Speedy salon treatments you can do at home
THERE’S a new trend in town — salon treatments delivered at warp speed in the comfort of your own home. But can these quick fixes be as effective as hours of pampering? ALICE SMELLIE puts them to the test . . . ROLL AWAY THE CELLULITE
Exuviance Body Tone Firming Concentrate, £38, effortlessskin.com TIME TAKEN: two minutes. WHAT IS IT? a tube of gel for ageing or dimpled skin, applied via five plastic rollers set into the top of the tube. DOES IT WORK? this contains proteins that claim to restore elasticity and activate collagen production. Caffeine smoothes and tightens and the rollerball applicator gives a deep massage. I find it hard to believe a gel will have much effect on deeply dimpled skin. But I am convinced that the rollers do make a difference: stimulating circulation and pushing in ingredients. having rollers included is brilliant. after just a weekend of use, my thighs feel smoother, and it takes only two minutes to apply. 6/10
BRUSH THAT GIVES A SLEEK BLOW-DRY
Dafni Hair Straightening Ceramic Brush, £120, johnlewis.com TIME TAKEN: 60 seconds. WHAT IS IT? a large hairbrush with thick, stiff bristles, which plugs into the mains.
DOES IT WORK? I have such messy hair I was once told to ‘ brush my hair more often’ by an irritated boss. a ceramic plate beneath the teeth of this brush heats up to 180c in 30 seconds, to straighten and smooth dry hair in just a few minutes with no need to separate it into sections. Straightforward and less damaging than straightening irons.
I try it when my hair has gone frizzy in the rain. the results are amazing — my hair isn’t flattened, as it is with straighteners, but looks sleek and groomed. 8/10
PEN TO WHITEN YOUR TEETH
Colgate Max White Toothbrush and Whitening Pen, £12, boots.com
TIME TAKEN: 20 seconds. WHAT IS IT? a nifty toothbrush with a detachable handle that contains a silicone-tipped whitening pen. It promises to whiten your teeth by up to three shades within three weeks.
DOES IT WORK: I desperately want whiter teeth but can’t face forking out £500 for it at the dentist’s. I brush my teeth with the toothbrush, then twist the bottom of the whitening pen twice and rub the gel over my top teeth. the solution contains minute amounts of hydrogen peroxide — the bleaching agent used by dentists. It’s not easy to dispense evenly — I end up using my fingers. the gel tastes minty and my teeth feel very smooth. I decide just to do the top ones so I can compare. after four days my front teeth look slightly whiter. I’m pleasantly surprised. 7/10
FULL FACIAL IN AN INSTANT
Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask, £60, charlottetilbury (from March 9) TIME TAKEN: 15 minutes. WHAT IS IT? a completely dry fabric mask in an airtight sachet, which unfolds and attaches to the face using fabric ear loops. ‘Normal wet masks give a temporary plumping effect,’ explains Charlotte tilbury. ‘think of the skin as being a pavement. We use fatty acids, lipids, peptides, vitamins and nutrients to build a new pavement.’
hollywood star Nicole Kidman and supermodel Kate Moss are both fans. Each mask can be used at least three times, and the effects are cumulative.
DOES IT WORK? I loathe wet fabric masks as they always slide off. But this is dry and smells sweet. the loops around my ears are comfortable too.
‘We wanted women to be able to wear it anywhere,’ says tilbury, adding it’s ideal before a night out or for staying hydrated on a flight.
I remove it 15 minutes later — still completely dry — and inspect the results. It’s amazing. Later, I have a meeting with a dermatologist I’ve known for years and she peers at my face and asks whether I’ve had fillers. that’s how good it is. 10/10
MAKE LIGHT WORK OF NAILS
SensatioNail Polish to Gel Transformer Starter Kit, £49.99, sensationail. co.uk TIME TAKEN: Five minutes. WHAT IS IT? a mini LED light, gel cleanser, primer and transformer gel, said to turn nail varnish into hard-wearing ‘gel nails’, as done in a salon.
DOES IT WORK? the gel is mixed with your nail varnish or applied over it to create a long-lasting gel, which is then dried for 30 seconds underneath the LED lamp.
I brush on my favourite pink varnish, let it dry, then apply a layer of the gel and 30 seconds under the LED light, a swish with the enclosed cleansers and I have a perfect gel nail. Genius.
If the first polish isn’t dry before applying the gel, the results are messy. Leave for longer than seems necessary. 6/10