With just over 3 weeks until entries close on 31 January for the 2014 Beauty Shortlist Awards coming this March, we’ve gone into ‘trying and testing’ overdrive.
This time around we’ll be posting some of the “best of” entries along the way, before the Awards happen – a handpicked edit of the beauty finds we think are worth flagging because they’re too good not to share now.
Find out if they made the top three in our Awards categories on Friday 7th, when we’ll be posting the full list of winners and runners up on our dedicated 2014 Awards Page in the (extremely) early hours of the morning on the big day.
SOAPSMITH’S BLOOMSBURY BATH SOAK (Fresh roses, honeysuckle, primose and peony)
First up, Soapsmith’s Bloomsbury Bath Soak £12 (above). We’re willing to bet money this jar of 5-star bath bliss will leave you, your bath and your bathroom smelling of fresh roses (the first time we tried this the bathroom was still rose-scented the next morning!)
It’s a blend of fresh roses (complete with a few rose leaves in the mix), honeysuckle, primrose and peony in a base of coconut milk powder, Epsom salts, Dead Sea Salts and coconut butter, it’s as hydrating as it is heavenly-scented.
London-based and London-inspired brand Soapsmith also does a Lavender version (on the left in the pic). And if you love mint, you’ll thank your lucky stars you’ve discovered their Green Park Soap, not sure we’d be able to start the day without this now.. totally addicted! SOAPSMITH.COM
SU-MAN VELVET SKIN BRIGHTENING SERUM
After five years as personal facialist to actress Juliette Binoche, Su-Man now runs a private practice at home and is a sought-after guest facialist at the W Hotels in London, Doha, Bali and Singapore. She’s just launched her own capsule skincare collection and luckily for Londoners, she’s at the W Hotel, Leicester Square so if you fancy treating yourself to a session with “the superhero among facialists” as ELLE mag called her, book yourself in!
We’ve been testing Su-Man’s Velvet Skin Brightening Serum and we can see what all the fuss is about.
PURE ACTIVE PEEL by 001 Skincare
If you love skincare that multi-tasks and feels energetically “alive”, you’ll enjoy delving into 001 Skincare. Another newcomer, this London brand founded by beauty therapist Ada Ooi launched on 1 November – watch this space. More “treatments”, really, than just “products”, 001’s intelligent formulas are boosted by “super-natural” ingredients (get your Latin dictionary out for the list below!) – there’s a lot to love about this brand and we’ll be hearing a lot more about in 2014.
Active enzymes from pineapple and natural AHA acids from Muscovado Sugar help gently remove dead skin cells, soothe the appearance of fine lines and instantly soften skin texture. A fine formulation of Marine Algae and Chinese Peppermint is cocktailed with natural Citrus Essences to hydrate, plump and leave skin revitalised.
INGREDIENTS: Sucrose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isopropyl Myristate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limonum Peel Oil, Melaleuca leucadendron Cajuputi Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
PURE ACTIVE PEEL is available exclusively direct from the 001 SKINCARE site and also at one of our favourite places to shop, A Beautiful World
NATURALMENTE’s ROSEMARY & LAVENDER PURIFYING SHAMPOO
Interestingly, you can use this Rosemary & Lavender Purifying Shampoo on dry hair to “de-pollute” it before you wash it out, but we’ve been using it just like a normal shampoo (it reminds us a bit of Aveda’s Shampure) – it’s designed for oily scalps and dandruff but would also make a good hair cleanser to use once or twice a week on normal hair, especially if you live in a city, or use a lot of gel, hairspray or your hair’s “smoked out”, as it feels like it works “deeper” than some of the other purifying shampoos out there. £9.
Italian hair care brand NATURALMENTE is available from Gentle Beauty at Gentlebodycare.co.uk
Naturalmente’s Purifying Shampoo enhances blood circulation to promote hair growth, too