My Little Dream Box April Review!

I've featured a few reviews of My Little Box before, simply because it's a subscription box that makes me happy. It arrived at my office this morning (I purposefully have it delivered there because I know it will cheer me up) and basically just completely brightened my day. MLB costs £12 a month with postage, and you get a great deal of value in the products that you receive for that money, all curated with so much love and imagination.

The first thing I received when I opened it was this rather cheery message to stick on my wall, and despite not actually really being a Disney fan (which is a bit like admitting that you do not like fluffy bunnies, I do know) I have put it up there for a bit of motivation. It has an invitation on the back to a website link, where you write your biggest dream. The idea is that one year from today, I will get an email reminding me of that dream. I need deadlines to work to, and I thought this was actually a lovely idea!

Now to the box itself!

1. Loved by Lou Lesage Lip Balm - I love this 'rouge in a balm!' It is a collaboration item between 'Loved by' and Lou Lesage, a french actress who I'd never heard of until now, but who's style is a bit of 'babydoll meets rockstar'. Apparently she described the one thing that was missing in her beauty bag, and the Loved By team rushed off and created this very item! Despite me initially getting the items mixed up whilst reading the cards and thinking item 2 below was the lip balm (big mistake, very drying) this little pot has since helped me to recover, and moisturised my lips back to a good state again. Oops!

2. Sabe Mason Copacabana Perfume Stick - This smells like I'm dancing on a beach and I love it for that reason, although it also makes me feel jealous of whoever is currently dancing on a beach all at the same time. I don't really know how best to describe it, but all I know is that it looks pretty funky in my handbag and smells spicy and sassy all at the same time. Plus it's full sized!

3. My Little Beauty Hair Masque Reparateur - Another full sized wonder, my only downside to this is that all the instructions on the back are in french (but being a french company, I don't blame them.) My french is limited. But these kind of things all work the same, so we're probably okay. All the My Little Beauty products I've received so far have been great quality, so I'm looking forward to a hot shower later where I will put this to the test.

4. Dream Big Stamp Kit - This is actually the reason why I love 'My Little Box' so much, because I only give them £12 each month and each box feels like it's been put together really carefully and with so much care and attention. They always send a cute, useful 'novelty' item with each box. The other month I got a little pot full of scrolled up messages with inspiring notes on them, that I still reach for when I feel a bit down. This month they've sent a little stamp, with messages like 'made with love' and 'today I..' plus a few french phrases (you never know when you might need to stamp a thank you in french) and my personal favourite, what I can only assume is a quote from Queen, 'Don't Stop Me Now!'

I am going to stamp these all over my work notebooks like a 12 year old girl and I'm not going to even feel remotely ashamed about it.

5. A Little Surprise - As a lovely bonus, this month I also received a sewn up cloud, which I had to cut through into in order to get my surprise, a little golden pendant with the message 'Bonne Etoile' (Lucky Star) engraved on it. How sweet :)

As always, every month you also receive a little magazine with interviews with featured brands and celebrities, as well as beauty tips and tricks.

Thank you 'My Little Box' for brightening up my Monday morning once again! x

My Little Frenchie Box - Review

As most of us know, subscription boxes can be very more-ish. I do love surprises. Over the past year, I have tried many different types of subscription boxes, steadily becoming addicted, from food based boxes to makeup and even cat toys. Whilst some have worked out to be very good value, others have been  a little disappointing. I decided to review 'My Little Box' as I've only just recently discovered it, and found it to be one of the best I've encountered so far for value. So far, My Little Box have been on point in selecting really great quality products and making me smile with their quirky french additions. Each month they choose a different theme, and it really does feel like they handpick every item to fit this with a great deal of thought. The box itself only costs £10 a month (you get a small discount if you have it delivered to your workplace, otherwise it is £11) and £3.95 p&p.

To explain 'My Little Box' without using the word 'random' would be hard. Each month you get a selection of makeup, beauty treats, accessories, and something a bit extra to make you smile. This month was collated by Ines De La Fressange, a french model. Here's the breakdown;

1. Ines De La Fressange Smartphone case - This little red case is pretty stylish and smart looking, and protects my phone! This is something I needed to invest in for myself but would probably never have gotten round to doing.

2. Complexion Enhancer - Embellisseur Teint De Peche £9.50 (full sized) - This is a really lovely tinted moisturiser! I actually find it hard to find peach/pink based moisturisers that don't contribute to my red face problem, but this adds a subtle glow without caking yourself in foundation. Its rather nourishing for the skin, too.

3. DHC Oil Blotting Paper (£4.00 for 100 sheets) - This month I have recently embarked on a quest to give up makeup and let my true self shine through (a post on this WILL follow as it's been a bit of an eye opening experiment). The trouble is, the shine itself really is a problem so this couldn't have arrived on my doorstep at a more useful time.

4. L'oreal Brow Artist Plumper - It's not really too much of a surprise that L'oreal might feature in this box, as a french company. But I was really quite surprised that this got thrown in on top of everything else, considering what I paid for it! Again this is not something I'd bother investing in myself, but this clear gel has being doing a great job so far at keeping my brows tidy.

5. Terrybly Khol Pencil £23 (full sized) - GREAT addition to the box, considering the box cost half the price of this one item alone. Having put this little waterproof gem to the test, I can confirm that it blends beautifully and doesn't budge!

5. Les petits mots d'ines - This is my absolute favourite item in a subscription box to date, ever! It's a jar of little messages in scrolls, and you open one a day for a snippet of wisdom. Todays message read 'If all good things come to an end, why don't we start with the dessert?' which is a bit quirky but I can't say I disagree with the sentiment.

The value of this box greatly exceeds what I paid for it and continues to do so every month, so I'll be sticking with 'My Little Box' for a while! It's definitely one way to brighten up a bleak day in the office. To top it all off, you also get a fab little magazine with some really interesting content, and a wall card too. This months read 'Life is never what it seems, and that's the great thing about it.' I wholeheartedly agree, My Little Box.

Do you have a favourite subscription box? x

Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatments - Just an Expensive Blow Dry or Hair Hero?

I've been thinking about getting a hair straightening treatment done for some years now, but there has been some part of me which has been holding on to the idea of keeping my natural curly hair. When I was younger, my well conditioned, soft hair used to form perfect curls and it was effortless. But those days are sadly long gone. I am kidding myself. When I first came across the idea of Brazillian Keratin straightening, and realised it only lasted for around 3 months, it seemed a perfect non committal opportunity to give it a go. So last week I bit the bullet, and went up to The Alterity Studio, a lovely little salon in Covent Garden in London. I found this salon through a Groupon deal, which meant I could get the £200 treatment for just £59! That's £59 that will supposedly save me an hour in the morning everyday, and give my poor hair a chance to grow without heat damage, so that sounded like a good deal to me.

I always have a strange deep set fear about visiting a new salon. I don't know if it's the anticipation of having to break the ice and make conversation with someone new for a substantial period of time, or the slight guilt at accepting a cup of tea from someone you don't know, or my past rare experiences of snotty nosed workers who look down on you for turning up in your t-shirt and jeans. None of this happened at the Alterity Studio. I felt instantly welcome, accepted gratefully the offer of tea (this was the day after my visit to Brighton, and needless to say it had left me a bit of a sore head that only a good brew could tackle). 

My experiences in The Alterity Studio taught me so much about the process. Keratin straightening is actually quite unlike other straightening techniques, it is a natural substance which exists naturally in your own hair and contributes to its elasticity. It coats the hair, rather than breaking the bonds of its structural make up, helping it to be healthier over time. Plus, you won't need to put the irons on it everyday!

How it works:

- Firstly, your hair is washed and blow dried

- The keratin treatment is applied carefully in very small sections to ensure every strand is covered

- The treatment is left in for 20-30 minutes

- The hair is then straightened again at about a 300 degree temperature, in very small sections so as not to miss a strand.

- Et voila! All you need to do now is NOT wash your hair for at least 24 hours (though some website seem to recommend 72). 

I have to admit I was a little skeptical, but the results have been really great. You can see the results below after just blasting it with the hairdryer (not even blowdrying!) My hair is now much shinier, smoother, and not at all frizzy, even when I leave it to dry naturally. Considering I have really thick hair, this is a victory in itself. Sure, if you want your hair poker straight you'll still need to blow dry a bit or get the irons out, but I'm not fussed about it being perfectly straight, I just wanted less unruly hair. Considering how curly my hair naturally is, this really is a lot better. I've not been straightening my hair really at all since the treatment. It's already thanking me for it! What's even better is that the Alterity Studio are continuing to offer such a great discount, which means it won't break the bank when I am ready to go back.

Jives wanted to get in on the action too!

Have you had hair straightening treatments before? Would you ever consider it?

500 followers giveaway and Blog Anniversary

Wooohoo! I've been blogging for a year now, plus The Thrifty Firecracker just reached 500 followers on Bloglovin, so I thought I'd celebrate with a giveaway. I've got a Tarina Tarantino bundle which I know one of you will love! I've been a bit of a fan of Tarina Tarantino ever since I was introduced to them through Wantable.com.

Disclaimer: this post isn't sponsored by Tarina Tarantino and I'm in no way working for them/affiliated with them. I'm just a fan! 





Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Palette (worth $45)


Personally I love the colours that come with this palette, it really allows you to go from subtle to evening, and has a great mix of pink and peach tones (I love a good peach blusher!) I have two of these now so I'm more than happy to give one away so that someone else can get the benefit from it too! Plus it's really wearable and lasts for ages :)


From their website: 

This silky powder blush imparts skin with a natural glow with true color payoff that wears all day long! This formula has micronized powders (also known as “HD” or “High Definition”) which blend over skin evenly and easily. These 4 beautiful shades are housed in an incredibly luxe gunmetal casing with an iconic Tarina design detailing.


And to add to that, I've also got a Tarina Tarantino Eyelicity Glitter Liner (worth $16) too!


I love a bit of glitter liner to add a bit of sparkle to your eyes on nights out :)

From their website:


This Eyelicity Glitter Liner is a micro-glitter liner saturated with a burst of pigmented color that gives you lustrous sparkling eyes on days you want to be a little glamorous! This amazing formula is long-lasting and quick-drying once set. It is also smudge resistant and will keep the gorgeous glitter on your eyes and not your cheeks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! x

Giveaway Directory

Review: Lush Haul!

I remember the first time I wandered into Lush, by accident, perhaps about 10 years ago now. I was in a different city, so I was already in explorer mode, on the look out for new exciting finds. I remember walking down the stairs into what felt like a strange magical cave like place, filled with an apothecary of rich and interesting flavours and scents. From that point on, I was hooked.

Sometimes, the strongest memories are linked to your sense of smell. It was when I walked past our local Lush base the other day and a familiar lavender scent hit me, that this memory came back, of a wide eyed younger me walking out of that Lush shop, clutching a selection of bath bombs with a big smile on my face. I felt all tingly, like I'd just stepped out of the shower. Lush has since been a great form of escape and retail therapy for me, because I know I'm investing in all natural, ethical products, and also in some much deserved chill out time. It's a small luxury, but you could spend your money on a lot worse than natural products that fill your bathroom cabinets and make the house smell nice.  Lush employ a clever marketing technique that most businesses don't tap into, by using your sense of smell in such a way that it physically lures you into their shop. Personally though, I'm glad that they do.

It's been a while since I treated myself to a few bits from Lush, but I have to say I'm really impressed with some of their newer products. This off the cuff visit resulted in about a £40 spend, but all has since been put to good use!

1. Light Pink : I have tried this once before and absolutely loved it, because I'm a pink toned redhead that can NEVER find a foundation that doesn't somehow always turn me slightly orange or look a little mismatched. This works for me because I am so pale, and allows me to wear foundation in the daytime that is a bit lighter and doesn't weigh my skin down. It works really well when you mix it with your foundation, for those days when you don't need much and you want a bit more of a healthy glow :)

2. Movis - A cleanser made of wholemeal bread? I didn't understand it myself, but apparently this sweet little bar includes wheatgerm oil, hop oil, and cocoa butter to soften. It lathers up very nicely and leaves my skin feeling really clean, although occasionally it has left it feeling every so slightly dry too.

3. Avocado Bath Bomb - As I touched on above, I have to be really careful when I walk into Lush, so as not to walk out with a whole basket full of bath bombs. Considering I've recently moved into a flat which doesn't even have a bath (sob) these can only be used when visiting my parents anyway, so I went for a moisturising, fizzy avocado bomb. This was lovely and did the trick. You appreciate it more when you don't get to soak as much!

4. Charity Pot - This was only £1 towards a good cause, and with winter fast approaching chapped lips are no fun. This has been living quite happily in my handbag. Bargain!

5. Feeling Younger - This was my favourite finds and reminds me of Benefit's Moon Beam. It achieves a similar effect, except it makes me feel a bit smug because it's a fraction of the price (and I know it hasn't been tested on animals). I've found that applying it before foundation under the eyes deflects my dark circles, especially after a late night. I also discovered that applying a thin line straight down the nose under makeup makes the nose appear straighter (blend though, obviously, or you'll just have a white streak!) I have been using this everyday since my purchase.

6. Brazened Honey - Aahh, I do love a good natural face mask. This mask is designed to wake up and stimulate, with a mixture of fennel, ginger root, coriander, parsley, juniperberry, rosemary, lime juice, honey, you name it, all the invigorating ingredients you can think of have been condensed into this little pot. I love the fact that if you bring several empties back you get a free one, too. I'm all for making your own face masks, but Lush face masks really do feel very well put together. I like the way they put a name to the person who has made your pot that day. I like to imagine that that is a really fun job, and that Lush employees get to stand over a huge cool vat (like a big chemistry experiment) throwing in a concoction of natural ingredients and mushing them all up. I really don't think for the price that they charge (about £5) that it would be much cheaper to make yourself, so I think it's a justifiable treat every now and again!

Are you a fan of Lush? What are your favourite products?

A Skincare Overhaul

Lately I've been really thinking about my skincare routine, and what products to keep in and which ones to ditch. I have too many products and can't afford to spend hours on my skin, but at the same time there are staple items which don't break the bank and I think are worth using. I thought I'd share my favourite skincare products with you, and justify why I love them so much!

My night time routine is actually much more complex than my daytime routine, as I really do believe a good routine aids you in your beauty sleep. Listed below is my nighttime routine (except for the nights that involve too many glasses of wine, for these occasions I do leave face wipes by my bed!)

1. The Clarisonic Mia 2. I actually wrote a post on this here, I love it so much! I use this in the evenings, used to use it twice a day but now I try and at least use it twice a week. It gives my skin a really deep cleanse, which keeps breakouts away, shrinks pores, and makes my skin feel really refreshed, too.

2. Olive Oil & Castor Oil mix - When I am not using the Clarisonic, I use a 30% castor oil mix with a 70% olive oil mix to cleanse my skin which works really well and moisturises too. Plus it's totally natural. If this sounds like a really weird suggestion, check out my post on this method here, I've explained myself as best as I can and I promise it does work!

3. Retinol A - I actually bought this off Ebay, initially skeptical, I've now moved up from a 1% to a 10% strength. Vitamin A is extremely powerful - I once spoke to a 50 year old who looks like a 25 year old and swears it's because she uses it religiously! I also originally learned about Retinol A when I started using Environ products - one of the reason they are so well received as a brand is their use of Vitamin A in their products. Sadly Environ is a bit rich for my blood - but this makes my skin look great so I see no reason not to stick to it.

4. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate - This is an absolutely beautiful product and moisturises my skin with just a few drops and the lavender smell is lovely too. It calms stressed skin and I've noticed a glow since I incorporated it into my routine and replaced my night moisturiser with it!


Daytime:

In the morning I wash with my olive oil and castor oil mix again (honestly, I know it sounds mad but it's the best cleanser I've ever used).

1.  Murad Perfecting Day Cream - is a good SPF day moisturiser and I am trying to get into the habit of using SPF even in the winter months. This doesn't leave my skin looking greasy and sinks in nicely.

2. Pro Genius Omega Treatment oil - I use this instead of a serum as just a few drops in the morning provides ten active plant oils enriched with omegas 3, 6, 7 & 9 - it really hydrates my skin.


3. Environs Colostrum Gel - I had a skin review and they noted that my only major problem was redness. Since using this product my redness has decreased a lot - still not completely, but I am a pink skin tone as opposed to yellow so there's not much more I can do about it!

None of the above were too expensive - the omega treatment oil arrived on my doorstep in a beauty box and the rest I have sourced on Ebay for a fraction of their normal costs. For the most part, even store bought they shouldn't break the bank and are definitely products worth investing in.

What skincare products or regimes do you swear by? I love finding out about new products, so I'd love to hear about them. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

Well its been a fair few weeks since I last posted. I think its safe to say I've been on a self imposed hiatus, trying to evaluate whats actually important to me in life and what I want to write about. This may seem like an odd statement seeing as the title suggests that this is in fact a diet post, but I've noticed lately that more than ever, when I get so busy and let my eating habits slip (and when they slip, they slip badly) my whole life seems to follow into a kind of chaotic state.
 
First thing that's worth noting, just to set the context : I've got terrible willpower.

I'm not going to lie to you, I'd rather sit on my sofa than go for a run. I wish I was one of those people who loved going to the gym, but the truth is it bores me half to death. I'd rather be doing something, actually anything, other than step onto a treadmill. Of course, I enjoy the rush of endorphins after a bit of exercise just like the next person. But I know that I can cheat and get a similar effect by eating a bit of chocolate. This is ultimately my problem.

All things considered, I should probably be morbidly obese. But about a year and a bit ago, I decided that after the best part of a decade of half hearted dieting and going to the gym, followed by eating cheese then getting nowhere, that I was just going to bloody well get on with it and do it. I am an all or nothing person. I threw myself into a juice cleanse for a week, and then I followed this with two more weeks of combining juicing with home cooked meals, cutting out all white bread, white pasta or white carbs in general. I lost just over a stone, which is all I really wanted to lose - but it made a huge difference to me. (Then I went to America for a bit and discovered savory pancakes, but that's a whole different story).

After about ten years of saying 'I just need to lose a stone or so and I'll be really happy with my weight' it took some kind of inner revelation for me to just get on with it and actually do it rather than continuously fail. It may not sound like a great deal of weight loss - it's not much to lose, but it really changed the way I felt about myself. I felt able to wear the clothes I wanted to wear but didn't feel confident wearing before. Most importantly, the weight stayed off too, for about a year, despite my gallivanting and pancake eating adventures.

Everyone has different methods when it comes to merging a busy life with a healthy life. But I've learned that for me, the true secret is that you NEED to stick to a change in diet for at least three weeks, and try and be strict with it. After that, the odd camembert sharer is OK (although, as a general rule I don't share camembert). The reason this is important is because your body adapts to your new weight. They also say that after 21 days of doing something it becomes habit and a part of your new way of thinking. After your body has adapted to its new weight, your metabolism tends to keep you there, unless you're really really naughty.

Over the past month (and after a few more gluttonous adventures) my scales are tipping again a bit. This has spurred on my personal mission for finding ways to eat well and stay healthy, when you also work like a madman and can't afford a personal chef. Initially I went back and did a week juice cleanse again to set me back on the straight and narrow. It made me feel great, and I was full of energy. I made it to day 6, lost 8 pounds, then accidentally left the cable to my juicer over a hob and burnt a hole through it. I dare not plug it in now. Consequently, partly due to this, and due to a couple of days in Ipswich and a boozy wedding, I fell off the wagon and regained most of the weight I'd lost a week later. It is always best to aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week, but I find that when I eat healthily and do the following, my body loses what it needs to and that's OK. The most important thing, whether you lose weight or not, is just that you feel better in yourself, and it's taken me quite a long time to realise that this should be my main priority. Here are the steps I am taking to get myself back on track;


1. I am eating more vegetables, soups, and salads.
2. I'm generally forcing myself to walk everywhere rather than be lazy and catch the bus.
3. I occasionally dip into home exercise. I used to be great and go to the gym 4-5 times a week but those days are gone now (see above, terrible willpower). I actually find Results With Lucy to be the best, and I've tried a few different ones now. Very simple and easy to follow.
4. I'm buying a new juicer, and incorporating juices for breakfast back into my regime.  One a day is enough though for a long term healthy lifestyle. Throw some spirulina in too and your body will thank you!
5. Most importantly, and this is probably the key, I'm trying to not spend so much time judging myself.


For me, the three week rule works. My body adapts to the weight and then I relax a little on my diet, but by this point, I want to eat the good stuff and I'm less drawn to the bad stuff. When I'm juicing or eating more vegetables, I feel a huge noticeable difference in my focus, my work, my happiness, and my life. I just don't understand why, even armed with this knowledge, I still find myself surrounded by a load of refined sugar and junk food sometimes!



What methods do you use to incorporate healthy living, especially in busy lifestyles? I would love to hear your suggestions :)

The Oil Cleansing Method

As a thrifty shopper, and a girl who is generally more switched on to using natural alternatives where possible, the oil cleansing method has really intrigued me for some time. I'd like to say I decided to give it a go out of interest alone, but actually, I completely ran out of cleanser and didn't have the time to get any more. I scoured my cupboards for some sort of alternative, and found this method again after reading about it before, and thought - why not?

Now you are probably thinking that this is a gross idea and wondering why on earth anyone would do it (I know my other half still doesn't get it). I too was initially skeptical, as my face can be quite oily, and I couldn't see how putting more oil on it could help things! Despite this, and because at the time I had no alternative and nothing to lose, I decided to ignore my reservations and go for it. Needless to say I was really pleasantly surprised, even after the first day. My skin was soft, it wasn't greasy, and my face felt clean. Since then, it's only improved, and three weeks on, my skin has actually cleared up significantly.

The principle of the oil cleansing method is simple. We often buy into mainstream skin products which promise to clear the skin and clean it, but in reality these products often strip our skin of its natural oils. The skin then tries to replace this oil, overcompensating by creating more oil! Added to this, alcohol and fragrance (even in non scented and expensive products) irritates skin on a level you may not notice but does affect you.

Now don't get me wrong, I have come across a few cleansers in my time that haven't caused me too many problems, but I've never found one that has actually made my skin look and feel a lot better like this, genuinely.  I'm actually so impressed. After three weeks of just washing my face in olive oil (and later, introducing castor oil) I've found my skin completely clear, clean, and less greasy! I think this might be because oil dissolves oil, when you wipe it away. Oil in itself isn't bad, your skin produces it because it needs it, the main cause of spots or breakouts is actually more often down to hormones, environment, and clogged skin. By working with your skin and not against it, the oil mixture will dissolve any natural oil that has become stuck in your pores and allow for a deep cleanse. I have found that not only is my face softer with less need for moisturiser, its now also much clearer and makeup sits much better on my skin!

Here is how it works;

You will need a blend of two oils. I started with olive oil for the first week or so, and honestly that worked well, but after reading into it more, I discovered that castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties, and is very cleansing. If your skin tends to be more oily or combination, you will want to use less castor as this as it can actually be quite drying. Castor oil isn't as easy to find as you'd expect, (try a pharmacy or the pharmacy part of your local supermarket). It takes a little bit of practice to get the mixture quite right, but as a general rule;

• Oily Skin: Try a blend of 30% Castor Oil to 70% to olive/sunflower oil.
• Balanced Skin: Try a blend of 20% Castor Oil to 80% olive/sunflower oil
• Dry Skin: Try a blend of 10% Castor Oil to 90% olive/sunflower oil.

I've been reading up on this online and there are different verdicts about the benefits of extra virgin olive oil and sunflower oil, but I myself have been using olive oil and find it to be great!

Method:

• Create desired blend (this might take a few attempts to get a mixture that suits your skin best) and apply to face. 
• Massage in circular motions (anti clockwise around the eye area, I learnt this from a make up artist, you should take your eye makeup off in this direction too to avoid encouraging lines!) I usually do this for about a minute to two minutes, because I am impatient and often don't leave myself much time in the morning, but for optimum results do this for 3-4 minutes. Take time on the areas you have problems with. It gets the blood flowing and allows the castor oil opportunity to sink through and really cleanse. 
• This removes makeup too and seems to work well on my eye makeup!
• Lastly, get a washcloth and dip into hot water (obviously not too hot) and apply to face. This will remove all the oil.

That's it! Your skin should now be glowing :) As I said I've never been happier with any other cleanser my entire life - so I'm sticking with this one!

Have you ever tried the oil cleansing method? What do you think?

Thrifty's How to.. Do Your Own Gel Nails!

Hello,

Last week, I started a series of weekly 'how to' mini guides, where I test out some homemade or home based beauty regimes, in order to find new ways of doing things in a more thrifty way. This week I thought I'd explore gel nail polish DIY kits, and just how easy it is to do your own gel nails at home.

If you're like me, you get excited by a new nail polish for all of ten minutes, spend ages painting your nails, religiously apply your base coat, three coats, and a top coat, and touch NOTHING for half an hour until you're absolutely certain its bone dry. You believe you've finally found a chip proof polish and think you've finally cracked it. Then, BAM, you reach into your bag for your keys/taxi money/makeup an hour later... and they're ruined.  Yep - either I'm either really heavy handed and clumsy, or nobody else uses their hands for anything. I don't believe regular nail polish truly lasts for everyone else too, but maybe I'm just bitter because they don't work for me!

'Gellicures' however, are a Godsend compared to your average "NON CHIP" nail polishes, because they actually last at least a week, two if you're really lucky. They do chip eventually, but you can repair them, and at least you don't have to redo your nails constantly. This usually costs me around £20 a time at a salon, but you can buy your own gel lamp kit for around £15 from Ebay, which virtually does the same job. Then all you need to invest in are the polishes, which are approximately £5 each, so you basically pay for it all in the equivalent of one salon visit!

What you need: A gel UV lamp, fingerless gloves (optional, but all UV damages skin after prolonged use) a base & top coat, and gel polish colour.

Here are the steps to get your nails looking great on the cheap!

1. Wash hands.
2. Buff the nails thoroughly, to get rid of surface oils, this is really important as it really helps the polish to stick. 
3. File the edges of your nails to the shape of your choice.
4. Apply base coat and cure nails with gel lamp (2 mins)
 Be careful of any stray hairs or dust around as this will ruin your professional look! (Captain Obvious, but this happened to me a lot.)
5. Apply 2-3 coats of polish, after each layer it will seem tacky but this helps the next layer to stick. (2 mins each coat)
6. Apply a top coat, taking care to cover the tips of your nails. This is the main trick that stops them from chipping! Cure this layer for 3 minutes, the extra minute ensures a hard, glossy finish!
7. Wipe nails with a lint wipe (makeup wipes will do) this removes all tackiness from the nails and leaves a glassy top coat.

Voila, pretty chip free nails!

How do you get on with regular nail polish? I'd love to know if this is just me that is incapable of using the stuff!

100 followers Andy Warhol Nars giveaway!

Hello,

I'm so excited to have reached 100 followers on Bloglovin! It may not seem like a big deal, but it is to me. To celebrate, I have these bits to giveaway, from the NARS Andy Warhol range. I love pop art, and I'm fascinated by the 1960's and the celebrity culture of its time. NARS is also of course a fabulous brand, so all things considered this seems like a perfect collaboration! The giveaway includes an Edie Sedgwick gift set, who was a muse to Warhol, and an eyeshadow palette of his legendary painting  'Self Portrait'. I have one of these myself, and it looks like such a collectors piece, I'm just not sure I can use it for fear of ruining it!

The palette retails for around $50 - $70 and the gift set for around $45.


Gift set includes:
- Film Star Pure Matte Lipstick in '60s Nude Pink.
- Eyeshadow Cream in Edie: a little bit of shimmer.
- Stylo Eyeliner in Carpates.
- Blush Duo in Deep Throat and Amour: shimmering, sheer peach and matte peachy pink. 

Open to international entries!

 Enter using the Rafflecopter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


And don't forget to join this weeks Happy Kids Inc Bloghop too, which I am co-hosting!

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Your Devoted Host:

Your Lovely Co-Hosts:

      

      

1.  Add your link directly to your Bloglovin' profile below.  You will have to manually upload a photo of yourself (it will not automatically input from Bloglovin').

2.  Please follow your host, co-hosts, and sponsors.  It just takes a few quick clicks and it is much appreciated!

3.  Visit a few other bloggers in the linky, say "hello", and give them a follow.

4.  Tweet and share this hop!

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Individual Mink Eyelash Extensions Giveaway! At The Spa Room (London)

Hello!

I popped down to 'The Spa Room' in East London this morning and treated myself to a new set of eyelashes. Its been so long since I've had my eyelashes done - since the lovely lady who did mine regularly (Natasha Embellish) had a baby (and so quite rightly needed to take time out!) 

I've had some horrible eyelash experiences before - I once went to a hairdressers in Peterborough who advertised them on the door, only to find an hour and a half later that it looked like a few spiders legs had been attached to my eyelids, sporadically (there were about 5 'lashes' hanging on there for dear life from big black dots of glue). Thankfully, 'The Spa Room' was a completely different, professional experience to this. The lovely ladies have recently relocated to Bow, to merge their beauty school and beauty practice together into one space. I was made to feel very welcome and at home when I got there. Nuressa explained the difference between mink lashes, which are softer and look more natural, and normal eyelash extensions, which seem a bit harder. This makes them perfect for daywear as well as when you're out partying at night!

In my experience, eyelash extensions usually last at least 3 weeks, (depending on the glue!) so we'll see how they hold out. But I'm extremely happy with them. Being a redhead with blonde lashes, they are virtually invisible most of the time, so it's nice to have fluttery peepers again.

Now - if you like what you see, and you live in the London area, I have one free eyelash extension appointment to give away! I originally bought this as a voucher for my sister as a birthday present, but unfortunately we couldn't redeem it and she won't be able to use it in time - which means someone else can. Thought it may as well go to some use if anyone out there wants it! :)

If you'd like it, just;

1. Either follow me on bloglovin or GFC :)
2. Write a comment below so I know you want it!

Must be booked by the 20th March! Original value £63 (I think?) Could make a perfect present to someone, or yourself of course ;)

Alice x

UPDATE: I will be sending this to the lovely Estelle! Half a week on and mine haven't budged in the slightest - no mascara needed! Glad to report they're all still doing great :)  x

Moisturisers - the Rich, the Reasonable, and the Thrifty

I am forever on the quest for the holy grail of all moisturisers. Lets face it, there is so much product choice out there nowadays, most of which promising you skin that will emanate golden particles and make your face glow like the dewy morning, that it's really hard to stay loyal to just one range. Over the past 6 months, I've gone through a pretty vast price range of moisturisers (due to a varying cash flow) which has given me the opportunity to put a few of their age defying and face brightening claims to the test. Overall, I wanted to explore the notion of quality being exclusive to price - is the most expensive always the most effective?

Lets start with Product number 1: 'The Rich' - Creme De La Mer, £105

I have been intrigued by 'Creme De La Mer', which literally means 'cream of the sea', for quite some time now. Heralded as the be all and end all of all moisturisers, and 'the' classic skin quenching investment, it's perhaps too obvious a choice for this category, but a deserving one nonetheless. There are more expensive moisturisers out there, but at a retail price of roughly £105 for 30ml, it certainly sits in the quality aisle. I had been wondering about this for ages, so I decided to invest in a small pot after much deliberation. Who wouldn't be slightly curious about a miracle product that is revered by the stars? J Lo reportedly bathes in the stuff. I'm not ashamed to admit that I wanted to know why.

Personal observations:

• It's quite thick and dense when applying. I judge a moisturiser by whether or not it sinks into my skin and feels almost 'invisible', and this one did not. I found my face clogging up quite a bit after a collective amount of days using it.
• It's got a very calming effect. I have quite red skin naturally, and I did feel less 'rosy' after a few weeks of applying this.
• It feels very luxurious and smells very nice, too. They give you an applicator which helps you to measure the correct amount of product per application.
• The use of seaweed and algae amongst other sea based products does allure to the mysteries beneath the oceans blanket - which many believe hold the elixir for younger looking skin.

Overall, I do think that this was a little too heavy for my skin. That's not to say it might not be perfect for other skin types. I decided to use this as more of an intense night cream - I did find that it cleared up any dry patches unbelievably quickly and may work wonders on scars, too. Definitely a great product to grab for if you find yourself with sunburn!

Product number 2: The reasonable - Korres Magnolia Bark First Wrinkles, £22.50

I am getting past my mid twenties now, and I'm becoming more and more conscious of keeping any pesky fine lines at bay. I've been researching religiously for products that preserve. Korres seemed to tick all these boxes and seems to be developing a nice following, too. I used the magnolia bark range 'first signs of wrinkles' day cream (even though I don't think I'm quite there just yet) but if that's not what you're after, the rose 'brightening' cream looks great, too.

Personal observations:

• As a contrary to 'Creme De La Mer' the cream absorbed very quickly and 'sunk' into the skin. My makeup seemed to glide on easier, too.
• It has SPF 15 in it which is really handy - they say you should wear SPF every day whatever the weather and I've not been good at doing this, though I know I should! Plus, it smells nice, which is also a bonus.
• Apparently it prevents skin inflammation, which keeps wrinkles at bay - can't comment on this really as I didn't notice any difference in this respect, but then I don't think my skin is particularly inflamed in general!
• Magnolia bark active extract is a really interesting ingredient which I've not come across before in a skin cream. I did notice that the tiny lines on my forehead seemed to fade over time, too, and I'm hopeful that it is also preventing new ones from appearing!
• It seemed to help my dark circles, and even after a sleepless night, my skin still looked quite peppy. I could definitely see the difference.

I genuinely like this one so much I've actually invested in the night cream as well. My skin feels fresh, rejuvenated and moisturised and I have to say I have been very impressed with it.

The Thrifty - Olay Total Effects 7 in One Day Moisturiser - £10

I realise I could have gone for the very cheap end of the range here, but heres the story - I'd just spent lots of money on Creme De La Mer and wanted something (relatively cheap) and effective from Boots in a hurry, before I decided which product to jump to and eBay surf for next (which is when I found Korres). After much shelf navigating, I finally landed on this, which looked reasonable and seemed to be offering a lot of 'bang' for its buck.

For the quality of the product, I think £10 for Olay Total Effects is actually very cheap, which is why I chose to review it on the 'budget' end of the scale. I'll be honest, I'm thrifty when it comes to most things, but a bit of a snob when it comes to moisturiser, as I see protecting your skin as a serious investment. But what I thought would just be used for a few weeks and then tossed aside, turned out to be a good month long relationship with Olay (before my fickle mind started searching for something new).

Personal observations:

• Total effects seems to be a bit of a cosmetic warrior, fighting uneven skin tones, first signs of wrinkles, surface dullness, and other (the name would suggest 7) areas of difficulty. So it caters for a whole range of skin types at once.
• It is light and easily absorbed, and seemed to brighten my skin, though sometimes verged on a bit oily, so I was worried about putting it on more acne prone areas.
• Total Effects also includes SP15 - good for lazy people like me!
• Not much is needed for each application, so despite it being a small bottle, it does last a while.
• I prefer products with more natural ingredients, but 'Total Effects' does contain an impressive range of vitamins, which is said to have a good anti-aging effect.

The verdict: Overall Korres sinks into my skin the best and has the most natural ingredients, so for my combination skin, it wins the race! It caused me no complications in terms of skin blemishes, wasn't oily at all, yet made my skin feel very nourished and brightened it significantly, and from what I could tell, kept to its promise of reducing any early signs of wrinkles. Coming in at £82.50 cheaper than its expensive contender, I do think this does re-affirm that throwing more money at things doesn't always ensure that you'll get the right product for you. Though I will definitely be reaching for the Creme De La Mer if I ever have any burns or skin complaints, as I do believe its rich, thick qualities have a very soothing effect!

Whats your favourite moisturiser? Have you ever tried any of the above products?

Alice x

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My top 5 favourite Valentines gifts (to buy for yourself!)

Now, I'm not writing this post because the other half has disappointed this Valentines day. Quite the contrary, I was presented with a lovely bunch of flowers, heartfelt card, and very beautiful heart shaped chocolates from M&S this morning (which I had for breakfast). But I am also not immune to the little devils that encourage you to spend, spend spend that are out in full force around V day, and I have to say, I quite like them, if I'm honest. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and lets face it, no one buys better gifts for you than yourself. So, in the spirit of doing so, I decided to profile the 5 presents I bought this year, from me, to me. I am quite the romantic.

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1- Sleek True Colour Lipstick in 'Barely There' - I discovered this after watching 'Katie's Beauty Blog' Youtube channel, and I love it! Its a great shade for daytime wear. Thanks, Katie! 
2 - Naked 3 Palette, Urban Decay - Unless you've been living under a rock you might have seen this absolutely everywhere. I saw a good tutorial on how to use this by Katie (you can also find her blog here) and I've also seen lots of other bloggers going crazy about it! It has a really beautiful selections of shades, from shimmery pinks through to dark, warm, taupe shades. The palette also comes with some primer potion which is handy. This retails for around £37 but I bought a new one off ebay for £32. I think its well worth the investment, as you can create a whole range of daytime to night time looks with it.
3 - SASFashion (ebay) Tartan bodycon velvet dress - I bought this for a thrifty £14.99, it ticks so many boxes for me, and I love the shape of it with the cut out neck. I've been really loving seeing tartan everywhere this season, but being a redhead, wasn't too keen on the pilarbox tartan that's dominating the trend right now. This is much more subtle colour, it suits my tones, plus I love the velvet material.
4 -  Follow Me FMUK Gold Shoes, Amazon -  I recently made the promise to myself that the next time I bought a pair of shoes, I would resist the urge to revert to buying 'safe' black heels that go with every outfit. I'll be teaming these with my current fave LBD and some chunky gold jewellery this weekend in order to add a touch of sparkle to my outfit! They're great for me, as being 5ft9, I can never find court shoes that I like unless they are platforms, which make me far too tall. These are a nice compromise. They're also really good value at £16.99.
5 - London Fashion Weekend Silver Tickets -  A bit of a random one, but I've scored next Friday off, both from my day job and DJing at night, so I decided to treat myself and feed the shopaholic within me. I'm looking forward to browsing some great current British designer brands and watching the afternoon catwalk show. I'll have my camera ready to snap any good finds!

Have you treated yourself this Valentines day, or were you spoilt? What have been your favourite February buys?

The Clarisonic Mia 2 Cleanser - is it Worth the Price Tag?

Hello!

Just to note, this is not a sponsored post. Clarisonic don't know me at all!

I go through phases of being really good to my skin, and then being terrible with it again, so a few months ago, I committed to a few key changes to my rather basic 'cleanse and moisturize' daily routine. The first pledge was to never again forget to take my eye makeup off at night, and to start moisturizing my neck, as I completely neglect it. The other resolution was to finally take the plunge and buy myself a Clarisonic!

I have always suffered with problem skin, particularly in the lower part of my face, and despite working my way through hundreds of products over the years, nothing has really changed this. I wanted something to cleanse my skin much deeper, and I'd read tons of reviews and videos about electronic cleansers.  Clarisonic seemed to be hailed as one of the best, and I wanted to judge this for myself.

The Clarisonic Mia 2 retails for a rather hefty £125/$150. As you probably gathered, I'm a bit thrifty, but I believe the key is in spending your money wisely and buying the products that are worth the money! They are cheaper on Ebay, but you have to be really careful not to get yourself a knock off version as these are not safe. Clarisonic also offer a 90 day money back guarantee from their website with the purchase which is quite reassuring if you're umming and ahhing.

Clarisonic Mia 2, which also comes in a range of colours.

I decided the best way to test this would be to use this once a day, as religiously as possible over the course of a few months. Even after the first few days, your face feels instantly clean on a deeper level. I have to say it's been most rejuvenating as well, especially the morning after a night out, though that's a sidenote!  It does need charging every now and then, but I found that I've only needed to do this occasionally, the battery life seems to last about three weeks.


Plus points;

• The charger magnetically 'sticks' to the clarisonic, making it very easy to use
• It's very simple, you rotate the device in circular motions around your face and after one minute, it switches itself off
• It's very portable as the battery life lasts for ages
• It stops if you press on the skin too hard.
• It has two settings. I pretty much always used the faster one!

Negatives;

• I wasn't a fan of the cleansing lotion it came with, it made my skin burn a little bit. I switched to Environ's Sebuwash, which also tackles problem skin with tea tree and balancing ingredients, so this was a good combination for me.
• The heads need replacing after a while, which is to be expected, mine tend to last a few weeks before I feel I should start thinking about replacing them, though this could be down to the individual. You can sanitize and clean them too.
• It is pricey, but once bought the only costs are the replacement heads.

I have definitely noticed a significant improvement in my skin. It feels incredibly smooth, and makeup tends to glide on much better. Ratio of blemishes have definitely gone down quite a lot, though I still get the odd breakout. I would say this is partially my fault though, as you have to keep it up. It's only a minute a day, but sometimes we just don't have that spare minute! If I stopped using it for a couple of days (which I did rarely) I really noticed the difference, which is probably a testament to how much good it was doing.

The process is similar to microdermabrasion in the sense that it seems to help other products to penetrate the skin much more effectively. I have now switched from using it in the morning to the evening, because I feel this is better for enabling the night time products to work, and this helps me to stick to using it, too!

Have you used a Clarisonic? I would love to hear how you got on with it, too!

Alice x

Why a Juicer Might Just be Your Best Ever Staple Beauty Buy..

I will be reviewing Jason Vales 7lbs in 7 days juice plan, and its effectiveness not just in terms of weight loss, but also general health benefits. Juicing has been revered widely for its miracle properties, reportedly curing many terminal illnesses and diseases across the world. I am fascinated by this intriguing prospect and by the seemingly magical nature of its consumption, and have subsequently been seduced into what I truly believe will be a lifelong relationship with my juicer. It's hardly a new idea, juicing has been highly praised in many cultures over thousands of years, yet we are just beginning to take notice in the western world.

My aim here is to explore not just the benefits of juicing, but the lasting effectiveness of maintaining weight loss or health benefits over longer periods of time. My personal experiences can hopefully shed some light on this, as well as attempt to explain how it all works!

What do you need?

• A juicer - I bought a Phillips juicer for about £40 
• The Jason Vale book, or you can also buy the JV app on an iphone or get it on googlebooks for about £5. My Phillips juicer actually came with the book.
• Lots of fruit and veg ingredients, including a lot of green 'stuff'!
• Straws - you do need to protect your teeth as there is a lot of acidity in the juices.

 The concept - you drink nothing but juice for 7 days.

On a first glance, this seems irresponsible. Be prepared for a lot of blank faces when you try to explain why you are not partaking in the staff lunch/birthday meal celebrations/sunday lunch with your parents, and the inherent urge to try and explain yourself. I originally tried this several years ago, but because I did not read the accompanying book by Vale, I had a sense in the back of my mind that I could not survive without food, and I failed.

The truth is though, you can. Having attempted this again last August, my whole mindset was totally different, because I read the book first. You are still eating food, to the value of at least 1,200 calories, and probably far more nutritional food for that matter than you are likely to find in the average diet.

The book isn't exactly a literary genius, but to give credit to Jason Vale, he does help you to understand the science behind it and the reasons why juicing has such a phenomenal effect your body. Surprisingly, the majority of the juices are very nice, even the veggie based ones.


What Happens During the Week?

Notes:
1. If you can incorporate light exercise, do it. It might seem mad as it feels like you are not eating, but it actually makes you feel better. I've tried the plan both with not exercising, and with exercising, and the latter is definitely a bit easier and keeps your energy levels up.
2. CLEAN YOUR JUICER straight after using it. It's incredibly hard to clean it once the fruit has hardened. May sound obvious but I learned this the hard way!

Day one - I miss chewing food. I am anxious that I am going to be hungry, but actually, I'm not. Several of the juices include blending avocado etc, and I actually find them to be quite thick and filling. I don't like the taste of the Spirulina (which does give you your all important vit B), but otherwise actually found the juices to be very tasty.

Day two - I struggle to get up in the morning, but know that if I don't, I won't have time to make all the required juices for the day (and I don't want to be cleaning my juicer twice in one day!) Mentally, I find myself battling with it at this point. I am tired. Exercise brings my energy levels up. I have a plentiful supply of juice and didn't feel hungry at all. 2/3lb is banished by the end of the second day.

Day three - I wake up and a strange thing happens. I don't have a 'sleep hangover' (you know, where you want to roll over and give yourself 10 more minutes). I am raring to go. I feel really good - which makes me realise that what I eat generally perhaps weighs me down/makes me tired. I seem to have dropped about 4lb on the scales, too. The Lemon Ginger Zinger is really tasty (I love ginger, though, so it may not be to everyone's tastes). The 'Passion 4 Juice Master' is also a personal favourite, which includes bio yoghurt.

Day four - I still miss and crave food occasionally, but more out of habit than hunger. However I remind myself that it's ONLY seven days and the scales have now dropped an further pound. My energy levels are soaring which makes me struggle a bit with sleeping, but the exercising helps with that. I actually start to find that I no longer even really need to drink all of the juices, as I feel full before I've finished them.

Day five & six - I'm getting so much done at work. I'm looking forward to chewing something again, but otherwise, I'm not too fussed. I have to attend a work meal, and I'm dreading it. I find it really hard to resist/explain myself, as the social eating scenarios are the worst. 'What do you mean you're not eating?' colleagues say in disbelief, trying to get me to break, but I can't launch myself into a lecture on nutrition right now. I explain myself as basically as I can, they leave me to my soda and lime, and let me get on with it. It's not as bad as I thought.

Day seven - Weirdly, I feel by this point, that I could keep going on longer. I feel a sense of achievement that I've nearly made it, but also a desire to keep on eating and juicing so that I continue to feel great after the week is over. I have lost half a stone (7lb) in weight. As an added bonus, the pesky migraines that had been plaguing me for several weeks are now completely gone. My skin is glowing, and my eyes are shining. Everyone keeps asking me what new beauty product I am using on my skin.

Once you reach the seven days, the likelihood is that you will want to keep eating well. You don't actually miss pizza anymore. Spinach is oddly appealing. And if you're like me, and still need a bit of discipline, Jason Vale has a follow on '14 day plan', which is a helpful next step to start introducing the right foods back into your diet.

I continued the follow on plan for 11 days, incorporating a juice in the morning, a power salad for lunch or power sandwich, and one of the many recipes provided in the evening. They were really tasty, my favourites being the 'fish and chips' with sweet potato chips, or the pesto pasta concoction. The basic principles are to cut out bread, refined sugar and white pasta, and go for healthier subsitutes. The only troublesome bit was the recommended exercise twice a day, which I thought was a bit unrealistic, so I didn't do it. I would advise that you order the google books version of this if you decide to use it, as they seem to exclude some of the best recipes in the app. I didn't follow the plan religiously, but the following 11 days were easy in comparison to the first week, and I lost a further 7lb.

What's so important here, is that if you attempt this plan, you should make the juices yourself.  It's so tempting to order ones that are ready made and delivered to your door, especially when you have a busy lifestyle. I tried one of these ready made plans with a company after buying a Groupon, and it was a totally different experience. I was constantly hungry, it tasted like there were added sugars (which defeats the purpose of cutting out the bad stuff). Plus, it's by far cheaper to buy all the fruit and veg off the market, and you'll be able to continue to use the juicer once you're finished the plan.

But does the weight really stay off?!

It was at this point that I then set off on a mini tour of the East Coast for 3 1/2 weeks (see previous 'Hooters Mission' blog post :). If anything would test the tenacity of my weight loss, a visit to the US and lots of drinking and cheese burgers would. I nervously returned to the scales on my return, tail between my legs, with one eye closed. I had indeed regained 5lb, and figured that this was a fair deal. But here's the interesting part, I reverted to eating relatively normally (not quite as well as before) and the 5lb dropped back off within two days.

Here's my theory as to why this happened; the body, when it gets used to a certain weight for a long enough period of time, 're-sets' itself at that level, and tends to work towards keeping you there. Despite my self sabotage, my body reverted me to the level it had grown used to whilst eating well.

They say if you do anything for 21 days it becomes a habit, and true to form, you actually do incorporate certain changes as a natural part of your lifestyle. I still indulge myself and have bad weeks, but generally I make more conscious choices, I make juices fairly often for breakfast, swap white pasta for brown pasta, white potatoes for sweet potatoes, and enjoy the odd salad out of choice. Juicing also arguably helps you to maintain weight loss because it changes the way your body digests food and makes it more efficient, flooding it with 'good' enzymes, which help you to process your food much, much easier.*


Repeating the process

5 months later, the weight had stayed off at 10st 5 (and 5ft 9) , but I still felt I wasn't at my target weight. I decided to take the juice detox again in December during a 'slow' week at work. I lost another half a stone and have continued to maintain that two months on, without any real difficulty, even over the xmas and new year period, which I have to admit I am surprised about! I keep juicing, though not always every day, and it makes such a difference to my energy. It's great for keeping your skin and hair looking good, too.

For me, the juicing has been life changing and has taken a stone and a half of weight off me, and kept it off, even when I have taken breaks and indulged in the odd camembert/pizza/drinking session. I don't feel like I'm dieting in the slightest. The whole experience has also inspired me to start a nutrition diploma, so I can understand more about foods and how they affect the body.

I hope this review has been helpful! If you have experiences of the 7 day juice diet, please do feel free to share them as I'd love to know how others get on, too.

Alice x


* http://www.i-amperfectlyhealthy.com/juicing.html.

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