Seascape Beauty Review. Eco Friendly Beauty.

Seascape is a British brand. The ingredients come from local producers in Jersey in the Channel Islands. They smell amazing and are Eco-friendly. As Seascape say:

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“All Seascape products are paraben, silicone, petroleum and SLS free and are suitable for vegetarians. They’re also free from artificial colours and synthetic fragrances”.

The carton is even produced by a carbon neutral company. It is completely guilt free beauty. I met Seascape at the Handpicked Media lounge at the Aldwych Hotel during London Fashion Week and I also got an amazing hand and arm massage from them.

There are six ranges, Uplift, Revive, Unwind, Soothe, Homme and Les Petits. I reviewed three of their products.

Peppermint Lip Balm
Has 100% natural peppermint essential oil. I love this lip balm. It is not too peppermint but soothes lips and stops them drying out. Works beautifully and leaves my lips looking luscious. Even in cold weather. You can see the ingredients below.

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Refresh Hand & Nail Cream
This weather makes my hands dry out horribly. They get really dry and cracked. This hand and nail cream has lemongrass and Geranium. Like all of the products, it smells amazing and it saves my hands. A personal favourite.

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Unwind Body Lotion.
This body lotion has Lavender to soothe and Ylang Ylang to ease tension. It is also enriched with Jersey Beeswax and Shea Butter. A little goes a long way and it is not too thick. You can get dressed quickly after using. I love how soft and moisturised it makes my skin.

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I would definitely buy Seascape products. They are eco-friendly, well made and they really work.

http://www.seascapeuk.com/ From £10.

Moroccan Oil Review

In the three years since I started Frost Magazine I have been sent a lot of stuff, and Moroccan Oil is one of my favourites.

Moroccan Oil has only been going for six years and in that time it has become a cult product. All of my friends raved about it and I just never got around to buying it. The main reason was I just didn’t get the whole oil + hair thing. Wouldn’t it leave it greasy? Or limp?

Well, no. I have fine hair and I am careful to not use products that will drag it down, but Moroccan Oil does not do that. In fact it leaves my hair super shiny, conditioned and de-tangled. My hair goes through a lot. I act and spend my life getting my hair curled, blow dried, backcombed and cornrowed so they can then attach a wig. If it was a person, it would have been in hospital. Before trying the moroccan_oil_light_treatment_25mlMoroccan Oil it was really tangled. It would take me ages to get a brush through it. I used the Moroccan Oil products and ran a brush straight through my hair, no problem at all.

I use Moroccan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo, Moroccan Oil Moisture Repair Conditioner and Moroccan Oil Treatment Light. The Moroccan Oil smells amazing. Even my boyfriend comments on it, and in one single use my hair looks the best I can remember it looking. Bouncy, healthy, shiny and with volume. I can’t stop stroking my hair.

When I mentioned to a few friends that I had been sent the Moroccan Oil to review they said they were jealous and that I would never use anything again, they may be right. I give the product top marks.

Thursday Till Sunday Film Review

Thursday-Sunday-editThere would appear to be a growing force behind cinema from Chile in recent years. Pablo Larraín’s  No recently became the first Chilean film to be nominated for foreign language film at the Oscars whereas his previous films Tony Manero and Post-Mortem have joined the likes of Patricio Guzman’s political documentaries (the most recent being the astonishing Nostalgia For The Light) to boost the country’s cinematic reputation of late. Whether or not this is down to a cultural ‘renaissance’ or the ever expanding availability of global cinema is debatable but whatever the reason we should be thankful that such choice is being made available especially in the case of Thursday Till Sunday, an achingly sad yet tender drama from newcomer Domingo Sotomayor that has premiered at various international festivals and picked up the Tiger Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

Ana and Fernando (Paola Giannini and Francisco Pérez-Bannen) are taking their two young children Lucia and Manuel (Santi Ahumada and Emiliano Freifeld) on a journey across the country to visit an old lot left by Fernando’s father to him. The long weekend is passed by way of colourful landscapes, locals and naive childrens games and inquisitive questioning of their parents. As the journey goes on, the pre-teen Lucia (and in turn the audience) begin to realise that something is desperately wrong with her parent’s marriage.

 

With a unique, singular directorial style and observations that seem deeply personal yet also universally recognisable, Thursday Till Sunday comes at you like a distant yet powerfully evoked memory. Filmed for the vast majority from inside the moving car and in long static takes, Sotomayor forces us to look longer at everyday events longer than perhaps we are accustomed to (or comfortable with) whether it be a repetitive expression of a child’s boredom or the quiet, awkward and telling silences between mother and father. Rather than alienate however its muted tone makes it easier to focus on the smaller yet dramatic moments that linger in the memory. It’s a relaxing and all too rare  experience to be watching a film that requires you to simply calm down in order to appreciate its pleasures. Keeping the camera firmly within the car for long stretches of the drama certainly creates a feeling of claustrophobia but more so it keeps the action fresh and vibrant, quite a feat given the deliberately slow pace of the proceedings. Whilst focusing on a kids toy being handed back and forth or the constantly shifting landscapes that pass us by, Sotomayor will draw the eye with key actions and conversations taking place in the background, isolated far in the frame or even suggest them offscreen altogether. The film is told directly from the viewpoint of Lucia and the film brilliantly conveys her confusion and anxiety by keeping the family turmoil at a distance. We are never told directly what has contributed to the disintegration of the marriage though we are given hints along the way most notably a detour at a campsite with an old friend of Ana’s of whom Fernando seems suspicious of. Many other filmmakers could have used the pause in the journey as a chance to shed light on the inner turmoil on the marriage but again all the drama is hushed down. An extended shot of Lucia staring out into the night whilst we hear (but don’t see) a potentially crucial plot point says more than most dialogue driven scenes could ever say.

Such a long drawn out journey requires engaging company and thankfully the cast rise to the challenge wonderfully. It’s an advantage to the naturalistic tone of the film that the cast is comprised of unknown faces (both adult leads have extensive CV’s in Chilean television whilst the children are complete newcomers) but these are excellent performances in their own right. Giannini and Pérez-Bannen are given only a minimal setup for the roles of the distanced parents and yet they effortlessly convey the feel of two people who have shared a life together and discovered its shortcomings. You sense the weight of indecision and disappointment on their shoulders and there is thankfully no forced or contrived lapse into melodramatics. The two children are an absolute revelation especially Santi Ahumada as Lucia. Sotomayor kept the exact nature of the story a secret from the two child actors which only serves to make her performance more remarkable. Bright, inquisitive and clearly aware that things are wrong between her mother and father she’s an engaging and delightful conduit into the drama through light and dark moments. A brief scene at the tail end of their journey where Lucia and her father share a quiet moment after all has become clear is so simple in execution yet the naturalness of the performances makes it simply heartbreaking. It is a truly terrific ensemble.

 

It’s not all doom and gloom in Thursday Till Sunday. There are some brilliantly droll observations as Fernando makes little effort to hide his disdain for Ana’s slightly too friendly colleague and the sight of the two children riding atop a vehicle strapped down alongside luggage does raise a smile. But this is a journey toward an inevitable conclusion and as the tone becomes more melancholic and the landscape more sparse and unforgiving the film emerges as a bittersweet account of the end of childhood innocence and the cruel disappointments of adulthood. It’s summed up in one of the more cheerful scenes where Fernando allows Lucia to get briefly behind the wheel giving her a first, almost overwhelming taste of adult responsibility. The evocation of long journeys together and the dawning of awareness that your parents are just people with their own faults is palpable throughout and there’s an honesty to the portrayals that makes the film seem so genuine and naturalistic. Thursday Till Sunday may not be an easy watch for some. It’s aesthetic demands your attention and some may find the subject matter unbearably sad. But to jump to conclusions is unfair; your patience is rewarded with an emotional resonance that lasts long after it ends. It’s certainly one of the best films about childhood I’ve seen in some time and I can’t wait to see what Sotomayor does next.

 

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Review | Beauty

What the cream looks like when it is finished.

What the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra looks like when it is finished.

Anyone who has read a few of my beauty reviews will know that my skin can be sensitive. So I was excited to try this calming cream. Toleriane Ultra is for allergic, sensitive or intolerant skin.

While using it my skin did not have any redness. It calmed it down. It smelled pleasant, really moisturised my skin and was not greasy. It did not just sit on my skin. It was hydrating and did not make my skin break out. The consistency is not too heavy but still has lots of goodness. It is not thinned down.

I love the bottle. As you use it you the clear bag of cream inside of the bottle gets smaller and smaller, like a vacuum bag. This stops bacteria getting in but is also really cool and hygienic. You can also be sure you won’t waste any and you will know exactly how much you have.

I would definitely buy this cream. Prices for it seem to start at £11 but it lasts quite a while and I think it is worth it.

What they say:

It’s formula is a true formulatory feat: ultra-minimalist, uncompromising and highly safe. A formula stripped down to the essential, using minimal ingredients and removing all potentially irritant or allergy-inducing substances. An ultra-minimalist formula with intense soothing power, thanks to Neurosensine, an active ingredient which targets cutaneous irritation mechanisms. A soothing action, reinforced thanks to the new association with naturally soothing and anti-irritating La Roche-Posay thermal spring water. Non-comedogenic. Ultra high tolerance. Tested on allergic skin.
PRESERVATIVE-FREE – PARABEN-FREE – FRAGANCE-FREE – ALCOHOL-FREE – COLORANT-FREE – LANOLIN-FREE.

Available from Boots, Superdrug or Amazon UK.

Unleash The Power Of The Female Brain | Book Review

Unleash the power of the female brainThe brain is probably the most underrated organ and the one that is most taken advantage of. Yet everything we do affects our brain.

Renowned neuropsychiatrist and best selling author Dr Daniel G. Amen has written a comprehensive guide to the female brain. The amount of stuff I learned was amazing. The book says that all is needed is 12 hours to a radical new you, and I agree with their claim. I have already made changes in my life because of this book.

Dr Amen has based this breakthrough guide on research from his clinical practice. The book has pictures of brain scans throughout. These brain scans are ‘before’ and ‘after’, like make-overs for the brain. The book is a health guide that every women should read because, as Dr Amen says, “success in everything you do starts with a healthy brain.”

Dr Amen also talks you through harnessing the strengths of the female brain and overcoming the vulnerabilities. He tells you what to eat, and what not to, how to control your cravings, how to sooth your brain and even how to prepare for pregnancy and raising your children in a brain-healthy way.

This book put my diet under the microscope and made me realise that all of the stress I have been under, and my habit of craving junk food is stopping me achieving my full potential. Although sometimes Dr Amen came across as (only slightly) preachy. No one can be a saint all the time and I still believe that a little bit of what you fancy won’t do you any harm. Despite this I could rave on and on about the book, but I won’t; I will just say that it is a must read. I will be reading it again. It certainly did change my life and make me appreciate my brain.

Unleash the Power of the Female Brain: Supercharging yours for better health, energy, mood, focus and sex

This is how the book breaks down:

1. FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR FEMALE BRAIN: Care About Your Brain More than Any Other Body Part
Hour 1 Exercise – Boost brain envy – Hang anchor images of why you want to have a healthier brain

2. HARNESS THE UNIQUE STRENGTHS OF THE FEMALE BRAIN: Use Your Intuition, Collaboration, Empathy, Self-Control, and a Little Worry to Give Yourself a Great Advantage
Hour 2 Exercise – Recruit Your Team and Make Your Worries Work for You – this is what I would call a form of the Serenity Prayer which is a consistent go-to in my life

3. ADOPT THE AMEN CLINICS’ METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE FEMALE BRAIN:: Know Your Brain, Important Numbers, and the Four Circles for Ultimate Success
Hour 3 Exercise – Get Assessed: CBC and on Amen’s website (SPECT optional)

4. BALANCE YOUR HORMONES TO BOOST THE FEMALE BRAIN
Part One: Balance Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone
Part Two: Balance Thyroid, Cortisol, DHEA, and Insulin
Hour 4 Exercise – Take the Hormone Questionnaires and Inventory Your Healthy and Unhealthy Hormone Habits

5. FEED THE FEMALE BRAIN: Flatten Your Tummy and Boost Brain Reserves by Healing Your Gut and Eating Brain-Healthy Superfoods – Treat Food as a Drug because it is one
Hour 5 Exercise – Provide Therapy for your Kitchen (Food/Diet)

6. SOOTHE THE FEMALE BRAIN: Put an End to Anxiety, Worry, Depression, and Perfectionism
Hour 6 Exercise – Get ANT Therapy and Answer the Work’s Four Questions

7. GET CONTROL OF THE FEMALE BRAIN: Conquer Cravings, Weight Issues, and Addictions
Hour 7 Exercise – Embrace Your Failures (Turn bad days into good data)

8. UNDERSTAND ADD AND THE FEMALE BRAIN: Learn to Treat the Hyperactive “Boys'” Condition That Ruins Female Lives
Hour 8 Exercise – Know Your Focus and Energy Robbers and Boosters

9. BE BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE AND OUT: Learn Strategies to Help Your Brain and Body Look Amazing – Stop the Negative Chatter and Make a Plan to Look and Feel Amazing
Hour 9 Exercise – Get a Massage and Enjoy a Sauna

10. UNDERSTAND SEX AND THE FEMALE BRAIN: Optimize Your Brain for Greater Pleasure, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Love
Hour 10 Exercise – Be the Director of Your Pleasure

11. GET YOUR BRAIN READY FOR BABIES AND CARING FOR THEIR BRAINS ONCE THEY’RE HERE: Prepare for Pregnancy – and Unleash the Power of Your Daughters’ Brains
Hour 11 Exercise – Indulge in Special Time

12. CHANGE YOUR FEMALE BRAIN, CHANGE THE WORLD: Realize That It’s Not About You – It’s About Generations of You
Hour 12 Exercise – Create Your Own Genius Network

APPENDIX A; NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS TO HELP YOU UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR FEMALE BRAIN

Superdry Beauty Range | Beauty Review

I am a sucker for beautiful packaging and originality, and Superdry’s beauty range has both in spades. Even their lipstick (which they call lip paint) has beautiful details on the actual stick. The make up bags are clear and in bright colours, and the actual packaging just looks amazing. I don’t know who their design team is, but they deserve a medal.

I love their lip fix in peppermint. It really does stop your lips drying out. It is one of my favourite lip balms now, and smells great. Their eye liner is brilliant too. Sorry if I sound like I am fawning, they just really do the job. I love eyeliner so I am fussy about what I use. It has to be really black and have staying power.

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Superdry make-up is priced between £2-20, a really good price range, especially considering the quality and design of the products.

Their eyeshadow is very cool too, it flips out sideways. I also recommend their Kabuki Brush. It is so soft I could stroke it all day.

Do you think you will be trying any of Superdry’s beauty products?

 

 

Can Regenovex Stop You Doing a Lady Gaga?

regenovexFor people with injuries or arthritis the cold weather can really hurt joints. No matter what your age, as the health problems of Lady Gaga show. So when Frost got sent some Regenovex to review we send it to some writers with joint problems. Here is what they thought.

Regenovex® Capsules. An advanced formulation designed for daily joint health, one-a-day Regenovex® Capsules are very small and easy to swallow.

Regenovex® Gel is for targeted application on individual joints. Easy to use Regenovex® Gel is dispensed via a pump and can be rubbed on the joint up to 3 times per day.

Our writer said:

It said on the pack that you could take two for the first 10 days and I wanted quick results so I did this. I have had a dodgy knee for a while. It even hurts when I go up and down stairs. I started taking these but t o be honest I did not expect results.

I also put the gel on my knee three times a day when I remember. Which is not all the time. To be honest, the gel does not smell nice, but it is not too bad.

I use both the pills and the gel. The pills until they run out, and the gel even until this day. Is there a difference? Absolutely. The pills and gel worked so much that I did not even notice. I was just walking up some stairs and I realised that my knee had stopped hurting. I had not had a pang of pain for ages. I am going to continue to use the products. I am very impressed.

· Regenovex® Patch is flexible and can be worn for up to 12 hours, making it ideal for day and night use.

Our writer said:

I have shoulder pain. It is a sport injury and it really bloody hurts. I think I have probably just worn my joint away. Which is a nice thought! I use the patch for the full 12 hours. It is easy to use. You can just cut it down to any size you want. Do I think it works? Yes. It does bring relief. I reckon I will be investing in some more.

Regenovex® Unveils How Cold, Damp, British Weather Can Really Affect Our Joints

The link between bad weather and an increase in discomfort from joint problems has been revealed in groundbreaking new research.

In the UK, about 10 million people suffer from osteoarthritis (OA) and many more have undiagnosed joint stiffness. The prevalence of osteoarthritis increases with age and is greater in women than in men. About 20% of adults aged 45-64 years and 35% of women aged 75 years or over have osteoarthritis in the knee while about 25% of adults over 50 report disability from severe knee discomfort. All too often, the early warning signs and symptoms of joint problems are ignored or just put down to old age, until they become serious and potentially crippling.

People with joint health issues often complain that the weather and climate can badly affect their health. However, scientists have struggled to prove the association and doctors can assume the perception of increased discomfort is in a patient’s mind.

Now new research from the makers of Regenovex® – a pioneering formulation backed by research to help maintain the health of joints – has shone light on the relationship between changes in weather and an increase in joint health problems such as stiffness. Four out of 10 respondents have even considered moving from the UK to a warmer country because of their joint problems. One in nine (11%) are actively contemplating relocation. Containing two functional ingredients from natural sources – a marine oil and hyaluronic acid – Regenovex® Capsules, from the smart technology experts at Mentholatum, is specifically formulated to help keep joints healthy. The Regenovex® range includes one-a-day capsules, a gel and a patch, all containing a marine oil.

Weather misery…

Adults aged 35 to 75 – with an average age of 50 – who suffer from joint health problems or stiffness were questioned about their experiences with weather-related joint issues.

· More than half (55%) said it was during cold periods, followed by damp weather (45%), wet weather (38%) and frosty weather (19%). Just 4% thought hot weather could trigger joint problems.

· A staggering 72% of respondents agreed that they suffered more from joint problems such as discomfort and stiffness because of the weather.

The biggest joint problem symptoms triggered by weather were:

· Discomfort (63%)

· Stiffness (56%)

· Difficulty getting up when seated (30%)

· Difficulty going up or down stairs (24%)

· Difficulty moving (23%).

Other problems included getting out of bed (20%), bending down (17%) and exercising (15%).

When it comes to the areas of the body that are most affected by stiffness, respondents from the Regenovex® survey cited knees as the worst by more than half (56%), followed by the back (39%), the fingers (26%), hips (25%), hands and neck (both 20%).

Reactions to stiffness triggered by the weather varied:

· A third (32%) said they just put up with it and don’t take any further action

· One in seven would take over the counter painkillers (14%)

· 12% would opt for a hot bath

· Other coping strategies included using a hot water bottle (7%) and seeing a GP or pharmacist (5%).

Physiotherapist, Paul Hobrough says, “Joint discomfort and joint health issues are a huge problem in the UK, with millions of diagnosed sufferers and many others who struggle on in silence. Joints that are stiff or cause discomfort can badly affect quality of life, with many activities we take for granted proving difficult or even impossible, including the health benefits of taking regular exercise.

“I see a large number of patients in my clinics nationally, that report bad weather or the cold and damp as a trigger for their joint aches or make them worse. For a long time these people have been told that it is in their mind however I was delighted to read the latest research from Regenovex, building on a growing body of evidence, that supports the association between weather – especially temperature and air pressure – and increased levels of joint discomfort and stiffness. The Regenovex survey found nearly three quarters of those questioned said the weather could be a joint health trigger, with cold and damp conditions blamed the most and Scientists are now investigating the mechanisms behind this phenomenon.”

Paul adds, “Regenovex is a new generation of joint care preparation, with a unique formulation that helps to support joint health, backed by extensive scientific research. The key ingredients are Bionovex Oil, a marine oil derived from New Zealand green lipped mussels and hyaluronic acid. The Bionovex Oil has a proven anti-inflammatory effect which could relieve the pressure build up in the joint, while hyaluronic acid acts to lubricate and cushion your joints. Regenovex could be a major help in treating joint health problems. It not only helps tackle inflammation along a range of pathways, but it may also improve and maintain the synovial fluid in joints. No other product works this way.”

“I am thankful to Regenovex for providing a possible answer to scores of patients who have until now, found themselves suffering without a solution. Only time will tell the extent to which Regenovex will help these people but vast progress has been made and people feel like they are finally being listened to by the healthcare industry.”

Regenovex is available from Amazon UK and Ebay. Prices include:

· Regenovex® Capsules, pack of 30 capsules: RSP £23.99.

· Regenovex® Gel, 40ml: RSP £11.29.

· Regenovex® Patch, single patch: RSP £2.49.

Theatre Review: This House

This House

This House.

Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre, Southbank

Playwright: James Graham

Director: Jeremy Herrin

Designer: Rae Smith

Lighting Design: Paul Anderson

Music: Stephen Warbeck

Anybody unfamiliar with political theatre may be a little apprehensive when staring down the barrel of a play centred on the machinations of political insiders during the first coalition government in the 70’s. It’s perfectly understandable. But what the writer James Graham delivers in this near three hour (including interval) story is a nuanced and effective study of characters with the politics of the day standing in as an interesting backdrop to men and women with whip smart quips, sharp wits and, sometimes, thoroughly endearing frailties.

With the help of some intelligent set and lighting design the action takes place in the Westminster offices of the Whips for both the Labour party and the Tory party as well as in the halls, the clock tower, the crypts, the underground rifle range (yeah, they have one) a member’s bar, a closet and a few other places. We are getting a snapshot of how the Whips offices, the “engine rooms of parliament”, operated in the four and a half years of the Labour government with a minuscule majority from 1974 to 1979. Running frantically around the stage trying to marshal their MPs and the Independents into the lobby to vote on a bill, the Whips are the focus of this piece though the traditions and stories of Westminster Palace itself play a large part.

With only the barest mention of the politics and bills in question this political play is an odd one when considered in the larger canon. Politics is at its heart, but the play deals in characters and relationships. The antagonism and open warfare between the two sides of the house, along with a healthy amount of respect, is shown through the various whips with the Labour chief (an excellent Phil Daniels in the first, and former deputy Vincent Franklin in the second, half) and the Tory’s men (Julian Wadham and Charles Edwards shine) tearing lumps out of each other verbally with a great deal of charm. There are moments of real tenderness in the story as well as the political gazumping and chicanery, with the deaths of the various MPs during the time covered by the play handled excellently.

Graham is quite clearly highly skilled at sharp dialogue and the research he completed into the politics at the time, as well as the English political system in general, shows through in a very entertaining way. Although because the characters are based on real people, it is hard to tell if the way they come across as caricatures of Labour and Tory politicians is his doing or if they were actually like that.

The music is well performed by Acoustic Jim and The Wires, though at times feels a little incongruous and unexpected, and there may be a little too much talk and too many characters to keep track of for some members of the audience. Overall, however, this is a superb play with many different levels and facets, each of which have been fine tuned and presented with polish.

There may have been some questions over how This House would transfer from the intimate Cottesloe to the 1200 seater Olivier for this production, but this cast and crew answer with enjoyable aplomb.

4/5 Stars

This House runs from now until the 15th of May.

(Image from the National Theatre showing Vincent Franklin, Philip Glenister and Lauren O’Neil. Click the link for dates and availability. )