John Frieda Mayfair Salon Experience

In the heart of Mayfair sits the John Frieda Salon, not oblivious to anyone who might happen to be walking past with no signs to attract your attention and no window display screaming out an offer of the day. What you see if exactly what you get, it's stylish, it's intimate and it is incredibly welcoming as though you are greeting a long lost friend.

Stepping inside to what looks like a small snug salon is in fact just the beginning, it is huge. With a cloakroom bigger than my bathroom to rid yourself of unwanted outer garments, everyone is just so welcoming and friendly, as though they can spot a newbie a mile off and that of course is what I am, this is my first visit to this salon, the receptionist immediately introduces herself . Then as my coat is taken, I have a quick discussion about the weather as my gown is put on, I am shown to a seating area where I sat listening, as you do, to the conversations around me, the salon felt as though I could have been at a coffee shop or Airport, it is like a meeting place for old friends to be reacquainted, catching up on their news and lives.  There is a very personal touch about this salon which I rather quite liked.

Having sat down to wait for Natasha who would be my colourist, I had a wide selection of the latest magazines to read (though I was too busy people watching) and then having been introduced to Natasha and then Oliver who would be cutting my hair, I am taken to the seat that I would occupy. The one thing I loved about this experience was being made to feel at home, welcomed and then asking for and being given advice, with the feeling I had been listened too rather than talked into something I knew I wouldn't like or want. I explained that I was slightly nervous of having my hair coloured in any way due to a previous bad experience where the highlights looked more like tiger stripes and it took forever and a day for it to grow out and be corrected.  So putting me at ease,   Natasha went off to mix my colour, I was given a pot of tea, something I always enjoy more at a salon and left to read my magazines.  

A few minutes later and Natasha was back and she explained to me how the process would work with the foils and adding the colour, giving me an opportunity to ask any further questions.   We had decided that my new colour would be something that was natural and would blend with my own natural hair colouring rather than something new, bold and striking particularly as my fake tan has worn off and I am back to being quite pasty again.  Once all of my foils has been done, I was left to relax for 25 minutes and it was absolute heaven.

After those 25 minutes ended I was taken to the tidiest washing area I have ever seen and was treated to a lovely shampoo, condition and gloss treatment.  I absolutely love having my hair washed by someone else, I find it incredibly relaxing and again, everything that was being used on my hair was fully explained as to what everything was so that I was aware and attention was really paid to the temperature of the water and whether it was too hot or cold.

Then it was time for Oliver to work his magic.  Before my foils and colour, Oliver and I had a good chat as to how ideally I would love my hair to be, so I explained that it needed to be something that wasn't high maintenance and would take hours for me to style because I don't have the time most days to do it when I am working, so if I felt the need to shove up in a ponytail I wanted that option and if I didn't then I could straighten it.  So it was decided that there would be a few inches taken off the length to tidy up layer which had now grown out and for those which remained, work them into a new workable style which wouldn't flick up and stand out and this is what happened!

So before Oliver, my hair, which is naturally wavy, was quite unruly and had layers which had grown out and needed to be sorted.  It had got to that stage where it was a nightmare to style.  I have mentioned before that my hair is quite fine but there is a lot of it and there is a lot of weight at the back of my scalp, so all of these issues have now been addresses ensuring fluid movement within my hair when I move about and swish my hair.  As for the colour, it has gone from being dark blonde, which I actually like, to a shade lighter in parts to give it a sunkissed look, nothing that stands out boldly shouting "I've dyed my hair" which I absolutely love.

I spent over two hours at the John Frieda Salon and every minute I loved, I never felt pressured into leaving, none of the stylists were in a hurry and given that it is a very busy salon the one thing I didn't notice was the constant sound of hairdryers, though they were in use.  This was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had at a hair salon and one where I have felt more at ease than anywhere else that I have been and a salon that I highly recommend visiting.

Appleyard London Mojito Bouquet

Do you love to send flowers to you Gran, Mum, Best Friend or like receiving flowers as a surprise? Me too, there is something about receiving flowers that is so special.  Let me introduce you to Appleyard London who is a luxury flower delivery company that pride themselves on using not only the highest quality flowers for all of their floral arrangements but they also want to ensure that your experience with them is the very best it can possibly be. 

Every floral arrangement from Appleyard London are hand tied and their florists are always on the lookout for exclusive new and rare species of flowers which are on trend colours to make that bouquet even more exquisite. Appleyard London also try and source their flowers where possible from British growers and are mindful of our environmental impact and strive to be as respectful to our natural environment as possible by designing their packaging to produce as little waste as possible.

Appleyard London very kindly gifted me their Mojito Bouquet from their beautiful Summer collection as well as a very generous discount code which you will find at the end of this post.  Once your flower delivery arrives, inside the box, your bouquet will have the stems packaged inside a plastic hydration box which ensures your flowers are kept hydrated. The Mojito Bouquet is described as being: 

A summer sensation of vibrant sunflowers, white scented stocks with avalanche roses and daisy-like germini. The perfect summer gift. 

The Appleyard London Mojito Bouquet consists of bright vibrant yellow sunflowers which happen to be my favourite flower, white avalanche roses, white scented stocks and daisy-like germini, all of which look and smell absolutely incredible.  If you have received flowers by post in the past like I have, I have always been disappointed that they either arrive half dead looking or are all open and then only last a few days. 

When my bouquet arrived, the roses and sunflowers were still closed and gradually over a few days they began to open and as they did so, those white and yellow colours giving such a lovely bright colour to my lounge (which is magnolia) and after almost a week, the bouquet still looks and smells incredible. As you can see the bouquet is also packed full of flowers rather than just foilage which is a nice touch, you more than get what you pay for and the service is most definitely worth its money.  One week later and my bouquet still looks as though I have just taken delivery of it, only all of the flowers are now open.

If you like the sound of Appleyard London and want your very own bouquet or want to make someones day by sending them some flowers, then here is the very generous 33% discount code which is: 

This code has no expiry date and can be used on all of their bouquets, but it’s not valid on their Flowers By Post Collection.  

Have you ever ordered flowers this way? 

Do you think you will use this code?

August Libbie Club

The August Libbie Club has arrived and once again it is absolutely amazing, just like both the June and July boxes.  Latest in Beauty (LIB) recently launched The Libbie Club which is described as being a community of influential beauty fans who are rewarded for reviewing, sharing and referring beauty products.

Each month members of The Libbie Club are sent a free of charge box of full sized beauty products to try out, you then write your honest reviews about each product on their site and if anyone makes a purchase via any of your recommendations, you will then be sent another box the next month to review again. However, with each product comes an offer, more of which you can read about below.

Inside this months box we have the Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Miracle Cleanser with cloth. Nestled inside this really beautiful velvet bag is a 30ml tube of cleanser and a cloth. Described as being an intelligent, aromatic, creamy infusion glides on to the skin and lifts off all impurities and make- up. The accompanying antibacterial bamboo muslin cloth helps to buff away dead skin cells and make-up whilst helping to stimulate the skin’s natural renewal process. 

I have really enjoyed using this cleanser, it is my first product from the brand and I am really impressed with it. There is nothing better than coming home and removing the day from your face (as I put it) and this cleanser is exactly as it describes iself, it is creamy and it does melt everything off your face but what it negates to mention is how amazing it also smells! Scent for me is quite important, if I don't like the smell of something chances are it won't get used straightaway. But this cleanser being fragranced with an uplifting essential oil blend of Eucalyptus, Chamomile, Rosemary and Bergamot is simply delightful.

Now you don't have to take my word for it, you can try it yourself with the fantastic offer from this months Libbie Club which gives you a full sized Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Miracle Cleanser plus free travel size tube worth £8.50 all for £34.

The next item in the box is from Lola and it is a nail polish in a beautiful shade of blue called Bluebell. The shade itself is perfect for the spring and summer months and is one that flatters all skintones.  I like the chunkiness of the nail polish lid because it makes it easy to hold on to when using to pain your nails.

The offer on this nail polish from the Libbie Club is a good old fashioned BOGOF and for £8 you get two nail polishes.

The final product in the box is the Therapie Roques O’Neil Aura Spray. Now this I was excited about because I am a huge fan of the Himalayan Detox Salts which I reviewed here. The Aura Spray is aromatherapeutic spritz that refreshes whenever you're tired, frazzled, overworked or in one of those sluggish moods and need a bit of a wake up. 

I have my spray on my desk at work because not only does it help to keep my skin feeling hydrated throughout the day but it does give that nudge mid afternoon when I am feeling a tad sleepy at my desk.  It is designed to be spritzed onto the face and whilst it doesn't leave your face soaking wet, nor does it make your make up run, it does refresh and hydrate not to mention smell absolutely wonderful of roses and citrus.

If this sounds like a product you would love to try (and I urge you to because it is amazing) then the offer with this months Libbie Club is a discount of 20% the Aura Spray.

I have absolutely loved this box yet again, it is the third one I have reviewed and I am yet to feel let down by the contents which I feel offer a great mixture of products.

What do you think to the August Box?

Hen Night Outfit Choices

I am going to one of my closes friends Hen nights in a few days time and choosing something to wear has been quite tricky, mainly due to the activities of the night (which I can't reveal as she reads my blog).  That said, I have narrowed it down to a choice of two dresses and either black tights with chunky boots or a pair of chunky sandals.

Option One

Hen Night outfit 1 by beautyqueenuk 

I absolutely love this dress which I found on eBay with the accessories coming from TK Maxx by way clutch bag along with some of the jewellery. The final items are the Boots, cardigan and tights which are from New Look and are in the sale.  The total outfit costing just £150

Option Two

I have a bit of a thing for floral dresses, quite out of character as I usually like things to be quite plain so I can dress them up with accessories.

Hen night outfit 2 by beautyqueenuk

So the dress is again from New Look and costs just £17.99 which is such a bargain with again the tights and cardigan from the first outfit.  The chunky sandals which I really love because they are not too high (I have flat feet) and look great with tights are from Jones Bootmaker where again there is a great sale and these cost £20.  The finals items are the cross body bag which is made by Osprey and costs £30 from TKMaxx an a white bangle bracelet which I own and it comes from Forever21 and I paid £5.

I am yet to decide which outfit I am going to wear, but would love to know your thoughts!

This post contains a paid for link but all words are my own.