Spotlight on Clinique’s new Chubby Sticks

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm, £19

You always know when you have created a winner because everybody copies you. Clinique created a stir in the beauty world when it gave us the wonderful Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm which many companies have tried to emulate. Now, thanks to this clever company, it is easier than ever to get a health glow.

The Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm has a superb sheer creamy texture that looks natural on the skin. Simply glide a little on to your cheeks and blend with your fingers or a brush and you are ready to go. If you want more colour, add another layer. I tried the Roly Poly Rosy, which is the same colour as when I blush, in hot and humid conditions and it lasted for hours.

It comes in four shades so you will find one that works with your skin tone.

Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm, £17

As I have a lot of blue in my lips naturally, I am always having difficulty in finding lipsticks that suit me as I almost always change the colour. So, I am delighted to have discovered these gems from Clinique.

They work with your own lip colour to produce a shade that actually suits you. Perfect for those that like a hint of colour and shine. As they contain goodies such as shea butter, you lips won’t feel dry. Choose from four shades ranging from violet to orange. 

By Daralyn Danns

Spotlight on Head Jog High-Shine

Blow-drying your own hair can be an arduous task. It is difficult to hold the hairdryer at the same angle as a professional and, therefore, can be harder to get your locks as smooth and sleek as he or she would.

It helps to have a good hairdryer (I am a fan of Parlux), the right styling products for your hair type and a quality brush which allows you to have a good grip on the hair so that you can smooth the cuticles making it look shiny and polished.

Many hairdressers tell you that a boar bristle brush is the perfect styling tool. According to hair guru, Philip Kingsley, bristle brushes are not the best for your tresses. He says that the kindest are made from plastic with long bristles and a ball at the tip of each.

Sometimes, if you have fluffy or frizzy hair, plastic bristles don’t always have the desired effect. I have just tried the new Head Jog High-Shine. This radial brush (comes in three sizes 21mm, 27mm & 34mm from £9.99, hairtools.co.uk ), a great combo, has angled boar bristles that grip the hair and tourmaline-infused nylon ones. The company says: “the tourmaline emits ions to eliminate frizz and add more shine.”

Whether you believe the science bit or not, this brush is easy to use and clasps the hair well and is gentle on the scalp and as it has been cleverly designed, so that the boar bristles just cover the roots of the vertical nylon monofilaments, it helps to reduce the risk of snagging and pulling the hair when styling. 

As it has been made for professional use, it is high-heat resistant, so the plastic bristles should stay in shape.

I first tried this brush on day when the weather was extremely humid. I found that my hair was sleeker than usual and it did not have a frizz attack on a walk along the river. This is a tool that I now can’t be without.

By Daralyn Danns

Summer styling tips from Daniel Galvin

Finding a great hairstylist is no mean feat. So, I was delighted to discover Emma, at London’s renowned Daniel Galvin salon.  She knows my hair’s texture and works with it to produce a really good blow-dry which keeps for a good few days.

“This summer is all about natural movement,” she says. “Think width and not volume. You want your roots smoother with some wave at the ends. We are also seeing a lot of people ask for “shattered ends” when they have their hair cut.” Though she quickly hastened that would not work on my hair.

Another trend being seen this summer, according to Emma, is the rise of hair accessories. Think ornate headbands or flowers.

To keep hair in good condition over the summer, Emma suggests using your hairdryer and heated appliances as little as possible. “Rough dry your hair until it is almost dry and then smooth it out with a round brush, if you have got the type of hair that you can’t leave to air-dry,” she advises. “Start at the back and work forwards. If you are in a hurry, rough dry the underneath and just smooth out the top. 

Alternatively, leave it to dry naturally and then quickly run tongs through pieces so you get a lovely tousled look.  

After being in the hands of Emma my hair looked absolutely amazing. There is nothing like a trip to the Daniel Galvin salon to make you feel glam.

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin (www.danielgalvin.com)

Shopping in Madrid

A cultural feast, a foodies’ paradise and a city where life is enjoyed to its full, Madrid will always work its magical charms on you. Whatever the reason for a break in this intoxicating place, it would be a sin not to punctuate your trip with some retail therapy. After all this is the country that has given us Zara and Mango.

Salamanca district.Calle Serrano
© José Barea
Courtesy of Courtesy of Madrid Destino Cultura, Turismo y Negocio S.A.

The Spaniards are conscious of their appearance and would never dream of leaving home without looking well-groomed, so you would expect to find exquisite shops in Madrid and you won’t be disappointed. True, there are a lot of ubiquitous international brands that pepper the streets here, but walking down the elegant boulevards turns shopping into a most pleasurable and exciting event.

It is not hard to see why Spain is fast setting the bar in the style stakes. Queen Letizia, has polish and panache. Her fashion credentials have won praise from the world’s media and she is already having a positive effect on the country’s fashion. Zara has changed the way many women around the globe dress. 

The chicest shopping district has to be the Salamanca district. The Calle Serrano and the surrounding streets primarily José Ortega y Gasset and Jorge Juan are littered with designer labels as well as a few high street regulars.  

Gran Via

© José Barea
Courtesy of Courtesy of Madrid Destino Cultura, Turismo y Negocio S.A.

Check out Uterqűe, Zara’s more sophisticated sister. Prices are slightly higher as is the quality, but it is still tremendous value for its elegant numbers. It is a great haunt for bags and accessories.

Loewe is a Spanish luxury label renowned for its leather and a favourite with elegant Spaniards. It now belongs to the LMVH group and has recently had a makeover under the creative directorship of the highly-acclaimed British designer, Jonathan Anderson, aka J.W. Anderson.

Another popular brand is Adolfo Dominguez which is a good place to look for wardrobe staples. Other names to check out are Josep Font and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.

At the department store, El Corte Inglés, in Salamanca, you can discover other  Spanish designers. You should also mooch around its international sections as they often have a few different pieces that you won’t find at home.

If you need to refuel you will discover lots of lovely cafés where you can sit among the Madrileños and watch the world go by.

The Gran Vía, recently turned 100, is another of Madrid’s upscale shopping streets where national and international brands co-exist. 

Taking a stroll along this lovely boulevard studded with ornate buildings is invigorating. Also around here there are plenty of interesting shops to discover. It is so refreshing to see so many wonderful individual boutiques. 

Pop into Oysho (owned by Zara’s parent company, Inditex), which specialises in lingerie, for some great finds. 

Shopping in Madrid is a rewarding adventure for the style conscious. Have your credit card at the ready!

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

British Airways operates up to three flights per day from London City to Madrid in addition to services from Heathrow with connections also available from across the UK and Ireland. More information about British Airways services can be found at ba.com/Madrid

I always have a great flight with BA. The cabin crew always go that extra mile to ensure that you have the best possible experience 

I stayed at the Hotel Auditorium, a member of Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection. A great spot, if you are looking for a hotel near the airport. For more information or to book visit www.ghotw.com/hotel-auditorium or call 020 7380 3658

For more information on Madrid visit www.spain.info and www.esmadrid.com

Summer hair care

After travelling and being in the sun, my tresses remarkably hadn’t faded that much. It was only when I noticed my roots all of a sudden that I realised that I hadn’t been to see colour whizz Daisy Twyman, at the Daniel Galvin salon, for six weeks.

“It really is only around the front that it has lifted,” said Daisy. “You can notice some yellow tones in your hair where the old colour is coming through.”

The remedy?  “We will do the roots and then I will take the colour through three quarters of the length for three minutes and then do the very ends for a minute so that they are kept soft,” said Daisy.

Whatever Daisy says goes as far as I am concerned. This lady has performed a miracle with my hair.

I was talking to a friend the day after I visited Daisy. “I can’t believe how great your colour is now looking,” she said. I remember a couple of years ago when it was a mix of orange and yellow and you were at your wit’s end to try to get it right. Who would have thought it could look so good?”

Keeping hair looking good over the summer is hard. You wash your hair more frequently (even plain water can dilute the pigment and make it fade faster). Daisy’s tip is to use products that contain UV protection. She also suggests wearing a sun hat if you are on holiday or going to be spending long periods of time outside – even in this country on a hot day. “Damp your hair and apply a hair oil or conditioner before you put your hat on. Wash it out in the evening.”

It is also a good idea to apply some conditioner before plunging into a chlorinated pool to protect it. Chlorine can play havoc with hair dye.

“Use treatments a couple of times a week,” said Daisy. “If your hair is prone to frizz, using a masque as a conditioner will help weigh the hair down.”

I have been using some Davines products (available at the Daniel Galvin salon) which have helped retain the colour and keep my locks well moisturised. 

My favourites are Davines Momo Moisturizing Shampoo PH 5.5 (£13.45) and Davines Momo Moisturizing  Conditioner (£14.80) which I use as a daily conditioner and as a treatment a couple of times a week. For those of you that suffer from frizz, give the Davines Momo Moisturizing Anti-Frizz Protective Fluid (£16.10) a try. This lightweight fluid helps combat frizz and helps boost shine. Ideal for fine hair that is prone to fluffiness.

“Your colour will change while you are on holiday, so be prepared when you return to visit the salon and have your colour adjusted,” Daisy added.

My hair was stunning. It looked so natural that you would never have guessed that I had spent a couple of hours having my hair coloured. That, in my books, is perfection.

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin (www.danielgalvin.com)