Product Review - Boots Botanics Face Nourishing Eye Makeup Remover

I had this recommended to me by a friend and seeming as I've been turning to organic and natural alternatives for skincare I thought it was ideal timing. My facial cleanser doesn't quite manage to remove eye makeup so I needed an effective but gentle solution. Look no further, I think I just found it...

Boots Botanics describe it as:

A luxurious eye make up remover that melts into the skin, easily removing eye make up and leaving skin cleansed, smooth and velvety soft.

So does it match up?...

A luxurious eye makeup remover?

I'd say so. The consistency of this cleanser is smooth and creamy to the touch so it feels really lovely when you're applying it. A little of it goes a long way, you only need a pea-sized amount to remove makeup from both eyes. I find it best to rub your finger tips together to warm up and spread the product and then gently massage in circular motions around the eye area working into your lashes (to remove mascara) and around the eyes to get rid of the eyeliner.

Once you're done you can either rinse off with luke warm water, take a damp but hot cloth and sponge away the remnants or take a damp cotton pad and wipe it off that way.

Easily removes eye makeup, melting into the skin?

This makeup remover really does melt into the skin. It dissolves eye makeup quickly and effectively but without being harsh on the skin or if it gets into the eyes. In fact, it's quite the opposite! I was really impressed the first time I used this as to how easily it broke down the makeup and how gentle it is all at the same time.

However taking a look at the ingredients list, it becomes no surprise. This is possibly the most natural skincare product I own. It simply contains Olive oil, Jojoba seed oil, Glycerin, Water, Sucrose stearate and Sucrose myristate. Knowing that all of the ingredients are that simple and natural makes you feel a whole lot better about going near your eyes with it. I'd also go as far to say that it's the first eye makeup remover that I thoroughly enjoy to use day after day, as applying it feels like a luxury treatment...

Leaves skin cleansed, smooth and velvety soft?

Yes, yes and yes! Whilst getting rid of hardier makeup such as waterproof mascara/eyeliner can still take a little bit of work, there's absolutely no need to scrub away. A gentle relaxing massage into the eye area is all it takes to loosen the makeup.

Beforehand with other eye makeup removers, I was finding I'd be waking up with traces of eyeliner underneath the eyes in the morning. Not good if you want to keep wrinkles at bay! Either that or it would take two applications of rubbing the previous cleansers fairly vigorously around and that only distresses and damages the delicate skin further!

This cleanser's perfect because the Olive oil does all the hard work at breaking down the makeup while you're just gently pushing it around and giving it a helping hand. Not only is the Olive oil taking away the makeup but it's also moisturising and nourishing the delicate skin so when you touch it after drying your face, you will feel your skin is absolutely baby soft. My eyes feel so soothed afterwards, whereas in the past with previous makeup removers the skin around my eyes has felt quite taut and tight.

Overall...

I have to say that this is the best eye makeup remover I've ever tried and I've tried plenty! What's also an added bonus is its price - it retails at a mere £3.99 a tube and as a little application is all that's needed at any one time I think this bottle will last me a good 6 months. Whereas past eye makeup removers have only lasted me three, because I have to use so much more. At this price, I think everyone should give it a go, especially as it's so gentle and natural on the skin, perfect too for those with dry and sensitive skins - this makeup remover will be a miracle!

Would I buy again? Well, in case the above didn't make it clear - yes!

The Maca Experiment

Every so often I like to write posts on health and beauty as what we consume affects our appearance and our well-being. Well, today I'm writing about Maca. I recently discovered Maca Powder in an online health store and I know a lot of people who've never heard of it before so I'll give you a little run-down...

Maca's a Peruvian root vegetable and is otherwise known as a super-food that's been cultivated and consumed by the people of Peru for hundreds of years for its amazing beneficial properties.

It can be taken in tablet form or powder and can be mixed in with cereal, smoothies and so on. It apparently tastes a little like malt or Horlicks! Containing 55 naturally occurring beneficial phyto-chemicals, it provides the body with many advantages such as:

• Boosting the immune system
• Improving fertility
• Boosting energy (a healthier alternative to caffeine!)
• Improving stamina and well-being
• Balancing hormones and thereby combating symptoms associated with PMS

Due to the number of minerals, B vitamins and fatty acids it contains, the root is also great for your skin, eyes, hair, teeth, etc. and is a general all-round adaptogen - a substance that raises resistance in the body - that comes thoroughly recommended by health food experts the world over.

Once my packet arrives at All That Glitters HQ I'll be trialling the powder for a month to see how it helps me and to see if it improves all of the above for me as well. I'll be taking note of my progress week by week, so there will be weekly diary updates on what (if any) improvements I've noticed as the days go by.

It's also going to be good fun creating recipes to get it incorporated into my daily diet. So if any of you out there are interested in perhaps trying it out then I'll be posting recipes on here so you too can make your own!

In the meantime, watch this space as I test it out!...

Product Review - Benefit's Realness of Concealness

To say sorry for the lack of posting would be an understatement. So I'm just gonna get on with giving you guys what you've all been waiting for and what you all come here to see...!

I got hold of Benefit's Realness of Concealness kit a while ago and I must say I'm very impressed. It makes a great addition to my personal and professional kit and I'm always grabbing at least one of the products it offers. This kit is perfect for any of you on a budget, those of you who like to try products in miniature form before committing to the larger versions or those of you who like to have a few back-up pieces in your handbags for that night out/morning after. Benefit describe this product as their:

Portable mini kit containing Benefit's top selling concealers and enhancers. It's your solution for beauty dilemmas on-the-go.

The kit contains small versions of the following Benefit products:

Ooh La Lift - "instant under-eye brightening boost"

Lip Plump Primer - "for full sexy lips"

High Beam - "luminescent complexion highlighter"

Lemon Aid - "colour-correcting eyelid primer"

Boi-ing in Shade 02 - "industrial-strength concealer"

Ooh La Lift - instant brightener for under the eyes?

This is a cute little pearlescent pink highlighter fluid that comes in a bottle much like a lip gloss with the same kind of applicator. There are several tips to using this product in order to get the most out of it:

1. Less is more - don't go crazy with it or it will interfere with the rest of your makeup that goes on top next. This isn't a concealer but a highlighter for under the eyes and you should only need what comes out on the brush to do both eyes.

2. Apply it to the shadowy areas underneath your eyes. Don't go outside of this area or the effect will be undone. What you're trying to achieve is lifting the darker area of skin to make the skin appear lighter and therefore less sunken. I like to apply three dots along each circle and blend in by patting along in an upwards motion.

As I said, it won't conceal the circles so don't expect them to disappear, but the light-reflecting particles in the liquid will lighten the area making you appear less tired. Combined with concealer it works a treat.

I love this eye brightener, but the one thing that prevents me from getting it out everyday is the fact that after a long day it does interfere with the concealer I place on top causing it to crease and fade. 3/5

Lip Plump Primer - fuller, sexy lips?

I love this primer. Just like Ooh La Lift it comes in a lip gloss-style bottle, is of a creamy consistency and a slightly taupe shade. Don't be put off as to how brown it is in colour. It's merely to neutralise the colour of your lips to stop it interfering with the shade of lipstick you'd put on top. It won't affect the colour of your lipstick!

The great thing about lip primer is that it fills in all of the lines and generally, like a face primer, provides a smoother, more refined surface for lipstick to glide onto. As a result your lips will appear a little fuller (please don't expect a surgery-style collagen pout though).

But the effect I love most from this primer is that you get the colour you see on the lipstick bullet and you also get more mileage from your lipstick as primer helps to lock it down (much like eye primer for eyeshadow) 4/5

High Beam - luminescence in a bottle?

This highlighter in it's larger version comes in a bottle you'd be forgiven for thinking is a nail varnish bottle! A highlighting fluid that's slightly pink in tone - Benefit offers Moon Beam which is yellowy in colour for olive and darker skins - this highlights all of the areas of the face that you want to catch the light to give you that fresh, well-rested radiance.

This product it great along the cheek bones, above the brown bones, on the centre of the chin, above the Cupid's Bow and down the centre of the nose. It perks up tired, dehydrated skin - ideal for when you've been naughty and had one too many the night before. I like to use it a lot as it offers that subtle shimmer that gives you that glow as if coming from within! This is by far my favourite product in the whole kit - 5/5

Lemon Aid - colour-correcting eyelid primer?

You'll find this is the creamy yellow base that sits in the palette next to Boi-ing in the box. I really wanted to like this primer and don't get me wrong, I use it when the circumstance is right (e.g. dark, shadowy eyelids that need a bit of a pick-me-up). But if your lids are only mildly red/purply then all this primer does is leave an obvious, unnatural yellow tinge to the eyelid. I'd rather leave my eyelids natural or use a concealer to be honest.

The other unfortunate outcome with this product is that it creases and fades after several hours' wear so you may as well have left your eyelids untouched in the first place. This is therefore not a staple of mine, although I welcome anyone who disagrees to let me know their application tips in the comments box below : ) I give this little number only 2/5

Boi-ing - industrial-strength concealing?

Boi-ing is a cream concealer which as you may have guessed from their product description, is quite pigmented and does well for concealing even the most gruesome of blemishes. However I haven't tried this on my own face as - and this is my only other qualm with the kit - it's not the right shade.

That's right, all kits come with only the 02 shade of Boi-ing so it's not great for anyone with pale skin as 02 is much too dark. A bit of a down-er if you're wanting the sample-size version of this before deciding on the larger version!

I have however tried it on others and it does seem to cover up well. I'd still like to test for longevity though which is something I'm also unsure of having not yet tested it on my own skin. 4/5

Overall...

As a whole, the kit scores 18/25 which isn't too bad. At £23.50 it's really one of those decisions you weigh up on the basis of whether:

• You think it's a wise investment to test all of the products in sample sizes before picking up your favourites in larger sizes
• OR you feel that it's a waste of cash considering factors like Boi-ing may be no use to you or that you'd rather just buy what you need, e.g. highlighter fluid and not have excess products floating around.

I personally feel that this kit is still a worthwhile investment even if you are only going to use it for personal makeup application. It's just a case of being resourceful with the products. If Boi-ing isn't the right shade concealer for you, why not use it to contour your cheekbones and lightly apply it beneath cheekbones and blend in creating a subtle, softly-bronzed look for the summer? If High Beam's not the right shade of highlighter for you why not swap it with a friend for a sample-size of their lipstick, etc? There's always ways round these dilemmas : )

Pixi Perfumes

A couple of months ago after wandering around Carnaby Street for a while I took a peek into the Pixi store. I'd seen it before but never thought about going in and recently discovered they're a makeup and cosmetic chain launched 5 years ago by three sisters who are Swedish makeup artists.

When I popped in I got round to sampling their perfumes and they were absolutely delicious! They currently sell three scents: Fig, Mimosa and Rose and the first thing you'll notice about all of them - which is really what prompted to me write about them - is that they're really different to what's out there on the market right now!

They're fresh and mellow, sweet but not sickly. I even quite liked the Rose perfume and to be honest, I'm really not normally a fan of any rose scented products. My favourite though was the Fig perfume - this one was really fruity but it seemed to have a hint of melon to it. At least that's the note I was picking up!

To be honest I wanted to buy all three but my bank allowance was a little bruised so I couldn't even take one away. Needless to say though, I've been thinking back to them ever since I did find one of the sampler papers the other day and it still smelt divine - so they certainly have lasting power. These perfumes are great for those who fancy something more natural and light to wear than the kinds of perfumes on offer by the likes of Estee Lauder or Ralph Lauren for instance. At £24.00 each I think they're excellent value so will be returning one day to get hold of my favourite!

Pixi's approach and philosophy on beauty and makeup is looking fabulous without a fuss and you certainly get that impression from their stores and their products. Their stores are very inviting and girly but simple and well laid out. The staff are really friendly and helpful and I managed to get chatting about the perfumes sampled with one of the assistants when I was there.

The packaging is also very simple but pretty and the overall feeling you get from in-store, their products and packaging is that of a slight girl's-first-love so to speak. It made me feel like being a little girl again discovering makeup for the first time. Everything's very sophisticated but innocent and sweet!

The only drawback is the price of their makeup though. That's what makes this brand anything other than a girls' first love - younger girls won't be able to afford their line because their prices are a little over budget. However they do sell makeup and cosmetics that would make excellent gifts and if you can't choose I highly recommend a gift voucher for this store as she won't be disappointed.

As for the quality of their makeup, I can't vouch for this yet as I haven't got round to sampling the collection. I will very soon though, because I love exploring the new and untried and giving you guys my honest opinion on them... So stay tuned as before long I will be giving their products a go!

New Year's Resolutions - Part 3 of 3: Improving your Beauty Routine

Well this is my third and final instalment of the New Year Resolutions series. Hope you've all enjoyed them and that you may have been inspired by them to take action for 2010 so by next January you'll be looking to new resolutions rather than recycling the 'same old' stories. It's been fantastic putting these together and I aim to provide similar advice articles in the future, hoorah!

So for all you girlies looking to get your beauty regime polished and perfected read on...

Quitting smoking

This doesn't seem to really have anything to do with a beauty regime at first, but if one of your resolutions is to quit smoking this year then great! As a makeup artist it pains me to see girls with wrinkles around their mouths from all the pouting when sucking on a cigarette. Add to that flaking lips because cigarettes dehydrate the skin so applying lipstick becomes a total nightmare! Never mind the yellow nicotene-stained nails and fingertips, sallow skin and premature ageing in the longrun.

Even worse is the damage on the inside but if you can't quit for health reasons, quit for the sake of your appearance. Granted the media can make smoking look sexy, I'm not going to deny that. But I don't think it looks great when you look twice the age you are because you smoke all of the time. And the smell, ugh, really?! Ladies shouldn't smell like an ash tray, nuff said...

Taking your makeup off before bed

I'm often stunned at how many girls admit to not doing this - especially when they've been out for a night on the tiles. It can often be a real chore when you stumble back in during the small hours of the morning but trust me, one thing that will contribute to ageing will be leaving your makeup on every night. If you could see the damage you're doing to your skin you would feel very different about your approach to taking off your war paint!

In the short run, eye makeup irritates the eyes when you fall asleep - they try to rid the makeup themselves so that's why your eyes look sore the next morning. Makeup will only clog pores if left on the skin for too long and overall your canvas will become a lot more difficult to work with, trampling on of all your efforts when applying it if you're not keeping it in tip-top condition.

Cleanse, (tone), exfoliate, moisturise

Cleanse

There are still plenty of girls who use hand or body soap to clean their faces. Hand soap is far too harsh for facial skin. It will dry it out so much and in addition if you have sensitive skin then it will only add to your troubles. Invest in a good quality cleanser and you won't regret it:

• Gel or clay cleansers work fantastically for oily and combination skins. Try Simple's range or pop into Lush and talk to one of their advisors to pick a cleanser right for you.
• Cleansing creams, milks, lotions and almond oil are all brilliant for drier skins - you don't want to strip the skin of any oil because dry skins have less to spare so you need something nourishing and gentle.

Tone

This step's debatable. I've still yet to find a toner that doesn't strip my skin and make it feel as rough as sandpaper. Water is as good as anything but if you do want to try an official toner, make sure it's alcohol-free - I don't think alcohol is necessary in any toner even if you do have skin that leans towards the oilier side!

Exfoliate

This will keep your skin revived, glowing and soft. Especially during the winter months, a decent exfoliant will work a treat at ridding your skin of all the dead skin cells which only dull your complexion and cause makeup to clog and sit funnily on your face. I use one every day but if your skin's a bit more sensitive try exfoliating three times a week for a beautiful visage!

Moisturise

You may be 18 and not worried about wrinkles but trust me - don't skip this step out. The sooner you begin adding this to your daily routine the better you will feel in the years to come. Your skin begins to slow down its renewal process as of 18 years of age, so it's best to start to defend your skin from the elements and ageing as best as you can.

If you have oily skin don't feel that moisturiser will only aid the oiliness - on the contrary if you don't moisturise your skin will work harder to keep itself moisturised and produce even more oil. There are plenty of moisturisers and gels out there that keep the skin beautifully hydrated but sit under makeup well and don't add to the oil, in fact some mattify and help combat oil from disrupting your makeup!

Drink water

Yeah, I know, you've heard this one before, blah, blah, blah! But seriously try it and you might notice an epic difference in your skin! My skin is far more glowy and blemish-free when I keep up the water intake each day. With central heating, most places like shops and offices having air conditioning, etc. etc. a lot of moisture is lost from the skin and body without you even realising.

The difficulty with this one is fitting it in to our daily routines or even just remembering in the first place! The best policy is to bring a small bottle to work with you or fit it in your handbag on the go. You can always top it up and it's there whenever you need it. Having it sat on your desk or in your bag every time you reach for your keys/phone/makeup bag will remind you to keep taking sips - staying hydrated will become a walk in the park.

If you feel water's a little boring, there are plenty of flavoured waters on the market or you could always add fruit squash to yours each morning. Equally if you're not in the mood for a cold drink or fancy something warming then try green tea or fruit tea (with a hint of honey) - there's a huge selection out there from many different brands. The first tea bags that spring to mind are Twinings but my advice is to explore the other options out there.

Twinings' fruit teas smell fab but some can taste a little... bland. I really recommend giving Yogi teas a try. They're really unusual, taste lovely and are all organic - I love their Licorice tea and Chai teas! They can be bought online or from most health food stores and organice produce stockists.

Product Review - Kings & Queens Caspar Myrrh Body Butter

I had a tube of this in my bathroom up until recently. Originally I was in two minds to review it, but then one of my lovely readers, Amanda of A Fairy Cake Tale (check her blog out if you want the most awesome cooking recipes!) asked for some advice on body butters - how could I refuse?

Kings & Queens are a cosmetics company with a difference. They make very posh, swanky body butters, body milks, soaps, shower gels and even candles all with decadent ingredients that for hundreds of years have been celebrated as being fit for royalty - for kings and queens! Their collection is therefore designed, from their packaging all the way through to the smell and textures, to make you feel like a princess.

With this in mind, let's take a look at their product description for the body butter I chose - Caspar Myrrh and see if it's up to scratch:

A rich, luxurious body butter with intense fragrance enriched with a royal mix of pomegranate, blue Egyptian lotus and malachite extracts to maximize indulgence. The purple fruit of pomegranate ends in a crown-like top which is why it is shown on the coat of arms of many royal houses. The flower of the blue lotus was the most popular ancient Egyptian symbol of glory and eternal life for gods and mortals alike, while malachite was loved by princes across Europe. Kings & Queens products are free from mineral oil (synthetic oil from processed petroleum) and parabens (category of preservatives).

Rich and luxurious?

Definitely! This body butter is exactly that - buttery! But my only gripe, as is Amanda's and many others' is that some body butters take far, far too long to soak into the skin. If you're getting ready for a night out you don't want to be dancing around your room for 15 minutes waiting to get dressed because it won't soak in quickly enough!

Some body butters are so intense they're too heavy and concentrated for the skin to absorb quickly and effectively. This body butter is surprisingly good at soaking in quickly. It's nowhere near as fast as a lotion or a body milk but that's the price you pay for butters - the richer the moisturiser the more concentrated it is and the more time it requires to absorb. It needs a bit of work but if you put the effort in this body butter will have soaked in within about 3 minutes!

The reason why I wasn't going to review this product yet was because when I came to the end of the bottle I was unsure as to whether I'd try it again. I loved it but I'm impatient and sometimes I just want a body lotion that soaks in in 30 seconds. I thought I'd try something else and get back to it. Needless to say I want to buy more because despite the 3 minute wait it's still better than most body lotions and butters I've tried, doesn't leave the skin greasy and my skin felt baby soft after using it daily.

Intense fragrance?

Yes, most certainly! This moisturiser is obviously scented with myrrh - dried tree sap, used for its medicinal properties to this day and valued as much as gold during ancient times. The name Caspar is from the three 'Magi' or kings, who travelled to Bethlehem and gave Myrrh as a gift to baby Jesus.

It's a beautiful body butter perfect for the wintery months as the fragrance is heady and spicy. It may be too intense a smell for the summer months when you want something lighter, more citrussy or floral, but you can always try the other scents in the Kings & Queens collection such as 'Emperor Akbar Mango' or 'Sultan of Granada Lemon Flower'.

Pomegranate, blue Egyptian lotus and malachite extracts?

Yes (pomegranate's listed as Punica Granatum Fruit Extract), yes (blue Egyptian lotus is listed as Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract) and yes. This lotion also contains beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil - all known for their ultra moisturising properties, safflower seed oil and sweet almond oil. If you like your lotions to be synthetic ingredient-free then you may want to reconsider this product as it does contain a few artificial ingredients but...

Free from mineral oil and parabens?

... it doesn't contain a jot of parabens or mineral oil! I've counted three and sometimes as many as five individual parabens in some body butters on the market. Parabens are artificial preservatives that are now known to be carcenogenic. Mineral oil, as discussed in my article on lip balms and hand creams provides no benefits whatsoever and is a derivative of petroleum which is also bad for the body.

Overall...

This product is available online and in Superdrug stores, so as you can imagine it's not going to break the bank coming in at £4.50 on their website, but a few months ago I could have sworn I paid something in the region of £5 or £6. Some of their body butters do differ in price due to the ingredients used in each, but they're all very reasonable and suitable for all budgets.

The richness of this product means that a little goes a long way and you therefore get what you pay for. The seductive packaging, names, scents and ingredients do encourage you to try the entire range and I am contemplating trying out their other scented body butters and perhaps trying their shower gels at some stage.

I was really impressed with this body butter and as I said before, it soaks in really quickly compared to other body butters I've sampled. My skin became very soft after a week of using this and after three weeks it was beautifully silky and as I can get dry skin on my arms sometimes this was a complete treat for me. Since moving onto a body lotion from another brand I've noticed the deterioration in my skin once again so to be honest I'll be going straight back to this product once I'm through with my current one. What better testimony than that?

So if you're considering a body butter that doesn't take an age to sink in, give this a try and let me know how you get on - I always love to hear what you all think!

New Year's Resolutions - Part 2 of 3: Adopting a Fitness Routine

Maintaining and even developing a fitness routine that we can stick to is often quite tricky. There isn't a one-size-fits-all when it comes to exercise. It needs to be fun to be maintained and enjoyed - 'enjoyed' being the key word here, what one person loves another may loathe. Otherwise it becomes as fun as poking your own eyes out with a fork.

Just because your friend loves hitting the gym every evening doesn't mean you should and because you don't you're 'lazy' or 'not getting into the spirit of things'. Not everyone likes to work out in a room full of mirrors stretching as far as the eye can see under the most unflattering lighting in the world. Each to their own as they say.

I've created a list below that isn't exactly revolutionary, but I break down each approach by showing you the plus sides to exercising in this way. So you'll be able to see which methods agree with your attitude and ticks your boxes, e.g. you may work in a very busy environment and like to exercise in private, treating your exercise time as 'you' time away from the madding crowds. So finding a jogging route that's off the beaten track may be more your style. Take a look at the ideas below and see what takes your fancy. It may also get you thinking about other forms of exercise which aren't here but still attract you...

Lose Yourself & Your Troubles: Jogging

For some people I know they love nothing more than to switch off, favourite music in their ears and pummel the tarmac for a good hour or so. It's not just their way of keeping fit and nimble, it's their way of dealing with the world - getting away from it all and coming back refreshed and rejuvenated. For them it's just like a form of meditation and it has been proven that exercise benefits the brain as well as the body!

The great thing about jogging is you really don't have to think that much. No need for inductions, rules or how-to's other than it's probably a good idea to warm up and cool down in between. So it frees your mind to wander, play and digest the day's events, problems and create solutions even if you're not actually thinking about anything in particular. Like sleeping on some things, sometimes your brain works best when it's left to meander and solves problems even while you're not thinking about them!

If you like this approach, then the more private your jogging route the better too. I was lucky when I used to jog I lived in a very remote village with backroads and lanes that wound on for miles often without the disturbance of a car or person in sight! This won't be easy for everyone but let's face it, if you know your town or local area well I'm sure you know some walks, roads or footpaths that are often quiet and out of the way. Just make sure they're safe and if you take this approach in a town or city don't leave the exercise until too late.

Variety is the Spice of Life: The Gym

You may want more range and diversity in your exercise routine in terms of pushing and strengthening different areas of your body. Access to all of the different equipment that strengthen, tone and sculpt your body will all be found in the gym. You'll also get access to professional help as well as all members get full inductions on where everything is, what's available and how to use the equipment onsite. In addition if you fancy the help of a personal trainer to drive you and maintain your routine then this would be a perfect form of exercise for you.

Not only that but you get what you pay for: You can really go to town with the facilities and treat yourself to different varieties of exercise. Some gyms also have pools nearby if you fancy a swim instead. And most if not all have sauners and steam rooms for winding down and detoxing afterwards. So if you like to do it properly and make a full-on ritual of it, the gyms really do tick all of the boxes.

This is however a committed form of exercise. Well, all forms should be but you do pay good money for your membership and the better the range of equipment and facilities the more hefty the fee. Make sure you're positive about joining a gym, ask around and see which ones are the favourites in your area. You don't want to join only to flake out on going after a couple of months and waste all of that cash. For those of you on lower budgets or a bit worried about fitting it in often enough, there are 'Pay As You Go' gyms popping up all over the place now, so do some research and see if one is in your local area...

Sweat it out in front of Your TV: Fitness at Home

I'm now giving DVDs a try since my usual excuse to exercise is "it's too cold outside" Fitness DVDs are great during the winter months because you don't have to trudge to a gym and you have the comfort of knowing that you can stay in indoors and get fit all without leaving the house! There's a great variety of DVDs available now, usually something to suit everyone's tastes no matter what you're in to:

Dance Music

The Ministry of Sound have recently released a fitness DVD "Pump It Up! The Ultimate Dance Workout". It's only £6.98 from Amazon, (that's less than a meal out!) and is crammed full of great dance routines.

Perfect if you like your dance music, but if you're not fussed about the tunes you still get to exercise to something a little different while someone instructs you. The exercises all vary in difficulty and length so you can choose which ones suit your mood and how much you want to be challenged.

Dance Moves & More

"Yoga Booty Ballet" is not just a funny name (in fact the name made me cringe at first), it's actually a really motivating fitness DVD with a twist. It's possibly a little cheesy for some tastes, but this video is great because not only does it guide you through dance routines to keep you fit, but it also teaches you how to pose in various yoga moves, works on your poise and offers meditation techniques.

If that's not enough, not only are there your standard dance routines included, but you can also practice ballet dance moves too - hence the title ; ) This DVD does require you to buy some weights before you get started as some of the exercises will use these.

Get Fit with Friends

Or you could opt for the Wii Fit - this is a bit of a serious investment, but unlike the gym it will only be a one-off payment! Of course if you already have the Wii console then all you need is the game and the Wii Fit Board - however it's a lot of serious investment if you don't have the console, in this case costing you around £200!

But the great advantages you get with the Wii Fit is that you can get fit with friends and family adding to the fun and could help you commit to a routine if you feel you need the additional motivation of extra company! You can practise and perfect yoga moves, aerobics, build your strength and balance.

Who Said it had to Feel Like a Chore?: Dance Classes

More and more people are turning to dance as their ultimate choice of exercise, because dance doesn't feel like exercise but still burns the calories. It's fun, it's sociable, it's challenging and can be very sexy - all of the things that a lady loves, n'est pas?! The options below are only a scratch on the surface of the variety of dance classes on offer but a great cross-section for all tastes...

Street Dance

Street dance is no longer restricted to the street, those hip-hop funky moves can be learnt by all now in the comfort of a studio. This is the modern dance class for those who like to shake it up a little! It really challenges you physically and allows for you to improve your overall posture and confidence when it comes to dancing socially on a night out!

Salsa

Salsa is brilliant for socialising and meeting new people. It's all about partnering up, swapping partners throughout the class session and learning together. It maybe not for the shy, but you do learn some very classy sashaying and for a lady whose maybe on the lookout for a date this is hot; for a guy - tell a lady you know how to salsa and she'll be putty in your hands!

Dance Aerobics

Dance aerobics is a workout for those who don't like to mess around and is not for the faint-hearted (no pun intended!) You'll really get your heart rate going but with the added bonus of doing all the exercises in time to music - warning: your instructor will drive you if they can see you flagging! These sessions are possibly best for those of you who like to really hit the ground running and perhaps maintain other forms of exercise during the week.

Tone Your Mind as well as Your Body: Yoga

Not only is yoga great for your strength and keeping you lean, it's fantastic for the soul! I know women who've done it for 20 years and more and they wouldn't stop doing it for the world. Someone once told me that she saw a sixty year old woman bend and flex so well and as a result it inspired her to be the same at that age!

Who says you have to be walking around with a zimmer frame and a dodgy hip by seventy?! If you start yoga now and maintain it for life, your body will thank you and reward you for it. Many people also do it for the sheer clear-out of negative energy that clogs their minds up (which in turn affects the body in multiple ways) and to keep a calm, positive outlook in the class and outside...!

If you're at all worried about the contortion and being able to push your body to those sorts of limits, you shouldn't be. Do ask around and get advice on teachers in your local area - see if you can get recommendations and why those people would recommend! A great yoga teacher will not push or punish but customise and assist, so that over time you get the knack and eventually achieve results.

Everyone learns and develops at different rates and the best teachers know this. Don't be afraid to muck in and have a go but learn that while your neighbour may be far more able than you, you will get it in time. If you can find classes that are divided into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced then even better.

Product Review - Weleda Iris Cream

This has been my moisturiser of choice for the past month as I wanted to try a natural, light moisturiser ideal for combination skins that doesn't strain the purse strings! This Weleda cream has been formulated to moisturise but balance the oil production in your skin - i.e. help your skin produce more in drier areas and less in oilier areas all with the help of iris that like lavender helps to regulate the skin's moisture naturally.

I've really enjoyed using a moisturiser that I know won't be plugging my skin with anything other than what it needs and it's nice to go back to nature and rely on something like iris to help combat problematic combination skin. Beneath is Weleda's product description so let's see if it lives up to their hype:

A refreshingly light moisturiser that is quickly absorbed... Suitable for vegetarians. Organic Jojoba Oil, biodynamic Iris Root extract and other pure plant extracts help support the skin's natural functions, leaving it feeling healthy, refreshed and smooth. Natural essential oils provide a light, fine fragrance. Tip: Iris Moisture Cream is also recommended as a base for make-up.

Refreshingly light?

Definitely, despite appearances with it looking more like a heavy cream and maybe feeling so to the touch, it goes on like a very light gel, you need only enough for your skin to suitably absorb and no more! A one pence piece-sized amount or less is all that you need to sufficiently moisturise your entire face.

Quickly absorbed?

Absolutely! Once worked in the cream sinks in beautifully and fast, leaving no greasy residue or build-up so it really is perfect as a daytime moisturiser and it leaves no nasty sheen either.

Suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, there are absolutely no animal extracts or derivatives in the cream whatsoever, so it's not only friendly to your face it's friendly to the environment and animals. You'll also be pleased to hear that it comes in a recyclable aluminium tube and cardboard box.

Organic jojoba oil, iris root extract and other pure plant extracts?

Yes, yes and yes. The other pure plant extracts are: witch hazel (great for oily skins and combating bacteria that cause blemishes), beeswax and calendula flower extract. On top of that there are no artificial additives - Weleda pride themselves on making products without synthetic fragrances, preservatives or chemicals.

Healthy. refreshed and smooth?

Yes, surprisingly, as when you've applied it it does such an effective job of soaking in that it almost feels like it might not do the trick of nourishing enough. But it always leaves my skin velvet-soft, non-slippery but the scent and the natural extracts make it feel like it's doing a great job without the horrible, unnecessary excess of artificial ingredients!

Natural oils provide light, fine fragrance?

Yes, there is no artificial perfume or fragrance in the moisturiser whatsoever so what you smell is 100% natural which is lovely because it really smells nice!

Base for makeup?

I would definitely say so. I still use a primer underneath my foundation but because the moisturiser is light and easily absorbed leaving no traces it makes a great base for makeup unlike some moisturisers that create an oily barrier slip-sliding your makeup half way down your face by afternoon!

Overall...

Suitable for all budgets retailing online at £8.95 but I swear I bought mine at a local organic store for £7.95, this moisturiser really is worth a try. It won't be nourishing or intensive enough for drier skins but if you suffer from oily or combination skin then you should definitely give this a go. Bear in mind with its all-natural ingredients its shelf life is only nine months after opening.

Would I buy again? Yes but my only concern is how this moisturiser might fair in the summer months - on days where I've been busy on my feet and got a little hot indoors the oil isn't quite kept at bay as my Mary Kay moisturiser used to do. So I'd need to wait to see how it copes. Bear this in mind as you may have to combine it with a mattifier if you want to keep oil at bay all day.

Product Review - Aveda Botanicals Kinetics Hydrating Lotion

One of my friends used to work at an Aveda salon and as a result I've got a backlog of Aveda freebies stocked up in my cupboard. Today I'm reviewing their Botanicals Kinetics facial moisturiser - Hydrating Lotion.

I've been using it daily for over a month now but as my skin is combination I only use it as a night moisturiser as it's too rich for me in the day under my makeup. It's supposed to be one of their best sellers and I can see why: the product's very creamy and soothing as you put it on and the next morning my skin feels ultra nourished and velvet-soft, something I really appreciate with the sub-zero temperatures we've been having!

If you like your products to be gorgeously scented then this would be perfect for you as you can really smell the lavender and chamomile, it's quite strong, in fact I would go as far to say that this moisturiser has a fairly unisex scent - it's not too girly so you may find the other half borrowing it... However there is some synthetic fragrance in it so for those of you with sensitive skins I'm not sure how you'd get on with skin irritation! This product doesn't claim to be hypoallergenic so weigh this up if you're at all unsure...

So let's take their product breakdown as listed on their website and see if it does what is says on the bottle:

Nurturing your skin comes naturally with this quick-absorbing lotion—containing emollients derived from coconut, jojoba and other naturally-derived ingredients—that replenishes moisture with a gentle touch. Camomile and lavender blend helps promote a soft, supple skin texture.

• Leaves skin feeling resilient and moisture-refreshed
• Protects from dehydration
• For all skin types

Quick-absorbing?

Fairly, but in the summer months I'm not sure it is as quick-absorbing as when my skin is on the drier side. If your skin is oily bear in mind it may take some working in, you may not like the texture or sensation so much as it tends to leave a layer for a couple of minutes.

Coconut, jojoba and other naturally-derived ingredients?

Check, check and check! This blissful moisturiser also contains lavender extract, chamomile extract, rosemary leaf extract and rice bran oil so it's full of natural derivatives. However the basic premise of Aveda's products is that they use the 'science of nature' but they're not without some artificial ingredients. However you will find these fairly minimal and there are no parabens in this moisturiser.

Soft, supple skin?

Definitely! The next morning when I wake after using this, it sounds cheesy but my skin really does feel baby-soft and very nourished. I had a few flaky patches from the chilly weather but they've completely gone since using this every night.

Resilient and moisture-refreshed?

This moisturiser has been a total god-send for me this winter. There have been a few occasions before I started to use it when my face has ended up very weather-beaten and dry from a day in blustery winds, crying out for moisture. As soon as I put this on it relieved the tense, tight feeling immediately and nourished so well that by morning it felt as if I had a new face, ha!

Protects from dehydration?

Absolutely. This lotion really has made a difference as in the day my skin feels a lot more protected even when I'm wearing a much less creamy moisturiser during the daytime.

For all skin types?

I wouldn't be so sure. As I don't have sensitive skin I can't vouch for this but I would warn those of you with sensitive faces to approach with caution. Equally if your skin's quite oily you may find this only exacerbates the situation!

Overall...

The lotion is a little on the pricey side retailing at £32.00, so it's certainly not for all pockets and possibly not suitable for those with sensitive skin, but if you have dry or combination skin I can really recommend this, especially as a night moisturiser or one for the winter months as you do really feel the benefit. Would I buy now that I've sampled? Seeming as I can really feel the benefits and you get quite a lot of moisturiser for your money (it's rich too so a little goes very far) then yes!

New Year's Resolutions - Beauty Inside & Out: Part 1 of 3

I don't know about you, but I've got a HEAP of New Year's resolutions for 2010. They all vary in terms of subject: some are mental spring cleaning goals, others are career resolutions and one is keeping fit. Granted the last one isn't particularly original and I bet at least one of you out there is in the same boat!

The trouble is after a month into the year the good intentions are intact but the actual putting-into-practice isn't quite so much... We've all been there, but there are ways to make life a little easier when it comes to exercise and maintaining a really great diet.

So whether you're aiming to improve your diet, fitness routine or beauty regime - or maybe all three - here's one of three instalments to give you a helping hand so that by this time next year, you won't be rolling your eyes at the thought of you making the same resolution another year in a row. After all, your internal well-being means looking great on the outside will be a cinch ; )

Part 1 of 3: Improving your Diet

I'm not talking about hitting the Slim Fast. Or the Atkins diet. Or restricting yourself to blended juices only. I'm talking about healthy eating - not denial of certain foodstuffs, nutrients or anything that makes you happy! Diets don't work because they're not sustainable, they usually involve incredible limitations on what you can actually eat.

All that drudgery makes you feel you have a mountain to climb and often leaves you thinking more about the food you love but can't have than anything else. Never mind that most of these diets are incredibly bad for your body and mind. Sure enough, diets are often the first thing to go out of the window!

The essential point to remember is that it's all about balance. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "a healthy balanced diet"? Well not only does it address the balance of all the essential nutrients, but it's all about moderation. Everyone's different and you may want to adapt the following a bit to suit your lifestyle but here's my tips for maintaining a healthy body - and not going crazy whilst you do so:

Don't start off with the 'shoulds' or 'shouldn'ts' when addressing your eating habits - that sets things off to a very dull start and makes the whole goal feel like a chore. Instead look at what you enjoy from a meal, what keeps you going and what you can do without:

What foods do you really love?

You may really love a good steak, or fresh fruit, steak and ale pie or smoked salmon. I'm not talking about temptations like chocolate (yet!), I'm talking about food you can have every day that you love to eat.

Once you've made a list of all these elements come up with recipes whereby you can include a good amount of vegetables or fruit around that particular food. For instance if you love a good steak and ale pie, you could have one a week but make sure you include three portions of veg - e.g. parsnips, carrots and leeks. Vegetables don't have to boring - you can sprinkle rosemary onto potatoes and roast them in the oven or glaze parsnips and carrots in honey for instance. Find a combination you love and sticking to eating the good stuff won't feel so tricky!

What do you need to survive a day on the go?

A big breakfast? A couple of snacks? A hearty lunch? I can't start the day without a bowl of cereal - if I eat anything else it never keeps me sated until lunch and I end up wanting to snack. You might however need to eat little and often to keep you going instead of having an official three square meals a day. Whatever you feel you need stick to. But any excess can be cut.

If you have three square meals a day you might not need snacks so often. If you feel sluggish or lightheaded without them though why not replace your packet of crisps with a packet of mixed nuts or replace your chocolate buttons with dried mango slices? Snacking can still be as tasty but less calorific!

Is there anything you eat that you feel you could do without?

We all do it now and then - eat or drink something so often we do it without thinking and if we did think about it a bit more, we'd realise that we probably don't appreciate or really need it. That cupcake after your sandwich - do you really need it? Or do you often sit at your desk afterwards thinking "Hmmm, I could have given that a miss"? Or when you do a supermarket run and you instinctively grab that chocolate bar - could you leave it? Or if you're going to do it, could you cut it down to once a week?

Don't go denial crazy!

Once or twice a week I allow myself something naughty. For all my efforts at staying healthy I think it's fine to have an indulgence every so often. Complete denial of my favourite treats has led to overcompensating later on - it just doesn't work. Whereas if once or twice a week I let myself have my favourite chocolate bar I don't feel guilty and it usually satisfies the craving until the next week.

You'd be surprised at how much you'll appreciate your treats that way, enjoy them more and don't end up feeling like needing one every single day! The point is you can eat the foods you enjoy - just work out what your favourites are and learn to work them in once or twice a week as rewards for anything - a promotion, jogging 3 miles rather than 2, being a great girlfriend ; )

Eat for your activity

By this I mean if you work an office job the chances of you burning off a lot of calories and needing to compensate for this are slim. You're actually better off with a smaller lunch and one that won't be so carbohydrate-intense - a huge baguette, pasta or a full-on bowl of noodles are all rich in carbs. Whilst tempting at the time they'll only send you to sleep half way through the latter half of the afternoon as your blood sugar levels crash.

Try eating a bowl of soup - without the bread roll! Chunky soups often fill the gaps fantastically, are low in calories and leave you feeling satisfied until dinner time. Or sushi is just as filling but great in warmer climates or summer months. You don't have to stick to salad, there are inventive ways to satisfy the hunger but without the regret.

However if you work outside, work out a lot or your job is physically demanding, you're going to need more than a bowl of cereal for brekkie, soup for lunch and a small dinner. You are more likely to need carbohydrates - a healthy pasta dish with mustard dressing for instance will keep you fuelled as you go. You may require a more fuelling breakfast too like granola, yoghurt and honey with a banana and hemp shake for instance.

In summary, the more you burn, the more you need - if you're eating more than you burn off look for ways to trim down your portions. If you're feeling fatigued but do a strenuous job then you may need to incorporate some healthy snacks in between meals to keep you going!

Lip Balms & Hand Creams - What Works, What Doesn't & Why

With the chill of winter making itself well and truly comfortable, skin starts to cry out for moisture: Lips become dry and cracked just when we need them lush for the many opportunities under the mistletoe. And hands turn flaky and leathery as soon as we start thinking about having our party manicures.

For years now I've constantly struggled to find a hand cream that actually does what it claims to. I've been using a hand cream that boasts to moisturise even after you've washed your hands - it's complete rubbish. As soon as I wash them, the silky smooth feeling that came with the handcream is down the sink and my skin looks cracked, dry and a complete state once more!

As of late my last lip balm had stopped having its desired effects as well. So recently I've been in a pretty poor state skinwise, ha! However having spoken with Gemma from Anderra and doing further research since I've discovered that many hand creams and lip balms on the market don't do their jobs because there are certain ingredients in them that only produce false or short-lived effects.

Take a look at the labels and see if you recognise any of the below:

Petrolatum or Petroleum

You may recognise this ingredient because it's the basis to Vaseline - something I've seen nearly every girl slather on hands, elbows, eyelids and lips. All this ingredient does is seal moisture out, it doesn't provide moisture to the skin whatsoever. Meanwhile it also seals out oxygen preventing skin from breathing and traps in toxins - not really what you want from a moisturiser!

It's added to cosmetics to make you think that it's doing its job when in fact once you wash it off the effects are gone. Further research shows that petroleum, like petrol, is carcenogenic. Remind me why we use this so enthusiastically?! I once opened an ancient tub of Vaseline at home a few years ago and remember it smelt like a petrol station. Trust me if you smelt an out-of-date tub/tin you'd think twice about using it anywhere on your body. I've therefore never felt compelled to use this. Ever.

Mineral Oil

This is a by-product of petroleum, therefore having the same effects and incurring the same problems. If it's in your hand cream and you're wondering why it's not really working for you, it's because mineral oil is simply greasy, but it has no benefit like bringing moisture to your skin.

Propylene Glycol

Another by-product from petroleum posing the same problems as the ingredients listed above.

Camphor, Menthol, Phenol

Added to lip balms for a cooling effect so you think that they're soothing the sore, chapped sensation you suffer in times of cold weather. You feel a tingling but all the ingredient is doing is drying out your skin further. So you reapply, reapply and reapply. Oh and then run out so you buy more of the product sooner. Clever maths from cosmetic companies...

Salicylic Acid

If you think you've seen this in acne treatments and skin care products for oily skins, you'd be right. It's a great exfoliant and is intended to dry skin rather than add moisture. Believe it or not though, this ingredient is added a-plenty to lip balms, drying and peeling your lips as you wear it.

Fragrance

Some fragrance, whilst nice for the senses, can dry out the skin, especially when combined with alcohol. If you have sensitive skin, fragrance can also irritate it. If you can overcome the temptation to have your lip balm or hand cream smell of fruits or an equally delicious scent then opt for the fragrance-free variety - it will be much gentler in the long-run.

Silicone Oil

This ingredient's added to glosses, lip balms and even lipsticks to make them stay put for longer and prevent pigment in tinted lip moisturiser, lip gloss, or lipstick from transferring. But like mineral oil it too locks out moisture and doesn't provide any benefit to your skin.

The Alternatives?

What then, do you use if your lip balm or hand cream has any of these ingredients? I've come up with a list of products for you to look into as great alternatives that will cure you of your dry-skinned woes without the nasty side-effects and many are even multi-purpose giving you more for your money:

Badger Balm Healing Balm

This one's perfect for people who work outdoors or who, like me, suffer from chapped, dry hands in the depths of winter. Full of wonderful ingredients like Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Beeswax it will provide the natural solution to your skin's upsets. Use it as a lip balm or moisturise with it, it really is multi-purpose because the ingredients are so safe and natural! This balm smells great too and comes in a massive tub - you can take a look here.

Alba Un-Petroleum Lip Balm & Multi-purpose Jelly

If you can't go a day without your Vaseline why not switch to Un-Petroleum lip balm? It's completely petroleum, petrolatum, paraffin and mineral oil-free making it much safer and does a much more effective job too : ) It also comes in a variety of scents including Cherry, Tangerine and Vanilla. The multi-purpose jelly can also be used to remove makeup as well as soothe and cure dry skin. Find more details at www.unpetroleum.com

Steam Cream

I haven't tried this myself, but word on the street is this is the new craze in skincare. It's becoming vastly popular because it provides much more effective moisturisation due to the way it's produced. Because of the use of steam in the manufacturing process, the emulsion is held together very loosely so that when you apply it to your skin it breaks down faster allowing for better absorption into the skin.

If that's not enough, each pot only costs £9.95 and also comes in many pretty boxes of different designs: you choose which one you prefer - it makes beautifying more fun and colourful! Not only is it safe for hands, you can use it on your face and body. You can browse and find out more here.

Lush Lip Balms

Last weekend I bought the Christmas edition lip balm 'Let Them Eat Cake'. It smells like toffee, vanilla or even Sailor Jerry's - when I use it you can smell it across the room - my boyfriend can tell when I've put it on, people ask me what it is all the time and the smell lingers long after you've left a room.

The great thing is that the fragrance is derived from completely natural ingredients - if you can smell sherry, it's because there's sherry in the lip balm. And vanilla absolute. But instead of useless, cheating mineral oils this beauty saviour has organic olive oil in it - a favourite natural moisturiser, hoorah! This one comes thoroughly recommended (I bought two pots to see me through the year). Get yourself down to your local Lush store or shop online at www.lush.co.uk

Green People Help At Hand

For those of you who like your hand creams to do their job but not be heavy or greasy this one is the answer. This light hand cream contains Geranium and Lavender to help your skin return to its former glory. This one's completely organic and is free from all preservatives and other synthetic ingredients. You can find out more at Green People. As testament to its effectiveness, this is out of stock until January on Green People's website! If you want some now however you can find it on other online stores like There Must Be A Better Way.

Lush Helping Hands

This hand cream is also ideal at this time of year because of its ultra soothing and nourishing ingredients. A popular product among nurses and those who work outside due to all of their exposure to detergent and the great outdoors. Many claim this to be their saving grace when all other hand creams couldn't even come close. Coming in at only £5.94 a pot I think that it's at least worth a go. Try www.lush.co.uk to get your hands on some or pop in-store for a sample!