Iris Hantverk Bath Brush with Knob | Sachajuan Ocean Mist Texturising Spray* | Iris Hantverk Beechwood Comb | Byredo Room Spray in Cotton Poplin* | TIDNo.1 36 Watch with Black Face & Black Leather Wristband | L:a Bruket 092 Sage, Rosemary & Lavender Hand Cream* | Granit Weekly Planner | West Elm Souk Wool Rug*
Souvenirs are always such a lovely reminder of a great trip. Earlier in the year I visited Stockholm with Sachajuan, and being a bit of a Scandiphile it was a great excuse to pick up a few things to bring home. I found the perfect minimal souvenirs from Stockholm, made by some fantastic Swedish brands, all beautifully designed, of course. Almost all of them are under 100ml or small in size and weight (except the Byredo room spray which you can pick up in duty free at the airport), so all perfect for carry-on luggage.
There’s a lovely story behind Iris Hantverk, their beautiful brushes are made according to an old Swedish tradition by visually impaired craftsmen from different cultures. The quality is exceptional and this is definitely just the start of my collection. They do make some other amazing homewares too, including soft furnishings and cleaning products.
I’ve written about Sachajuan a few times (their haircare products are my favourite) and you’re probably quite familiar with the brand now. Their Ocean Mist Texturising Spray is their bestseller and one I’ve not mentioned before. It’s perfect for those who like a more textured, beachy style.
Byredo is one of those brands that in my mind gets it all right, from the packaging and branding to the contents of their slick bottles, I love it all! The Cotton Poplin room spray is new to the collection, evolving from the ever popular candles. It has a fresh scent, think clean sheets with touches of blue chamomile, linen, white cedarwood and sweet musk.
Whilst in Stockholm I dropped into the studio/shop of TID (Swedish for ‘time’) and had a lovely chat with Ola about the brand and what it’s like living and working in Stockholm. The space is small but stunning with shelves and tables all made from Dinesen‘s Douglas Fir floorboards. I was so inspired.
L:a Bruket may have made its way over to the UK in the last couple of years but that’s no reason not to appreciate it in its home country. I’m funny in that I really like to buy things from where they come from or were made, it gives them a little extra something. The 092 hand cream is another bestseller and I can understand why given its lovely scent of sage, rosemary and lavender. They also do a smaller 30ml size, perfect for handbags.
Granit is a sort of cross between Muji and IKEA, filled with minimal functional products for the home, at a reasonable price. The only thing that stopped me from taking half the shop home was that my luggage was already jam-packed (I even got a heavy label at the airport).
I’ve dabbled with brown hair before but I’ve always felt more comfortable and confident as a blonde. As I’ve gotten older my naturally blonde hair has turned more mousey blonde and I’ve resorted to highlights and high-lift tints to maintain the lighter look I prefer. The downside is that my fine hair has become quite dry and harder to style. I’ve resorted to using heated tools again but this causes further damage, even with a heat protector. I’m guessing I’m not the only one in this situation so I thought I’d share the latest haircare products I’ve been using on my highlighted hair that have made a huge difference. Not surprisingly, they’ve become an essential part of my routine.
I’m a tough customer when it comes to haircare products, I find they usually over promise and under deliver. I’ve been using the same professional shampoo and conditioner for the last two years, as everything I’ve tried since just hasn’t compared. My old staples are not the worst products, they’ve done a fairly good job but I’ve always thought that there might be something better, and that my hair needed something extra.
Sachajuan is not a new brand to me, I’ve been using their Hair In The Sun UV protector for a few years now but for some reason I’d never thought to give the rest of their range of products a try, until now. The brand is eye catching, with its Scandi-minimal packaging and label. Their bottles are the sort you can confidently display in your bathroom, but don’t be fooled, it’s not style over substance, their products are very good.
I’m always suspicious of people who say that they noticed a difference after using something just once. However, I have genuinely seen a dramatic change in the condition, feel and colour of my hair since I switched to Sachajuan two weeks ago. It’s now got more of the relaxed swishiness it had when I was younger. It feels much softer which has led me to keep touching it as I can’t believe it’s my hair. And, my highlights look a lot brighter and softer in tone.
All of their products contain their Ocean Silk Technology, a combination of active ingredients, sea algae, protein and minerals which boost moisture, repair split ends, reduce frizz, generally improve the condition of the hair and give it back its shine. They also all smell incredible.
A good shampoo and conditioner that leave my hair feeling clean but not stripped, soft but not weighed-down.
The Intensive Repair Shampoo is designed for people with damaged, porous, dry hair and/or hair exposed to the sun. My hair currently ticks all of these boxes. The shampoo gently washes the hair leaving it feeling clean but not stripped, and the conditioner leaves it feeling soft but not weighed-down. They also has UV protectants that penetrate the hair follicle, protecting it from future UV damage.
Hair Repair & Over Night Hair Repair
Although these two products sound similar they are slightly different, one you need to wash out and the other you can but don’t have to. They both work like a hair mask, giving your hair a little extra nourishment. I’ve found them both to be affective and have used one or both at least once a week, depending on which fits into my routine. The Hair Repair is a post-shampoo treatment that you leave on for up to 10 minutes before washing out. I give my hair a light towel dry before applying it. You don’t have to do this but I think it helps the product penetrate the hair more effectively. It heals split ends, is great if you struggle with frizz and generally improves the health and shine of your hair.
The Over Night Hair Repair is somewhere between a mask and a leave-in conditioner. After washing your hair in the evening, you apply the product from the ends up. You then sleep in it and, depending on your hair type, you can either leave it on or wash it out in the morning. It’s water-based so it doesn’t feel or make your hair greasy. It improves elasticity as well as strengthening the hair. There are two algae that play an important role, Rhodophycea which works on the inside and Chondrus Crispus which works on the outside.
Leave In Conditioner & Intensive Hair Oil
I’ve been using both the Leave In Conditioner and Intensive Hair Oil when drying my hair. It might sound like overkill but my hair is that dry that it can take it. After washing and towel drying my hair I spray the Leave In Conditioner all over and then apply just a small pump of the Intensive Hair Oil. I comb both through my hair before applying Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer. If my hair is still a little flyaway once it’s dry I use a tiny bit of the Intensive Hair Oil to smooth it down.
Guinot High Protection Sun Oil SPF 50* | Guinot High Protection Sun Spray SPF 30* | Caudalie Anti-Aging Face Suncare SPF 50* | Guinot Very High Protection Sun Cream SPF 50+* | Guinot Newhite Brightening UV Shield SPF 50* | Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil 250ml | Sachajuan Hair In The Sun* | Davina Mulford Panama Trilby with Beaded Black Band* (Now Closed)
Fortunately, we are far more aware of the need to wear sun protection than ever before. As a teenager I didn’t get it, I thought the only way I would tan would be to wear the lowest SPF, or nothing at all. Add to that, that my mum has never set a good example and still to this day I tell her to wear SPF and she ignores me. I’m now utterly convinced and wish I’d been more vigilant as a teenager. I can now see the damage I’ve done in the past and have been spending more and more time lately looking for ways to reverse the damage. My advice to those of you that are unsure of whether you need to, wear sunscreen! UVA rays cause ageing and wrinkles, whilst UVB rays cause redding and sunburn, they’re also a contributing factor in the development of skin cancer. This is why it’s important to wear broad spectrum sun protection as it will protect you from both.
This holiday I’ve been using some really great SPF products that I would highly recommend. On my body I’ve been using Guinot High Protection Sun Oil SPF 50. It’s a dry oil which means it’s absorbed quickly and you won’t be left feeling like an oil-slicked body builder, instead my skin has been left feeling nicely moisturised. It comes in a spray which is quite handy, a few spritzes all over, a light rub and you’re done. It’s also good for those hard to reach places like your back. It just doesn’t work upside-down. I’ve been covering myself every morning and then topping up throughout the day after a swim or just later on when I feel like I need it. I’ve used half a bottle in one week. And don’t be fooled into thinking that low SPF means you’ll tan quicker, I’ve been using SPF 50 and I’m still going brown, I’ve just not burnt once.
I’ve also been using Guinot High Protection Sun Spray SPF 30 when we head out in the afternoons. I think this is possibly my favourite although I’ve not used it as much due to the lower SPF. It’s a bit like a deodorant can but for sun protection. You can barely tell you’re wearing it and it’s so easy to use. My only concern is that it seems to go down quickly.
On my face I’ve been using two different SPFs by the pool, Caudalie Anti-Aging Face Suncare SPF 50 and Guinot Very High Protection Sun Cream SPF 50+. Both are really good, there’s not much in it. Neither leave your skin greasy or white, and both are quickly absorbed. My skin looks moisturised but not too shiny after using them. Whenever we’ve been out for the day I’ve used the Guinot Newhite Brightening UV Shield SPF 50 (which I wrote about in my last beauty post). It gives a little bit of coverage, evening out skin tone so I feel like I’m not completely bare skinned; I’m not a fan of wearing make-up in the heat.
I’ve been using a couple of hair protectors. I recently started using Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil – Heat/UV Protective Primer as a heat protector before using my hairdryer or styling tools. I noticed before I came away that it’s also a UV protector so it kills two birds with one stone; I love a multi-use product. I’d say it’s a light, pleasant smelling lotion rather than an oil. It goes on easily with the spray and doesn’t leave my hair greasy. The other product I’ve been using and have done for years is Sachajuan Hair In The Sun. You can apply it to wet or dry hair, I usually use it as a styling product to tame my hair in the evening after I’ve washed and dried it. So again, it’s a great two in one product.
And finally, I’ve been wearing this classic Panama from Davina Mulford! You might have seen it in a few of my photos on Instagram.
