Botox Beware!!!

A salon owner has been jailed for 13 months for offering unlicensed treatments of counterfeit substances she claimed were the wrinkle fillers Botox and Restylene.

According to court records, 46 year old Xin He (aka Faith He) persisted in offering these unlicensed treatments at her salon despite repeated warnings from employers, regulators, agents and others.
She was convicted at the U.S District Court in Seattle on a felony count of Misbranding of a Drug While Held for Sale and two misdemeanor counts of Receipt & Proffered Delivery of an Adulterated Device.

In short, this means she was injecting her clients (who trusted her) with a poisonous, decomposed, filthy, putrid substance.  It makes me so angry that salon owners & therapists will compromise all the hard work industrial specialists such as myself  have done to build therapist reputations, just for financial gain. If you have any advanced beauty treatments, I cannot stress how important it is for you check out the person treating you & RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH the treatment or products they are using.  Would you run the a back street hair salon for you highlights???  No, you wouldnt! 

Haiti Appeal -

On Tuesday, January 12th, Port-au-Prince Haiti was hit by a magnitude 7 earthquake.  Three million people were affected in what has been called the small country's biggest natural disaster in 250 years. The death toll is still unknown, but is estimated to be tens of thousands.  Today, one week on and miraculously, above all conceiveable odds, 2 more survivors were pulled from the rubble.  We can't begin to imagine what these two have gone through in the last seven days whilst waiting to be rescued, not only physically but more so...mentally!  How many more are still alive??!!

WE MUST, HELP THERE IS NO EXCUSE

Fasion lovers can go to Fashion Philanthropy  where they will donate 100% of proceeds taken to the Haiti fund.  Applies to all orders taken up until close of business FRIDAY 22nd JANUARY 2010

Make-up lovers go to  Josie Maran  who are donating 50% of their proceeds until Feb 1st

Food and water is running out for the people of Haiti, and let us not forget the orphaned children of the Island! There is no excuse not to help!

You can also make donations at
www.RedCross.org.uk/haitiearthquake

www.unicef.org.uk/Donate_Haiti 
www.DEC.org.uk/haiti-appeal

Detox or not Detox??

With increasing numbers of detox products on the market for the New Year’s “healthier you”, please should be reminded that effective detox requires long-term changes, not expensive quick fixes.

There is an extreme excess of detox products available on the shelves today.  This can be really confuse use and end up being costly. Whilst they certainly can aid the cleansing process,also remember it is your responsibility to take ongoing measures to ensure the detox is a truely effective long-lasting detox.

There is no need to spend lots on detox programes.  Our bodies have perfect detoxifyers, our liver & kidneys.  All detoxong products that include drinking are hydrating, but so is water & thats cheap!  These drinks contain such small amounts of wild herbs they are unlikely to have any real effect, but you will get a result as it containd water, so ineffect, thats whats detoxing you.  All that is needed is a healthy change to your diet.  More fresh fruit and vegetables, wholesome wholefoods such as wholemeal breads, brown rice and, lean proteins such as fish and chicken then drinking lots and lots of water.

If you feel you need a bit more, detox products containing Fullers Earth, Dandelion Leaf, Dandelion Root or Horse Chesnut.  Dont just buy off the shelf, go to a reputable health foods store where they can advise you. 

Detoxifying your body is a lifestyle choice, and if you cannot fit it into your lifestyle you will never see the true benefits of it.

My Face My Body

Look out for MyFaceMyBody,a web based production that has now been commissioned for TV!!  The television programme will launch in March and feature cosmetic surgery, non-surgical procedures, dentistry and general wellbeing.

The presenter is industry expert Stephen Handisides who will look at the latest treatments and procedures available on the UK market.  Woo Hoo!!

The programme will provide a better understanding of different invasive and non-invasive cosmetic surgery treatments and will detail the benefits and risks of treatments and how to choose the right surgeon or clinic.  Much needed I think given many people go to the first person they see!!  Why do you do this?? Do we ever buy the first dress we see?  NO!

The programme will still be available to watch on-demand at MyFaceMyBody.com.

MyFaceMyBody founder Handisides, said: "I've been developing MyFaceMyBody over the last few years as I felt consumers were struggling to find easily accessible and engaging yet totally independent information about the huge number of procedures on the market"

The MyFaceMyBody programme will be screened 12 times per month on InformationTV, Sky Channel 166 and Freesat.402.

OPI Mad Hatter Nails

I am suitably excited at the prospect of the delectable Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, OPI  has newly launched shades created in homage to the upcoming film.  Ohh im all excited!!




The launch celebrate the brilliant live-action 3D movie, which opens on March 5th and features Tim Burton’s amazingly imaginative style, OPI is launching four limited edition nail lacquer shades.

Absolutely Alice provides blue glitter; Thanks So Muchness! delivers red shimmer; Off with her Red! is a hot red and Mad as a Hatter offers black multi-glitter impact.  Woo hoo!!

Black Beauty

Black skin was made to withstand the sun. It has large sweat and sebaceous (oil) glands to keep it cool and naturally well mositurised.  It tends to be mroe oily than whits skins, because of this,  it ages far better than white skin.


A rapid turnover of cells can cause skin to be congested. These cells need to be sloughed of the skin on a regular basis to ensure it always looks fresh.  This can be done by exfoliating a minimum of twice a week.  I would advise anyone to steer clear of abrasive exfoliators for the face - anything with bits in.  These products can cause minor scratches to the skin.  Chemical exfoliators work much better.

If your time starved, micro exfoliation can be daily. These products can be used just like your facial wash. They are still a chemical exfoliation, not harsh but effective, such as Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant

If you have some time to spend to pamper yourself whilst in the bath.  Try Pure Enzymes, by Cosmedix.  I love this product.  Leave on for 10-15mins. Your skin will feel so smooth & luscious afterwards.  I even use this all over my chest & neck!  It eats all the dead skin particals up just like a pack man!!

Facial gels and washes are far better for oily black skins.  Facial cream cleansers dont leave you feeling clean & leave a film of oil on the skin, which you dont need, you have your own excess oil produced from your skin remember!!

Always remember to cleanse twice - the first cleanse will remove surface dirt such as makeup or build up from the environment such as dust/pollution.  Only the second cleanse actually cleans the skin!!

A quick and cheap way to kill the odd spot, dry then out by using a dab of toothpaste on them overnight.

Make-up Faux Pas

In 2010, it would be wise for all of us to ensure our make-up look good before we leave the house, not end up making a faux pas such as Nicole Kidman - if you dont know, she recently walked the red carpet wearing copious amoutns of under eye make-up for the Nine premier.  If you have a special occasion, why not take a picure of yourself before you leave.  This will show any flaws in your makeup and you will feel confident you'll look great in all your pics on the night...before the shenanigans begin of course..ha ha!

To stay savvy, I recommend we all go au naturel this year!  Before you freak out & start shaking, have palpitations whilst hugging your favourite eyeliner to your chest, by natural, I mean by the use of mineral make-up rather than chemical based cosmetics. Paris Hilton, Madonna & Halle Berry are all fans of mineral make-up.  Whats all the hype about mineral make-up?  Well it may be that it's just so darn good for your skin!!


"Mineral makeup gets a lot of support from dermatologists," explains cosmetic medicine specialist, Dr. Karen Dover. "It's pure and quite soothing,"

It's the only thing I would put on my skin after any facial.  Whats the point of having your skin deep cleaned then go and pack a load of chemicals from your make-up bag on afterwards.  Pure Mineral Make-up is natural and is better than some skincare ranges!

But if you still feel the need to cling to your chemical based eyeliner, you can still have fun as 2010 is the year of the eyes for make-up,  SO GO ALL OUT WITH SOME BOLD SHADOW TOO!!