Spotlight on Lore Originals haircare

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

A mask that goes on before you wash your hair and comes in a convenient single-use sachet. That made me sit up and take notice of the new Lore Originals created by Taylor Taylor London, the hairdressers renowned for combining elegance and edginess. 

Leaving a masque on your hair for 20 minutes after you have washed it usually means going back into the shower again to rinse it off. It is not exactly practical. Let’s be honest, how many of us really do it on a regular basis? Why so many brands have not dealt with this issue before beats me. 

Taylor Taylor London wanted to create a simplified, unisex range of products that would be suitable for every hair type. 

While I have tried dozens of brands over the years, there are not many that actually do what they say on the tin. I often find those produced by hairdressers are the worse culprits. However I am always willing to try new products. 

Lore Originals (loreoriginals.com) is the brainchild of the international team behind Taylor Taylor London, British chemists and perfumers with input from the people who will be using the products, the clients.

Each of the six multi-use formulas have been designed using a cocktail of natural, plant-based ingredients boosted with the latest scientific compounds to achieve the optimum results. They claim to be free from parabens, sulfates, triclosan and MIT.

So, let’s cut to the chase, do they work?  I washed my hair with the Cleanse + Purify (£18). This lovely scented melange of prickly pear extract, marine bio-cultures and mineral rich salts left my hair feeling soft and nourished.

I followed this with the Condition + Restore (£18), even when I used the mask. This is a lovely nutrient rich formula which left my hair feeling nourished but without weighing it down.

The final product I tried was the Define and Finish (£16) which has been designed to enhance your hair’s natural movement as well as helping to protect it from UV damage. I used it on damp hair and then applied a little after I had styled it to get rid of any fluffiness.

I enjoyed using the products. I loved the fragrance loaded with notes of cedarwood, vetivert, oris root with hints of black pepper and cardamom. Best of all my hair felt and looked good after use.

By Daralyn Danns

My hero products to revive tired skin

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

Whether you have had a late night, did not sleep well or the stress of Christmas shopping is catching up with you, we all know that feeling when you look in the mirror and know that your tired-looking skin could do with a pick-me-up.

There are always new products coming on to the market but these are the ones that work for me and have become firm favourites.

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream - Normal to Dry Skin, £36

Plumps up parched skin making it look radiant. 

MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, £22
Laced with caffeine, this cream helps to get rid of puffiness and make those dark circles under your eyes less visible. 

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, £31
A beauty classic. A thin film applied over your moisturiser will make you look radiant. Smooth it over your skin. Do not rub it in. When it dries it makes your skin feel tauter.

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight, Hefty Highlight, £19.50
This gem gives your face a gorgeous healthy glow. Use it lightly on top of your cheekbones and anywhere else you want to highlight and blend well. It is not oily so it lasts for ages. It is so subtle that it can be used on bare skin as well as over foundation. 

Clinique High Impact Mascara, black, £18
One of the best mascaras that I have used in ages. It gives volume and length as well as definition and it does not clog. Eyes appear bigger and brighter.

Just add a touch of your favourite blusher and a good lip balm such as Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm (£18) and you will be ready to face the world.

By Daralyn Danns

Spotlight on Thameen Rivière Hair Fragrance with keratin, £85, Selfridges, thameenfragrance.com

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

From Thameen, a niche British fragrance house, comes this new, luxurious and beautifully scented hair treatment.

Thameen Rivière Hair Fragrance contains goodies such as keratin for strengthening, Moroccan argan oil for moisturising and adding shine and D-Panthenol, a good humectant.

The scent is an intriguing combination of Indian black pepper, Turkish rose with a hint of sun-drenched leather. Sophisticated and chic, this is a great way to wear fragrance as it lasts for ages and you are caring for your hair.

By Daralyn Danns