Saturday 27 September 2014

Salon Review: The Golden Touch, London

London correspondent Gemma Summons road tests one of the capital's premier waxing salons.

Sometime earlier this summer, somewhere in the nooks and crannies of Soho, I was invited to a salon called The Golden Touch. No, not a ‘massage’ parlour, though I did have a happy ending, of sorts. The Golden Touch was run by the very lovely, very bubbly Hannah Salisbury, an Aussie who has a wealth of experience in intimate waxing. She has been head of the training school of the same name for some time, and has built up an excellent reputation teaching therapists in the London area. 

I am by no means a wax aficionado. (Make of that what you will). Previous memories of being waxed involved being taken down into a scary basement, with sullen, silent women essentially pouring lava onto my dainty areas and ripping them to pieces mercilessly. Safe to say I didn’t go back for a while (years). Waxing is punishment enough without it being medieval. So, thankfully, Hannah welcomed me into her salon with open arms and put me at ease.

She left me alone to freshen up before taking me into a small room with the radio playing. She explained the process of waxing to me and why hot wax is the best way of waxing in order to minimise pain and reduce regrowth. Throughout the wax she kindly talked me through what she was doing whilst giving me helpful advice about aftercare, as well as friendly chatter between us about our days/lives/etc. The wax itself, she admitted, is never going to be the most comfortable experience in the world (why lie?), but she did her absolute best to minimise the discomfort, and I genuinely can say that it was a world away from my previous experiences. I felt safe, relaxed, and in experienced hands (which is all anyone wants down there, obviously). The results were great and, with Hannah’s advice, lasted a long time.

I would thoroughly recommend a wax at The Golden Touch - Hannah offers good quality, practical and affordable intimate waxing with very good customer service as well. Sadly The Golden Touch is temporarily closed at present; however, Hannah is still offering therapists professional training in intimate waxing and the salon's return is promised soon. If you want the therapists of your salon to be taught by the experts, look no further.

Sunday 21 September 2014

Impulse Rock and Love Body Spray

RRP: £1.99

--What does the promo say?--
"Rock & Love is an oriental scent featuring a mix of fresh and fruity fragrance notes, including amber and orange blossom, which combine to produce a bright, sparkling scent, perfect for an on-the-go fragrance boost. The perfect pairing for any rock inspired look, Rock & Love is an effortlessly cool yet chic scent, designed to be the ideal handbag essential to take you from day to night."

--Packaging--
The cool silver background and the almost neon flowers marry to create an almost tattoo-esque concept thanks to the rebellious lines and extreme colours, while the flowers themselves also evoke the Oriental feel intended by the fragrance's principal notes of amber and orange. The turning plastic cover is a lot more convenient than a separate lid, and the spray mechanism itself is strong.

--Application--
I'd say you're best off spraying a mist of this in front of you and stepping into it to let it fall gently over your hair, skin or clothes, rather than directing the jet straight at yourself (see below for reasons why).

--Scent--
A bit overpowering, which is a shame (hence the suggestion above to use sparingly). However, the overall idea is nice: the amber comes through clearly to create a musky, mature result without being a perfume fit for your grandma. The edginess is perhaps created by the orange blossom, although this isn't nearly as detectable as the amber.

--Longevity--
As mentioned, this is powerful stuff, meaning you should be able to just spray once and be done for the day. Handy for the busy and/or lazy!

--Value for money--
At £1.99, this won't break the bank, meaning that even if you dislike it, you haven't lost out. However, on this budget, you simply can't expect the depth and complexity of higher-end fragrances, so allow the price bracket to be your guide and set your expectations.

Saturday 20 September 2014

Dove Caring Protection Body Wash

 RRP: £1.99

--What does the promo say?--
"Nourishment that protects your skin. Our Caring Protection body wash protects the surface of your skin while cleansing. It contains NutriumMoisture with a high level of natural oils and skin natural lipids. The combination helps restore the protective surface of your skin to keep moisture in. Feel the care of the rich and creamy formulation. Naturally protecting, always beautiful."

--Packaging--
The predominantly white bottle is calming and gender-neutral, while the hints of gold and royal blue provide a touch of class. The small blue flip top lid is easy to open and secure to close, even with wet hands, and minimises wastage thanks to its effective dispensing action.

--Application--
Rub into wet skin while showering, delight in the silky lather for as long as you want, and then rinse off.

--Appearance--
The gel creme that initially comes out of the bottle is white and almost pearlescent. This transforms into a robust yet luxurious white foam that leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Freshly laundered cotton is the primary scent evoked; the overall effect is homely and natural rather than seeming overly perfumed, so shouldn't interfere with your usual choice of eau de toilette.

--Texture and consistency--
Creamy and indulgent. As mentioned, a rich lather builds up on contact with water, and it stays on your skin for as long as you want it to before rinsing. 

--Effects on the skin--
In truth, I noticed no difference in terms of moisturisation compared to the other shower gels that I currently have on rotation (a selection by Lush, Deep Heat, and Bath & Body Works). However, it's possible that over a longer period of time a difference might manifest itself thanks to the sunflower and soybean oils that this product contains.

--Value for money--
At a mere £1.99 a punt (less if you catch it on offer, as it is at Boots currently), it's worth a shot for the heavenly shower experience this provides. This product's silky lather is hard to beat, and definitely welcome after a hard day's work, a full-on gym session, or a poor night's sleep. Definitely give it a try.