Nails Incorporated

You would right to be surprised to see me blogging about nail polishes, nail care, all things manicures and general hand-related items. That is, or was, almost exclusively Sarah's domain. She's got a bag of nail polishes the size of my underwear drawer and I'm not sure I've ever seen her wear the same nail polish twice.

Me, on the other hand... Well, I bit my nails until about 6 months ago, and ever since I've been locked in desperate battle with urges to chews, nails so weak that they break on a weekly basis and the sad realisation that at the age of 23 I simply haven't got a clue when it comes to manicures.

Yet, last weekend I spent almost £40 on Nails Inc products... Odd it may seem, but there is method to the madness. My nails do seem to be getting stronger and longer and the logic is that some pretty polish will a) add another strengthening layer b) put me off the prospect of chowing down on my fingertips. And I have to admit, Sarah's enthusiasm for the subject is rather infectious and the final barrier to purchase was removed by Glamour's latest discount code for 20% Nails Inc online.

And look what came through the post today.... The latest Cashmere collection: heather grey, mushroom brown, pink mink and iced coffee. Or in NailsInc speak: Sydney Street, Hyde Park Mews, Cromwell Road and Fulham Palace Road. I think it's pretty cute that they're all named after London streets... and this particular collections seems pretty apt for someone living in an SW post code! I also indulged and bought a mid grey shade entitled London Sky, and because I joined their ultimate reward scheme (in for a penny, in for a pound!) they also threw in a free brolly and their Fitzmaurice Place shade - hot pink!

If you'll excuse the quality of the manicure (I'm new to this remember...) this is what London Sky looks like on. I'm pretty chuffed with it!

Final note... if you have any manicure tips - please share! Clearly, I'm in desperate need of them!

Give it some Scin

You guys have every right to feel cheated here. On two counts in fact. Firstly, Scin isn't even in SW6, it's a trendy day spa on Great Portland St (also branches in Notting Hill and Liverpool apparently!) near where I work. Secondly, I am not the beauty buff of this outfit. I will gladly hand over that mantle to Sarah. I hadn't even had a facial before. Yep... it shocked the beauty therapist too. At the grand old age of 23 I have never ever had a facial, and it was high time that changed... all in the name of research, and grabbing a good review, of course!

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm some ugly troll who lives under a rock, or that I have no concern over my appearance whatsoever. It's just my focus has always been on the clothes. As long as I'm clean (I am clean most of the time, promise!), well dressed, and have applied a splash of mascara and the obligatory concealer on, I've generally been happy with the results. But when one of my many coupon website subscriptions offered me the chance of a facial at Scin, a really luxurious looking little place on the same road as my office, I leapt at the chance to see what the fuss was about.

And boy, what a thing I have been missing.

I am a total convert.

In fact, I fear my new love for beauty treatments is going to send me bankrupt. There are facials, massages, manis, pedis, threadings, extensions... a whole plethora of fun little treats for me to try and that will (hopefully - I'll let you know how it goes) leave me feeling relaxed, and that little bit more beautiful.

So back to Scin. I walked in to what looks like an ordinary one floor hair or nails salon. There's loads of bright white, fabulous designer wallpaper in sandy shades, and trendy damask print, and a gorgeous smell that just sets you right at ease, and reassures you of the quality of the treatment. Now, I work in marketing, so I know all these little tricks. But, so far, so good. If they've got all these little details right, you'd hope the service would be right up there too. And, hey, I'm a complete sucker for aesthetics, and I think the guys at Scin got it bang on.

I was quickly led down into the lower-ground floor. A dimly-lit warren of corridors with plus carpet and more of that gorgeous scent (I wanted to find out what it was, but there wasn't a candle in sight). The waiting area is just a little nook really, but the sofas were really comfy and there was loads of current magazines to browse. Not that I had to wait long. My beauty therapist was along promptly and I was shown into a gorgeous little treatment room.

I quickly outed myself as a facial virgin and the lady could not have been sweeter. She immediately asked if I'd rather enjoy the treatment in silence, or whether I wanted her to briefly talk through the steps as she was going along. In the name of education, I chose the latter, and I'm glad I did. She was completely unobtrusive, just quickly outlining what she was applying and what benefit it would have, each time she switched product. I'm sure it's a skill all (good) beauty therapists hone. But she had just the right level of engagement: a friendly chat as we entered the room and I got ready, and again as she ushered me out of the room at the end, plus the odd well-placed compliment throughout. Lady - I know I don't have "simply gorgeous eyelashes" but after a long, hard week at work, that totally made my day!!

But what did I think of the treatment? After a Thursday night out on the tiles with my workmates (why do I do this to myself? I work in a cruel, cruel industry) I'm afraid my skin was pretty shocking. It was dry, there were pimples, it felt tired. I came out looking and feeling totally rejuvenated. I'd heard horror stories of therapists attacking pimples like they were lurking cockroaches, but despite the state of my skin, the "squeezing" part of the ceremony was barely less relaxing than the rest, and after a quick inspection I think she really did get most of the yuck right out. At the end my skin felt hydrated, beautifully peachy and soft, with that gorgeous dewy sheen that I think looks so much healthier than the matt finish foundation provides. Most of my pimples had been raised to the surface (I'm told this is normal, and part of the extraction process) and by this morning had actually disappeared. Best of all, I felt totally relaxed and pampered, and I think this is half the point, the reason why people get so hooked. The fact that you can take an hour to yourself, at the end of a long arduous week, at an urban oasis in the middle of a hectic city, is just pure, self-indulgent bliss.

Will I be going back? I'd love to, and certainly will once I get a payrise. I got a fantastic deal, and I loved my treatment, I'm still not sure I could justify it to myself at the full whack of around £60. But, if you've got that kind of money spare, and are looking for a luxuriously self-indulgent hour of bliss in trendy (yet relaxing) surroundings, PLEASE do treat yourself.

Scin Spa

220 Great Portland St, London

Nearest tube: Great Portland St

Treatment: 1 hour Murad facial

All photos: London Beauty Review

Nails fit for a Princess

my friend enjoying her pedi

Ok so a little background- I am quite obsessed with nails, hands and feet. I have had several pedicures in the South West area and try to treat myself once a month, however, it is so expensive. I also own an array of nail polishes and shamefully get excited when Chanel release a new limited edition colour.

My pedi habit was revolutionised when I found Princess Nails near Fulham Broadway. It’s cheap, it’s thorough, it’s quick and makes for a perfect Saturday afternoon activity with a friend. The chair/bed things you sit in give you a nice massage, they have Radio 1 blaring so you can bob along to the latest hits and a selection of, albeit out of date, trashy magazines. They also do beauty treatments; the pretty dark haired polish girl that does the eyebrow tinting is also very good.

Prices- start from about £15 for a pedicure, £6 for eyebrow tint

Princess Nails

131 Walham Green Court, Fulham
London, SW6 2DG