Let’s face it: we all start off with good intentions when it comes to our beauty routine. We tell ourselves we’ll be exfoliating twice a week, using face masks and even doing a deep cleanse at the end of each day – no excuses.
But then reality kicks in. You forget to exfoliate, your face mask collects dust on the bathroom shelf – and the less said about your deep cleanse, the better. Skincare shouldn’t be a chore, but there are definitely times when it feels like it.
However, this is another way. By keeping your skincare routine simple and stress-free during the week, a weekend pamper can tick all the treatment boxes in one fell swoop, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalised (and note how much better ‘pamper’ sounds than ‘chore’….)
First off, it’s time to hit the shower – there is a school of thought that luxuriating in a bubble bath is the ultimate pampering treat – but if time is of the essence as far as you’re concerned, what follows is a guide to time-saver pampering. Start off with a matching body scrub and shower gel such as Soap and Glory’s ‘Sugar Crush’ for a fragrance layering effect. The tropical, aromatic hit of lime oil and kiwi juice is nothing short of mouth-watering – but the real beauty of Soap and Glory’s body products is how they deliver a spa-quality experience for a high-street price: worked gently over the skin, the scrub is the perfect consistency to tackle patches of rough skin, while the shower gel cleanses without stripping.
If you feel like continuing with the tropical theme, next apply a coating of Boots’ Coconut and Almond Intensive Hair Mask. At £1.99 for 350ml, this product may not immediately suggest ‘luxury’, but this hair mask is that rare thing; a cult product that doesn’t break the bank. A little goes a long way and in terms of cost per use, this really is a budget buy that gives luxury brands a run for their money.
It reached cult status by achieving unanimous praise from beauty bloggers for its brilliant formulation: intensely nourishing on even the most frazzled hair, when tested with pricier masks, it matched and often bettered results achieved by those prestige brands. Whether your crowning glory has been damaged by UV rays, heat or colour, this mask will transform the way your hair looks and feels. Try it just once, and I promise – you will be converted.
Next stop – deep cleanse. If your weekday skin routine revolves around face wipes, a hot cloth cleanser will be a perfect weekend pick-me-up for your skin. Using products such as wipes and cleansing waters are great for removing make-up, but when it comes to getting your skin deep-down clean, nothing beats a product specifically designed for the job.
There are plenty of great cleansers around: the classic choice is Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish. Containing ingredients such as eucalyptus and cocoa butter, this award-winning formula will leave your skin glowing. If you have dry, dull skin in particular, this product will seriously impress you.
However, don’t think that you’re excluded from hot cloth cleansers if your skin veers towards combination or oily. Soap and Glory’s Peaches and Clean Purifying Cleanser (£8) delivers on its gentle-but-effective promise. It is the perfect balancing cleanser for problematic skin, making quick work of removing make-up and de-clogging congested areas. Its lightweight, milky formulation won’t overwhelm oily skins, and as it rinses off, your skin feels rejuvenated and refreshed.
Now your face is beautifully clean, it’s time to give your skin a treat, and face masks are brilliant for targeting any issues you may be having with your skin. Dryness, excess oil and lack of radiance are all solvable problems – you just need the right mask.
For oily / combination skin, one of the best products is the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask (£23). Using charcoal and China clay to dissolve impurities and unclog pores, your skin will be left feeling clear but comfortable, especially important if you’ve been experiencing breakouts.
However, if your skin feels in need of a moisture boost and you’re in the mood for a dose of luxury, Filorga’s Meso Cream Mask (£38), may not be the cheapest option, but the results certainly justify the price tag. This mask can be applied and left on the skin for up to 30 minutes: it brightens the skin, leaving it luminous and radiant, whilst plumping out wrinkles and fine lines and erasing signs of fatigue. It is a serious multi-tasker that makes you look like you’ve spent the day at a beauty spa – the Meso Mask may be pricey, but it’s that good.
For an extra bit of luxury with your face mask, soak two cotton pads with Liz Earle Eyebright soothing lotion (£10.75). Made with cornflower, witchhazel and aloe vera, this herbal lotion can remove eye make-up but is equally adept at refreshing tired, puffy eyes. It may feel like an indulgence, but use it once, and I guarantee you’ll be keeping a bottle on standby.
Nail polish shades featured (L-R): Tanya Burr ‘Litte Duck’, Essie ‘Take it Outside’, Orly ‘Harmonious Mess’
For the final stage, nothing says pampering like a manicure. It may seem a strange concept, but a hand scrub can be a brilliant addition to your routine, polishing and treating an area that’s often forgotten about. Manicurist brands such as Leighton Denny and Essie both stock hand scrubs – apply a small amount to the backs of your hands, gently work the product around, and then rinse off with warm water. Your skin will be brighter and look younger: a definite bonus as hands are notorious for showing signs of ageing. Follow with a generous helping of hand cream and let it soak into the skin. Treat your cuticles with a remover, pushing them gently back. (Burts Bees’ Lemon Cuticle Cream comes personally recommended). Once your nails are prepped, they’re now ready for colour.
Painting your nails should be a simple task, but if you’re like me, it does take some practise (and a surprising amount of concentration) to get it right. Making it easier for yourself is all about finding the right formula. This doesn’t necessarily mean spending big bucks either: Rimmel’s Pro Nail Polish, Barry M’s Gel Nails and Model’s Own are all under £10 per bottle and very easy to apply. With proven track records of long-lasting wear, these brands really do earn the term ‘beauty bargain’.
But if you want to splurge, one of the best luxury brands for nailcare has to be YSL. In terms of ease of application, colour saturation and finish – YSL is very hard to beat. Their formula has hi-tech polymers to create a chip-resistant film on the nail; plus a ‘structural memory’ to ensure the polish dries in minutes. I told you it was fancy.
Their latest collection for Autumn 2014 is selling fast, but YSL are famous for their range of beautiful, colour-drenched shades. Their latest must-have shade ‘Bleu Galuchat’ (£18.50) is a season-perfect teal colour that will look good on every skintone. YSL excel by marrying the best on-trend shades with a robust, hard-working formulation that you would expect from a luxury brand. But if teal isn’t your thing, YSL will have a colour to tempt you, and a little bit of luxury will help those good intentions stick.
The key to not making a weekly beauty pamper an exhausting experience is to use products that multi-task, working hard to deliver what they promise. This doesn’t always mean spending big – some of the high street’s iconic brands offer real value for money with products that create an experience that’s luxurious but doesn’t take hours to complete.
It may seem like the beauty industry is all about the quick-fix, but products work at their best when applied on a regular basis. By taking some time out for yourself, you can start to see real results in less time than you might think. It’s not an exact science, but apply a little know-how, and your weekend pamper could leave you feeling good – and looking better.
HELEN TOPE
designergirl77 