In the pink (From Halesowen News)

In the pink

7:00am Saturday 6th October 2012 in NewsXtra

Turn your beauty routine pink in aid of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Lisa Haynes rounds up the prettiest products.

 

Halloween may be approaching but before the mood turns all dark and gothic, it's time to go pink and girly.

October 1 sees the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beauty brands go all-out to mark the occasion by turning their products pink or brandishing symbolic ribbons.

It's an amazing way to raise awareness of a disease which affects one in eight women nationally.

Help the cause and show off your pink prowess with these limited edition beauties.

Fuchsia family

Give your skincare regime some pink power with Elemis's pouch containing three best-selling products: Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck And Bust Boob Tube, Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (both sporting pink makeovers), and Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir. What's more, Elemis has pledged £10,000 to Breast Cancer Care.

:: Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit, £32.50 (0117 316 1888/www.timetospa.co.uk)

Helping hand

Lend a charitable hand to Breast Cancer Care with Bliss's limited edition 'Glove' and Care Softening Gloves. Each pair lasts around 50 uses for super-soft winter paws.

:: Bliss 'Glove' and Care Softening Gloves, £36 (www.blissworld.co.uk)

Sparkling pinkies

Dazzle during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond with Ciate's nail polish duo. Featuring Pinkaboo, a twinkling pink holographic glitter, and Pinkalilly, a glistening pop pink with golden shimmering undertones. Breakthrough Breast Cancer receives 20% of profits for each kit sold.

:: Ciate Breakthrough Breast Cancer Duo, £18 (www.ciate.co.uk)

Supportive serum

Darphin serum favourite has a pretty print makeover to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The brand has collaborated with French illustrators Ines & Matteo to create a Parisian visual for the limited edition sleeve of the bestselling Darphin Hydraskin Serum and £5 from each sale goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

:: Darphin Pink Ribbon Hydraskin Serum, £41, from October (0870 034 2566/www.darphin.co.uk)

Reflective beauty

Have a heart (and a shine-free face) with Estee Lauder's Evelyn Lauder Dream Compact. Featuring Pink Ribbon design, the mirrored compact is filled with Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder. Impressively, the full price, £55, from every sale is donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

:: Estee Lauder Evelyn Lauder Dream Compact, £55, from October (0870 034 2566/www.esteelauder.co.uk)

Sensory soothers

Beauty on-the-go is made easy with Origins' limited edition bestseller duo on a handy pink clip. Care for hands with Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment and relieve stress with Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief. Throughout October, £2 from every purchase goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

:: Origins Make A Difference & Peace of Mind duo, £10, from October (Origin counters nationwide)

Feeling flush

Look pretty in pink with Bobbi Brown's limited edition Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzer and Mini Face Blender Brush. The bronzer is embossed with a pink ribbon design and £5 from every sale goes to the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

:: Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzing Powder and Mini Face Blender Brush, £35, from October (www.bobbibrown.co.uk)

Ribbon relief

Aveda's Pink Ribbon Hand Relief is even more perfectly formed than usual with an extra 20% increase in size. The bestseller has been packaged with a Pink Ribbon design to raise awareness and £2 from every sale goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

:: Aveda Pink Ribbon Hand Relief, £19 (0870 034 2380/www.aveda.co.uk)

Stick sensation

Introducing Plumped Up Pink, a shade created especially for the cause in Clinique's number one selling lip product, the Chubby Stick. The limited edition 'Pink with a Purpose' colour comes in a cute pink pouch that's perfect for handbags.

:: Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm in Plumped Up Pink, £16, from October (Boots/Selfridges)

Magic mask

For instant skin gratification, GlamGlow's pink pot delivers in 10 minutes flat. The limited edition Cure Sexy Mud Mask will leave you tinkled pink over your glowing skin. A quarter of profits will be donated to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

:: GlamGlow Cure Sexy Mud Mask, £49.99 (www.glamglowmud.co.uk)

Tried & tested

Claire Macdonald gives her locks a sleek finish with a Steampod.

On a mission to tame my fluffy but fine hair, I tried L'Oreal Professionnel's Steampod professional in-salon service. The device is the first ever hair smoothing and straightening iron that delivers a continuous stream of high pressure steam for enviable sleek hair. My experience began at the swish Architect Hair salon with a luxurious shampoo and condition. My hair was then blow dried straight using preparation cream with Pro-Keratin technology (£15.40). The Steampod, which is used in almost the same way as straighteners, then works to smooth the hair down - temperatures can be adjusted from 170 to 210°C to suit each individual's hair type. The difference between the Steampod and traditional irons is the continuous, high steam pressure, which adds extra shine and smoothness. The process took almost an hour from start to finish and the result was smooth, straight hair, finished off with a Steampod serum for extra shine (£15.40). If you want a glossy, sleek finish, Steampod is ideal for those with fluffy or frizzy hair that needs extra taming. My hair stayed straight for almost three days, still felt sleek after washing, and felt more manageable for my next blow-dry.

:: Claire tried her Steampod at Architect Hair, Leeds, LS6 2AL (www.architecthairsalon.co.uk).

:: Steampod, priced from £30, at L'Oreal Professionnel salons nationwide call 0800 072 6699 or visit www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk for a salon locator.

Buy it now

Christmas may seem far away but beauty Advent calendars fly off the shelves quicker than Santa on his present rounds. Stock up on your festive beautification with Lancome's Advent Calendar, £70, filled with 24 luxurious Lancome mini sizes. Available from October 1 at www.lancome.co.uk and flagship counters nationwide.

Beauty bulletin

:: Moisturiser mayhem

Seems many of us find the skincare counters mind-boggling. More than a third of women (38%) admit to being clueless over their skin type, according to a new survey by Johnson's. Almost half (42%) admit to buying whatever face cream is on offer and nearly a quarter (22%) confess to owning up to six moisturisers at one time. Determine the right skincare choices for you with Johnson's new online skin analyser at www.johnsonsbeauty.co.uk/johnsons-expertise/skin-analyser

:: Recessionista alert

Clean up your act with the Dirty Works Bath and Body range. You'll find 50% of full prices in Sainsbury's until October 23, like the All of a Lather Body Wash, was £2.99, currently £1.49.