Beauty

Get Glossier, Smoother and More Refined Looks With Beauty Products

Selling treatments which make us look and feel our best, the beauty industry is extremely diverse. It covers soaps and shampoos which are used for cleansing, lotions and moisturisers which care for the skin, and perfumes and makeup which enhance the appearance.

A Brief History of Beauty Treatments

Some of the first people to use beauty products were the ancient Egyptians in 4000BC. Unlike today’s beauty regimes, these treatments relied on botanical or naturally-sourced ingredients. In the past century, science-based research has led to soaps, makeups and serums becoming safer, more effective and longer-lasting. Historically, people were inspired to buy new beauty solutions after seeing them endorsed by celebrities or royalty, now social media is more likely to influence trends (with beauty influencers and YouTubers being today’s trendsetters).

Off the Shelf Beauty

Most of us are familiar with the do-it-yourself approach to beauty. From disguising under-eye bags with concealer to revamping a tired hair colour and getting a year-round glow, there are products to use in the comfort of home that can make a massive impact on a person’s appearance. Beauty products tend to split themselves into the following categories:

• Hair – There are lasting permanent colours and semi-permanent shades, as well as wash in-wash out tones for people who are not sure what they really want to do with their hair. These products are of good quality and with a little practice and hard work, they can create a bright, even and lasting colour. If you want to save money on a salon makeover, they are an excellent alternative.

• Face – Cleansers, creams and serums can care for your skin when it is normal, dry, sensitive, or prone to breakouts. The right clarifying treatment and moisturiser will be those designed especially for your skin type. People with access sebum or an oily complexion can go for oil-free versions, while people with dry skin or eczema can opt for richer creams. If you need an anti-ageing product, opt for those with multiple benefits and active ingredients like vitamin C, which has antioxidant powers, and hyaluronic acid, which is deeply hydrating.

• Body – Exfoliators can support smoother skin, whilst moisturisers can add suppleness and oils can calm very dry areas of the body. Once you have identified the issue you want to tackle, there are lotions and also body washes to help you get there. If all you want is to get clean and keep your skin hydrated, you could make a choice based on the type of aroma you prefer or whether the ingredients used are natural, as they are in the Herbivore Pink Clay Cleansing Bar.

• Makeup – Makeup is a great way of expressing yourself and feeling more confident about your looks. It can take a few minutes to apply, though more complex looks will be considerably more time-consuming. Whether you want a natural look to enhance your features, or you prefer contoured finishes which can really change how your face looks, there are foundations, mascaras, lipsticks and bronzers to help you achieve the look. If you are unsure about which products to go for, beauty gift sets with multiple items are ideal for testing out a brand with trial-sized items. Once you know a product or colour works well with your skin, you can invest in the full-sized version.

• Nails – Some people find applying nail varnish therapeutic, whilst others just enjoy the opportunity to wear colours they love. Having a coloured nail can add individually and bring a look together, but if you just want to care for your nails a transparent gloss can provide protection from splits and tears.

• Tanning – A natural tan has health implications, but if you love the just-back-from-holiday glow, it is also available in a bottle. Brands like St Tropez, Tan-Luxe and Bali Body all have lotions, mousses and oils to help you get a natural look and a bespoke depth of colour.

Pampering Beauty Salon Treatments

To keep clients coming back for more, beauty salons have to regularly revamp their treatment menus, whether it’s with new types of therapy, fresh brands or innovative techniques. Here’s a look at what could be on offer at your local salon.

• Waxing and Threading – A summer favourite, bikini, leg and underarm waxing gives you smoother skin and saves you time overall, as the hairs can take up to six weeks to grow back. Threading is used for smaller areas like the upper lip, forehead and chin, it can also shape the eyebrows beautifully. Both these techniques are ideal if you want a long-term solution to hair removal, but they can be more expensive than shaving or bleaching.

• Facials – A salon facial is calming, but you can opt for one which is aimed at treating acne, dryness or ageing skin. Because they contain an element of gentle massage, facials also give the complexion a healthy glow which can last for a few hours.

• Massage – A good massage can relieve stress, soothe muscle aches and improve flexibility. Most salons offer a number of massages aimed at achieving different results. A Swedish massage primarily eases pain, a deep tissue massage can relieve tension and a hot stones massage can lead to a better night’s sleep.

• Holistic Therapies – If you are a regular on the beauty pages it’s like that you’ve heard of the holistic therapy movement, or at least seen a few jade rollers being sold with facial oils. These treatments blend the stimulating benefits of massage with the uplifting or calming effects of aromatherapy to provide something new. People who love to test out the latest trends are likely to appreciate this fusion experience.

• Nail Colours – Although a home manicure is much cheaper, getting your nails done at a salon does have benefits. Primarily, a trained technician can achieve highly artistic finishes which it is almost impossible to recreate at home, and their products are designed to last. Therefore, if you pride yourself on your nail art or you want the occasional manicure as a luxury, then the salon experience is probably best.

• Microblading – A semi-permanent solution to the problem of uneven or balding eyebrows, microblading puts tiny amounts of pigment under the skin to produce a fuller effect. It is not cheap and will need to be touched up regularly, but if you want to save time pencilling in brows each day or you want brows that look good without makeup, microblading can be worth it.

What About Beauty Subscription Boxes?

Beauty Subscription Boxes are available for all types of interest and they are a great way of finding out first about products which have just been launched, or sampling niche items from smaller brands. They can also be less expensive than buying each product individually and best of all, the box is delivered to your door.

Here’s a selection of the some of the hottest (and most affordable) beauty box subscriptions available right now:

• BirchBox – An established monthly beauty subscription service, BirchBox was the first to be launched in the UK and can even be personalised. If you are particularly interested in skin, nails or hair, you can select these preferences to get more related products in your box.

• Roccabox – One of the lower priced boxes, Roccabox delivers around six full-sized products each month and these are from well-loved brands. You will also get a range of sample sizes, but these are universal and of good quality.

• The Vegan Kind Beauty Box – Ideal for people who are concerned about animal welfare or who want to match their beauty regime to their diet, The Vegan Kind Beauty Box specialises in cruelty-free products. Expect everything from makeup to serums and fragrance, all with eco-friendly credentials.

• Meebox – Just for nail varnishes and nail accessories, the Meebox is the only one of its kind in the UK. Every month you’ll be sent three polishes along with a couple of tools or serums for the nails. Meebox has themed months as well, so you’ll usually receive a set of colours, decals and tools based around achieving a certain colour or look.

• Friction Free Shaving – Reasonably priced and quite unique, Friction Free Shaving provides one month’s worth of metal razors in each box. More environmentally friendly than plastic razors, these metal versions can also be gentler on the skin. Once your free handle has arrived, each month you’ll be sent four fresh blades and other shaving products if you order them.

Video: Friction Free Shaving - Summer 2018 - Live Life Friction Free

4 Beauty Therapy Courses That Let Bolster Your Earnings

Whatever your location, age or interest, there are beauty therapy courses across the UK where you can perfect your skills or learn a new technique. As more and more people in Britain becoming beauty conscious, salons are beginning to struggle with the demand, leaving open a gap in the market for anyone looking for a side gig to make some extra cash. Of course, there’s also courses available where are marketed to beauty professionals looking to expand their knowledge and offer additional treatments.

Here’s 4 beauty therapy courses you might consider if you’re looking to make some extra money or want to increase your skills as a beauty professional:

• Spray Tanning – Spray tan courses are extremely popular as salons struggle to meet their client’s preference for a safe year-round golden glow. Some take place over half a day and some can be a three-day course, so check where the centre is based before signing up. In most cases you will be working on other students and be worked on yourself, so you may end up with a less than perfect tan by the end of the course. You can expect to learn more about how to apply a natural-looking fake tan and the techniques used by professionals. They will also cover the information and advice you’ll need to give to prospective clients before and after the treatment. Finally, a good provider may also suggest ideas for marketing the course and what to charge.

• Balayage and Babylights course – Even experienced hairdressers need to top up their skills from time to time and learn about the latest techniques. The current trend for balayage and babylights is not going anywhere and some stylists believe these more complex highlighting methods will eventually replace traditional highlights. In most cases, the course provider will expect you to have a general hairdressing qualification like an NVQ before enrolment. You can expect to learn more about freehand work, colour patterns, contouring and blending. There will be guidance on the tools required and the kind of equipment you’ll need to deliver the look on your client’s hair.

• Gelish Nails – Gelish nails are a professional product which can last for three weeks and maintain their glossy, glittery appearance throughout. These thicker finish manicures are popular because they are suitable for people with weak nails and can be soaked off in 10-20 minutes. As these are specialist courses, you are expected to be an experienced manicurist wanting to learn more about Gelish. The lessons will cover preparing the nails, brush-on techniques and the correct way to use the product, as well as single and French applications. You will also be taught how to maintain a Gelish manicure, the best way of removing the gel and how to deal with common problems.

• Makeup Masterclass – Often delivered by beauty influencers or successful makeup artists, these masterclasses are perfect for learning more about the current trends and improving your skills. Expect to be taught about the theories behind a range of popular modern looks. Then you will usually see a demonstration of the technique, before trying out what you have learned with hands-on practice. Most courses are developed to benefit people who already work in the industry, but you can book a Virgin Experience Makeup Class with no prior knowledge of the art and you’ll often get a free goody bag to take home.

Is it Worth Investing in Expensive Beauty Products?

Beauty marketing campaigns can promise a lot, especially when the lotion or shampoo is expensive. Unfortunately, as most of us have come to learn, the product does not always deliver. That doesn’t stop beauty fans being optimistic about the next potential super-product, but are we wasting our money on the more exclusive lines or are high street own brands just as good?

It’s usually the case that more costly products contain concentrated versions of key ingredients - or what is known in the industry as ‘active ingredients’. These can be raw botanicals or vitamins which are thought to have a specific effect, like soothing acne or making the hair glossier. However, along with these pricy ingredients, big brands have to pass on the cost of clinical research, stylish packaging and lavish advertising.

What works for your skin or hair type may be in either the high-end or affordable category, so it is always worth shopping around. To be extra sure, you can check through the ingredients for potential irritants, read any scientific studies the brand has used to back up their claims and look at customer reviews to see what other buyers think.

On those occasions when you plan to spend more on beauty deals and beauty offers, it makes sense to go for the products which are most important to you. If you mist on a fragrance every day but rarely wear foundation, then your fragrance should be the better-quality item. Alternatively, you could shop a beauty sale to find ‘Just In’ items which might become your new favourite or specialist items to deal with a particular concern, like dry skin or lank hair.

Shopping for the Best Beauty Deals Online

Whether you are interested in natural products, career-advancing courses or trying out new treatments with beauty boxes, there are many outlets to choose from online.

A vast collection of branded makeup and cosmetics can be found at Space NK and Cult Beauty, as well as Feel Unique and Look Fantastic. You can also shop directly from brands including MAC Cosmetics, This Works and Oribe. To browse the current crop of beauty boxes, head for All Subscription Boxes, where the most popular are listed.

Courses in beauty are also on offer across the country and online, to find those which suit your future plans and learning style, browse what is on offer from providers like the Online Learning College or search for courses at a college near you.

Of course, if you want the latest beauty deals from all across the web, then hotukdeals should be where you look first. We have the latest beauty deals from big stores like Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Superdrug and The Body Shop, as well from online outlets like Amazon and eBay.

At Christmas, hair, beauty and nail treatments can all be bought for less, as each beauty shop competes to attract people buying gifts. On Black Friday, numerous stores with makeup lines create discounts of up to 50% on their range, making this event at the end of November a great time to shop for beauty essentials.

Find The Best Offers On All Things Beauty At hotukdeals

More and more of us are becoming more interested in our appearance, which can lead to us giving out way too much money on beauty products. We bring together active offers and discounts on beauty treatments, courses and therapies, helping you to save more. Get more beauty products for less with hotukdeals..