Friends in the Right Places

I had the joyous experience of having my first facial last week and I'm now an utterly obsessed convert.  I've read the articles, researched the products, compared prices and come to the conclusion that instead of traipsing into town and wondering the streets in a post-treatment trance, I'd rather get my facials right in my living room.  That's right.  In my OWN HOME.  

Now I may have skillz, but I cannot give myself a facial.  That would be an awkward and messy disaster. But thankfully, my friend Harriette has just started her own beauty therapy company - Harriette's Holistic Therapies - and she specialises in facials.  Yes, I am still WHOOPING with delight.  

So Harriette rocked up at my place one Thursday morning and she kindly gave my friend Hannah and me a facial.  My living room was transformed into a spa, complete with a bed (almost too comfy - it got awkward when we both fell asleep), harp music (none of this dolphin noise nonsense) and products which made my living room smell like the Chelsea Flower Show.

Once Harriette had set up, told us off for drinking too much coffee (we swiftly hid the 4-cup caffiettier we had almost finished) and asked if we were pregnant (we're not), the fun began.  I lay back on the bed, closed my eyes to the big crack on the ceiling, and tried to relax every sinew in my body.  Out came the rose-scented cleanser, toner and moisturiser and Harriette began massaging, tapping, prodding and stretching.  I'm telling you, this was the most relaxing thing I have ever gone through. 

Okay, I had to try really hard not to laugh. 

Yes, you will not be able
to stop touching your face.
Smoooooooth.

The whole point of a facial is to ease all of your tense and worried facial muscles.  Once relaxed, all of the yucky toxins which make your face look tired, puffy and spotty can be released, leaving a beautiful and radiant complexion.  Now here's a warning: because all of these toxins are coming out, you will get a spot or two in the few days following your treatment.  But if you keep your grimey little fingers away from them and drink plenty of H2O, you'll see why facials form a backbone in a lot of diaries. 

A week later and my dry patches have vanished, by eye area is refreshed as opposed to tired, by skin is remarkably clearer and my frown lines have reduced.  Hannah and I also had the best sleep that night that we've had in months.  Goodbye troll-like 'natural beauty'.  HELLO radiant and energetic young professional. 

Harriette's facials cost £35 for a 45-minute treatment and are an absolute joy to have.  I LOVE the fact that she comes to your house - this is brilliant if you're stuck for a babysitter (put them in-front of a movie), or have no way of getting into town.  Equally so, Harriette can do hen parties or girly nights in. 

The facials cost £35 for a 45-minute treatment and can be booked via harriettesholistictherapies@live.com or www.facebook.com/harriettesholistictherapies. 

The Body Shop: Oh you smell good...

“It's not very easy to grow up into a woman.  We are always taught, almost bombarded, with ideals of what we should be at every age in our lives: "This is what you should wear at age twenty", "That is what you must act like at age twenty-five", "This is what you should be doing when you are seventeen."  But amidst all the many voices that bark all these orders and set all of these ideals for girls today, there lacks the voice of assurance.  There is no comfort and assurance. I want to be able to say, that there are four things admirable for a woman to be, at any age!  Whether you are four or forty-four or nineteen!  It's always wonderful to be elegant, it's always fashionable to have grace, it's always glamorous to be brave, and it's always important to own a delectable perfume!  Yes, wearing a beautiful fragrance is in style at any age!”

So there, ladies.  C. JoyBell C. had it right.  Wear a good perfume and you've instantly got some style.  

"But it's sooooo expensive!" I hear you say.  Thanks to £50+ price tags, perfume has become a rare treat for many, received only after saving hard-earned Boots Advantage Points, or hoping - praying - that there'll be a gorgeously-wrapped bottle of your favourite scent under the tree.  

But get a load of this: a good perfume doesn't actually have to cost over a tenner.  It only has to cost £8.50.  THAT'S RIGHT. 

The Body Shop has just brought out a range of new Eau de Toilettes which smell absolutely divine and which won't have your bank manager/husband/father come running after  you reminding you about your impending phone bill.   (Funny story: I once heard a sales person in the duty free shop in Glasgow airport say Eau de Toilets.)

My all-time favourite in this new range has to be the coconut scent.  It doesn't smell thick and creamy like most coconuts; instead, it smells like coconuts on a tropical beach with the sun shining like crazy.  It's exotic, refreshing and delicate and will make people think that you've just spent the fortnight lounging around the Caribbean.  (It's up to you to follow through on this lie.)

Or, if you fancy something a bit citrus-y and girly, choose the pink grapefruit.  It smells light and pretty.  One spray and you'll smell as "deliciously light and cool" like Jo did when she cut off all her hair for Marmee's train ticket to Washington.  I love you mum, but you can dip into your savings for that one.

If neither of these float your boat, you can also choose from super-juicy mango or satsuma, I've-just-run-through-a-field-of-flowers moringa or knock-out girly strawberry.  The choice is yours.  Just don't spray too many at one time or you'll get high. 

Okay, so the packaging is really simple and it won't look like you've travelled all the way to the grand perfume houses in Paris to buy it.  But they're ideal for a quick, everyday spritz and they'll fit into your handbag without the worry of chipping the £75 bottle of Miss Dior Cherie which you've painstakingly waited for.  (Story of my life.)

Bumble and bumble...happy hair days!

They say that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory.  But whether it’s long or short, golden or chestnut, curly or poker straight, hair can be an expensive nightmare to maintain.  Finding the right products that combine value and good quality is tricky – especially when there is so much on the market.  Before we know it, our bathrooms and dressing tables are overflowing with bottles and tubs of sprays, waxes, masks, serums and conditioners. 

Tiffany Hair and Beauty Salon,
Aberdeen

My bathroom was such a place – before I discovered Bumble and bumble.  The floor of the shower was lined with bottles of every shape, size and colour.  And despite all of this, my hair was still an unruly mop.  The colour was indistinguishable, the length was so out-of-control that my mother had to take a pair of scissors to it, and what used to be shaping at the front had blended into a vague array of layers.  Embarrassingly, since my last hair appointment, I could have endured an entire pregnancy and be onto my second. 

So when I was asked to sample renowned brand Bumble and bumble at the Tiffany Hair and Beauty Salon on Bridge Street, Aberdeen, I was ecstatic.  I threw out all of my useless hair products, cleaned the shower, and began searching for images of my dream hair style. 

Who wouldn't want
her hair?

The afternoon finally arrived.  I walked into Tiffany’s for the first time and asked for Chloe.  Fortunately for me, Chloe is a very talented hairdresser who has cut hair in Scotland and Australia.  Unfortunately for her, she was tasked with my challenge of making me look like Rachel McAdams.  “If you could just replicate her, that would be great” I said, showing her a photo of the actress’ beautifully styled auburn hair.

So the dye went in, the scissors came out and before long, my untamed hair was transformed.  Then the Bumble and bumble party started.  These products decorate the dressing rooms of the major fashion shows and are used in all of the famous salons.  They’re favoured for their versatility, good quality and long life.  What’s more, they smell like a bouquet of flowers, look attractive in your bathroom and won’t break the bank.  Whatever your hair, there’s a Bumble and bumble product for you. 

Ideal decoration for any bathroom

The Bb Prep has proved to be an excellent protector against my daily hot water, hairdryer and straightener regime, and a generous dose of Bb Straight Blow Dry has ensured that my hair dries smooth and sleek.  But my favourite product is the Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil, which I apply to my hair once I’ve dried and straightened it.  The oil, instead of making my hair look greasy or sticky, dissolves instantly and keeps it looking controlled and styled throughout the day. 

The hairdressers at Tiffany’s use these products in all of their appointments and the full range is sold at the salon.  You will be supplied with a Bumble and bumble booklet, which shows you what has been used in your hair so you can buy the right product again and again.

So thanks to an expert pair of hands and a daily dose of Bumble and bumble, my hair has been restored to a healthy and stylish state.  Now, if anyone knows where I can get Rachel McAdam’s cheekbones, please get in touch.

Cake!

Goodbye Cafe Clover, there's a new kid on the Rosemount block!  Its called Cake and, you guessed it, it sells cake!  Cake opened at the start of this week, so naturally, I was there two minutes after Cake's creator unlocked the door.  The conversation went like this:

Me: "Hi!!! You've no idea how excited I am about this place opening, I just love coffee shops and cake and oh wow, I love the colour scheme here and OHMYGOODNESS are those macaroons?!"

I think Cake's creator (forgot to get her name - spot the amateur journalist) was a bit taken aback, especially since it was 8:30 on a Monday morning, but she's selling macaroons for a pound so I'm sure we'll be great friends quite soon.  And I'll probably be quite fat. 

Anyway,  back to Cake.  Cake's creator (now abbreviated to Cc) has the knack for making AMAZING cakes: Victoria Sponge so big its the size of Queen Victoria herself, beautiful macaroons and big chunky slices of banana loaf.  And her brownies - the brownies!  They are slabs of chocolate goodness. That's right, SLABS. They smell divine in the oven and taste even better. And for all you gluten-phobes out there, Cc's brownies are gluten free.  (I quote, "I'm going to make them gluten free because they don't taste any different but it means a lot to people with an intolerance."  How kind!)  

At the moment, Cake does take away only but the building is quite large, so watch this space for tables and chairs amidst the cute raspberry and blue cafe.  But if you really can't wait for that, head to Cake on Rosemount and pick up some goodies for breakfast/lunch/dinner or anything in between.  

See you on Monday morning, 8:30 sharp!  

The Body Shop: Home Spa

Who doesn't love a spa day?  Anyone?  I thought not.
Okay - who doesn't love forking out what feels like a mortgage repayment for a spa day? Precisely.
So let's convert our own bathrooms and bedrooms to a make-shift spa and save on some pennies.  Grab your dressing-gown, some candles, a glass (or bottle) of wine and some music.  It's time to pamper pamper pamper.

Blue Corn 3in1 Deep Cleansing Mask

For some reason, face-masks have become iconic to a girl's beauty regime.  We've all seen pictures of girls casually wearing them (they're almost fashionable) and they have understated benefits for your skin.  What first attracted me to the Body Shop's Blue Corn mask was its smell.  It smells like a spa in a tub and  is the best mask I've ever used.  It doesn't feel like I've given my face a chemical peel, nor did it require a brillo-pad to remove it if I had left it on for too long.  My face felt clean and moisturised afterwards.  Although my disgusting little spots were still there the next day, they had stopped throwing a tantrum on my skin and had cleaned up a bit, without over-drying.  Buy this mask and be beautiful.

Peppermint Soothing Foot Scrub

Without a doubt, my favourite day of the year is when I officially pack away my boots and socks and bring back out my pumps.  But then I take one look at my feet and instead of saying "how nice to see you!", I'm shocked at the terrible condition they're in!  It's easy to neglect your feet during winter, but the Body Shop's Peppermint Foot Scrub has been my constant companion during those first few weeks of seeing my toes again.  Not only will someone be able to smell the peppermint a mile away, the (get this) granules of volcanic rock will scrub away at any horrible dry skin.  The result?  Feet which feel as fresh as a daisy, as soft as a baby's bottom and which smell like your Gran's Peppermint Creams. 

Monoi Miracle Oil

If you're going to skimp on your spa day and just buy one product, then this is the one for you.  The Monoi Miracle Oil is so versatile it can be used absolutely anywhere.  (Okay, don't put it in your mouth.)  Bathe in it, wash your hair with it, shave your legs with it or soak your feet in it.  Dry or irritated skin and straw-like hair will be transformed into something wonderful.  It smells like a bunch of flowers and won't cake you in grease.  (Although as an aside, make sure you rinse your bath/shower properly, or you'll be slipping around like a drunk seal.)

Absinthe Hand Cream

The Body Shop has just brought their Absinthe range, which has been specially designed for hands that do hard work.  A squirt of absinthe will leave your hands feeling like they've just been attacked with anti-bac (in a good way.)  The hand cream is perfect for slathering (soaking and lathering) hands that are around food, children with grotty noses, chlorine and farm animals.  Germs and snot will be whisked away and replaced with the lovely smell of pure cleanliness.  And for all you germphobes out there, there's a hand gel in the absinthe range, too.  A good handshake no longer relies on a firm grip and a fist-full of eye contact; it 100% depends on how soft the shaker's hands are and whether or not they feel clean.  NO-ONE LIKES MINGIN' HANDS!!! Buy it. 

Any seasoned spa-visitor will tell you that you can't have a jolly time if the therapist just uses her hands.  There are ticks of the trade here, girl!  Use a foot file to buff away the hard skin on your cracked heels, a bath lily for getting all soapy and a round body brush to buff away your dry skin everywhere else and kick-start your circulation.  And to prevent lovely whisps of newly-cleansed hair from getting in your face and hanging out with your face-mask, buy a head band. (All of these products are available at the Body Shop. Obvs.)

Skene House: Get the Girls Together

Sleepovers are a hallmark in a little girl's life.  I still remember my first one: we thought we were staying up late at 10pm, we watched A Little Princess and ate FAR too much chocolate.  We all phoned our parents at 8pm to tell them that we were having a nice time and we all went to sleep with our favourite teddies. 

Fast-forward ten years and 10pm is an early night, chocolate is a staple in my diet and Yellow Teddy is tucked up safely in my keepsake box.  But I still love sleepovers with the girls and having them away from home still adds to the excitement.  But what really makes a sleepover special- or indeed, an entire girly weekend away - is having it in your own hotel suite!

Enter Skene House in Aberdeen, who's hotel suites are designed for such weekends.  Get a group of girls together and book out an entire apartment for your time away.  Each of the three locations (Holburn Street, Whitehall Place and Rosemount Viaduct) are ideally suited for town, train stations and roads to the country and each location has it's own distinct character.  All of the apartments boast a fully-fitted kitchen, a spacious and comfortable living room, a bathroom designed for girls with huge mirrors and one, two or three  bedrooms.  Whether you're having a movie night with pizza or pre-drinks before a wild night, the apartments can cope with your plans.  And if you can't be bothered even to throw some pizza in the oven, Skene House has a number of 'partner restaurants' who will gladly take your reservation. 

To make your stay extra special, Skene House can organise in-house spa treatments, chocolate making classes and champagne teas (ideal) and a Groups Coordinator can help to organise fabulous itineries full of fun things like castle tours, dance classes and...fishing? (whatever floats your boat on a girly weekend away...)  And CHECK THIS OUT: Skene House offer a Very Important Pillow service, whereby you can choose what kind of pillow you want, (feather or foam) and they'll hold onto it for your next visit.  Do you know what this means?  A good night sleep.  What a gift. 

Rosemount Viaduct

 Personally, I would take an apartment like this over a hotel room any day.  It's like you move in for the weekend with all of your high heels, laptops and friends and live in your own flat.  There's no need to trail down to the lounge for drinks; just skip across the hallway.  There's no need to gather at 8pm prompt for breakfast; just pad across the carpet and open up the fridge.  Friend driving you up the wall?  Then head to the other bedroom, instead of booking out another hotel room three floors up.  

We're about to head into spring-break, wedding and hen party season so I suggest you book up before other people do!  

www.skene-house.co.uk