What is a mineral sunscreen? Sunscreens can be separated into two categories; physical (or mineral) and chemical. According to Cinzia, “Zinc oxide is a micro-fine mineral that offers broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays.” Mineral sunscreens are safer, better for the skin and also help to protect against blue light (or high-energy visible light) which is emitted from electronic devices.   What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays? UVA and UVB rays affect the skin in different ways. Cinzia says, “While UVB rays affect the skin’s top layer (they’re the ones that cause sunburn and skin…

Skincare can feel like a bit of a minefield, we get you. Keeping up with the latest buzz-ingredients, knowing what they all do and the order to apply them – it can be a lot. We spoke to three skincare professionals about the skincare they actually use, the hero ingredients to look out for and why you should give them a go too. By Beth Ludolf

We keep talking about lockdown’s biggest hair trends – pink hair, buzzcuts, those no-heat curls you do with tights (revolutionary)-  but, let’s be honest, grown-out roots are the number one. Whether we like it or not. Embracing them actually looks pretty darn great but, if that’s not your thing, these hairstyles will help to hide them. By Beth Ludolf

Salons are (hopefully) opening in July and - trust me - by then, our hair is going to need a major refresh - and we already know what we’ll be getting. Face-framing highlights, the Kylie Jenner-approved colour trend that screams summer.  Face-framers are like a more subtle take on the 90s two-tone trend - or The Geri Halliwell, as we call it. Two-tone hair is all about that stark contrast between, well, the two tones (which is why it works so well in rainbow colour). Face-framing highlights are more blended. Think of them as an add-on to balayage.  Lightening the…

Bambi eyes, cat eyes – and now, fox eyes – honestly, who knew the animal kingdom had such nice eye shapes? The fox-eye trend is all about using makeup to elongate and lift the eye shape, making it more – you guessed it- fox-like (think almond eyes x 10). Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner are the poster girls for this one. Here’s how to try it out. By Beth Ludolf

Like a fine bottle of Pinot Grigio, some things just better with age – fellas, this includes you. First up, going grey is nothing to fear, it’s just a way of life. There’s science behind it. Our hair is naturally coloured by melanin pigment, and as we age, the production of this pigment slows down. That means going grey will happen to all of us (unless balding strikes first), but your genetics will decide when. Whether you’re keen to cover it, or ready to style it out, here’s what we’d suggest.

There are loads of reasons why you should wash your hair less frequently. It keeps your colour fresh for longer, your hair will be all-round healthier – but the one that we really, really care about, washing your hair is a chore. Do you know what I want to do with my evening? Drink wine and watch Netflix. Do you know what I don’t want to do? Wash my hair. You do the maths. Here’s some tried and tested ways of squeezing a couple of extra days out of your hair. You are welcome. By Beth Ludolf

Remember last year when everyone did the neon nails thing? I was convinced that would be my summer nail colour for life. Yes, life (its a big commitment but that’s how much I love them). Well, it turns out I’m going to have to alternate between neon and pastel (a summer timeshare, if you will) because now I love them both equally – as if they were my children. Pastels are sweet and nostalgic, which is why they lend themselves so well to playful designs. Instagram is full of mismatch patterns and nail art (pastel clouds art particularly dreamy). A twist on…

It’s been weeks since we last saw our waxing therapists, salons aren’t reopening any time soon *sighs* and, well – let’s just say – it’s a jungle down there. If you’re brave enough to DIY your bikini wax, we salute you. If not, we salute you too because hey, we all deserve a little salute now and then. Times are tough. Just in case it’s been a while, here’s a recap of shaving 101 – including how to avoid the dreaded shaving rash. By Beth Ludolf

Okay, you got a little scissor-happy while cutting your own fringe. It’s happened to the best of us. You don’t need to keep your webcam off from now on, just work with it. Listen, repeat after me, “No, it wasn’t an accident, I was experimenting with baby bangs – its a fully-fledged hairstyle in its own right, you know?”. Very good. Baby bangs are like the cooler sister of the classic fringe (the sister that wears your dad’s old blazers and looks androgynous and edgy). Baby bangs also look arguably better wonky than perfectly straight which is pretty darn perfect…

With sunnier days comes the arrival of freckles, the little brown spots that decorate faces in the summer months. Some of us love them, others hide them with foundation and a whole load of people – who aren’t genetically-blessed in that department – are creating them with makeup. We’re firmly in the love-them camp (ok, and the drawing-them-on camp). Here’s how to embrace and highlight your freckles. By Beth Ludolf

‘Face masks’ used to mean skincare, nowadays it’s more about healthcare. A lot of us will have never worn a protective mask and are probably unaware of the effects it can have on the skin (ahh, ignorance really is bliss). Luckily, we’ve broken down how to protect and care for our skin while rolling with the new normal. By Beth Ludolf

Sleep is the most important part of any self-care routine. You can have a religious schedule of acids, masks and creams and, without enough sleep, your skin will still look dull. We don’t call it beauty sleep for no reason, guys. With no early morning commute, we’re spending more time sleeping than ever – bar the odd drunken Zoom call that lasts until 3 am (I now understand why pubs have closing times). So, now seems like a pretty good time to invest in a silk pillowcase – but what are the benefits? By Beth Ludolf

Remember when toilet roll was the biggest trend of lockdown? Those were dark days. Thankfully, it’s been dethroned (pun not intended) by something much cooler – pink hair. It’s everywhere. Our Instagram feeds are full of celebrities and other very-cool people (girls and guys) sporting pink hair. I mean, if it’s good enough for Dua Lipa and Sarah Michelle Gellar. If you’ve made it to week 7 without trying it then we commend you – but also, like, you really should go for it. The colour and tone of your pink will depend on a couple of things – the colour of your hair before…

I’m calling it guys, haircare is the next skincare. We’ve been obsessed with hyaluronic acid for ages, but now it’s all about hair masks, heat-free curls and silk scrunchies. You heard it here first. So, in the name of our new passion, we asked Jake Unger, Head of Education at HOB salons all about hair masks and how to get the most out of them. By Beth Ludolf

Considering the fact you haven’t worn makeup in weeks, the countless hours you’ve dedicated to your skincare routine and – not to mention – the drop in air pollution, you’d think your skin would be looking better than ever. So, why are you still breaking out? The answer is probably stress (unsurprising really, there is a literal global pandemic after all). We spoke to Tracey Wilmot, Director of Education at Murad about how stress affects the skin and what we can do about it. By Beth Ludolf

So, you were going to leave your bikini wax to the pros but then lockdown got extended for another 3 weeks and the prospect of DIY started to look a bit more appealing (ok, maybe ‘appealing’ is a bit of a stretch). We get it, one does not simply do their own bikini wax, it takes preparation – mental preparation, mainly, but these tips will help too. Whether you’re just tidying up the bikini area, going full Hollywood or growing a bush (and just reading this feeling thankful it’s not you) – that’s your choice. For the sake of clarity, we’ll talk…

If you’d told me last year that I would soon derive immense pleasure from completing a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, I would have laughed in your face. Then 2020 happened. Isolation is testing (at the best of times) so learning to find joy in small things can be helpful for your mental health. Take not wearing makeup every day, for example – it’s basically a financial savings scheme and your skin loves it. Here’s what happens to our skin when we stop wearing makeup. By Beth Ludolf

We may be dedicating more time than ever to some bits of our beauty routine – hello, 10-step Korean skincare routine – but we’re definitely neglecting others. We get it – washing, blow-drying and styling your hair feels pretty pointless when the only people who’ll see it are your flatmates (and they’ve seen you in far worse states). And anyway, you’re not doing your hair any damage, right? Well, it turns out, you might be. Here’s how to take care of your hair (without sacrificing any Netflix-time). By Beth Ludolf

If I’ve realised one thing in isolation, it is this: when I said “I’d do it if I had the time” – about learning French, selling stuff on Depop, pickling some cabbage – I was lying. I’ve been isolating for 4 weeks and have I learnt any French? Non. Did I delete the Duolingo app from my phone to free up more storage for hair inspo pics? Oui. Here’s the coolest styles I’ve saved, ready for when isolation ends. By Beth Ludolf

Everyone seems to be spending so much time in the kitchen. Instagram is full of home-baked goods and Zoom cook-offs (plus, I’m averaging about 14 trips to the fridge a day – you know, to get my step count up). While I don’t have the patience to nurture a sourdough starter (it’s literally needier than a newborn?), I’ve always got time for DIY face masks so I was pretty excited when Ashanti, Beauty Director of Ashanti Treatment Rooms, gave us the lowdown on the beauty heroes we’ve all got in our kitchens. By Beth Ludolf

DIY beauty treatments are split into two categories; there’s the fun stuff – face masks, nail art and the likes – and then there is the serious stuff. The high-risk, I-literally-can’t-f***-this-up stuff. Eyebrows are definitely the latter (I remember what I did to them in 2008 – never again). Luckily, we’ve got brow master, Shavata, to guide us. By Beth Ludolf

Lash extensions hanging on for dear life? Infills aren’t an option right now but – repeat after me – that doesn’t mean you should pull them out. It’s sacrilege for your natural lashes and we’re not meant to be touching our face, remember? Besides, it’s so easy to remove them properly. By Beth Ludolf

Is there anything better than a massage? I think not. When they get right into *that* knot, the one that’s been bothering you for weeks. When you’re so relaxed you actually doze off a little bit. It’s pure bliss. Well, these self-massage techniques may not be quite so relaxing, but they will help you get rid of muscle tension and stress. By Beth Ludolf