Alicia Douvall launches natural skincare range in Kingston

Former Glamour model and plastic surgery addict Alicia Douvall has ventured into the world of natural beauty by launching her own Organic skincare range.

The 31-year-old, who has admitted to spending more than £1million on various cosmetic procedures, launched her new Douvall’s range at Urban Retreat in Kingston recently.

Alicia and her daughter, Georgia

On a trip to Morocco, Alicia discovered the incredible restorative and anti-aging powers of Argan Oil and began her mission to produce the purest and most effective Argan Oil in the world.

Together with her daughter, Georgia, she went to seek out a women’s cooperative in Essuria that combined traditional extraction methods with the very latest technology to deliver the superior quality she was looking for.

Alicia decided to create the brand after realising through her own experiences that harsh invasive treatments don’t work in the long run and it is better to uncover more natural secrets to beauty.

"I wanted to create an effective, non invasive product that really works to transform skin and I am delighted to say that Douvall’s Organic Argan Oil does this," she said: "My daughter Georgia and her friends are also devotees to its skin balancing properties."

The range includes a moisturiser (£25/50ml, £12/15ml), all-in-one cleanser (£28 for 150ml) and bronzing oil (£32 for 50ml/£14 for 15ml), is available at Urban Retreat, 42 Union Street, Kingston upon Thames.

Beauty Buy of the Week

REN skincare products will launch exclusively in Surrey at the Marks & Spencer Your Beauty department, in Camberley, this week.

Since its launch in 2000 REN has become a cult favourite amongst beauty editors and consumers the world over.

Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, £30

REN products combine groundbreaking product formulations, the latest hi-tech actives, rigorous product testing and clinically proven results with 100% plant or mineral-derived actives, sensorial textures and fragrances.

"We at REN are delighted to be working with the icon of British Retailing Marks & Spencer," said REN founder and CEO, Rob Calcroft. "From January, REN will feature in their new Your Beauty department, where the edit of products represent the best of science and nature, which we feel is a perfect fit with REN." 

Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, £30

The Marks & Spencer Your Beauty department opened at its Camberley branch on The Meadows retail park last year with the aim of providing niche beauty brands from around the world with with expertly trained beauty advisers on hand.

M&S head beauty and lingerie buyer, Gillian Ridley Whittle, added: "Our customers expect results but are increasingly looking for environmentally and skin friendly products, for this reason REN is the perfect addition to M&S Your Beauty,"

The range will be in store from Thursday, January 10th.

Ugg Australia to open in Surrey

UGG Australia is set to open its first store in Surrey this weekend.

The shop, Ugg Australia's eighth standalone store in the UK, will open in Richmond’s upmarket shopping district on George Street tomorrow (Saturday December 8).

To welcome customers to the new store, UGG is giving away 10 x £100 and 10 x £50 gift cards on the opening weekend. Either check in at the store on Facebook or sign up to receive the UGG email newsletter for the chance to pick the winning gold balloon from the bunch in-store.

The first 50 shoppers to visit the new store, which opens at 9.30am, will also receive a complimentary limited edition UGG Australia tote bag (pictured) to carry their goodies home.

An acoustic guitarist/singer will also be serenading shoppers with Christmas classics whilse they shop and Holiday 2012 collection throughout the weekend.

The new store can be found at 50 George Street, Richmond TW9 1HJ.

TASTE OF THAILAND IN SURREY

It seems Thai food is a popular choice for restauranteurs in Surrey as two new eateries have recently opened their doors in the county.

Bringing a taste of South East Asia to the bosky streets of Bramley is Patrie, a traditional Thai grill restaurant with a refined twist.

 Patrie in Bramley

The concept of Patrie, the meaning of which comes from the French word for Homeland, was created by Patria Weerapan - a semi-finalist on Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word and winner of 'Best Local Thai' for her sister restaurant in Teddington.

Housed in a historic Grade II listed building on Bramley High Street, meals are developed and prepared by Patria herself, taking the dishes from her ancestors and artfully updating them into a fine dining experience.

Starters include Chargrilled Spicy Prawns with Lemongrass and Passion Fruit and Crispy Crab while mains on offer include Pan Roasted Crispy Sea Bass on Aromatic Green Vegetable Curry and Classic Indonesian Massaman Curry with whole Peanuts, Shallots and Tamarind.

Pan Roasted Crispy Sea Bass on Aromatic Green Vegetable Curry

An innovative conception is the Friends and Family Table Menu (£28.95 per person), which has been designed to bring people together, with a selection of dishes perfect for passing around the table.

There are also two private dining areas tucked away on the first floor for birthday parties or even wedding receptions.

Staff at The Queen Adelaide in Ewell

For  a more casual occasion, The Queen Adelaide in Ewell, which opened on Friday, fuses exotic Thai food with the classic British pub concept. The new pub and restaurant on, Kingston Road, has undergone a complete transformation .

In the Thai restaurant, customers are greeted by Thai staff in beautiful silk uniforms and given an authentic dining experience, while the pub is the very height of a British local, with a range of Cask Marque accredited real ales, a traditional food menu and a real sense of community.

A selection of Thai starters served at The Queen Adelaide in Ewell

At the helm is general manager Dean Harris-Eckett, who said: "Everyone here has a real passion for both elements of our offering – the traditional English pub and authentic Thai restaurant . Whatever customers decide to join us for we are sure they will have a fantastic time."

To book a table at Patrie, call 01483 894422, or to book at The Queen Adelaide, call 020 8393 2666.

Pre-Christmas pampering with Korres

To celebrate the end of a successful year, beauty brand Korres will be holding two skin care pamper events in Surrey this week.

The events will include free skin care consultations, hand massages and makeovers. Customers will also have the opportunity to take home free skin care samples and mini shower gels - it's an ideal pre-Christmas pampering treat!



Korres Quince Lip Butter

Korres will be offering a 20% discount on its 12 best sellers including Korres Quince Lip Butter, Guava Shower Gel and Pomegranate Balancing Moisturiser...the perfect opportunity to stock up on beauty essentials or indulgent Christmas treats for friends and family.

The pamper events will take place at Lloyds Pharmacy in Addlestone on November 29 and Lloyds Pharmacy West Byfleet on November 30. The discount will run at all Lloyds Pharmacies until December 24.

Happy pampering!

Stop wearing the wrong size bra, start feeling confident

The outfit you wear is only as good as the bra you wear underneath but many women still walk around wearing the wrong size bra.

With this in mind House of Fraser in Guildford is hosting a Chantelle fitting event this week, where women can get professionally fitted, receive a free gift on purchase and be in with a chance of winning a trip to Paris.

House of Fraser and Chantelle, which is one of the oldest French lingerie manufacturers with origins dating back to 1876, want their customers to understand the importance of getting fitted regularly and the impact of wearing the right size and style bra can have on their wardrobe.

The wrong bra can cause women to feel uncomfortable - many women comment that a proper bra fitting makes them feel more confident.

To help explain this, Chantelle fit experts will be on hand to do personalised fittings, work wonders on customers' silhouettes and answer lingerie queries.

The event takes place from Tuesday October 9 to Saturday October 13.

Guildford Radisson Edwardian celebrates 1st birthday

This Saturday (September 29) will be exactly a year since the Radisson Blu Edwardian opened its doors off Guildford High Street.

The 183-bedroom property is Guildford's first luxury 4* hotel and has stunning interiors by internationally renowned Rabih Hage, inspired by local author, Lewis Carroll

In keeping with this whimsical interior design, characters from Alice in Wonderland will be giving out birthday cakes to shoppers on the High Street in an all-day Mad Hatter’s tea party.

The interior at Radisson Blu Edwardian was inspired by Lewis Caroll

The hotel will also be offering a special birthday deal offering 111 rooms for just £1 each. Anyone who sends a birthday card to the hotel with their name and address enclosed before Saturday will also go into a draw to win one of the overnight stay, which are anytime between 29 October 2012 to 28 September 2013.

Birthday cards should be sent to Radisson Blu Edwardian Guildford, 3 Alexandra Terrace, Guildford GU1 3DA.

For further information or reservations call 01483 792300 or visit www.radissonblu-edwardian.com/guildford
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