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Hi girls!
Are any of you fans of Essie nail polish like I am? (I've always been crazy about Exotic Liras; it's the best colour to help brighten up pale winter toes o' death...).
Now, as it turns out, Essie isn't just some random name thought up by the company – an 'Essie' actually exists! I got to meet her the other day at the launch of their new Essie ejuvenate hand care products.
Essie Weingarten's nail empire began with just twelve colours which she sold in selected salons in Las Vegas. However, her secret formula, which she ensured "went on like silk, yet wore like iron", was the key to her brand now being available in 95 countries across the globe!
Here I am, posing with Ms. Weingarten myself. (Just so you know, she smells divine and I found it very interesting that she wears a mix of Chanel's Allure and Clinique's Happy. "I'm always mixing and blending things," she said. "Perfume, nail polish, you name it..."
Now, with regards to ejuvenate, you can keep an eye out for it in stores. It's a four piece 'system' that consists of a cleanser, exfoliator, "radiance treatment" and "intense recovery" hand cream. If, however, you've only got the bucks to buy just one thing, make it the Advanced Radiance hand treatment. Enriched with caffeine, arbutin and liquorice root, it'll help tighten up your skin while gently reducing the appearance of age spots.
Now, let's talk hair... we've been getting a lot of hair stuff lately and it's been fun, trying out different brands.
The first I got to play with was Marc Anthony. I've never heard of this dude before, but as it turns out, he's like the Ken Paves of Canada. In fact, he's primped 'n pimped the likes of Paris Hilton, Catherine Zeta Jones and Kate Bosworth. He now has his own line of products and you can buy them locally in selected PnPs, Checkers and Dis-Chems.
I tried his Instantly Thick Hair Thickening Cream (R89,99) and was very impressed. It's a medium-textured cream that smells like juicy mangos. Massaging a dollop of the cream into your damp hair before drying results in a big, bouncy 'do that looks and feels liked you've used mousse, but without any 'crispiness'. I love that it contains a whack of hydrolized proteins (corn, wheat and soy) – these ingredients help to add softness, flexibility and shine, which is fantastic for my highlight-damaged hair. Even better? The bounce really lasts. The next morning I woke up with a seriyas bouffant!
Caro, our resident chef and curly-haired girl tested and liked the alcohol-free non-sticky Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion (R89,99). She said it helped define her curls while taming fly-aways and frizz, but didn't add any heaviness. As an added bonus, it also left her locks shiny-looking and soft to the touch.
We also received a hair dye; Schwarzkopf Palette Deluxe Intensive Caring Colour (R79,99) which Cath, our Food Editor, made a spectacular dive for. "I've actually used this," she said, ripping the box from Kele's grip, "Give it meee! I want it!" (elbow, elbow, elbow...)
I don't know if you need a better endorsement than that really. But still, I thought I'd quiz her as to the exact specifics of its fabulousness and she revealed that it's easy to use, colours uniformly and 'covers greys' like magic. (As it turns out, Cath is actually a bit 'salt and pepper', which came as a real surprise to me. I've only ever known her to have shiny, chocolate brown locks). Clearly Palette's working out for her.
Another beauty goodie we got to test and love? Max Factor Second Skin foundation (R169). It uses 'multi-tonal pigment technology' to blend into your natural skin tone. Now, what that means in English – jirre – I couldn't tell you. But when we slapped it on Meags, our Content Producer, it really did blend seamlessly into her skin. And we love that it's sheer enough to let your freckles peep through, but gives enough coverage to hide things like minor acne scarring and redness.
Last, but not least, are any of you girls crazy about Crabtree & Evelyn? (I am! In a bad, wallet-crunching kinda way...) If so, you have to haul your ass in-store and take a look at their new Heritage Soap collection! They've cracked open their archives and re-issued six of the most beautiful classic soaps from back in the day – three glycerine ones and another three triple milled versions. My absolute favourite is Vetiver & Juniperberry Triple Milled (R100). Crabtree have a detailed explanation on their site as to how it's supposed to smell like vetiver, sandalwood and cypress, but to me it's seems to capture the essence of a gorgeous, sexy man! And, really, who doesn't want THAT in your shower?
Next time you're in store, go give it a sniff and tell me if I'm wrong.
Love, love
Leigh
Are any of you fans of Essie nail polish like I am? (I've always been crazy about Exotic Liras; it's the best colour to help brighten up pale winter toes o' death...).
Now, as it turns out, Essie isn't just some random name thought up by the company – an 'Essie' actually exists! I got to meet her the other day at the launch of their new Essie ejuvenate hand care products.
Essie Weingarten's nail empire began with just twelve colours which she sold in selected salons in Las Vegas. However, her secret formula, which she ensured "went on like silk, yet wore like iron", was the key to her brand now being available in 95 countries across the globe!
Here I am, posing with Ms. Weingarten myself. (Just so you know, she smells divine and I found it very interesting that she wears a mix of Chanel's Allure and Clinique's Happy. "I'm always mixing and blending things," she said. "Perfume, nail polish, you name it..."
Now, with regards to ejuvenate, you can keep an eye out for it in stores. It's a four piece 'system' that consists of a cleanser, exfoliator, "radiance treatment" and "intense recovery" hand cream. If, however, you've only got the bucks to buy just one thing, make it the Advanced Radiance hand treatment. Enriched with caffeine, arbutin and liquorice root, it'll help tighten up your skin while gently reducing the appearance of age spots.
Now, let's talk hair... we've been getting a lot of hair stuff lately and it's been fun, trying out different brands.
The first I got to play with was Marc Anthony. I've never heard of this dude before, but as it turns out, he's like the Ken Paves of Canada. In fact, he's primped 'n pimped the likes of Paris Hilton, Catherine Zeta Jones and Kate Bosworth. He now has his own line of products and you can buy them locally in selected PnPs, Checkers and Dis-Chems.
I tried his Instantly Thick Hair Thickening Cream (R89,99) and was very impressed. It's a medium-textured cream that smells like juicy mangos. Massaging a dollop of the cream into your damp hair before drying results in a big, bouncy 'do that looks and feels liked you've used mousse, but without any 'crispiness'. I love that it contains a whack of hydrolized proteins (corn, wheat and soy) – these ingredients help to add softness, flexibility and shine, which is fantastic for my highlight-damaged hair. Even better? The bounce really lasts. The next morning I woke up with a seriyas bouffant! Caro, our resident chef and curly-haired girl tested and liked the alcohol-free non-sticky Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion (R89,99). She said it helped define her curls while taming fly-aways and frizz, but didn't add any heaviness. As an added bonus, it also left her locks shiny-looking and soft to the touch.
We also received a hair dye; Schwarzkopf Palette Deluxe Intensive Caring Colour (R79,99) which Cath, our Food Editor, made a spectacular dive for. "I've actually used this," she said, ripping the box from Kele's grip, "Give it meee! I want it!" (elbow, elbow, elbow...) I don't know if you need a better endorsement than that really. But still, I thought I'd quiz her as to the exact specifics of its fabulousness and she revealed that it's easy to use, colours uniformly and 'covers greys' like magic. (As it turns out, Cath is actually a bit 'salt and pepper', which came as a real surprise to me. I've only ever known her to have shiny, chocolate brown locks). Clearly Palette's working out for her.
Another beauty goodie we got to test and love? Max Factor Second Skin foundation (R169). It uses 'multi-tonal pigment technology' to blend into your natural skin tone. Now, what that means in English – jirre – I couldn't tell you. But when we slapped it on Meags, our Content Producer, it really did blend seamlessly into her skin. And we love that it's sheer enough to let your freckles peep through, but gives enough coverage to hide things like minor acne scarring and redness. Last, but not least, are any of you girls crazy about Crabtree & Evelyn? (I am! In a bad, wallet-crunching kinda way...) If so, you have to haul your ass in-store and take a look at their new Heritage Soap collection! They've cracked open their archives and re-issued six of the most beautiful classic soaps from back in the day – three glycerine ones and another three triple milled versions. My absolute favourite is Vetiver & Juniperberry Triple Milled (R100). Crabtree have a detailed explanation on their site as to how it's supposed to smell like vetiver, sandalwood and cypress, but to me it's seems to capture the essence of a gorgeous, sexy man! And, really, who doesn't want THAT in your shower?
Next time you're in store, go give it a sniff and tell me if I'm wrong.
Love, love
Leigh
