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I can see clearly now... (laser eye surgery review - Advanced CustomVue Wavefront at Optical Express)

As any of you who follow me on Twitter will know, I had laser eye surgery at Optical Express last week.

If you want a very quick review then I'll just say this: IT IS AMAZING, BOOK YOURSELF IN IMMEDIATELY.

For those who prefer a bit more detail, read on...

I've worn glasses since I was 14 or so, like a lot of short sighted people it started off being for reading the board at school (because sitting at the back was very necessary, obvs) but as I've gotten older my eyes have gotten more and more rubbish. My prescription was 3.5 and 3.25, so I wasn't wearing milk bottle glasses, but I couldn't see without them. I'd been wholly dependent on glasses/contacts for about five years and so laser surgery was most definitely on my radar.

The problem was, every time I saved up for it, something else would come along. There'd be a holiday that I HAD to go on (ahem) or I'd scrape the car (ahem) or there'd be a sale at Issa (ahem) or something WIWT-y to invest in (stupid bloody WIWT) etc etc. My eyes basically slipped on the priority list.

I've never really been that concerned about the procedure, the more I researched it the more I realised that any horror stories always came from "a friend of a friend of a brother's girlfriend's cousin" whereas the glowing reviews came from people I knew and trusted.

I have to thank the gorgeous Kate Tidman for really convincing me of the procedure's amazing life changing-ness though. She was definitely right.

So yeah, having decided I definitely wanted laser eye surgery I then became the luckiest girl in London - Optical Express asked me to take part in Team 21 - a blogger project where 21 of us internet dwellers would be treated to laser eye surgery.

I am MASSIVELY grateful and I know that if you're saving up for it then the last thing you want to hear is that I got it for free, but I'm not going to lie about it! I didn't pay for my surgery.

But as I was about to book in for it anyway, I'm very aware how much the costs vary across providers and treatments. My exact procedure for my prescription would have cost £3190 according to the optician I saw for my one week on review yesterday, but I did have the very 'best of the best' procedure - Advanced CustomVue Wavefront. As all the adverts tell you, prices start at £395 per eye and there are lots of different procedures and payment plans, so it's really quite flexible.

I started off with a consultation on Harley Street where I had a number of tests and scans to see whether I was a suitable candidate and what procedure would suit my eyes best. It was VERY thorough, way more extensive than any eye test I've had before. I was given a zillion opportunities to ask questions but I didn't really have any. The only positive to come out of my jaw surgery saga is that nothing medical phases me now, I've had every invasive/claustrophobic/painful procedure imaginable and it's left me a bit mental/fearless.

My only worry was that I wouldn't be a suitable candidate as my prescription has gotten steadily worse over the years, but I was suitable (yey!) so then my only worry was the fact I wouldn't be able to wear mascara for seven days post surgery. (Luckily the prospect of daytime sunglasses was enough to convince me it was worth it).

Nothing invasive happens at the consultation, but it's worth noting that they put some drops in your eyes which affect your vision quite substantially for a few hours, so don't do what I do and go straight into an important meeting. Rest.

Then you're given time to think/ask more questions etc etc, and you make an appointment for the surgery if you want to. I wanted to, so last Monday I went back to Harley Street to have the surgery. (Sorry for making you read so far to actually get to this bit).

So yes, in line with my general "hard as nails" attitude to all things medical as alluded to earlier - I didn't get anyone to come with me and didn't plan for anyone to pick me up. My boyfriend was working abroad and we had no food in the flat but I was all "hey, I'm Vinnie Jones, who cares?". I quickly noticed though that everyone else in the waiting room DID have someone with them and I began to realise that maybe I should call someone. The surgeon asked if I'd had breakfast - "errr, no" - and he looked at me like a cross Dad, I downed a tube of Pez (yes, I carry Pez in my handbag), texted my sister demanding she meet me after the surgery then went in to have it done.

You start by being re-scanned to ensure everything is as it was in your consultation, then they get to it. It's very quick and 'nothingy', you just lie down and have anaestehetic drops put in your eyes and they get on with it. I'm sure they'll do a bit of hand holding if you need it, but I was half asleep and not really asking any questions. Pain is a very personal thing, but in my honest opinion the procedure is painless. It's odd, yes, but it's not at all painful. There's a pressure on your eye which is obviously an unusual sensation, but I didn't find myself wanting to blink/move/panic. Once the first machine (the pressure one) has cut the flaps in your cornea (sounds dramatic, it isn't) you then go under another machine for the laser to do it's work. I was under the laser for 15 seconds in each eye - it's loud and makes a firing sound like a gun, and it DOES smell - but it's not painful at all. I guess the oddest part is that you can see what's going on, it's like watching surgery on your eye. Odd is the optimum word here.

You then get up - I felt a bit faint at this point - and then go to sit in a dark relaxation room. Here I waited for my sis to join me for a cab home. My eyes started to tear and burn in the relaxation room, but the surgeon was stunned how much I could keep them open. So yeah, maybe don't take my word for it when it comes to being painless - I do have a warped pain threshold from many years of illness!

My sis came, we went home - via Lebanese food - and then I basically stayed on the sofa listening to Kardashian re-runs and trying not to use my eyes.

The next day I had a follow up at Optical Express at Westfield, they said my flaps were healing nicely (lulz). They were quite red, but this is just bruising. It's gone already and I miss it, it made me look 'interesting', I thought.

During the recovery I did exactly what I was told - three sets of different eye drops four times a day, sleep in goggles, no exercise (wahey!), no make-up etc etc. I didn't find I was light sensitive but I was definitely tired, I only could manage a few hours at the laptop each day. I was a bit headachey, the way you can be with new contacts, but nothing dramatic. I've been driving on the motorway, but I am struggling a bit at night driving due to halos - but that will settle down...I only had it done a week ago!

My eyesight? Amazing. I was tested yesterday and was told the healing couldn't be better and I was two levels ABOVE 20/20 vision. I am essentially a robot super pilot now.

I can see WAY WAY WAY better than I could ever see in glasses or contacts. It's truly life changing.

I can watch telly in bed, I can see when I wake up, I can see crazy far into the distance like some sort of x-ray person.

I love it.

I could not recommend it more highly. I was so well looked after by Optical Express and that wasn't just because this was a PR thing. I swear. Every consultation I had, they didn't know I was doing this as part of a blogger project. (I know because I would always say at the end and they'd look equally fascinated/scared I was reviewing them).

The procedure is bizarrely quick and easy to recover from, yet has genuinely life changing results.

I can't stress it enough, get a free consultation!

Then get it done. It's amazing :)

The first #WIWTwaxoff at Ministry of Waxing

This time last week seven WIWT-ers were awaiting their first waxing experience at Ministry of Waxing in Covent Garden. In fact, for some of the girls going it was their first waxing experience EVER. Luckily they were in very safe hands at Ministry.

Sometimes I feel like a bit of a 'pusher' when it comes to hair removal services, granted it's not like I'm giving heroin to children but waxing can get addictive (and expensive!) and can lead to naughty consequences if you then feel a massive need to show off your new and improved 'areas'.

The Mystery of #JBK

Anyone who follows me on Twitter will know that I've been receiving some mystery gifts in the post recently.

It's always nice to receive presents (hint hint, everyone) but what made these gifts intriguing was the fact they came with no note, just a card with #JBK written on it.

First came the flowers...

There's me all excited that my boyfriend had finally bought me my first buch of roses ever (again, HINT HINT), only to find that they were in fact not from him but from a mysterious '#JBK' character.

I searched the hashtag on Twitter and a few other bloggers had received #JBK roses too.

HOW CURIOUS.

Then came the chocolates...

As my porter decided I must be having an affair and I tried to convince my other half that this was a PR stunt and I definitely wasn't being some wanton ho bag, I became more intrigued as to what it all meant. As did a lot of my Twitter followers who helped with the guessing. "Just Be Kinky, perhaps?", someone (male) hoped. "Just Being Kind" was the general consensus though.

But as nice as it was to think someone was 'just being kind', I still wanted to know who that someone was...especially after I had devoured all their chocolates.

Then, whilst I was in Manchester, a final #JBK package arrived for me.

And by opening it, the mystery was solved!

JBK meant I'd 'just been kissed'. And who had kissed me? Revlon's new 'Just Bitten Kissable' balm stains.

As a lot of you will know, I've only recently stopped wearing disgustingly fugly train track braces. In the ridic long time I was in braces, I shunned all lip colour products. It's not like you want to draw attention to your MOUTH OF METAL. Since getting my braces off though, I've been keen to try 'lippy' and those magical products I see normal women putting on their lips.

I've always loved the Mac lipsticks I've worn on photoshoots, but I don't like 'lipstick'. I've wanted to be able to wear colour without being all gloopy and worried about it being on my teeth for the longest of times. Granted, I've not kept up with developments in the field of lip products as I've shunned anything to do with mouths for a number of years, but last time I checked we were all wearing stupidly shiny lip gloss which our hair would get stuck in...so these lip stain balms are a dramatic improvement.

I don't know why beauty companies think we want SHINY SHINY OH SO SHINY lips, I don't want to look like my mouth is covered in glittery dribble. I do want colour though. And this is what Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable stains have been able to give me, without any of the annoying side effects.

The stain really lasts too, way longer than the rest of my make-up. (I often look disgusting and shattered, but with perfect coral lips).

The crayon design means you don't need to ever sharpen the lip balms, which is another bonus. And they're pretty cheap too, which is a better bonus still. They're also pepperminty, if you like minty things.

I'm wearing all seven colours (not together, obvs) regularly. I don't think I have a favourite as I just like whatever matches my outfit/grumpiness best.

The range is currently on offer for £5.99 each at Superdrug, and they come with my approval.

(L-R, Rendez-Vous, Romantic and Cherish)

And now you've just been kissed by me :)

xxx

Holiday Beauty Essentials

As you may have noticed from my 'less rainy than usual' outfit posts, I was on holiday in Mallorca last week.

Ever since I was a fetus (really!) I've spent summers in Mallorca with my family. Normally I travel with my sister, so we pool resources when it comes to packing beauty bits and boring things like straighteners. But this year I had to share a suitcase with my boyfriend. SHOCK HORROR ETC ETC. This shouldn't be that big a deal as I do live with my boyfriend BUT, crucially, we have separate bathrooms. And I am 99% certain that's why we're in love.

When it was announced that we were SHARING A SUITCASE it was made pretty clear that I couldn't bring the kitchen (or rather, bathroom) sink with me.

Fair enough. I'm cool. I'm laid back. I don't need lots of beauty products. I'm carefree. I'm breezy!

I looked around my bathroom pondering what should make the cut and settled on the following:

And I have to say, this was a-ok. Except for make-up and sun tan lotion (Ambre Solaire Light & Silky SPF 30), the above was all I took. I didn't yearn for any of the things I left at home. And all these products were tip top.

So what did I pack? (L-R)

Vaseline Aloe Fresh Gel - £2.79

This was purchased after a hilarious sunstroke incident in Rio (I wasn't the victim) and it's pretty heavenly to keep in the minibar fridge and slather on your skin after a day in the sun. I much prefer gels to creams and butters, in fact I hate creams and butters, and this one is simple, effective and absorbed superbly quickly. Also, not girly at all so if you are sharing a suitcase with a fusspot boy, he can also use it.

Clean & Clear Morning Energy Facial Scrub - £3.99

I have to scrub my face, I don't get people who don't. It's completely psychological, but I just don't understand how anything can be clean without scrubby grainy bead things. This stuff smells gorgeous and summery and doesn't leave your skin tight or horrid. I know skin is a very personal thing, but I rate this above Eve Lom and a bunch of other posh brands. And it's cheap.

Lansinoh HPA Lanolin - £10.20

This is my desert island beauty staple, there is not a product in the world more effective than this. It's more awesome than an iPhone, probably. It's a treatment for cracked nipples, but I use it on my lips. (I don't have cracked nipples). It is quite literally a billion times better than every other lip balm ever. I wear it every day and I am never without it. Buy it, it will change your life.

La-Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ - £14.50

I am a bit OTT about sun protection, sunburn is SO tacky and, more importantly (errr), it's bad for you. I don't want to be a wrinkly old burnt faced hag, so I won't wear less than SPF 50 on my face. Problem is, normal sun tan lotion makes me go all spotty and teenagery when I put it on my face and even facial sun tan lotions I've used in the past have felt heavy and horrid. I took to Twitter pre-holiday to get recommendations and this stuff got rave reviews. I found it in Boots and highly rate it from a skin protection/non breakout point of view BUT if I was buying it again I might opt for the tinted one as this made me look pale as my natural skin is fairly olive anyway. Seriously powerful stuff, I applied once per day and my skin didn't even get a hint of pink or red. (Altho I do obsessively wear a hat.)

Dove Spa De-Dimple Serum - £45

My approach to a pre-holiday diet is always 'carry on eating burritos and just find a good anti-cellulite cream'. It's not a very smart approach, as you will see as I blog my efforts to lose weight as of next week (gulp), but it has meant that I've tried lots of cellulite products. This Dove Spa (Dove's snazzy posh beauty range) product came as a two week 'course', in 15 individual tubes. Pretty nifty idea as the 'doses' are all worked out for you. And if you're not checking in your luggage, these are handy and small to have in your stupid clear plastic bag. This a high end product with the usual suspect ingredients, algae and caffeine etc. Def made a big difference...and I'm a very lazy bumpy fugly thighed person.

label.m Protein Spray - £12.25

This stuff is a god send all year round, but I wouldn't go on holiday without it. I don't wash my hair every day at home, but I do on holiday so I make an extra effort to protect it. I apply this in the morn onto dry hair before a day in the sun (and pool and sea!) and then apply it to wet hair after I wash it in the evening. It protects against heat damage, UV and all sorts of other things. And smells very nice. And keeps your hair healthy, moisturised and proteined. Yes.

Otrivine Nasal Spray - £3.79

This isn't exactly a glamorous product but, after Lanolin, this is my next 'must have' when going on holiday. This is more important to me than make-up on holiday, really! I'm a very allergic person and struggle to breathe through my nose at the best of times, but on holiday in foreign climates and air conditioned hotel rooms it's always 100 times worse. Without this, I essentially have no nose at all. It's a genuine miracle product and enables you to go from 100% blocked to 100% clear in a matter of minutes. But be warned, you're not supposed to use it for more than a week as it causes reflux issues and you will have dependency probs. (Not in a crackhead way, but it really will screw up your airways). It's not good for you, but in a short term capacity it is literally heaven in a bottle.

Original Source Mint and Tea Tree Shower Gel - £1.15

I remember using this in the early 2000s, Original Source products were 'a thing' that everybody seemed to use. Now I don't see people rave about them, why? I was re-introduced to the minty goodness by my boyf's family last year and it has replaced Molton Brown and all that lot for me. It's super cheap and super tingly and after a hot/sweaty/sandy day this is the only product that you can depend on to make you feel fresh as a daisy. Or fresh as a mint leaf, anyway.

label.m Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner - £16.50

Granted, I am the biggest label.m fan girl ever, but I've converted many a girlfriend and they all agree this stuff really is a world apart from other haircare brands. Yes, it's more expensive than Head & Shoulders, but it's a damn sight better too. I think the Therapy range is label.m's best range yet and when you're in the sun you want all the extra moisture you can get, this stuff (packed with white caviar) literally makes your hair feel like silk. And when you're on holiday, that's a rare treat.

Clean & Clear Morning Energy Brightening Facial Moisturiser - £3.99

This is the only 'brightening' moisturiser I've found that doesn't make you look like a glittery idiot. Light and non-greasy and smells suitably summery.

Garnier Body Tonic Firming Lotion - £3.10

To be honest, the first time I bought this I just did so because I liked the yellow bottle. I like yellow. But this is my fave body moisturiser and has been for years. As mentioned above, I hate creams/butters. I don't want rubbing in moisturiser to be a chore, it should glide on. This stuff smells nice, comes in a huge bottle and is the perfect gel-cream consistency. Always on offer somewhere too. Oh and it firms, which is a nice bonus.

I probably missed something embarassingly obvious, but if I did I didn't miss it over the 7 days I was away!

20% off at Ministry of Waxing UK for WIWT-ers!

You've no doubt seen our snazzy site updates (The Lust List and the daily updated User Charts etc etc) but one of the things we're most excited about this summer is giving back to YOU - our lovely, stylish, effortlessly awesome WIWT community.

Well that begins today! From today WIWT-ers can get 20% off all services at Ministry of Waxing and Browhaus UK. (Read our seperate post on the Browhaus offer here).

Ministry of Waxing was born in Singapore in 2001. Founded by Cynthia Chua, the original smooth operator, Cynthia believed that there was a place for body culture that's practiced safely, hygienically and painlessly. She trialled and tested new techniques and experimented with new waxes. Eventually, she created a brand new set of Braziliian waxing techniques that were significantly less painful and embarrassing. And let's face it, it can be embarassing if you go somewhere dodge!

Ministry of Waxing has only one mission in life - to help you conquer the body foliage and achieve that baby smooth wax factor. Rather impressively, Ministry have pruned over two and a half million bushes. Erm, wow.

Today, Ministry of Waxing has a hairless presence in major capital cities, from Singapore, London, New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Bangkok. Repeatedly voted Best Brazilian Wax and Fastest Waxer and featured internationally in Wallpaper*, WWD and the LUXE guide world. Even Louis Vuitton's city guides recommend Ministry of Wax as the only place to get de-fuzzed. Maybe that's because their team of super waxperts can scythe through any errant bush in a record-breaking 30 minutes!

Every 'waxpert' around the world has an intensive month long training in Singapore, and this is then followed up by training in London and an upgrade after 6 months. In the London salons at Floral St and South Molton St, Ministry of Waxing adhere to the same ethos Cynthia laid down back in Singapore a decade or more ago; always wanting to be the best. MOW Waxperts are trained to her high standards, meaning their hygiene is beyond reproach – no double dipping, sealed wax pack for each individual customer – and their signature aftercare products are amongst the best that can be bought.

You can see the full menu of services on the Ministry of Waxing website, you can get 20% off EVERYTHING, but to whet your appetitie, here are some deets on what you can get 'did'...

Brazilian/Boyzilian
Crack
BSC (Back, Sac and Crack)
Bikini line
Full bikini wax
Under arm
Half arm
Full arm
Shoulders
Chest and shoulders
Midriff
Lower back
Buttocks
Inner thigh
Half leg (bottom) and half leg (top)
Full leg
Back of hand
Fingers
Top of feet
Toes
Eyebrows
Forehead
Neck
Cheeks
Jawline
Sideburns
Ears
Chin
Full face

So, err, everything, then?!

And what about 'da boyz'?

Recently, Ministry of Waxing featured in a New York Times article entitled ‘A He-Wax For Him’, which was all about the emerging and growing trend of men of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and sexualities visiting waxing salons to neaten themselves up in the trouser department. In the past 12 months alone, Ministry of Waxing have seen a whopping 38% increase in men seeking their Boyzilian waxing treatment.

The signs are clear to read – male waxing has broken the niche and entered the mainstream, and Ministry of Waxing are perfectly poised to take you by the hand and join you as you take your first steps into this brave new world.

Whilst Ministry of Waxing do have a pretty famous Boyzilian range of treatments (which deal with hair around the pubic region - in case that isn't obvious), this isn’t where their treatments begin and end.

Ministry do a range of waxing and hair removal treatments that suit any body type and length of hair above 1mm. Legs, arms, chest, back – anywhere you like, they’ve got a treatment to suit. The benefits are endless. Hygiene, smoother skin, less sweating, an all round neater look and – we’ve all been thinking it – an enhancement of what you’re already hiding downstairs.

Ministry's Waxperts are intensively boot-camped, so you know you’re in safe hands with them – and believe us, they really have seen it all before. And yes, they’ll hold their hands up, of course it hurts a bit. But us ladies have been doing this for years without complaining – time to step up, gents.

And if you're into something more permanent than waxing, take a look at the range of IPL services which you can also get 20% off. I've just started this myself, so look out for my review soon! (IPL takes ages, so maybe not that soon)

To claim your 20% off at Ministry of Waxing UK you just need to show that you're a WIWT member, so just get your profile up on your oh-so-smartphone at reception. Simple! Or you can book your appointment on Twitter which is even easier! Just tweet @ministrywaxing to book with a link to your WIWT profile. Easy!

And don't worry non-Londoners, we haven't forgotten you! This is the first of many exclusive discounts for WIWT users...we'll be rolling out fun things to a city near you soon. Promise!

20% off at Browhaus for WIWT-ers!

Well that begins today! From today WIWT-ers can get 20% off all services at Browhaus UK and Ministry of Waxing. (Read our seperate post on the Ministry of Waxing offer here).

Browhaus, in Covent Garden, is the first and only concept store in the UK to specialise in Brow and Lash Grooming Services. You've probably read about it as Browhaus has featured in international press like Wallpaper* as a Secret Elite and the LUXE Guide as the ultimate go-stop for international travellers to get their brows groomed. Oh and my Mum bloody LOVES it in there, and she's quite gobby. Maybe you've heard her banging on about brows? (There's actually a full interview and review on Brow Resurrection coming soon on WIWT from Mummy D, we're quite excited).

Inspired by Bauhaus, the German art movement, Browhaus is your one-stop brow and lash grooming salon, built for the image-conscious urbanite who demands not just function, but function and style. Expect the highest technical proficiency but with a stunning and fashionable end result. Browhaus is here for your facial hair grooming needs - the hair on your face never had a better close-up!

You know how all the mags go on and on about how brows frame your face? Well they really do deserve love and attention (brows, not mags), as you come to realise once you get them done professionally for the first time.

You can see the full menu of services on the Browhaus website, you can get 20% off EVERYTHING, but to whet your appetitie, here are some deets on the three signature treatments at Browhaus...

Thread and Tweeze

Browhaus's Thread and Tweeze brow treatment is one of the fastest in the business, and all Browhaus Brow Architects are expertly trained in giving you the brows to suit your face. Thread and Tweeze usually takes 15-20 minutes, and Browhaus Brow Architects will guide you through the process to make sure you’re happy with the treatment.

If you’d like to take your Thread and Tweeze that little bit further Browhaus also offer Tint - giving you the perfect colour match.

Brow Resurrection

Sparse, over plucked or uneven brows? No problem, Browhaus has the natural semi-permanent solution: Brow Resurrection. Browhaus construct your ideal brow from root to tip. It’s the true 3D lifelike brows you never had.

Brow Resurrection is a signature semi-permanent treatment that boasts a more detailed and natural stroke, finer than normal brow embroidery techniques. This patented technique is exclusive to Browhaus and involves 5 years of dedicated R&D to perfect. It is their most advanced technique, more sophisticated than previous BR versions.

Lash in Bloom

Lash in Bloom is a semi-permanent eyelash extensions treatmebt, where the lashes are applied individually by hand to give you fuller, longer and natural looking lashes. Using fine quality, lightweight individual lash, Browhaus are able to customise the length and density of the lashes to create the perfect set of lashes to frame your eyes.

To claim your 20% off at Browhaus UK you just need to show that you're a WIWT member, so just get your profile up on your oh-so-smartphone at reception. Simple! Or you can book your appointment on Twitter which is even easier! Just tweet @BrowhausUK to book with a link to your WIWT profile. Easy!

And don't worry non-Londoners, we haven't forgotten you! This is the first of many exclusive discounts for WIWT users...we'll be rolling out fun things to a city near you soon. Promise!

Tan-tastic at Strip

Tans make us happy. I believe that anyway. I feel healthier when I have one and generally slimmer and more awesome. I suppose that's in part because you usually only get a tan when you're on holibob somewhere sunny...and obvs being on holiday is everyone's favouritest.

But self tanning/fake tanning products have become a huge industry, I don't have any stats because I haven't bothered to research it...but if you're a girl and you haven't ever used fake tan then I don't believe you.

A lot of people hate fake tan and stay away, fearing tell-tale streaks from applying it themselves or fearing the oompa-loompa orange look that would make even TOWIE extras tremble in horror.

I've used sunbeds in the past, but always feel guilty. It's not cool to use sunbeds knowing what we know about them. But spray tans I can get behind, they're pretty much guaranteed to be streak free (as you're not bloody doing it yourself) and if you have a decent therapist they can advise you on getting the right colour for your skintone/event. A few years ago spray tans could still be pretty dodge, but they've come on a lot in my opinion. They don't even smell that biscuity any more.

I went to my new favourite waxing chain - Strip - for a spray tan last week ahead of going to Manchester for WIWT party times.

They use a tan by South Seas and I'd never used it before but was suitably impressed. I was also intrigued by the fact you can have just a half body tan (£16) or just have your face, arms and shoulders done (£12). Whilst the weather isn't amazing (although it's trying to be today) I'd be very tempted by this cheapie face/arms option.

But I knew I was gonna be in a short skirt last weekend so went for a full body.

I was actually sprayed twice in two thin layers, which I've never had done before, rather than have one thick layer which can be more of a pain to dry.

I put loose dark clothing on after and headed home, avoiding showering til the next day which is where you wash off the guide colour and the tan that's developed underneath becomes evident.

My tan lines were impressive pretty quickly :)

And I was a lot darker than I expected (which is what I'd asked for, but didn't think would be achieved) and I LOVED how tanned I was for going out in Manc.

It has really lasted and faded nicely and relatively evenly, the only problem is where my bra wires sit...but that always rubs fake tan off first. The funny thing is that the tan looks more natural now when I'm nekkid as I have white bits a la a real sunbathing sun tan!

A few days on and I look a bit yellow in this towel pic, but that's the lighting!

And the tan lines were still really evident days later...

I tan very easily in the sun and am naturally quite dark (due to my disputed ethnic heritage) so I love, LOVE being tanned. Spray tans are addictive so I recommend them with caution, but Strip do currently have a 2 for 1 offer running til the end of March on their full body spray tans (usually £30 each) and you can buy 1 and give your free 1 to a mate, so that's quite cool.

I am trying to decide if I need another one before the party on Monday. Hmmm. HMMMMMMM.

You can't currently get spray tans at Strip's Chelsea salon, but you can at Soho, City (One New Change) and at Harvery Nichols in Bristol. Deets here.

Review: Strip Wax Bar at One New Change

Ahhh hair removal, everyone’s favourite past time! Hmmm. Maybe not. Whatever your choice of defuzzing regimen, it’s unlikely to be something you look forward to.

Gillette tried to make shaving exciting with a bit of help from Bananarama (I still can’t walk past the Venus cartridges in Sainsbury’s without breaking into “I’m your Venus! I’m your fire! Your desire”, much to my own annoyance) and more and more people are delving into the James Bond-esque world of laser hair removal, but waxing still has its place for many. And one place where waxing really does outshine its competitor hair removal methods is in the bikini region – a.k.a your lady area. (I can’t comment on male waxing, having never been in possession of boy bits).

I’d never bothered with waxing for a number of reasons. Mainly it was because I didn’t want the inconvenience of waiting for hair to be long enough, but the fact it isn’t cheap (i.e it’s more expensive than hacking away at myself with a Bic) and requires a woman who is professionally beautiful to see you naked (beauticians scare me) has always put me off.

I’d waxed my own legs once; it involved a hotel room in LA, a microwave, ruined sheets and a lot of bruising. One bit of wax got stubbornly stuck to my shin and didn’t shift for days. It was VERY attractive. I wouldn’t have ever dared wax my lady area myself though, that just seemed like something you’d have to be exceptionally mental to do. Not to mention flexible.

So having decided I did want to get a ‘proper wax job’, I endeavoured to find the best salon in town. Living in Chelsea these days (daaaahlink) I was spoilt for choice for upmarket salons. “Where do rich people go?”, I pondered. “WHERE DO CELEBRITY VAJAYJAYS GO?” I continued. My research led me to the chain ‘Strip’.

What drew me to Strip (apart from the glowing reviews from every leading beauty journalist as well as your every day Yelp users) was the fact that this was a salon chain who specialised in waxing. This wasn’t a hairdressers with a lady upstairs who does a bit of waxing when she isn’t doing nails and facials, these were waxing superheroes...dedicated to the art. And if that wasn’t enough of a selling point, Strip is Victoria Beckham’s salon of choice when she’s in town. A lot of slebs say the same actually, but if it meets David Beckham’s approval then I assumed (quite rightly, it turned out) that my better half would also be...errr...’satisfied’ with the results.

I wanted to review my first visit to Strip (Chelsea branch – 27.12.11) but when I went my hair wasn’t really long enough to be waxed, so any review I wrote would be kinda biased as the treatment took longer than it would usually and thus was obviously more painful. I had a feeling my hair was too short, but my aforementioned ‘better half’ seemed to think his knowledge of waxing was better than mine and that shaving in the run-up to a wax was a –ok. Boys are silly. I was very grateful to my therapist though who very kindly proceeded with the waxing anyway, having fully briefed me that the results may not be ideal and it would take longer than normal. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience (you really should put up with the hair being a bit longer before waxing) but the results were mind-blowingly amazing.

I don’t want to start a debate on pubic hair fashion, but I went for a Hollywood (complete nothing-ness) which is obviously the most extreme option – except for say, jewels and mirkins – and apparently going for a Hollywood first having never had wax ‘down there’ before is a bit unusual and not necessarily a good idea for the faint hearted. But I’m hard as nails. Clearly.

SO. What I’m actually going to review is Strip at One New Change (St Paul’s), where yesterday I had a Hollywood by Samantha. Everyone’s different when it comes to hair growth but it had taken just over six weeks to reach the point of being ‘ready’ to wax again. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW LONG THE HAIR-FREE LOVELINESS HAD LASTED. I honestly thought that I’d have about three days of slutty smoothness and then be reaching for the Bic again, but the results were completely amazing. My therapist at Chelsea had told me to be courageous/brave/stoical etc and not be tempted to shave in between waxes and I did what she said. The new hair, when it did finally start growing back, was pathetic and soft and much more sparse, it wasn’t even that annoying being there...not compared to blunt, evil, sharp razor re-growth anyway. It was almost cute. (Almost being the key word, as clearly I was still determined to be rid of it).

One New Change is my favourite shopping centre in London, because it’s not really a shopping centre. If Westfield is Goliath then One New Change is David’s smaller, younger brother. And that’s why it’s amazing. It’s MANAGEABLE. It’s CLASSY. It’s CLEAN. I’ve also never once seen a teenager hanging out there. Or a queue for the changing rooms at Topshop. Situated next to St Paul’s Cathedral with stunning views over the City, I like to think it’s what Christopher Wren would have wanted for Cheapside. Strip is located on the ground floor by the St Paul’s entrance, so if you’re terrified you can say a little prayer if needs be on your way in.

There’s REALLY no need to be terrified though.

I feel like such a dick to say a Hollywood wax can actually feel like pampering, but at Strip it really can. Well, it did with Samantha anyway. I can’t rate Samantha highly enough, she is the queen of waxing.

For those who haven’t had a wax before, this is what actually happens...

You fill in a quick survey if it’s your first visit to Strip, this is to check you’re not going to have a bad reaction to the wax etc etc. Then you’ll meet your therapist and be taken to your treatment room. (I was in the Lavender Room at Chelsea and the Chocolate Room at One New Change – def go for the Chocolate Room if you can!). The therapist will leave you to take your knickers off etc (I believe you can keep them on but obvs for a Hollywood that’s not so easy – and I really wouldn’t worry about your modesty – these therapists look at ‘lady areas’ all day long and it’s unlikely you’ll be showing them anything they haven’t seen 1000 times before). There are baby wipes so you can freshen up and a towel you can cover yourself with before the therapist comes back. The therapist will then talk you through the wax and why the wax at Strip is so fab – I can’t actually remember all the details but it’s an impressive little story. Then you’ll be oiled up, which helps stop the wax sticking to your skin and makes the whole process a billion times more bearable, and then it begins!

The wax is spread on and left to cool/harden and then ripped off quickly, paper/fabric strips aren’t used. Samantha was amazing at telling me to breathe in/out as she pulled the wax and it actually made a huge amount of difference to how comfortable it felt. She also applied pressure immediately after the wax is pulled away to confuse the pain signals in my brain. Basically, and this is not a lie, IT DIDN’T HURT. If you’ve always avoided a bikini wax because you fear it will hurt, don’t. Invest in getting the treatment at a good salon – i.e a specialist place like Strip – and relax. It really isn’t as bad as you imagine it will be if you find the right therapist who uses the right wax.

The whole process was quicker than I expected and Samantha continuously told me how much was left to go, whether it was a big strip or a little strip she was about to do etc etc. Oh and did I mention there are televisions in the treatment rooms? I watched Crazy Stupid Love whilst I was being waxed. Ryan Gosling and hot wax that smells of chocolate and hazelnuts, what’s not to love?

There are no embarrassing positions at Strip, even for a wax as intimate as the Hollywood. I’d researched waxing on forums and read horrible tales of women on all fours (embarrassing, much?) and it’s NOTHING like that at Strip. You’re just on your back with your knees dropped, with towels to support your thighs if you have pathetic shaky legs like I do.

Once you’re all done you’re left to get dressed and out you go. I purchased a range of aftercare products which all the Strip staff can talk you through. I was clearly an easy sell (I somehow spent £50 on products) but I do agree with the notion that if you’re going to go to the effort of waxing in the first place, you may as well invest in some aftercare too. And ingrown hairs can be a problem with regular waxing as the hairs become weaker. There’s also fabby lingerie on sale, if you want to show off your new ‘look’.

BLOODY HELL THIS IS SUCH AN UNNESSCARILY LONG REVIEW!

I just feel like there’s a lot to explain when it comes to bikini waxing (I know I had a TONNE of questions before I went) and hopefully this has sold the idea to you a bit. I really, genuinely couldn’t be happier with the results and I would recommend Samantha at Strip - One New Change to anyone. Actually I’d recommend any branch of Strip really having had fab service at Chelsea too.

Strip have their own FAQ which you’ll prob want to peruse if you’re interested and they have branches in Chelsea, One New Change (St Paul’s), Notting Hill, Soho and Bristol. A standard bikini wax is £23 and a Hollywood wax is £52. Courses are available which offer pretty significant discounts – a Hollywood becomes £43.33.

Full details on services, prices, contact details and locations can be found on Strip's website here.

A full five stars from me. And the boy.

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