Rarely in the world of beauty do you come across really impressive ingredients. In fact, when you consider just how many products and ingredients out there promise to change the appearance of our skin, there’s probably only a handful that really matter. The powers of renewing retinol, glow-boosting vitamin C, plumping hyaluronic acid and moisture-restoring ceramides have been shouted about from the beauty rooftops loud and clear for years now. However, while everyone has been caught up in a frenzy over the ingredients that offer up instant, noticeable results, I can’t help but feel as though one very important guy got left behind. It’s not that I have anything against the likes of retinol and vitamin C, it’s just that their promises are quite presumptuous and their aggressive nature makes ...
There’s no right or wrong way to do self-care, it’s an incredibly individual practice that will look different for everyone. When I’m not writing about beauty I’m a spiritual guide and meditation teacher and I completely get how hard it can be to make more time for yourself and actually commit to a self-care routine. If you’re not sure where to get started, it’s a good idea to focus on creating a holistic self-care practice, which means including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual practices for overall wellbeing and greater balance. Write a list of activities in each of these areas, some ideas could be walking, journalling, meditating or working on your self-worth. Once you have some ideas for what you can do, then make sure you slot them into yo...
Fashion has undergone a reckoning as of late. While we could say it’s the pandemic, the industry was already changing. Thanks to a heightened focus on sustainability, wanting to reduce waste, and a bigger emphasis on pieces that genuinely last—and aren’t as trend-led—seasons are becoming obsolete. Coats are featured in spring/summer collections, and you’ll always spot at least one summer dress on the autumn/winter runways. The crux of this is that our constant need for newness is waning. You need only see how the resale market is booming to understand that, not to mention our continued obsession with nostalgia. Where, then, does this leave us for the coming season? Are we ignoring what the runways revealed back in February and March? In a nutshell, no. That said, there a...
Every few months, I get this urge to cut my hair and get a bob. I had a 1950’s-inspired bouncy bob once, and let me tell you, it changed my life. And recently, I’ve been spending much of my time in a never-ending daydream of reminiscing and searching for bob hairstyles on dark hair. What I adore about the bob is how understated it is while still looking like a simple cut. It still requires plenty of skill from the hairstylist to make it look so effortless, but it’s generally a manageable style. The reason why I’m inching closer to the crop is that with a few styling tweaks and techniques, you can pretty much have a different hairstyle every day when you get this cut. From waves to hair clips and everything in between, keep scrolling for all the brunette bob hairstyl...
There’s no denying that the pandemic is a joyless beast. As well as stopping us from drinks at the pubs, hugging our loved ones and generally having normalcy, it has robbed us of one of the greatest pleasures in life—weddings. I know I’d give any opportunity to dress up, eat great food and booze and dance all night until I take off my heels and go barefoot. Of course, my missing out is nothing compared to the couples who have had to postpone their nuptials. Thankfully, this month, small weddings are now permitted to take place. Civil ceremonies and receptions with no more than 30 people are allowed. However, due to the often last-minute nature of the restriction easing announcements, there will be plenty of brides scrambling to find an outfit. Perhaps the big-day dress they thought t...
Whether you’re choosing to travel to Cornwall or Croatia, Greece or your best friend’s back yard, the ease of restrictions means that a vacation (or in some cases, staycation) may be on the cards this summer, after all. From bucket hats to beach bags, swimsuits to sunscreen, there are a few key items every holidaymaker needs to ensure their trip runs as smoothly as possible. And since it’s been a while since any of us have packed a suitcase, we thought we’d tap into the knowledge of six stylish women to understand the items they always take with them while travelling. Of course, as we’re often working with a weight limit, I asked for the top five essentials that always make the cut on their summer holiday packing list. For seasoned traveller Laura Nadine Herbe...
The first thing you might want to say is something along the lines of, “Who exactly is putting on makeup right now?” But for beauty aficionados, and curious novices, this time doesn’t necessarily need to be about adhering to society’s beauty standards; rather, it can be time to explore our makeup routines on our own terms in an effort to find the things that bring us joy. After all, who wouldn’t want to binge-watch Rihanna’s makeup tutorials or try new cult products? In truth, finding fun yet easy makeup looks during this time can be a simple way to cultivate a little delight in your day. So ahead, we’ve spoken to 15 women about the easy makeup looks that are currently making them smile. And don’t fret—we promise they’ll be as enjoyable to try on yourself. Doing your makeup doesn’t n...
Affordable skincare brands are really where it’s at, and with so many incredible ones on the market, when Glow Hub landed on my doormat, I didn’t know what to expect. There’s a new skincare brand popping up every few minutes and often mimicking one that’s gone before it, so I was interested to see what Glow Hub would bring to the table. A whole lot, that’s what. I love skincare, obviously. I wouldn’t be here making you read this otherwise, but sometimes it all gets a bit too serious. With complex-sounding ingredients and rules on how much, how often and how to apply, I needed a little injection of joy, and that’s what Glow Hub does best. The all-for-under-£12 collection is designed to be personalised, so you can pick the products that work for yo...
Affordable skincare brands are really where it’s at and with so many incredible ones on the market, when Glow Hub landed on my doormat I didn’t know what to expect. There’s a new skincare brand popping up every few minutes and often mimicking one that’s gone before it, so I was interested to see what Glow Hub would bring to the table. A whole lot, that’s what. I love skincare, obviously. I wouldn’t be here making you read this otherwise, but sometimes it all gets a bit too serious. With complex sounding ingredients, rules on how much, how often and how to apply, I needed a little injection of joy and that’s what Glow Hub does best. The all for under £12 collection is designed to be personalised, so you can pick the products that work for your ind...
The autumn winter 2020 fashion shows in February fell just before lockdown restrictions were put in place in Europe—since these collections were presented the fashion industry has not only faced huge challenges, but how we all get dressed has also changed significantly. The season was divided into two distinct camps—on one side was fantasy couture-like creations designed for extravagant social lives, and the second was a continued shift towards wearable, classic pieces. While the Villanelle-style evening gowns are beautiful to look back at, with an uncertain six months ahead of us and parties still on hold, for this autumn winter 2020 trend report I’m focusing on the pieces I think people will actually buy into over the next six months. The word ‘trend’ is now a dirty word in fashion circl...
Our homes have become so much more than the place we retire to at the end of the day. Over the last few months, they’ve morphed into our offices, our gyms, our coffee shops. So it’s little wonder that most of us are itching to get away from them (albeit temporarily), and explore different surroundings; to relax in a new space. But with a big question mark still looming over lots of overseas destinations, staycations are proving to be all the more appealing—particularly those in our glorious British countryside. With mountains and rivers and lakes and forests, our countryside boasts a bountiful array of places to discover, but that’s not the only reason to stay on home soil. Dotted across the country are some of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed in. While they’...
We might only be halfway through summer, however, the weather this week is making me think forward to autumn. I am by no means ready to say goodbye to bare legs or weekend picnics in the park, but as a fashion editor, I’m always looking forward, and I am ready to say hello to some of these new collections. Autumn outfits can require quite a bit of planning. Coat or no coat? How many layers are too many layers? The below outfit ideas will see you through cooler days over the next few months, and serve you in September and October also. We find that this time of year is when stock is switching over from linen dresses and sandals to knitwear and trench coats is the perfect moment to take a pause and really think about what is missing from your autumn wardrobe before you start adding to...