Juniper Sling by Penhaligon's London

Darlings, I have discovered the most intoxicating new fragrance inspired by none other than London Dry Gin. Created for Penhaligon's by master perfumer Olivier Cresp, Juniper Sling is a playful, chilled and mysterious homage to the bright young things of London's roaring twenties.

For enigmatic boys and girls, Juniper Sling is a crisp cocktail shot of gin with the freshness of juniper, cool measures of angelica and brandy and a beating libertine heart of black pepper, cardamom, soft leather and orris. A gourmand base of brown sugar, black cherry and amber add sensuality to the scent.

I advise you apply this one liberally and drink in.

Dr. Hauschka's Rose Oil from Ethiopia

With sustainability at the core of its business Dr. Hauschka has invested in another project, this time in Ethiopia, establishing a biodynamic resource for rose essential oil, the heart of its skincare line. 

Seven years ago, Ethiopian farmer Fekade Lakew joined forces with WALA (Dr. Hauschka's parent company) and began cultivating Damask roses in keeping with the principles of biodynamic agriculture. This year, Fekade distilled the first batch of essential rose oil, which was also the very first in Africa to achieve organic quality. 

The benefit of growing roses in Ethiopia, near the equator, is that the lifespan of the bloom increases sustainability, giving farmers twice the time to harvest and requiring fewer pickers, who can often still be employed after the usual season has finished. 

Every year, Dr. Hauschka sells over 1 million tubes of its famous Rose Day Cream. With more than one thousand single pink Damask Rose petals used to create each single product, Rose Day Crema has become a cult classic, famous for its brilliant results and as a hit with celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Imogen Poots and Georgie Jagger.

Get the Wavy Lady Look

Add a touch of 1930s glamour to your tresses with some vintage-style waves this season. This look is salon created by applying a setting lotion to freshly cleansed and conditioned hair, then setting on large rollers and drying under a hood drier. But it’s also a look which can be created at home by setting on large Velcro rollers, or if you are dextrous when using them – double-barrelled tongs. Lovely stylists at Haringtons Hairdressing shared their secret with me.

TO STYLE AT HOME

Step 1

Apply a setting agent (such as tecni.art pli) to day-old hair to give it ‘guts’ and help set the waves in place. If using hot rollers, use a heat protective spray too, followed by a setting agent of your choice.

Step 2

Using a Denman pin-tail comb, divide hair into sections (the finer the section, the greater the curl) and wind around Velcro or hot rollers.

Step 3

Once completely dry, brush hair through using the Denman Classic Brush, creating your favoured wave by moulding hair into shape using both the brush and your hands. Finish with a light hold spray.

Voila, all done and ready for fabulous Christmas parties.

Russie Blanche in K West Spa

Spa brand, Russie Blanche adored by Kirsten Dunst, has launched a beautiful Cranberry Banya Ritual at the K West Spa to boost the immune system and promote energy over the long dark winter months.

Prestigious spa brand, Russie Blanche introduces this specialist Banya ritual to boost the immune system, fight stress and increase energy whilst simultaneously providing a surge of comfort and hydration to rescue chaotic winter skin. This combines the NEW nourishing and anti-oxidant rich, Cranberry treatment with the signature adaptogeneous plant Russian remedies.    

Russie Blanche’s key ingredients, used at every stage, are powerful Adaptageneous Plants: Siberian Ginseng and Siberian Golden Root, used for centuries in Russian Medicine.  The potency and benefits were officially recognized by Russian Scientist Dr Lazarev, for their ability to increase the body’s resistance to stresses, from various illnesses through to everyday stress and tension.  It’s been unveiled as a secret medicine used by Russian astronauts and military.  Today, their usage has extended to leading politicians and Olympic Athletes …warding off stresses to maintain optimal performance.  

Russie Blanche has just been awarded prize of ‘Niche Brand Award’ at the Beauty Challenger Awards 2012, complementing the treatment and products for its creativity and originality.  Fans of Russie Blanche include Anna Kounrnakova and Catherine Jenkins.

Darlings, it sounds like the must have winter treatment!

Joy for the World - Heaven for Your Skin

For Christmas 2012, Carol Joy London has created two exclusive 'his and hers' luxury beauty sets. This range os skin and hair products is renowned for its anti-ageing properties. Made up of highly effective and luxurious ingredients including Micronised Diamond Dust, Golden Millet Seed Oil, Collagen Boosters and Cell Guard, all proven to leave the skin radiant, renewed and repaired.

Carol Joy London Christmas Stocking is beautifully packaged in a limited edition velvet stocking with a festive gold motif, this set contains five essential products from the range, infused with the IV Ever Complex, the camerstone ingredients of Carol Joy London, to cleanse, lift and pamper.

Christmas at Elemental Herbology

This lush gift set from Elemental Herbology is definitely going straight onto my Christmas Shopping list. We all like to indulge ourselves with great skin care products, and these two, Body Wash and Body Cream, will be the perfect gift for yourself or any of your friends.

Neroli & Rose Damask Body Wash is a SLS-free body wash infused with pure Orange Flower Water, Evening Primrose and Rose Oil and will gently cleanse, purify and nourish dry skin, while the Neroli & Rose Damask Body Cream is infused with pure Rose Damask Water and will restore optimum moisture and soothe sensitive skin. Isn't this a great combo!

Raw Gaia - Natural & Organic

Natural and organic food trends have been teaching us how to live healthier lives for years now. The same trend has been surging to the surface on the beauty industry. Raw Gaia is one of the natural and organic skin brands, which does wonders for your skin au naturel. I asked them what makes them special, and here are some of their unique points, which set them aside from others:

1. All products are luxuriously pre-wrapped with rose buds, paper fibres and folded into purple paper to make you feel special.
2. 95% of Raw Gaia products are raw and cold pressed/cold extracted to retain all essential compounds.
3. Raw Gaia products include just 100% pure and organic cold pressed oils, floral waters, natural butters, essential oils, etc.
4. All products are hand-made, vegan and cruelty free.
5. Raw Gaia products can be bought in trial sizes.

If you are new to organic beauty products or you have been using them for years, Raw Gaia is a must try - start with the trail size and see for yourself.