Listen on Phoenix FM for some great prom make up tips, featuring Barry M, GOSH, Mavala, Benefit and more. Drop me a note let me know what you think!
http://www.phoenixfm.com/2013/04/29/ask-molly-talks-prom-make-up/
Monday, 29 April 2013
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Total Bliss Sara - Heavenly Tiers, Sweet Dream Bars, Balloon Boutique - a perfect hen party!
When I reminisce of my hen party many years ago I look back with a huge smile in my heart and a slight frown on my forehead. I had 2 parties, one a civil weekend away at a health farm - I say civil but choose to ignore the drunken game of Twister and conversations with a certain celeb in the Jacuzzi, which I’m sure turned my Nanna in her grave, and the other a true Essex send-off – 17 nuns descending upon Sams nightclub in Brentwood, firemen stripping, various toys appearing and this time round I’m sure Nanna was doing full U-turns! Wind on 12 years and I’m ready for another one – I blame my life beginning at 40. However, I have children, I write publicly plus there is the small fact of actually not getting married, but what the heck I don’t need a reason so I invited my friends Sue, Jackie and Caroline over for a girlie pamper party.
After googling several salons I decided upon Total Bliss Sara – I think it was the name that caught my eye, I need a bit of total bliss. Sara has been a beauty therapist for many years and whilst working from Donna Milton’s salon Ovels Hair Design in Blackmore a couple of days a week, her main speciality is running pamper parties (she travels all over Essex). Catering for all ages and all types of events from princess pamper parties, teen slumber nights, hen parties to mums simply wanting a night in with their friends, she also caters for all budgets - give her a price and she will tailor make your night to suit your pocket! Her website shows the huge variety of treatments available from manicures, pedicures, waxing, spray tan, makeup, facials, the list is endless. For a great alternative to coffee mornings she also runs a ‘Pop-up Spa Day’ whereby Sara sets up her salon in your house, then it’s down to the host to provide nibbles, drinks and a schedule for friends to have treatments. Not only does this provide a great social event (also handy if for whatever reason you’re housebound), but the host gets a fabulous freebie facial! If you’re short on space Sara will hold your pamper party from the salon in Blackmore, only the best in organic skincare is used – Neals Yard Remedies, and finally she even provides the refreshments and props to make your party a night to remember!
Excitement took hold, so I also called upon Hannah of Heavenly Tiers who make the most amazing cupcakes (Hannah’s cupcakes are famous amongst celebrity parties) and loving my pick n mix, I pulled in Deanne of Essex Candy Cart to spoil us with Wonka inspired treats (I’d seen her featured on TV!). Sara arrived on the night with another therapist Karla Lee, both were laden down with amazing personalised balloons, foot spas, robes and head bands. We started off with a relaxing foot soak, nails were prepped, primed and treated to Shellac, whilst lavish essential oil face masks were applied enveloping my house with essences of Bergamot, Mandarin and Frankincense. A group of girls with a cupful of sugar inside them and a few glasses of wine was of course a recipe for no-hold barred raucous chat and I should probably apologise now to the photographer and of course my Nanna. I would 100% recommend hiring Sara for a day or night pamper party, for the price of a meal we had one of the best nights ever and even got given a goody bag! Thank you Sara and the rest of the girls for a fantastic evening.
Lucky for Essex Go readers I’ve got some great offers. Total Bliss Sara is offering 10% off all treatments and pamper parties (minimum number of guests for a pamper party is 4). For bookings call 07738563688 or visit her website www.total-bliss.co.uk. Ovel Hair Design is offering 10% off all hair treatments tel: 01277 822117. Hannah of Heavenly Tiers is offering a generous 15% off any cake order over £50 tel: 07885 424243. Deanne of Sweet Dream Bars caters for all events from small intimate parties to large events tel: 07877 463053 – any booking over the value of £20 will receive 10% discount and finally Balloon Boutique tel:01277 200083 are offering a 10% discount on all orders over £20.
For all the offers above please quote AskMolly at time of booking. Offers are valid until 30th June 2013 and not to be used in conjunction with any other offer/promotion nor on any salon products.
If you have a beauty/hair business you would like featured please contact Molly via email molly@askmollybeauty.com or Twitter @askmollybeauty.
TOWIE being blamed for rise in Cosmetic Surgery...
Being a Beauty Editor and living in the heart of TOWIE land Brentwood, I've been asked several times my view on the rise of cosmetic surgery, fillers, Botox etc and the link to TOWIE. Today turning on the news a huge debate has sparked up about this such matter, so having a quick few minutes thought I'd blog out my view.
Fillers, Botox etc have been around for years long before TOWIE came onto the scene and I think they've been made a scapegoat. Sure TOWIE has a certain look to the cast, but then so has mods/goths/emos its a trend and trends don't get anywhere unless they're new and cause debate.
The problem with cosmetic surgery is that there are so many practitioners out there that haven't done the training, who don't even need to be regulated and can buy products off the internet, and whose fault is this – the Government, and the new regulations can't come quick enough in my opinion.
Every week or so a back street shop with a cheap billboard pops up with Botox – set price, 3 for 2 fillers, buy one friend gets one free, its easy and targets those that do not have common sense or confidence and think it will make them look better (btw it won't and in the long run will make you look older!) The people administering these injections just want to prey and make money on the vulnerable.
What the Government needs to put in place is first obviously regulations so that only qualified practitioners can administer, but most importantly those that want it done to go on a counselling or self esteem course first – if they can afford Botox they can afford private counselling!
Then it's down to us parents to build our kids esteem up tell them we are proud of their individuality and that in Gods eyes and ours they are beautiful. I'm all for cosmetic surgery if there is a genuine problem but a quick few injections for youth without being made aware of side effects is a no-no in my books.
Of course it's not just the Government to blame its ourselves. We have choices and at an age where we can have these type of treatments we have a brain to make these choices – so lets not blame a TV series that just shows a certain stereotype of people – that's purely for entertainment and to be honest I see a huge backlash in all these treatments anyway. In America already celebs are turning their back on the mannequin look, its not attractive and we are now seeing that in fact it just makes you look older!
Rant over, excuse typos off to pick up kids and FYI I let my 9 year old daughter watch TOWIE she loves it and the cast but I've made her well aware that its not real and personality and character is far more important than a pair of fat lips and line free forehead!
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Essex Beauty Group
A few months ago I was sent a tweet by a new company called The Essex Beauty Group, they wanted me to look at their website and within a few minutes of reading it I knew I had to write a feature on their brilliant concept.
The Essex Beauty Group (EBG) was founded by Gemma Norcross and Nesha Wakeling and whilst related by blood as cousins, they also have much more in common in that they also have the same passion to make a difference in the beauty industry across Essex. Their vision was to create an exclusive directory of salons across Essex whereby consumers could find a salon, therapist or hairdresser and be confident in their choice due to public star ratings. However, this was not just a ‘Trip Advisor like’ website, they also want to be the emergency service of the beauty industry across the county and with this goal in mind have expanded into recruitment for both employers and employees, gift vouchers which can be used in any of their salons listed, special offers only available through the website, consultancy to help businesses that may be suffering and they even have in mind an EBG shop for local businesses selling their own products. For their clients they’re offering 6 months free then just £12.95 a month joining fee.
I have met with the girls several times and have to say I genuinely admire them. Both are completely different in personality, Gemma comes across as quiet and unassuming but beneath that gentle exterior is without a doubt a steely determination to succeed, driven furthermore by the sad, recent passing of her father. She’s also incredibly focused and whilst softly spoken her chosen words are relative and precise. A nail technician by trade she eventually went to work on cruise ships (anyone in the beauty sector will know to work on cruise ships you have to be 5 star trained), however, she grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of quality with salons she had used personally. With this in mind she came up with the idea for EBG and told me with genuine charm she wants to help others, EBG are not there to ‘own’ salons far from it their aim is to help them succeed by way of advertising and consultancy. By contrast to Gemma’s quiet personality is Nesha and whilst also a highly skilled therapist, her chatty and vivacious nature has led her to a role she thrives on selling top skincare products to salons. Gemma maybe the face of EBG but Nesha’s experience in the sales industry and confident personality compliments her cousin and between the two of them they’re a driving force to be reckoned with.
For the launch party there was only one place in Essex that could host such a glamorous beauty event – The Sugar Hut, Brentwood. I was savvy enough to ask top makeup-artist Vivienne Shepherd (ex-BBC), if she could apply her skills and transform me into ‘natural glam’, which not only did she perform miracles, she also roped in Carly Saunders hairdresser connoisseur who replaced my fine, limp hair with masses of volume (hair extension free, I might add). I chose well as everyone had made an effort and a great night of entertainment was laid on from candy cane sweets, scrummy cupcakes to the childish fun of photo booth. Beauty trade chit-chat was rife and I certainly made the most of it as I flitted and chatted to as many as possible, however, age got the better of me and I reluctantly went home – not without a fab goody bag though!
Gemma had previously asked my opinion of whether I think EGB will be a success and I truthfully answered yes. It’s not the fact that everyone I spoke to at the launch were eager to sign up but more to do with the founders. They have something rare in this industry – honesty and whilst I wish them luck I really don’t think they’ll need it. Gemma’s dad would be so proud - in a nutshell they’ve struck gold!
For bookings with Vivienne Shepherd (www.viviennemakeup.co.uk – tel: 07796 172021), Carly Saunders (www.extendmybeauty.co.uk – tel: 07875 080649). Visit www.essexbeautygroup.com for details of your local salons, ratings, recruitment and vouchers!
If you are interested in a feature please contact molly@askmollybeauty.com or via Twitter @askmollybeauty.
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