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Going to the spa at Urban Retreat Harrods is always a treat – from the calm waiting room opposite the perfume emporium and the professional staff to the delectable array of products that entice you as you try to leave. However I wasn’t feeling particularly relaxed when I went recently, I was stressed, frazzled and it was all showing on my face (when my mum told the teenage me I would grow out of breakouts, she was lying!).  Read more... (337 words, 3 images, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

We are never happy with the hair we were born with – if it is straight we long for curls and have everything from tongs to curlers to give it body. If our hair is curly, we wish we had straight locks and iron it within an inch of its life so that we can look respectable when we go out. However what we all wish for most of all is hair that you can wash and quickly dry and it looks like you have just stepped out of a salon. The Brazilian blowdry has really taken off in the UK as a semi-permanent way to provide super-shiny, poker straight hair that is frizz-free. However, if like me you are concerned about the chemicals in hair products (or the amount you are now using on your hair what with colouring as well), and would prefer some body and flexibility in your hair style then the Brazilian blowdry may not be the answer.  Read more... (785 words, 3 images, estimated 3:08 mins reading time)

The more it snows…tiddly pom…the more I realise that my beauty regime needs a seasonal overall. Body and soul need constant warmth and pampering during the hibernating months and even more so when the harsh winter wind is attacking us from all sides. With a steaming cup of twinning’s lemon and ginger tea, I sat down to defrost my fingers and find out the latest and the best solutions to keep us in tact til the next season.  Read more... (618 words, 5 images, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)

Our tresses are currently hidden under hats and under attack by harsh winter winds and freezing temperatures. But it won’t be long til the weather warms up and we will have to have our luscious locks back on display. Luckily, the professionals at Urban Retreat at Harrods are on hand to tell us all about the newest treatments and the trends forecast for S/S 2012 to get prepared for beach season!  Read more... (548 words, 5 images, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

A new year can often prompt you to think about spring cleaning your beauty regime and consider trying something new to look your very best. So what will the next 12 months bring us on the beauty front? Emma Parlons delved a little deeper to discover which trends we may be trying this year and to find new ways to glow and sparkle in 2012.  Read more... (585 words, 4 images, estimated 2:20 mins reading time)

In general, I think we all look a great deal better than we did in our 20s. Recently, when moving house, I found some shocking pictures of myself after university. Big frizzy hair, even bigger eyebrows and a terrible habit of wearing overly-baggy clothes. Make-up wasn’t ever high on my list of priorities either, except for the non negotiable black eyeliner (top and bottom).  Read more... (340 words, 2 images, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Hair removal can be the bane of many of beauty regimes. Shaving is quick and cheap but regrowth is also quick, depilatory creams are messy, smelly and don’t last much longer. The ‘ouch’ factor of epilators, as well as how long they take to remove the hair, can make this an unacceptable method for many and while waxing produces a nice smooth finish it is expensive if you have it done at a salon and needs to be done every three to four weeks.  Read more... (714 words, 3 images, estimated 2:51 mins reading time)

With Christmas fast approaching, our social lives are getting very busy indeed and with late nights a little too much over indulging and the cold weather, it is hard to keep our tresses in tip-top condition. Whether you are struggling with dehydrated, frizzy locks or limp, lank hair, there is something you can do to make sure that your hair looks great everyday.  Read more... (953 words, 5 images, estimated 3:49 mins reading time)

I get how busy you are – every woman does. Lack of time is surely the curse of the modern woman. We all want to be the best employee, friend and partner we can be, somehow ourselves always becoming the lowest priority. We drive ourselves to distraction wishing there were an extra few hours in the day…  Read more... (567 words, 6 images, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)