Healthy Eating With Slendertox Superfoods | First Impressions

Happy Monday guys!! 

I hope you had a lovely weekend. 

Mine was actually pretty boring and chilled really. I have just been watching films and doing my makeup! 

I am in a good mood today because a couple of my favourite brands followed me on Twitter which is freaking awesome! Liz Earle, Lush and Collection followed me. A lot of people I love have followed me back recently and I have almost 30,000 readers on my blog. 

Happy little bee! :)

Okay, so it's meant to be Summer now and since I have been job searching I haven't been as active or healthy as I would of like to have been. I needed to start eating healthier and gather some energy to start exercising again. 

Y'all know what I mean, it seems a lot more appealing to plonk your ass down, eat a pizza and just chill right?! That's what I have been doing for months practically. Ha. 

IT HAD TO STOP. 

And slowly it has and my body is loving me for it.

If you're looking to get fitter and healthier then look no further and read on as to why the following products are super good for you.

I have worked with Slendertox before where they sent me their detox teas and I LOVED them. I do miss those teas, they made me feel great. 

They recently got back in contact with me to see if I wanted to try and review some of their new 'Superfoods' in their collection. 

Of course I agreed because I loved their teas so much. 

They sent me their Chia Seeds.

They also sent me their raw Maca powder and raw Spirulina.

These superfoods sounded amazing and have sooooo many health benefits to them. I couldn't wait to try them and add them to my diet. 

I will give you the lowdown on each of them.

Chia Seeds

. High source of protein 

.Growth in muscle mass

.Maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels 

. Can improve exercise performance

.Healthy skin, hair and nails

.Improved digestion

.Feel fuller for longer

Raw Maca Powder

.Helps clear skin blemishes & decrease skin sensitivity

.Helps mood - increases mental energy, focus and balancing hormones

.Boosts libido, increases endurance, increases fertility

.Relieves menstrual cramps, hot flashes and balances mood

Raw Spirulina  

. Helps remove toxins from the blood and boost the immune system

. Help digestion

. Reduces inflammation 

. Increased energy levels

. Increases fat burning during exercise

All of these properties sound magical, I need them all in my body maaannnnn! 

 There are so many things that my body could benefit from by taking these superfoods and I was really hoping that I liked them all. 

I tried the raw Chia seeds first of all and they literally taste of nothing which means you can add them to most meals and snacks. 

These are hands down my favourite out of the three because they add a lovely crunch to your food and are so good for you body. 

I have been adding them to salads, yogurts, curries... You name it its been in there. 

  

To create this delicious salad I added Iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped red pepper, cut up white cabbage, finely chopped hot green chillies, sprinkled fresh out of the oven roast chicken and then added the Chia Seeds. I added some Pizza Express house dressing on there too as it's bloody gorgeous. 

Love this meal A LOT. All fresh and all clean! 

This is another dish that I am obsessed with and it's Jalfrezi, roast chicken curry. With the added Chia seeds it just makes it perfect. 

Adding hot chillies helps maintain your metabolism which in turn helps you lose weight!  

Next, I wanted to try out the Maca powder mixed into my fruit juice to see what it tasted like and if it worked. 

I will be honest, I don't like the smell of this powder and I am not fond of the taste either. Why does healthy always taste like the gates of hell? Ha.

I cannot describe the taste or smell but my pallet doesn't like it at all. I could taste it in the drink slightly but it was bearable.

I really want to like this one as I suffer with my monthlies and this helps a lot so I need to find a way to incorporate this within my diet so I get my daily intake without the feeling of wanting to vomit. 

I wonder if there is a natural flavouring that could take the taste away?

  

Ha, so we are down to the last product. The Spirulina. 

What can I say about this product? 

IT'S FREAKING DISGUSTING!!! 

I am not even over exaggerating it smells like fish food with a hint of pond and it literally made me heave and almost vom when I tried it. 

It's the worst tasting thing I have EVER tried. Now this is only because I am not used to 'healthy' products, it's nothing to do with Slendertox it's my own taste buds. 

I was an idiot and decided to put a big teaspoon full in to my fruit juice and my yogurt. BIG MISTAKE. 

Everything went green and when I tried the drink, it tasted okay at first, so I thought I would down it. 

Will I ever learn? 

I heaved so badly, it was rank. 

If death tasted like anything then it would be that. 

N/B - Do not add this to normal fruit juice or yogurt. It doesn't taste that great. 

Finally, as a last ditch attempt I decided I would try adding the Spirulina, Maca and Chia seeds into a fresh, homemade smoothie. 

I made two whilst my parents were out of the house so they didn't cry about the mess that was about to go down. Ha. 

The first one I made was a mango and passion fruit one. 

My mango wasn't ripe, typical, so I salvaged what I could from that and added it to the blender, I then added 1 passion fruit, frozen banana, chopped Pink Lady apple, a couple of strawbs, some natural honey, a couple of spoonfuls of natural Greek yogurt and some mango juice. I then added the Maca and Chia seeds and blended it all together. 

It wasn't that bad tasting, I just didn't like the texture, it was really frothy and I don't know if it was meant to be like that. 

The last smoothie I made was to include the Spirulina and I wanted to try and disguise the taste. 

I have never made smoothies before so I didn't really know what I was doing. You can tell from the ingredients that I use in this smoothie. Ha ha.

I used frozen banana, Pink Lady apple, cucumber, strawberries, natural honey, Greek yogurt and apple juice. 

Okay, so this hid the taste of the Spirulina and I think the cucumber was the one to blame because that's all I could taste and it started to make me feel sick. 

Safe to say... Smoothie fail. 

After all of the experimenting I will 100% keep adding the Chia Seeds to my food and as far as the Maca & Spirulina go I think I might try buying pre-made smoothies to add it to them and see if that works. 

I am not a faffer so doing fresh smoothies every day will kill me. 

Other than that, if anyone has any tips or sure ways of getting rid of the Spirulina taste that would be spiffing. Ha. AND if you have any awesome recipes I can try please let me know. 

All in all I think these are really amazing products and are key to staying healthy. I want to carry on trying them because I want all the health benefits. 

They are amazingly priced too which is a bonus and you can get them here if you fancy trying them. 

Please bare in mind that I am a fussy eater and there a lot of tastes and textures I don't like so just because I don't like something doesn't mean that you won't. So give them a go because I love the brand and their products! 

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Until next time... 

L

X

My Skincare Routine FT Liz Earle | Top 5 Easy Skincare Tips.

Evening Amigo's!!! 

Woweeeee, what a nice day it has been weather wise throughout the UK today!! 

It's been mega hot where I am situated and for once I was able to actually go outside and enjoy it. 

When it's sunny I ALWAYS want to be outdoors and doing things. Being jobless kind of stunts that but who cares, the sun was out and I am happy! 

Happiness = positivity = Good Karma. 

It was just nice to have the sun rays on my face and the wind in my hair as incredibly cheesy as that sounds. 

Speaking of my face, I have a love hate relationship with my skin. My skin is nowhere near perfect, well nothing a bit of makeup can't fix anyway, but that is really not the point. Ha. 

Since I was young - lets say high school, I have had pretty good skin, never had breakouts, always been clear and blemish free. 

These days however, things have changed. Yeah thanks for that!

 I have never been one of those girls who has had a 'skin care routine' or really paid attention to my skin. So moisturisers weren't even on my radar let alone anything else. 

My skin now breaks out a lot, mainly around my t-zone and I have bad dark circles under my eyes, which have gotten worse because of my hayfever (or so my doctor say's) and to the point my dad informed me that I look like "I've been punched in the eyes". Ha. Cheers pops. 

I am also quite pale and have blemishes. I sound so attractive don't I. Ha. Thank goodness for makeup that's all I can say. 

Yes, I have blonde eyebrows so it looks like I am a boiled egg. Hence why I draw them on. 

Nobody got time for that!! 

I have tried a few skincare products; cleansers, toners, moisturisers and even spot clearing products (which DO NOT clear the spots) but haven't found anything that I love as much as my ARK Cleansing Oil. 

I ventured into Boots the other week and stopped at the Liz Earle counter where I was greeted by a really lovely lady (I cannot for the life of me remember her name) and she sat me down and we went through the products and she gave me every piece of information that I needed, which was right for my skin type.   

I chose to buy their 'Try Me Kit' instead of the full-size just in case the products didn't agree with me. I now regret that because I have really started to love the products in the kit and I know I will run out pretty soon. They have so many products in their range and I want to try them all out. I never saw the massive hype on the brand until now and I am in love. 

This is what I bought :) 

I just love this bag alone, I felt like a proper woman walking down the street with this. Ha. I am so sad!!! 

Now, when I asked to get the smaller versions of what the lady had showed me, I didn't expect it to actually be that small. This little pouch cost me £26 and the full size kit was around £45, in hindsight I regret not buying the bigger versions as I would of got a lot more product for my money. 

What's done is done. 

Never regret anything... Unless it's beauty related! :)

And regret I did not.

This is what is included within the 'Try Me Kit'. 

They are so freaking cute and I love the whole colour scheme, it just emphasises the whole clean and fresh feeling the company projects, being it's main selling point. 

Even though the sizing is fairly small, there is actually quite a bit of product in them and it also comes with the muslin cloth and two sponges. 

Most of you guys reading this would of heard of Liz Earle and their products, their Cleanse and Polish being one of their biggest sellers.

I had certainly heard of them but never tried their products. So if like me you haven't tried them neither and want an honest review on what I thought and whether you should invest, read on and look out for my top 5 skincare tips at the end. 

Enjoy. 

Cleanse and Polish.

Oh hello miss popular, you are now in my possession.

I have wanted to try this product in like forreeevvverr!! In the kit you use this as step 1 in the routine. 

This product is suitable for all skin types, it contains Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa Butter and Eucalyptus Essential Oil. You can really smell that Eucalyptus coming through and it's glorious! 

This product removes daily grime and makeup in one quick step and that is literally by applying the cleansing cream onto your dry face (whether you have makeup on or not), if you do have makeup on you just apply the same way, pop it onto your face and rub into the skin. Next you soak your muslin cloth in hot water and proceed to wipe your face clean. 

This is my favourite step as the heat from the cloth draws out all the dirt and dead skin cells whilst the cleanser leaves your face feeling SO FRESH!!!

Beautiful fo'sure. 

Deep Cleansing Mask.

This Deep Cleansing Mask is a beast!!! I like this a lot. The formula appears to be thick but once applied evens out into a thin base. 

This green clay mask has Manuka Honey, Propolis and Rose-Scented Geranium in it and you can really smell the Manuka Honey. This honey has so many healing properties, I am more familiar with it for my throat as I have a spoonful before I go on stage to sing. 

This product says it is not suitable for sensitive skin, now I class myself as having sensitive skin and it's been hunky dory with mine. 

The aim of this mask is to help draw out impurities "to leave skin balanced and calm". 

You literally just smooth this on to your face and neck, avoiding your eyes and mouth 2-3 times a week, after you have cleansed and polished and leave on for 5-10 minutes. 

That is it, simple. Then you use the two sponges provided and sweep them across your face to remove the mask (obviously wet sponges). 

I love this product too a lot, it's such a treat for your face and it's great for when you want a pamper night!! You can feel it drawing the disgustingness from your skin. 

Instant Boost Skin Tonic.

This tonic is so refreshing you apply this as step 3 after you have used the mask or step 2 if your haven't used the mask. 

It contains Aloe Vera which is known for its calming abilities, Calendula, Rose-Scented Geranium, Cucumber and a natural source of Vitamin E. 

This is a floral scented toner which doesn't dry the skin after use and refreshes, soothes and brightens your skin. 

I actually notice this after using it, it leaves me with a subtle glow which is very welcomed on my dull skin. It doesn't sting and it doesn't irritate. I love this too.

You know what I love it all. 

You pour this onto a cotton pad and sweep it across your face covering all areas. 

That's it for this step. 

Skin Repair - Light Moisturiser.

  

    This product states that this is for use on combination/oily skin which is perfect for anyone really. 

This is the final stage in your skin routine and is applied after the tonic. 

The active ingredients in this product are; Borage and Avocado Oil, Echinacea, Beta-Carotene and natural Vitamin E. 

This moisturiser absorbs into your skin like a dream and feels so soft and luxurious. The aim of this product is to replace moisture and help protect your skin against dryness. 

It also has essential fatty acids which is a god send to your skin. 

What do I actually think of these products?

I just love how natural these products are and how great they make your skin feel and in turn it makes you feel so freaking good. 

Your skin is just revitalised and feels really prepped for makeup application. 

I love how these products in no way feel cheap (because they're not) and it really is a treat for your face and skin. I can be quite lazy when it comes to routines but I have actually been looking forward to getting up and doing my skincare and I have Liz Earle to thank for that... My skin thanks you too. :) 

I cannot pick an absolute favourite because I freaking love them a lot. 

Would I recommend? Hell yeah, the products I have used so far I think are super brilliant and I would definitely re-purchase (if my bank account would let me)ha.

Awesome brand. I have been using each of these products for a couple of weeks and I am addicted. 

Well played Liz Earle!

My Top 5 Skincare Tips.

1. Drink LOTS of water and keep off the fizzy drinks. 

- We all know water flushes out toxins, I can only drink plain water from a bottle so I make sure I am stocked up and drink lots of the good stuff. I have cut out fizzy drinks completely and I am less bloated too as a result! It helps clear skin and well as keeping it hydrated. Score. 

2. Exercise. 

- I have recently been getting back into my exercise routine (I will be doing a post on this in the next few weeks) and as much as it pains me to actually get up and do it exercise is really important to keep your body and skin maintained. You drink more water whilst exercising and your skin will really benefit from it. 

3. Take every last inch of makeup off before bed. 

- This is SO important, we have all paid the price for sleeping in last nights makeup after a night out and trust me your skin is cursing you. It hates you. This Liz Earle kit will ensure that all your makeup comes off in a quick sweep of a cloth which means you can sleep easy knowing you're less likely to have a break out and premature ageing!!

4. Do have a skin care routine. 

- I have learnt this is so important for your skin to help against signs of ageing and for just helping your skin look amazing and also feel amazing. It helps keep those bad boy spots at bay and helps renew your skin cells. 

5. Don't rub your skin whilst drying your face. 

- This is a NO NO - big time. It leaves your face feeling sore, dry and practically undoes all the care you have put into it before drying. What I do is dab it with a towel and I am extra careful around the eyes as the skin is so delicate. Mine more so as I rub them a lot through hay fever. 

Follow these easy steps and your skin and body will thank you. 

I really hope you enjoyed this post and have found my Liz Earle review helpful to you and heck you may even go and try it yourself. 

I would, you won't be disappointed. 

Don't forget to give me a follow here if you like my posts. I love all my little follower and appreciate every single one of you. 

You can also find me on these social media accounts. 

Twitter: leluroxxblogger

Instagram: leluroxxblogger

Snapchat: blackeyedfox

Facebook: leyahutton 

Until next time... 

Love 

L 

X 

   

Damaged Hair | 10 Hair Care Tips To Get Healthier Locks.

"Hello... It's me... I've been wondering if after all these years, my hair would grow to my feet".

The answer to that is simply a no. 

"why is that" you ask? 

The only logical answer to that is, if you have damaged hair it's going to take a while to fix it, before you even think of it growing longer.  

Sounds like a horror story right? Have no fear though because I am here to help you lovely lot on how you can transform your damaged locks to healthy strands of goodness that will grow before your eyes. 

I talk from experience and this is why I am writing this post to help those who have over processed their hair either through, heat damage, colour damage and the dreaded back-combing. 

I have done it all, bleached the hell out of hair, full on blasted it with a lot of heat that could rival the sun and back-combed my hair to an inch of its life. All these things are super bad for your tresses and if you think about it, deep down you KNOW it's bad news but we all still do it. 

I have worked at hairdressers for many years and I have learnt A LOT about hair, I have learnt my lessons and I have advised others. 

Blonde hair especially needs extra care when it comes to keeping it in healthy condition due to the bleach/peroxide being used and brunettes... Well you can see damage easily - particularly split ends.  

I had my hair stripped a year ago, it was almost black in colour and to lift it I needed a bleach bath (hardcore) full head of highlights & tint... And then the worst was yet to come. 8 Inches off my hair. 

I was almost sick in my mouth, my hair disintegrated in the foils and I had to have a lot cut off. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Since that day I have taken my own advice to look after my hair properly, to let it grow healthier and longer. 

I do not want to experience that again. 

So, if you are like me and want longer hair, follow my tips and you will be on your way to permanently removing those extensions. 



Tip 1: Use The Correct Shampoo & Conditioner.
 

It is really important to use the correct shampoo and conditioner (separate bottles not a 2 in 1) for your hair type. Obviously you are reading this so your hair is currently damaged in some form or another. You need to cater to this. I am currently using the Garnier Ultimate Blends 'Honey Treasures' Shampoo & their 'Nourishing Repairer' Conditioner. These are specifically for those who have dry, damaged or brittle hair. 

Do not wash daily as it strips your hair and scalp of essential natural oils. It causes more harm than good. 

The importance of getting this basic step correct is ten fold because these types of shampoo and conditioner's will be adding and replacing essential nutrients, proteins & repairing the hair shaft. This in turn helps prevent those ghastly split ends which causes the hair to snap and lose length.

Tip 2: Coconut Oil. 

This is one of the most inexpensive items you can buy that is super good for your hair. You can also use coconut oil for your skin, cooking and teeth. It's multi beneficial. 

It stimulate hair growth especially if you massage your scalp too as it increases the blood circulation to the hair follicles. Coconut oil also promotes a healthy scalp, it also helps prevent split ends & breakage which as mentioned before contributes to hair length.  

With this product, I store it in the fridge to ensure that it doesn't go all weird in the heat. It's easy as hell to use. Scrape out an amount onto your hands, rub around until the solid has turned into an oil and then deposit on to the roots, length and ends. 

Done and dusted, kippers and custard. :) 

TIP 3: Lay Off The Heat Tools.

It's in the bible of hair care that using heat tools on your strands is going to fry them to an inch of their lives. Some of us gals' will use a hair dryer, straighteners and curlers on our hair in one go. 

STOP FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 

Leave your hair alone, lay off the straighteners and curlers, they are killing your hair. Don't forget the length and ends are actually dead so applying heat is going to make it brittle and snap off.   

If you are wanting healthier looking hair which actually grows this is main tip that I would give you because if you cut down or stop completely your hair will grow. 

I haven't used hardly any heat on my hair bar a hair dryer now and then, for over a year and my hair has grown loads and feels great. 

TIP 4: Don't Back Comb Your Hair Or Brush When Wet.

 I used to back comb the crap out of my hair when it was bleached and it all snapped off and fell out. 

As a general rule, back combing your hair is really damaging. I mean you are forcing the hair shaft backwards creating breaks in the strands which again encourages it to snap and break. 

Equally DO NOT use a brush to get your knots out of your wet hair. Use a wide tooth comb to untangle as it is less likely to snag and pull your hair. Hair is fragile when it's wet, remember that. 

TIP 5: Use Hair Products That Protect and Promote Growth.

The products that you put in your hair can really aid growth, such as oils and heat protection spray. 

I SWEAR by Moroccan Oil and use it every time I wash my hair before I dry it. 

I find that if you have fine hair but a lot of it and it just goes limp after a while, using a product to increase volume will sort that issue for you. DO NOT BACK COMB!!!

A must have to help your damaged hair is to use a heat protection spray before blow drying and also afterwards if you do have to use straighteners. 

You can see the products I use in the pics above. 

TIP 6: Blow Dry Your Hair Upside Down. 

By blow drying your hair upside down, not only does it help create volume in your hair but it also brings the blood rushing to your scalp which again aids growth. I also find that by massaging your hair again whilst doing this really helps with the lengthening process. 

TIP 7: Don't Always Wear Your Hair Tied the Same Way.

If your hair is particularly damaged you would think that by tying your hair up would benefit you growth wise. 

It actually doesn't. 

If you tie your hair up in the same way every day, the area that the hair band is sitting on will eventually break the hair strands underneath as it's under continual stress. 

The same goes for tight plaits, hair extensions and wearing your parting the same way every day. 

The more stress the hair is under the less likely it will grow. Switch your style up. 

TIP 8: Regular Trims.

  

I hate it when my hairdresser tells me that I need to have my hair cut. It makes me want to vom violently. Ha. 

So what I do now is actually trim it myself. PLEASE NOTE - if you are a very young reader, DO NOT & I repeat DO NOT CUT YOUR OWN HAIR!! 

I trim it because I roughly know what I am doing and I can control how much I cut off. I haven't had my hair cut professionally for over a year now and I just trim the ends and the split ends if any. 

By getting regular trims (which I will be doing when I get a job) cuts off the dead ends, split ends and allows your hair to grow in a fuller, healthier state. 

Having a blunt cut helps too. Just a side note.  

TIP 9: Sort Your Diet Out. 

Eating the right foods will provide your body with a great lot of vitamins and minerals that will help promote hair growth. If you find that your skin is looking gross, your nails are breaking and your hair is snapping off it could be aided by your diet. I know because this has happened to me. 

If you are lacking, take some multivitamins daily to boost your system and make you feel more human. 

Foods that help your hair grow can be; Nuts, Olives, Eggs, Salmon, Seeds, Sweet Potatoes & Avocado. 

Tip 10: Don't Dry Your Hair With a Towel. 

I have learnt never to towel dry your hair, it's just as bad as back combing it when it's wet. 

It rubs the hair up the wrong way, encourages knots and contributes to breakage. This happens because the hair gets caught in the woven fibres. Try using a silky fabric instead (as told by a fellow blogger, great tip) or even better let it dry naturally. 

These tips are fool proof, easy to conduct and fail safe. My hair is in a lot better condition now and it's growing. Remember there is no miracle cure but these tips will ensure that your hair will grow healthier, less prone to breaking and as a result you will see positive movements. 

Love 

L 

X