for money and a great introduction to Dermalogica they last for 1 month used correctly twice a day and fly out of the salon all year round.’

4 Jessica Phenomen Oil, 0.5fl oz, £12.55 http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state ‘Rehydrates skin around nails, even elbows, feet, knees-wherever dryness demands a refreshing drink of moisture. Phenomenal!’

5 Clarins Eau Dynamisante Invigorating Fragrance 100ml £25.00 http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state ‘ Although strictly this is not a hair or skincare product we had to give it nb 5 because of its popularity there is a distinct increase in sales as the nights draw in due to its revitalising benefits and wonderful woody winter notes.’

6 Paul Mitchell Take Home Moisture Kit, £11.00 Contains Instant Moisture Daily Shampoo 100ml, Instant Moisture Daily Treatment 100ml, Awamphui Moisture Mist 100ml. http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state these products hydrate soften and replenish. Keep silky shine on tap, quench dull dry tresses with the deep hydration of Paul Mitchell Moisture.’

7 GHD Thermal Protector Spray 150ml, £9.75 http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state ‘Add sustained moisture when heat-styling with this light hold thermal protector containing UVA protection. Meadow foam seed oil maintains the moisture content and helps increase the elasticity of the hair during the heated styling processes. This product offers long-lasting protection from humid conditions’.

9 Dermalogica Climate Control 75oz, £29.00. ‘A therapeutic balm that helps acutely damaged facial skin and provides a protective shield against further climatic assaults. Our golfing ladies buy this religiously during the winter months.’

10 Clarins Extra Comfort Toning Lotion, 200ml, £16.00 for dry or sensitized skin http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ state ‘The Extra Comfort Toning Lotion is the perfect partner to the cleansing cream and enhances the skin’s own moisture balance while maintaining a youthful complexion. It also allows the skin to feel wet after a cream cleanse. Clients love these products so much they don’t want to stop using them when summer comes round.’

When you buy from http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/ 5% of the retail price is given to a charity sector of your choice. What a great way to feel wonderful this winter inside and out.

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Festive Frolics

Festive Frolics

As the season changes and the nights draw in we can bode farewell to the fresh face of summer and trying to achieve that ever, illusive barefaced natural look and say a welcoming hello to decadent excess. Big hair, crazy make-up, false lashes, voluptuous lips, and dark varnishes are everywhere and this particular craze is achievable to all.

Sexy tousled hairstyle, dark smouldering eyes, and full glossy lips are the trademarks of the classic vamp. Choose eye shadow from the darker end of the spectrum and concentrate colour around the lash lines and on the lids for extra intensity. Then paint lips a darker nude colour to emphasise volume and definition and add a coat of gloss on top for high shine glamour. Follow our step-by-step guide to easy glamour.

 Step 1
Make sure your face is clean and washed, and then pat it dry. You want to start with a clean palette. First, emphasize your eyebrows for a dramatic effect. Use a good quality eyebrow pencil such as Clarins that is similar to your natural colour. Follow the natural arch and lines of your eyebrows, colouring them in to darken and emphasize arches.
 Step 2
Apply a light-coloured concealer under your eyes to hide dark circles, if desired. Pat the concealer from the bottom inner corner of your eye to the top of the cheekbone to the outer edge of your eye. Let the concealer absorb for a full minute. I would recommend YSL touché éclat or similar.
 Step 3
Prime your eyelids with a dark primer to help create the glam effect a good quality Clarins dark eyeliner pencil will do the job. Using this will help hold the eye shadow on your eyes and prevent a creasing effect. Apply it all over the eyelids, and blend. Next, highlight the brow bone area with a light-coloured eyeshadow, with a smaller soft brush. Swipe a coat of it from your eyelids up to the brow bone and a little outside of the eye's edge.
 Step 4
Use a medium-sized fluffy brush to apply the first coat of eyeshadow on the eyelids. Start with a mid colour all over the lid, up to the crease. Next, use a smaller, firmer brush to sweep an eyeshadow that is a couple of pigments darker, into the crease. Also run this colour along the bottom lash line on each eye.

 Step 5
Use a darker eyeliner to line the bottom and top lash line. Draw a thicker line on the top lash line, starting from the inner corner and gliding to the outer corner, a little outside the edges. It you wing it outwards slightly, it will create a more dramatic effect. Wipe a cotton swab lightly under your eyes to remove makeup dust.
 Step 6
Use a makeup sponge to apply a concealer that matches your skin tone to your blemishes or entire face, depending on what you desire. Add more lighter-coloured concealer to your under eyes if necessary to remove dark makeup smudges.

 Step 7
Use a large, soft makeup brush to sweep light to medium pink-toned blush such as Clarins Raspberry from the apples of your cheeks, sweeping up to your temples. Dot bronzer if desired, on the creases underneath your cheek's apples, the tip of the nose, the forehead and chin.  Step 8
Apply a dark brown or black mascara to the upper and bottom lashes, starting at the base, then wiggling the mascara wand outwards to cover all of the lashes. Use at least two coats. If you require a more dramatic effect use false lashes or Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara.

 Step 9
Use light to medium hues for your lips, depending on your skin tone. For this type of Glam makeup, you do not want to use a brightly coloured red or pink lipstick and lip liner. It's best to use more subtle tones, such as a pinkish tan or a light pink First, line your lips with a lip pencil that matches the lipstick shade you chose. Apply the lip liner just on the outside of your natural lip lines to create a fuller effect for your lips.
 Step 10
Apply the lipstick over your lips, and top it off with a lip-gloss that adds sparkle, shimmer or shine. I would recommend the Joli Rouge range of matching lipsticks and liners.

Complete the look ..
To work the look from tip to toe add big hair, with Racoon Hair Extensions or add volume and curls to your own with Velcro rollers or ghd straightening irons, add a shimmer to your skin with a good quality indulgent body lotion such as Clarins Eau Dynamisante, and add Eau Dynamisante fragrance for decadent layering, finally don’t forget that all important matching manicure and pedicure in something like Jessica’s Glamorous Gladiator for polished perfection.

Now all you need is a little black dress, some killer heals and a venue!
all products available on http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk

Racoon Hair Extensions

I have wanted hair extensions for years but thought that I had missed the boat not having had them done when they first became popular, however no sooner had posh taken them out Cheryl Cole had put them in and the hair extension craze is far from finished.

So last week I succumbed and offered my services as a model when my Salon decided to take them on, we opted from Raccoon as they seemed to have a great training programme and I must say I am delighted with the results.

However I have lots to share with you on the subject; things I feel you must know in considering hair extensions are as follows;

It is an extremely time consuming procedure getting them put in and can take anything from three hours to eight depending on the thickness and cut of your natural hair and what you are trying to achieve, so be prepared to dedicate the day to it in the first instance and a further day every six weeks to eight for maintenance to be carried out to keep them looking good.

There is a range of hair to choose from with Euro Hair being the most expensive the direct cost of the hair is passed onto the customer with Raccoon but this is costed on weight and length and comes at a rather hefty price in its own right.

The salon would then charge upwards of £30 per hour for fitting the hair and on an average head you can expect to be spending between £100-£200 on hair thus the total cost of the extensions would be approximately upwards of £350. A consultation in the salon would be able to provide you with an exact cost. I know our prices start at £199

Raccoon hair should last for six months, so after six months you will need to re buy another bundle of hair.

The hair is loose and the technician will bond it to your hair with adhesive, I have approximately 150 bonds in my hair and while this has achieved fantastic results and a really natural finish it is like trying to sleep on 150 kirby grips and has taken some getting used to. The first couple of days was extremely uncomfortable but two weeks in my head has completely accepted the bonds to the point that I am now not even aware of them.

I was dreading having to wash my hair but this proved a pleasant surprise I used the special Raccoon Shampoo and Conditioner ( which you are required to use to guarantee the hair ) and followed the instructions in gently pushing the products into the hair but not rubbing or pulling the hair and avoiding the bonds and it was a very straightforward procedure. The hair combed through really easily (with the Raccoon Comb) and although I know not to wash it until I have half hour to spare to style it there is no reason to fear this part.

Styling however is another story, firstly you have to dry the roots of the hair - and I tend to use the medium heat for this to avoid damaging the bonds then turn the heat up to dry the rest of the hair and this takes me a good ten minutes as there is so much hair and I need it bone dry to put the irons on it. The first couple of times I did it I used no styling products and it did the hair no favours - I would say you have to have the Raccoon leave in Conditioner and Raccoon Serum ( both applied to wet hair before drying ) to keep it looking good and blending with your natural hair. The other important point is in my opinion to get it looking good you have to use a good curling tool or irons on the hair to groom it, loose curls or soft waves look fantastic as does it when it is fully straightened however leaving it alone does not do it justice, The Euro hair does have a soft wave in it and you can sort of scrunch it but this is not as good as an effect as putting the curl in with the irons. My head stylist also tried to blow dry it but it just pulled and our efforts at velcro rollers were equally unsuccessfully. Although heated rollers with Paul Mitchell soft spray worked amazingly well.

Thus it has take me a week to get round to working out how to style it and the answer is to put in soft waves with a GHD straightener, I have tried a curling wand but the curls were too small for my liking, I also tried the larger GHD salon straighteners and found this made the job much easier now having so much hair. All in all from shampoo to finish I can still do my hair in 30 minutes, without extension's I could do it in ten but had to do it every day with extensions my hair is so versatile that It only needs washing and blow drying few times a week and you can also get away with just washing the top section for a freshen up.

So to summarise LOVE IT but you need the following, Racoon tools, patience, money and skill with a straightening iron, (easily picked up from a You Tube Tutorial - If I can do it anyone can ! )

Raccoon Shampoo
Raccoon Conditioner
Raccoon Leave In Conditioner
Raccoon Serum
Raccoon Comb - for wet hair and damp hair
Raccoon Brush - only for use when hair is 90% dry
GHD Straightening Irons preferably salon ones
Hairspray
Dry Shampoo

There is also a Racoon Masque and Thermal Defence Spray which are also both great products

http://www.shoptobenefit.co.uk/racoon-m-152.html?osCsid=d0mr5lo7nc5qn365iu72oc4j37

Guidline Prices you can expect to pay for Racoon Euro* Hair
Raccoon recommend the following amounts (in grammes) for a full head of hair:
Dark hair:
10inch (dark hair) 75g - £74.18
12inch (dark hair) 100g - £103.50
14 inch (dark hair) 125g - £158 (this is what I have had in mine)
16inch (dark hair) 150g - £219.08
18inch (dark hair) 175g - £91.81
20inch (dark Hair) 200g - £368.00

Light Hair:
10inch (light hair) 75g - £118.16
12inch (light hair) 100g - £164.45
14inch (light hair) 125g - £242.94
16inch (light hair) 150g - £322.58
18inch (light hair) 175g - £392.44
20inch (light hair) 200g - £487.60

*What Racoon says about their hair -
"We use the term 'Euro' to best describe our fabulous, premium quality product. We do not use the term European because this clearly defines the geographical limitations for collection, yet it is well known that human hair from contries beyond Europe befit the description in terms of finesse , texture and movement. In our selection process we are extremely careful to ensure that the hair is 'root point correct' i.e. that the cuticles are all alligned the same way. This is only possible if the hair has originated from raw cuttings. It is a scarce commodity. Fortunately for our customers we have a long number of standing loyal suppliers throughout the world who supply us exclusively. They in turn have vast networks of long established collecters who reject anything that does not meet our standards"

Am I suitable for hair extensions? there are alot of factors that need to be considered before you choose to have hair extension. These are the main contra- indications:

Your hair is:
Very porous
Has severe breakage
Very dry/damaged
Has some baldness (patches)
Is bleached over 30% or permed
Is Less than 2.5 inches long all over

You suffer from a medical condition that affect the hair (e.g. alopecia, anaemia, chemotherapy)

You spend little or no time on my hair, seldom visit the salon and would not return regularly for maintenance.

Also I am glad to report I have not lost any hair at all to date and the boys are not pulling at it, however I did not account for how much hair I would have when choosing the colour in hindsight due to the amount of it I am too dark and should be a shade lighter.
The only other things I can tell you about it is that it is only gaurenteed when you follow the salons advise on correct product useage and maintenance etc and your technician should be able to cut it for you for a completely finished look.

If you have had professional hair extensions done and can share any more tips please do mail me

"Website of the Week!"

Western Mail

Saturday, 17th October 2009
WM Weekend
My Secret Boutique
Edited By Lydia Whitfield

"We love everything about this newly-launched site brimming with well priced beauty booty and plenty of charitable conscience. It's been established by mum of three Leanne Abraham, whose slick Bridgend salon The Priory, is, like the website, well worth a visit. 1% of every sale goes to UK charities and you get to choose whether its Childrens Health, Cancer Care, Environment or Community Support. Charity specific products are also available. When money is tight charities do suffer, so if your buying products anyway, this is THE place to buy them. www.shoptobenefit .co.uk"