Body: REN Moroccan Rose Otto range

Moroccan Rose Otto body lotion £26, ultra-moisture body oil £34, and sugar body polish £32

From REN available at www.marksandspencer.com

When it comes to scent, there are few aromas more luxurious, evocative and calming as rose. Alongside its historic association with love, fidelity and romance, it is widely used in aromatherapy to soothe anger, ease anxiety and alleviate depression. You may not find yourself the recipient of a beautiful bouquet of roses as often as you might like, but with REN's Moroccan Rose Otto range in the bathroom, you will be too calm, too pampered and too indulged to notice.

As the name suggests, Moroccan roses are the cornerstone of these products, and REN's famous bath oil (not photographed here) contains the essence of 10,000 petals. Those of you who have experienced a rose garden in the height of summer will recall the feeling of being enveloped in that deep, heady scent and feeling utterly soothed. Imagine adding that fragrance to hot water in a candlelit bathroom and you can only begin to get a sense of the seductive intensity of these products.

The standout for me is the sugar body polish which leaves skin silky smooth and wonderfully scented. This is most definitely not a product for a quick scrub in the shower, but one for those pampering winter ablutions where bathing transcends the functional and becomes almost ritualistic.

Marks & Spencer is offering some fantastic REN gift sets which start from £25 and include all the products in the photo above, as well as a body wash. Clever REN always make it easy for you to try their products before committing to full size purchases, and indeed, to make your travels more luxurious with their decadent minis. It will make the perfect gift for a loved one this Christmas, or as an indulgent treat for those of you who need to zap the stresses of modern life.

Offer: 20% off at Cult Beauty

I'm not normally one for posting about discounts but the fabulous Cult Beauty has 20 per cent off until midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 12 February and the site carries some of my all time favourite brands. It would be rude not to take advantage!

I'll be stocking up on some of my favourite shampoo and conditioner, what is, in my opinion, the best cleansing and moisturising masks out there by a certain spa brand and sampling some of the Rose Otto range from REN. I'm also really tempted to try some of the Perricone MD range - it all looks so amazing!

What's your favourite Cult Beauty buy? Shop their selection here.

Skincare: Glycolic Skincare Review

I'm no skincare expert, but I certainly know what I like. One thing that has slipped pretty easily into my night time routine over the past few months is a once-a-week glycolic application, and it seems to be having a rather nice effect on my 30 year old chops.

Glycolic acid gets rid of dead skin cells and targets those pesky first signs of ageing - pretty much music to my ears. Most are marketed as being gentle enough for frequent use but as it's an acid, I tend to find once a week is sufficient. 

I'm alternating between two products at the moment - REN Resurfacing AHA Concentrate and Bliss That's Incredi-'peel'! pads. 

The Bliss pads are a higher 'spa strength' concentration and need to be followed with a moisturiser a few minutes after application. REN advises to follow application with the serum in the range but I have to confess that I've just used it on its own before bed and all has been well. Waking up to radiant skin that lasts for the next few days makes these products the perfect investment for me.

At the moment, I'm using REN at home and pack the Bliss sachets for nights away. The slight fiddly opening of the Bliss sachets is the only thing that has pushed them slightly behind REN for convenience, but I would always want to have a supply of these at home to pack for holidays as they take up zero space.

One thing to be aware of when using glycolic is that you must use an SPF for a few days after your treatment (that said, you're hopefully using an SPF everyday anyway, so won't need to do anything extra!)

REN AHA Resurfacing Concentrate is £30 and available here.

Bliss That's Incredi-'peel'! pads are £39 and available here.

Skincare: Luxtural Skin Care

Luxtural, Luxtural. Where do I begin?

I was lucky enough to attend an event with Luxtural's creator, Pnina Vilinsky, in autumn last year. After a one-to-one consultation with the former Sisley and Estee Lauder skincare maestro, I walked away with a bag containing the full Luxtural range and wearing a smile after Pnina guessed my age as 25 when I'm actually 30. Is there a better way to spend an hour after work?

Before I say anything else, the Luxtural range is expensive, the three products totaling £438. That said, I'm at the age where anti-ageing is at the top of my skincare concerns, and not being particularly pro-botox, any non-surgical option to hold back those first signs of ageing is something that I'm constantly on the look out for.

All that said, it's a lot of money, so my testing had to be rigorous. I started out using all three products - the Hydrating Rainy Mist, Silk Premonition moisturiser and Sophisticated Veil serum - and within a week, my skin felt like silk and was glowing. My morning skincare routine was transformed into a luxurious pampering session with the first spritz of the beautifully scented mist, and I love that the layering of these luxurious products has never felt like a routine activity but something to be savoured.

The products are so deeply hydrating, that after the first week and on Pnina's recommendation, I found that I didn't need to use them in the evening, so reverted to my usual night cream and just used Luxtural in the morning. After three weeks, I felt I finally had the beautiful skin I'd always wanted. At four weeks, I stopped using the products.

'Why?', you're probably wondering. Well, here I was, skin radiant with the kind of glow I don't think I'd ever seen, and I wanted to make darn sure that it was down to these products. If I'm going to face a lifetime of this kind of investment, I needed to be certain they were responsible! Sure enough, over the course of the next two weeks, I watched my skin get duller as that luminosity ebbed away. At the end of my self-imposed Luxtural ban, I leapt out of bed and made for the products. As soon as I breathed in the scent of the Rainy Mist, I knew the glow wasn't far away.

Pnina advised that some of her clients use just one or two of the products, but for me, using all three together has provided the best results. Beyond the quality of the products, the packaging looks and feels luxurious which is absolutely what you'd expect from the price point (and what some more expensive ranges don't deliver). I can't deny that it's a huge amount of money, but for those of you who are reaching that age and are thinking about making a serious investment in skincare, I can't recommend this more highly. Rather than botox and corrective treatments, treating your skin to deep hydration will keep it looking young and healthy and for me, will always be a much better investment. I know not everyone will be able to spend this kind of money, but if you are thinking about dabbling in the high end skincare market, this is an absolutely incredible place to start. I don't say this lightly, but this range has completely changed my skin, and I can't look back from here.

Luxtural is available from Fenwicks.

For my policy on declaring PR samples, click here.

Makeup: 17 Blemish Balm All in One Magic Make Up Review

Today, I had one of those weird beauty blogger moments that make an ordinary make up purchase into an 'ohmygod, *HOW* have I not written about this already?' situation. You know what I'm talking about: the non-blogged about repurchase. I'm so excited about this product that I feel like a rambling tale is better than the usual structured review format. You might want to make a cuppa for this one, but if you can't be bothered reading, skip to the end for the summary review!

We all know how fickle we can be when it comes to ditching a once-beloved product in favour of a shiny new competitor. They promise us more length on our lashes, more plump in our pouts and skin that could render Photoshop obsolete and we're skipping merrily to the next counter quicker than you can say 'brand loyalty'. It's no wonder beauty ads get bigger, brighter and glossier with every product launch: we're a tough crowd!

Anyway, back to my trip to Boots, and a repurchase from a brand I never thought would be up in lights on here. Yup, it's my teenage-years go-to favourite...17! Now, back when I was a gal, 17 was all sparkly eye shadow and what I like to think of as 'training make up'. My Saturday morning trips into Manchester with the girls would invariably see someone selecting a foundation three shades too dark (hello, jawline!), *everyone* buying pressed powder and a concealer stick (the Clearasil obviously wasn't cutting it), and me wondering if blue eyeliner might be a good weekend look (it wasn't). Then, with age came a lust for the high end, and I spent many happy years drifting around various department store beauty halls (yes, that's where the name comes from), until the chemist brands got savvy and threw their money behind the endless churn of new products in a multi-million pound game of 'mine's better than yours'. 

Yet however good the products (mascara, I'm batting my lashes at you), what always let them down for me was the packaging. Often gaudy (they need to stand out), sometimes cheap, and generally none of the luxe/quirky covetability of the higher end brands, I generally only bought chemist-brand make up when there was a make up emergency and I needed something *now*. One such necessity purchase came a few months ago when a friend invited me to a restaurant opening last minute and I had no make up with me. Into Boots I strolled and lo, I spy the 17 rebrand. Charcoal boxes, a nice new font and somehow, the 17 of yore slipped from my memory. This felt grown up, and they were offering products I wanted with names I couldn't resist. 'Photo Flawless Primer', anyone? 3 for 2, you say? So it was that I walked away with an emergency black eyeliner, the primer, and the holy grail and truly magical subject of this eulogy: BB All in One Magic Make Up.

I'd been desperate to try a BB, yet they were all too dark. This one was a little darker than my skin, but applied on face and neck, it looked remarkably natural. What's more, the result was an even tone, imperfections were hidden and at the end of the night, it was still exactly the same. I used it the next day, and the next, all with perfect results. After a month, something even better happened: my skin without make up was clearer, softer, more even. For £6.99. Friends made their compliments and then went straight to Boots to buy a slice of the action, and now today, I renewed my commitment and repurchased. My Clinique City Block, Nars Sheer Glow, Bobbi Brown, Liz Earle - all once much-loved - are sitting quietly in the cupboard, and I genuinely don't see a time when I'll need to go back to them. 17 BB, you truly are Magic Make Up. Did I mention that it was £6.99? £6.99!

So, in summary: 

1. It's cheap

2. It makes your skin look amazing when you're wearing it

3. It eventually makes your skin look amazing when you're not wearing it

4. It's bloody cheap

5. Do you need another reason to go and try it?! Well, it can be yours for 699 Advantage Card points if you can't bear to part with the cash!

I'm super keen to know whether any of you have ditched your foundation in favour of BB, and indeed, what are your favourite brands? Have you tried 17's? Share the BB love with me and let's see if I can be lured away from this one!

Beauty: Slicker Than Your Average

It would be no exaggeration to say that I'm obsessed with oil products. Obsessed. As I'm currently on a make up purchasing embargo - more on that tomorrow - I'm seeking solace in all things skin and hair care. And when it comes to these glistening amber potions, who am I to refuse?

Since introducing an oil to my facial skincare routine, blemishes have become a thing of the past. Yep, even at *that* time of the month. It seems natural to conclude that skin prone to the occasional breakout is oily, and that adding more oil to the mix would be the last thing needed. I can't tell you how many times I'd see an article on facial oils that I'd read, re-read, read again, only to question a friend on it's efficacy with as many high-pitched 'really? Really?' moments as they'd tolerate. Not many, I can tell you. My long term favourite has been Liz Earle's Superskin Concentrate, but I recently scooped up The Sanctuary's Therapist's Secret Facial Oil during a 3 for 2 assault at Boots. So far, so impressive. I'm in love with the heady herbal scent of the Liz Earle version, but The Sanctuary's offering is a bargain at half the price of the full size LE oil (note: the LE oil in the pic is the travel size which is great for those wanting to try without committing).

Hair oil has become ubiquitous this year, almost to the point that I don't know how we functioned before it. I had long been dedicated to my Sunday hair ritual of coating it in olive oil, wrapping it in cling film and hoping that nobody popped over for an unscheduled visit, but the thought of using an oil pre-heat styling had me terrified that my hair would end up dry and fried rather than sleek and silky. In a not-unexpected revelation, hair oil wins my can't-live-without award as it's totally transformed my tresses. I'm a big fan of Shu Uemura, but when this bottle runs out, I have a few products with my name on them. The bottle second from left on the image above is my most beloved oil - Phytonectar - which was sadly discontinued this year. On learning this, I promptly ran to the local chemist and bought their entire stock, begging them to call their supplier to see if they had more (they didn't: sob). Phyto, if you're reading this, bring it back, please!

As for body, I alternate between Neutrogena Body Oil which is a beautifully rich, unfragranced sesame oil, and The Sanctuary's Massage and Body Oil, which is the usual concoction of potent ginger and spices, so perfect for winter. Both are incredibly reasonable, so there's no excuse for dry skin.

Now, I know what you're thinking: that's a lot of oil (and I haven't even mentioned the Rituals and Jo Malone bath ones!) You might be thinking it's enough to keep me greased up for a lifetime, especially now you know about my Phyto stockpile. Predictably, it's not enough, and I have my eye on some beauties to purchase in the new year:

1. Kerastase Elixir Ultime - Featured in The Bazaar Hot 100 Beauty List and that bottle is just what's missing from my dressing table

2. Moroccan Oil - Everyone who's tried this raves about it. It's this or the Kerastase. Or both...

3. REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil and Ultra Moisture Body Oil - It smells utterly divine and will be perfect for balmy holiday evenings

Do you use oil products in your beauty routine, and most importantly, what our your recommendations so I can add them to my shopping list :)

Lifestyle: The New Year Beauty and Style Honours

If you're anything like me, you're probably contemplating your new year's resolutions whilst surrounded by empty chocolate boxes and a half drunk glass of champagne. It's always so easy to decide these things when you have a good supply of sugar and alcohol on hand! The effort comes when we all go cold turkey on the 1st Jan! Ugh, don't mention turkey...

Anyway, I'm not talking about vowing to lose seven pounds, giving up chocolate forever and going to the gym nine times a week, but instead, those nice, achievable resolutions. The ones that involve nothing more taxing than, say, buying some fabulous new beauty products and letting them do all the hard work for you. So grab another box of chocolates, top up your wine glass, and make some simple resolutions with the help of my top picks from 2010.

If 2011 is your year for clear skin...

...then head over to Liz Earle. The fact that this brand is by far the most reviewed on my blog should give you an indication of just how much I love the range, and the skincare is without doubt best that I've ever used. Whether you have dry, oily or combination skin, Cleanse & Polish takes care all of your makeup removal and skin clearing needs, and the toner keeps everything perfectly balanced. I can't imagine my routine without C&P, and its my number one recommendation.

If 2011 is your year for fabulous hair....

...then hair oil is what you need. Shu Uemura Nourishing Hair Oil and Phyto Nectar are firm favourites, and MoroccanOil gets fantastic write ups, too. If you're on a budget, you can do a lot worse than a weekly treatment with good old olive oil, so there's really no excuse for dry tresses next year!

If 2011 is your year for style...

....then check out The Blonde Salad, Fashion Toast, Style Bubble and Park & Cube. Chiara, Rumi, Susie and Shini are by far the most stylish ladies on the blogging block, and there is always something inspirational on their regularly updated sites. The photography is fantastic, and their stunning styling is the perfect fashion fix for those of us who get a little tired of the same old images in the same old magazines.

If 2011 is your year for getting body beautiful...

...then Tracy Anderson is your girl. Her DVD is both utterly mind-boggling in its lack of explanation yet completely effective when you finally memorise it! Tracy's approach works your accessory muscles to pull everything nice and tight, leaving your muscles long, lean and feminine. Ignore the negative reviews (and subsequently, the burning in your thighs), and embrace her mat workout to get the beach body you've always wanted!

Hope that helps. What are your resolutions?

Image courtesy of solariasun.com

Skincare: By Terry Baume De Rose Review

By Terry's Baume De Rose is one of those products that seems to come with its own gravitational force for lip product obsessees like me. Ever since Laura of lollipop26writes declared it her go-to balm, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I caved in and bought one myself.

And so it was that I wandered into a packed Space NK last weekend and chalked up my first By Terry purchase. My Mum was visiting for the weekend and, as we were both suffering a bit of winter lip chappage, we got home and dipped into the gorgeously luxe pot for our first rose-scented applications. The balm smells divine, is long wearing and adds a subtle lustre to lips. It is suitably slippery for the grease-addicted amongst us, but not in the least goopy: the perfect balance!

The next morning, we compared notes on the balm's overnight performance: the uncomfortable cracked corners of both our mouths were markedly improved, and Baume De Rose was declared a success.

A week on, and I'm about a fifth of the way through this pot, which is probably something close to reckless considering its £32 price tage. I'm disappointed to say that, despite numerous liberal applications both day and night, my lips still feel uncomfortably dry when I wake up in the morning, although I've happily bid farewell to the cracked corner of my mouth that was both painful and not particularly glamorous! Consequently, I will be returning to Burt's Bees for my daily staple lip balm, and By Terry will sit bedside for occassional use. It seems strange that it worked for me on a more extreme issue but that it doesn't provide enough comfort to be used on a daily basis, but I guess everything has its purpose! I'm not sure that I would rush to buy this again, as I think there are plenty of cheaper products that deliver equal if not better results for daily use. Sigh. I was really hoping this would be my perfect balm.

That means my search continues for the perfect everyday lip balm continues, and all recommendations will be gratefully received! So come on, ladies: what are you lip balm loves?

Skincare: Nubo Cell Dynamic Stimulating Moisturiser

Given that everything as far as the eye can see is sitting under a blanket of snow, I thought I'd get in on the act and sit under my favourite winter white blanket while I catch up on blogging. I managed to catch the last train out of London yesterday so I'm happily tucked up at my parents' house and feeling very relieved that I will be spending Christmas at home! I hope your plans aren't being disrupted by the cold weather.

So here I am, with an enormous pile of products in my eyeline to make sure I get through as much as humanly possible today!

First on my list is a bit of a luxury cream in the form of NuBo's Cell Dynamic Stimulating Moisturiser SPF 20. With it's £135 price tag, I had very high expectations, and I am pleased to say I'm not disappointed with the product. The packaging is beautiful, sleek and ever so slightly space age. Let's hand over to NuBo for the description:

NuBo Cell Dynamic is a critically acclaimed super-powerful complex which activates cells to rejuvenate your skin. The innovative energy recycling system tackles anti-ageing on two fronts – crucially focusing on both the causes as well as the visual external effects.

Traditional anti-ageing formulas force your skin to work over-time to generate collagen and elastin - ultimately producing damaging waste toxins and free radicals as bi-products. This results in a sluggish metabolic cycle and skin resumes its tired and aged look.

The unique NuBo Cell Dynamic patented formula goes beyond traditional anti-ageing approach. It re-invigorates your skin – not only fighting the damage caused by external free radicals but going much deeper too, inside skin-cells.

NuBo Cell Dynamic advanced energy-recycling technology eradicates blocking toxins and radically improves the metabolic cycle to clear a pathway for effective delivery of bio active boosters creating a cycle of a self-maintained rejuvenation.

Beyond all this, it's free of parabens, SLS, petrochemicals, colours and fragrance. All round, it sounds pretty good, doesn't it? And, you know, it really is. My skin looks instantly radiant when I apply it, and over the past five weeks, I have definitely seen a bit of an improvement in my skin. I say a bit, because I don't currently have any major skin ageing concerns, although at 28, it's definitely something that I want to keep on top of. Would I spend another £135 on buying this again? I really love it, but I think my skin is still a little too young to see drastic results, although I will definitely go back to this when I'm starting to see the first of the fine lines that I'm certain aren't too far away! Saying that, its plumping and firming qualities make me wonder how long I'll be able to resist purchasing when this bottle runs out, and I will certainly want to try other products in the range. This will be a fantastic buy for women in their early to mid 30s and beyond, and I guarantee you will absolutely adore it. Everything about this product says 'luxury' and it gives considerably better results that say, Armani's Crema Nera, which I have previously raved about (which, incidentally, is double the price!)

Have you tried this brand, and do these high end luxury creams appeal to you, or are they simply just too expensive to justify?

Skincare: Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask Review

Wow, it has been ages since I last posted and I have to say, it feels good to know that I will have several posts written by the end of the night, and that there will be few items ticked off the vast 'to review' list. As any beauty addict knows, just because I'm not writing doesn't mean I haven't been buying and trying lots of lovely things that I want to share with you!

My biggest wake up call on my lax blogging of late came when I was fully prepared for a relaxing Liz Earle Deep Cleansing face mask, but found that the tube was empty. Never have I actually used up an entire product before I came to review it! This, however, gives you a good indication of just how much I loved this, and I will be repurchasing on my way to work tomorrow (nope, I can never get past John Lewis without popping in, which is unfortunate, as I pass it twice a day, Monday-Friday!)

The mask itself is the usual heady concoction of beautifully scented botanicals, containing clay, manuka honey and geranium to draw out impurities and tone and balance the skin. It's recommended for combination to oily skin, and has definitely helped me battle those pesky hormonal breakouts, which at 28, are even more frustrating than when I was a teenager! I've been using this after Cleanse & Polish and the Gentle Face Exfoliator as a twice-weekly bathtime treat, and it really is fantastically relaxing, alongside being super effective, but really, what else do we expect from the lovely Liz? As for the exfoliator, it's easily the best facial scrub I've ever used, with the grains being the perfect size to give a good deep cleanse and the cream thick enough that it doesn't all run off your skin as soon as you apply it. The exfoliator can be used as often as needed but I use it two to three times a week, depending on my skin. My boyfriend loves this product, so it's another bulk-buy for me, because as always, he likes a liberal application!

A Deep Cleansing Mask Starter kit (pictured above, which comes with the two sponges) is £12.50 and the Exfoliator is £12.25. These products aren't suitable for sensitive skin types, who should go for the Nourishing range instead.

Skincare: Nubo

I got a very special package in the post today, one that's got me much more excited than usual. Say hello to Nubo's Cell Dynamic Stimulating Moisturiser SPF 15.

While doing some research on skin ageing a few weeks ago, I stumbled across Nubo's website and quickly found myself lost in the sleek and chic world of 'cosmeceuticals', the term coined for skincare products that blur the lines between cosmetics and pharmaceutical products (and hopefully, blur the lines on our faces, too!) Some of you may recall from past posts that I used to work for a world renowned dermatologist who specialises in anti-ageing research - oh, the samples he used to give us! Consequently, I have a great interest in the science of skin ageing and the products that have been developed to address our major age-related concerns, which in some cases, have been proven to reverse the signs of ageing. Yes, I'm talking about No. 7's Protect & Perfect serum...again!

Nubo's range starts at £30 and goes all the way up to an eye watering £200 (this product retails at £135). My project over the next month will be to test a range of cosmeceutical skincare products to see which of them live up to their promises, and which are a waste of money, whether they're reasonably priced chemist brands like the No.7 serum or the high end luxury of Nubo's range.

I'll be reporting back after 3-4 weeks so stay tuned!

What are your thoughts on cosmeceuticals? Are you attracted by skincare products that are developed on sound scientific research, or do you dismiss it as another marketing ploy to get us to spend yet more money?

Loves and Loathes: October

I start my new job a week tomorrow and it's made me realise that I really need to get better organised when it comes to writing blog posts. At the moment, I am a freelance consultant, who works from home, which means that it's not difficult for me to spend an hour here and there writing whenever the mood takes me. But next week sees me return to office life full time, so it won't be quite as practical for me to spend a lunch hour photographing my latest beauty buys! For that reason, I'm going to try and get some regular themed posts, like this one: Loves and Loathes.

Loves

Shu Uemura Nourishing Hair Oil - I have never had a product that is more 'in' than this one, and I can honestly say I'd give up every single thing in my hair and beauty product collection to keep hold of this little beauty: it's THAT good. In the 6 weeks I've been using it, my hair has gone from quite dry, occasionally dull and unruly, to shiny, silky gorgeousness. Despite using it 3 times a week, I have used about a tenth of the bottle, making the £32.50 spent on it pretty good value.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex - I have a love/hate relationship with eye creams. I have invested so much money in creams, gels and lotions that have done absolutely nothing to moisturise or brighten my under eye area and was starting to lose faith in ever finding anything that works. Then in steps this little miracle. I managed to get my hands on a month's supply of this product when it came out and it's done everything that I always hope an eye cream will do. Dark circles have been reduced, and my under eye skin looks radiant and plump with health. I will definitely be buying this when my supply runs out.

Lookbook.nu - I could quite easily lose myself in this website. I absolutely love style blogs and this website is almost like a speed style blogging experience! I have found so many fabulous bloggers since coming across this site, so to ensure my reading list doesn't expand to the realms of the ridiculous, I am really restricting the number of times I'm allowed to look at it!!

Loathes

Chipped nail varnish - I ran out of my beloved Barry M 3 in 1 basecoat last week and haven't been able to get my hands on a replacement bottle yet. In the few days since it ran out, I have worn two different nail polishes, both of which have chipped within a day! I quite enjoy painting my nails, but having to touch them up every 24 hours is slightly ridiculous. I'm really lucky to have naturally strong nails that grow to a nice, elegant length, but I so often find myself wishing I had an excuse to get gel nails! The thought of ruining my natural nails really bothers me, so maybe I will look into having my nails Minxed to cut down on my home manicures. Either that or I'll just go and buy the Barry M basecoat!

Sugar - You may have read my post about cutting sugar out of my diet. I've managed to eliminate the vast majority of refined sugar from my diet and, although it's been tough, I'm really happy that I've made the decision to avoid it. Over the past 7 days, I've felt healthier and had more energy which has really boosted my commitment to stay away from it long term, so I hope I the resolve stays! I can't promise that as the night's draw in, I will be able to say no to the occasional hot chocolate, but the long term impacts of a sugary diet will hopefully be enough to help me resist temptation!

Body: Sugar

I'm sure you've all seen or heard about the reports published a few weeks ago on the effects of sugar in our diets. Most of us think of fat as our number one enemy to looking good and feeling healthy, but evidence shows that sugar in our diets will prematurely age skin, as well as contribute to causing other conditions such as tooth decay and diabetes. Sugar is proven to be as addictive as heroin, with tests showing withdrawal symptoms like headaches, cravings and forgetfulness when it's removed from the diet. Have you ever felt like that after a bowl full of broccoli?

So what happens when we consume sugar? The basic science is that sugar is energy in one of its simplest forms. This means that the body can instantly absorb it without having to convert it or break it down into a usable format, which is why we so often reach for a chocolate bar when we're tired or need an energy boost. But did you know that it takes only half a teaspoon of sugar to pick up our energy levels, when the average chocolate bar contains seven teaspoons? After eating such quantities of sugar, our bodies need to control this energy spike, so insulin is produced to regulate our blood sugar levels. Insulin promotes the storage of fat, so a diet high in simple sugars will mean that you're more prone to weight gain, putting you at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Is that chocolate bar sounding less appealing now?

If that wasn't enough to put you off, how about the fact that sugar contributes to skin ageing? According to Dr Frederic Brandt, "In a nutshell, sugar hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen, both key skin proteins. In other words, it actively ages you." This process occurs because sugar consumption triggers a process called glycation, where sugar binds to the collagen and elastin fibres in our skin, making them less elastic until they break. The collagen and elastin proteins then mutate, resulting in the formation of new molecules called Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) which destroy the stronger type II and type III collagens, leaving skin without its spring. What this basically means is that skin sags and wrinkles because there is reduced collagen and elastin to prevent this from happening. Estimates say that a diet without sugar helps people look up to 10 years younger!

I've always known about the health impacts of sugar, and thought that I had a fairly healthy diet (despite my love of white pasta). After researching the impact of sugar on the skin, I have to say, I was shocked to realise that my love of fruit, honey and even the occassional diet drink and glass of wine are all contributing to my continued cravings for the sweet stuff.

Consequently, I have cut down on all sugar sources over the past six days (although I am still keeping some fruit in my diet), and I have to say, I feel great. I am a big advocate of a balanced diet which in my opinion has to include carbohydrates (unless you have a medical reason to exclude them), so I have swapped refined white pasta and rice to the wholewheat 'as nature intended' versions, the teaspoon of honey I have in my daily berry smoothie has been replaced with a squeeze of agave nectar which tastes as delicious as it sounds, and the cans of Diet Coke I would treat myself to every now and again will be skipped to ensure that their artificial sweeteners don't continue to fuel my cravings for sugar.

Here are my top tips for cutting sugar out of your diet:

1. Even those of us who consume relatively little sugar will find this a struggle for the first few days. Headaches and cravings are all likely on days 1-3, and you may feel like crap by day 4. But by day 5, you'll have increased energy and will start to wonder what you ever saw in sugar!

2. If you already consume a lot of refined sugar, this is going to be a tough one. Instead of cutting it out completely and going cold turkey, do it stage by stage. For example, if you have more than one sugary snack per day, try replacing one of those snacks with a slice of wholemeal toast with a thick spread of humous, or a handful of unsalted brazil nuts or almonds, which are packed with good fats and will release energy slowly. If you have one sugary snack a day and don't want to stop straight away, buy a smaller version (i.e. swap a Mars bar for a KitKat - there's no way I'm recommending you eat half and store the rest of it for tomorrow as chocolate can speak to you from the fridge!) for the first few days and then switch over to the snacks suggested above. For sugary drink lovers, fill a two litre bottle of water and drink from that all day. When your energy dips, reach for nuts or seeds instead of the Coke.

3. Check the labels on EVERYTHING you buy, and avoid processed foods as much as you can. Any ingredient that ends is '-ose' is a sugar (i.e. glucose, fructose) and is therefore to be avoided. Fruit juices should be cut out wherever possible, and healthy looking snacks like dried fruit are one of the biggest sugar fiends, so avoid them if you're serious about this! Nothing is safe from sugar: check your 'healthy' breakfast cereals and even your loaf of bread. Sugar is added to so many more products than you would expect!

4. Get organised: plan your weekly meals (including lunches at work) and shop for ingredients at the beginning of the week, including buying a good stock of snacks. Knowing what you're going to eat for every meal and being prepared will mean that you are less likely to order a pizza because there's nothing to eat.

5. Swap refined, white carbs for their wholewheat equivalent. Yes, brown rice takes ages to cook, but some genius realised that it can be frozen, so buy yourself a bag and don't give me any excuses about not having time :) The texture and nutty taste can take a little adjustment at first, so plan meals with tasty sauces like a homemade chilli con carne with rice (or 'chilli con Quorn-ay' as the meat-free version is known in our house!) or a pasta bolognese. Remember, pre-prepared sauces will often contain sugars, so source some good recipes (I'm happy to help with this).

6. Cook with beans, lentils and pulses wherever possible, as they are a great source of energy and very filling. Lentil and vegetable soup, a bean stew or even a delicious cassoulet will be great, easy meal options. I tend to throw a tin of butter beans or a few handfuls of red lentils or barley into most of the soups I make, making them go a little further and giving a healthy boost at the same time.

7. Avoid everything with Nutrisweet, Xylitol and other artificial sweeteners like Canderel and Sweet & Low. Keeping those in your diet ensures you're still receptive to sweet tastes, and will consequently continue to crave them. Use agave nectar to sweeten yoghurt, herbal tea and smoothies.

8. Picking up on your snack supply, keep wholewheat crackers like Ryvita, humous, olives, unsalted nuts and seeds, vegetable sticks (carrots, celery and cucumber with humous makes a yummy snack) and cottage cheese at home and work so that you're always able to pick up a healthy snack wherever you are - remember what I said about dried fruit, so don't be tempted! Don't overdo the nuts. Although they contain good fats, fat is fat when consumed in large quantities. A handful counts as a portion, and you should avoid having more than that in a day. I have two snacks a day - one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon - between my three meals and this keeps me ticking over.

9. Most importantly, eat a healthy, balanced breakfast. I make my own oat and berry smoothies using frozen berries, a handful of oats, a tablespoon of natural Greek yoghurt, oat milk and a squirt of agave nectar to balance out the natural tartness of the ingredients. I'm happy to supply the recipe if you'd like it! Other good breakfasts would be a bowl of porridge, wholemeal toast with humous or scrambled eggs: basically anything that has a good balance of carbs and protein.

10. Take it as an excuse to cut out caffeine as well. You may lose the will to live after the first few hours without sugar and caffeine, but so many good things will be happening to your body alongside this natural energy boost that you may as well try and take advantage of this!

11. If you do get a hideous craving and can't escape it, put half a teaspoon of sugar under your tongue. This is enough to boost your energy without continuing the pleasure cycle of devouring your favourite choccy.

12. Cut down your alcohol intake as much as possible, particularly reducing consumption of beer and wine. I'm not saying rule it out: work, the boss, kids, telesales calls and our beloved partners all play their part in pushing us toward the Chablis, but keep it to a minimum, and save that glass of vino for special occasions. Weight loss will follow!

Finally, have a look at the following sugar contents and imagine what each of those teaspoons is doing to your skin and your body. Not so delicious, is it?

550ml bottle of Coke - 14 teaspoons of sugar
One slice of cheap white bread - up to 3 teaspoons of sugar
Average chocolate bar - 7 teaspoons of sugar
250ml shop-bought smoothies - often up to 7 teaspoons of sugar
Takeaway sweet and sour chicken - a whopping 19 teaspoons of sugar

I'm not saying that I'll manage to resist a nice square of chocolate every now and then, but I think knowing the facts will help me to keep to one square rather than a 1kg slab!!

Did you know about the ageing effects of sugar and will you be cutting it out of your diet? Would you like any more info on meal planning/recipes to help you in your sugar free quest?Image courtesy of 2dayblog.com

Winter Beauty Part One: Moisture

Following on from last week's post on winter beauty essentials, it's no surprise to discover that we all reach for the same products when the cold sets in: moisturisers. Cold weather combined with an increased use of central heating conspire to dry our skin, leaving many of us with parched, dull and greying complexions. Not the route to a glamorous winter!

So what happens to our skin when the cold of winter sets in? A lack of moisture in the environment means that skin is more susceptible to the drying effects of cold weather, central heating and air conditioning, so the key to happy winter skin is to ensure that it is well moisturised. However, slathering on any old cream is not always enough to seal in that precious moisture.

Moisturisers fall into two categories: humectants and occlusives. Humectants draw moisture from the lower to the upper layers of skin - moisture derived from the water we drink. Occlusives act as a barrier to lock existing moisture into the skin, and form a layer of defence against further dehydration of the skin. Occlusive ingredients include oils and petrolatum - products that form a physical barrier on the skin - and humectants are found in more standard moisturisers.

First and foremost, it's as important as ever to make sure you drink 2 litres of water a day to ensure that your body is hydrated and your skin is healthy, so that your skin has a water supply to draw on. Secondly, most people will benefit from using a heavier moisturiser for day than normal, and dependant on your skin type, a combination of humectant and occlusive moisturisers will help. As I am prone to dryer skin on my body, my top tip is to use a body oil like The Sanctuary Spa Essential Massage and Body Oil first and then top with a standard moisturiser like Vaseline Intensive Rescue. This combination forms a barrier to lock in the moisture so that the skin is able to absorb everything it needs. It works AMAZINGLY!

This routine also works well for lips, and I use Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream topped with a coating of Vaseline on particularly cold, windy days. The Eight Hour Cream moisturises and the Vaseline locks it in: perfect!

Finally, for my face, I tend to use a slightly heavier cream than normal on my cheeks, but stick to the same products on my oilier t-zone. This year, I'll be switching up to Liz Earle's Skin Repair moisturiser combined with my beloved No. 7 Protect and Perfect serum.

Hopefully this will help you choose your winter moisture products. Do you have any moisturising tips?

Finally, if you haven't done so already, enter my Barry M giveaway here!

Image courtesy of nordiclandscapes.com

Beauty: Winter Beauty Buys

*BRRRRRRRR* Grab yourself a hot chocolate and come and join us.

Looking out of the window at the grey, rain-heavy sky has made me realise that the traditional British winter is now upon us. I can't say I'm particularly excited about the impending 5 months of cold, wet, dark and windy days, but we can try and cheer ourselves up with the promise of rich, indulgent beauty products!

In the next few weeks, I'm going to compile my list of my essential winter beauty buys and tips for keeping healthy and looking your best throughout the cold months. Alongside my research, I would love to know how you adapt your beauty and health routine to keep a glowing complexion and to stay snuffle free. You might add a face oil into your routine, upgrade to a richer day cream, or take a variety of supplements to keep the dreaded winter cold at bay - whatever it is, I want to know about it!

Post your comments below and if you are on Twitter, follow me @TheBeautyHall and post your essentials followed by the hash tag #winterbeautybuys.

I can't wait to read your recommendations!

Image courtesy of notthedestinationbut.blogspot.com

Skincare: Steaming Update

Hi everyone! Firstly, I'm so sorry for the lack of posts over the past week: I've had so much work to get through that there just hasn't been any time spare, and because I'm so badly prepared, I didn't stock pile posts for while I was away: oops! Anyway, today is going to be dedicated to getting back on track, so expect a week rich in my ramblings!

I promised that I would update you on my steaming routine, and I have to say, it's gone really well. I started two weeks ago and steamed for 5-10 minutes every day, then followed immediately with Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish, Boots Glycerin & Rosewater toner and No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense serum. I've already seen a reduction in blackheads and the couple of spots that I had when I started dried up very quickly and nothing else surfaced: result!

Then, I got complacent. Saturday and Sunday went by and I didn't steam. I went out on Saturday night, had a few drinks, and felt a little rough around the edges on Sunday, and by midday, I had the makings of one of the worst spots I've ever had! By Monday morning, I had two horrid spots that were so unsightly and uncomfortable that I got my head over the hot water for 20 minutes and vowed never to miss a day again! Since then, I've managed to steam for at least 5 minutes a day (although I naughtily missed yesterday, I will be catching up later) and it's made a big difference to the clarity of my skin. Each night, I've used my Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel - which is a wonder product if ever there was one - and I am really happy with the outcome. I've also not been moisturising, as I think my Sanctuary creams are now a little rich for my skin. I'm off shopping later and I'm going to look for an oil free moisturiser, as although I don't feel like my skin is suffering, I can't imagine see how not moisturising will benefit my skin in the long run.

A few of you noted just how boring steaming is, and I confess, it's not the most stimulating part of my day. I'm trying to see it as a little bit of 'empty brain' time, although on a particularly busy day last week, I did actually de-mist a part of the pyrex bowl and read a report through the glass! If you have sinus problems like I do, this routine will really help to provide some temporary relief: just don't put too much Vicks in the bowl as it feels like it's stripping the inside of your nose!!

So, if you're suffering from congested skin and feel as though you need an extra boost, stay away from the heavy-duty spot treating face masks and oil control products and try a facial steam. There's no investment required - we all have water, a kettle, a bowl and a towel - and it's the best skin treat I've had in a long time. Put the towel over your head and have a 5 minute daydream about your next holiday: zaps the stress and clears your skins. What more could you want?

I'm really interested to hear whether any of you have tried steaming? Is it something that you can see yourself doing regularly or is just too boring for words?!

Image courtesy of travelpod.com

Skincare: Bloggers' Breakout - urgh!

Over the past few weeks, I've been getting more than my fair share of breakouts. Work is a little more manic than usual, which could account for some stress-related spots, but I seem to consistently have a new spot on the go; something that I'm not used to and definitely not happy about.

It occurred to me that maybe this is related to how many product I've been using since I started blogging. I'm testing skincare products and routines so often that maybe my skin is rebelling and longing for the good old days when I got home and watched Corrie rather than spending the evening slapping multiple lotions and potions onto my skin. Henceforth, this skin situation shall be known as a 'Bloggers' Breakout' and it must be stopped. And never let it be said that we bloggers don't suffer for our art!


So, onto business. Unfortunately, this is not a photograph of me, but of the gorgeous supermodel, Karolina Kurkova. Her photo is here for one reason alone: her skin. Isn't it flawless?

Not only is Ms Kurkova very beautiful, she is also quite generous with her skin care tips. She gave an interview in one of the UK glossies (Vogue, if memory serves) a few years ago, where she noted that she tries to steam her face for 5-10 minutes everyday. At the time, I decided to incorporate daily steaming into my routine and promptly dropped it two days later, probably believing it was too much of an effort. Is skin like that ever too much of an effort?!

Inspired by Fee of Makeup Savvy, I am now commencing my conversion to Karolina's routine and will be steaming my face for five minutes every day for the next week, followed by cleansing with my Liz Earle C&P and toning with Boots Glycerin & Rosewater. Karolina also advises that when you're tired, stressed or it's that time of the month, a splash of lemon juice on the skin will brighten it no end. Who am I to argue with a supermodel?

So, what is it about steam? The not particularly sciencey science bit is that steam opens the pores, allowing your cleanser to get right into your pores to attack all the nastiness that lurk down there. It also makes extraction much easier, but I personally think that's best left to the professionals. If you suffer from sinus congestion like I do, a teaspoon of good old Vicks Vaporub stirred into the water will provide some temporary clearance on a particularly stuffed-up day, which is a nice bonus. To steam your skin, fill a bowl a third full with boiling water (ideally, use a bowl with a diameter of about 10 inches - a mixing bowl is perfect), allow to cool for a minute and then hold your face above the steam, covering your head with a towel that drapes over the bowl to create your own mini sauna. Stay in there for a minimum of five minutes and then cleanse, splashing your skin with cool water when you've finished. Tone and mositurise as normal.

Stay tuned for results next week! I'm sure I'll look more like Karolina every day...

Image courtesy of zimbio.com

Skincare: Current Routine

I love great make up, but my real passion is skincare. I love that a great foundation can make my skin look flawless and glowing, but what I really want is the flawless and glowing skin without the product! Make up is there to enhance what we have, but when I've missed out on a few essential hours of sleep, I start to think of make up as the only thing that I have! Despite being a self-confessed make up junkie, I secretly dream of the day I can get away with a slick of lipgloss and mascara without feeling like I'll scare any passing children!

A quest for perfect skin requires a considerable beauty arsenal and here is mine: twice a day, every day! The numbers is brackets below indicate the products I use in the morning and the order in which the products are used:

From left to right:

Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel
The Sanctuary Rich Rejuvenating Day Cream SPF 15 (6)
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Cleanser (1)
Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum (4 - used around the eyes)
Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair (5)
Boots Traditional Skin Care Glycerin and Rosewater Toner (2)
The Sanctuary Pro-Collagen Night Concentrate
Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense serum (3)

Although I'm not quite there on the perfect skin front, I think this range of products is pretty close to a perfect routine for me. I'd been using the above routine without the toner for four weeks, and since reading Caroline's toner advice on Beauty Mouth last week, I have incorporated that with great results over the past seven days. If you're cleansing and not toning, I can't tell you how quickly you need to change that! Toner seems to be one of the most misunderstood products on the beauty market, and although I've always had a bottle of it lurking in the depths of my bathroom cabinet, I think I've always used it with an ineffective cleanser. Since using Cleanse & Polish, my skin has become clearer and brighter, but also more prone to a few scary looking spots. Since reintroducing the toner, these breakouts are disappearing, and I feel like my skin is finally more balanced. As with most things in life, balance is the key: if your cleanser is too harsh, your skin will compensate by producing more oil and subsequently, more spots, something which is prevented when a toner is used as it brings things back to normal.

The Sanctuary day and night creams are products that I've used on and off for years, and always seem to go back to. I like to alternate the products I use so that my skin doesn't get used to anything, but I have never found any creams that I consistently alternate The Sanctuary ones with. Following very impressive results with the Liz Earle range, I will be trying their toner and moisturisers when my current batch run out, but The Sanctuary's crown currently stands untested.
Protect & Perfect and Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel are my other hero products. The Clearing Gel works mini-miracles and magically manages to prevent breakouts (although I've stayed away from it for the past few weeks so I can get a real sense of whether C&P is working for my skin). If I'm tired, stressed, or approaching that time of the month, I slather this on and am always amazed at how clear it keeps my skin. Protect & Perfect is something I've already talked about at length, but if you don't own it already, it's my top recommendation. Boots have a £5 off No. 7 voucher at the moment so there really is no excuse!

The two Liz Earle products I'm using are sample sizes from the Eye Try-Me kit I received in July, and I will definitely buy the Daily Eye Repair when this one runs out. The serum is meant for older skin and I'm not sure how much of an effect it's had on my under eye skin, but I guess we'll see the difference if I decide not to invest in that one as well!

So, that's my routine: what about yours? I'd love to know what your daily routine is and whether there are any skincare products you can't live without.

Read: Best of the blogs

Wow, the pre-birthday weekend has left me feeling exhausted! I've spent the morning in the garden with my folks, soaking up this very welcome sunshine - a rarity in Manchester. It's been a brilliant weekend and I'm really sad to be heading back to London so soon (although I know there's plenty of fun in store for me when I get there!) Happily, I've managed to catch up on all my blog reading today, so here's my round-up of things I'll be doing this week:

Using a toner: I have just discovered The Beauty Mouth blog, and am devouring (excuse the pun) the advice dished out by the lovely Caroline. She's written a fantastic post on the importance of using toners, and I am heading straight out to buy one of her recommendations. Since I've been using Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and Bliss Steep Clean, I have been getting a few breakouts, which is a little unusual for me. I'd previously put this down to my skin purging all the badness, but having read Caroline's advice, I think it may be down to the fact that I am not redressing the balance of my skin after using some fairly heavy duty cleansing products! Check out her advice here.

Eating!: I think you'll all have realised by now that I love food, and these peanut butter crispy bars from the Smitten Kitchen look like such a naughty but amazing treat. I am sure that I'll make them and quickly devour the entire tray, but surely indulgence is a key component of any birthday celebration?!

Adopting 'the claw': No, this is not a foray into wild animal care but a technique I've observed on two great blogs, involving massage with a rather witchy-looking hand! Ruth of A Model Recommends has recorded a brilliant series on general body gorgeousness, and shows off a great technique for reducing the appearance of pesky cellulite. A similar claw is demonstrated as a 'tool' for facial massage at The Beauty Mouth, so I will hopefully be pummeling myself towards a better body and brighter face this week!

Getting creative: Fee at Makeup Savvy is a wonder at creating amazing nail looks, and she's inspired me to think a little more imaginatively about my weekly at-home manicures. I love her version of the YSL French manicures and will keep you posted on what I manage to create. You should expect a lot less precision from me than you see in Fee's work!!
Finally, don't forget that I still need your recommendations for best MAC lip and eye neutrals for my shopping trip tomorrow. All you need to do is sign up to become a follower and then post your comment here for a chance to win a MAC treat! Hurry, though: only 24 hours to go!

Skincare: Project Samples

Over my many years of beauty product-loving, I have accumulated and inherited (thanks, Patsy!) a large collection of product samples that all find their home in a container in the bathroom, but never, ever do I use them. Everytime I decide to have a long soak in the bath, I rummage through the samples, select a few to use, and for some reason, just don't. I seem to have some weird attachment to this enormously well-stocked selection of sachets, tubes, blister packs and bottles. Perhaps they're like the Rooks at the Tower of London: if the samples disappear, my kingdom will fall. Probably not, though.

So, today sees me cracking open this little lot...
The first round of products for trial are by Dermalogica. I am a huge fan of Dermalogica and they're always my first port of call for a facial, yet I have a huge stack of untested products from them: am I mad!?
So, I've just blasted through their Skin Renewal Booster, Skin Hydrating Masque, Multivitamin Power Firm for eye and lip, and finished with Sheer Moisture SPF 15. I love an at-home facial! This week's first use of Bliss Steep Clean has inevitably brought out a few spots, and a lack of sleep, combined with the tropical temperatures we're experiencing in London, my skin has become a little rough. After these treats, I am smooth-skinned and glowy once more!
The stand-out product for me in this bunch was the Skin Renewal Booster. As soon as I applied it, the rough texture vanished to be replaced by baby-soft skin. The Hydrating Masque can be applied around the eyes and provided a really welcome boost to my sleepy peepers, and I have just applied my third coat of Sheer Moisture - a cream that's so rich, yet-oil free: the perfect solution for a hot summer day.
Stay tuned for more reviews. I hope to see the bottom of the container by the end of the month!