Category Archives: Life & Style

DISHING THE DIRT ON…DERMAPLANING

Posted on by

Quite literally, this will leave you with a dish of dirt that comes straight from the pores.

Dermaplaning is the latest skincare treatment on our radar and we were lucky enough to try it for ourselves at Regent’s Street Aesthetics, with the fabulously talented Aesthetics Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Regents Park Aesthetics, Kay Greveson.

We’ve rounded up some of the common questions (that we had ourselves too!)

What is dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is an intense exfoliating treatment which using a surgical scalpel to scratch away the dead skin, dirt and impurities

What results can I expect

The beauty of dermaplaning is that it has multiple benefits. First and foremost, the skin exfoliation. The process completely removes the dead, dull skin cells at the top of the skin and leave you with glowing, fresh skin that is super, super soft. because dead skin cells are taken off during treatment, your usual skincare will penetrate deeper and have a better effect. In addition, it combats that niggly, annoying peach fuzz

Is it painful

Not at all. There are some light scratching feelings but nothing painful. If anything, it’s quite relaxing

How long does the procedure take

You’ll be in an out within 45 minutes – simple and easy

What’s the aftercare

In the 24 hours post dermaplaning, you should avoid moisturisers with active ingredients (like salycillic acid etc) but after 24 hours, you should apply hydrating moisturiser to help the new skin cells get off to their best start. It’s really important to use a high SPF in your moisturiser and makeup because you’ll need extra protection from UVA and UVB rays

How long do results last

Your average skin cell cycle is 6 weeks therefore repeat treatments only need to be done every 6-8 weeks. This can be longer if combined with skin peels

Will my hair grow back darker

Facial hair does not grow back darker as the hair on your face is vellus hair which cannot transform into terminal hair follicles (like the hair on your legs)

Who would benefit from dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is great for everyone. The treatment is suitable for all skin types and can also be done during pregnancy and breastfeeding

How much does it cost

Prices vary depending on where you choose. At Regent Street Aesthetics, a session costs £80 or you can buy packages including a skin peel or microneedling from £120

Where can I book

Book in at Regent’s Street Aesthetics: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15220636

 

7 Tips to Handle a Snoring Spouse

Posted on by

Research has found that around 37 million adult Americans snore regularly, which means there are many partners and spouses out there that are struggling to get a good night’s sleep. While being a snorer can massively disrupt your quality of sleep, it can impact your partner’s sleep as well. If you have ever slept in the same room as someone who snores, then you will know how impossible it can be to get some shut eye when lying next to a snorer. 

Having a partner who snores can cause you serious exhaustion and fatigue, which can be damaging to both your physical and mental health. Not getting enough sleep can cause you a huge range of issues, including anxiety, memory loss, weight gain, and a drop-in productivity. Therefore, if your partner snores in the night, it is important that you address the issue before it causes any additional health or relationship problems. 

Snoring occurs when someone who is sleeping cannot freely move air between their nose and throat, which causes tissues to vibrate and creates the snoring noise we have all become familiar with. However, there are ways to help your partner if they do snore and by using these helpful tips you can handle a snoring spouse and once again enjoy a good night’s sleep!  

Get a Bigger Bed 

The more space between you and your partner when they are snoring the better. Therefore, by investing in a bigger bed you can have more room and be further away from your partner’s face when they start to snore. When sleeping in a bigger bed, you can also build a wall of pillows between you and your partner’s head to block some of the noise from coming your way while you are trying to sleep. 

Getting a bigger bed and investing in a new mattress that you find more comfortable is a great way to help you fall asleep quicker and stay asleep for longer, even if you do have a snoring spouse next to you. 

Try Anti-Snoring Strips 

You should consider asking your spouse to try anti-snoring strips to combat their disruptive noises throughout the night. Get them to use anti snoring strips, provided by SomniFix, as these can reduce open-mouth snoring and improve nasal breathing abilities. They are an affordable and effective alternative to other mouth taping options that offer a breathing vent that allows for mouth breathing if needed. 

Roll Them Over 

You may find that your partner snores due to their position when they are sleeping. If this is the case, you should spend some time trying to discover which positions are more likely to make your partner snore. Some people are more likely to snore when they are lying on their back so you should try to encourage your partner to sleep on their side instead. You can also use pillows to help prop them up on their side and stop them from flipping onto their back while they sleep. 

However, if you and your partner are determined to sort out their snoring problem, you may want to take things a step further and consider using the ping pong ball trick. This is where you sew a ping pong ball to the inside of the top that your partner wears to sleep. This will make lying on their back (and the ping pong ball) very uncomfortable, which will naturally make them roll onto their side. 

Be Patient 

You should try and remember to remain patient with your partner and bear in mind that they can’t help the snoring that keeps you up all night. People can get very embarrassed about their snoring habits, which can cause problems in the relationship. It is very natural to get frustrated and annoyed with your partner when their snoring keeps you awake at night, and the sleep deprivation kicks in, but try to be understanding about your partner’s snoring and empathize with their condition. Instead, focus on trying to work on the issue together as a couple instead of letting it drive a wedge between you. 

Encourage Them to Exercise 

Research has shown that exercising can help those who snore, as having extra weight around your neck can cause your throat to narrow, and make you snore louder. Therefore, you should try to encourage your spouse to exercise if they could do with losing some weight. Being overweight can make a snoring problem worse, so losing excess weight can help improve the situation. 

Suggest exercises that you can do together, such as brisk walking or jogging, as this can be a great way for you both to bond, get in a shape, and be so tired in the evenings that your spouse snoring isn’t as much of an issue anymore. Anything that your spouse enjoys, and is willing to stick to, is worth trying though.

Drown Out the Noise

If you’ve tried all of the above and nothing has worked, or if you feel uncomfortable bringing up the issue with your spouse, investing in a pair of earplugs may be the best solution. You should shop around for a pair of earplugs that fit your ears well, as if they are uncomfortable, this will only make getting a good night’s sleep even more difficult. 

While using earplugs may feel weird at first, you will soon become accustomed to them and they can be a great way to block out the noises coming from your snoring spouse. 

Go to the Doctors 

If you and your partner have tried everything to no avail, your last option is to book a doctor’s appointment. You may find that your spouse’s snoring is due to a medical condition and healthcare professionals may be able to shed some light on how to solve the problem. 

While having a partner that snores can be frustrating and disruptive to your daily life, you should try to be as understanding as possible and focus on solving the issues as a couple, so it doesn’t cause any additional relationship problems. 

 

Sponsored Post

I am a Freelance Working Mother and This is What it is Like

Posted on by

working mother, working, parent, freelance, parenting, writer, writing, Catherine BalavageHello there from the trenches of working motherhood. I am a freelance writer and editor with two children under three. Today I feel faintly refreshed after having a few hours sleep last night. I get asked a lot what it is like being a freelance writing mother so I want to take you through my week. I will also update you as time goes on. Welcome to my world.

Last week my son was ill and not in nursery. He goes to nursery part-time. Three hours five days a week. Thankfully it is a nursery in a state school so is free. Unlike his previous nursery which cost over £1600 a term. Anyway, back to the point. So my son was ill, my daughter had a little cold and the freelance Gods thought this would be a good time for me to get a lot of work. I find as a freelancer that I get a lot of work all at once, or barely any. I make more money at the beginning of the year than I do the end. So my son was ill, I had no childcare and the baby was not sleeping at night. Even more than usual. Now, she doesn’t sleep anyway. She is sixteen months old and has slept though the night once. So I am one tired mama. And as usual, everything was happening at once.

I got a lot of work, hundreds of emails to go through, this mag to run and a million other things to do. It is full on and stressful. I would not want it any other way but I would quite like a spa day. To top it off my husband went off to Scotland for two days on a work trip. I swear, I do not know how single mothers do it. Both children were up all night and I ended up shaking from head to toe in my bed from the exhaustion. I get people telling me to just take it easy when it comes to my work, or to quit. It infuriates me. No one tells me to not be up all night with the baby, or to not do domestic crap, but doing something for myself and continuing to work on my career? Yeah, let’s give up the thing that keeps me sane.

In December I passed a writing course I was doing. It was intense and stressful doing it while looking after two children but I now have the certificate. The sense of pride and accomplishment always makes it worthwhile. I love working. There are many benefits to work other than money. There is the social aspect, the accomplishment, the contribution to society and the world as a whole. Work is important so I will carry on. Even when it means keeping one eye on the children while working on my computer.

I wrote my first novel by putting my son in the pram and walking until he fell asleep. I would then write two thousand words. Every day. No excuses. It worked and that is the thing about being a freelance working mother. You find what works and then you do it. It leaves you with valuable skills. I would not give it up for anything. I hope you find some of the upcoming posts helpful. Feel free to comment and you can email me at frostmagazine at gmail.com

 

Shadowlands Chichester Festival Theatre: review

Posted on by

Photo-Manuel-Harlan

Revered author of The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S Lewis (Jack) was also a leading Oxford professor. Setting out his stall right at the start of William Nicholson’s award-winning play, from the lecture podium he offers the theory that only through suffering can we comprehend God’s love absolutely.

Sharing a companionable domestic set-up with brother Warnie, where ‘down time’ consists of philosophical enquiry over a pint in the local with other scholars, it is a sedate and gentle existence.

Enter American writer Joy Gresham. Forthright, brash and with a young son in tow, when it becomes apparent that she needs British citizenship in order to remain in England Jack offers her a ‘technical’ registry office marriage. Soon after, Joy is diagnosed with cancer. Only then, fear and shock forcing his emotional intelligence to catch up with his academic prowess, does he realise that he truly loves her. Insisting on a ‘for real’ bedside wedding ceremony, Joy’s terminal diagnosis also reopens the painful wound of losing his mother to cancer as a boy.

Hugh Bonneville and Liz White inhabit the characters with such conviction that I doubt that I was alone in dabbing my eyes. Equally, the humour is delivered with panache and precision timing.

A terrific supporting cast includes Timothy Watson as Professor Riley, Andrew Havill as Warnie and Emilio Doorgasingh as Rev. Harrington. The role of nine-year-old Douglas Gresham is shared between two boys and on press night Eddie Martin acquitted himself with honours.

Peter McKintosh’s set is both beautiful and clever. Facilitating seamlessly fluid scene changes – vignettes of stylish choreography in their own right – glimpses of Narnia are dreamy and wistful.

Photo-Manuel-Harlan

Nicholson’s play may be nigh on thirty years old but Rachel Kavanaugh’s elegant revival hits home because the universal truth surrounding love and loss does not date: Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

In his exquisite book A Grief Observed C.S Lewis might have been countering Tennyson’s affirmation with a reminder that the poet’s romantic theory still demands a steep price: “The death of a beloved is an amputation.”

A stunning start to the Festival season.

At Chichester Festival Theatre until 25 May.

Tickets: 01243 781312 www.cft.org.uk

CHOOSE CHICKEN! ORANGE BUFFALO RESTAURANT REVIEW

Posted on by

American style chicken wings on our Capital’s doorstep. Yep, that’ll do us!

Orange Buffalo started out as a food truck in Brick Lane and has since gone on to open its thriving Hoxton Square joint, with Tooting next in its sights (set to open this summer) – and we can see why the expansion is happening.

We headed down the Old Street branch, nestled into hipster setting, Hoxton’s Bar and Kitchen. To be frank, the food is incredible. The wings are smothered generously in sauce (which we’ll get to shortly) but even beneath this smothering, the skin remains crispy and the chicken juicy.

So, let’s talk sauces. Their range spans hugely and whilst you can stick to a more subdued heat, there’s a punch-packing bully of a chilli waiting for you to face its wrath – The Viper wing. Apparently, there are more people in the world who have climbed Everest than have gotten through a portion of these and they’re NOT for the faint hearted. Don’t believe us? This menu offers milkshakes and mini milk ice lollies to help handle the heat when you need it. Told you.

Obviously the chicken is the hero here but at the same time, you can’t neglect the sides. Buffalo style curly fries, crispy onion wings and the creamiest mozzarella sticks you might ever taste are all worthy of your tray space. Not forgetting the blue cheese dip, of course.

The whole look and feel of the dish screams America, with all food presented in baskets and the whole space is an ‘order at the bar and collect your tray’ style service, so you’re getting a full 360 experience.

Orange Buffalo Hoxton is definitely a vibey place to say the least so if you’re looking for a relaxed, tete a tete it might not be the spot for you but if you’re looking to get a bit rowdy over some wings before donning your dancing shoes, this is definitely the one for you.

Book a table at the Orange Buffalo website.

 

A trio of books to read for the start of May: by Annie Clarke

Posted on by

 

The Beauty of the Wolf by Wray Delaney

This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, reversing the gender roles of the original fairytale. It will no doubt appeal to many with such topical themes such as gender, sexuality and body positivity.

In the age of the Faerie Queene, Elizabeth 1 a period of ruffles and lace, velvet and satins two newborn babes are cursed, one with beauty, one a beast.

But can beauty be a curse? Only if people can’t see past it to the real person: Beau, in this case, a lad. Meanwhile the beast, the girl, is locked away, out of sight.

An interesting take to suit today’s readership.

Pub. by HQ. hb £12.99/eBook/audio

 

Killing  State by Judith O’Reilly

A pacey thriller published by Head of Zeus whose authors often come up with belters.

Michael North, assassin and spy for hire is good at killing bad ‘uns. But what if his boss, lurking in the shadows in post-Brexit British government, orders him to kill a good ‘un, and a women what’s more… He falters. Will he, won’t he?

But let’s get to the heart of the matter: why is she the target?

Honor Jones MP has started nosing about, asking leading questions, and we all know where that gets the good ‘uns…

So I ask again, what will  North do?  Lovely Frederick Forsyth thinks this author will stick around. So do I.

Pacey, gritty but empathetic. I like it. Bravo Judith O’Reilly.

pub Head of Zeus. hb £14.99

 

The Lost Ten by Harry Sidebottom

Another pacey offering.

A frantic rescue attempt deep behind enemy lines … Sheer adventure. Think Strike Back on the TV but without the bottoms heaving about the place, or Bravo Two Zero. But a different time, and a different place.

Valens a junior officer in the Roman Army joins a crack squad of soldiers on a dangerous mission – to rescue the young Prince Sasan in the inaccessible Castle of Silence.

The junior office soon finds himself in charge  and as he begins to suspect treason in the ranks it appears the mission is not so much one of rescue but suicide. Much like Sharpe in the first of Bernard Cornwell’s novels featuring Richard Sharpe he has to earn his men’s respect before he can do anything else. Pacey, interesting, visual.

Pub by Zaffre hb £12.99

 

Annie Clarke’s novel Girls on the Home Front (Arrow) is published 29th May.

 

MAY BEAUTY EDIT

Posted on by

Check out our top beauty buys for May – you won’t be disappointed!

Glossier Bubblewrap (£23)

This bombshell is a bit of game changer if we do say so ourselves. Bubblewrap is an ultra-hydrating eye and lip plumping cream. Under eyes and lips will appear fresh, smooth, and hydrated and technically, it’s two purchases in one!

Visit Glossier website to buy

Urban Decay Game of Thrones Eye Shadow Palette (£45)

GoT plus beauty – what more could we want? This 20-shade palette of ultra-blendable matte, shimmer and metallic eyeshadows is full of rich, bold shades. Bringing together earthy neutrals, frosty shimmers and smoky metallic alongside four transformer shades.

Visit Look Fantastic to buy

Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir (£69)

Korres Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum is infused with the immense antioxidant power of 1-day fresh Greek saffron to help slow signs of ageing.

Visit Feel Unique to buy

Sesderma Acglicolic Classic Body Milk (£35)

This body milk renews, regenerates and hydrates the skin. Its milky texture not only feels amazing, it’s cooling and smoothes the skin.

Visit Amazon to buy

Embryolisse Complexion Correcting Skincare CC Cream SPF20 (£25)

Embryolisse CC cream contains SPF20 and is a brilliant solution as we approach the warmer weather. Formulated with self-adjusting pigments, it re-plumps the skin and delivers a soft focus effect to blur the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and dilated pores.

Visit Boots to buy

 

Books for the Bank Holiday

Posted on by

Yippee! another bank holiday and time to curl up with a book. If you’re looking for something funny, heartbreaking and uplifting why not take a chance with either of these newly published books. The sun might not make an appearance this weekend but you just might find a little warmth and sunshine between the pages of the latest books from bestselling authors Louise Pentland and Claudia Carroll. .

WILDE ABOUT THE GIRL BY LOUISE PENTLAND


After the year from hell, Robin Wilde has bounced back, her love life is ticking along nicely, and she’s finding that being a single mother is actually quite fun. She’s more than ready for whatever life throws at her and when an exciting opportunity at work arises, Robin excitedly steps up, ready to show everyone exactly what she’s made of.

But her best friend Lacey is struggling to conceive and coping with heartbreak, and her daughter Lyla is cultivating an attitude from someone at school. If that wasn’t enough she’s worried about Aunt Kath. Is that bubbly joyous, veneer really just a mask for loneliness?

When push comes to shove can Robin definitely trust the people she must depend on in her fabulous new role?

Life is about to throw a curve ball at Robin Wilde, and she’ll have to make some tough decisions if she’s to take care of those she loves and come out on top.

Louise Pentland is a parenting, lifestyle and beauty blogger, vlogger and fashion designer. Wilde About the Girl is the follow up to her bestselling novel, Wilde Like Me

Published by Zaffre Paperback RRP £7.99

 

THE SECRETS OF PRIMROSE SQUARE BY CLAUDIA CARROLL

 

No one really knows what goes on behind closed doors do they?

It’s late at night and the rain is pouring down on Dublin city streets.

In one quiet house a mother grieves for her dead child. She takes to standing outside the home of the teenage boy she believes responsible.

In a kitchen on the same square, a girl waits anxiously for her mum to come home. She knows exactly where she is, but she knows she cannot reach her.

A few doors down, and a widow sits alone in her room. She has just delivered a bombshell to her family during dinner and her life is about to change forever.

And an aspiring theatre director has just moved in to a flat across the street. Her landlord is absent, but there are already things about him that don’t quite add up . . .

Welcome to Primrose Square

Claudia Carroll lives in Dublin. She is the author of fourteen novels, selling more than half a million copies and gracing the best seller charts regularly.

Published by Zaffre RRP £7.99