I was quite sad to read this piece of news yesterday afternoon!
After 13 years as a mainstay on the British high street Boots UK is today announcing the phased withdrawal of the Ruby & Millie brand from its stores. Ruby & Millie led the way for pioneering fashionable cosmetic brands to break into the mass market driving the trend for the fusion of mass and premium cosmetics .
Ruby & Millie were one of the brands I cut my beauty teeth on. Not quite ‘high street’ (though they are!) but not ‘high end’ either. To be fair, I wasn’t in love with many R&M products, especially in recent times… but the ones that I did fall for, I still use frequently today!
Where am I going to get my i-writers from now huh?!
The press release went on to say (I’m C&P-ing because I can’t say it any more concisely!)
Ruby Hammer and Millie Kendall stepped down from the brand in 2008 and have since focused on new and innovative brands such as Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique, Scarlett & Crimson and Alex Byrne Beauty. 2011 will also see the launch of Ruby Hammer’s eponymous new range.
I still haven’t tried anything from the Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique… I need to get into a bigger Superdrug to check the range out after seeing Helen’s nails blinged up to the max with the Trio Colour Layering System!
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the Ruby & Millie brand because…
The duo will also look to reinvest their energy into the Ruby & Millie brand bringing back a classic representation of their iconic products and initial concept of affordable luxury to the global market.
I’m pleased that the duo will be looking at ways to bring the brand back to former glory, it’s one of those brands that seems to have lost its way a little in recent times. Also looking forward to finding out more about this new range from Ruby Hammer – every cloud has a silver lining eh?
Will you be sorry to see the Ruby & Millie brand disappear from Boots?
Due on counter next week (26th January), the new No7 Spring collection includes an array of delicately-hued goodies for the new season.
The collection includes:
Limited Edition Eye Palette – £12.50
Limited Edition Gel Eyeliners, in Navy Blue, Turquoise and Black – £10.50
Limited Edition Lipsticks, in Brigitte (pale pink) and Grace (pale coral) – £10.50
Limited Edition Nail Polish, in Sugar (pale pink) and Spice (pale coral) – £7.50
Lisa Eldridge had this to say about the inspiration behind her latest No7 collection:
“Inspired by St Tropez in the early 1960’s, the birthplace of the glamorous international jet set and Brigitte Bardot, the archetypal sex kitten, this collection focuses attention very much on the eyes – the key items being the three Gel Eyeliners and beautiful Eye Palette. The eye shadow quartet contains the prettiest washes of ‘barely there’ beiges, corals, pinks, shimmering turquoises and sea greens all evocative of the Cote d’Azur. When the strong liners and pretty shadows are combined with the pale pouty lip colours… the look is defnitely more than a little 60’s Riviera starlet.”
I’ll be diving in for a closer look at the Gel Eyeliner in Navy Blue (love a good, deep blue eyeliner!) and lippie in Grace (pale coral).
… collect all the new Nails Inc./Diet Coke promo shades!
I’m actually off Diet Coke at the minute… not out of choice I hasten to add. This is one of those dietary reasonings *rolls eyes*.
However, I’m not going to let a silly little thing like that stop me from getting my hands on all four of the limited and exclusive Nails Inc. shades!
Each bottle is full size (10ml) and to get your grubby hands on one you need to buy two 500ml bottles of Diet Coke from a participating Boots store (the polishes are usually located on display stands nearby). The promo started on Wednesday but I haven’t noticed these in my local store yet which makes me think I may have to travel into town to take advantage.
They don’t call me Dora the Explorer for nothing! Or… actually… at all.
As I explained in my previous video, I’m slowly coming to terms with the simple truth that one course of laser hair removal won’t guarantee “permanent removal”. The wording that’s generally used is “permanent reduction” and there’s a difference. It’s comparatively far more permanent than other hair removal methods but will never be truly permanent without occasional treatment ‘top ups’.
What I’ve also realised (with the help of hindsight) is that this doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing because you don’t have the funds to cover constant salon visits or an expensive at home device. The fact is that when (relatively) small amounts of hair do grow back, they’re often finer, more manageable and far less offensive(!) than their original growth patterns and this is precisely the ‘reduction’ that companies refer to.
I will happily confess that I have always placed a preference on having my unwanted hair zapped at a salon. It’s far more expensive in the long run but there’s something to be said for placing yourself in the hands of a professional in circumstances where the eventual outcome is potentially life-changing. It’s a confidence thing.
However, now that I understand and appreciate the need for these ‘top ups’, the thought of having an IPL device that I can use in the comfort of my own home is more tempting. Despite this, there are considerations that should be addressed before you decide what’s right for you. For everyone, these will be different. For me, they go something like this.
1). Will I be disciplined enough when using an at home device? I wouldn’t miss a salon appt for fear of being penalty charged… it’s much easier to be lax with the treatments at home.
2). Am I confident enough in my own abilities to use an at home device competently?
3). Are at home devices as effective as salon treatments?
4). Do I want to use an at home device from day 1 or invest in one for maintenance purposes once my salon treatment is finished?
The wonderful thing about technology is that it’s forever evolving and improving. Hair removal is on the front line… it’s a highly sought after process and still incredibly expensive for the average consumer. Companies are investing millions in developing the best machines possible for both home and salon use.
I recently attended an event where we had the opportunity to put questions to the people behind the Boots iPulse Smooth Skin, you can watch the highlights of this event in the video below:
iPulse currently hold the enviable title of being Boots biggest seller. They’ve sold approximately 35,000 units through the high street retailer and the device has generated an average 4 star rating from consumers on the Boots website. Many are treating general areas such as legs and underarms, whilst others focus on hormonal hair (face, neck, chin etc.)
I wanted to follow up and put some additional questions to the people behind the iPulse, focusing on issues related to treating hormonal hair.
1). Most “at home” IPL hair removal systems aren’t recommended for use on women with PCOS, am I right in thinking that you’ve updated your literature to specifically include considerations for PCOS sufferers who want to use the device?
We are aware that hormonal imbalances and in particuar PCOS, are extremely distressing conditions when the side effect can produce unwanted facial hair. Boots Smooth Skin is suitable for use on the face and our research and clinical trials indicated a substantial reduction in facial hair and also our customers advised us that they were delighted with the results they have achieved in using the device on this sensitive area.
2). What are the main considerations that women with PCOS need to be aware of when using the iPulse?
The main considerations for customers with PCOS is that the hair growth cycle becomes irregular and therefore it may be necessary to give the area more treatments than other areas of the body. Stimulation of hair growth to the facial area can be considerable when there are hormonal imbalances and it is good to be able to treat the area as and when necessary.
3). What are the benefits of choosing the iPulse over going to my local salon for a course of IPL treatments?
Convenience and cost are the two main benefits however, there are many more. For some people privacy is important and this enables the treatment in comfort of your own home at a gtime convenient to you. Another benefit is time. Using Boots Smooth Skin will take approximately 6 – 12 weeks due to the regulated energy output enabling a weekly or fortnightly treatment. With salon treatments you will have a four to six week waiting period between each treatment – probably needing 6 – 10 treatments to achieve the same results and then there is the cost and inconvenience of traveling to the salon when it suits them!
4). iPulse offer an “IPL system”, the treatment I underwent at the SK:N clinic was on a “laser system”. What are the differences between the two treatments and is one more effective for reducing hormonal hair growth?
A laser is the first generation of hair removal systems using one beam of light to treat individual hairs – IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is the next generation of light based therapy systems using multiple wavelengths and a larger spot size which enables the treatment of many hairs at any one time. Offering the same results – permanent hair reduction – it is generally thought that treatment is faster and pain free with IPL systems.
5). Would you say that the iPulse is a particularly suitable option for women like me who have already undergone laser treatment and are looking for a cost-effective way to maintain their results?
Most definitely, this is a great way to keep previously treated areas hair free without the necessity of returning to the salon for further expensive treatments. A convenient way to ensure the initial results achieved are maintained.
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A big thank you to iPulse for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope that you’ve found them useful too!
I haven’t had any trouble deciding what I’ll be splurging my Boots points on this year. Last year… the Dior holiday collection caught my eye quite late on… but this year, it’s all about the Chanel.
I have 7578 points saved up through some tireless shopping efforts. It hasn’t all been glamour… Leila has had to quickly develop a taste for Boots branded baby things and I suspect that with no more buggies to buy, next year’s bounty won’t be quite so fruitful *sniff*.
However, that’s still £75.78 to blow spend. Annoyingly, when converting points to prizes purchases, you’re not allowed to part pay in cash… which means that my total spends must come to under that amount.
Can I do it? Here’s my wishlist… (do you care? doubt it… but I love a bit virtual shopping me)
1. Les 4 Ombres / Quadra Eye Shadow Palette – Tentation Cuivre (£35.00)
2. Ombre D’eau Liquid Eyeshadow – Splash (£21.50) Criminally overpriced IMO, but when you fall in love… you get stupid.
3. Rouge Coco Lipstick – Magnolia (£21.50)
Erm, where’s my money points gone? That comes to *counts on fingers. and toes* – £78.
Oh NOES, I’m short by just over £2!
I need to earn 222 points on as low a cash spend as possible – PRONTO!
Do you save store loyalty points for a Xmas treat?
Have you seen the new Mark Hill hairstyling tools? Take a walk on the wild side with me to check ’em out!
RAWR!
The striking animal-print inspired range goes by the name RAW and includes three hairstyling tools that wouldn’t look out of place in our Christmas stockings this year. We need bigger stockings don’t we?
The real reason I’m showing you this range is because a little birdy told me that for one week only… the limited edition Mark Hill RAW Zebra Power Hairdryer is gonna be selling at LESS THAN HALF it’s usual retail price!
Usually priced at £59.99, from the 12th – 18th November, Boots will be selling this online and instore for a very tempting £24.99! If you’re after a new hairdryer… I’d be all over this like a zebra-printed rash!
But don’t be thinking that it’s style over substance… read on for the hairdryer’s impressive specs…
~ Mark Hill Raw Zebra Power Hairdryer
~ Narrow Concentrator
~ Lifting Concentrator
~ Smoothing Concentrator
~ Celebrity Style Guide
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After your helpful tips on achieving the perfect blow dry the other day, I’m eyeing up that particularly narrow nozzle attachment thingy with a new found A-HA!
I requested some better pictures of a few pieces from the upcoming Boots (Strictly Come Dancing) Strictly Fab-U-Lous releases, ‘cos frankly… mine were shiteous.
Strictly The Lip Gloss Collection, RRP £6
Strictly Come dancing Look Books: Stunning, Beautiful, and Latin, RRP £10 each (I think these were my favourite!)
Strictly Fab-u-lous Lip Collection, RRP £12.00
It’s back on our screens proper from 1st October I think… Strictly is such a guilty pleasure for me. Keep your X-Factors… I’m all about the sequins!
Back in early July, I attended a Boots Press Day featuring all the Christmas goodies they have in store for us this winter – it seemed silly to tell you about it back then… but with Strictly heading back to our screens next month, I figured that now would be pretty darn apt!
Enjoy some craptastic iPhone photos of some of the Strictly Come Dancing themed gift sets we can expect to find instore.
And why I can never find knee high boots that fit my comically huge calves.
I’m a few weeks in to my trial, and have used the Boots iPulse Smooth Skin a total of 3 times… I’m not noticing any difference in hair texture or growth rate between my two legs yet, but it’s early days.
Very excited to start seeing some results! C’mon, c’mon!
I tossed a coin. You get to see my hairy legs. Or, leg even. Just below the knee… to the right of the 2nd thread vein from the left.
I dunno why I watermarked it, it’s not like I wanna claim it as mine.
Random Internet User: “Hey, lady… is this your photo of your pasty white leg with dry skin and multiple hairs protruding from one follicle (you freak)”.
Me: “Um, nope… no, doesn’t look like one of mine”.
Random Internet User: “But it says here… Lipglossiping.com”
Me: “…”
On the positive side… we’re kinda meant to have hairy legs. I feel normal posting this in comparison to the hairy chin pics.
Until I can put the The Boots Smooth Skin to work on maintaining my facial in-clinic laser hair removal, I thought I’d best put it to good use on some other hirsute part of my anatomy. Stop making gagging noises and be bloody grateful you were spared the bikini line bitches.
So this is the benchmark, here we are. Day One. Well, not day one… this photo shows about 4 days worth of growth actually. I’ve done my test patch and I’m good to go…. raring even.
I’m a little bit sad that I can’t fake tan my legs whilst I’m zapping but in the grand scheme of things, I’d rather be white than hairy.
My love for these Aussie tubes of lip-loving lanolin have been well documented on this here blog and I’m excited to announce that from September we need go no further than the high street to get our hands on them!
Lanolips will be launching in the top 22 Boots stores starting in September before (hopefully) being rolled out to other stores nationwide later in the year.
The original non-coloured 101 ointment (my fav!) will be priced at £10.99 with the sheer coloured lip-ointments retailing for slightly less.
They say that tattoos are addictive… I don’t have any of those but I’m here to tell you that you can add hair-removal and Foxes Coconut Crinkles to the list of things that “Lipglossiping got herself addicted to” in 2010.
The question is, will I have a single hair left on my body come Christmas? Will I get carried away with it’s fabulosity and start chasing the neighbour’s Persian moggy round the block once I’m done with Mr. L’s hairy back?
The Boots Smooth Skin by iPulse IPL System arrived last week for me to try and report back on, and being the hairy Mary that I am… I honestly couldn’t think of a better candidate.
Until I read this:
I was all of an “OHMYGOD, I CAN’T USE IT!” I may even have squeezed out a couple of tears… and then a few more for the benefit of Mr. L (who missed them the first time round) after he looked up from Micro Mart to determine whether the wailing was coming from me or the baby.
After some email to-ing and fro-ing with the people behind the device, I learned that they’re actually in the process RIGHT NOW of updating the UK manual for the machine. Infact, here it is in black and white from the rep:
…I have managed to get you the most up to date info on the suitability of Boots Smooth Skin for PCOS sufferers.
As you know, in the UK manual, it states that Boots Smooth Skin is not suitable for PCOS sufferers.
We are in the process of updating the UK manual with Boots to give a better explanation of the considerations when using Smooth Skin with PCOS. We know many PCOS sufferers have found good results with Smooth Skin and some have posted their positive reviews on boots.com.
As you will know, in essence, PCOS is related to a hormonal imbalance. Hormone changes may cause dormant hair stem cells to grow into new hair follicles. So it is likely to take longer to be hair-free and require you to top up.
But we also know and understand what a huge comfort it is to PCOS sufferers not to have the extra hair that the condition causes to be so visible…
…We want to do the right thing by our consumers, and while we go through the final rounds of approvals with Boots we would love to give you the chance to get ahead of the UK change.
So there you go. You heard it here first (maybe).
In all honesty as a PCOS lady, this device wouldn’t be my first stop for hair removal. Not for my face anyway, which is precisely why I don’t already own one.
I’ve looked at this particular device many times in the past (it’s one of the few that claim PERMANENT results) and I’ve never been confident enough in it’s claims to go to Boots and lay my debit card down on the counter. I think it’s important that you know this, and that I tell you why.
Regardless of whether there’s any substance to my opinion, as someone with a “proper” problem with excess hair, I knew that I was always going to opt for something that I perceive to be stronger. I want FULL ON peeow peeow laser beams blasting my face yano? I want someone with a clipboard to be operating a machine that takes up at least 10sq foot of floor space and puts a minor dent in the national grid everytime it’s fired up.
I won’t be using this on my face or my chest. I don’t want it to interfere with the results that I may or may not get from the SK:N treatment that I’m currently undergoing.
Instead, you get to see my gorgeous hairy pins. You lucked out. Don’t worry though… I’m not showing them today, your appetite is safe for now.
Check out this instead:
It’s all very neat and compact… slotting into it’s own little vanity case that has been discretely designed without the words LASER HAIR REMOVAL emblazoned all over it. In other words, you can totally leave the IPL stuff behind and take the case on a dirty weekend filled with furry handcuffs and the like. Or if you’re me, Minstrels.
So, the plan is to do one leg. Just the one. Don’t worry, I’m still gonna shave the other one… but I think that doing it this way will leave me under no illusions by the end of 12 weeks whether I’m actually seeing concrete results from the Boots Smooth Skin. I’m also going to pin down Mr. L (he really does have a hairy back and this is the only home IPL system suitable for men) – he’s gonna. love. it.
Much, much later on… god knows if you’ll still be here with me or even care, but I’ll put phase two of the hair-blasting attack into action. I’ll use the Boots Smooth Skin on my face to maintain whatever results I achieve from my SK:N treatment once it’s finished.
For the purposes of the trial and for you ladies with PCOS, I wish I could do that bit NOW – but bad timing forces my hand and I simply can’t. It’s pretty common for hirsute women with a hormonal imbalance to need extra professional laser sessions. Sometimes as many as a couple of times a year to maintain completely smooth skin. I’ve made peace with that, but for me… that would mean £220 for each topup session. The Boots Smooth Skin currently retails at £274.99. It makes economical sense for me to purchase one of these for maintenance and I would (despite my cautious attitude towards it’s claims) be confident enough in the device’s abilities to lay down my cash in an effort to maintain an area that’s already been treated.
Anyway, I’ll introduce you to the more technical aspects of the machine next week when I’m confident that my tan has completely faded (you can’t use the device on fake-tanned skin).
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