How to follow

Hey I thought I would write a quick post because a few people have said to me they don't really get how to follow my blog.. All you do is click the 'Join this site' on the right hand side, then type in your hotmail/gmail/yahoo address.

That's it!

J

Ully x

Dr. Organic ~ Best natural beauty products range

I have just discovered the Dr. Organic range and simply must tell you about it. Having finally finished the never ending sulfate-packed John Frieda volumising shampoo and conditioner a bought about a lifetime ago (I have a thing where I have to finish something before I buy a new one) I was excited to go out and look for some products with all natural ingredients that would nourish my hair rather than strip it of life and lustre. First stop Boots and Superdrug. Disappointed. On my way home walked past a Holland & Barrett...



On the back wall, lo and behold - the Dr. Organic range! As you can see, the choice is quite extensive and it took me a good while to figure out what it was I wanted. The different ranges have different predominant ingredients, including olive oil, coconut, royal jelly, manuka honey, aloe vera, pomegranate, rose otto, vitamin E, lavendar, tea tree, dead sea mineral, and snail jelly. (Yes, snail jelly. Not a typo). Each range has both hair and skin products, different active ingredients having different benefits, therefore there should be something for everyone. All are sulfate-free, rich in antioxidants and nutrients and I thought I would give  a brief description of what each one is good for:

For dry skin and hair - go for olive, coconut, or argan oil ranges. These are rich in natural oils and essential fatty acids (EFA's) to help nourish, moisturise and rejuvenate

Oily skin and hair - tea tree, pomegranate, aloe vera. These won't add any excess oils like those above and help to restore natural oil levels

Anti-wrinkle - royal jelly, snail jelly, rose otto, pomegranate. As well as a good moisturiser, these have anti-aging properties for tired skin

Sensitive or blemished skin - manuka honey, lavendar, aloe vera, tea tree. These have soothing properties and tea tree is a natural antibacterial.

Relaxing and cleansing - dead sea mineral for ultimate home spa experience

Repairing and protecting - vitamin E and manuka honey. These help repair damaged cells, rich in restorative amino acids and antioxidants

My hair is very fine, gets dry and easily breaks. Not ideal when you are trying to grow it long... so I went for the Vitamin E shampoo and the Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner. The shampoo will help to strengthen and protect the hair, while the conditioner is the repairing and moisturising. I have used it twice now and found my hair is very soft and smooth, I love it!

 

I can't wait to try some of their skin products too, been eyeing up those anti-wrinkle creams (just need to finish the pot of Clinique I have!)

 

Ully x

 

Bondax - All I See (Darius Remix)

Oral-B Pro Upgrade ~ and don't forget to floss!

Since I last wrote about the Pro Expert Whitening toothpaste (see earlier post), Oral B have come out with an even better whitening toothepaste! Let me present - Oral-B 3D White Luxe...

In my previous post I told you that Oral-B have a patent on a type of fluoride that is one of a kind in that it whitens and strengthens at the same time (not many people know this, I happened to live with three dentists in my final year). A good scrub and a rinse with some mouth wash and you'll have teeth that sparkle from a mile away. Remember though, as important as it is to brush your teeth as it is JUST as important to floss! Flossing gets rid of about 40% of the bacteria in your mouth, bacteria that can lead to all sorts of mouth inflammations, gum disease, tooth cavities, and even heart disease when you get older. You'll thank the younger you if you're vigilant now. Flossing is so easy to forgot as there is no instant gratification, however, if you look closely around you you'll notice those yucky yellow edges of non-flossed teeth... yep I've pointed them, you'll never not see them now. Sorry!

Ully x

Huxley ft. S-Man - Callin

Mindfulness ~ Headspace App

Today I want to tell you about a new app I have been using called Headspace. I was recommended it by a friend when I was going through a bit of a stressful time a little while back. Headspace is an app that teaches you how to practice mindfulness and although I had heard of mindfulness before, I never really knew how to do it until now. Now if you don't know what mindfulness is, then I suggest you read on...

It has been proven countless times that people who meditate lead happier, more fulfilled lives and are often more successful. Simple solution then - we all meditate and all our life problems are solved! Err... Have you ever tried meditating? I don't know about you but I find it very difficult. The closest thing I used to come to practicing meditation is in the five minutes at the end of a yoga class. And then I would usually fall asleep.

Mindfulness is a way of teaching meditation by making it a lot less abstract. It is like a step-by-step guide on how to clear you mind by focusing your awareness on your breathing and your surroundings. Of course, naturally your mind will begin to fill with thoughts - this is totally normal and during mindfulness, you are taught ways to acknowledge thoughts without reacting to them and eventually letting them pass.

The technique has been shown to have some pretty incredible effects on the human brain. It is prescribed to people who suffer from anxiety and depression, as it teaches people to react to their own thoughts and feelings without judging them so that you are able to deal with negative feelings with a much greater sense of perspective. It allows you to notice and observe your emotions without passing judgement on yourself. 

For people who don't necessarily suffer a mental disorder, numerous studies have shown that mindfulness can help you in your day to day life in an abundance of ways, including reducing stress and anxiety, as well as increasing focus and creativity. Practicing mindfulness a little bit every day for a even a small amount of time actually changes the shape of your brain which helps you to connect to these new mental pathways when faced with difficult situations. 

The app is an introductory course, involving a ten minute exercise, called 'Take Ten' for ten days. In these ten minutes, the app plays a voice which talks you through the technique, telling you when to focus and on what, as well as when to let your mind wander around. Some days there will be a short animation, telling you more about the different techniques to try as you become more advanced. I am currently on day nine and will definitely be signing up to the website after where you can pick and choose from hundreds of lessons to help you in your daily life. 

Although it is only ten minutes, sometimes it is difficult to find the time - I have found that right before bed or first thing in the morning is the best. Mindfulness is also good if you're like me and can become impulsive (particularly when faced with a box of chocolates...) The other day I had a massive craving to gobble down a whole bag of pick'n'mix, and despite knowing full well the feeling of regret that would ensue I was finding it very hard to resist. Ten minutes of mindfulness and the craving was gone. I have also found that I am already a lot more motivated and focused on things I do and I have no doubt that these ten minutes a day have had a great part to play in this.

If you're interested then read more here where you can sign up for free.

Happy Headspacing,

Ully x

Grades - Crocodile Tears (Cause & Effect Remix)

Tea Time

As you can see from this photo of our tea cupboard (bear in mind, only two shelves included..) I drink a LOT of tea. Since I stopped drinking coffee I have branched out and become a lot more experimental with herbal teas. Herbal teas are not only hydrating (great for the skin) but each have their own special benefits too.

Here are some of my favourites...

Builders - a cup of your regular black tea (including Earl Grey) contains lots of flavonoids. Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds that have strong antioxidant powers to fight off those free radicals that bombard us every day. Black tea could possibly lower your risk of cardiovascular disease as well, winner.

Green tea - classic green tea is packed with all kinds of goodness in the form of a variety of different enzymes, amino acids, lipids, sterols, phytochemicals, and dietary minerals. To you and I, this means that green tea may reduce your risk of cancer because of its antioxidant effects. There is a theory that although there is a much higher proportion of smokers in China, the cancer rate is disproportionately low due to the high consumption of green tea. This is also a great appetite suppressant and there are loads of different flavours of green tea, my personal favourites being lemon, mango and lychee, and cranberry, yum!
Chamomile - unlike green and black tea, chamomile contains no caffeine and even has mild sedative effects, the ideal night time cuppa. When I can't sleep I make myself a nice cup of chamomile while reading a book, I'm asleep in no time.
Twining's Detox - contains lemon peel, lemon myrtle, and milk thistle. Milk thistle promotes liver activity, so is a staple in detox regimes while lemon is cleansing and helps clean out your body on the inside. Having a cup before and after a night out drinking will help your liver by both protecting it as well as supporting its physiological functions the next day. I.e. an absolute hangover saviour. Now that Christmas season is approaching, these seem to be running out a lot quicker in my house...
Peppermint/Nettle - famous for being digestive aids. I recommend stocking up in preparation for those Christmas dinners.
Rooibos - great for the skin, not only through hydration but by containing an enzyme called superoxide dismutase. This enzyme breaks down the free radical known as superoxide, which damages the body in a number of ways including skin cells. Rooibos could therefore be great in keeping your skin wrinkle free, as well as having a natural sweetness to it which help to remove mid-afternoon sugar cravings.
Lemon and ginger - the last but by no means least on the list. As I said before, lemon is a great cleanser to flush out toxins from your body (ideal first thing in the morning). Ginger has several benefits such as being anti-bacterial and containing potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. As an eczema sufferer, I try to include lots of natural anti-inflammatory foods which can help in many other ailments, such as acne, psoriasis, and possibly even arthritis.

I love hearing discovering new types of tea so if you have any favourites, let me know!

Ully x

Lxury - Pick You Up

Home-made happy hair mask

Rather than spending lots of money on packaged hair masks, why not make your own?

My mixture:
5 large dollops of full fat mayo
1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
½ tablespoon peppermint essence

The mayonnaise is great for your hair as it contains lots of fat and protein which strengthens and conditions your hair simultaneously. The oil will add shine and the peppermint essence has been shown to stimulate the hair follicles to encourage growth (you'll feel a nice tingle on your scalp). Make sure your whole head is covered and all your hair from root to tip. Leave it in for ten minutes then wash out with your normal shampoo and conditioner. Simple!

Ully x

PS. Please follow me if you like what you read!

Sam Smith - Like I Can (Jonas Rathsman Remix)

MAC Concealers

Hi all,

Currently my skin is looking less than flawless on account of a weekend of boozing and a change of pill which has caused my skin to explode in protest. So to follow my earlier post on foundations and BB creams, I thought I would share the best concealers out there to achieve the flawless skin look we all want.

As I have mentioned before, MAC foundations are really quite thick so are not a personal choice of mine, but this does make for highly effective concealers!

I have two types...

The first one is the 'Pro Longwear Concealer.' This is a liquid texture so applies nicely like a foundation but with that extra bit of thickness perfect for smoothing over dark circles and other discolourations.

The second one is the 'Studio Finish Concealer.' This stuff is like war paint and will conceal any volcano that may have erupted on your poor face.

Both of these come in lots of different colours (another great thing about MAC) so you will have no trouble finding something for you.

These have been my saving grace this weekend, sometimes it's great to be a girl...

Ully x

Sam Sure - Hunger (Shadow Child Remix)

Super supplements

No matter how cliched the saying "beauty begins on the inside" it is still very true. There's no point slapping on a load of creams and masks if you look like a crusty potato underneath. The crustiness will show. There are lots of supplements that will do wonders not only for your looks but also for your general well being. Here I am going to give you a list of the supplements I take, why and what benefits they have:

1. Cod liver oil - I take one dose of the strongest kind every morning. I have had eczema for most of my life so I'm pretty much prescribed cod liver oil but this is hugely beneficial for so many other things. It is well known to keep your skin and hair glossy, being one of the best sources of omega 3 fatty acids as well as a high vitamin A and D content. Not only this, it keeps your joints supple, heart beating, and brain ticking. 

2. Vitamin B complex - B vitamins are important for keeping skin, hair, and nails strong by nourishing hair follicles (preventing them from falling out) and protecting from free radicals. You may have heard of biotin, thiamin and riboflavin. These are all different types of B vitamins and deficiencies of these can lead to acne, greying skin, and ailments such as eczema and psoriasis. B vitamins are also important for energy production, so pop some of these and you will definitely notice the difference!

3. Evening primrose oil - one of the best natural sources of vitamin E. Vitamin E protects the skin by neutralising free radicals which come from the air and our environment which would otherwise damage skin cells. Like cod liver oil, this is also great for your joints and heart too. 

4. General multivitamin - for everything else and good measure.

One thing to remember with supplements, there is no point in taking these if you aren't going to eat well otherwise. Vitamins are best absorbed with other vitamins so eating with a nourishing meal is the best way to take them. Having said this, don't take too much either as this will just come straight out or worse, may be detrimental to your health.

I am going to cover the topic of free radicals in greater detail in a separate posts as I know to a lot of people the term sounds like a thrash metal band. In the meantime, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

Ully x

Jessie Ware - Say You Love Me (Alex Adair remix)

Bobbi Brown BB Cream

Since last writing (yes quite a while ago now, no good excuse I'm afraid!) I have dabbled with a number of different products. Having tried and tested a number of foundations, annoying several sales people for testers, I have settled on the Bobbi Brown BB Cream.

I have converted to BB creams as these not only act as coverage like normal foundation, they are infused with all sorts of ingredients that are supposedly magnificent for your skin, moisturising, brightening, protecting (SPF 35), and radiating your skin all at once. After trying out a couple of different ones, Bobbi Brown wins. Not only does it come in 9 different shades but it has an amazing skin tone matching effect. I was sceptical at first but honestly, squeeze a little onto your hand and watch the colour magically dilute to match your skin tone. At £39 it's not the cheapest on the block but it is definitely worth the compliments. I recommend.

Ully x

Jonas Rathsman - Hope I'm Wrong

https://soundcloud.com/frenchexpress/jonas-rathsman-hope-im-wrong

Choosing Foundation

A great way to test if you're wearing a good foundation is to ask any male if you're wearing too much makeup when wearing only foundation (a little mascara if you must) and standing in daylight. If he looks back painfully confused, trying to assess whether this is a trick question and whether something bigger is at stake here, because to him it looks like you're not wearing anything then result! Test passed.

Three main rules for choosing the tone of your foundation:
1. Never stray too far from your natural colour. No more than one shade as a general rule, two shades at a push
2. Never buy a foundation before you've asked for a tester and tried it on your face in daylight. The lights in department stores are totally misleading
3. ALWAYS use a yellow base. Always. No discussion. Anything else goes orange/pink in daylight and you get floating head syndrome, no matter what colour your skin tone, no matter how light or dark.

Now I have actually reverted to using a BB cream in the day. I'll cover BB creams in a separate article but for now let's consider them as the same and the same rules apply.

Brands for day time/lighter foundation:
Lancôme - very nice and light, particularly the Teinte Miracle range has a good selection of tones
Bobbi Brown - good coverage but not too heavy. All Bobbi Brown foundations are yellow based
Clarins and Laura Mercier

Brands for evening/thicker foundation:
Estee Lauder - Double-Wear Stay in Place. Good coverage and no need to reapply throughout the night. Although I must mention that the bottle is quite annoying, you just pour it out...
Lancôme - Do thicker ranges, but with fewer colours
MAC - Don't use this one myself personally, have heard mixed reviews but it definitely is thick. Great concealers.
Dior - Expensive but good coverage and lots of colours to choose from

As a final word, I would recommend always forking out a little bit more for foundations. So stick to the fancy part of Boots with the concession counters.

Ully x

London Grammar - Sights (Tourist Version)
https://soundcloud.com/londongrammar/sights-tourist-version

Lengthening mascara ~ L'Oreal Telescopic

I find mascaras are such a tricky product to get right, with so many being too clumpy, flaky, or with bizarre shaped brushes. Mascaras are one of the few products where I find price does not correlate with quality, where some designer labels seem to think that adding something smelly to the mix will justify charging twice the amount as a normal brand (ahem, YSL..). I have been using L'Oreal Telescopic for years and have found very few are quite for creating noticeable lashes.

My two main criteria for good lashes are length and separation. This is first and foremost achieved with the right mascara but I also have a few application techniques which help.

Start at the root of the lashes and comb slowly upwards and through all the lashes. Repeat lots of times and be very particular about combing out and lashes that you think have clumped together.



For extra length, comb from the top-side of the lashes down and up, then comb from down upwards again. Do this a couple of times. 

When people say I have good eyelashes I have to admit that they are really nothing special, I've just got a good mascara!

For added volume, I sometimes go over with more layers or another mascara (MaxFactor have lots of good volume mascaras).

I have to be honest that I have recently noticed that the Telescopic does not apply as easily which I suspect is due to a formula change. I find the older it gets the better (weird). I tried the Benefit 'They're Real' mascara. It's amazing. But it does cost £20 and doesn't last very long... So I think I'll stick to this for now.

Ully x 

Waze & Odyssey vs. R Kelly - Bump n Grind

https://soundcloud.com/wazeandodyssey/bumpandgrind2014