Category Archives: Life & Style

Get Your Skin Ready For #festivalseason With Olay

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Ah, summer. Festivals, barbecues, picnics. The warm weather brings joy in abundance. Not so much for our skin sometimes. SPF can be heavy and make up tends to slide off the face. So get your skin ready now. I get sent some new Olay product to try. Here is how I got on.

THE REFRESHER

I love a facial mist. They are perfect for hydrating skin and making you feel refreshed. The Energizing Olay Mist Ultimate Hydration Essence has powerhouse antioxidant Vitamin C & Bergamot Extract. I do think it left my skin looking better, and feeling better too. 

For a much-needed make up / hydration boost, make sure the Energizing Olay Mist Ultimate Hydration Essence is to hand. This energising face mist with powerhouse antioxidant Vitamin C & Bergamot Extract will leave you with a more even skin tone, as well as feeling revitalised, refreshed and energised – perfect for day three party goers.

Olay Mists Ultimate Hydration Essences RRP £12.99 

THE SOOTHER

I really like this eye gel. It is deeply hydrating, just like the name says. A tiny amount goes a long way. My skin can feel really dry and this seems to last for a long time. I would continue to use this. 

We all know that festivals can give us puffy, tried eyes, but Olay has you covered. It’s NEW Deep Hydrating Eye Gel features heavyweight ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide / vitamin B3 and will give you a much-needed turbo boost of hydration, keeping you looking fresher for longer.

Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel RRP £24.99 

THE TIME SAVER

I love the Whip Moisturisers. They moisturiser like a heavy moisturiser but go on, and feel, like a light moisturiser. I always wear SPF 30 and nothing less. I can find it hard to find a moisturiser with SPF30, or at least a good one. These are now my go to. Just fab. 

Don’t want to waste precious dancing time? NEW Olay Whips Moisturisers SPF30 has a lightweight, zero grease feel that will help protect your face against harmful UVA/UVB rays AND fight the shine that would have built up pre-main-stage act. Made with Active Rush Technology to transform from cream to liquid for instant absorption, you can wave goodbye to setting times!

NEW Olay Whips Moisturisers SPF 30 RRP £34.99 

THE EXPRESS FACIAL

These facials are so convenient. They clean very well and leave skin feeling exfoliated. 

Daily Facials Micellar Clean will change your festival experience when it comes to cleaning your face. These water activated dry cloths come in two formulas for dry and sensitive skin. By removing makeup, cleansing, exfoliating, improving the look of skin and preserving moisture, you’ll still have that gorgeous glow come day five. 

Daily Facials Micellar Clean RRP £6.90 

All products available from superdrug.com or boots.com

Play Up, Malory Towers!

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As the first ever stage production of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers embarks on a national tour, Director Emma Rice tells Vicky Edwards why these classic stories are an enduring delight…

I’ve always thought optimism a lovely trait. Not only do the ‘glass half full’ brigade seem better equipped to withstand life’s slings and arrows, but their sanguinity is also marvellously contagious; even die-hard Eeyores struggle to maintain despondency when in the company of a fully-buoyant bright-sider. In literature, Malory Towers is the epitome of optimism. Nobody better, therefore, to adapt the original work and direct it than Wise Children’s super-sunny Emma Rice.

Co-produced with York Theatre Royal in association with Bristol Old Vic, and officially licensed by Enid Blyton Entertainment, a division of Hachette Children’s Group (HCG), Malory Towers is the original post war ‘Girl Power’ story. The high jinks of pupils at the Cornish boarding school have thrilled readers ever since the first story was published in 1946 – didn’t we all yearn to join in the midnight feasts and yell ‘Play Up, Malory Towers!’ at nail-biting lacrosse matches? The books remain hugely popular, with new generations devouring them and dreaming of being sent away to boarding school with an overflowing tuck box.

 

Emma Rice credit Steve Tanner

“But there is plenty for boys too,” urges Emma, in exuberant form after a productive week of rehearsals. “The only thing that would disappoint me would be if people didn’t bring their boys,” she added, promising a show that delivers plenty of thrills and spills.

“The animation is fantastic – we see the train arriving at the Cornish coast – and then there is a real cliff hanger just before the interval. We have just been rehearsing that bit today and it’s like Ben Hur!”

Described as ‘nostalgic, naughty and perfect for now,’ what initially appealed to Emma about the project?

“The Malory Towers books are great stories filled with great characters who don’t seem to age at all. It is very hopeful and I think that is right for now. I call it my happy Lord of the Flies: when left to their own devices, a group of girls decide to be the best version of themselves they possibly can be. They want to change the world and be women the world can lean on; they want to resolve conflict. They never talk about boys and they aren’t boring!”

Interestingly, Emma is a relatively new convert to Blyton’s best-loved school stories.

“I’ve worked with David [producer David Pugh] many times. He has great taste and he knows me so well, damn him!”
Laughing, she recalled how David piqued her interest by wooing her with a vintage set of the books, beautifully wrapped in brown paper.

“As soon as I read the first one I just knew they would make a great piece of theatre. They’re such page turners, the characters are so well observed and the powerful feminine voice comes through with such positivity.”

Anyone familiar with Emma’s work will know that music is an integral part of her productions.

“There is always lots of music with me,” she agreed cheerfully, “but I wanted the music in Malory Towers to be virtuosic; simple, but showing how rich the world is. There are some new compositions by Ian Ross and it’s a real musical feast,” she teased; “and it has got fantastic dancing, too. The choreography is incredible. I wanted my Malory Towers to be like Busby Berkeley, but in an earthy, feminist way!”

If the music is a feast then the actors Emma has assembled are a veritable banquet (‘simply top hole,’ as Darrell and her chums might say), and, refreshingly, it was achieved through a ‘character-over-looks’ approach to casting.

“For me, casting is always about getting the right personalities and the people who absolutely capture the spirit of the characters.” As proud as a Head Teacher with an intake of straight ‘A’ students, she adds: “My company comprises a range of actors with different backgrounds.

Gymslip clad, Emma’s performers will transport audiences to 1950s Cornwall where Darrell Rivers is embarking on her Malory Towers adventure. Bright, loyal and big-hearted, her fast and fiery temper is something she must learn to master. And, while she’s about it, can she save the school play and rescue terrified Mary Lou from the grip of a raging storm? Crikey!

But amid all the drama and japes runs Emma’s affection and regard for the generation of women who taught in schools in the wake of warfare.

“With lives shaped by the savagery of two wars, they devoted themselves to the education and nurture of other women. My Malory Towers is for them, and also for the two generations of men that died in those same wars, leaving us with the freedom to lead meaningful, safe and empowered lives. And it is for Clement Attlee and his Labour government of 1945 who looked into the face of evil and chose to do what was right. These people changed the political landscape in their focus on care, compassion and the common good. Malory Towers was written at the heart of this political revolution, and embodies a kindness, hope and love of life that knocks my socks off.”

Something else Emma is passionate about is the work of her company, Wise Children.

“We want to make fantastic world class ensemble theatre based on storytelling techniques that I have developed over my career, and at the same time teach the next generation of creative theatre makers. And we want to create access for people who might not be able to access theatre training,” she told me, explaining that there are free places given to those for whom such aspirations would otherwise be impossible.

Vowing to raid my daughter’s bookshelf and get reacquainted with Blyton’s finest work, on my way home I imagined what Miss Grayling’s comment on Emma’s end of term report might have been:

‘A splendid Head Girl who can surely be depended upon to lead Malory Towers to victory. Jolly good show, Emma!’

©Vicky Edwards

Five Ways To Get Great Hair

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tricho complex, supplements, how to great hair, kingsleyFive ways to achieve the most out of your hair by Anabel Kingsley, Trichologist and Hair Care Expert at Philip Kingsley, the leading authority in hair and scalp health. ‎

 

  1. Use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment once to twice a week. This will help to restore elasticity to brittle hair, making it more resilient and less likely to break and split at the ends. It will also make the hair shinier and more manageable. As you won’t have to spend as much time styling, this in turn can strengthen the hair.
  2. Increase your protein intake. Hair is made of protein, so it’s important to eat protein-rich foods to keep your strands looking their best – and growing at their optimal rate. In order to ensure that your hair is getting the protein it needs, include at least 120g of a first class protein (one that contains all essential amino acids) with breakfast and lunch. Good choices are eggs, fish, lean meats, poultry, low-fat cottage cheese and quinoa.
  3. Have a snack. Energy available to hair cells drops four hours after eating. If more than this is left between meals, you should have a snack to sustain energy levels to hair follicles. We recommend choosing a healthy carbohydrate, such as fresh fruit, no-added-sugar granola or whole-meal crackers.
  4. Look after your scalp. If your scalp is dirty or flaky, chances are your hair isn’t as healthy or glossy as it could be. Keep your scalp environment in great shape by shampooing frequently with a shampoo suitable for your texture. For an extra boost, use a daily anti-microbial scalp toner and an exfoliating scalp mask once a week.
  5. Improve your ferritin levels. Ferritin is an iron that helps produce hair cell protein. If these levels are depleted, hair often becomes weaker and unable to grow as long. The best way to improve low ferritin levels is to take a daily supplement containing iron and vitamin C. Red meats, such as steak and liver, are also great dietary sources.

 

 

I have been trying the Tricho Complex which is making my hair look shiny. It seems to be growing faster too.

Diet is crucial for hair health. As Anabel Kingsley notes “The most essential nutrients for hair are protein (what your hair is made of), complex carbohydrates (which provide energy to rapidly growing hair cells) and iron.” It can be hard to get the nutritional requirements during a busy day at the office, so it can be useful to take a nutritional supplement. Tricho Complex contains an exceptional mix of vitamins and minerals which contribute to the maintenance of normal, healthy hair.

Tricho Complex

£45, philipkingsley.co.uk

 

CBD Oil (Cannabidiol) – What Is It, And Should I Buy It? by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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You can’t pass a health shop which isn’t advertising CBD oil at the moment, but what is it? Is it safe? Is it the cure-all claimed? And does it make you high?

Well Simon Horth, founder of Green Stem, was keen to tell me about his products.  He knew of many who seemed to have benefitted, including his own mother, who suffers from arthritis, and a friend with multiple sclerosis who’s muscle spasms had decreased.

As a doctor, I’m cautious of anecdotes – they sound exciting, but can be misleading – people who feel benefit tell everyone, whilst those who don’t, or feel worse, fade away. There’s no substitute for properly regulated clinical trials, to quantify genuine benefit, find the best dose, and check for side-effects. Ideally these involve many hundreds or even thousands of people, under strictly controlled conditions. So what clinical trials have been done with CBD and what did they show? I took a look.

But first what is CBD? Well CBD is short for cannabidiol – extracted from the hemp plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant. Marijuana contains THC, which makes one ‘high’, however CBD doesn’t have this ability. CBD hemp flower from PHF is thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

I found a limited number of pharmaceutical-quality clinical trials in the literature. Just a few hundred people seem to have been studied in trials to date, and more trials are definitely needed to establish the pros and cons of CBD, and, importantly the most-effective and safe doses.

It’s been approved in USA for rare epileptic illnesses and is under review by FDA as a treatment for cancer pain.  Side-effects seem to be few, such as nausea and sleepiness so far, although it ‘s difficult to be sure with such limited data.

It’s currently available in health shops in some countries including the UK. Until more evidence is available I can’t tell you whether it works in the myriad of illnesses suggested, or even what dose you should take, but you can try it if you wish.

If you do, it’s important to find a quality product and Green Stem makes CBD to stringent guidelines and quality and potency checks.  Their products are also free of THC (the chemical causing marijuana ‘highs’). CBD can affect the blood levels of various medicines, so if you do take it in addition to other medicines, you should check with your doctor.

CBD is absorbed best when inhaled, or as drops under the tongue. Green Stem produce products suitable for inhalation, oral use or skin application and their website has some useful information.

 

 

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co,uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice

 

Where is the Wellness Trend Headed?

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Health and wellness trends change over time as new ideas surface and gain traction with the health-conscious public. It’s always sensible to look out for new thinking on the subject of wellness because, as medical research confirms how alternative ideas about medicine have greater validity, products are released to provide new relief or a boost to health backed by the research.

Here are some of the wellness trends in 2019. 

Personal Massage Treatment for Sore Muscles

The Theragun first got noticed at tennis tournaments when players began using it to relieve muscle tension by encouraging the muscles to relax again. The device eases muscles which relieves nerve tension and stops the pain. Nerve pain is one of the worst types of pain to deal with because it cuts right through you and painkillers don’t help much.

The HyperVolt hand massager is another percussive tool that works similarly and has been seen being used in chiropractors across the U.S. before making spinal adjustments to patients.

Be sure to visit sites like UpgradedReviews.com to find great deals on wellness products that you’re interested in purchasing. 

CBD and Hemp Products Go More Mainstream

As the legislation clears the way, consumers are using hemp-based and CBD products to relieve fatigue and anxiety to feel better. 

There are now many of these products that offer wellness benefits and are sold in spray, oil or edible form. The natural anti-inflammatory properties are the main driver here. It also helps consumers stop taking traditional medicine like aspirin or ibuprofen which is a popular change.  

It’s not for everyone but nevertheless, the market and number of providers is expanding rapidly. 

Oat Milk

Oat milk is the new almond milk. For milk lovers who look for the latest thing, oat milk delivers all the goodness they expect and a rich full-bodied taste that satisfies their taste buds too. 

Oatly is the biggest brand to watch in this space. They’ve had to move to a larger factory and increased production by over 1,000% since oat milk began to rival almond milk in popularity. 

Brain Health Becomes More Relevant

With the ongoing research into Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s, the understanding of the human brain is getting better. This is leading to new products to help you get more from your brain matter. 

According to Lisa Mosconi, who previously wrote Brain Food, it all comes down to what we feed our brain. When we take in rich nourishment, our brains function better. However, when we eat poorly with low nutritional meals, our cognition and long-term brain health is at risk.

Eating more plant-based foods and avoiding additives is leading the charge. Plant-based burgers are becoming a hot space for some food companies. They’re even perfecting the look and smell of a beef burger without the animal fats. Even non-Vegans are interested in this healthier, lower fat option to fast food. 

Fruit Juices on the Way Out?

We’ve seen the earlier trend towards drinking a glass of fruit juice in the morning at breakfast. However, it’s now been indicated that we should be careful about that. Researchers have indicated that the sugar in fruit juice isn’t as great for our health when consuming more than a glass a day. Therefore, while consumers have moved increasingly away from soda, switching to fruit juice isn’t much better for the teeth, gums or overall health either. 

Healthier flavored waters and vitamin water solutions are encouraging consumers to stick with water and avoid sugar-loaded beverages altogether. Beverage companies are responding well to this new trend with many bringing out healthier drinking options, including Coca Cola and Pepsi too. 

Many of the wellness trends are good ones this year. Pick your favorite one and try it out to see how you like it. You might be surprised. 

 

Sponsored Post. 

JULY BEAUTY EDIT

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From miracle hairbrushes to an egg mousse for the body, you’re in for a treat with our July Beauty Edit!

Protect your skin from free radicals

Daytox Natural Day and Night facial oil is a light, dry oil that easily absorbs into the skin. This must-have contains vitamins E and C to help fortify and strengthens the skins natural barrier, and almond oil, a powerful natural antioxidant that prevents the effect of stress and harmful ultraviolet radiation rays to the skin. We’re assured it’s fab for the fight against pollution on the skin too.

£24 – Ocado

 

Turn up the TLC with this meringue-like mousse

 

Too Cool For School Egg Mousse Body Oil magically transforms into an oil that absorbs deep into your skin for ultimate hydration. It instantly softens rough skin for cashmere-soft smoothness and is a cocktail of five botanical oils creates a protective moisture barrier without clogging pores. Egg yolk extract and albumin in egg white extract work together to boost the skin’s natural ability to repair and regenerate, supporting natural cell turnover and collagen production for firmer, more supple skin.

£24.50 – Boots

 

Soothe your strands with GHD’s hot brush

Known as the ‘super brush’, this invention gives ‘I woke up like this’ salon worthy hair. Not yet available here in the UK but you can pre-order this hot commodity (pardon the pun) which makes it worthy for our wishlist. This one will tames and smoothe dry hair, reaching 185 degrees and eliminating frizz in just a few strokes. So, miracles do exist.

£139 – GHD

Summer scented setting sprays

There are few things more iconic on the beauty scene than MAC’s Prep + Prime Fix + Extensions. So, what have the beauty boffins gone and done this time? Given us five, yes five, limited edition scents of the miracle mist, each still leaving you with that soft sheen. Choose from cucumber, watermelon, Peony, Pineapple or white tea.

£12.50 – MAC

Lift the lashes with Too Faced

If it gets a thumbs up from Huda Kattan, then it gets a thumbs up from us! Too Faced have kept pretty loyal to their absolute wonder mascara that was Better Than Sex until this super recent surprise drop. With endorsements FLYING in for the soon-to-be fan favourite, the formula is described as “a revolutionary creamy mousse, developed with a special blend of whipped melting waxes (waxes injected with air)’. This blend will give you a ‘ weightless super lash’ and volume like no other.

£22 –Too Faced

 

 

SpaceView Baby Monitor Review

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I have tried many baby monitors in my life and the eufy Spaceview HD Wireless Baby Monitor is by far the best. The portable 5″ monitor has excellent HD video quality and two way audio. It has the things you would expect like night vision, the ability to pan, tilt and zoom, but it also has a bonus wide-angle lens so you can see the entire nursery. It has a secure wireless connection and the transmission is delay-free. Very important. It has a long battery life.

It is also stylish. It looks good. It has a built in thermostat which is very handy. There is zero set up and a wall mount is included. You can also attach the included lens and get a 110° full view of the nursery. SpaceView can also detect the ambient noise to be louder than what you set and it alerts you when your attention is needed. The coverage is large: 460ft.

In my opinion the Spaceview Baby Monitor is the best baby monitor on the market and it gets the Frost Gold Standard.

Spaceview Baby Monitor costs £159.99 from Amazon.co.uk

 

Summer Reads

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A Maiden’s Voyage Rosie Goodwin

Thursday’s child has far to go . . . 

1912, London.

The latest book in the Days of the Week series from Rosie Goodwin – A Maiden’s Voyage – is sure to be a hit with her many fans. I have to say I think this a great idea for a series and the way Rosie Goodwin has come up with the stories and characters to express the sentiment of each day has been truly imaginative.

Thursday’s child is the story of Flora Butler who lives in London, working as a lady’s maid to Constance Ogilvie. It suits Flora perfectly; she enjoys her work and is able to provide for her parents and four younger siblings. But  when tragedy strikes Flora faces a difficult decision – move to new York with her mistress, or lose her job and stay with her family.

Before long, Flora and Connie are heading to Southampton to board the RMS Titanic…

With strong settings and likeable characters, this is a page turner of a book to sail away with.

 

Secrets of Santorini by Patricia Wilson

How far would you go to save those we hold deep in our hearts? What would you sacrifice to save the ones you love from harm? Secrets of Santorini is a love story, it’s ancient history with a modern twist. But most of all, it’s a love letter to the gorgeous island of Santorini.

Sent away to a convent school in Dublin at the age of five, Irini McGuire has always had a strained and distant relationship with her mother, Bridget, a celebrated archaeologist who lives on the paradise island of Santorini. So, when Irini receives news that Bridget has been injured at a dig and is in a coma, she knows it is finally time to return to the island of her birth.

Reading through her mother’s notes at her bedside, Irini starts to realise how little she knows about Bridget’s life. Now, driven by rumours that her mother’s injury was no accident, Irini must uncover the dark secrets behind her family’s separation.

Will she discover the truth about her parents and her past before it is too late?

The story flips between the past and the present day as Irini pieces together her mothers past. One for the suitcase – whether real or imaginary. You’ll feel you’re in Greece as soon as you start reading.

 

 

The Woman in the Photograph Stephanie Butland

The Woman in the Photograph by Stephanie Butland

It’s 1968 and Veronica Moon is a junior photographer on a local paper in an Essex. She never gets good assignments, and no one takes her seriously. And then she visits the picket line at Dagenham Ford Factory and her life is changed forever.

At the front line of the fight for equal pay for women workers she meets Leonie – a privileged, angry activist, ahead of her time and prepared to fight for equality with everything she has. Veronica has never met anyone quite like her. She breaks off her engagement and moves to London with Leonie to begin a game-changing career and an intoxicating friendship.
Fifty years later and Leonie is gone. Veronica is a recluse with a crippling degenerative disease. For a while she was heralded as a pioneer, leading the charge for women everywhere. But her career was shockingly and abruptly ended by one of the most famous photographs of the twentieth century. It is a photograph that she took.
Now, as that controversial picture hangs as the centrepiece of a new feminist exhibition curated by Leonie’s niece, long-repressed memories of Veronica’s extraordinary life and tumultuous, passionate and – at times toxic – friendship begin to stir. It’s time to break her silence and step back into the light.

And she will no longer hide from the truth about that dark time.

Beautifully written, it draws you into the period from the first page. Such evocative writing and careful attention to detail really brought the 1970s to life.

Wilde Women by Louise Pentland

Robin Wilde is crazy busy with her exciting job and her lovely new man. She’s parenting with flair, and she’s feeling better after the heartbreak of last year. But with so little time to herself, and best friend Lacey’s increasing struggle with post-natal depression, the cracks are beginning to show. Cue a team trip to New York. It might just be the tonic Robin, Lacey, Auntie Kath, Edward and even Piper need.

Will the city that never sleeps make them or break them …

The latest adventures of Robin Wilde is sure to be a hit with Louise Pentland’s many fans. Witty, fun, and full of warmth that will leave you with the feel good factor.

The Women of Primrose Square by Claudia Carroll

Claudia Carroll takes us back to Primrose Square with a new set of characters.

When Frank Woods at number seventy-nine Primrose Square comes home to a surprise birthday party thrown by his wife and adoring children, it is his guests who get the real surprise.

Finding himself alone, he befriends the cantankerous Miss Hardcastle, who hasn’t left her home for decades, and Emily Dunne – fresh out of rehab and desperate to make amends.

As gossip spreads through Primrose Square, every relationship is tested, and nothing in this close-knit community will ever be the same again.

Full of warmth, humour and compassion. A perfectly lovely summer read.

Available from www.amazon.co.uk and www.waterstones.com