Interview with Evelyn Lauder

I rather enjoyed this interview with Evelyn Lauder in the October issue of Harpers Bazaar. I love that she dyes her own hair at home (using four different colours of Clairol!). It's interesting hearing health and beauty advice from someone older than you. Far more helpful than seeing brands using teens to promote their wrinkle creams.

Neroli

Little old Neroli. I imagine people are more familiar with essential oils like lavendar, but neroli really is a little gem to be explored.

I read recently (possibly in UK Elle magazine) of a makeup artist who uses neroli oil for bringing a glow to makeup. If you, like I do, decant a little foundation onto the back of your hand then simply shake a drop in and mix it up. I wouldn't use any more than that, and with my foundation (Chanel Aqualumiere) it certainly couldn't handle more, but it is rather lovely. And neroli has a divine fragrance. It's from the citrus family (orange blossom to be precise) but to me it smells fresh, a little like soap and clean washing.

From this website "The name is said to have originated from the Italian princess, Anne-Marie de la Tremoille (Countess of Nerola) who used the oil as a perfume and to scent her bathwater and gloves. It is still an ingredient for making traditional smelling eau-de-cologne"

and..

"On the skin, neroli oil can help to regenerate skin cells and is a rejuvenating oil useful to prevent ugly scar tissue, promote a smoother skin, fighting stretch marks and broken capillaries."

I think beyond adding neroli oil to my foundation I will also be adding it to my facial oil mix, the latter which I use as I would a serum. You could also mix a drop into your night moisturiser.

When 'no-shampoo' isn't quite enough

Long time writing, I know...

Right now my hair is oiled up, and so is my face for that matter. Luckily my husband is away. Some things must be indulged in solo.

This week I have been seriously thinking about buying shampoo for the first time in two years (two years this May since going shampoo-free, excluding hairdresser visits). Quelle horreur! Now I think I may just need to introduce regular hair treatments into my no-shampoo regime. Hence the oiled hair. The face oil treatment is one I've just made, consisting of beeswax, shea butter, jojoba oil and olive oil. Based on my experience with shea butter, I think if this was used regularly my face would turn on me, but as an occasional facial treatment I'm positive it will be beneficial. I remember reading a quote from a dermatologist, saying that every now and then olive oil in place of your nightly moisturiser is beneficial. It gives your skin a nice break from the complexities of facial moisturiser, and is very rich.

One topic I've been meaning to blog about is the acupuncture facelift. It's in a book of mine, and it goes through the steps for tightening and lifting various parts of the face. It sounds so good, and apparently there are acupuncture facelift specialists who have been doing this for years. If you were to do it at home, it's a matter of being disciplined and going through the steps each day. I find the older I get, the less-disciplined I get in some areas, which is unfortunate as I'd really like to persevere with this. I'll try to find the time to post about it soon. Ish.