Beauty Editor's with Babies: Lisa Durant

Lisa and Luca, aged 3

I've finally got together another 'Beauty Editor's with Babies' post and I'm so excited about this one. Mostly it's because it features my very lovely and gorgeous friend, freelance beauty editor Lisa Durant. I worked with Lisa way back when she was the Beauty Director at InStyle and quite honestly, I've never worked with a nicer (for want of a better word) person or even team. They were all brilliant. She also brings me coffee every time we meet up for play dates with our boys. Even if it means parking up, getting a car seat out and back in again. Even in the rain. You see?! And, of course, I'm also excited because she divulges some amazing must-have products and know-how. And as someone who has made it through a lot of InStyle '100 Best Beauty Buys Awards,' and a mummy to a gorgeous little boy, Luca, (see picture, how cute?!) she knows what works and what doesn't. Here's what she really rates.

1. Clarisonic Sonic Facial Cleansing, from £99 (clarisonic.co.uk)
'Before having my son, Luca, I didn’t really see the point of this cleansing brush. Of course I didn’t, I was child-free with perfect skin! Now I’m devastated if it runs out of charge mid-cleanse. One extra minute cleansing with this brush equals plumper, glowing, super-clean skin that looks marginally less haggard.'

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon

2. Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon, £19 (charlottetilbury.com)
'However short on time I am in the mornings, I can’t expose my naked face to the world. And mascara alone doesn’t cut it for me, so these shadow pencils have transformed my morning routine. It takes a second to smudge across my lash line (or get more involved for a rare night out – woo!), blend with my finger, add mascara and I’m done.' 

3. Dr Hauschka Neem Hair Oil, £22.95 (feelunique.com)
'I could have cried when my hair fell out after pregnancy. My hairline not only crept closer towards my crown, but the ends turned into a knotty, dry mess. This intense oil saved my hair from the chop. Massage it in before bed (don’t forget to really work it into your scalp too), wash out the next morning and it leaves hair softer and shinier than any heavy-duty hair mask I have tried.' 

4. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream, £5.50 (escentual.com)
'Changing nappies, potty training and being a germ-fighting mum means my hands have taken a battering and this is the only product that makes a difference. It creates an invisible film over skin, healing cracks and irritation. It’s hardcore stuff, but feels like you have nothing on.'

5. Weleda Calendolon Ointment, £6.75 (weleda.co.uk)
'I literally can’t live without several tubes of this in my life. It’s the only thing I’ve found that instantly clears up eczema flare-ups, soothes heat rash, burns, scrapes and insect bites. Luca calls it ‘Mummy’s magic cream’ and it literally is just that.'

No more plastic.

After sorting out and bagging up yet another load of plastic toys that my four-year-old never plays with and carting them to the local charity shop, I've made a decision to try and not buy so much, well, crap. To be honest, it's also because I am just so over picking-up/sorting/tidying every teeny piece of plastic into the right set or trying to find a bare corner for another huge contraption that won't tuck neatly into the children's IKEA storage boxes we've just bought. I realise this just makes me sound like a weird, controlling mum but actually, when I think about it, it's the nicer, wooden stuff that Max tends to go back to again and again. His Batcave/Thomas Trackmaster/Spiderman bike have rarely been picked up since he got them at Christmas.

So there you go. I'm having a plastics amnesty and anything that's barely been touched in the last year is going to (eventually) go. Of course I know Max's current obsession with anything superhero-related doesn't really fit my new aesthetic ideal - no-one does a beautifully painted, wooden Spiderman figure for instance. And things like Lego are always going to have a place in our home - and we all love a bit of Lego. However, I'm going to think more about what we do buy him; from the big stuff to those rubbish plastic toys stuck on the front of magazines which he loves getting - but invariably end up in the bin when they break hours later. And I already have a gorgeous Wendy House in my sights for Elsie.

So here's a few of my favourite wooden toys that are genuinely loved by us all in the Rudolf household. They tick all the right boxes in that, they're beautiful, well-made and most importantly, actually played with over and over again.

1. Chad Valley Wooden Alphabet Trolley, £11.99 (argos.co.uk)

Max was given one similar to this as a baby and we still have it for when Elsie starts walking. It looks great and he loved stacking and playing with the blocks as well as practising his first steps.








2. Pintoy Wooden Trike, £45.77 (amazon.co.uk)

We 'borrowed' this bike from our neighbour after her little boy moved onto the balance bike and we could hardly get Max off it. In fact, he sometimes has a little ride around the garden on it even now. It's just lovely.





3. Tidlo Animal Sorting Cube, £14.99 (argos.co.uk)

This is probably one of the sweetest little sorting blocks I've ever seen - and as well as sorting shapes, there are animal pictures to pair up too. We have one ready for when Elsie moves on from playing with spoons and plates.




4. Brio Rail & Road Loading Set, £54.95 (woodentoystore.co.uk) 

Ah, how I love Brio; Max and his daddy have spent hours (days even) putting together their little wooden rails, teeny trucks and bridges and have built up quite a collection. This stuff never gets old and lasts and lasts. Love.



5. Plan Toys 50 Wooden Building Blocks, £17.99 (adventuretoys.co.uk)

I've been meaning to get a set of these for aaaggges but in the meantime, we've been building towers with our Jenga blocks. You can get loads of versions of these and Max loves playing with them at nursery - I think they're just one of those toys that kids never tire of.

Sophie the Giraffe Baby

Sophie the Giraffe (or Sophie La Girafe) is one of those things, like the Bugaboo or the BabyBjorn that you just feel like you have to own when you have a baby. It's like some sort of unspoken law. And the funny thing is, before I even had my first child, Max, I remember spotting these little giraffes propped up in pushchairs and thinking they were just a cute toy babies went gaga for.  I had no idea of Sophie's brilliant ability to soothe sore gums, (by way of her little legs, ears and horns) and her instant calming effect - Sophie's contrasting spots mean she's recognisable to even teeny babies. Really, she was Max's first proper toy. And when I lost Sophie no1. in Victoria Park and literally re-traced our steps to find her (I didn't), I was genuinely a bit sad. Silly, I know, but that's how lovely the little giraffe is.

This probably explains why I am SO excited about Sophie La Girafe Baby - a collection of 7 baby bath and body care products. To be honest, I only heard about the range through a friend so maybe I'm a little late to the party or because it's not sold via the usual suspects, it's yet to really be discovered but I have to say, I love, love, love it. So a little about the range. It includes essentials like Baby Oil, Hair & Body Wash, Protection Cream and Body Lotion which all contain lovely, gentle things like lavender extract, oats and shea butter. They're all ECOCERT certified (meaning over 95% of the ingredients are of natural origin) and they smell amazing - a little like that old fashioned baby powder. It also all looks ridiculously pretty.

Prices start at £10.99 so it's by no means cheap but when you equate that to a couple of Starbucks coffees, it doesn't seem so bad, right? And really, doesn't every babies skin deserve something special.

You can buy Sophie La Girafe here at www.sophielagirafe.co.uk. While you're there, check out the whole Sophie range too.

The Cowshed at Shoreditch House

Happy Monday everyone! So you may remember how, in my last post I moaned and groaned about how exhausted I was feeling and that I had barely had time to myself for, well, months. Well, with the advent of not only my birthday but also, Mother's Day, (I obviously loved last week) I had a few amazing treats - the best of which was a pedicure at the Cowshed Spa in Shoreditch House - all booked and payed for by my lovely husband. And it was such a relaxing experience, I thought it might make a nice little post to tell you all about it.
Before I get into the treatment itself I just want to say how much I genuinely love Cowshed. Being a beauty editor I have had a lot of treatments and been to so many spas, I couldn't even begin to count them all. Cowshed is one of those places that stands out for its all-round simplicity and relax-inducing loveliness. I always say it's the kind of place that feels exactly how you imagine your dream bathroom to be; everything from the fluffy towels and sink-in-them-sofas to the candles permeating the air and the little retro televisions create a homely feel that I swear has an immediate de-stressing effect.
At Shoreditch House, the spa lies on the ground floor, tucked neatly away by the entrance. It's such a lovely space - huge timber tables, vases of flowers and oversized industrial lighting gives off a cool, New York vibe but not in a snotty, minimal way (which I'm so over). After being taken to my own (giant sized) sofa, putting my feet up and ordering a coffee, I was feeling pretty happy and a bit smug. Then it got even better. I was given a set of headphones, the little TV in front of me was switched on and it started; only continuous episodes of Sex and the City. On repeat. All the way through my treatment. I didn't have to make small talk. Or even chat about my holiday. How good is that?!

And the pedicure itself, was of course, brilliant. I haven't gone near my feet since the last pedicure I had before Elsie was born and it showed. I almost felt bad for the therapist. But she seemed unfazed by it all (hopefully that means she has seen much worse) and went to work tidying, removing hard skin with an electric file, giving my nails a short, square-ish shape and painting with my chosen nail colour (Essie's Coral Reef). My feet looked amazing afterwards. Sort of new. And in that little hour I had relaxed, de-stressed and even laughed (partly due to the hilarious sex scenes of Samantha and co in SATC and partly because the foot filing bit was so ticklish). It was great. Take yourself there for an hour and you will feel a little more like you again. I guarantee it.

The Cowshed Pedicure, is £48 for 60 minutes. You can book it here. http://www.cowshedonline.com/spa

Eating for energy

Today, I am SO tired, I just might cry. As I write this I'm sitting, in my pj's, having just cleared up breakfast. I haven't showered yet. My right eye is slightly swollen and dry and I have no idea why (and can't get to the doctors to find out). I'm feeling slightly guilty that my 4-year-old is in front of CBeebies whilst my baby is sleeping and also irritated about all the things I need to sort out and just don't have the time to. I'm already thinking of making coffee number two to get through the morning. It's very likely I'll have another few of those to get through the day. And a few sweet treats or so. And crisps later. And wine.
I know this caffeine/sugar/snacking diet isn't doing me any favours. But either is the fact that I haven't had a whole night's sleep for about nine months or rarely had more than two hours to myself since my baby was born. (In fact, I had two solid hours once because an old neighbour booked me a hair appointment as a surprise (BEST surprise ever) and I get the odd hour every now and again when  my lovely mum-in-law whisks both kids off to the library so I can sleep/tidy-up/do some work). Sometimes it is SO hard. And I'll admit, I'm feeling it.
So what to do? Well, aside from trying to get out of the house at every given opportunity (just a walk in the fresh air with the kiddies in tow is massively uplifting) I'm trying to re-think my diet. I really think that switching sugary snacks for healthier ones, ditching the huge rounds of toast at breakfast and constant caffeine hits has to help with my energy levels. And actually, if it even makes a minute difference, that will be something! So I enlisted the help of a proper nutritional therapist, Eve Kalinik (read more about her here www.evekalinik.com) to give me some tips I can really use. (I've already started switching afternoon coffees for smoothies - and Pret have some fab new green smoothies). If there's something that works for you, let me know too.

1. Start the day with a balanced and nutrient dense breakfast. It needn't be laborious; a smoothie is super quick for busy mums and kids love them. Just make sure that they're not heavily fruit based. And one cup of good quality fresh coffee in the morning is fine - just make sure you're having organic beans to avoid high levels of pesticides and not processed instant versions.
2. Swap mid morning or afternoon coffees for a green juice. We often reach for quick fire stimulants like coffee because they give a rapid boost in energy. The problem is that this spike in cortisol is followed by a sudden crash leaving us feeling even more depleted. This spiking also affects insulin levels and can in turn promote fat storage particularly around the middle abdominal area.  The best and easy swap is to have a green juice instead. I love PLENISH sweet sexy greens (plenishcleanse.com) as it has all of the plant based goodness from greens including a wealth of nutrients such as magnesium, folate and iron.
3. Make an energy packed lunch.
Simple things like a quinoa salad is great and if you make double the amount it's extra time saving. Quinoa takes 10 minutes to prepare and has all of the nine essential amino acids so is considered an excellent plant based protein source.  Mix with some sliced avocado, a handful of rocket, a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds and dress with some lemon juice and olive oil for a nutrient dense, energy boosting and most importantly deliciously easy quick option. Fast food super-food style!
4. Opt for healthier snacks when you're out and about.
Lots of coffee shops are starting to have natural nuts which is always a good option. And raw chocolate that is high in its cacao content is a better choice than the usual cakes and cookies. The point is though that if you are following a healthy diet most of the time then the odd treat isn’t going to hurt, just don’t make it a regular thing. 
5. Eat three meals a day.
Constant cups of coffee and that glass of bedtime wine are often a result of grabbing quick fix options on the go and/or skipping meals so its important to make sure to have three balanced meals a day. Making sure to combine protein and carbohydrate with each meal is fundamental to this, which for example means salmon with broccoli or as above a quinoa salad with some delicious veggies. This helps to balance blood sugar levels and leaves you less susceptible to the willy charms of the Italian Roast and Pinot Grigio.

A must-buy, multi-tasking moisturiser

It's at this time of the year that I completely re-think my skincare. Post-winter and pre-summer (fingers crossed) my skin just doesn't seem to know what to do with itself; it's a bit patchy, a little dry and a touch greasy in the T-zone and my usual moisturiser just doesn't cut it anymore. It's too rich, creamy textured and feels like it's smothering my skin with hydration when, now Spring is here and the weather's a little bit warmer, it's not needed so much.
So hurray for Clinique Superdefense SPF20 Daily Defense Moisturiser, £39. Hang on, I hear you say, that's been around for aaaagggeees, surely she, being a beauty editor and all, should know that!? Well actually, this is the reformulated and improved version of the original moisturiser (which I also loved) and really, it's quite brilliant. This is why:
1. It provides full spectrum UVA/UVB protection, as well as an SPF20. I've used an SPF on my skin for years.  I'm sure my complexion is relatively line and pigmentation-free because of it.
2. It minimises the appearance of UV damage (that's age spots, fine lines and irritation) you've already got with enzymes called photosomes.
3. It's more moisturising than its predecessor due to a blend of barley and wheat germ, barrier-building ingredients that hydrate and strengthen but not overwhelmingly so.
4. It feels amazing. Anti-irritants like sea whip extract (taken from a coral renowned for it's anti-inflammatory properties) and caffeine instantly soothe and the whipped-up texture is just right; not too heavy or too light.
5. The original is an award winner. You know all those beauty awards magazines spend months putting together and testing products for? The original version of this has won a ton of them. Expect this improved version to do the same.
6. It's so easy. So usually, I use a moisturiser, then a tinted one with SPF over the top or a bit of foundation. And I might have to spend a few minutes applying a bit more on drier areas or massaging it in a little. This isn't easy when you have an eight month old and a four year old waiting for milk/trains/Ben 10 dvd's. With this, I simply apply it and go. See.

You can buy this online at www.clinique.co.uk.

Childs Farm: your new bathcare essential

When my first baby, Max, was born (four years ago - eek!) I was a real stickler for using only natural, super mild products on his skin. It seemed weird to start adding coloured bubbles to his bath and fragranced body washes to his flannel when his skin was so delicate and well, new. Maybe it was the beauty editor in me  - after all, I read so much about the sorts of ingredients brands use to make things foam/smell/feel that it influenced the choices I made on my own body care - so why should it be any different for my baby?
And that's when things got tricky. If you're after natural, mild, bath and body care products (that won't leave your skin feeling like sandpaper the second you step out of the bath please) for you, then you are completely spoilt for choice. Okay, so you might have to dig a little deep to find the more affordable stuff - I love Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Bath and Shower Oil but at £37, my purse doesn't - but Organic Surge Shower Gels, are just £4.35 and lovely. However, when it comes to the kids, the variety just doesn't exist. Trust me. I have looked and looked.  
So I whooped a little and did a little finger dance on my laptop when the adorable kiddies bath and bodycare range,  Childs Farm, popped into my inbox. Seriously, where has this stuff been hiding? It ticks every single box on my wishlist; firstly, at £4.69 it's brilliantly affordable, it contains over 98% natural ingredients, no SLS's (the drying stuff that makes the bubbles in your bubble bath), no artificial colours and is dermatologically tested too. Oh and I love that it all smells and looks so good; the strawberry, organic mint and sweet orange essential oils are gorgeous and check out the super cute imagery on the bottles; all taken from the real Childs Farm which is based in Hampshire.
As an added note, it may be worth mentioning that the range is created by Joanna Jensen, a mum of two who, after searching for natural, fun products for her own girls fine hair (and drawing a blank) came up with her own. How great is that?

(You can buy Childs Farm here at www.childsfarm.com and at Ocado, John Lewis and pharmacies).