bobble water, putting a twist into drinking water

We are told constantly how much water is important in our daily lives. It not only keeps one hydrated but
plays a vital part in our lives in keeping us healthy and alive.




These are just some of the uses water has on our body.

• Water helps regulate our body temperature through perspiration, which dissipates excess heat & cools our bodies.
• We even need water to breathe! As we take in oxygen & excrete CO2, our lungs must be moistened by water.
• The kidneys remove wastes such as uric acid, urea & lactic acid, all of which must be dissolved in water.
• Water lubricates our joints.
• The actively growing blood cells in the bone marrow take priority over the cartilage for the available water that goes through the bone structure.
• Rheumatoid joint pain frequently decreases with increased water intake & flexing exercises to bring more circulation to the joints.
• Dehydration plays a major role in bringing on migraines. Dehydration causes stress & stress causes further dehydration.

I find drinking water hard, I hate the taste of tap water unless its filtered, and buying bottle of mineral can be quite expensive. I don't even drink squash to hide the taste of tap water as I hate squash too. But when a colleague told me about the bobble water bottle that had a filter in it, I was very keen to try it out, especially as I am now working in a fitness environment. This was one step into taking healthy steps to getting myself fit and healthy after having two kids.

I wrote to bobble and asked if they would be interested in myself reviewing their water bottle. I was kindly given two bottle, one for myself and one to give-away.

Who are bobble water?

bobble water was inspired by two product developers who saw a landfield full of single served water bottles, in 2008. With seeing consumers being willing to swap plastic bags for reusable ones at the checkouts, they saw a potential to re-invent the original water bottle.

Their philisophy is:  "We believe in design with a purpose. Our first product, bobble, effectively pioneered a new category: personal, portable water filtration. bobble is a reusable, filtered water bottle engineered to change people’s drinking habits by slowing the mass consumption of single-serve water bottles."

Since their launch in 2010 in the USA, the brand has  grown rapidly around the world.

bobble water Sport was designed by by Karim Rashid and just like the orginal line up, they are available in all the colours above.bobble sport takes the elements that have made bobble a global eco-phenomenon – the patented filtered water bottle, the sleek shape, the sturdy frame, the brilliant colours – and adds new durability features making it especially relevant for athletes. These include an integrated cap with a loop handle, additional capacity, a semi-translucent sturdy body, a bright colour selection and dishwasher compatibility. bobble water sport is recyclable, free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC. It is dishwasher-safe and holds 750ml of water. It retails for £9.99 at retailers nationwide.

bobble sport incorporates the same patented built-in, replaceable carbon filter found in the original bobble (550ml and 1L). The filter removes chlorine and organic contaminants found in everyday tap water, yielding a cleaner, crisper taste. Each filter equates to 300 single-serve water bottles, making bobble an environmentally- and budget-friendly choice.

My thoughts on bobble water

I love the whole concept of bobble water from its eco friendly concept to the pure filter and fab colours. It took me a few days to get in to the swing of drinking more water, but the taste is so much better even though its come from the tap. The colour engages me too and makes drinking water more fun. I would definitely recommend anyone who wants to add more water to their everyday life. For the amount of usage from the filter to the price you pay for the bottle or replacement filter is so much cheaper than buying a single use bottle. I have even thinking of getting my daugther one for her school lunch box.

If you like to win a Green bobble sport then send me a message in the contact form.

Silk - Brow Enhancer*

I am not one for pencilling in brows, not because I don't know how to do it because I can. To me, it makes my brows still look pencilled in and fake. My brows over the years have got thin, and not just in how they are shaped but with gaps where hairs do not seem to grow anymore. Especially where I have piercing scars.

So when I saw an advert in the latest copy of "The Salon" about a brow enhancer that uses fibres to fill in gaps, adding thickness, length etc, I knew I had to try this product out.

So as a blogger would, I contact the company and asked very nicely whether I could review their product for them. As being a perfect model for them, I knew my brows could show off how this product works.

Silk, agreed and have kindly sent me a bottle of their Silk Fibre Brow Enhancer to try. I was given silk chocolate ( dark ), although this is on the dark side for me, ideally I would have gone for the silk coffee ( medium ) It does show how well the product works, and I will be definitely be buying the right colour.

Well before I go into my review, as you know I like to tell you a bit about a company I write about first and information about their product.

Who are Silk?

Silk originally started as a  hair extension training and supply background, trading as Totally Hair Direct operating for the last 15 years in both the UK and now Australia. The company has developed and in June 2010 they launched ranges for Hair Care, Skin Care & Pure Mineral Cosmetics Range we all now known as ‘Silk Oil of Morocco’. More information on Silk Oil of Morocco can be found here.

Silk - Brow Enhancer " Brows in a Bottle"

The brow enhancer acts as in instant brush on brow extension using hundreds of tiny natural fibres combined with an ultra fine formulated powder infused with pure sea minerals, herbs and precious ingredients such as Natural Sea Mineral Clay. For the full list of ingredients click here. It contains 120 uses in just one bottle!  Available in 4 natural colours

• Silk Latte – (Light)
• Silk Coffee – (Medium)
• Silk Chocolate – (Dark)
• Silk Expresso – Extra Dark

The enhancer is perfect for shaping, sculpting, adding thickness and length,  and filling in gaps. The enhancer is also semi-permanent making it water resistant and only requires just warm water to remove.
The enhancer is suitable for Contact wears and those with sensitive eyes and sets in 60 secs.

The applicator is designed so you can use it on even the thinnest eye brows or the thickest by just a turn of the applicator.

My Review

I can not believe how easy this was to use. It literally took secs to apply, quicker than using a pencil for sure and the results are so much more natural looking.

It made my brows look so much better by filling in the gaps, adding thickness and defining them. Removal was easy too, just washed them off with warm water at the end of the day.

Before Brow Enhancer

After Brow Enhancer

As you can see from my before and after shots it has filled in the gaps I had at the beginning of my brow, given my brow some needed thickness and defined it more. I also think this looks so much more natural than using a pencil as the fibres cling onto the hairs and gaps, with the colour falling on to the skin as well. Where as a pencil is drawn just on the skin.

Below is a better close up of how the Brow Enhancer ( this is on the other brow as found it easier to get a close up on this side )                     
                                             

I was given the Silk Chocolate ( Dark ) which I thought may be too dark, looking at the pictures you can't really tell, but I would definitely prefered to have the Silk Coffee ( Medium ). I loved this product, it did everything it says it does and looks so natural and good. The price is very reasonable too as it says it lasts for 120 applications and once open will keep for up to 4 years.

The Brow Enhancer can be purchased from Silk Oil of Morroco.

Guest Post: 5 Steps to Apply Concealer

FIVE STEPS TO APPLY CONCEALER

Concealer is a beauty essential in any woman’s make up kit that can light up a tired face and efficiently hide blemishes, but on one condition, ‘Proper Application’. Call them makeup tips or beauty tricks but here are five quick steps of how you should ideally apply the concealer to get the best results.

1.    Choose your concealer well- Concealers can come in variety of shapes, sizes and brands. When taking care of your face, always remember that brands do matter. You can’t choose something shabby to apply on your face. Also understand the purpose of buying the concealer. Is it for covering dark circles, acne or sub burn? There is wide selection available in the market as per your face needs. One should ideally pick a concealer two- three shades lighter than their skin shade.

2.    Cleanse your hands and face- Never use dirty hands to apply anything on your face. Make it a point to wash your hands before you start beautifying yourself. Also wash and cleanse your face with a face wash that suits your skin (Quick tip: Everyone has a different skin type. It is essential to understand whether you have dry or oily skin and choose your face wash accordingly). Apply moisturizer on it and wait for 10 minutes before you start using the concealer. The cleaning and moisturizer protects your skin from getting clogged and makes the makeup look more natural.

3.    Focus on the dark circles- Use your fingertips to apply several dots of the concealer under your eyes. Tap the concealer using your middle finger (Or any other finger, no hard and fast rule here) under your eyes to make sure it blends well with the skin tone. If the under eye circles are very dark, use the yellow tone concealer for best results.

4.    Don’t forget the face- Once you are done with the eyes, move onto the nose, chin and cheeks. Apply concealer on the uneven spots, acne, blemishes, burns et al and rub until it blends with the rest of the face colour. Use a fine tip brush for pimples and angled brush for scars. If any part of the face is too red, use green tone concealer to hide that as green cancels red, being opposite on the colour wheel. Make sure you never rub the concealer but just dab it smoothly across the face. Only apply a second layer if you need further coverage otherwise the skin might look unevenly coloured.

5.    The final touch- Once you are sure of the layer of concealer on your face, apply foundation to give it the final touch. Although we strongly recommend, the lesser the better. The only purpose of the foundation is to make the skin glow after all the scars on the face have been concealed. You may also dust your face lightly with compact powder to give it a nice matte finish and keep the concealer in place. The powder also tends to keep the skin dry keeping the skin from sweating too much.

You might not believe it but the way you apply your concealer can make all the difference in the way you look. All you have to do is follow these simple steps and see it for yourself.  

Author’s Bio: Sonam is a beauty blogger and she writes for various makeup and skin care websites. Some of the best available tips on skin care, hair care and makeup can be read on www.beautytipsandideas.com.

Let's Go PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October has been the month for Breast Cancer Awareness now for several years. A lot of retailers bring out limited edition products to help towards the cause.

I have found some gorgeous products available, incoporating the "Pink Ribbon"

Winter Skin Survival

Skincare in the colder months is just important as in the summer months. Being exposed to extreme weather conditions and central heating can play havoc to your skin's condition.

So as we enter the Autumn and Winter months and the colder weather lets have a look at your skincare products.

A good moisturiser is a must to keep skin in its top condition and protect it from the harsh conditions of the cold and central heating, which can still dehydrate your skin, and dry it out. In turn this can premature the skin making it look older than it is.

As I have mentioned before in a post, drinking plenty of water doesn't actually help your skin, the water you drink always goes to your organs first, than skin last. Having a moisturiser that contains ingredients like shea butter or oils can help replenish and protect the skin. If your unsure on what to go for, either visit a beauty counter who can give you a skincare consultation or look for products that say they hydrate, quench your skin ( obviously check it is right for your skin type i.e dry, oily, sensitive, mature )

It isn't just your face though that will battle with the winter months. Your body and hair can also suffer with the extreme conditions. If your not already giving your hair a good deep conditioning once in a while, it worth doing so in the winter months, and using a oil like argon oil before blowing drying can help with keeping it in top condition.

Your body had to battle with extra layers, wool, central heating, and a lot of people forget about moisturising this part. There are plenty of lovely body moisturisers out there to keep it hydrated and again look for products that contain shea butter or even aloe vera.

Another part of the body often forgotten and suffers a lot in the winter is the hands. Not only is it drying out everytime you wash your hands, but now it has to battle with the weather, central heating and  of course gloves. Treat your hands to a good moisturiser that you can keep in your bag, and depending on how dry your hands are, a deep treatment overnight would be beneficial too ( cover your hand with a good moisturiser and put gloves on and leave overnight ).

Below are some of the products, I recommend - some are off high street, some are premium, just remember to check it for your skin type first i.e some products are for all skin types, others may have two verison - one for very dry/dry and one for normal/oily/combi

My Beauty Birthday Wish List

I love September, not only do I find this is one of the most beautiful months of the year as the summer goes into autumn. Sept also sees my birthday. I will be 31 this year and I so do not feel I have reached my 30's at all. My head still thinks I am in my 20's and young lol.
Now as my regular readers now, I have recently had a baby, and unfortunately due to some problems we have been having, and also having my 5 year old home for the summer hols, my beauty blog has been a bit slow. So I do apologise but now that school is back on, and things are getting better with LO I plan to get back on track with this.

So I thought I make a fun post today and as seeing my birthday is at the end of the Month ( 28th ), I am going to create a wish list of products I would like to receive.

1) First on my list has to be something  I can not live without at the moment, especially with the lack of sleep I am getting and that is my favourite eye cream by Biotherm - Blue Therapy for the Eyes. It does wonders to your eye area and erases dark circles.

2) I would love to have a Spa Day. I never have had one and right now, I certainly could do with some downtime and spend a few hours just having some time to myself and relax.

3) As I get older, I am getting more concerned about the hair on my face and as I seem to be allergic to the face creams that get rid of face hair ( yep, I have had some horrible reactions to them ). I need a tool that can do it without out any problems. So I am thinking a NO NO? 


 4) I really need some mascaras, this is one product I have to wear each day even if that's all I put on after my skincare routine.
So a good mascara ( or a year's supply LOL ) would be nice.


5) Would love a new wardrobe by MINT VElVET, their clothes are gorgeous and makes any mum feel yummy again.

 6) I love my showers, I shower every day and so always need a wash of some sort. The Molton Brown - Bathing Treasures Set would be perfect for trying out some new scents with a collection of 12 miniatures.



7) I love trying out new skincare products and I have good things about this company. Anything from here would be a great gift - NUXE

 8) As gift subscription to a beauty box would be fab too. I love trying out new beauty products and what could be better than to receive a box or two.  There are a few available - Birch Box, Be-Box, glossybox, lovemebeauty,  to name a few.


9) I would like to get my teeth whitened, I have tried a number of toothpastes that are supposed to make your teeth whiter but they don't seem to make them as white as I thought they would. However, I would prefer to get this done via my dentist or a dentist than home kits or salons.

10) Finally,  I would love to go on one of those Fit Boot Camps to get my post baby body back in shape. As much as I tell my self beauty is from within, you still have to feel comfortable in your own skin, and with having two kids my thoughts about body isn't great and gets me down at times. Although I am not fat in any way shape of form, I am very conscious of my baby belly and the baby weight I have put on.

Lack of sleep = poor health/skin

They talk about how a good nights sleep does wonders for you health and with having a new baby, I can certainly say that the lack of good sleep has caused number of issues with my health and skin.

At first the lack of sleep didn't show , it was only 6 weeks in that my eyes started to look terrible, with big dark shadows appearing. It didn't help that I had run out of my favourite eye cream ( Biotherm Blue Therapy ) either which would have stopped these horrible bags appearing. However, I have since managed to get a good sample of the eye cream and within days of using it again my bags have disappeared.  Now 3 weeks on from using the cream and using it every day my eyes are super bright which I really need a the moment as my sleep is still being interrupted by the little one.

The lack of sleep and the fact I am constantly on the go with having a 5 year old and 9 weeks old to look after my health has come to ill affects too. Not sure if its a cold or flu or something in between but for whole of this week, I have an awful head full of blocked up/runny/sniffy nose, a headache, feeling of run down and my parts of my body aching.

My skin, although I do look after it very well has seemed to have suffered too, whether that is again though lack of sleep or my hormones sorting themselves out, or mixture of both but for the first time in a good year, I have spots and my skin feels dry and bumpy. Yet my skin routine has always been the same, cleanse with electronic brush, tone, serum/oil, moisture and than exfoliate/mask at least once a week.

The strange thing, and I sure it is just people being nice, but I still seem to get a lot of comments on how well I am looking!

Nokia Lumia 925 - Review

I wasn't sure which blog to put this on, so I decided to put it on both.

I was very lucky to have received for just 2 weeks, a Nokia Lumia 925 to test and review. I was shortly due my upgrade ( July ) and although my first phone was a Nokia and for many years after I was Nokia fan. The last 8 years, I have had other brands due to the fact I felt other brands were more advanced, stylish and head of the game.

Whilst I was looking around for a new phone, my current which I have had for the 24month contract is the Samsung Galaxy S2, I stumbled across the opportunity to test a Nokia lumia of a choice of models. As the 925 was the latest and I am very much into having a good camera on the phone, I choose this model. I wanted to fall in love with Nokia again, a phone manufacture that brought me my first phone.

And I have got to say, I am not disappointed. Nokia certainly has up'd their game again in both style and the technology behind the interface.

I really like the sleek design of the Lumia which is signature to the Lumia family.  One thing that put me off the new Galaxy's S3 and 4 were they became to rounded for my liking ( I prefer edges to my technology, even though I am a women, I like manly edges and not girlie curves, for instance I love the Pagni Zonda but not a Porshe fan ).

What strike me first and I have seen the pixels of the newer Galaxy's is that the picture resolution is so liquid like, smooth and very clear and bright.  I also loved the user screen just like you have on your PC or Laptop.
Although the phone has a wizard to guide you though, I actually found the phone really easy to use, apart from the camera took my a few goes to get used to it as it was different in the way it responds to than my Galaxy ( I will talk more about the camera in a moment ).

One of my favourite apps on the phone installed and if your mother like me, you going to love this about the Lumia, is the Kids Corner. If you have kids, you know they love to play with your phone. You give them apps for them to use but manage to get on the Internet, and accidentally pay for something. This is the thing of the past with Kids Corner! Your child can access the games, apps, music and videos that you’ve already chosen for them, yet everything else on the phone is out of bounds, with only a password allowing access.
And the best bit - is the can not make calls or download anything whilst in Kid's Corner.

Unlike my Galaxy S2 whom had many Home Screen's that gets filled with apps or widgets, the Nokia Lumia has just one Home Screen just like the Windows 8 Home Screen on your PC. This can be tailored to your own preference but as I was just loaning the phone for 2 weeks, I didn't bother doing this.  I also like the tidiness of the Nokia/Windows format of folders rather than screens and screens of again apps that you have to scroll though. Instead your apps are in the apps folder.

Other features I like was the Family Room, again a feature I didn't really get to explore. Basically you can set up rooms with your contacts to privately share calenders, photos, group chats and notes in one place.

The feature that I was very keen on though, and one that influences me buying a phone was the camera. As I mentioned above, it did take me a little while to get used to it as it was so different to the Samsung phones that I have been using for a few years now. However, once I got my head around it, it worked fantastically and I loved using it. I really wanted to try as much of this out as I could as I was to covert back to Nokia, the camera would be its biggest influence.
Will the first thing is the advert you have seen on TV regards to taking the best shots in poor light conditions or at night, I confirm is true. Here are two photos I took in my bathroom to create the poor light condition ( as my en suite hasn't got windows ).

The darker image is from my Galaxy S2
The lighter image is from the Nokia

 This wasn't the only great feature about the phone. It was also able to capture really good moving pictures. Different lens can be downloaded too, some are free and some you have to pay for. Here are some pictures I took with the Nokia using different lens.

 All I can say is that I was very impressed with the Lumia 925, I was going to upgrade to the Galaxy S4 Zoom. However, I found out that Nokia are releasing a camera phone that reviews on it have been in more favour to the Nokia than the Samsung. The Nokia Lumia 1020 is due for release this Sept, and I am patiently awaiting for it. Thank You Nokia for making me fall back in love with you.

Get cellulite free, smooth legs with Biotherm

Looking to get smoother, cellulite free legs? Have you tried cellulite creams by other brands and have they worked???

I haven't used any anti cellulite products before, so I was a little sceptical as to whether this will work. I had heard good review from it's predecessor D-Code which tackles both sets of cellulite - Genes and Lifestyle.

However, the Celluli Eraser is a more advanced product to produce a more smoother and firm body even after 1 month of use.

As I had gained a little weight on my thighs during my pregnancy, I was very keen to try this.  What immediately draws you to the product is its gorgeous packaging with its sea green tube. As you know Biotherm is from the deep, using ingredients from our oceans, lakes and rivers, so with a product containing an algae extract ( Coralline algae extract ), it seems fitting to have this vibrant colour. This is carried on in the colour of the gel too. I totally love the lime green gel which has a gorgeous fresh citrus smell.

From almost first use ( that is one day of use, Morning and Night ), my skin was noticeably smoother. I have used this for just under a month now and even my partner has remarked how smooth my thighs and bottom are.

I use the gel morning and night, using circular motions until absorbed. I than apply my daily moisture on top. For £32 available at selected Boots stores or online, I would definitely recommend going and giving this product ago. I have started proper exercise yet as just had my baby, and supposed to wait at least 6 weeks before exercising ( just one more week to go ), but I hoping when I start, using this combined with excerise will help aid some slimming of my thighs where it is needed ( excess baby weight ).

Keep your skin hydrated in the summer heat

There are four skincare products that I can not live without, especially in this heat. All are products are  from Biotherm.

Skin needs water as much as the body does, but the skin is the last place water is given too when you drink water, and no matter how much you drink either, it always goes to your organs first.

One way of giving your skin the water it needs is though your skincare products and for one brand, water is the heart of its skincare.

Now you know I have written about Biotherm many times before, with reviews on the Skin Ergetic and the Blue Therapy range.  If you would like to know more about the company history visit the Biotherm Website.

The four products I use on a daily basis are;

• The Blue Therapy Serum
• Aquasource Normal/Combination Moisturiser
• UV Supra D-Tox SPF 50 
• Aquasource Nuit

The Serum, Moisturiser and Nuit are good for all year round. The White Detox SPF 50 I use in the summer periods.

So why do I love these products so much?

You may have already read about the Blue Therapy Serum review, and so this is a great product to use to keep the damage of the UVA and UVB's at bay in the summer time, as well as a good anti ageing serum to firm and give radiance to your skin.

 The Aquasource moisturiser is a very light weight and refreshing cream/gel and within it, it has the equivalent of 5000 litres of the thermal plankton cellular water, which is the spring water that Biotherm obtains its unique ingredient from - Thermal Plankton. Unlike most moisturisers, the Aquasource keeps you hydrated for 24hours. My skin always looks plump, radiant and constantly hydrated when using this moisturiser. The best bit is you do not need a lot of it to go a long way either. I use a 20p size amount on my face and neck. A 50ml pot definitely gets you a good 6 month worth of usage too and for just £28 I find that very reasonable. More information on the Aquasource Moisturiser can be found here

For the summer months, I wouldn't leave my door without putting on my sun block, UV Supra D-tox SPF 50, on my face. Like a lot of us, there are have been many years where I have forgotten to put my sun cream on my face. Yes I have natural freckles but I have notice I have a few more at recent times, than those I was born with. This is sun damage ( which the blue therapy will help but you also need to wear a sun cream/block to help protect too ) and since working in skincare, I have become more aware of the damages the sun can do to your body.
What I most like about this product though, is that it is still very light weight and not sticky as you would expect from a spf 50 or sun block. This can be used a primer under makeup as well and even applied on to of makeup if need to re-apply during the day. Price is £19.50 for a 30ml.

For the evening, and I use this all year round as I totally love this product for night time, is the Aquasource Nuit. As part of the Aquasource range, you instantly know it is going to feed your skin with the water and mineral nutrients it needs. The blue gel which as it touches the skin turns in a liquid/oil like texture, boosts your skin though the night with moisture. results is you wake up to fresh looking, luminous skin which feels more elastic and radiant, as if reawakened. I call this a facial in a bottle. It is suitable for all skin types too and just like the moisturiser you don't need alot. One pump is enough to do your whole face. Price is £28 for a 50ml and again, I get a good 6 month use out this bottle.

For more information on Biotherm's product visit www.biotherm.co.uk or visit facebook.com/Biotherm