Rejoice! For 'tis the end of Sober October, may ye all drink wine and be merry once more

Okay I know it isn’t *technically* the end of Sober October, but my friends and I started two days early so we can *technically* have a tipple or two tonight, right?

I have mixed feelings about Sober October. On one hand I actually enjoyed it (yes, enjoyed it! Shock, horror!) Over the past few weeks, I’ve had really productive weekends (which I need right now, what with planning a wedding and all). AND I lost a few pounds, hurrah!

On the other hand, however, it was kind of dull. Tom and I practically became recluses for the month, which again, was good for the wedding planning side of things, but not so good socially-wise.

It was also strange/awful not having a glass of red with red meat. We had steak a couple of times, a lamb tagine one evening and spaghetti meatballs another, and I was really, really, REALLY craving a nice red. We tried grape juice as an alternative, but no… just, no.

We’re bidding farewell to Sober October properly tomorrow evening and having a Halloween party with booze a plenty. I know I’ll probably miss that smug Sober October feeling on Sunday morning when I’ll just want to spend the day lying on the sofa in my PJs, eating popcorn and watching re-runs of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

I do think I’d be up for another sober month at some point and would encourage anyone to give it a go if they fancy a bit of a detox because you definitely do feel better for it. Unfortunately (?) I’ll be missing out on Dry January because my hen party is on January 16^th which I am so excited about! My closest friends and I have booked an apartment in Liverpool and we’re going to have such a fun, mad, definitely-not-dry night! x

My not-very-Sober-October-appropriate coasters

Rugby match and Sunday lunch – the two challenges of Sober October: Week One!

Golly I feel so guilty for neglecting my blog! I can’t believe I haven’t posted since July, but things have been a little hectic with wedding planning, house sorting and work. I’m going to make sure I post more regularly now however, because I do love me blog I do.

SO! Tom and I have been taking part in Sober October with a few of our friends and we’re just about to venture into our second alcohol-free weekend. We decided to do it partly because we’re ‘shredding for the wedding’ (only five months to go now!) and also because cracking open a beer or a bottle of wine on a Friday night was becoming a bit of a routine.

Our first Sober October weekend came with two challenges. Firstly the England v Australia Rugby World Cup match, which was a mix of sulking and celebrating. While I wanted to drown my sorrows with a glass or two, Tom was all set to crack open the champers and celebrate our woeful defeat, being the proud Welshman that he is.

Our second challenge was Sunday lunch. We booked a table at The Sun, which is one of our favourite restaurants. The food was absolutely divine as always. The only thing missing was a nice glass of red with our roast beef… but we settled for elderflower pressé (in wine glasses!)

Despite those two situations which definitely warranted a tipple or two, I’m actually quite surprised how much I’m enjoying Sober October (so far anyway, it’s early days yet!) But it is quite nice waking up on a Saturday or Sunday morning with no foggy head, not wanting to sleep-in or eat junk food and having a productive day instead of slobbing out on the sofa. Let’s see how the second weekend goes!

Are you taking part in Sober October? Let me know how you’re getting on! 

I would like this waiting for me on 1 November please.

Protein World Debate: The obesity crisis is much more worrying than a model who is 'beach body ready'

There’s a big debate in the news at the moment about the Protein World ‘beach body’ advert. 

Photo: Protein World

The ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) has received a number of complaints, stating that the ad is “offensive, irresponsible and harmful because it promotes an unhealthy body image.” Thousands of people have signed an online petition, arguing that “Protein World is directly targeting individuals, aiming to make them feel physically inferior to the unrealistic body image of the bronzed model, in order to sell their product.”

The debate has developed so much so, that a protest is due to take place this weekend and there has even been an alleged bomb threat against the Protein World head office.

I’ll be honest, I find it all a bit puzzling.

If you take a look at billboard ads in any big city, open up any magazine, visit most fashion websites or watch a TV advert break, you’ll easily find a model who is the same size as the one in question, yet nobody kicks up a big fuss.

The model in question has a crackin’ bod. She’s not emaciated like a lot of high fashion models are. She has boobs, she has hips – she has a feminine shape. Yes, you can see a slight hint of her ribs, but she still looks healthy and fit.

I truly believe that high fashion brands and magazines are much more irresponsible when it comes to promoting unrealistic body ideals. I think images of gaunt young men and women walking down a catwalk are 100 times more harmful, especially to impressionable teenagers.

Photo: Peter Duhon

Richard Staveley, head of marketing at Protein World, has defended the image, stating that the company simply wants to “encourage a healthier, fitter nation.” Well, who can actually argue with that? The results are in and it’s official – we are a nation of fatties, with one in every four adults being classed as overweight or obese.*

The UK has the highest level of obesity in Western Europe and obesity levels have more than trebled in the last 30 years. In fact, it is predicted that MORE THAN HALF the population will be classed as obese by 2050. That is really frightening. Especially when you consider the health consequences that come with being overweight or obese – it increases the risk of serious illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

I think that is far more worrying than a model on a billboard.

*figures taken from NHS.uk 

Lovely Lush: Brazened Honey face mask and Mint Julips lip scrub review

Everything in Lush smells and looks, well, lush! I’ve never been able to walk past a Lush shop without popping in for a nosey around. The amazing smells just lure me in and then it feels impossible to leave without buying anything.

(This BuzzFeed post about shopping at Lush really made me chuckle!)

I’m starting rather early with my wedding skin regime (the big day isn’t until next March!), but I want to get my skin in tip-top condition because it can be a little troublesome at times. So, during a little shopping trip in Liverpool, I decided to pop into the local Lush shop to buy one of their famous face masks. They are perfect for a serious pamper sesh because they’re made using freshly squeezed juices, extracts, or whole fruits and vegetables.

I couldn’t decide between Catastrophe Cosmetic, Cosmetic Warrior or Love Lettuce, then the smiley chap behind the counter recommended Brazened Honey, as its zingy ingredients can help to calm oily skin. 

According to the Lush website, Brazened Honey contains fresh fennel, ginger root, parsley and coriander to detox and stimulate. They also use a sage, rosemary and juniper berry infusion with cardamom and clove bud oils for their antiseptic qualities, fresh lime juice to cleanse the skin and free range eggs, honey and almond oil to soothe and moisturise.

That evening, I had a good ol’ pamper before my first round of wedding dress shopping appointments (read all about that here). I opened the tub and had a sniff of the face mask. It’s quite an unusual scent, as you can smell the ginger and the fresh herbs, I think it’s probably one of those smells you’ll either love or hate (I love it, Tom hates it).

The mask itself has lots of grainy, gritty little bits in it (definitely the correct technical term), so it feels quite exfoliating when you rub it into your skin and it also tingles a little bit. Because of its texture, take care to make sure you spread it evenly – it’s not one of those super smooth face masks that you can spread really quickly. Put a thin, even layer all over your skin (avoiding your eyes and mouth). Then, after about five minutes, it’ll go a little stiff. 

My awkward 'can't-really-smile-because-the-face-mask-has-gone-stiff' selfie

After 10 to 15 minutes, rinse it off gently with warm water. As soon as I rinsed the mask off, my skin felt soft, cleansed and refreshed and my complexion definitely looked brighter. 

I’d recommend this face mask if you have oily/combination skin. Just remember that some Lush face masks (this one included) need to be kept in the fridge. This is because the ingredients are fresh, otherwise they’ll go off quite quickly.

The Brazened Honey face mask from Lush is £6.50 for 75g.

During my Lush little shopping trip (see what I did there…) I also couldn’t resist picking up a Mint Julips lip scrub.

I know you can make lip scrubs yourself, but I just couldn’t resist the Mint Julips one, mainly because the peppermint oils and vanilla extracts mean it smells like mint chocolate… I definitely preferred that over the other option, the bright pink Bubblegum flavour, which just smelt too sweet and sickly.

To use the lip scrub, simply put a little bit of the scrub on your finger, then rub it around your lips in circular motions. It gets rid of dry skin and your lips feel lovely and soft afterwards! I use mine every day, with my favourite Burt’s Bees lip balm too (read all about my favourite skin products here).

The Mint Julips lip scrub is £5.50 for 25g.

What are your favourite Lush products? x

My Top 10 Skincare Products

I have quite problematic skin and I’ve always struggled to find the right products that won’t give me breakouts or drown my skin in excess oil.

As I mentioned in this post, I suffered with bad acne when I was younger and was eventually prescribed Roaccutane when I was 17. Luckily, I didn’t suffer from any of the nasty side effects and it cleared up my skin.

Although I’m now 24, I still get breakouts that remind me of my awful teenage skin years. Even now, I sometimes get whiteheads (sorry if you’re eating while reading this!) which are just the worst! They’re impossible to cover up with make-up, as piling concealer on just seems to draw attention to them. You shouldn’t pop them either, as you can be left with scarring, but they’re so gross that it’s hard to just leave them alone.

It has taken a long time and a lot of products to find a skincare regime that works for me, but fingers crossed, I think I’ve found my wonder products. These are:

• Clean & Clear deep action cream wash (oil-free)
• Clean & Clear morning energy skin brightening daily facial scrub (oil-free)
• Clean & Clear dual action moisturise (oil-free)
• Clearasil ultra rapid action gel wash
• Simple cleansing facial wipes
• Simple soothing eye balm
• Olay Essentials complete care night cream (for normal/dry/oily skin)
• Differin 0.1% gel (this is a topical acne treatment and only available with a prescription from a GP)

Technically, I guess they aren't skincare products, but I also love:

• Vaseline healthy hands and stronger nails cream
• Burt’s Bees lip balm

My favourite wonder products!

My morning routine

As soon as I wake up, I’ll wash my face with the Clean & Clear morning energy skin brightening daily facial scrub. It’s the perfect morning skincare product as the lemon and papaya extracts make it smell so zesty and refreshing. The bursting beads gently exfoliate your skin and wake you up so you’re ready for the day ahead!

I usually try and do a workout in the morning, so after that, I’ll have a shower and wash my face again with the Clearasil ultra rapid action gel wash. This is one of my favourite products because I’ve found it really does help with breakouts. Its description says it’s clinically proven to help visibly clearer skin in as fast as 12 hours and it has definitely helped mine.

The only downside of the gel wash is that it is a little drying, so I’ll put some Clean & Clear dual action moisturiser on my face afterwards. I used to worry about putting moisturiser on my chin (where I always seem to get my breakouts), but this product is oil-free, so it doesn’t feel greasy at all and it doesn’t feel like it’s clogging your pores.

After I’ve done that, I’ll put my make-up on as usual. I find that make-up is much easier to apply and looks a lot better when I’ve cleansed, gently exfoliated and moisturised my skin.

These are the best face washes I've found for oily skin

My evening routine

I’ve read so many articles about the importance of taking your make-up off before bed, so I always make sure I remember to take mine off. First, I’ll use a Simple cleansing wipe. I love Simple wipes because they have no alcohol, no oil, no harsh chemicals and no artificial perfume or colour, they also include pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin E. I always stock up on these whenever they’re on offer as I hate using any other wipes, my skin just doesn’t feel right afterwards.

After I’ve used a Simple wipe to take off my make-up, I’ll wash my face with Clean & Clear deep action cream wash. I only started using this about a month ago, but I love it! It leaves my skin tingling and feeling like it has been thoroughly cleaned, but without clogging my pores.

Once my skin has been completely cleaned of all make-up, I’ll put some Olay Essentials complete care night cream on my cheeks, as they can sometimes feel a bit dry. It’s a thick cream which feels so lovely when you put it on and it smells gorgeous too. Then, I’ll pop some Simple soothing eye balm all around my eyes which reduces puffiness and relaxes tired eyes.

Finally, I’ll put rub a small amount of Differin 0.1% gel on my chin. The gel is really good, I’ve been using it ever since I came off Roaccutane six years ago. It is strong though, as it’s for acne, so you need to ask your GP about it if you have troublesome skin and want to try it.

My other two favourite products that I’ll use throughout the day are Vaseline hand cream and Burt’s Bees lip balm. Vaseline hand cream is a nice, non-greasy cream which apparently strengthens nails by 50% - a plus point for me, as I spend all day typing on my laptop!

Burt’s Bees lip balm with coconut and pear has been a revelation for me. I’ve been trying to wean myself off using Vaseline as a lip balm, as my lips constantly felt dry. Burt’s Bees is a great alternative, as it’s made from all natural ingredients which help keep your lips healthy and hydrated.

Burt's Bees lip balm is a great alternative to Vaseline

There you have it, my top 10 wonder products! What are yours? x

Is acne-shaming the new fat-shaming?

This morning I went through my usual routine of trying to turn myself from sleepy zombie to wide awake writer. I put the kettle on, ate my porridge, scanned my favourite social media sites and read the news headlines. I'm slightly (massively) ashamed to admit that I love a bit of celebrity gossip and I usually get my daily fix of this from the Daily Mail showbiz section (please don't judge me). 

While I was scrolling down the stories, I saw the usual culprits - the TOWIE star showing off her bikini bod on a beach in Dubai, the Geordie Shore girls stumbling around outside a nightclub, an interview with the latest CBB evictee and so on. 

Then one story in particular caught my eye. And not in a good way. 

I'm well aware of the newspaper's usual antics - fat-shaming, the relentless publicity given to z-listers etc. But this one article seemed to go just that one step too far - even by the DM's standards. Take a look and see what you think:

At first glance, it was the headline which bothered me - the way it stated that Delta Goodrem was 'once again' caking on the make-up and 'drawing attention' to her skin. The poor girl was probably using make-up to do anything BUT draw attention to her skin! 

Now I have to be honest, I'm a bit biased about this issue. I suffered from bad acne throughout my teenage years. Then, when I was 17, it got so severe that I was referred to a dermatologist who prescribed the controversial drug, Roaccutane. 

If you are not familiar with Roaccutane, it's an incredibly strong acne treatment which has a bad reputation due to the possible serious side effects (such as depression) and it has even been linked to a number of suicides.

Roaccutane is generally a last resort for those who have been plagued with bad skin for years and you are carefully monitored while you are taking it. I had blood tests every month which was a nightmare for me as I'm very squeamish/wimpy! 

Apart from that, my experience with Roaccutane was mostly good. It did the job in the way that it cleared my skin up, but the main side effect I experienced was having extremely dry skin and lips. I remember buying masses and masses of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream because it was literally the only moisturiser strong enough to soothe my skin. Even then, my make-up would always look flaky and patchy and my lips were always chapped. However, in the end, it was a price worth paying because my acne hasn't returned since (touch wood). 

I think the reason why that article hit a nerve is because I can completely relate to the horrible feelings you experience when you're going through the acne nightmare. Feeling ugly, feeling self-conscious and feeling sad... to name just a few. It can be hard to understand if you're lucky enough to be blessed with good skin, but if you've ever had a massive spot then you'll know how annoying it is when you're talking to somebody and all they do is stare at it, instead of looking you in the eye. I very much doubt that the writer of the article knows how it feels to have troublesome skin, otherwise they wouldn't be so insensitive, or even run the story to begin with. 

I think, actually, I hope, that it was just a slow news day and not the start of a new trend similar to fat-shaming.