Product Review: Dr Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask

I first discovered the Dr Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask on my birthday week.  I was looking for a party pick me up when I was introduced to this item in a Space NK store...seven years later I am still using it and would still highly recommend it!

There are many masks on the market however the thing I love about this one is that it is instant and quick with visible results after just one application.

I only use it on special occasions or before an event.

Apply a thin layer of the smooth gel textured mask to your face avoiding the eye are for approx 5 - 10 minutes (10 minutes as a maximum). Thereafter wash with warm water.

As this mask is deep exfoliating you would expect it to have some sort of granules however it is not the case with this mask, as this mask has lactic acid and azelaic acid which deep exfoliate the skin for faster cell turnover. You will feel a slight tingling sensation and if your skin is overly sensitive there is also a sensitive version of the same mask.

It leaves my skin feeling and looking radiant and photo finished.

This mask definitely isn't cheap compared to other at home masks but is a considerably cheaper, at home alternative to a chemical peel.

It is an excellent pre-party ritual with amazing results!

F & F

xx

Nutrition Plan

Ok, so it's 1st February 2015 and everyone SHOULD be well into the swing of the new year new lifestyle etc! Good... keep it up it's not a temporary measure! 

As promised in my previous workout plan post (see here), I am now sharing my nutrition plan. Although it seems strict, it is one of the most effective plans i have used and one which I always feel I am eating too much! ( I don't think I ever ate so much before my plan!). More importantly it educates you to focus on the TYPES of food you eat rather than the calorie content, low fat foods etc, which in turn has a longer lasting effect.

Protein - keep it high, you wont get muscly like a man... near impossible, you can choose never to talk to us again if you do!


Carbohydrates - complex are good, low GI (Glycemic Index) carbohydrates are preferred. All types of sugars including fruits etc need to be low. If it's green you can eat as much as you want!


Fats - olive oil, nuts, avocados, coconuts, fish oils; should be your primary source of fats. If you are having dairy then having full fat milk or butter is not a bad thing. These things have got such bad press, and wrongly so, they help control your GI and removing them altogether deprives you of vital B vitamins. Keep in moderation if you choose to have them. 









MEAL PLAN

You must have 5-6 small regular meals to keep the metabolism elevated. Carbohydrates should be tapered & protein and fats should be high. If you follow my fitness plan, it should look like 40-50% protein, 25-30% fats & balanced carbohydrates.  See below for some examples of this.

Breakfast 

1.
SuperVitality Blueberry Smoothie protein shake (contains real blueberry powder, naturally sweetened with stevia), a handful of nuts 

2.
Smoked salmon, cottage cheese, avocado 

3.
2 egg omelette, avocado 

Mid-morning/mid afternoon snack (introducing carbohydrates mid morning)

1.
Greek yoghurt, pistachio nuts, apple/banana 

2. Sunwarrior protein shake, banana 

3.
Rye/Rice cakes with nut butter, cottage cheese 

Lunch

Grilled chicken, tuna can, salmon can, grilled fish, 2 boiled eggs (choose 1), served with salad. Make a salad using a few ingredients from below and a dressing (for example; unfiltered olive oil or apple cider vinegar)

mixed leaves 
peppers 
olives 
cashew nuts 
seeds 
spring onions 
avocados 
spinach 

Dinner 

Grilled fish, chicken, lean meat; served with a choice of carbohydrates (for example; sweet potato mash, brown rice or cous cous) & some vegetables (for example; steamed broccoli, green beans or cabbage).

If you have a sweet tooth, have natural greek yoghurt (i like Fage 0% or Liberte), nuts and cocoa nibs as dessert.

TIMETABLE (Note: this may vary according to lifestyle) 

Breakfast: 7am 

Mid morning snack: 9.30 - 10am 

Lunch: 12.30pm 

Afternoon snack: 3.30pm 

PRE WORKOUT: banana and half a normal serving of Sunwarrior protein

POST WORKOUT: some grapes and half a serving of Sunwarrior protein 

Dinner: 7-8pm 

SUPPLEMENTS

These are what i would recommend, given the change in diet: 

1. Cod liver oil with each main meal (very important as this will keep you satisfied and eliminate cravings)

2. Green tea (I would recommend jasmine green tea as it's much nicer in taste) - drink more than water as it's a natural effective fat burner 

3. Iron supplement 

4. Good multi vitamin support  

5. Vitamin C  

6. Vitamin B12 

7. Probiotics (15-20 billion viable organism per tablet) - take in the morning. I use Biocare Bio-Acidophilus Forte.

Try & stick to the plan for two weeks and do share your feedback as to how you get along! (After 2 weeks you are allowed a cheat day!)

Stay motivated and once your in the hang of it you'll be able to adapt the key type of foods to how you prefer!

Stay focused & Enjoy!

F & F

xx

Note : Please note, I am not a qualified nutritionist. I am only speaking from my personal experiences.

Product Review: The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Like most girls I am lazy when it comes to taking of my makeup at the end of the day!

I used to use Johnson's makeup wipes which I still love and use when travelling. I have sensitive skin and feel they are the most moist and easiest wipes to remove all my makeup (including mascara) without irritating my skin.

I read a while ago that using wipes can sometimes pull skin, especially in sensitive areas like under-eyes and cause skin to sag so I decided to try a cleansing oil.

I read a lot of great reviews on The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil so I thought I would give this a try.

Honestly this stuff is amazing! I recently went to purchase my 3rd bottle as I am running out!

At the end of the day i just pump this oil onto dry hands and massage all over my face. The makeup just melts away, including mascara! You then wash your face with water and that is it! You can use a toner if any traces of makeup are left after this if you wish.

Like the name suggests, it feels soooo silky on the skin and has a lovely camomile scent, which is really relaxing!

Your skin is left feeling clean, fresh and doesn't feel dry.... Give it a try!

F & F

xx

The Marylebone Hotel - London

When you keep returning to the same hotel for the past 3/4 years it must be a good one!

Everytime I am back in London, I always end up staying at The Marylebone Hotel. 

There are many reasons why I keep going back to this Hotel.

Firstly the location, it is set in the charming area of Marylebone. The area is so quaint with it's own high street of great shops, restaurants and supermarkets.

Also the hotel is only a 5-10 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street & the famous department store Selfridges!

Marylebone has a Waitrose and Tesco if you want to stock up on essentials.  It has many coffee shops including the Japanese influenced Monocle Cafe, calories galore at Patisserie Valerie, the health conscious Roots & Bulbs & a taste of Scandanavia at Nordic Bakery (mmm I can just smell those fresh cinnamon rolls). There are also a good selection of restaurants within walking distance including Aubaine, Chiltern Firehouse and The Golden Hind - one of the best fish & chips shop located in the heart of Marylebone, which has been serving fish & chips since 1914! (well worth the visit just for this!)

If you fancy a shop, checkout Matches Fashion, The Kooples, Sandro, Whistles and many more.

The hotel itself is a great size, not too big and not too small therefore never really too busy, which is always nice.  As soon as you walk in, the hotel is warm and inviting, and service is outstanding.

The rooms are great sizes and very modern in decor but also cosy! One thing I do love are the Aromatherapy Associates products used.  After travelling to come to a hotel with great products is always comforting, and this brand has amazing spa like aromatherapy products, which smell so relaxing & therapeutic!

As well as the rooms, I do love the downstairs lobby sitting areas, which are split up into different sections with different decor. One even has a cosy fireplace and fire burning for those cold London nights.  The drawing room is also beautifully decorated; yet another lovely place to spend time.

If that isn't enough from a Hotel, they also have great restaurants including a brasserie and also serve afternoon tea! They have a gym which run a wide range of classes, including yoga, dance, pilates and spinning! Finally a pool and spa if you want to unwind.

Enjoy your stay & thank us later! :)

F & F

xx


Note : All hotel pictures have been taken from the hotel's official website - http://www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-marylebone-hotel

My Workout Plan - Resistance Training

My current workout plan is built for a leaner and toned body but also slightly skewed towards fat loss.

Nutrition also plays a 70% part in getting lean; and I will be following up with a suggested food plan soon.

Due to a hectic work and social life I do not want to spend hours on end at the gym, however I try and aim to get the most out of it when I do go.

This post focuses on resistance training and weights in particular.

I do a mixture of cardio & weight/resistance training and below is a snapshot of my routine and some benefits.

BODY PUMP

I enjoy BodyPump classes and aim to go 1 -2 times a week.   Lifting weights and resistance training has bad publicity when it comes to females - it will NOT make you bulky as it would with males due to the difference in hormones.  In fact it will help build a leaner more defined body focusing on each part of the body.

Also you will burn more calories at rest as opposed to cardio exercise. So girls lift those weights and get lean!

The BodyPump moves can also be incorporated onto the gym floor - so don't be intimidated by the weights area on the gym floor which to me always appears to be a 'man zone!'.


GYM FLOOR RESISTANCE TRAINING

Here are a few suggested exercises which can be done on the gym floor for those out of class times!

These can be done using free weights or weighted machines.

• Barbell squats: 3 sets of 12
• Dead lift: 3 sets of 12
• Bench press: 2 sets of 12
• Shoulder press: 3 sets of 12
• Bench dips: 3 sets of 10
• Plank: 3 rounds for one minute

I hope this is not too daunting & the key to focus, is consistency and having an end goal!

Also I find having a great music list and good sportswear also makes exercise more fun!

Remember mind over matter...getting to the gym is half the effort, the rest will follow; so stay disciplined and consistent! You will reap the benefits of feeling fitter, more energised and you will have that healthy glow!

F & F

xx

Talise Ottoman Spa - Dubai

When my sister comes to visit me in Dubai, we love pampering ourselves! Who doesn't!

So this time was no exception and we headed to the Talise Ottoman Spa at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel to try out the Hammam.

A Turkish Hammam is a centuries old tradition to cleanse the entire body and relax the mind.

We both chose the Coffee Peeling Hammam, as it promised to refine and smooth the skin, leaving it more toned and firm.

From the moment you walk into the spa facilities (ladies and men are separate) you will feel like you have walked into a palace as the decor is incredibly opulent.

After getting changed we stepped into the steam room for 10 minutes after which we were offering a cold glass of water to remain hydrated, which was a nice and relaxing start.

We then headed through to the main relaxation area which is breathtaking! The pool sits in the middle of the room with a huge chandelier directly above, and high ceilings.  The pool is surrounded by individual relaxation areas with curtains (if you want more privacy).

When we walked into the treatment room for the Hammam, it truly was as amazing as the relaxation area, if not more! The marble... the mosaic tiles... the high ceilings, make this spa a perfect combination of old and new.

After lying down on the heated marble table in the middle of the room, firstly the whole body was exfoliated to get rid of dead skin all over (there is also the option to gently exfoliate your face if you wish).

The exfoliation was followed by the most amazing foam massage as the therapists somehow cover the whole body in soft soapy bubbles!

Thereafter, the coffee exfoliation scrub is used all over the body. If you love the smell of coffee, this is so relaxing! The whole body is then washed with water. Finally the hair is shampooed with rose scented shampoo... Pure Bliss!

Once the treatment was over we were given a chance to soak up the surroundings in the relaxation area booth where a cold glass of water, laban and dried fruits and nuts awaited, with the option of using the pool, the sauna and steam room!

We both left feeling rejuvenated, relaxed and our skin was as soft as a baby! We definitely recommend it & would visit again!

F & F

xx

Stevia Vs Sugar

When I first heard that sugar is bad for you, like any other person I took that vague answer and ignored it...  I love all my sweet treats!

I am not perfect in the healthy eating category (unlike my sister) but I try my best and I have started making those small changes.

Sugar is bad for you but why? Well there are many reasons but one in particular that my sister shared with me stuck!

To put it simply, sugar breaks down the collagen and elastin in your skin, making it dull, sag, and create those dreaded wrinkles! Also, once collagen has broken down it is very difficult to build back naturally.

Stevia is a natural sugar derived from plants which is a great alternative to sugar.  It is calorie-free and can taste up to 200 times more sweeter than sugar!  Stevia takes a little getting used to in taste but I honestly love it and I feel that you actually do use less than you would with sugar because it is much sweeter in taste.

Stevia can be found in powder or liquid form.

I use the powder form when making tea or coffee and I have not purchased sugar for nearly 6 months now!

Admittedly it's a small change in cutting sugar but one that I have adopted pretty quickly and I don't miss the sugar.

I still eat items with sugar in them (naughty me!), but if you make one change today then swap your sugar for Stevia in your tea/coffee or even baking!

Every little helps!

F & F

xx