Tag: the observer

Curl power: Umberto Giannini's miracle worker.

When my hair is overdue a visit to the hairdresser (most of the time) and it's been through the wars (ie unwashed and unloved – a maximum of eight days once, but let's not go there), there are some super shampoos that bring back the bounce and convincingly hoodwink everyone, including myself, that I've "just stepped out of a salon". Fekkai Luscious Curls Shampoo (20, spacenk.com) gives curls a viper boost and leaves them smelling of oranges and honey, reminding me of Greek holidays back when the poor country still had the drachma. Umberto Giannini's Calm Curls Shampoo (4.99, boots.com) zaps frizz and gives a pleasingly high-shine finish. And you get a lot of bang for your buck, which is handy in these austere times.

Alternatively

Davines Love Shampoo 13.10, 020 3301 5449
Philip Kingsley Moisture Extreme Shampoo 14.75, philipkingsley.com
Aesop Nurturing Shampoo 17, aesop.com
Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Smoothing Shampoo 17.50, bumbleandbumble.co.uk
Aveda Be Curly Shampoo 15.50, aveda.co.uk

Best foot forward: time for a pedicure. Photograph: Eamonn Mccabe for the Observer

In the olden days, they'd cut the dry skin off a woman's heel in order to count the rings and work out her age. We've come a long way since then, those days when we had to walk 20 miles to school every morning over ice, glass and blades, and then when we got there we were only allowed in if we wore ear plugs because the lessons were deemed too "incendiary" for female ears. Yeah. But our feet – still they are tough. Butter London has launched a new pedicure collection of products that do disgusting things quite beautifully – like the Rock Off Glycolic Callus Peel (25, butterlondon.com), which dissolves hard skin off your heels, and the Mucky Pups Foot Wipes (13) for when "your dogs are barking". Summer has been promised to us. So start pumicing today.

Alternatively…

Dirty Works Pedicure Set 9.99, sainsburys.com
Cowshed Hand and Foot Treatment 38, cowshedonline.com
Tweezerman Nail Rescue Kit 22, asos.com

Face facts: work in with gusto to make your skin look brighter

If cleanliness is next to godliness, then exfoliation is standing right above them both, beaming. Facial scrubs get you cleaner than you thought possible – used regularly, they make your skin feel amazingly smooth. Rather than the big sugary grains you get in a body scrub, for the face you want a fine speckle that you can work into the annoying bits by your nostrils with gusto. Try Origins Never A Dull Moment scrub (24, origins.co.uk) to make you look a little bit brighter, and Proactiv's new Solution Cleansing Bar on your back (9.99, proactiv.co.uk). It will feel ever so soft.

Alternatively

Sisley Buff and Wash 65, harrods.com
Bior Pore Unclogging Scrub 4.99, sainsburys.co.uk
Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub 26, 020 7351 3873
Declor Double Radiance Scrub 23.40, feelunique.com

Grime buster: Origins' United State Balancing Tonic sweeps the debris away.

Whatever happened to toner – the tingly watery stuff we used to dab on our faces? I rediscovered an old bottle recently. It got me going. "Toner!" I said (I'm not in the habit of anthropomorphising potions in my bathroom cabinet). "I had forgotten you, what with serum and BB cream." And so I found Origins' United State Balancing Tonic (17, origins.co.uk) to sweep away pore-clogging debris and rebalance dry or oily areas. I pressed it on and remembered that satisfying moment toner brings: the cotton wool ball with the grime your cleanser missed. But toner has moved on, too. These days there are mists and pump-action formulas that tighten and lift. Perricone MD's Firming Facial Toner (35, perriconemd.co.uk) smells like spas and is perfect for mature skin.

Alternatively…

Nivea Visage Pure & Natural Cleansing Toner 3.36, nivea.co.uk Sisley Botanical Floral Toning Lotion 64, 020 7591 6380 Crystal Clear Revitalising Tonic 20, 08705 934934 Lancme Tonique Douceur 21, lancome.co.uk

Fingersmith: try Butter London's old-gold varnish. Photograph: Observer

Nail time! Sometimes it feels like a body isn't quite big enough for all the jewellery you want to hang on it. You've got, what, one neck? Two wrists, an ankle, a couple of fingers that are thin enough for rings? This is the opportunity to turn your nails into jewels. Metallic varnish. The way to wear it now is as matte as possible – use Rimmel Pro Matte Top Coat at the end if you like (4.59, boots.com) – and on long, pointy-ish nails, so they look a bit like serving spoons. I like the old-gold look of Butter London's Full Monty (12.50, butterlondon.com), which has the feel of tarnished wedding rings, and Mavala's Platinum Marble (4.30, boots.com), which is even odder – an old picture frame, found buried in the garden. OK. End of nail time. Back to work.

Alternatively

Illamasqua: Bacterium, 13.50, illamasqua.com
Nars: Diamond Life, 13.50, narscosmetics.co.uk
Deborah Lippmann: Don't Tell Mamma, 14, houseoffraser.co.uk
Topshop: Hyperreal, 6, topshop.com
Orly: Rock Solid, 9.85, orlybeauty.co.uk
Chanel: Peridot, 17.50, 020 7493 3836

Blemish free: Clinique's new BB cream. Photograph: Richard Pierce for the Observer

Not like BB King, or a BB gun. And not like BB as in "babes", or Big Brother, or the boys' brigade. BB stands for "blemish balm". It's new and it's nice. It gained popularity in Korea, where BB creams account for 13% of make-up sales, then came over here last summer, when all the beauty brands quickly began to conjure up their own versions. Basically it's a tinted moisturiser that is meant to improve skin quality, and it also doubles up as a make-up primer. They vary in their coverage, sun protection and the promises they make, but the thing they have in common is that they're lovely on the skin. Whether they actually do any healing is debatable, but they feel so comfortable they're worth a go. MAC's BB cream (21, maccosmetics.co.uk) seems to last longer than most, has a thumping 35SPF and the coverage of a light foundation. If you want to give BB a go but not commit wallet-wise, try Garnier's (8.49, feelunique.com) which fades over a day, but provides a lovely gentle base.