www.myvitamins.com Total CLA Giveaway

Thanks to the lovely people at www.myvitamins.com I have 1 months supply of Total CLA to give away to 3 lucky people! 

Total CLA is Highly concentrated Conjugated Linoleic Acid
http://www.myvitamins.com/vitamins/total-cla/10618912.html

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a fatty acid found naturally in meat and dairy products, and is largely recognised for its role in weight management and body composition.

Total CLA is a premium quality supplement derived naturally from Safflowers, providing a massive 1800mg of actual CLA per serving. This extremely effective fatty acid is successfully used by millions to help achieve weight management goals as it is shown to encourage the body to transform stores of fat in to usable energy, hence reducing total fat stores.

These easy to use softgels provide a great way of getting extra CLA in to your diet in order to support your weight management goals.

To enter all you need to do is:

• Be a blog follower
• Note your email or twitter handle in the comments section below

Giveaway ends on 4th September midnight GMT and winners will be picked at random.  Anyone from any country can enter.

Good luck!

Selfridges Giveaway Winner Comp Now Closed

AND THE WINNER, PICKED AT RANDOM 

YES I STAYED UP PAST MIDNIGHT TO PICK IT... IS....

AOIFE OF https://twitter.com/piesandliesblog

CONGRATU-WELL-DONE!

Minx Boutique Collection

Minx Boutique Collection Launches at Olympia Beauty 23rd – 24th September 2012

Step into a world of attentive service and luxurious London interiors.

Minx brings the sumptuous and pampered atmosphere of London’s finest hotels and boutiques to your salon with the Boutique Collection.

 

 

Victoria Secret UK - Westfield Stratford

On Monday I drove to Westfield in Stratford for the sole aim of going in the first Victoria Secret in Europe. 

I wouldn't say I was super disappointed as I was so excited to get anything Victoria Secret but it was rather disappointing that the shop was so small, the toiletry displays were doubled up so they could easily have had some of the PINK or Yoga bras and clothes instead. There were a few items of clothes, some vest and hoodies and a few pairs of joggers but nothing like a USA shop, I went crazy in Vegas and was grabbing things like I was on supermarket sweep, but there was none of that here.

Instead I managed to get my favourite stretchy lace thongs which are 3 for £24 rather than 3 for $30 and a selection of body products as it was 5 for £25. I love the new body spray Vibrant Peony for this time of year, it is very fresh and uplifting and the shower gels are all favourites especially such a flirt (since I am)! Alone they are priced at £13 for a body spray and £9 for a shower gel.

I know people say things like this are overpriced but I have only been to the USA once in my life, so I am not in the position to just nip over there whenever I like and stock up!

Overall it was fun to go there but I hope that they hurry up with the Bond Street shop and that is has much more stock as I need more sports bras and workout clothes. The bras that VS make are too small for me, they don't even make my size but the sports bras are much more forgiving size wise and the tracksuits and casual PINK or Supermodel Essential clothes are so soft and cosy.

http://uk.westfield.com/shop/stores/victoriassecret/stratfordcity?retailer=45203

Reality TV is like crack!

As much as I love reality TV, UK's offerings never seem to hook me anywhere near as much as the US versions.  Love and Hip Hop and Mob Wives are my all time favourites and now I have internet access I can  watch the newest season of Love and Hip Hop which was filmed in Atlanta. I have to say that the drama is AWESOME! I don't like a lot of normal TV shows as I get so easily bored, and there is nothing more dramatic than real life! 

I don't have favourite characters like I normally do because all these women are crazy! Fully on, totally bonkers.  I like bonkers.  They all have a lot of issues going on but that is what makes it so funny!  

In one episode the singer K.Michelle writes a song for her friend Mimi after Mimi's man has been cheating on her once again, I love the song and if that is embarrassing then I don't care! I downloaded it on itunes,  I am pretty sure a lot of women can relate to the things said in the song.  It's called Kiss My Ass and is basically about someone who has been treated badly by someone over and over and finally realised that she's had enough and is so tired of the crap she isn't even angry she wants to move on.   The chorus is  - raise your glass, says cheers to the past,  I ain't even mad, you can just kiss my ass, baby you can just kiss my ass - funny but I thought it was pretty cool she wrote a song for her friend.

Some of the best one liners are K.Michelle- my favourite is her talking about one of the other girls, the girl is clearly crackers who notices someone else's ass cheek that closely?

Her face is messy. Her clothes are messy. Her jewelry is messy. Her attitude is messy Her ass lopsided and messy. 

If you love reality tv check it out on TV Links EU or on itunes if you have access to the USA itunes

Essie - Cascade Cool Swatch

Essie Cascade Cool is a Pepto Bosmol style pink that everyone seems to be loving this month including my mum!

Giveaway - Selfridges Beauty Box

Since it was so exclusive I ordered one of Selfridge's one off beauty boxes to give away to you lovely lot.

The box marks the store’s launch of a new beauty space: The Beauty Workshop (nicknamed the beauty playground) where it will showcase the latest trends in beauty; innovations from around the world and offer quick-fix treatments including brow threading, manicures and blow-dries.

The box contains its favourite products from some of the brands to be housed in this new area of the department store.

Unlike other beauty boxes out there that send a surprise selection, Selfridges has revealed the contents of the box, so you know exactly what you’re getting which is nice as I think usually the boxes are filled with such random toot that it's nice they have faith in what's in there! 

You get:

Antipodes Organic Avocado & Rosehip Divine Facial Oil

Bio Effect EGF Serum

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti Oxidant Serum

Estelle & Thild Lip Balm

Philip B Katira Hair Masque

Stila One Step Correct

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask

To enter

1. please comment with your name and either email or twitter handle, no if you email me it it doesn't count as i get so many emails and half of them end up in the spam folder so I have no way of guaranteeing that your email will even be read let alone entered (sorry)!
2. You can be any age and from any country, I don't care!
3. Open from now until 30th August midnight GMT (no entries after that will count) winner picked at random.
4. If the winner doesn't respond to me within 1 week then a new winner will be picked at random
5. Followers ONLY!

Healthy Living with Myvitamins.com

　

As I am sure you know by now as well as my ridic obsession with makeup and skincare I also have a bit of an obsession with improving your skin and body via exercise and healthy living.

I have been trying some new items recently to compliment my healthy eating and exercise schedule including different supplements, protein powders for my shakes, cellulite treatments and workout gear designed to burn fat or reduce cellulite.

As I have mentioned my healthy eating and exercising on twitter and my use of the Myprotein website for protein powder and supplements they contacted me and asked if I would like to try out some vitamins and supplements from their new website www.myvitamins.com which I was excited to test out.

Myvitamins.com has been launched to deliver premium grade vitamins and minerals to your door in an easy to understand way. The website is designed so you can find the correct supplements depending on your health needs such as 'men', 'women', 'energy', 'complete' to save you having to work out what to get and why, it shows you suggested examples of what to take for what purpose.

The total range consists of individual ingredients such as Green Tea extract and CLA and these are for more knowledgeable customers who know what they are looking for, the Essential range includes single vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin D and the Women section has ranges of different supplements depending on which state of your life/age group you are in.

I really like the www.myvitamins.com simple approach that takes the confusion out of buying vitamins and supplements. I also like the fact that the supplements come in re-sealable packages rather than big rattley bottles so they are light and easy to put in your suitcase, gym bag or handbag if you are travelling.

I was sent the following tablets and I will be taking them daily and will update once I have used them up as to how I have been getting on with them.

Total Caffeine

Total CLA

Total Green Tea Extract
Total Omega 3

Watch out for an upcoming www.myvitamins.com 

vitamin giveaway soon

I LOVE Freeze 24-7 Ice Cream Double Scoop

Freeze 24-7 Ice Cream Double Scoop is a product that I started off using daily (morning and night) and for a few days I just sort of thought...blah this is ok nothing special. After around a week however I realising that my skin was somehow just better, it looked smoother, softer and dare I say it, a little younger! I am not insane enough to start thinking that a moisturiser is going to make me have the skin of a nubile teenager and at 27 you do need to start ensuring that you take care of your skin and use anti ageing products. That being said I did really notice a difference when using this and, when it ran out, I noticed my skin looking worse as I wasn't using it any more.

My skin is dry and sensitive and I think this is a perfect product for my type of skin as it is very nourishing and hydrating, helps the skin look firm and peachy and while after a couple of weeks you get the proper benefits there is a little silicone in the product so you get the smoothing effect without there being so much that your skin is dried out.

I used every single last bit of this cream (it took 2 months) and I now have an empty pot.  Which I can finally throw away after getting internet and being able to write this post!

I am really impressed with this moisturiser which takes a LOT. The last moisturiser I was impressed with was the Korres Quercetin and Oak moisturising light lotion (which I still repurchase). I do try a lot of moisturisers out for the blog but I don't mention anything rubbish as these days it's too stressful (you get asked to take blog posts down or moderate them or not write negative reviews) so basically that tells you that since I rarely talk about a moisturiser, most of them are a load of crap! This is one of the very few I have found over the last year to be worth using and the only one apart from Korres that I have finished a tub of.  It contains extracts of the Chinese 'miracle herb' Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, which is dubbed 'magic grass' by people in Asia because of its anti-aging qualities. 

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Cyclopentasiloxane, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract, Sorbitan Stearate, Glycerin, Butrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Polysilicone-11, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Dextrin, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Carnosine, Sorbityl Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Triethanolamine, Sodium PCA, Thioctic Acid, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben


Price point is pretty high on this product and is why I haven't repurchased yet having just bought a flat and having a shed load of review moisturisers it seemed churlish to waste money on a new one when I have enough moisturiser to bathe in it. I will certainly repurchase this at some point or ask for it for Christmas.

Overall 9/10  It costs £65.00 and is available from Debenhams http://www.debenhams.com/beauty/freeze-24-7

Notd Jessica Pink Explosion

If you want a pure neon pink with good coverage that does last well then pick Jessica Pink Explosion up, it is one of my faves.

Muji's Kardashian Kube Makeup Drawers

GET ON IT (insert 'like a car bonnet' type clique phrase)

http://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?V=1&Sec=9&Sub=39&PID=6000

Massive thanks to Holly - Twitter  @HollyYM for the hookup! 

Jergens Cocoa Butter

I really hate reviewing items without a proper picture taken by myself but I am finding it so hard to take ones of this without the light shining off of the tube that I have given up as I wanted to talk about this fab moisturiser today!

I haven't ever actually tried a Jergens product and it is one of the many things that I was sent on my 6 week or so sabbatical from proper blogging when I had no internet access at home.

This is the perfect moisturiser to keep at work to use if, like my office, your air conditioning makes your skin drier than you would think humanely possible.  My skin looks scaly at the end of the day if I don't apply moisturiser to my hands and arms and in the Summer when I am not wearing my tights I put it on my legs and feet in the mornings too when I get to work (this will be why I get in a bit before everyone else, to fit in all of my morning rituals)!

The Jergens cocoa butter isn't anywhere near as thick and scented as Palmer's cocoa butter which is perfect for a quick use in the morning, whereas the Palmers is more suited to after a shower or bath or when you have more time to let it sink in.  This one isn't going to be good for your stretchmarks compared to the Palmers as it just isn't thick enough, well that and the fact that most creams don't do anything for your stretchmarks anyway as they are scars (having had to have a course of dermaroller and skin needling to get rid of mine I can't see how a cream can do anything).

The tube is huge (200ml) and for the small amount you need to use (around a 50p size per leg, 20p size per arm) it is going to last you ages.  This is a great everyday moisturiser that is cheap and cheerful and will make your skin softer and more radiant.  I can't say it's the best moisturiser that I have ever used but it encompasses everything I would want in a moisturiser to leave at work:

• Inexpensive
• Nice scent
• Good packaging
• Absorbs quickly

All in all I would give this moisturiser 7/10 which could be improved by slightly nicer packaging and a slightly thicker formula just so it would moisturise a tiny bit more.

Currently only £3.40 in Boots

* pr sample



Tria Laser Hair Removal - Unbox and First Thoughs

Just a quick post from me today, it's been an epic weekend watching all of the Olympics and partying but I managed to find time to try out the new gadget I was sent. 

I am starting to use the Tria laser hair removal system and it looks so funny!  People have seen it in the bathroom and thought it is a hairdryer, a giant thermometer and also something questionable - I can confirm that it is a home-use laser hair removal system and nothing dodgy!

The Tria charged quickly and is really simple to use straight out of the box, the instructions are clear and turning it on, selecting which level of laser strength you will be using etc. are all self explanatory.

Tria is the first/only cordless laser hair removal system that is available for use at home.  It's the same technology as when you have it done in the salon but I presume at a lower level as at the salon I have to wear some massive glasses to protect my eyes and it stings like a mother but it doesn't hurt when I use the Tria it just feels hot.  It's super fast to use as you just hold it down wait for the beep then move slightly and beep and so on.  

http://www.triabeauty.co.uk/

Price of Tria around £349

Please do tell me in comments if you would be able to suggest someone to do my new blog layout, I would like your opinions as I have a very old laptop and no photoshop so I don't know how to make a new header etc. myself.  Thank you!

Wahanda - Incredible Amanda Lacey Offer Today Only

Wahanda have joined forces with leading facialist, Amanda Lacey to run an incredible offer on one of the hero products from her highly acclaimed collection. The Amanda Lacey Incredible Pink Serum (Anti-Ageing) is fabulous, especially for sun damanged skin (we love it in the office - I gave my sample to the boss) Wahanda 

Today only -2nd August - you can purchase the serum for just £40, a saving of over 50% (RRP £102).

Here is some more info on the serum - http://www.wahanda.com/product/436845-39-amanda-lacey-incredible-pink-serum-as-featured-in-you-magazine/

The opalescent lotion contains light diffusing particles which give skin an instant youthful, healthy glow, whilst potent ingredients work for longer lasting benefits. Hibiscus Seed Extract helps to relax contracted muscles and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, whilst natural Protein Complex of soy and wheat extracts provide intense nourishment for the skin, with added firming and lifting effects. It is suitable for all skin types.

Amanda Lacey Incredible Pink Serum (Anti-Ageing) - Price:  £40 + £5.00 recorded, first class postage  in mainland UK when purchased on 2^nd August

I would definitely try this if you are 30+ or have sunburn as it is a godsend.

Top 5 most indulgent holiday beauty treatments

We’ve selected some of the most outrageously indulgent treatments available at some our favourite holiday destinations. Book flights and hotels to the destinations listed with www.directline-holidays.co.uk for unbelievable prices.

Caviar Facial

In Rome, the Cavalieri hotel offers a caviar facial or caviar body treatment, which enhances your skin to make it firm and radiant. A package at the hotel including the decadent caviar facial, fitness lesson, Pilates lesson as well as access to the sauna, Turkish bath, hydromassage pool and fitness centre costs EUR335. 

Cactus Massage

The Hakali cactus massage uses prick-free cactus paddles to massage all the goodness from the inside of the plants into your skin. For $245 you can remove toxins and rehydrate your skin. The cactus is in the same family as the healing plant aloe vera and the oil inside helps heal sunburn and quench dry skin.

Champagne Bath

Save money on flights and head to London to, quite literally, bathe in Champagne. Frivolous to most, but desired by a few, the Cadogan hotel now offers this truly indulgent experience for guests staying at the hotel. The baths require 120 bottles and your bath can vary in price from the ‘super saver’ £4000 Louis de Custine Brut bath to the Dom Pérignon Vintage, at a whopping £25000.

  

Argan Oil Massage

This Moroccan treatment uses the fruit from the Argan tree to create an oil high in Vitamin E and fatty acids perfect for hydrating skin. Not only is the Argan oil brilliant at restoring skin’s acid mantle, it has anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory qualities and generally protects against moisture loss and acne. Argan oil massages, scrubs and treatments in various forms are available widely throughout the country.

Gold Facial

The Four Seasons in Florence, Italy offers a truly decadent facial wherein gold is worked onto skin to reduce wrinkles and bring a golden glow to the face that is immediately visible. The price reflects the nature of the treatment and sets beauty seeking individuals back EUR410

Impulse Love Puzzle

Impulse have launched a new limited edition fragrance with a fresh new scent aimed at a completely new audience (don't ask me who, as personally I am an impulse person but if you're not its not something you are going to go looking for).

The difference between this Impulse spray and the usual ones is that is was created by the world-famous ‘nose’ of Dior and Calvin Klein, Ann Gottlieb.  Impulse Love Puzzle contains a high quality fragrance that is light and fruity- merging the quality of a fine fragrance with the convenience and portability of a can. The fragrance is available in stores nationwide until the end of summer.

Personally I really like the smell and it is perfect for me to spritz on just before my workout at the gym so I make sure that people smell that and not any sweat! It definitely doesn't take the place of perfume but it is a step above the usual Impulse spray which are rather synthetic.  You can pick it up from Boots, Superdrug and similar.

 

I would give this 7.5/10

 

*pr sample