Oxford Fashion Society presents a curated
selection of long awaited products to solve your every beauty woe, read on to
find where problem meets solution. Sorted!
1. INVISIBOBBLE
The days of the standard scrunchie are
over. Long-haired lasses the world over have been united in their pleas to
eradicate this endemic of hairband-induced kinks and tangles. Enter
invisibobble. Popping one of these springy bands into your everyday pony tail
or top knot is a joy and a revelation- not only does it exert great hold
without any pulling, it will avoid hair breakages when eventually removed (without
a trace). The idea was sparked by Sophie Tvede on a night out during her first
term at university- the unexpected product of a fresher’s ‘bad taste’ party, a
telephone cord and a desire to just get her hair outta her face! Of her
discovery she reveals that “the secret of the traceless hair ring lies in the
spiral form of the invisibobble, which distributes the pressure unevenly and in
a way that a normal hair tie never could.” What’s more it’s suitable for all
hair types and claims to be antiallergenic. Say goodbye to those marks and
split ends!
The
invisibobble is available in an array of different colours to suit your every
mood from Topshop, Boots and Amazon at approximately £4 for a pack of three.
2. MOROCCANOIL DRY SHAMPOO DARK TONES
Dry shampoo was first introduced in the 70s
but it has certainly witnessed a renaissance over the past five years, once featuring
in Emma Watson’s “what’s in my makeup bag?” Plus Karl Lagerfeld has even extolled
its virtues. But how can hair possibly look shower fresh even if you’ve
“skipped the suds”? Well, the powder formula or fast-evaporating liquid that
your spray into your tresses removes excess sebum and naturally occurring oils whilst
freshening the scent of your hair. Sounds good but as any brunette will tell
you- there are perils aplenty with this stuff as it takes a pro to keep hair turning
from resplendent to retiree. By popular demand, cult beauty brand Moroccanoil
has introduced its very first dry shampoo for dark tones because, as it
professes, “hair colour is personal”.
For a
cheaper alternative try Batiste Dry Shampoo Dark available from £1.98 at
Superdrug.
3. REDKEN BRAID AID 03
Braids, or plaits to you and me, are never
out of fashion. A simple twist and a primp can transform a bad hair day into a
catwalk worthy look or simply brighten up a rainy day with a soupçon of cali
style. However, often plaits do not exhibit much staying power and have
unraveled even before you’ve left the house. Using hairspray isn’t always a option
due to its tendency to require immediate washing, so this product is definitely
a valuable investment, being “specifically designed to add both smoothness and
grip to make braiding and twisting hair easier and last longer.” Now that we
can count on.
Available
online at Look Fantastic for £14.25
4. COVER FX DROPS
With the advent of Instagram the stakes
have never been higher, but finding that perfect shade of foundation or skin
coverage still presents the following issues… a) the bright lights of the
beauty counter are no match for daylight, b) the lady at the beauty counter has
other ideas about what constitutes to a “natural” look, c) beauty companies
have decided not to accommodate for your skin tone, or d) all of the above. Cover
FX has the answer in its new product called custom cover drops available in 24
different shades from alabaster to flawless ebony. They are described as “pure
pigment drops that allow you to customize any product and adjust the level of
coverage you desire. Mix them with anything liquid: moisturizers, serums, oils,
primers, foundations and tinted moisturizers.”
Available
at House of Fraser for £36 (only a tiny drop is required in each application so
it should last for several months).
5. ST. TROPEZ IN SHOWER TANNING LOTION
In this newest edition to their product
range, the iconic tanning brand St Tropez has redefined everything we have
previously known about fake tan application. Be prepared to throw out the rulebook
as showering post application is no longer frowned upon; in fact the newly
developed scientific formula relies upon water particles to activate the
gradual tanning process. Already labeled as the industry “game changer”, this
is no doubt the go-to product for a low maintenance, convenient way to achieve
sun-kissed skin in three minutes flat.
Available
online from St Tropez for £14.50 per 200ml tube.
6. CHARCOAL PORE STRIPS
Hands down charcoal is the new “It”
ingredient, currently dominating the beauty industry in multiple guises. From
facial cleansers and healthy juices to these great Bioré pore strips, it seems
there is no end to its promotional status as a so-called wonder substance.
Activated charcoal found in such products is simply carbon that has been altered
to increase its absorbency, and works by attaching to toxins on our skin
surface; it assumes the role of a magnet programmed to attract blackheads, dirt
and grime. Cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson explains that “when dirt and oil in
your pores come in contact with the carbon, they stick to it and then get
washed away when you rinse”.
Available
from Boots for £8.99 for a pack of six.
7. CHARLOTTE TILBURY X NORMAN PARKINSON
COMPACT
This summer the archive of legendary
fashion photographer, Norman Parkinson, teamed up with revered make up artist
Charlotte Tilbury to produce a limited edition collection of retro print
cosmetic bags and compacts. Of the collaboration she reveals, “I wanted to
capture Norman Parkinson’s vision of beauty. He was an alchemist of light,
capturing the sun and the differing effects of light on the skin in a unique
way… With this product range, you can literally paint your face in Parkinson’s
youth-enhancing light every day. I want everyone to feel touched by the magic
of his lens!” Highlights include its sculpt-and-highlighting palette printed
with Parkinson’s tropical shot of Jerry Hall in Montego Bay, 1975. Equally
covetable is the iconic 50s look from Carmen Dell’Orefice which graces
Tilbury’s Dreamy Glow Highlighter compact. So add a touch of aesthetic charm to
your everyday makeup and claim your slice of fashion history- and summer!
Available
online from charlottetilbury.com with prices starting at £23.
8. AVOJO BLACK PEEL OFF MASK
Many of the skin cleansing face masks
available on the market today have earned a reputation of being a real pain
when it comes to their removal. Simply rinse face with warm water… who are they
kidding? An industrial grade scourer couldn’t remove all the remnants of your
typical aloe-vera scented clay mask. If this sounds all too familiar, I urge
you to try the growing phenomenon that is the peel off face mask. Much like Bioré
charcoal pore strips, Avojo’s peel off mask is highly skilled in the removal of
dirt, blackheads and other pore blocking cells on the skin’s surface. Just
apply a thick layer onto nose, forehead and chin then wait 30 minutes to peel
it off. No water required… or brillo pads!
Available
online at Look Fantastic for £10 per pack of four.
By Lottie Jackson
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