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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Emma Calder

DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season

DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Beauty school drop-out: Frankie Avalon, Stockard Channing and Didi Conn in Grease (1978).
Photograph: Allstar/PARAMOUNT
DIY beauty tools: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Boots Smooth Skin PLUS £399.99 boots.com
Laser hair removal always sounds like a great idea, no more razors, waxing or smelly creams – until you discover that a course of professional treatments could cost in the region of £2,000-£3,000! That's where this little device comes in. Using IPL technology (intense pulse light), the burst of light kills off the hair follicle and prevents further re-growth. It's also suitable to use on darker skin tones which many in-salon treatments aren't. It's pain-free and noise-free, so perfect to use while catching up on Homeland
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Caci Microlift £350, johnlewis.com
Over the past 20 years Caci treatments have developed a devoted cult following. Used worldwide in salons and spas to lift and firm the skin on your face and body using a low-frequency electrical current, Caci has become a favourite pre-party perk-me-up. Their latest offering is a hand-held device which looks a bit like a cordless phone with spiky things on top, and uses a tiny electrical current to tone the muscles around your eyes, chin, jaw line and neck. Designed to be used three times a week for 10 minutes – this is a great quick fix for the early signs of ageing
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Salon Blends Collection £7.50 superdrug.com
OK, at-home hair colouring isn't new. But the latest developments are. John Frieda has upped the ante with its easy-to-apply permanent foam colour by adding five new shades inspired by the colour-combining techniques used in salons by the professionals. The reason your hair always looks more vibrant and multi-tonal when you've had it professionally dyed is because your colourist mixes together different shades to create your bespoke colour. John Frieda has put together three tones in one bottle instead of the usual one or two found in most dyes. No more helmet-head home-dye disasters for you!
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Clarisonic Mia 2 £130, Space NK uk.spacenk.com
If you're a fan of a facial, you need this in your life. Developed by the inventor of the Sonicare toothbrush, this spinning cleansing brush uses sonic frequency technology to massage away dirt and oil without irritating your skin. Great if you've got a stubborn spot that just won't die no matter how often you cleanse, this brush can clean out the filthiest of pores. You can use it in the bath or shower so it's perfect for when you're feeling lazy and can't be bothered to do a full skin-cleansing routine. Bright, glowing skin at the touch of a button – brilliant
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Rapid White Blue Light Teeth Whitening kit £30.63 boots.com
This Peroxide-free teeth whitening treatment uses a blue-light system inspired by the systems used in dental surgeries, alongside a gentle whitening product – chlorine dioxide - to remove stains and build-up caused by red wine, smoking and the like. A neutralising mouthwash is included and it's essential that you use this properly to ensure you don't cause any damage to your tooth enamel. Don't expect any life-changing results but if you just want a quick smile brightener for a special night out then this will do the job
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
The Professional Red Carpet Manicure Kit £89.95, redcarpetmanicure.co.uk
If you're partial to a gel manicure or have never even tried one but like the sound of a nail polish that stays put for four weeks, then… ta-da! This clever box of tricks contains everything you need for a nail-bar mani, but without the sharp intake of breath when it comes to paying. Once you've painted your nails, pop your hands under the LED light 'rainbow' and your nails are dry in 45 seconds – so no mad hand wafting or ruining your hard work when you pop to the loo
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Universal Contour Wrap Self Slim Kit £34.99, universalcontourwrap.com
If you hate getting naked at a salon or spa, but fancy trying out a quick body-slimming treatment, then this is the kit for you. It’s everything you’d get in the professional treatment without the whale music or healthy tea infusions. Simply smother yourself from head-to-toe in the detoxifying mineral-rich clay, wrap yourself up in the bandages and let it work its tightening magic on your wobbly bits. The downside? You will resemble a mud-wrestling Egyptian mummy, so this is one for when you’re not expecting any deliveries or last-minute visits from the in-laws
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Shavata Stencil Kit £12.00, shavata.co.uk
Known for her deft sleight of hand and uncanny talent for taking 10 years off your face just by plucking a few brow hairs, brow-shaping guru Shavata has put together this clever stencil kit to help the more ham-fisted of us perfect our brows. Based on the perfect arches of her favourite celebs, simply choose your brow look and draw. If you have a tendency to get a bit pluck-happy, this is the perfect way to keep your tweezing under control
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Homedics Tanda Clear+ Professional Skin Acne Clearing Treatment £100, boots.com
Dealing with adult acne can be a never-ending trauma. As soon as you've dealt with one pulsating little blighter another one pops up in its place. If you're wary of going down the super-strength drugs and chemical-peel route, this light-therapy tool could be your pimple-busting answer. Using bacteria-zapping Blue Light therapy and sonic vibration, it can reduce redness and inflammation within 24 hours, and also helps to control oiliness after just a few days
Photograph: PR
DIY beauty tools:: DIY beauty tools: key fashion trends of the season
Philips ReAura £800, johnlewis.com
Yes it's pricey, but there's a reason for that – once you've tried it, this tool won't be languishing in a dusty box under your bed with the rest of those handy beauty devices (epilator anyone?). Based on the professional Fraxel laser used by dermatologists to reduce pigmentation, uneven skin tone and fine lines, this is the UK's first at-home laser 'skin rejuvenation' tool. It uses a lower light intensity than in professional treatments so it's totally safe to use at home twice a week instead of having to schlep to a clinic. But what makes this different from other at-home treatments is that before you buy, you will receive a free pre-treatment skin assessment, as well as a personal online guide and access to a team of experts before you get started. And compared to the cost of a professional Fraxel treatment (between £1,000 and £2,000), the price doesn't look so scary
Photograph: PR
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