Soleve Sunburn Relief Review | Health

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Frostie

Summer may feel like a distant memory but there are still a few lucky ones on holiday. In the hope of some future summer days, or future holidays we have reviewed Soleve Sunburn Relief. It is the first licensed product of its type specifically formulated to ease the pain and discomfort of mild to moderate sunburn. Here is what they say:

Soleve Sunburn Relief is a lotion applied to mild to moderately sunburnt skin to relieve the pain of the sunburn and to moisture the skin. It combines two active ingredients to deliver effective relief right where it’s needed: an effective analgesic, ibuprofen, and an emollient, isopropyl myristate.

Ibuprofen is a well-known Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that is a powerful painkiller and reduces inflammation. Soleve is specially designed to deliver therapeutic levels of ibuprofen directly into sunburnt skin – precisely where it is needed.

Isopropyl myristate, is an emollient which effectively soothes and moisturises the skin by trapping water. Rehydration of sunburnt skin is very important to promote the normal healing process and to make the skin feel more comfortable by reducing both the skin tightness of sunburn and the frictional irritation between sunburnt skin and clothing.

This lotion goes on easily and a little bit goes a long way. It absorbs well and you can use it up to eight times a day. Does it work on sunburn? Yes, it eases and soothes. It is quite pricey at £9.95 but it does work, both moisturising and painkilling. It doesn’t smell bad and is not overpowering either. Recommended as a first-aid kit essential, good stuff.

Available from Boots and Boots.com

Back Nodger Review | Health

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

After an injury on a film set I am now unfortunately one of those people who are in possession of a bad back. The most annoying thing about it is the limitations it places on you. Pain isn’t fun so anything that helps your back is worth the money and the time.

So we agreed to review the Back Nodger. First thing first: the back nodger is easy to use. Using it is very satisfying. Like always having your partner on hand for a good massage. It really does work, easing tension, soothing muscles, helping aches and stiffness. We are very impressed and our backs are grateful.

We love the Back Nodger and can highly recommend it. I will certainly be using it on a regular basis.

The Back Nodger can be used to relax the knots and tension in all the places you can’t reach; tight shoulders, stiff neck and your aching back

Say Goodbye To Half-Hearted Massages……and Hello To Your New 24/7 Masseuse. Back Nodger goes deep, is on-hand whenever you need it and will never miss the spot (or get distracted).

Your essential piece of kit for hours at your desk, after the gym or just to de-stress at home with your feet up.

Designed With Top Physios to Be Simple and Effective

Clinical Physiotherapist Paula Coates recommends using Back Nodger every day: “We all clean our teeth twice a day to keep our mouths healthy, so why not nodge your knots to keep muscles relaxed, de-stressed, and able to keep up with your lifestyle.”

This video shows you how to use the Back Nodger.

Back Nodger – Quick Guide to Nodge Your Knots from R N Ventures Ltd on Vimeo.

STEP 1

2 hands on your Back Nodger
at all times!

The top hand is for control and the bottom hand is to apply pressure

STEP 2

Hook the Back Nodger over your shoulder.

Place the uniquely designed Nodge head onto a knot or an area of pain or tension

STEP 3

Apply deep, precise pressure directly into that knot or area of tension.

Hold each Nodge for upto 10 seconds (or one breath) and then release the pressure.

STEP 4

Keep Nodging! Once you have Nodged one knot, move onto the another knot anywhere on your back.

The Back Nodger is available from Boots.com and eBay.

Think Dirty App Tells You How Toxic Your Cosmetics Are

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

It is no secret that the bees are dying because of pesticide abuse and that all of the toxic chemicals they put in our toothpaste and make up are affecting our health. The madness of the world is that if we don’t want nasty pesticides on our fruit and veg then we have to pay more for the organic stuff.

This is why we have a new favourite app: Think Dirty. This is what they say:

Think Dirty® app is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. It’s an independent source that allows you to compare products as you shop. Just scan the product barcode and Think Dirty will give you easy-to-understand info on the product, its ingredients, and cleaner options.

This is a free app that will let you know if your products contain potentially toxic chemicals like BHA / BHT, PEGs, formaldehyde releasing agents, siloxanes, sulfates, petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, fragrance/parfum and non-biodegradable ingredients

We love it and think that you will too. Get the free app on iTunes here.

CurraNZ Supplement Review | Health

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Frostie

We are on a major health kick here at Frost and always looking for the next health trend.

Fitness supplements are always big news, anything that makes the body work a bit better or the skin looking healthier.

So we tried new natural supplement, CurraNZ, which is made from 100% concentrated New Zealand blackcurrant powder, which have been proven to benefit those who regularly exercise. The berries have anti-inflammatory properties as well as promoting circulation and reducing lactic acid build-up, allowing people to train harder for longer. It also reportedly dramatically reduces menopausal flushes.

Taken in capsule form, the supplement is an easy way of ingesting extra goodness without making food taste funky as some other fruit & veg powders do! As a superfood, New Zealand blackcurrants are also incredibly high in antioxidants with 100mg of fresh fruit providing 12,881 ORAC, compared to blueberries 6,341 and green tea 1,500. The product costs £29 for a month’s supply (30 capsules) and is available online at healthcurrancy.co.uk. It is also vegan friendly.

What did we think? First of all, it didn’t taste horrible, which is always good. We tried a month’s supply and by the end our skin was definitely improved, we were slimmer (we did use it when exercising but it seemed to make weight loss happen faster) and we definitely think it helped with lactic acid build up as we took the supplement just before we worked out. By the end we were actually glowing.

We are definitely fans of CurraNZ. We think it certainly has health benefits.

Botox and Fillers- How Young is Too Young?

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Frostie

By Dr. Paul Munsanje

This week everyone has been talking about Tulisa, a beautiful ‘girl next door’ who recently appeared in court, and subsequently had an unrelated trial by tabloid and social media for a suspected lip job and cheek work. Indeed it was later confirmed by Tulisa that she had indeed had cosmetic work. But why has there been such an interest in Tulisa’s face? For most, it is Tulisa’s age. Why is a beautiful, 26 year old girl wanting to change her appearance? We asked Dr. Paul Munsanje, of Amara Aesthetics and Beyond MediSpa Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge; How young is too young when it comes to botox, fillers and other cosmetic procedures?

“I get a lot of questions from nervous first timers in my clinic. ‘Am I too young to have cosmetic work done?’; ‘Do a lot of people get this done?’ and ‘What age do most people start getting treatments’. In the past 10 years the big question seems to have changed from ‘Should I get some work done’ to ‘Have I left it too late?'”

So how young is too young?

In my clinics, 19-35 is the age group where lip fillers are most popular. Thankfully most girls want a subtle ‘did she?’ rather than a ‘no she didnt!’ look. However, some girls don’t realise that lip fillers, as a medical procedure, have risks and complications. Although lip fillers generally last between 6 and 18 months, they need to be taken more seriously than getting your hair dyed a different colour.

To me it is fairly obvious that Tulisa has just had her lips done. I think if we’d never seen Tulisa before we probably wouldn’t have noticed her new lips and she would just be seen as having nice lips. Some of the worst pictures are clearly from a bad angle and taken while the lips are moving which could make anyone look like they had work done! Also often people’s lips swell in the first day after fillers so she may have simply timed her treatment badly!  

Botox is a completely different animal. Very few girls who come in for treatment are under 25. In fact, most women starting now come for their first treatment between 28 and 35. Some girls come younger thinking they need it for prevention. I happily explain that yes, botox is even better as prevention than as cure, but if you are under 25 and you don’t have a line that stays when you stop frowning, you don’t need it. I think some of my happiest customers are those that are told they don’t need any work done yet!

 The best thing about a gentle filler or Botox treatment is it can be done in such a way that a treatment is ‘plausibly deniable’. If you swore to your best friend that you did not have botox/fillers would they believe you? If the answer is no, then your treatment is not plausibly deniable. Let me give you some examples. Halle Berry.. plausibly deniable. Lulu.. not plausibly deniable. Tulisa … not plausibly deniable. Less is more!

Elizabeth Arden Presents Flawless Future…

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Kesh

“According to a recent survey, the majority of women would rather gain ten pounds then look ten years older” explains Charity Finnigan, Elizabeth Arden’s Brand Manager. This can’t surely be true i’m thinking, but as I look around this room of women all I see and hear are nodding heads and approving sighs. I guess ageing is something I haven’t really thought about having just turned 26, but more and more women I speak to from experience are saying the same thing, that they wished they took more preventative measures in anti-ageing and that it’s not too late for my generation to start. Unless I get some hard scientific facts i’m a sceptic, and that is exactly what Elizabeth Arden delivered in their flawless presentation about their newest range of Ceramide products; Flawless Future.

Charity Finnigan’s presentation

It’s hard to come to terms with something when you’ve never had to experience it yourself but it’s inevitable that one time or another the signs of ageing will be apparent on our face. Unlike those who would resort to drastic measures I would prefer to grow old gracefully and with some help it’s becoming easier and easier for women to do that. Here comes the science: 25 years ago, Elizabeth Arden patented ceramide technology. Ceramides are the molecules that keep the skin healthy and support the collagen produced. Over the years, these ceramides begin to deplete causing the skin to age and a huge factor is stress. During a recent study, the most stressed out age group are 20-30 year olds and it has shown that the biggest loss in ceramides happen in your 30’s. Aiming an anti-ageing product for this age group then makes total sense and Elizabeth Arden have the right idea.

The Flawless Future Collection is comprised of;

Flawless Future powered by Ceramide ™ Caplet Serum

This serum which soothes and brightens skin is powered by Micro-Caplets which provides an even application and effective penetration. Over 80% of women who tried this reported that their skin was smoother, brighter and looked stress-free. This product is pure luxury for the skin.

Flawless Future powered by Ceramide ™ Moisture Cream SPF 30

A daily moisturiser that hydrates and brightens, diminish discolourations and softens lines and wrinkles. This cream is enriched with rice kefiran which is proven to improve hydration, glycerin and shea butter. Pearlescent pigments and mica in the ingredients also enhance complexion. Over 90% of women felt their skin looked smooth, supple and hydrated. SPF also provides skin with sun protection. After a week of using this I saw an immediate difference in my skin brightness and hydration and the amazing scent makes me look forward to applying this.

Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide ™ Eye Gel

This brightening gel fights the appearance of stress and fatigue around the eyes for a radiant, brighter look. The formula is boosted with vitamin E and hydrating sodium hyaluronate and a unique algae extract complex that targets puffiness and dark circles. The design of the dispenser means that it controls the appropriate amount of product to the eye, really handy! Over 70% of women reported a visible difference to fine lines, stress and fatigue were relieved and brightness was improved. Another bonus is that this eye gel is safe for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers.

As all Elizabeth Arden products are, they are all presented nicely and look great in my bathroom cabinet. The great thing about the launch was that as well as learning about the new products it was full of other inspirational beauty writers and bloggers sharing tips with each other and enjoying themselves with the incredible Elizabeth Arden team. They put on a really special evening and went above and beyond expectations to make sure we were welcomed, informed and having a great time. It really makes a difference when huge brands go that extra mile and I really look forward to seeing what else Elizabeth Arden have in store.

Flawless Future is available exclusively at Debenhams from now until 10th August and launches nationwide 15th August.

follow @ardenUK for more information. www.elizabetharden.co.uk

keshini misha.

bac< Shoulder Brace Review

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Frostie

There are a few slouchers in the Frost office so we jumped at the chance to review the new bac< shoulder brace. Let’s find out if it works…

First of all, it is relatively easy to get on, as long as you follow the instructions. Yes, I know, we all hate following instructions but it needs to be done. The device looks good too. We reckon you could even wear it over your clothes. If you are into that type of thing.

So for the most important answer: yes, it works. It is lightweight and comfortable and it makes you stand up straight. This is a great device for strong posture. Recommended.

What they say:

bac< Shoulder Brace (RRP £34.99) Lightweight, discreet and comfortable, the Shoulder Brace draws theshoulders back and straightens the spine, so helping to improve posture and relieving pain in the middle back. A padded spine section supports the user’s own spine, preventing painful flexing and helping the user breathe more easily. Available in three sizes (junior (teen), small to medium and large), it helps maintain a strong posture, making it useful when taking part in sport and leisure activities.

Stand straight and proud! Improve posture and relieve pain

Our shoulder brace is designed to improve your posture, prevent slouching and align your spine therefore relieving pain and discomfort .

The shoulder brace has been developed in conjunction with Harley Street specialists at the London Spine Clinic and is manufactured in the UK ensuring a posture brace that will last the test of time.

Once the shoulder brace is fitted you will instantly feel the elasticated straps and the semi ridged thermo-formed back section pull your shoulders into the correct position and straighten your spine.

It’s lightweight and made from breathable, hygenic anti-microbial fabric so it is equally suited to be worn under or over clothing.

Adjust the tension by pulling the elasticated straps forward and fasten around the front of your stomach.

5 Ways to Keep Your Willpower in Tip-Tip Condition

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Frostie

By Dr Sally Norton.

Weight Loss Surgeon, Health Expert, Founder of www.vavista.com

“If something is going to work, it has to be easy to sustain. In other words, you don’t need much willpower to make it happen and to keep it up for good. We all know that our self-discipline can flag when we are tired and stressed, so we shouldn’t rely overly much on it. Any changes that you decide to make must therefore be easy to keep up, even in difficult situations. That usually means that they need to be small changes, that don’t mean too much disruption to your normal life. But lots of small and easy to sustain changes add up, which is what we are looking for when it comes to successful, sustainable, long-term weight loss.”

1. Get enough sleep – people who are well-rested are more likely to make healthy choices.

2. Don’t expect to be able to make too many difficult choices. A recent study showed that people faced with a stressful task to work on, and then asked to choose between different foods tended to make less healthy food choices; it’s as though their willpower and concentration can only focus on one thing at a time! Accept it, and don’t ask too much of yourself at any one time.

3. Think long-term. A recent study showed that people who keep their sights on more long-term goals tend to achieve more than those who focus on short-term rewards.

4. Think about the common reasons why you may fail in your efforts and take steps to prevent the sabotage. It may be friends or family who tempt you away from your path – how can you stop them? It may be that you are always too exhausted to go the the gym after work – think of a different way or different time to exercise instead that you will find easier to keep up.

5. Be kind to yourself. If your willpower slips, it isn’t the end. Just think about why – were you tired, were you overly stressed, were you asking too much of yourself? Use it as a learning experience and address the reason why you deviated from the path you have chosen for yourself rather than beating yourself up about it – then it is much less likely to happen again.

So, don’t ask too much of your willpower, it is scientifically shown to be pretty unreliable! Instead, adopt new habits that require minimal willpower to maintain and you will succeed in spite of your willpower, rather than because of it!

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