Klorane: A French Pharmacy Favourite

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Jane Birkin, Jane Seberg, Caroline de Maigret, Clemence Poesy… In my mind, when it comes to effortless style and seemingly natural beauty, French women will always come up le trumps.  I say ‘seemingly,’ as that well documented, and much envied, ‘je ne sais quoi’ our trop belle neighbours possess, is as much the direct result of the ritualistic use of reliable, high quality products as it is the dose of good genes they frequently are blessed with.

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 I think this is why us Brits have always incorporated a lengthy and joyous perusal in a French Pharmacy into any travel itinerary, and why we have suddenly seen so many more French products pop up on our shelves this side of the channel in recent years.  

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Despite now being able to pop to Boots to stock up on all my French faves, there are still few places more exciting to visit than a French Pharmacy.  Case in point; Last Easter, my girlfriends and I derailed our entire ski group in Courcheval, so we could visit a French Pharmacy… A little Après Skin before our Après Ski.  One friend, Emma, was raving about Klorane, and specifically their cult product, the Oat Milk Dry Shampoo.  Watching her purchase several cans, le FOMO kicked in and I also grabbed one myself. 

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In all honesty, up until this point, I had always assumed dry shampoo was a quick fix for greasy hair, used if running late for work, or for a quick freshen up at a festival… Given I have major OCD and wash my hair most days, I just hadn’t ever imagined dry shampoo being a staple in anyone’s beauty regime, let alone my own. The reality is, French women don’t wash their hair every day, believing that frequent washing can strip the scalp of nourishing oils, so prefer to wash their hair only a couple of times a week. 

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Launched in the ‘80’s and still considered the best in its field, Klorane’s Oat Milk Dry Shampoo decreases the need to wash your hair, and what I’ve found, is that it rather helpfully extends the life of my blow-dries.  Rather than leaving your hair feeling stiff, the result of others I’ve tired, the oat milk in Klorane’s Oat Milk Dry Shampoo seems to soften and protect your hair, even giving your doo some volume within just a couple of minutes. It took a while for me to relax into not washing my hair every day, but knowing that I’m looking after my hair and scalp, whilst also rocking some serious French chic, bed head vibes, it’s been worth it. Just pass me some red lippy and a Breton, already! 

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Above: Shake Klorane's Oat Milk Dry Shampoo well before use and spray evenly 30cm away from hair roots… Leave for 2 minutes and brush out thoroughly, et voila! 

Above: Klorane’s Oat Milk Dry Shampoo is also available in a mini size for touch ups and added texture throughout the day. 

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After discovering this total hair hero, I wanted to learn more about Klorane. In 1966, Klorane has a well-documented history in pharmaceutical ethics and is dedicated to protecting both plant heritage and the environment.  We all know I love incorporating more ethical purchases into my life, and it seems Klorane is putting the care in to the hair care, by donating a portion of its sales to supporting the activities of the Klorane Botanical Foundation

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Keen to try some more of Klorane’s products, I decided to give their Mango Butter Range a go.  Having spent a chilly few months in London hiding under a beanie, and being about to head back to Africa for Christmas, I felt my hair could do with some serious nourishment. 

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The Klorane Mango Butter Shampoo, and Conditioner, contain fatty acids that really act to repair your hair and bring back its suppleness and shine. 

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Klorane's Leave in Cream serves as a protective coat, making your hair easier to style. Oh, and I should mention, the smell… Ooh La La! Heavenly. 

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I’ve really been enjoying using Klorane’s Mango Butter Range twice a week, with interim touch ups using the Klorane Oat Milk Dry Shampoo.  My scalp is definitely appreciating being left alone a little more, and my hair is super shiny thanks to the oils I’m clearly allowing to hang out a little more. 

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Being now able to stock up on these affordable Klorane products within the U.K, rendering those heavy beauty hauls back from Paris on the Eurostar less necessary, has also been massively helpful (and now there’s plenty more room to smuggle back cheese…!)

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Klorane is available at Boots, Escentual, Birchbox, Look Fantastic and independent pharmacies.

In collaboration with Klorane

Photography: Eva Salvi

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Shop TLC's Look...

Alber Elbaz for Lancôme

Alber Elbaz, creative director of Lanvin, has collaborated with Lancôme on his first make-up collection – and the results are predictably gorgeous! The super glamorous, limited edition capsule collection, entitled Lancôme Hypnôse, is covered in fun illustrations and divided into four main themes; DéfinicilisDollStar and Drama. Available in shops this week, from £18.50, I have my eyes (literally) on the mascaras… all of them!
 
Youcef S. NabiLancôme president, said in a statement that Alber's "sense of luxury, his vision of femininity and that hint of audacity resonate perfectly with the new values of the Maison Lancôme. We are extremely proud and happy that, with us, he is set to channel his universe into the world of make-up for the very first time."

Kate Moss - Beauty Secrets

In the lead up to the launch of her lipstick collection for Rimmel, super stylish supermodel Kate Moss shared some of her beauty secrets in an interview with The Sunday Times:

1. Red lipstick - "It's the ultimate shade. I wouldn't wear it during the day, but at night, or if it's a do, then it's good. Lipstick is the classic, iconic make-up, isn't it? You think of Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly, and it's always about the lips

2. Nude lips with smudgy eyes – for daytime.

3. Kohl pencil eyeliner – “I always use a kohl pencil as it's easier to manage. You can get really good liquid liners now that are easy to use and precise, but if it goes wrong, you still have to start all over again, not like with kohl, when you can smudge it out."

4. No time for brushes - "Make-up artists do that, but I wouldn't do it on myself. I don't use a lip liner or a lip brush: I just shove it on."

5. Blusher - "I can feel when I need it. I use a powder and then a cream blush over the top to get a bit of a glow."

6. No to lipgloss - "I've got a thing about sticky - it can't be sticky. [It's] from doing too many shoots when they get the wind machine out and my hair sticks to me. I get the fear."



7. Eyelash curlers - "I don't feel complete without them, it's one of those things. [The secret to a false last look is] curling and then tons and tons and tons of mascara."



8. Factor 50 - "I was a real sun-worshipper - I loved it, boiling and lying out there. But now I don't do that… Now I have factor 50 - I had never put on factor 50 in my life!"



And now a sneaky peak inside Kate’s Washbag...

* PENHALIGONS BLUEBELL EAU DE TOILETTE (50MLS) RRP £58.00
* JELLY PONG PONG JELLY FLUSH RRP £12.00
* RIMMEL LONDON SOFT KOHL IN JET BLACK RRP £2.99
* RIMMEL GLAM'EYES RRP £7.19
* CREME DE LA MER MOISTURISING CREAM RRP £95.00
* DERMALOGICA OVERNIGHT CLEARING GEL RRP £28.90
* BOOTS EXPERT BABY SENSITIVE WIPES RRP £2.03
* JO WOOD TULA EXFOLIATING SALT SCRUB RRP £24.00
* PHILOSOPHY KISS ME RRP £10.00
* KIEHL'S CREME DE CORPS BODY LOTION RRP £27.00
* JAMES BROWN HAIR REVIVING DRY SHAMPOO RRP £7.14
* NARS BODY GLOW RRP £44.00
* CLARINS BLUE ORCHID FACE TREATMENT OIL RRP £33.00
* DR HAUSCHKA ROSE DAY CREAM RRP £23.95
* LAURA MERCIER UNDERCOVER CONCEALER NO4 RRP £26.00
* ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 HOUR CREAM RRP £25.00
* CLINIQUE ALMOST LIPSTICK IN BLACK HONEY RRP £16.00
* SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLERS RRP £20.00.

Kate Moss Rimmel Lipstick

Get The London Lips....

Get The London (Fashion Week) Look...

Celebrating her 10 year association with Rimmel London, Kate Moss has launched a new lipstick collection for the brand just in time for London Fashion Week – and their party celebrating their long love affair with her last night.


Available in 15 colours, Kate says the Lasting Finish collection range "from bright reds, to soft pinks and nudes, there is a shade for everyone and any occasion."

RRP. £5.49 each from Boots.

Arriving at the Rimell party at Battersea Power Station last night by helicopter, Kate wore a black vintage dress with a diamante trim, with tousled hair, hot red lips and her ever faithful Christian Louboutin's. Kate was joined by another Rimell blonde beauty, Georgia May Jagger, who wore a Herve Leger dress with Charlotte Olympia heels.

Here is a video of an interview with Kate Moss (she speaks!) and some footage of the party;

Debit Buy - Velvet on a Shoestring

I have always thought that the most decadent of purchases are those which are the most impractical with the shortest of life lines - yet desperately desired in spite of this... cashmere socks for instance. My pair lasted one glorious, indulgent day and after one wash they shrunk so small they would fit only a pixie (hand wash socks… seriously?) But now, as seen on the Paris catwalks earlier this year and now filtering down on to our hightstreet, there is a trend for an even more frivolous foot companion; velvet.

Luxurious, sumptuous, jewel toned velvet – stereotypically donning the slippered feet of bluebloods, this material is hardly the most sensible for us to strut our stuff in. They are ill-equipped for bad weather or the most minor of daily scuffs - therefore, wholly desirable...

Now all I need is my very own Sir Walter Raleigh (Jack) to chivalrously lay down his cloak (jacket) over any puddles in my track to prevent me from muddying these velveteen lovelies (this could take some convincing.)

Topshop, as always, have us totally covered with flats, boots and heels;

Topshop Valerian Velvet Ballet Pumps, £18.00 (in Oxblood, Teal, Green and Navy Blue)

Topshop Artwork Velvet Lace Up Shoes £75.00 (in Marl Red, Dark Green and Navy Blue)

Topshop Sacred Velvet Bow Court Shoes, £58.00 (in Black, Blue and Burgundy)