What Are You Using Right Now?

It's that time of the month again when I need to shed my hair (well extensions) and put on a new look. So on Saturday morning off I headed to Peckham to undertake the ritual of getting my hair done. This meant getting up at 7am, leaving the house before 9am to board the train that takes me to Peckham Rye, popping into Aces to buy the hair and then going to the hairdressers to get it done. To most people going to the hairdressers is quite a relaxing time and for me back in the day when I used to relax my hair it was. I would go in, get seen to right away and be offered tea or coffee, handed some glossy magazines and be able to relax for a good few hours. Sadly the experience is very different when you are going to get your hair braided or twisted. The environment is very different and the customer emphasis is not quite the same. However, the results are stunning hence the reason why you go back for more. Now after getting my hair done I always treat myself to a facial and eyebrow threading at one of my favourite places in the world, Cucumba, an urban pit stop that offers beauty treatments and therapies. An hour or two here and I always leave feeling very lush.

How befitting is it to hear that Lushes Brown Thoughts has tagged me in her hair and beauty post, What are you using right now? The idea of the post is to find out what sort of products different bloggers use on their face and body and it all makes very interesting reading. This is a list of all the stuff that I use to keep me looking great.

Hair

Shampoo - Sulfur8 medicated shampoo - it just works or Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo

Conditioner � Trespak treatment, gets rid of those knots and makes the hair feels so much better

Styling products � Trespak medicated hair and scalp conditioner

Body
Cleanse � Any soap from Lush
Moisturise � Palmers Cocoa Butter

Deodorant � Palmolive Soft and Gentle Aromatherapy: Lavender, Ylang Ylang & Patchouli

Sun care � None at the mo but I guess I should get on it
Perfume - I LOVE perfume and tend to use different scents, right now it is Daisy by Marc Jacobs.

Face
Cleanse � Clarins Gel Nettoyant Purifiant Cleansing Gel

Tone - Clarins Lotion with Iris

Moisturise � Clarins HydroQuench Lotion
Mask - Clinique Deep Cleansing Emergency Mask
Lip Balm - Any by the Bodyshop or Lush

Makeup

Primer - Benefit Dr Feel Good

Foundation � MAC Studio Fix powder NW45
Eye Shadow � Mac
Eyeliner - Mac
Lip gloss � Mac Chocolaite
Mascara � Maybelline Define a Lash, Mac Splashproof
Nail Polish - Essi Chocolate

I tag Brown Girl Gumbo, The Cocoa Diaries, Mad News, A Taste of Angel Cake, Harlem Loves and all my readers.

What lush goodies have you been using lately ladies?

I'm a Lushite

When I was younger bath time was not an experience I looked forward to. As a tiny tot to a traditional Nigerian mother there were no options of mucking about in a bubble bath instead I had to look forward to being scrubbed from top to bottom. The result of this was that I was squeaky clean but it was not something I enjoyed. Things did not fare better as I got older, you see I grew up in the 70s in a modern built flat so our bathroom stone cold and mouldy. Frankly I could not wait to get out of there. However when I bought my house four years ago I inherited an avocado bath suite complete with a bidea. Lovely - NOT - I swore blind that I would never step foot in that limey bath and I was true to my word. I absconded to my parents while the builders turned the house into my home. As well as putting in a new kitchen, new floors, new internal doors, new lights as well as redecorating I also had the bathroom done up. After a productive and expensive trip to bathstore.com, I came home with traditional sink with a rail to hang the hand towel, new toilet and my piece de resistance is my glorious Cambridge roll top bath with Bensham shower mixer taps. After four years, I am still totally and utterly in love with it. It may take up a lot of water but hell who cares, lying in there soaking with the candles flickering is pure bliss. So it is only right that I should have some fancy soaps to go into that bath.

Hence Lush. I must admit it has taken a while for Lush to crack me, for years I have walked past that place without a second look but a recommendation from a good mate and a need for some lip balm sent me in there. Once I was in I was curious by all these lovely smelling bars and balls of soaps. I bought the Sexy Peel soap, the Milky Bar as well the Soft Coeur massage bar. I also treated myself to the Honey Trap lip balm. Lets say I am addicted; I am astonished by the quality of the products. They are a sheer joy to use and all fresh made to boot. Oh and a few weeks ago after payday, I went back for more and bought the You've Been Mangoed bath melt and a Buffy body butter. I think I'm in love. With friendly and knowledgeable staff, it is no surprise to hear that Lush has been named Best 100 Company to work for five times in a row by The Sunday Times.

Pure Thoughts

It looks like everyone is going au natural these days because every time I look round a new organic skin care has launched. Even the big boys are getting into the act; cool, hip nature company, Origins has launched an organic range and funky homeopathic company, Neal�s Yard Remedies have just introduced a new holistic facial. From the opposite side of the radar is Pure Thoughts; a tiny company that makes skin care with natural ingredients. Dubbed innocent indulgence for the skin, they offer alternative skincare for women without all the nasty chemicals. The company was set up by Leanna Doolin and Michael Houlden in 2005. They are based in an idyllic cottage in Derbyshire where they produce hand made soap, skincare and bath products. Pure Thoughts might be tiny but they are certainly sweet.

I received a sample box last week that was wonderfully packaged in an oat coloured box with a pretty seal. I tried out the peppermint lip balm, I love my lip balm and have used brands such as The Body Shop and Lush and this one is pure bliss. It has a wonderful texture that is not too creamy or oily and the peppermint leaves a wonderful tinge on your lips that so so yummy. The soaps are not bad either and the various oils that they contain do not strip the oils from your skin like some products, instead they moisturize it and leaves it feeling soft and dreamy. The soaps are divided into five collections; Essential Collection, Infusion Collection, Herbal Collection, Cleansing Collection and Working Hands Collection and contains bars such as Lavender & Chamomile, Pure Gardeners Delight, Tea Tree & Nettle and Honey & Oats. For a real special treat you can indulge in a wonderful bath spa with a Luxury Bath Bomb in Peppermint & Rosemary, Lavender & Chamomile or Patchouli & Orange. Or you could relax in a Herbal Spa Soak or chill out to music with a Luxury Bath Melt in either Lavender, Lemon & Lime or S.Wood & Ylang & Ylang. You can also go the whole hog by using a face mask in Yoghurt & Green Clay, Strawberry & Pink Clay or Banana & Yellow Clay. To complete all that pampering you can use a Body Butter Bar in Orange & Mint, Lavender & Chamomile, Fennel & Mint Foot or you could try a Shea Butter Whip in Lavender or Peppermint. Pure Thoughts is also the ideal place to look for the perfect gift; you can choose from the Fresh Herb Collection, Calm Collection, Cook�s Collection, Facial Collection and many others.

All products are available to buy online.

Check out their website

http://www.purethoughts.co.uk/