Stephanie Darling enjoys a hot hair treat and tracks down three skin-restoring serums.
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Super serums
Luminosity and radiance are the skin qualities we're all aiming for, and serums are the powerhouse pathways to achieving them. Serums are fi ner than moisturisers and full of active ingredients to help treat every skincare problem, including dryness, dullness and wrinkles. Th ey ain't cheap, but you get what you pay for.
Cult following
The Neo Bronzer from Kevin Aucoin features an innovative, three-in-one palette that works as a blusher, a highlighter and a bronzer. You can use the hues – warm coral tones – separately or blend them to create the ultimate summer face tint. Kevyn Aucoin The Neo Bronzer in Sienna, $84, mecca.com.au.
Road test
This week I try ... a hair restoration treatment
The lowdown I'm all set to get my hair Christmas-ready with a heatactivated treatment to repair colourand heat-damaged hair. Who, me? Redken Heatcure Professional is an in-salon treatment with a take-home after-product. My hair is washed before Brenna applies the treatment serum in small sections, then uses the newly developed Heatcare tool set to 140°C to help the restorative serum penetrate the hair cuticle all the way to the damaged cortex. Th e formula contains strengthening proteins (soy, arginine and sepicap), nourishing oils, waxes and conditioners. At home, I use the self-heating treatment once a week. Again I wash my hair, hop out of the shower and apply the heat-activated product to the ends of my damp hair, leave it on for 10 minutes, rinse out and then blow-dry.
Pain factor The heated element of the treatment makes me want to go to sleep, so more pleasure than pain.
Downtime Set aside an hour.
Results My hair feels very soft and the blow-dry lasts three days. This is a great treatment for boosting hair health between salon visits.
Where to get it Sydney: Muse Hair, musehair.com.au. Cost: $95 (includes take-home product). Melbourne: Tremayne Salon, tremayne.com.au. Cost: $95 (includes take-home product).
Ask Stephanie
Which is the best fake tan to disguise sun spots on pale legs?
Try St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Tinted Body Lotion, $30, sephora.com.au. It has a "skin blurring action" and instant-tint eff ect that will help to even out skin tone, while the slow-build gradual tanner will continue this good work.
Send beauty questions to stephanie@darlingbeauty.com.au.
Follow Stephanie Darling on Instagram @mrssdarling
Beauty director, Daily Life
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