tips

Ok, I’m calling it. It’s definitely not summer anymore. For the first time in months, I walked to the salon this morning wearing a jacket and scarf, closed toe shoes and may or may not have used a quick blast of the hairdryer to warm myself up when I arrived. Sad face.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Now that autumn is upon us, we can finally get to work on transforming our summer frazzled hair into healthy and chic autumn tresses. Let me share with you my top 5 tips and tricks for restoring your locks for Autumn/Winter 2015.

1. Time to book that haircut. It’s essential after enjoying the summer sun that you book into the salon to give your hair a new lease of life and remove those damaged ends. Even if you’ve been really protective of your hair, I always recommend to my clients that they have a good trim in order to keep their hair looking and feeling healthy. If you’re seeing lots of split ends, ask your stylist for a cut with minimal layers and a strong baseline to eradicate that shattered end feel and build as much weight into the hair as possible.

2. The summer months can have a drying effect on your hair, especially if you’ve continued to use heated styling tools. Treatments are a must to help restore your hair to its former glory. Dampen down your hair and apply Pureology Strength Cure Restorative Masque 150g (£23) through the lengths and ends. The longer you leave it to work its magic the better, so take my advice and pop it on before bed and then rinse out in the morning for gorgeous results that will bring life back to your hair and make it more manageable.

3. Everyone knows that your colour can look a little dull after time in the sun. In between colour appointments you can ask your stylist for just a toner to refresh your colour. These are also available just in clear, which won’t change your colour but add a top coat of shine. If you’re after an at home version, try the EVO Fabuloso Colour Intensifying Conditioners 250ml (£23.00). These provide an instant hair colour refresh combined with a nourishing treatment to condition, repair, add shine, instantly tone and intensify hair colour. All in 3 minutes.

4. Hair with sun and heat damage can become brittle and lack the essential proteins to keep your hair healthy. You’ll need to use products to balance this out. I reach for L’Oreal Professional Pro Keratin Shampoo 250ml (£10.99) to cleanse the hair and the pair it with EVO Mane Prescription Protein Treatment 150ml (£15.65). This intensive treatment works to rebuild strength and leave your hair in optimum condition. It’s definitely my secret weapon.

5. Attempting a smooth and super sleek blow-dry on damaged hair can be a bit of a challenge, even for us professionals. Once you’ve got the right tools and products to hand though, it does make things a bit easier. First you need to build a good foundation using the right products for the job. I opt for Evo Easy Tiger Smoothing Fluid 200ml (£15.10) as it’s a great multitasking product that will make the hair manageable and full of vitality and shine. Using the nozzle on your hairdryer and pointing it downwards onto the hair shaft will smooth the cuticle down, making the hair smoother and have more shine. A professional ceramic brush, such as the Moroccan Oil Ceramic Barrel Brush (£13.85) will make things a lot easier too.

Let me know in the comments below what you’ll be doing to transform your hair this season.

xoxo

These days, we all know that keeping our skin in the best shape requires the help of more than just a bit of soap and water. Truly adhering to your skins needs means enlisting the help of some key beauty products to help create the best skincare routine for your needs. In the days of BB creams, Hyaluronic Acid and Sonic Skincare Brushes, the old faithful known as the face mask has been somewhat forgotten. But there’s a reason why this old favourite hasn’t just gone away. When used correctly (and regularly) as part of your routine, masks can be instrumental in keeping your skin clean and refreshed. Whether your battling acne and oil, or dry and irritated skin, let me help you find your perfect facial partner. Here’s the inside story on what goes on behind the mask.

For Dehydrated/Dry Skin:

You need to steer clear of clay or purifying masks, as they can dry out your skin even more. No more mud masks for you. Instead, make sure you go for a formula that is hydrating and will restore the moisture back into your skin. Remember not to skip you moisturiser either, as this will help to seal in the moisture to the skin.

I recommend: Thalgo Source Marine Ultra Hydra-Marine Mask 50ml £26.55. This mask helps to replump and replenish the skins hydration level in just 5 minutes. It even comes with a brush applicator tip to help make sure you apply the mask evenly to the skin. Use this twice a week for just 5 minutes and you’ll see results, guaranteed.

For Acne-Prone/Oily Skin:

Masks should be a key player in your routine to help keep oil and breakouts at bay. Purifying or clarifying masks help draw out the impurities and toxins from the skin that can cause an over-production of sebum and blocked pores. Tip: after cleansing, make sure you tone your skin before applying the mask to ensure that all traces of oil are gone and to better prep the skin.

I recommend:

Dermalogica MediBac Sebum Clearing Mask 75ml £39.80. This cooling mask with oil-absorbing clays helps clear and prevent breakouts while detoxifying skin. Salicylic Acid stimulates natural exfoliation to clear pore congestion, and cooling botanicals help purify, refine and eliminate excess oils. Use three times a week and or use topically to treat individual blemishes.

For Radiance:

Masks can be a great source of radiance and can be just what your skin needs to give it a bit of rejuvenation and a brightening boost. They also work wonders on pigmentation and can help to revive and even out your complexion to give you a natural glow.

I recommend:

Thalgo Cryodetox Masque 50ml £25. This luxuriously rich, ultra fresh gel formula is specifically designed to restore dull looking skin to a bright, luminous complexion. The intense treatment acts as an instant pick me up and gives your skin a breath of fresh air. Apply twice a week for 10-15minutes to reveal your skins inner glow.

For Anti-Ageing:

Masks can help you face fine lines and wrinkles head on with a formula that will keep skin feeling plump, supple and line free. Masks can give your skin a supercharged dose of collagen and important anti-ageing ingredients to help fight the first signs of ageing head on. Need I say more?

I recommend:

Dermalogica Multi Vitamin Power Recovery Mask 75ml £34.50. This is an ultra-replenishing, antioxidant rich mask that helps rescue stressed, ageing skin. Apply after cleansing as a revitalising remedy for dulling, dry, dehydrated, lackluster, photo-damaged skin. Botanicals help soothe and calm stressed skin while vitamins A, C and E help repair damaged, ageing skin.

Let me know if you’ve given any of these a go, or if you have any other favourites that I haven’t mentioned. Tweet me @thesalonlookgirl xoxo

I don’t know about you, but I used to be bit of a beauty product hoarder. I tended to keep products I rarely used, just in case I one day miraculously decided to switch up my mascara or swap moisturisers. I’m going to share with you the information that made me finally sort out of my product excess and crusty old mascaras.

Four simple words… all beauty products expire.

Whether it’s your moisturiser or mascara, the preservatives in products only last so long after opening. The average beauty product’s expiration date depends on when you first use them and how the product is packaged and stored. Using a product beyond its expiration date risks irritation, rashes, blemishes and various skin or eye infections. Not good.

Now, beauty products don’t have an expiration date stamped on them like your milk and eggs. Turn over your product and look for a little image of an open tub (usually next to the barcode). You’ll notice a number, followed by an ‘M’. They stand for how many months from opening the product should be replaced (see what they did there? M for months. Clever.). Remember though, this is a guide, if it starts to smell funky you might need to bring that date forward.

If a product appears discoloured, runny or lumpy, has separated or developed a strange smell, then throw it away.

Packaging that has expanded, warped, or has signs of deterioration is definitely a warning that something is wrong inside. A product doesn't have to be old to have gone bad or have been exposed to bacteria, so you should always pay attention to how your products are holding up every time you use them.

As a rule, products that contain water as one of the first ingredients have the shortest shelf life after opening because water encourages the growth of bacteria. Also susceptible are products that that contain plant extracts. Products made up of almost no water (such as powders) last the longest.

As a rule, use the below as a guide to keeping on top of your beauty product’s shelf life:

Makeup

* Mascara (regular or waterproof), liquid, pencil or gel eyeliners: 4 to 6 months (Top tip: don’t pump your mascara wand back and forth into the tube when using it as this will force air back into the product and make it dry out.)
* Cream, Liquid or Stick Foundations or Concealers: 6 months to 1 year
* Powder-based products (including mineral makeup): 2-3 years
* Lipsticks, Lip Gloss, & Lip Pencils: 2-3 years

Skincare

* Cleansers: 1 year
* Toners: 6 months to 1 year
* Exfoliators: 1 year
* Facial or Body Moisturizers and Serums: 6 months to 1 year
* Lip Balms: 1 year
* Sample Packets: 1 day (no, really, one day)

Golden rule; always use your common sense. If it smells wrong, looks wrong and feels wrong…you guessed it, throw it away. You wouldn’t eat gone off food, so stop putting gone off products on your face, body and hair! I beg you.

It’s not all doom and gloom. There are a few tips and tricks to prolong the life of your products while keeping your skin, body and hair as healthy as possible.

DO:

* DO store products in a cupboard or drawer
* DO wash your hands before using products
* DO tighten/secure the lid after each use
* DO consider how climate and humidity will shorten a product's shelf life
* DO write the date of purchase in permanent ink on the bottom or back of the package (a bit over the top I appreciate, but trust me, it helps)
* DO throw away all eye products after you've had an eye infection

DON’T:

* DON’T store your products in the refrigerator. Skincare formulas are designed to withstand the average fluctuations in temperature, but not long-term heat or cold storage—that means keeping your products in your fridge reduces their lifespan and stability. Nail varnish is the one exception to this rule.
* DON'T store products in direct sunlight
* DON'T share your products with others
* DON'T add water to thin out or remoisten products

So have a clear out and say goodbye to old, crusty and funky products, you’ll never look back and your skin, hair and body will thank you for it. Trust me.