Glossybox March edition

Hi beauties,
I got my Glossy box over the weekend and managed to find some time now to talk about it. The Valentine's edition was very pinky but this time I think it is also quite pinky.

From left to right:

TRESemmé Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray
I got the travel size which is handy. I've heard that TRESemmé's hair sprays holds the best so I'm looking forward to use it. 

Elizabeth Arden, Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free
I've never used Elizabeth Arden's product before. I just tried a bit on my hand, the cream isn't the regular white cream. It's more like a thick orangey gel texture and its quite greasy. Not too keen on it already.

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics, Lip Blush
This is a lip stain, never tried lip stain but apparently is suppose to be better than lipsticks. I love the pink though lol. This lip stain contains beeswax and ceresin wax, sounds good. 

Juicy Couture, Couture La La
Loving the pink again, lol, and it smells good too. But the smell isn't unique at all, it smell like something I've smelt before. Nothing special at all.

There's actually another product, Nails Inc, St James. A classic pillar red. I tried it but its a bit too red for me. It's not in the photo because I forgot I took it out when I took the photo. And I can't be bothered to take a photo of it lol.

I am satisfied with this box, I love GlossyBox. Anyways that's it for now! Speak to you later!

Introduction to "Health Freak's" Diet

Hello Lovelies, hope you're all enjoying this spring snow. First of all, I'm not ON a diet, I just decided to start blogging more often about my diet that I consider healthy. I may not be a guru but I want to share my food/drink recipes, food and exercise tips and my workout regime.

My lovelies 

A few months ago, some guy in my University (not from my course but in the same department & we've NEVER met) asked me 'Are you the health freak?' I was like 'what?...yyehhh...who told you that?' Lol. I sort of admitted it but at the same time I was thinking who has been bi*tching about me and what's wrong with eating healthy. Lol.

However, I may be a "health freak" after I did my food shopping. haha! Last week I went Tesco and bought organic rice cakes, organic rye bread with pumpkin seeds, organic almond milk, organic chocolate soy milk, organic raspberry yoghurt and packet of Ryvita multi-grain crackers. So am I one? lol


What started me to pursue a healthy diet and lifestyle?

I started eating healthy in 2010 which is about 2 and half years ago which is when I started this blog- I also became very interested in beauty at that time hence why I started this blog. Not that I didn't eat any vegetables or fruit before but I used to eat quite a lot of junk, didn't exercise much (only exercised in the summer which is kind of pointless to a certain extent. I will talk about that later) and wasn't "obsessed" with the healthy diet and lifestyle.


In 2010, I took part in a Chinese beauty pageant and that is when I started to exercise hard core and went on a diet- first time in my life. I wanted to be slimmer because Chinese people prefer skinny people and I thought maybe that would earn me some brownie points lol. 

I went to the gym 4-5 times a week doing about 30 minutes of cardio (treadmill, cross trainer and bike), 10 minutes of ab workout and 20 minutes of strength training on my bum and legs only. I researched all the food I should be eating to lose weight and get my body toned quick. However, I didn't starve myself because one that is not that correct way to lose weight and two because I love my food too much. I reduced the portion of  meals; I ate 5 meals a days. I swapped all simple carbs to complex carbs, i.e. white bread to wholemeal bread, white pasta to brown pasta, white rice to brown rice, etc. I was having more chicken and vegetables and I even sacrificed desserts for three months. Oh gosh that was so hard!!

Did I lose any weight? Yes I did, but only about 3kg and my waist size went down an inch. After the pageant was over, I was back to my normal size and weight lol. But I'm happy with my body shape and size though. I didn't stop eating healthy or exercise, but I wasn't as strict with myself. I had desserts, went gym 2-3 times a week instead.

Near the end of 2010, I met my gorgeous boyfriend. He is my motivation in keeping fit and staying healthy. Reason being he has a fit body (girls would be drooling over...hehe) so I feel I have to keep up. lol. He introduced me to smoothie oatmeal as breakfast and he became my part time 'personal trainer'. I never used to do any strength training on my upper body because I was scared I would get bulky but he explained to me it won't happen because for a women to get bulky they would need to do a lot of heavy weights and eat lots. I now work out about 3 times a week (including upper body) throughout the year and not just in the summer, and the results are so much better. 

Pigging out

As for my diet, I'm eating a lot more vegetables and fruits now. I'm always making fruit juices and smoothies-sometimes vegetable smoothies/juice too- I don't really eat meat that much now, I can go without meat in a meal whereas before I had to have meat in my meals.Why? I don't actually know, lol.  I just don't enjoy eating too much meat. Because of that many people think I'm a vegetarian lol. But I'm not, I still love my chicken and mushroom pies from Greggs. =D I basically try to keep my diet high in protein and fibre...of course with fair amount of carbs. I still research about good food and why they are good.

I used to feel guilty after pigging out but ever since I started eating healthy everyday and working out more often I don't worry as much also its alright to treat yourself from time to time. I love my healthy food, I feel a lot healthier, cleaner and I'm happy with my diet. I will blog about some of the foods I had during the week later.

Stay tuned for my recipes and tips. Thanks for reading! 

Valentino Master of Couture- The Catwalk

Hiiii!! Hope you're all enjoying your weekend.  On Tuesday, I went with my friend Patrycja to the Somerset house to see the work of Valentino showcases over 130 exquisite haute couture designs.

Signs on the floor

The exhibition was divided into three sections. The photo above shows the first section that we entered. There were archives of his work; a few sketch designs of his work, fashion magazines that Valentino have appeared in, letters and invitation designs that he sent out for his fashion show.

On the walls were timelines of his personal archive. 

Moving on to the second part of the exhibition known as The Catwalk. This programme was given to us at the reception, it gives information about the 130+ couture on display. 'It reflects the convention for identifying designs in a couture presentation, first established in the early twentieth century in Paris and London. There's a twist to this section of the exhibition, visitors will be walking the catwalk to view the couture designs displayed on the seating area of the viewers. 

The picture above is taken at The Catwalk, there were loads of people as you can see. The mannequins are on both side of the "catwalk". Visitors weren't allowed to take photos but I sneaked a few lol. Below is a few pictures I took of the couture designs and I will give some info about them that was provided from the programme.

Don't remember which year this was made.

A/W 1989/90
White candy jacket and dress ensemble with silk embroidery and sheepskin trim at the collar and cuffs.

A/W 1967/68
Red crepe evening dress embellished with sequins and rhinestones.
This is one of my favourite, I love the pink. ^.^

A/W 1966/67
White crepe evening dress with beaded embroidery detailing
I love the back of this dress!!

Designed in the 1950s, realised in 1990.
White wool crepe day dress with cashmere leopard print cape

The animal print collection

S/S/ 1966
Zebra print cotton ensemble with crepe bow detail

Some very elegant red carpet dresses

Kate Moss' seat at The Catwalk

As you walk out of The Catwalk, there was a wedding dress worn by Queen Elizabeth II.

I couldn't take a good picture of it as there was a staff standing there. I was hiding my phone behind the programme. Lol

This is some cool outfit, but no one would wear this on the street. There were videos showing how this was made. Every stitch was sown by hand. I wonder how long it took them to make this. Anyways, that's all.  Overall, it wasn't that impressive, it was kind of boring. lol. The best part was the catwalk though.

Glossybox Valentine's Edition

Hello ladies... and gentlemen. This post is about Glossybox, Valentines edition. I didn't write about January one as I was too busy with University work.  Anyways, I love the box. Its so pretty and pink and yes I know the photo is upside down lol.

Starting from left to right...

The white rectangular box is a face cream from Docteur Renaud Raspberry Soft cream. Apparently this is designed for the cold winter months. This is available at Marks & Spencer, £25 for 50ml.

Top left: The miniature round container is a mineral blush powder by Micabella Cosmetics. It's made from 100% natural (just what I love) mica, a crystal-like mineral. It contains SPF 15- another feature I love.  Available at micabella.co.uk, £34.95 for 9g.

The beige/gold colour bottle is a highlighter by Mememe cosmetics. The colour they gave is oyster gold, hope it suits my skin colour. Available at mememecosmetics.co.uk, £5.50 for 12ml.

The silver tube is a moisturising lipstick by Helen E Cosmetics, the colour is Dusk. Pretty dark and gothic to me. So.....I doubt I would use it. Available at helen-e.com, £8 for 3.5g

After that is a lollipop. Lol.

The last item is a body spray by Q: Radiance. Not too keen on this product. But hey, I got the full size of the actual product. Its only £2.29 for 100ml available at Boots.com and Sainsburys.co.uk

My must-haves to survive through the coldness

Hellos lovelies! Its spring now but it's still very cold and heaters are on majority of the time. It's good to be nice and warm indoors but the downside is that heater dries up your skin. The cold temperature also damages your hair making them dry and brittle. I have found a few must have/ use products that have worked well for me. You could give them a try.

Face Day care- Fade Out 
I have been using Fade Out day cream (left) for almost a year now. The thickness of this cream is really suitable to use during cold seasons. Note: The thicker the moisturiser the better it hydrates your skin. I have dry and sensitive skin and it has kept my skin feeling soft and smooth and the most important thing is that my skin hasn't reacted to it. I've tried loads of cream which claimed to be extra hydrating but none of them were as thick and hydrating as Fade Out. Also, it has SPF 15. .Available at Boots, £9.18. 

Face Night care- Pukka Organic Castor Oil
I don't use any particular night cream, I use castor oil (right). I absolutely love this because its 100% natural, organic and of course hydrating. Yes, I TRY to stick to organic and natural products but its hard. lol. It is really thick, and I only apply a little and I mean little on my face. A little goes a long way and therefore the bottle could last you a year. Due to its thickness, its quite uncomfortable when applied to the skin which is why I only use it during the night. After washing it off the next morning (with any regular cleanser), my skin is extremely smooth and moist.

For those who don't know what castor oil is, it's a thick liquid found in castor beans. It's a multi- functional oil. Can be used to cure cuts, mixed with drinks, anti-aging, apparently can help hair growth and can be used on eyes. You can get castor oil from any health shops. If you're intending to use it as moisturiser make sure it is cold-pressed, otherwise it will clog your pores.

My mum applied a bit of castor oil on the area under her eyes-the crow feet area- for a few nights and she said she realised the crow feet are less visible when she smiles. For more info on castor oil, read this article : http://skinverse.com/castor-oils-many-uses-for-beautiful-skin-and-hair.html

Hair care- Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Serum
I've been using Organix argan oil for about 9 months now, really smooths your hair and gives it shine. I chose to use this because it says Moroccan (Lol!) and we all know Moroccan oil is really good for your hair. I apply it when my hair is damp and after blow dry. I also apply it every day just like I would put moisturiser on my face, focusing on particularly the tips.
Available at Boots, £6.99

Castor oil can also be used on hair but because its too thick it makes my hair look greasy and sticky. However, if I was to apply castor oil I only put it on my tips and only a SMALL amount.









Eyelash Care-Diorshow Lash Serum
The cold weather and the heating really dries up the mascara and makes them go flaky. Those flakes will drop under yours eyes making you look like a panda. Not good! To prevent this, you need to moisturise your eyelashes. I always apply a layer of serum before applying mascara. It really helps.

I'm currently using Dior snow lash plumping serum; as well as moisturising the lashes it also lengthens them. I bought this from Debenhams for £23.00

Body care- Rituals Magic Touch whipped body cream & Johnson's Baby Oil

Baby oil is the best or opt for a thick body cream if you don't like being oily, cocoa butter is the best. I usually use cocoa butter but recently I've been trying out Ritual Magic touch whipped body cream that I got from Glossybox. Its quite thick and smells good too. It works ok but cocoa butter is still better.

Hand Care
Ladies if you don't moisturise your hands they will look old and manly. Gentlemen if you don't moisturise your hands they will also look very old. I'm currently using Crabtree & Evelyn, got this from Glossybox. I love it. In the beginning your hands feel quite greasy but once its all absorbed, your hands will feel like baby's skin. Its almost finished :( I guess I have to take a trip to Crabtree & Evelyn.

Lips

You don't want crusty lips just so off putting. I use Vaseline and Simple lip balm regularly, I'm talking about applying every 20 minutes. No lie. Of course I don't use all those at once lol, these are just the ones I have. But I sometimes do use Simple lip balm with Vaseline's rosy lip on top.

Guest Post by Gracie- Beauty tips

A UK guest blogger, Gracie has offered to write a guest post from my blog. Thanks for the awesome beauty tips! For more info about Gracie, scroll down to the bottom to see her author bio. Enjoy my lovely readers.

Tips for Maintaining Your Skin to Look Flawless

Now-a-days many people face a lot of problems with skin diseases. To protect your skin from diseases you need to follow proper skin care routine. However to help you better, here are a couple of things which might help you to maintain your skin:

Eat Healthy:

 Take balanced and healthy food like fruits, cereals, proteins and vegetables. Avoid  greasy and fried diet which increases weight; develops spots, pimples, wrinkles and so on. Don’t take oily food as it creates moisture on your face and face becomes oily.

Don’t Expose to Sunlight: 

If the sun light directly falls on your skin, it causes discoloration, wrinkles, age spots or freckles. Sunlight contains ultra-violet rays which are harmful to health. Use sunscreen lotions, sunglasses to protect yourself from the harmful rays.

Take More Water:

 Drink more water. Take about eight to ten glasses per day or more than five litres a day, this helps to removes dirt, and moisture on your skin. Don’t take caffeine products such as chocolates, tea and coffee. Taking lots of water keeps you hydrated and helps in the removal of stones from kidneys.

Sleep More:

Sleep for about six to seven hours a day. Try to sleep more in night times. Short naps help to refresh your mind and it is good to take them if possible in afternoon after lunch. Hence Spaniards’ are lively as they follow siesta. 

Quit Smoking:

People who smoke are short-tempered. Anger and stress go hand-in-hand. Try to be friendly, happy and cheerful. You can keep a lot of diseases at bay. So better stop smoking which affects your lungs.

Don’t go to Bed with Foundation:

This will block your pores and clog them. Your skin cannot breathe freely. Before going to bed wash your face with soap or remove the makeup with baby oil or cleansing cream.

Make Use of Glycerine Soaps:

If you want to wash your face many times in a day then make use of glycerine soaps as it keeps your skin dry. It cleans your skin which in turns gives you great look.

Regular Exercise:

 Exercise regularly to keep your body fit. This will increase your blood circulation and make you look trim, slim and beautiful.

Apply Almond mask: 

In order to make your skin soft, apply almond mask to your face. You can make it at your house with almonds and honey. Take almonds paste and add few drops of honey apply to your face and leave it for an hour.

Eat two Carrots Daily: 

Vitamin A and fibre are present in carrots. This will increase your complexion and makes your skin soft. So try to eat more carrots in a day.

There are many spa treatments that cost you more. In such situations you can apply for same day loans.

Author Bio: This is Gracie a Guest blogger from UK. I have written many guest posts on different categories like Home-improvement, Beauty, Health, Technology , Business and finance. At present I am doing research on payday loans. You can find more about me @financeport 

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