Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Wash - Product Review

This is one of those products that I keep re-purchasing because I know it works and I know it's good. I must have been around 18 when I started getting into skincare and this was the first face wash I bought. At the time I had a really bad experience with Freederm Gel and left my skin really dry and flakey. Since then I have tried other face wash's but none of them work as well as this does.

I would describe my skin as combination to dry more than combination to oily but I do get oily around my nose. I have never had a big problem with spots but do have blackheads, slight redness and dryness to the skin and this definitely helps.

I use this in the morning and in the evening. I also like using it in the shower as the steam and heat opens the pores and you can really feel it working. It feels cooling and tingly in a minty way and it doesn't leave your skin feeling dry or tight afterwards, it feels quite refreshed.

The Packaging
The face wash comes in a 150ml tube and is sold at £3.49. On the front it says 
Clean & Clear 
deep action cream wash
oil-free
cleans down to the pores for really clear skin

The back of the packaging reads;
Clean & Clear
deep action cream wash
Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Wash cleans deep down to effectively remove dirt, oil and impurities without clogging pores, and contains a special ingredient to help prevent spots and breakouts.  The tingling sensation tells you your skin has been thoroughly cleaned, leaving it cool, refreshed and really clear.

DIRECTIONS: Smooth the cream wash over wet face, especially massaging into area where excess oil builds up. Rinse thoroughly with water. Use daily as part of your Clean & Clear routine for skin that's really clean, clear and under control.

CAUTION: For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, immediately flush with water. Discontinue use if skin irritation develops. Keep out of reach of children.

INGREDIENTS: Aqua, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Steareth-21, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Menthol, BHT, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool.

I love the fact that this product is PARABEN FREE because I feel as thought a lot of drugstore skincare contains this.

I will continue to use this face wash but still continue to find another one so I am able to alternate between the two.

Clean & Lean Diet - Review

About 3 months ago I realised no matter how much I workout I wasn't losing any weight. I think I hit some kind of plateau where I think my body just got used to working out so much and just stayed the same. Just for reference I was working out about 1-2 hours every day, with a mix of cardio and strength training. 

My diet seamed in my opinion to be heathy... I would eat some sort of cereal for breakfast mostly Cheerios... I would then eat a sandwich for lunch using brown wholemeal bread... and then for dinner I would eat a bowl of supermarket bought soup eg. covent garden 

I would drink 2-3 cups of green tea, even though I thought it tasted like pond water and lots of plain water. 

One day while I was watching Cassey Ho from Blogilates she mentioned something about eating 'Clean'... and that although everybody is different when it comes to losing weight exercising only counts for 10% of weight loss... your diet counts for 80% and the other 10% is genetics. From this information I was really amazed and quite surprised... I thought it would be more 50:50

I started researching into 'Eating Clean' and seriously there is so much information online... I didn't really know where to begin. 

Clean & Lean Diet £8.96 - Amazon

Looking on Amazon there are a few books on 'Eating Clean' this is when I found the Clean & Lean Diet by James Duigan, currently priced at £8.96. I purchased it purely on the amount of positive 4/5 star reviews, it has over 100.

On the cover it has written '14 days to your best ever body'...this diet is a lifestyle change and is not a crash diet where results are seen immediately. You are not going to be bikini body perfect in 14 days, this 14 days is a kickstart your body needs to detoxify your body.

The book is split into chapters (as most books are), they are all very informative, very easy to read and include a 14 day meal plan, recipe's and an exercise plan.

The book starts with an introduction to what 'clean' is and how this way of eating will benefit you. This introduction was really helpful to me and just made me want to carry on reading the rest of the book.

The book explains what foods to avoid known as toxins and also why these toxic foods cause you to gain weight. At the end of each chapter there is a summary table of food that is bad (these foods you should never eat eg. chocolate coated biscuit), better (these food you should avoid but only eat as a last resort eg. piece of fruit ) and then the best (these foods you can enjoy in your diet eg. fruit and nuts).

The diet plan is high in protein, vegetables and good fats, and low in carbs. It consists of eating 5 small meals throughout the day, breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. The kickstart is very restrictive, also repetitive and the first couple of days leaves you feeling really hungry... it is difficult but definitely worth it. 

The diet plan is followed with a recipe chapter that you can use in the 14 day kickstart but also use after the kickstart to help with ideas on how to cook clean for life. 

The exercise plan consists of low intensity strength training, I do find the routine very easy and not challenging enough so have continued with my usual workout routine, which I mentioned above.

~~~~~

3 months on and I have lost half a stone and feel really energised and lighter on my feet. My diet has completely changed…pretty much all breakfast cereals contain sugar and wheat both of which I no longer eat in my diet. This means I could no longer eat Cheerios for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and even fresh supermarket soup (which contains sugar)… I started eating porridge for breakfast, lunches usually consist of fish or chicken with a salad or stir fry, and I still eat soup for dinner I just make it myself so I know there is no added sugar. Snacks in-between meals keep me full up and I don't get hungry, I love almond butter on Ryvitta or having fresh fruit topped with greek yogurt. 

One last thing to mention and probably the best part of a clean eating lifestyle, is that once a week you can indulge in anything you want… I mean anything… a stack of pancakes and whipped cream… a chocolate cake… a big fat pizza… whatever takes your fancy. And the best part of this is that it actually helps you lose weight as your body goes into shock and starts burning off the extra calories quickly which increases your metabolism. This cheat meal once a week keeps me from feeling deprived, helps me stay focused and also something to look forward to.

I really hope you enjoyed my post, and if you have any questions I would be happy to help. 

If you are looking to change your diet I highly recommend the Clean & Lean Diet by James Duigan… I know it sound cliche but it has changed my life!!!

Nip + Fab Tummy Fix - Product Review

Nip + Fab Tummy Fix

A couple of months back I was in TKMaxx and came across Nip + Fab Tummy Fix, I was intrigued so took a closer look… what is it I thought to myself… a gel that tones and firms your stomach and hips, once I glanced at the price tag of only £3.99 (RRP: £19.25) I decided to buy it.

The Packaging

The product comes in a 100ml (3.38 fl oz) tube, on the front it says Nip + Fab Tummy Fix Daily 'Ab' Gel.

The back of the packaging reads;
Tummy Fix-This revolutionary formula helps to improve skin tone + texture around the abdominal area. 

+amarashape sculpts + promotes elasticity

+bitter orange smoothes + skin appears firmer

+lecithin softens + hydrates

Direction: Apply on clean skin in circular movements, focusing on tummy + hips. For best results, use twice daily for visibly firmer + flatter looking silhouette.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Alcohol Denat, Propylene Glycol, Polyimide-1, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol, Carbomer, Polyacrylamide, Lecithin, Parfum (Fragrance), C13-14 Isoparaffin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Limonene, Laureth-7, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Linalool, Geraniol, Eugenol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid.

I started using this product every morning and some nights (not many) but it did seem to make a difference. I would use a small blob of gel and rub it into my tummy and hips, it absorbs into the skin quickly and there is no stickiness and you can get dressed straight away. There was a pleasant sort of artificial scent to it and the skin would be silky soft to the touch.

I carried on using it and within a couple of weeks I noticed my tummy looked some what flatter a toned. This is with eating healthy and doing regular exercise, I probably wouldn't expect it to work if I ate burgers and chips everyday. 

It is on the higher end on the price tag for myself anyway, so I would only buy it if I saw it in TKMaxx again (I hope), or if it was on special offer in Boots.