Category Archives: Beauty & Grooming

Urban Veda – Natural Skincare

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Feeling a bit grey after January? You are not alone. Gosh, last month was grim but I’ve found something that soothes and comforts the spirit as well as skin. Are you up for balancing your dosha? Then perhaps a little Urban Veda will bring you the balance you crave.

The Urban Veda ranges are designed to be suited to different skin care types which in the principles of Ayurvedic medicine are associated with ‘doshas’. This is the Ayurvedic term to describe the physical and emotional tendencies in our mind and body. There are three doshas – Pitta, Kapha and Vata. If you pop over to the site you’ll find a simple online questionnaire to discover your dosha and select the products in the range that are most suitable. The ranges are Purifying, Soothing, Reviving and Radiance.

Naturally formulated using Ayurvedic herbs, flowers and fruits, combined with multi-vitamins and clinically proven actives, Urban Veda helps to maintain skin’s natural balance by infusing it with Omega-rich bio-oils, free radical-fighting antioxidants and vitality-boosting essential fatty acids.

 

I’ve been testing Radiance Replenishing Night Cream and let me tell you, it’s far too lovely to save for night time. I keep it on my desk and when I’m feeling under pressure I stop and rub some on my hands as well as my face. The rich, warm smell is so calming that I instantly feel better. The light cream is easily absorbed by the skin and is enriched with anti-inflammatory turmeric to improve skin tone, liquorice to support elasticity and restore suppleness, arjuna to reduce the appearance of fine lines and patchouli to reduce scarring and heal dry and inflamed skin. It’s ideal for skin prone to becoming dry, lack-lustre and dull. Yes, that’s me with my hand up scoring a perfect ten on all counts.

Naturally formulated to Ayurvedic principles to balance the Vata dosha.

No parabens   No SLS  No GM ingredients

£19.99 from Boots    www.boots.com

Check out the full range at www.urbanveda.com

 

Lola Makeup by Perse – Review by Talia Lee-Skudder

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LOLA Makeup by Perse is the luxurious yet affordable cosmetics brand and the official make up partner for top TV show ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’ presented by Abbey Clancy. Each week the wannabe models would have their faces painted using LOLA products, showing the versatile looks that can be created with a combination of the different cosmetics available.

 

I was sent a number of their products to try out including the piel perfecta primer, the concealer pen, a matte long lasting lipstick and the ultra high shine gloss. The products are all packaged in slick matte black boxes with white writing, creating a high-end illusion that the products are much more expensive than they really are. With prices as low as £5.95 we can all own a little bit of luxury without breaking the bank.

 

The piel perfecta illuminating primer is a mineral infused base using diamond luminescence. I loved this primer, it was super light and a little product really goes a long away. It creates a glowy and brighter complexion and is fab for when your skin needs a little pick me up but you don’t want to layer on the foundation. It is also perfect worn under foundation, giving your skin that luminescent look whilst also providing the ideal canvas on which to apply foundation. Following the tips on the back of the tube, I also used the primer as a highlighter and was pleasantly surprised. It gave my skin a natural glow that is sometimes difficult to achieve with heavier liquid based products and powder highlighters. I loved this product, as the weather gets warmer it will be my go-to primer for creating that summery-glowy look with a product that does not make my face feel like it is caked in make up.

The concealer pen, similar to the consistency of the primer, was incredibly light and blendable. Again the serum is illuminating and instantly adds a touch of youthful radiance. This is the perfect product for light everyday colour coverage. If you have dark circles under your eyes and you prefer a heavier coverage, then you can use this product as a liquid highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones and on your brow bones. Alternatively, if you’re a fan of contouring then this product is great for highlighting the bridge of your nose and the middle of your forehead.

Next is the matte lipstick in colour Merry Berry. This too comes in slick, black matte packaging. Initially the colour in the tube appears to be a deep red, however on application it becomes clear that it is a berry colour with more of a pink tone as opposed to red. The colour is long-lasting but if you are looking for a dramatic lip then I would advise applying two layers of the colour. I wore the lipstick all night and with only a few top-ups the colour remained as vibrant as when I first applied it.

Finally, my favourite, the ultra high shine gloss in clear. I am not a huge lip gloss fan and usually prefer a matte lip but I think this product may have just converted me. I love that this gloss can be worn over any lip colour to vamp up your make up look. The gloss truly makes your lips appear more volumised and seductive due to the conditioning active vitamin complex. Worn on top of your lipstick the gloss really emphasises the cupids bow and creates the illusion of a plumped up pout and does not require frequent reapplication to maintain its glossiness. The ultra high shine lip-gloss is now a staple in my cosmetics bag.

 

From foundation primer to false eyelashes and nail polish, LOLA caters to every make up related desire. Head over to their website at www.lolamakeup.com to check out the huge range of products they have on offer. You will not be disappointed!

 

Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s, Your 7 Step Brain Protection Plan

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natrualsolutionsfordementiaandalzheimers
I have read a few books by Dr Marilyn Glenville, and we also feature her articles on Frost sometimes. She is a woman who really knows her stuff. I greatly enjoy her writing and her new book Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s, Your 7 Step Brain Protection Plan is one of her best books yet. Well-researched and never dull to read, it is brimming with information and advice. The book is thorough; part one helps you understand dementia and part two is your 7-step brain protection programme. From what to eat, your environment, training your brain, dealing with stress and exercise. This is an essential book in the fight against Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

 

New book launch from Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD

Following the huge success of bestselling Natural Alternatives to Sugar, Dr Glenville is adding to her literary portfolio this year with her brand new book Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

As it can take up to 10 years for dementia symptoms to show, Dr Glenville gives a compelling argument as to why taking action sooner, rather than later is crucial in helping to prevent memory loss and reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.  Whilst the pharmaceutical industry searches for a cure, Dr Glenville offers readers a practical easy-to-follow 7 Step Brain Protection Plan consisting of simple lifestyle and nutritional changes everybody can make.

Alzheimer’s, more than any other disease, is now responsible for the highest number of deaths amongst women; killing three times as many women as breast cancer.   The Alzheimer’s Society believes delaying the onset of dementia by just five years would reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by a staggering 30,000 a year!

  • There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK
  • It is estimated over 1 million people in the UK will be diagnosed with a form of dementia by 2025.
  • The total annual cost of dementia in the UK is £26.3 billion 
  • The NHS picks up £4.3 billion of the costs and social care £10.3

 

Who is the book aimed at?

 

In her latest book, Dr Glenville sheds light on the complex and often misunderstood world of dementia including Alzheimer’s, offering sufferers and their loved ones a clear and practical guide as well as an easy questionnaire to determine if you are headed towards Alzheimer’s. The book is also suitable for those who have a family history of dementia and want to take steps now to delay cognitive decline.

The book expands on newly discovered facts and latest research findings: 

  • Why scientists are calling Alzheimer’s ‘Type 3 Diabetes’s due to blood sugar and insulin being so closely linked with an increased risk
  • Gum disease has been linked to a six-fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline in people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s
  • Sleeping on your side is the best position to let cerebrospinal fluid flush out toxins and improve blood flow around the brain.
  • Omega 3 rich foods like oily fish improve cerebral blood flow and reduce inflammation making them important in the fight against Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
  • It might not be genetic – according to the Alzheimer’s Association in America, genetics are responsible for less than 5 per cent of all Alzheimer’s cases.
  • How certain nutrients ‘‘can slow the atrophy of specific brain regions that are a key component of the Alzheimer’s disease process and that are associated with cognitive decline’.*

 

Discover answers to questions such as…                                                                             

  • What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia?
  • Can making the wrong food choices be harmful to your brain health – no matter what age you are?
  • Which supplements can help improve and boost your brain function?
  • What lifestyle factors should you avoid and include to help improve your memory?

·      What are the most important tests to take to show if you have any deficiencies or imbalances that could be affecting your memory and concentration?

 

The 7-step Brain Protection Plan

Dr Glenville introduces readers to her unique 7-step Brain Protection Plan offering a practical step-by-step guide to help get your brain in the best possible shape naturally, with chapters covering:

  • Your diet
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Exercise
  • Stress and sleep
  • Your environment
  • Brain training
  • Testing, testing

 

What inspired Dr Glenville to write Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s?

Even though writing this book has touched a personal nerve (my father and mother-in-law developed Alzheimer’s and I saw first hand the effects not only on them, but on all those who had to care for them), my research has shown me just how much we do know already and how very beneficial simple, practical lifestyle changes can be, not only to help prevent the disease, but also to slow the decline for those who already have it.  I hope you find the information in the book as interesting as I did while I was gathering it; and I hope that it can make a difference both to you and to your family.

 

Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s £12.77, is available from all good stockists, Amazon and marilyngenville.com.

 

 

Here’s why it’s a bad idea to stick cotton buds in your ears

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Cotton buds is a household essential for many of us, but now health professionals have warned that using them could potentially damage your hearing.

But why do we have ear wax in the first place and what kind of damage can cotton buds cause? National charity Action on Hearing Loss has the answers.

Ear wax – it’s brown, sticky, and many of us don’t want it; it’s gross! You may even be wondering what the point of it is. Well, it is mostly harmless and even has a lot of good qualities, like protecting our ears from nasty bugs and germs.

However, some people produce far too much wax or are prone to their ears blocking up, which is one of the biggest causes of temporary hearing loss. It’s also a major cause of hearing aid failure.

If you are worried about a blocked ear because of wax the biggest temptation is of course reaching for the cotton buds.

But in a new report published by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), experts said that using cotton buds could push the wax further down into the ear causing damage to the ear canal and ear drum.

It also states that ear syringing, where a large manual syringe is used to pump water into the ear, is potentially harmful and should no longer be used.

Gemma Twitchen, Senior Audiologist for Action on Hearing Loss, said: “Actually for many of us, wax is not an issue and believe it or to our ears are self-cleaning. If you are worried about a blocked ear because of wax  many of us automatically use cotton buds, or even worse hair pins, or anything else you think you may be able to fit into your ears. I’ve even heard of people sticking their car keys in their ears! So, what can you do about it?

“We strongly do not recommended putting anything in your ears as it can make the matter worse- all of these can push the wax further down into the ears and make it harder for the wax to come out of the ear naturally.

“If you have any trouble with your ears, consult your GP who will arrange the best course of action to remove it safely, if need be.”

For more details about ear wax and why we have it, visit https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/how-we-help/information-and-resources/publications/hearing-health/ear-wax/

For the full NICE report published this week, visit: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-cgwave0833

 

The Fragrance Shop launch scentaddict

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Finally, a fragrance lovers subscription box you have complete control over. Just in time for Christmas, The Fragrance Shop have unveiled their latest launch scentaddict. Scentaddict gives customers the chance to experience their favourite scents every single month, this is the cleverest of fragrance gifts. Each month a handy 8ml atomiser is filled with your choice of fragrance selected online or in store at The Fragrance Shop. Yes Ladies and Gents, you can have a rolling supply of Chanel if you like. With 8ml to fill which is approximately 100 sprays, you’ve enough time to decide whether or not you want a fragrance update or continue filling with a fragrance you love. What’s more, each time you refill, you can redeem the cost of the subscription against a full size bottle of the fragrance you choose to put in your atomiser that month. The refill fits inside a ‘twist and spritz’ casing which comes in 18 different colours and can also be used with any of your own fragrances making it perfect for handbags and travel carry-ons.

The subscription is priced at £12 per month with P&P included and can be cancelled at any point with no minimum contract. We gave scentaddict a go and it’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to fork out big bucks for a high end fragrance, if you just love to try anything and everything and if you’re unsure whether your spouse, nanny, uncle or colleague will like your choice of fragrance. Allowing them to pick for themselves is always a winner.

To find out more and to sign up, visit;

https://www.scentaddict.com

Secrets of Glo | Beauty Review

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Secrets of Glo is a new beauty brand from actress, model and musician Glo Butane. Handmade with love, her serum can be used in conjunction with your existing beauty regime, or alone. All the ingredients are natural and UK sourced. There is approximately a one month supply in a bottle. It is for crows feets, laughter lines, veins…basically any problem you are having with your skin. It minimises the look of age lines. You leave it to soak in for 10 minutes and then massage it in and then apply your regular moisturiser.

Glo has always been passionate about essential oils, but she did not develop the serum until she was pregnant with D-R, when she noticed lines and veins popping up everywhere, and could not use her regular products because they had unsafe ingredients that could affect her child’s development. Because this formula is natural and it works it has been a part of her skincare regime ever since.

This is a brilliant serum and I highly recommend it. A great, natural product that really works.

www.secretsofglo.com

The Crazy Nature of Human Communication: The Importance of Being Mindful of The Moment

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By Dr Rajan Sankaran, author of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree

Arriving at the lift of my building one evening, I met a neighbour who was known for his rudeness and for putting others down, while blowing his own trumpet. If someone from the building met him somewhere he would ignore them and walk away with his nose in the air. I tried to be a good neighbour and greeted him in a friendly manner asking him how he was.

When he perfunctorily asked me how I was, I thought it might help bridge some of the gap between us to share something. I said, “the younger of my two sons has gone to the USA to study, and with both my sons gone I feel an emptiness in the house.” Instead of some words of empathy or enquiring what my sons were studying, he pointed out that now my sons had left, the alterations that I had made to my apartment, which he had advised against, were now useless. He went on to mention that the alterations were probably illegal.

I was taken aback by this comment. I had tried to be a good neighbour and this was the response! This thought kept going on in my mind all day. So, when later I met another neighbour who is a friendly person, I told him about the incident. I wanted to share with him my experience of the rudeness and insensitivity of the other man.

Instead of seeing where I was coming from, he immediately was concerned about the plans of my apartment that he said he had seen some time ago. He told me that he was quite sure there was nothing illegal about the changes I had made to the apartment.

Stepping back from these experiences; I observed how the three of us saw the same thing in entirely different ways. I was lonely because my sons were away. I tried to convey this to my neighbour, who wanted to find some way to put me down. Then the second neighbour who heard all this, saw it from a completely different perspective: namely, the legality of the changes in my home.

Though I know somewhere that each one of us has his own perspective and that there is no objective reality, my mindfulness in the above incident made this very clear. Each individual comes from who they are and how they perceive things.

There are so many perceptions in one reality. When we communicate with each other, it is actually each one of us talking to himself. We hardly hear the other one. We are hearing ourselves all the time. It is like an orchestra where each musician is playing his own melody.

By stepping back and becoming a witness to the whole phenomenon, I got an insight into how stuck each one of us is in his own inner pattern of perception. I also realized the crazy nature of human communication.

Dr Rajan Sankaran is an internationally-famed homeopath, spiritual thinker and practitioner of holistic healing. His new book, ‘Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree’ is an insightful and inspirational chronicle of personal and spiritual self-discovery. It is available now in paperback from Amazon UK, priced £21 and published by Homoeopathic Medical Publishers. For more information visit www.dogyogibanyantree.com

Win a copy of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree by Dr Rajan Sankaran

We have three copies of Dog, Yogi, Banyan Tree by Dr Rajan Sankaran, usually priced £21, to give away. To be in with a chance of winning follow frost on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/frostmag, just email frostmagazine@gmail.com with your name and address. The three lucky winners will be notified by 3rd November and will receive their prizes shortly thereafter.

 

Coping with Hyperemesis Gravidarum – mums speak out on severe morning sickness

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As news of the Duchess of Cambridge’s third pregnancy makes waves across the nation, we are reminded of the realities of morning sickness and its level of severity in some rare cases.  The UK’s leading support resource for mums to be Emma’s Diary, (verified by the RCGP – Royal College of General Practitioners), has spoken to several mums suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (which affects 1 in 100 pregnant women) about their experiences, in a series of candid interviews.

Around 80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness (and despite its misleading name, it doesn’t just happen in the morning).  For some, like the Duchess of Cambridge, extreme vomiting triggered by pregnancy can be severe, even life threatening for those diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). In a bid to share their stories and raise awareness of this less common condition, these mums have spoken out to warn others that if you believe you are suffering from extreme sickness, not to be fobbed off by suggestions that ‘it’s normal’, because it might not be the case:

Bella Drew from Norwich in Norfolk said:

“My baby is due in just over two weeks time. The moment I first found out I was expecting, my heart filled with excitement but that was soon to be diminished a week later.  My experience of so-called ‘morning sickness’ started at around three weeks, I couldn’t keep anything down but I was told that was normal.  As my suffering worsened I was put on medication which didn’t really help in my opinion.  I had lost around two and a half stone, had sustained haemorrhages within my eyes from the straining while being sick. 

I was being sick every 15 minutes throughout the day and night.  I was bedridden and eventually I gave up.  I couldn’t cope anymore and I was admitted to hospital diagnosed with HG. Despite all of the recent media attention the condition is still massively misunderstood. I wouldn’t wish this debilitating illness on anyone and we really need to spread more awareness of the impact and symptoms of HG.” 

Emma Eaton from Gosport in Hampshire said:

“I am pregnant and am currently suffering with HG; I was also hospitalised for two weeks in my last pregnancy having almost died from starvation and dehydration.  I have been in and out of hospital numerous times during my current pregnancy to have IV fluids and IV anti-emetics to help control the symptoms. I have to take two different types of tablets to help prevent me from being sick as I have been physically passing out and collapsing – also knocking myself out in the process. I believe there needs to be much greater awareness of this life-threatening condition amongst pregnant women and those who are planning to have children.”

Gemma Edwards from Walsall in West Midlands said:

“I was diagnosed with HG with all three of my pregnancies which has left me with some long term health problems. I am losing my teeth due to the impact of the stomach acid because I was vomiting anything from 20 to 50 times a day. I was also hospitalised for weeks on end with ketoneuria (ketones in my urine – a sign of dehydration) and my veins kept collapsing, this condition made me very ill and my kidneys went into pre-failure meaning my life was at risk and also that of my children.  This is a very serious condition and more awareness of the long term health risks it poses is much needed.”

Many women who are diagnosed with HG say they can’t keep anything down. They can also lose a lot of weight and fluids and sometimes have to be admitted to hospital for re-hydration treatment as well as require antiemetic medication to stop the vomiting.  In terms of adverse effects on the baby, experts say there are usually very few unless weight gain continues to be poor during the second half of pregnancy; or indeed the symptoms are more severe over a sustained period of time.

Sufferers of HG reported:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Weight loss
  • Depressed mood
  • Tooth loss
  • Kidney failure
  • Severe dehydration (with ketones present in urine)
  • Disturbed salts in the blood
  • Eye haemorrhages
  • Long term health issues

Dr Shauna Fannin FRCGP, Chair of the Editorial Board at Emma’s Diary said: “Every pregnancy is different and whilst pregnancy sickness is extremely common, Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) only affects 1% of pregnant women and is a condition at the extreme end of the pregnancy sickness scale. HG sufferers will vomit frequently and can become dehydrated very quickly so it is very important to seek urgent medical advice.”

Faye Mingo, mum of two and Marketing Director at Emma’s Diary said: “It’s really brave for these women to speak out and share their experiences with others.  What is apparent is a desire to build greater awareness on the topic of HG and to dispel any myths about what is considered to be ‘normal’, the message from most of the mums we spoke to is to trust your instincts and to keep pushing for medical support if you believe you or your pregnancy might be at risk.”