Phd Women Nutrition Supplement Range Review Part 1

Sports nutrition is big in the male market with pills, shakes and bars to supplement your workout, build muscles, get lean, the list goes on.

As we know male and female bodies are different and require different needs regards to calories, vitamins and minerals.

PhD has been specifically designed to meet these needs for active women.  In this post, I will give you an introduction to PhD Women and there product range. I was kindly given to test and review some of their products. The post will have a  follow up post, part 2 with how I got on with the products, a review in a few weeks time.

The PhD Women Range

The products are spilt into 3 ranges:
Each shake and bar contains protein and designed to work with your workout to support you, help you recover and to help achieve a more tones/leaned and sculptured body.

Toning
Designed to help you get the best from your workout. All products contain proven ingredients to aid muscle tone and help your body repair and recover, as well as a tailored combination of female friendly vitamins and minerals, chosen to help you make the most of your busy lifestyle.

Products in this range include:
Support and Recovery Shake - Chocolate Cookie, Vanilla Crème or Strawberry Delight
Support and Recovery Bars - Chocolate Orange or Summer Berries

Weight Control
 Nutritional products designed to support the needs of the active woman. PhD Women weight loss products are intelligent formulations that have been created to help you lose weight, safely and effectively, whilst also achieving your exercise goals.

Products in this range include:
Meal Replacement Shake - Chocolate Cookie, Vanilla Crème or Strawberry Delight
CLA - Conjugated Linoleic Acid Tablets
Body Sculpt Tablets -Food supplement capsules with Caffeine, Green Tea and L-Tyrosine.

Energy
Designed to keep you going, when you just need that little bit of extra help. With only 98 calories, they are perfect for when you need a boost.

Products in this range are:
Energy Bars - Chocolate Orange or Apple and Blackcurrant

Their website has some great tips as well like some exercises and healthy food.

If you go to their Academy page - you can download their weekly food plan, for either weight loss, toning or energy.

In the pack I received to review, I was given:
Chocolate Cookie Recovery and Support
2 sachet of Vanilla Crème Meal Replacement
2 sachet of Chocolate Cookie Meal Replacement
2 packs of Energy bars - one of each flavour
2 packs of Recovery and Support bars - one of each flavour
CLA Tablets
A Shaker.

Part 2 of this blog will up in a few weeks time, with progress of my start and finishing measurements and how I got with the products.

Skincare Review - HealGel

I am 32 this year and so aware of ageing, however, whether it is a combination of good skincare and genes, my face is wrinkle free at present so this moisturiser is definitely more of prevention for me. I also haven't had any skin changes in the 4 weeks except depending on what serum I used, I noticed my nose would be a bit more oilier in the day time. My skin felt moisturiser throughout the day and although I don't really use any face makeup these days ( as I work in a gym ), I could see this being a brilliant primer due to the smoothness of the skin.  For a moisturiser and what it does, the price fits the label of £48 and I would recommend this for anyone to try if they are looking for an anti ageing product.

Its been a little while since I have written a skincare review and I am glad to be writing about a fairly new company and two of their products for you.

As you will know, one of my favourites products are eye creams. Having only really used them in the last 5 years, it is something that I can now not live without.

So today's post brings you HealGel Eye and HealGel Face.




Wha is HealGel?

HealGel, an aqueous gel within an advanced skin rescue formula using the best active ingredients to  soothe, repair and protect the skin. Designed by a team of world leading plastic surgeon's and a reknown dermatological biochemist, together they formed a peerless base-layer treatment for all skin types.

Using nano-technological elements (liposomes containing the key ingredients), to deliver to the depths of the skin where they are most needed in a form of a light, non-greasy gel.

HealGel Face

An anti-ageing formula to firm, smooth and replenish the skin. 
Arnica and Madecassoside are suspended in liposomes with powerful peptides and biodynes to initiate a uniquely soothing and collagen boosting process. An exceptional blend of Omega Oils are used to replenish dehydrated skin and restore elasticity. Together with a unique three part hyaluronic acid complex provides an instantly plumping and revitalising effect.


Review

I have used this now for 4 weeks, using a combination of different serums underneath. You only need a small amount for it to go along way ( I used between a pea/1p size on my palm for my entire face and neck ).
I have definitely noticed my skin being more smoother, which is fab because as you know from my previous posts, I use a Clarsonic to wash and one of my serums ( blue therapy ) is also made my skin smoother, but to have even more smoother skin was fab and I really didn't expect that! 

HealGel Eye

An advance corrective formula to lift and condition the delicate eye area.
Using the same peerless anti-ageing formula to HealGel Intensive, this reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness by stimulating the sluggish mirco-circulation of the eye area. The duel action hyaluronic acid complex that locks moisture deeper into the skin and firms the eye contours. The effect softens the appearance of fine lines, even skin tone and improve the elasticity of the skin through intense hydration.  Light diffusers in the gel further improves sallow areas for a brightening and smoothing effect.


Review

Just like the HealGel Face, I used this for 4 weeks every day. I was expecting my dark circles to reappear from stopping my previous eye cream which is also great at stimulating the circulation of the eye. However, I was pleasantly surprised that they did not return, and kept them looking bright, if not brighter. The skin is smooth and appears firm too. Just like the face, you only need a very small amount. A size no bigger than a pin head will do both eyes and so for £32, I feel this is great value.

My overall opinion on these products would be that I would consider getting these again. Having nothing but great results from both of these.

This post is my honest opinion on both the products and they were given to be to enable me to review the products.
complimentary

You can purchase the products though HealGel website at http://www.healgel.co.uk
Follow @HealGel

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