Winter Radiant Skin

Winter Skin Care

The winter is officially here! So to keep yourself totally toasty you've purchased your staple seasonal coat and a woolly hat that goes with everything, but now it’s your skin that is feeling the wrath of these harsh winter climes. Amongst all the Christmassy excitement for presents and ditching your diet to go on a mince pie binge, it’s easy to forget to protect your skin from flaking out on you. This is a very important issue; thousands of people die of embarrassment every year from having flaky lips- act now. Here are some top tips and affordable products to winter-proof your skin

Hydrate

When you’re not hitting the mulled wine during the holidays, make sure you’re drinking loads of water to replenish your skin from the inside out. Drinking plenty of water prevents your skin from looking dry which is essential as the harsh winter wind will naturally dry out your skin. Drinking just 2-3 litres a day could give your skin a little radiant glow.

Best product: Water, £0, your tap at home

Exfoliate

Dry flaky skin can make your complexion look dull and tired, not exactly the look you were planning to pull of at the Christmas party. During the winter try a gentle exfoliating wash once or twice a week to remove dull cells, my favourite is St Ives Invigorating Apricot Facial Scrub £4.99, Boots. To prevent skin from drying out, try switching your usual facial cleaner or toner with a gentler version that uses witch hazel. I find that, Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Cleansing & Toning Lotion, £3.58, gently removes dirt and impurities without stripping your skin of any natural oils.

Moisturise

During the winter your body produces less natural oils, that’s why it’s so important to use a great moisturiser. When choosing a moisturiser, opt for one which is very rich and packed with vitamins. I find that Olay Beauty Fluid Nourishing Day Fluid, £4.99, is amazing for nourishing your skin and leaving it soft and radiant, it can be used just before applying foundation or even as an effective over night cream. To prevent your skin from getting tight and itchy, use Garnier Intensive 7 Days Body Lotion with Nourishing Shea Butter, the Shea butter ingredient will keep your skin in tip top condition.

Save money, Shed Pounds! A broke girls guide to getting trim

                For a while now I've been riding the fitness bandwagon. Squatting it out along with bursts of HIIT cardio five times a week and really pushing myself to reach my goals. Like your average girl, I've struggled and had both bad weeks and fantastic ones, but even though I've fallen at a few hurdles I've managed to pick myself up and get right back at it.
               I've ditched my £30 gym member ship, and extra travel costs, so the only pounds I'm loosing are the ones around my bum and tum! I've tried something new: fitness videos from the comfort of my own home! When I had my gym membership I was going only 3-4 days a week, mainly because it took a while to get there and back so I wasn't really motivated to go. Now however, I workout 5-6 days a week and I work hard. I can own the red-faced-and-sweaty look and not worry about being seen and I can groan and pant without drawing attention to myself, it's fantastic. Plus it saves me a lot of money that I could otherwise spend on shoes! So what do you need to start shedding pounds and saving money? 

Dumbbells 

You can buy dumbbells on Amazon from £5!

Okay so you may need to buy these but they are cheap so it balances out in the long run. Most of the workouts that you should be doing will require dumbbells. Simple moves like squats with arm curls incorporate a lot of muscles and get you an even bigger calorie burn, and they save time!  Lifting will not give you a body like Jason Statham, girls, if you want lift and tone your body then you can't shy away from chest presses or lunges. If you want to lift your ass then you have to lift heavy (as heavy as you can). 

A Mat

 Nothing fancy here, this one is purely for comfort. Your living room, dining room or bedroom floor might not be so comfy and you need a good surface when you're hammering those fire hydrants! A mat is also an essential if you're winding down with some yoga. Yeah, you might need to buy your own mat as well *eye roll* but they're cheap and so the price of dumbbells and a mat is way cheaper than one month at the gym.

Fitness Videos

Not sure about lifting? How often? Which moves? What is life!?

         Well, fitness channels on Youtube come in super handy when you're unsure about an area of fitness or even nutrition. A lot of certified nutritionists have Youtube channels with their own advice videos on fat burning foods, healthy carbs, getting enough protein and basically ALL the areas that beginners are unsure of. 

          Working out to a fitness video is sort of like having a personal trainer right there with you, they tell you exactly what to do so you know for a fact that you're getting an effective workout. Getting the right balance between strength and cardio can be hard when you're a beginner, luckily there are loads of videos that feature a combination of both! If you're not in the mood for cardio though, why not try a yoga or Pilates routine? Forget paying extra on top of you gym membership, everything you need is accessible from your laptop! 

          Apart from certain Youtube videos, I cannot rave enough about The 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels. The 30 Day Shred  combines strength, cardio and abs and is split into three levels so you do each level for 10 days. The dvd workout is designed to shred fat and build lean, toned muscle and you better believe it WORKS- but only if you work too. I'm on day 14 and I can already see the difference in my body and I can really feel my stamina elevating, crazy right? Try it! I personally also do some extra cardio to really maximize my results. 

     

  Here are my Four Favorite Free Fitness channels: 

Jessica Smith TV: 

She's a SHAPE magazine contributor and a certified fitness coach and she does not mess around. Jessica has 150 effective workouts on her channel, all free, and she offers positive motivation during each one. My favorite routine on Jessica Smith TV is her 'HIIT Cardio and Core Mashup', that one really makes you sweat but she also has some really great yoga videos on her channel too. Check out her channel here: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB7wvgp4HUBe5TD10jIgxDg

Fitness Blender

These guys post 4-6 new workouts every week so you can always switch up your routine to keep your body challenged. As well as a range of workouts, beginner mode to beast mode, Fitness Blender also post regular videos in which they discuss things like: the best post-workout snacks, food shopping for weight loss and the best cardio for weight loss- all the things that you may want to know if you're serious about reaching your goals. 

My favorite Fitness Blender video is a bit of a toughie, the '1000 Calorie Workout Video' sounds intimidating but actually this workout incorporates strength and cardio so it isn't a monotonous routine. It's over before you know it... Or at least, it gets you a giant leap closer to that bikini! 

Get sweating to a video ASAP, here: http://www.youtube.com/user/FitnessBlender

Blogilates

Get ready to work with cheery certified fitness instructor Cassey Ho! Her channel features a range of awesome POP Pilates body sculpting workouts that will help you get in great shape. Cassey motivates you through each workout and encourages you to keep one eye on your goal while you work and when the burn gets tough, upbeat motivation is exactly what we need! Along with her fitness routines there are also many advice videos and yummy (yet oh-so-healthy) easy to make recipes. My personal favorite on the Blogilates channel is Cassey's 'Bikini Blaster 1! HIIT IT HARD!' a little bit of HIIT cardio and strength never hurt nobody, actually that's a lie but the pain is worth it! HIIT IT, here: http://www.youtube.com/user/blogilates

Livestrong Woman

This channel offers a bit of everything and it's all free! The Livestrong Woman Channel is dedicated to helping you on your way to becoming a fitter you, I would recommend browsing this channel for scrumptious recipes, toning and sculpting routines, and awesome advice. It's like a fitness community that's dedicated to all things healthy. Livestrong Woman offers high and low intensity routines, tune in to their 'Total Body Holiday Yoga Workout' for a chilled session. Or try something a little harder, it's all here: http://www.youtube.com/user/LivestrongWoman/videos

An Image Of Success 

For motivation purposes! It can be so tough to stay motivated and when we aren't feeling inspired enough then we're more inclined to throw in the towel or in this case, the dumbbell. So to stay positive, pumped and motivated we need to keep in our heads an image of success that reminds us of the bigger picture. Here are a few ideas: 

• Although I don't recommend bombarding yourself with pictures of airbrushed women, if sticking a picture of the gorgeous Beyonce on your fridge keeps you motivated then stick her on there! There's no harm in looking to celebrities for inspiration, just remember that perfection isn't a realistic goal- we all have little bumps and creases. 
• Bookmark an amazing pair of jeans, a size smaller than you are now. Work hard and stick at it and they will be yours. Look at the jeans when your short on motivation to do a workout. Remember, that workout is your little stepping stone to getting what you want!
• Booked a summer holiday somewhere hot? Keep a picture of that place in the area where you workout. Not feeling the last set of squats? Awh, too bad. Look at the picture of that pretty beach, you wana look hot on that beach? WELL SQUAT SO YOU LOOK HOT ON THAT BEACH! Now drop and give me 20 ;) 
• Make a little brain storm of motivational quotes, a few words of wisdom could steer you on the right path
• When loosing weight, it's so easy to be self critical and that's why it's crucial to make the very most of your body positive days. Whatever it is: if your hair looks nice, your old tshirt feels looser on you, your new bra makes your boobs look awesome- write it down. Celebrate your body! 

Healthy Eating (simplified)

You will need to do your research into healthy eating but here are a few pointers

• Never eat any less than 1200 calories a day, if you do you're body's metabolism will slow down and, in short, you'll just gain weigh so stop that! 
• Fruit and Veg is cheaper on market stalls than in the super market
• Lean meat is cheaper in a butchers than it is in super markets
• Eat within half-1 hour of waking up 
• Eat a good breakfast 
• Eat 5 times a day to rev up your metabolism. It's about eating healthy, not less
• Healthy eating 80% of the time and treats 20% of the time 
• Be mindful of what you eat
• Be creative, there are so many yummy healthy recipes to help you make healthy eating interesting. Don't make it a punishment! 
• Check out some easy to prepare fat burning meals here: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20678467,00.html
• DON'T cut out carbs, they give you energy, regulate blood sugar and contain fiber that makes you loose weight. 
• Healthy carbs: veggies, Sweet potato, BROWN rice, BROWN pasta, Wholewheat bread (fewer ingredients the better), beans, oatmeal 
• Lean & Healthy sources of Protein: Turkey, Chicken, Fish, beef, eggs, broccoli, chickpeas, humus, almonds
• Drink plenty of water, minimum of 2 liters a day (if your pee is dark, drink more) 
• Don't exclude fats, again just regulate fats in your diet
• Bad fat = Saturated fat
• Healthy fats: almonds, avocado,  oily fish, olive oil  

Most of all 

Don't give up! Even if you caved in and ate a liter of ice cream, tomorrow is a whole new day. 

Cosey up in a gorgeous winter warmer

      Hey Guys! Sorry for my absence, I've been studying and going to uni and also keeping to a tough fitness regime which I may blog about later.

       Now that the winter chill is upon us, we need a little extra layering in our wardrobe to keep us warm during those winter days. If you're a fashion conscious lady like me then you'll want to stay warm without looking like you're about to embark on an arctic expedition. What better way to work in some glamour than to sport a gorgeous gilet? Well, it beats hiding under several jumpers and a parka!

                  Gilets are fabulous winter staples that add a touch of chic to wind ravaged hair and sniffly noses. Team yours together with a glam leather asymmetric skirt and ankle boot combo or add va-va-voom to a casual pair of skinny jeans and a leather jacket. A great way to work a gilet is by using different texturing. But like a lot of staple pieces, you get what you pay for and in this instance it is better to pay a little bit above budget for something that will do any outfit justice. 

       To my delight, I have found a few that are affordable and Oh-So-Stylish!

Miss Selfridge

      Black Faux Fur Gilet £59.00
                       Black goes with anything and this baby will look great over whatever you decide to wear!

Two Tone Long Faux Fur Jacket £55.00
This Quirky Ombre look adds a little edge to the iconic look

Boohoo

You can grab this one in a different shade, but I personally love this colour.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Melanie Faux Fur Gilet £25
A great shade will add a pop of colour to dull and dreary days

Topshop

**FREYA FAUX FUR GILET BY GOLDIE £72.00 

Fashion Union 

Black Faux Fur Gilet: £25

Black Crop Gilet: £34

Jane Norman

Jane Norman Faux Fur Gilet: £32

Trends that we said were 'Sooo over'

Bushy brows

Women are encouraged to embrace the bush! That is, a slightly more overgrown brow. Gone are the days of plucked-to-perfection eyebrows, this is the era of the big, the shapely and the defined. Until recently, big eyebrows were seen as a comical characteristic or fashion faux pas rather than an iconic look. In the hit television series Ugly Betty, our poncho wearing heroine was damned by the fash pack for sporting bushy brows. It's safe to say that a big and overgrown was not a desirable look back then. But with gorgeous fashionistas like Cara Delevingne leading the HD Brow Brigade, bigger is definitely better. With handy techniques such as contouring, shading in and highlighting, you can really enhance your eyes and facial structure. So I'm glad that big brows have made a sexy new, squared off, face shaping comeback! 
Top buys for beautiful brows: 
Benefit Cosmetics, Brow Zings: http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/view/brow-zings
Benefit Cosmetics, High Brow Glow: http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/view/high-brow-glow

Cheap Tip: MUA have a great brow kit for around £3, pick it up in Superdrug. And if you can't afford to splash out on a highlight pencil: with a finger, gently smooth a light bronzing powder onto your brow bone.

Socks and Sandals 

Okay so it was never really a trend, it was more of a disturbing social phenomena. It was a crime against fashion committed by tourists and fashion inept dads everywhere. We swore we would never break the sacred fashion rules, we set our style standards high against it and we banished woolly sock, sandal clad weirdos forever. But low and behold summer 2013, when some of the most ground breaking events took place: LGBTQ civil rights, The ending to Game of Thrones season 3, the birth of Will and Kate's child and the surprising comeback of socks and sandals. Topshops everywhere became filled with satchel wielding hipsters in search of the perfect sandals to go with their frilly socks. In the name of fashion, we were dressing like our touristy looking fathers... On a serious level though, I'm actually not so offended by this strange trend. I think it's a perfectly innovative way of taking something horrible and making it look super cute. So I think that this winter, I may pay homage to the unsuspecting founders of this fashion trend and don a pair of sandal wedges with my favorite woolly tights.

Geeks and Nerds
I used to think that being called a 'geek' or 'nerd' meant that you were uncool. In all the movies and TV shows that I watched growing up, nerds were annoying, awkward and not very stylish (sorry). Fashion was all geared around looking chic, edgy, cool and if you dressed accordingly then you had successfully dodged the dreaded title of 'geek'. Now however, even the most famous celebs are strutting their stuff in thick rimmed glasses, pinafores, knit jumpers and smart shirts. And it's very cool. With the wave of Geek Chic no one is too cool for school, in fact school is too cool for you. Dressing like you're about to go to a Friday night book club is edgy now and if you're not dressing like a geek then you're way to cool and cool is sooo last season.