Hello! I’m back from San Francisco and while I sift through my photos and recover from jetlag, here’s a little pre-holiday blog post. A couple of weeks ago I popped along to Harvey Nichols for their Beauty School Drop Out event, a cocktail of beauty demonstrations, pampering treats and, in my case at least, a very full bag of penny sweets.
Whilst there I had my portrait drawn, listened to school-room style beauty tutorials, met fellow bloggers Amie and Dulcie, and even had time for a cheeky hand and arm massage from Jo Malone. I also discovered a whole new area of the ground floor that I didn’t even realise existed.
If you’re familiar with the Bristol branch of Harvey Nics, you’ll know that as well as the usual suspects waiting for you just beyond the doors, such as Jo Malone and Space NK, there is also a brow bar and Strip concession. What I hadn’t noticed is that right behind the brow bar lies the Beyond Beauty department – the store’s hand-picked selection of beauty brands. Bliss, Cowshed and even selected Neal’s Yard Remedies products (swoon!) all make an appearance, sitting alongside brands I’m less familiar with, such as Ole Henrickson and Rodial.
Fortunately for me, HN Bristol’s Beauty Manager, Rachelle Howells, was on hand to guide me through this dinky but delightful area of the store…
What brands does the Beyond Beauty department stock that shoppers can’t easily find elsewhere in Bristol or on the high street?
Our Beyond Beauty department is a treasure trove of amazing, exclusive brands and you can easily spend hours there playing with all of the beautiful products and gadgets that we stock. We stock some less well known brands such as Ole Henrickson, Dr Jackson, Deborah Lipman, Red Carpet Manicure, the list is endless…
Do you have a favourite brand stocked in the Beyond Beauty department?
Show Beauty is exclusive to Harvey Nichols and is the ultimate in indulgent hair care. The products smell divine and the packaging is so glamorous and luxurious, it looks amazing on your dressing table.
What beauty trends will we all be lusting after this S/S year?
This season is all about flawless, glowing skin which of course starts with a great skincare routine. I use Rodial’s Bee Venom Moisturiser, which contains plumping agents to smooth the appearance of fines lines, and hyaluronic acid for intensive hydration. Another secret weapon of mine is Ole Henrickson CC cream. This award winning product leaves skin looking so healthy and illuminated and evens the skin tone, too. A pop of colour, such as coral lips or blue eye shadow, as seen at many of the SS14 shows, completes the look.
What’s your favourite beauty tip?
Never, ever go to bed with your make up on! Even if I’ve had a late night and am too tired for my usual skin care routine I will remove my make up with Ole Henrickson ‘Truth to Go’ wipes.
Finally, if you could only use one beauty product for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would without a doubt be mascara. I have spent years searching for mascara that leaves no trace of darkness under my eyes, and have recently found Code Beauty mascara. It stays on all day without smudging under my lashes and makes them look so thick and long, an absolute must have!
Thank you Rachelle, and thank you to Harvey Nichols Bristol for a great evening. Here are some more snaps from the night…
Aww, it sounds as if you had fun! I love your little illustration. I had my first halo braid yesterday and it made me think of you ha! <3