One in six women in the UK have bought fashion items online and 18% buy at least once a month according to new research.

One of our favourites is ASOS who started off by selling things that celebrities wore and had been photographed in. It’s changed a bit as they are getting bigger each year and their product range keeps growing and growing - and we love them for that too.

The most popular website in the number one spot, apparently, is Next which seems well ahead of the competition on the internet in Britain.

The report also talks about womens buying patterns on the web:

The range of products is the most important factor determining which
website a woman chooses to shop at. UK females look for websites that
have a wider choice of products than available in the stores or which
sell specific ranges such as Fairtrade and maternity.

We love going to the shops, but sometimes, especially this time of the year when the shops are so busy, shopping online seems to make so much more sense.

One of our Blogging Team recently ‘nicked’ an article from a Beauty Blog and made it look like one of ours. Needless to say they are not happy and neither are we.

We have deleted the article and we apologise for any offence caused. It’s an easy, but lazy, thing to do and we don’t condone it. That Blogging Team Member is now an Ex-Blogging Team member.

Truly Scrumptious is about Good Advice and Good Products, so let’s get back on track.

In yesterday’s (26/11/06) Sunday Magazine that comes with the News of The World, they had an article called “You Shall Go To The Ball” - festive fantastic salon treatments for women.

The recommended treatment for Nails was the Jessica Deluxe Manicure:

“The Jessica Deluxe Manicure uses a combination of cleansing, buffing and massage to help nails grow strong. Once they’re in shape, you can choose from over 100 colours to complete your new look.”

The good news for you ladies is that you we can help you out on both fronts.

The Jessica Deluxe Manicure is available at the Salon - £24 for a one hour treatment and when you need to get those colours (and the complete Jessica Nailcare Products) you can buy them online from our shop. We have a colour chart with over approximately 100 colours to chose from available now.

An increasing number of women are developing acne later in life, sometimes for the first time having missed it as teenagers.

People with acne have an increased sensitivity in their sebaceous (oil-producing) glands to normal levels of the male hormone testosterone. The cells that line the hair follicle become sticky and, instead of being shed in the normal way, progressively block the duct so that sebum (oil) and dead skin cannot escape.

Bacteria multiply around the blockages, causing inflammation. Follicles blocked with waste material discolour on exposure to air and become blackheads. When the bacteria breaks down the trapped sebum, pus is created, forming whiteheads. Red blotches indicate more extensive inflammation.

Possible causes

It is not known why some people develop acne, although it may be hereditery. Also, it is not clear why more people are now getting acne during adulthood but one of the main causes is thought to be stress, which increases the production of male hormones (androgens). Greater use of oral contraceptives, which contain progesterone, may also be a factor.

Hormone changes before menstruation and during pregnancy can cause a flare-up of acne, as can hot temperatures and high humidity. Diet plays no part.

Another myth is that acne is caused by poor hygiene. If anything, sufferers tend to wash more frequently than those with clear skin in order to clear away excess oil. This may be a mistake as over-washing can dry out the skin and make the condition worse.

If you suffer from acne you could try the Ketsugo 3 step regime for oily skin.

(Article adapted from iVillage)

Your head feels itchy and you daren’t wear anything dark in case the flakes show - yes dandruff can be a real pain.

The appearance of flakes can be reduced, especially in those who suffer from only a mild case of dandruff, by proper hair care.

Some people avoid washing their hair, thinking that the drying effect of the shampoo makes dandruff worse, when in fact washing the hair regularly removes the dead skin cells before they build up.

Using acid-based shampoos helps restore acidity to the scalp, breaking down oils and preventing dead skin cells from collecting into visible clumps. However, shampoos with milder medication, or shampoos that are not marked to treat seborrheic dermatitis, may have little to no effect on redness and irritation.

Home remedies to get rid of dandruff include apple cider vinegar, salt or lemon juice. Apply the liquid to the scalp and allow to remain for several minutes to several hours, even overnight, then shampoo and rinse clean in the shower.

One good way to apply the liquid is from a spray bottle, or simply by pouring over the head. Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a rinse after shampooing: the vinegar will act as both a fungicide
to fight the cause of the cell buildup, as well as a rinsing agent, which will rinse clumps of skin away before they appear large enough to be visible.

Severe forms of dandruff, particularly if accompanied by flaking or scaling on other parts of the body, should be treated by a dermatologist. Dandruff can occur in conjunction with skin conditions
such as seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Dandruff varies from person to person. It may be necessary to try various shampoos with different active ingredients (selenium sulfide, tar, salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole)
to find the best suited for any one individual. Also, an individual may
find that alternating between different treatments will be more
effective than sticking with a single treatment, which can become less
effective over time.

At TS Beauty, we stock Australian Bodycare Shampoo and Conditioner which can be effective against dandruff with active ingredients of 2% Tea Tree Oil.

This article was adapted from Wikipedia

If you are looking for a local Hairdresser and don’t know where to go, my advice would be Marc Antoni in Fleet, I had my hair cut there yesterday with Dan, (he’s my favourite) and I was soooooooo pleased that rather than keeping it to myself I thought I would share it. My advice is when you find a great hairdresser keep hold of them and tell all your friends about them as well.

On that note, loads of people have asked me who did my wedding hair as it looked amazing. Lucy at Marc Antoni in Bracknell did my hair for the wedding and all the bridesmaids too.

Love Claire x

1. Genetics

If your mum or dad had acne as a teenager, there’s a good chance you will too.

2. Hormones

During adolescence, hormones called androgens become active and stimulate oil glands in your skin, increasing oil production. This clogs pores causing pimples and blackheads. For women, hormonal changes that occur during a period, or when starting or stopping taking birth control pills, can also cause an acne break-out. (In some cases, however, certain birth control pills are prescribed as a treatment for acne.)

3. Stress

Although stress doesn’t actually cause acne, it will potentially aggravate this or any other skin condition you may have.

4. Diet

Dermatologists aren’t sure whether or not what we eat plays a critical role in acne. Some experts do believe, however, that food allergies can trigger acne outbreaks.

5. Washing your face too often.

This can aggravate the skin, causing acne to occur.

6. Skincare products

Greasy skin care products and oily cosmetics clog oil ducts and may cause acne.

7. Medications

Acne can be a side effect of some drugs, including barbiturates, seizure medication and steroids.

Skincare solution: try Ketsugo

This article has been adapted from iVillage.

• Nails grow approximaetly 1mm each week
• If you lost a nail completely, it will take six months to grow back
• Up to 45% of men bite their nails
• The rate at which your nails grow can be slowed down by illness, or speed up by stress and hot weather.
• Your diet dictates the condition of your nails. For extra-strength, eat food rich in calcium, iron and zinc.
• White marks on the nail are due to knocks, and not a sign of calcium deficiency.
• Strong
  soaps and detergents can dry out nails and cause them to split. Wear
  rubber gloves when using detergent or doing the washing up.

ref. thesite

This season of colour brings the emotionally intense red palette to fashion, nails and lips. Jessica introduces 6 extreme Red shades from Rich Ruby Wine to striking Raspberry Rose in every texture, pearl, mica and crème. …They are as different and beautiful as the perfect Rose.

Contents: 1 each of 6 American Beauties

• 624 Bedazzler
• 625 Heirloom
• 626 Braveheart
• 627 Blaze
• 628 Queen Bee
• 629 Deep Secret

To purchase the box set: www.tsbeautyshop.co.uk

£45.00 for the set (£40.50 for Club Members) and get this fantastic nail polish box/stand FREE!

The individual colours are also available from £6.98 for members.

Making sure your hair looks great is a very important. But, the products you put on your hair may be causing problems to your skin and what you don’t want is a great hairstyle and your forehead covered with pimples and acne?

If you’ve suffered from pimples along your hairline or on your forehead, chances are it’s due to your styling products. According to Solveyourproblems.com, the following styling products should be kept out of contact with your skin at all costs:

• Hair gel
• Mousse
• Hair sprays
• Oils, especially mineral oil
• Products that contain alcohol or adhesives

Now this is not to say that you can never use these products, but if you do, take your skincare into careful consideration. Make sure your forehead is covered by a cloth or towel while applying these types of products on parts of your hair that will come into contact with your skin (eg. hair spray on your forehead). At the end of each day, thoroughly cleanse your face with your favourite skin care products to ensure there is no hair care product residue sitting on your skin.

Another helpful tip to save your skincare is to not put hair care products on your hair when exercising. Make sure you have your hair tied up and pulled away from your face while working out so your skin can breathe and sweat properly. If you put gels, mousse or spray in your hair and it comes into contact with your skin while working out, this can cause the perspiration from your scalp to trickle down to your hairline, clogging your pores and causing pimples.

For sunny days or as a winter trend, hats and caps are cool but this fashion option can also have disastrous results on your skin. If you decide to wear a hat or cap, make sure that the fabric is clean and loose enough so that if you do sweat, the dirt and bacteria doesn’t get trapped on the hat itself, which will only result in your forehead being rubbed up against hours of accumulated dirt and bacteria.

This article was adapted from Skincare News