... fitness: It's that time of year again!!

Ok, so I am both a beauty and fitness junkie. I love a bit of sparkle and I love a new workout DVD, so this time of year is when I keep my eyes glued to Amazon to check out which Z-list celebrity has temporarily lost a crapload of weight this year and is now flogging their amazing secrets so that we mere mortals can reap the same benefits!!

It's cheesy, it's sometimes a mistake, but sometimes, just sometimes, you find some real gems.

This year I will be purchasing three DVDs.

First up is Jennifer Ellison's Fat Blaster Workout. 

image form amazon.co.uk

Right, I made the mistake of buying her previous dance DVD a good few years ago and it was one of the worst I had ever seen, but, this year, she is being taught by Elia Siaperas who was the trainer on last years Clare Nasir workout and the prvious years Hannah Waterman DVD. He works you hard doing intervals and plyometric bodyweight moves and I love this way of working out so I will be risking a second Jennifer DVD in the hopes that he will deliver more of the same.

My second purchase will be Christine Bleakley - The Workout

image from amazon.co.uk

I didn't watch The One Show and I haven't seen Daybreak but she is in great shape, plus her sister has a seven stone weight loss story and I don't know about you but I love a good before and after! 

On a practical note, the workout preview video makes it seem quite intense and sweaty and is another one with intervals and plyometrics.

These two will be out on Boxing Day which is the norm for these types of DVDs.

The final DVD I will be discussing is the newest Davina - Ultimate Target

image from amazon.co.uk

Davina McCall is the exception to all the celebrity workout rules. For a start, this will be her eighth DVD!! 

She also releases hers before Christmas because she has, apparently, realized that not all of us wait until the Boxing Day Bloat to decide to get fitter!

Her workouts over the years have mostly been fantastic and I still use my favourites on a regular basis.

This years trailer looks great so I have pre-ordered it as a (slightly early) birthday present for myself ;)

Tempted? Sickened? let me know :)

... beauty: My first EOTD!!! Smokey plum featuring Mally Beauty...

I bloody love Mally. She is loud and crazy and she makes AMAZING makeup.

If you've never seen her you can check her out on QVC (US and UK) or on her own website

Anyway, I purchased and reviewed her Rise and Shine TSV a little over a year ago. I loved it then and I love it now so I thought I would share one of my favorite everyday looks. 

Please excuse the ropey pictures, I haven't done one of these before because I am using my phone at the moment and it's really hard to get colours to show up properly!

It's a really easy look:

- Mally primer all over my lid

- Mally Lavender Glow as a wash on my lid + applied more intensely in my socket and under my eye

- Mally Plum Glow as a liner and blended through the outer corner of my upper and lower lid to give depth.

- Napoleon Perdis shimmer dust in 37 (gold) pressed lightly onto my lid and inner corner as a highlight

- Mally automatic pencil in Onyx on my waterline

- Laura Geller "Wonder Wand" under my brows as a highlight

If you haven't tried any Mally please do check her out. She also has Christmas TSVs coming up here in the UK and the US so it's a good time of year for a bargain.

Hope you like the look.

xx

...beauty: L'Occitane Divine Cream Review....

So it's been a while since I wrote about my seven day trial but, finally, here are my thoughts on L'Occitane Divine Cream.

image: http://www.fabuloussavings.co.uk

I had five sample sachets rather than the little pot of goodness in the picture, but the effect was not spoiled at all all. This cream is lovely. As I mentioned before it smells gorgeous and has a gorgeous texture - rich enough to quench thirsty skin but not heavy or greasy at all.

I cannot say that I noticed miraculous results, but the cream is meant to have a cumulative effect so if I'd been using it for longer maybe it would have made more of a difference.

Something that I actually find more important though is the fact that it did not break me out at all.

Would I recommend this? Absolutely, if you can afford it, go for it !!

...a giveaway! Bow Tied Beauty 200 follower giveaway.....

Here are the gorgeous goodies up for grabs:

image: http://bowtiedbeauty.blogspot.com/

What are you waiting for?!!!! Enter here
xx

...beauty: Alpha H Balancing Cleanser Review

In my continuing search for the perfect cleanser I have come across some duds and some gems. Happily, this one falls into the latter category.


I was watching QVC again and saw a very persuasive demo of this product. However, the price was a little more than I was willing to risk, even with the legendary 30 day money back guarantee to fall back on, so I trawled through the listings in ebay and managed to find a small size at a good price.

image: cultbeauty.co.uk

This cleanser had some serious claims to live up to: non-stripping, yet thorough, ph balanced cleansing and the ability to remove even waterproof mascara without irritation.

Amazingly, it passed on all counts.

I love this cleanser. It removes all my waterproof mascara (no easy task, believe me) with minimal rubbing, it rinses off beautifully leaving my skin feeling clean without being "squeaky" or dehydrated, and finally, but crucially, it does not break me out.

I literally have only one problem with this product and that is price. It costs about £22 for 200ml which, while not silly money, is still a hefty amount. So, for the moment, I am keeping an eye out for good value kits, ebay bargains and potential high street dupes.

Anyone else tried this or able to recommend something similar?

Thanks for reading.
xx