no!no! Trial - Week 4 (of 8)

Well here I am halfway through my eight week no!no! trial, so that's a total of eight treatments so far on my lower legs.

This week I attempted the underarm area, not hugely successfully I'm afraid as it's not a completely flat area, so the machine kept jumping. The hair's also coarser here so I was still left with stubble, even after attempting to buff away. Ditto bikini line.

Some positive news however on the leg front! I can report that the hair growth has now become slightly finer. It's not sparse but it's grown back a little weaker, so I'm happy to see that as the treatments do take perseverance and patience! The hair doesn't grow back with the blunt end you get with shaving, it's more tapered, but it does still grow back at the same rate as if I'd shaved.

One bonus I've noticed over waxing and shaving is that it works well if you are wearing a fake tan as it doesn't strip the colour away! 

If you're thinking of buying a no!no!, please do note that these views are entirely my own and the device will achieve different results for different people. As with any major purchase, always check out the refund policy carefully before investing, just in case it doesn't work for you.

Hope this helps!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

I knew Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser was going to be good (it is, after all, multi-award winning and receives gushing reviews from its dedicated following!) but I have to say, this is the cleanser to end all cleansers!

I was impressed right from the moment my product arrived. My starter pack (including a 100ml pump) came in a signature mint green zip-up pouch, with how-to-use instructions (yes you really do need these as it's not like anything you'll have used before) and two generously-sized white muslin cloths. Just amazing attention to detail. And, priced at £13.25, it's a really special product, but without a guilt-inducing price tag.

I had half-expected the consistency to be granular (because of the polish element in the name) but it's actually a really thick, luxurious white cream, containing cocoa butter. This will sound bizarre - and I mean it in a good way - but it reminded me of a high-quality foot cream in both texture and smell!

It has a really refreshing and cleansing aroma (rosemary, calendula and eucalyptus) and is a sheer joy to smooth onto the skin, which you do when the skin is dry, including the eye area - it's really great for removing eye make-up (do this last to avoid spreading make-up all over your face!). 

The 'polish' element comes in when you remove the product with the muslin cloth as it gently exfoliates the skin. You simply wet the cloth in hand hot water, wring it out then use it to sweep away the product, lightly over the eye area, then rinse and dry the cloth. I run mine through the washing machine and hang out to dry every other day.

A cool splash of water later and I felt like I'd been left with new skin. It made me feel fresher, healthier, younger and more radiant, as if I'd let my skin breathe for the first time in ages. Even just the aromas as you're using the product, combined with the steamy warm water, is a therapeutic treat in itself! In just a couple of weeks, it's sorted out a plethora of problems too, from dry patches to spots. It's a real miracle worker.

What else? The packaging looks beautiful in my bathroom. I love the ethos, the naturally active ingredients, the thought and attention to detail, even the fact that the company hails from the Isle of Wight where Liz has been Nordic walking along the beach. I buy into all of that whole philosophy of blending beauty with health! 

I can't wait to build up my Liz Earle collection. I'm particularly keen to start using it in conjunction with the Skin Repair moisturiser. Oh, and there are some new shampoos too! And for a real treat, I'm going to try and get to the lovely new store in Leeds (the nearest to me) and treat myself to a bliss-out skincare treatment! Can't wait!

Treat yourself to this and you won't look back! There are some fantastic deals and money-saving packages to be found on QVC, www.qvcuk.com, or buy directly from the Liz Earle website www.uk.lizearle.com

Bottled sunshine from Miners!

Nothing signals the arrival of summer (okay, spring!) quite as much as the arrival of some pretty new pastel nail colours, especially when they're inspired by holiday destinations like Moroccan Mint, Laguna Love and Bermuda Blue, like these, brand new from Miners!

My favourite is Coral Cutie (below), an easy-to-wear fruity colour, good on hands and feet, and super hot with a tan! I find three thin layers works best for this, allowing each to dry inbetween. 

The lighter blue shades, Moroccan Mint and Bermuda Blue are ultra-fashionable but need to be applied to a smooth, well-prepared nail surface for a flawless finish, so dig out that ridge-filling base coat and get to work on those cuticles! 

Pretty pink Marshmallow and lilac Laguna, Love are go-to colours when you want to look groomed but need to be out of the door!

A fab range which is going to look sweet with this season's florals and wooden peep-toe stacked sandals. Bring on the summer!

Available from www.miners.co.uk and quality pharmacies, £2.99 each.

AHAVA Energizing Body Mud Mask

When I was first invited to try out a body mud mask I had visions of it splattering all over my bathroom walls, blocking the plug hole and smearing mud all over the towels! In other words, a bit much of a palava!

I'm so glad I put that misconception behind me because AHAVA's Energizing Body Mud Mask is a sheer pleasure to use. It's an ultra-smooth mask with a light pleasant scent that glides easily onto the skin (it has a lovely silky, creamy consistency, not at all messy or drippy) and only takes as long as smoothing on a moisturiser to apply.

As it dries on the skin (about five minutes) it feels refreshingly cool and light. I actually used the five mins to do a deep facial cleanse, then jumped in the shower to rinse it all away. I prefer to use a shower with this product personally, as I wouldn't want to bathe in the product after it's detoxed my skin!

It's packed with therapeutic goodness such as muds and minerals from the Dead Sea, Dunaliella seaweed (known for its anti-ageing properties) and also an aromatic blend of Mandarin and Cedarwood (although this scent is very subtle, but that's often a good think for sensitive skins like mine).

My skin felt tighter, more toned, hydrated and radiant after just one use, especially the upper arms ... a great product to try in preparation for the summer months ahead!

I'm not sure if AHAVA is available to the beauty professional but I so wish I'd discovered this range when I was doing my mobile beauty treatments. This mask would have been ideal, so easy and clean to use and remove, and transport! And easy to retail too!

Do check out the AHAVA range at www.ahava.co.uk, it's a beautifully packaged (affordable) range based on the natural health minerals of the Dead Sea and includes facial and body products, hair care, hand and foot care, plus some gorgeous gift packages - if you're stuck for ideas for Mother's Day!

AHAVA Energizing Body Mud Mask, £14, available from www.ahava.co.uk

Get flirty ... with Lush's Dirty!

This week I've been lucky enough to sample a brand new fragrance from one of my very favourite stores, Lush! It was the name - Dirty - that first grabbed my attention ... intriguing to say the least!

Okay, so this one's really for the man (or men!) in your life, but I'd place bets that us women will be spritzing this on like crazy too! The concept? Well, I love the thinking behind this. The Dirty range, new to Gorilla Perfumes at Lush, is designed for men who don't want too much faff, would like one all-over smell, and don't want to walk around wafting a variety of different aromas behind them.

Each element of the range has its own unique fragrance, which when used as a set, builds up in layers to form the complete fragrance (which is the same as the complete Dirty Complete Fragrance I've been trying above). There's also a shower gel, shaving cream, hair styling cream, body spray, even tooth tabs (a novel idea - a tablet you crush in your mouth and brush!) ... so all bases are covered!

So what's it smell like? I'll be completely honest here. To begin with I wasn't entirely sure (neither was my other half!). It smelt a little culinary and herby (think that's the initial uplifting hit of the mint, tarragon and thyme) but it mellows down through oak moss and lavender to a seductive and sensual base of sandalwood and neroli. Very nice indeed! It's got great staying power too!

Lush Complete Fragrance Spritzer, from £9 for 10ml, available at www.lush.co.uk

Toothy Tabs £2, Spring Wash Shower Gel from £4.25, Shaving Cream £4.95, Hair Styling Cream £5.95 and Body Spray £12.50 all available online or in store.

Clinique freebie in Glamour magazine!

No wonder I've had to search high and low for Glamour magazine this month! The mag's only a couple of quid (the April Fearne Cotton cover), and there's a Clinique freebie stuck to the front! Ten to collect, together worth £80.

I've bagged the All About Eyes eye cream but there's also a make-up remover, two lip glosses, a lip colour, a facial scrub, a facial soap, two moisturisers and a mascara.

Personally I can't think of a better way for Glamour to celebrate its 10th birthday!

no!no! Trial - Week 3 (of 8)

Have been getting on so much better with the no!no! this week, with my new mantra being, moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!

I'm a bit hit and miss when it comes to slapping on the creams but I've discovered this is a step I can't afford to miss with the no!no! My skin is sensitive and the combination of heat (even though mysteriously you can't feel it!) and the buffing away of the singed/crystallised hair afterwards, left my legs feeling a bit on the dry side and a little itchy.

(Just a point but I'd always say go with the cream/aftercare products the manufacturer advises to avoid any reactions).

I had some interesting feedback from a friend who has been using the original model for the past year and who says it's worked well for her. She tries to use it every other night and reports finer hair and some patches with no hair. Would love to hear how anyone else has been getting on?

So after last week, my faith is renewed and I'm replenished with buffers and tips. Results: still pretty much the same as shaving. Is the hair density lighter? Not yet, but time will tell!

More next week when I'll be halfway through my eight week trial.