The Wonders of the Humble French Chemist

After spending a weekend in the capital of love I now get why all the movies and songs go on about “Spring in Paris”. The weather was just perfect…not too hot but bright blue skies and warm enough to get your legs out (not that my pale ones are ready for such traumas quite yet). The blossom trees were in full bloom and the Seine was glistening.

The Parisians themselves were also looking their best and many were to be seen in perfectly fitting jeans, pointed heels, simple white t shirts and a variety of expensive looking silk scarves.

Apart from doing a lot of walking, relaxing in parks, eating and drinking I also dragged my husband into one place that always gets me excited when I go to France….any one of their local pharmacies.

This may sound a bit weird but apart from needing some hayfever tablets, I was there to bask in the wonder of the many beauty products that every French Chemist sells. These are not your average own-brand creams and lotions but are high-end, highly effective products that we’d only find in posh department stores over here.

My main beauty must-have when I go to a French chemist is Bioderma. This is an affordable makeup remover that is not only amazingly effective at removing every trace of makeup but is also very mild and gentle. It’s such a shame that this isn’t widely available in the UK but you can buy it from Guru Makeup Emporium in Fulham, London.

Another great French chemist purchase is Embyolisse Crème Oncteuse Raffermissante. This is the perfect moisturise to apply before makeup. It is full of vitamins and contains collagen and hyaluronic acid so is anti-ageing as well.

If like me you are a fan of dry shampoo but find that Batiste is a bit too harsh for you then definitely it’s worth picking up some Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oatmilk. It smells good and gives great volume if you work it into the roots.

So next time you’re in France, make sure you give your humble local chemist a visit for some quality beauty products.

A Lovely Mother's Day at The Grove Hotel

I've returned from a great Mother's Day mini-break at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire. It's a modern hotel with sprawling grounds decorated with modern sculptures.

We got a great deal for one night plus breakfast and use of the spa.

I love hanging out with my Mum. As a teenager I was a bit of a nightmare and we fought like rats in a sack, but the minute I turned 18 something shifted and she bacameone of my best friends. Spending time with "Mummy Bonn" is always fun, effortless and often involves some kind of drama which I'll come back to later.

My favourite thing about our little break was time spent in the gorgeous spa. It is called Sequoia and you can have a total wind-down and relax without booking a single treatment.

Here are some of the highlights:

- The sprawling swimming pool with in-built jacuzzi. It is surrounded by sun-beds and provides a very relaxing environment

- The Vitality pool.

This is a real highlight. It is a small pool with a variety of jets to create different massage effects. My favourite were the two taps with powerful jets of water that gave me and my Mum a thorough shoulder and neck massage.

- The relaxation room:

We loved it in here! There were about ten sumptuous beds surrounded by curtains. The lights were dimmed and the aim was either to have a sleep or a total relax. If you were feeling a bit peckish there was a table with tea, water, juice and delicious healthy snacks.

- The showers

Each shower had delicous ESPA products leaving us smelling fresh and citrussy.

The only warning I will give you is that the dressing gowns that they kindly provide are a wee bit see-through. My Mum and I were taken aback when a lovely looking man chatted us up (even though we had wet hair, no make-up and were in said dressing gowns). When we returned to our room we both looked at each other and shrieked. He had seen a lot more than we had bargained for.

If you fancy a break at The Grove check out their special offers here: http://www.thegrove.co.uk/offers/

Daniel Galvin Junior

Have you ever suffered from the horrible ailment that is hairdresser guilt? You like a hairdresser, you build up a relationship with them, they cut your hair really nicely and over the years you become closer. The hairdresser continues to cut your hair but it always seems to look the same and you are bored stiff with your style. You are both in a rut and it's time for a change but through guilt and loyalty you just can't leave them?

Well this has been the story of my life! It all started with the horrendous Peter who cut my hair as a kid. He had been my Mum's hairdresser for years and through guilt and loyalty she forced me to go to him. Even when he cut all my lovely locks off and made me look like a boy (He was only asked to do a trim) my Mum couldn't put an end to this doomed relationship and I had to put up with him for years.

As I got older I found myself going back to stylists year after year and even when given a mullet that ruined any chances of romance in my first year of university, I still insisted on seeing Grant at my local salon.

Fast forward ten years and I have finally realised that when it comes to hair you need to be very picky and never settle for second best.

So, it was with a light heart that I skipped along to Daniel Galvin Junior's Salon in Chelsea without giving (too much of) a thought to my normal stylist. Daniel's gorgeous Chelsea Salon had been recommended to me by a friend and it really is amazing.

The salon itself is intimate and cosy and the staff are very welcoming. From the moment you enter you are made to feel like a VIP. Take for example the massage chair that instantly relaxes you as you have your hair washed with Daniel's Organic Hair range. Much to my pleasure, every delicious cup of coffee is also accompanied with a Bonne Maman cake which is a lovely touch.

What really counts though is the standard of the cut. This is no Toni and Guy or Vidal Sassoon (where you often leave with a signature salon style rather than looking how you hoped) but is a place where the stylist will create the perfect cut for YOU. The guy who cut my hair did so with real care and involved me every step of the way.The result was that I left the salon with the hair that I have always dreamt of rather than the boring old style that I have come to expect.

If you fancy overcoming your hairdresser guilt and paying a visit to this fabulous salon then check out the details here http://www.danielgalvinjunior.com/

xx

Jo Malone Vitamin E Hand Treatment

My hands have really suffered this winter. They get so dry and have been looking old and a bit wrinkly.

Last week I was in Selfridges and sampled Jo Malone's Vitamin E hand treatment and instantly fell in love. It made my hands look and feel really smooth and fresh and after an hour of perusing the shoe department they were still feeling amazing.

Needless to say, I couldn't resist buying (an expensive but generous) tube of the stuff. It's £38 and I can honestly say it's the best hand-cream I've ever used. I'm looking forward to trying out the rest of the Vitamin E range x

Pommade Divine

Whenever you read those articles in magazines where supermodels/celebrities share their beauty bag secrets with you, more often than not they will quote Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream as being their miracle product that they can't live without.

I do love Eight Hour Cream as a lip balm and for taming eyebrows but don't really like the texture when rubbed on the skin to treat the likes of sun-burn and dry skin conditions.

Recently I have discovered Pommade Divine and it is basically a super effective version of 8 Hour Cream dating back to the 18th Century.

Some people will remember having Pommade Divine rubbed on to cuts and bruises as a kid (Savlon was the ointment of choice by the time I came along) and those who do, will know that it really does work.

Pommade Divine is great for the following:

Getting rid of bruises really quickly
Healing cuts and scrapes
Getting rid of your baby's nappy rash
rubbing in when you have muscle strain
putting on spots to help heal them

I am going to be carrying my little pot of Pommade Divine everywhere from now on. It is a great little all round first-aid kit and smells delicious.

If you fancy giving it a go check out this website: http://www.pommadedivine.com/