Introducing: Bear & Bear

So I am off on my travels next month- two weeks of hitting Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava and Prague- and I could not be more excited. I need to actually get my ass in gear however and sort out all the little details like insurance, travel money etc but where is the fun in that?? So instead I have distracted myself for shopping for things I need for the trip and while on the hunt for the ideal day rucksack for taking with me I stumbled across an amazing website I wanted to share. Bear & Bear is an incredibly curated shop covering homewares, tech and travel and I was really taken with the unique mix of items they stock and thought they are actually perfect for not only meeting my travel needs but actually also a fab place to find the ideal wedding present.  I love looking for the perfect present for a couple but sometimes it is not easy with so many items just being too ‘weddingy’, but Bear and Bear had loads of stuff that I know if it was me getting married I would be over the moon with. Something from here would really celebrate a couple’s interests and be a cool and practical item that they could get proper use out of which is a much more appealing idea to me that some of the usual things that get given a lot.

Clockwise from top: Herb Stand/ Enamel Bake Set/ Camera Strap/ Hammock/
Cashmere Blanket/ Pocket sized Picnic Blanket/ Lomography camera/ Dropp Bowl/ Herschel bag

From beautiful Merino Cashmere blankets to super funky Lomography cameras and accessories- there was something for every couple that would really stand out from other gifts. You can pretty much guarantee a smile on anyone’s face if you present them with a packable rainbow hammock! The home wares section is really dreamy and I was super impressed with the prices (never mind the amazing sale that is on).

In the end I found the perfect rucksack I was after- Herschel bags are everywhere right now but Bear & Bear were the only place selling some amazing print versions that I was totally sold on. I ended up going for the gorgeous Settlement Rucksack in remix print and I am in love! They are only £27.50 in the sale currently which is a bargain in comparison to what I have seen them stocked elsewhere. Delivery was quick and reasonable so all in all a great shopping experience; I would definitely recommend checking them out.

The post workout make up routine

About 4 months ago I discovered the strange joy of getting up earlier and going to the gym. That doesn't necessarily sound that appealing but for anyone who likes hitting the gym, particularly for strength training, I cannot tell you much more relaxing and available it is in the earlier hours. I can actually enter 'the man zone' and not be completely intimidated by the thousands of super pumped up guys all busy showing off to one another, and actually get a hold of the equipment I am after!

The one thing I have learn't however is never, ever workout with make up on as it is completely horrific on the skin. Maybe I am the only dozy one who has been doing it in the past, completely oblivious to the havoc it was wreaking on my skin, but now I am forever making sure I am working with a cleansed face. When you sweat you open up your pores which means anything on your face is going to instantly clog those bad boys up and create spots- which is the last thing I need more of! When I wake up now I do a light cleanse with something gentle like La Roche's dermo cleanser and then pop on a light moisturiser and then post gym I cleanser with something specific to what my skin needs ( right now tackling spots with LRP's physiological gel) which I follow up with a quick acid tone ( pixi glow tonice), some Hydraluron for a needed moisture boost and my SPF moisturiser (currently the simple SPF 30). The thing about going to the gym pre work however means having to put my 'face' on away from home which means either lugging about alllll sorts and having to be up even earlier, or admitting defeat and really cutting down on what I use and basically learning to care less- it has been a revelation!

So here is what has been in my first few months of doing this routine's make up bag ( I love an alphabet bag) After the skincare I go with just a basic tinted moisturiser but also carry a small pot of foundation for bad days or just topping up some pigmented areas ( currently Laura Mercier Silk Cream) I also carry my trusted Cover FX concealer for spot concealing and the amazing Maybelline undereye concealer. I then dab on a little cream blush to perk up the skin, usually it would be Stila Gerbera but I just recently ran out so currently carrying Topshop's head over heels. I have powder at work I dab on if needed but actually really enjoyed taking that step out and only using if needed which no doubt my skin is happy with! I do pop on a bit of powder blusher- currently Mac Style as it has a little glow to it which is perfect for not having to carry a different highlighter. I do my brows with Anastasia brow pomade, and pop a touch of highlight on my lids with a Stila pencil and then do my water lines with Rimmels unbeatable waterproof Kohls, I curl my lashes with my trusty Shu's and then mascara to finish it off. I really still just cannot get enough of Benefit Roller Lash so it is always with me! I carry just a stippling brush, powder brush and little concealer and brow brush in a separate flat carrier and find the whole little kit isn't too much to lug around, is super quick to do and has really shown me how much time before I was spending on getting ready that totally wasn't really needed which has been refreshing. Much as I thought everyone at work would be all ' ohhhh you look ill/tired/ different' turns out no one has batted an eyelid which reminds me how much It is all in my head.

Anyone else do the AM workout? 

A consultation with Transform

After learning loads about the non-surgical options on offer at the Glasgow Transform clinic at a recent event, I was excited to get along and chat more to the team to find out what they thought would be a good idea for my skin and current problem skin.

I booked a consultation with the lovely Fiona and was really happy with how the whole appointment went. I settled into the spacious and well equipped waiting room ( complete with fancy free coffee machine and biscuits to enjoy) and filled in my registration forms including a few questions important for the staff to understand what is best for your skin. Fiona took me through to one of the consultation rooms and went through a few further questions to really understand my current routine and lifestyle and get to grips with what it is I would like to achieve. She was really good at answering all my many questions and explaining why certain treatments might be a good option for me to consider. It was reassuring to me that nothing in the consultation session felt at all ‘ hard sell’ which is what I think I often fear from big clinics, but instead you really got the impression Fiona was keen for me to get the best from any treatment I was considering and really good at getting me to think of not just the short term but  possible long-term plan. 

Recently my skin has taken a turn for the spottier which has been really bothering me so it was reassuring to get to talk that through with Fiona and get her knowledgeable input on what is possibly happening to my skin. She then took me through to speak to one of the clinics qualified nurses to get her opinion on my current acne issues and for her to confirm that the route we were going down was the best idea.  We decided that one of the Obagi peels would be a good idea for my skin right now and I am super excited to give it a whirl. We got to watch the peel in action on the press night and I was amazed at how quick and painless it appeared to be and the Obagi products are something I have heard a lot about in the past so I have definitely got high hopes. The team also decided that using the Obagi Cleanziderm system alongside this was the best plan of attack and I am excited to get going with it. Only available through prescription, this system sounds like just what my skin is needing and after seeing the results one of the other staff at the clinic has had through using it- I am super excited to see if it can do the same for me.

The staff and surroundings at Transform are really good at making you feel totally at ease and relaxed which is essential when having any kind of treatment so I was really pleased with how it went. I think I still have that old-fashioned notion that stepping into any surgical clinic is going to mean I leave covered in blue pen with lots of suggested ‘tweaks’ I could make to look better but it really isn’t like that all! I left feeling relieved to have gone over what was bothering me about my skin and feeling happy that I was going down the right route to start to fix it.

Their free consultations are detailed and in-depth but can still be done to fit around busy schedules and with clinics all over the UK there are lots of options of places to visit, call 0800 655 6406 to book in. 

Introducing: Universkin

 In a saturated market of often repackaged, re-marketed, samey products it is really refreshing when something really innovative like Universkin crosses my path. Learning more about the company and their product I was sitting thinking- DUH- why aren't we always looking for something exactly like this?? It felt so glaringly obvious when sitting right in front of me!

La Belle Forme are always sure to be offering people the most innovative and cutting-edge treatments and this is their latest addition. Universkin is based on the idea of old-fashioned apothecary style skincare and allows for a completely bespoke skin care product to be made and mixed in front of you. You create your own AM and PM serum combining all the active ingredients your skin needs based on an in-depth questionnaire and guidance from a trained therapist. I honestly couldn't get over how much sense it made to me while I was sitting going through the questions, pretty much all of us are combination skins in some way or another yet we often just focus on one of the areas or go off using multiples products causing more grief in the long run.

My lovely therapist Cristina explained the whole system to me, she would take my answers to the survey alongside asking me another details she needed for further clarification and then would write me up a prescription of exactly what key ingredients my skin requires. It was amazing that it wasn't until filling out my forms that I really sat and thought about where my skin was at right now and which of its issues were most prominent and important to how I feel. I think that is a great part of the Universkin process, actually taking time out to think about how much of a problem certain aspects of my skin actually are as opposed to just flinging all sorts at it. It allowed me to decide which parts I would like to try and improve first which is a much better route for clear skin. 

Once we had discussed what ingredients Cristina thought were best suited for my skin needs right now, it was time for the fun part- mixing up my bespoke serum. I love the whole concept of the process, watching each of my special ingredients be whirred into my base serum was amazing and allowed for a real transparency in what you are getting. The base (known as Nexultra P) is not an oily cream but more a nude texture that has organic Camelina oil, peptides and the all important Hyaluronic Acid. I was delighted to leave with two serums all ready to use and I am super excited to trial them out and see how my skin does.

I was really impressed with my appointment and loved the process of having my personalised serums made. I love the idea that after you are finished your first serums you can then choose to tweak your prescription to what your skin is needing at that time which allows for a bespoke approach all year round.  I was also surprised with the prices as for a personalised service it was more reasonable that I envisaged ( I know everyone has a different idea of what is reasonable of course!), with prices starting from £50. I am really excited to get using my AM and PM treatments and see what it does for some of my skin issues and will be back to fill you in when I am done.

To  book in for a Universkin appointment you can call La Belle Forme on 0141 552 0828