Inner for outer beauty

I'm a big fan of supplements designed to promote healthy skin, hair and nails from the inside. I have recently tried both Glowelle and Sibu Beauty and am about to start on the Glisodin Skin range. I definitely saw improvements with both Glowelle and Sibu Beauty. My hair and nails grew at a rapid rate and my skin seemed firmer and had less fine dryness lines. I'm excited to start the GliSODin Skin as these are said to have slightly different effects such as detoxification (for weight loss too) and helping with damage from sun exposure. When I have finished them I will start on Murad's Firm and Tone Dietary Supplement just in time for Summer!

Here are all the supplements and what the packages say they can achieve:

Glowelle: http://www.glowelle.com/ High in skin beautifying antioxidants, protects and nourishes skin from within and is made from natural ingredients.

Sibu Beauty: http://www.sibubeauty.com/ These come in soft gel supplement form and as a drink. It's an oil derived from the Sea Buckthorn and is a source of the rare Omega 7. It provides cellular support which is essential for healthy skin and mucous membranes and is certified organic.

GliSODin Skin http://www.glisodinskin.com/ There is an Advanced Detoxification Formula powdered drink mix which is said to rejuvenate and energise the system, eliminate harmful toxins to promote clear skin and optimum health and assist in weight loss by promoting healthy liver, colon and renal detoxification. The Advanced Skin Brightening Formula is a soft capsule to be taken daily and is said to promote even skin tone, support all skin types to help reduce irritation and damage caused by sun exposure, promote a radiant complexion and support facial aesthetic procedures.

Murad http://www.murad.com/ The Firm and Tone Dietary Supplement comes in ready prepared packages of tablets and softgels to be taken daily and are purported to encourage the appearance of firmer skin by up to 78% in eight weeks and improve the visual texture of stretch marks by up to 47%.

(Please consult your Doctor before starting any supplement program and these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease).

(The above products were provided to me by the said brands)

Inflight beauty

As it's getting close to the time of year most people travel home for the holidays, I thought I'd let you in to a few of my secrets on how to arrive looking great, even after a long haul flight.

I travel a lot for work and like to be comfortable and for it all to go as smoothly as possible. So to start with, I always make sure I have a few essentials with me:

• My own pillow - I like to try and get some sleep and those little pillows they give out just won't do! Take your own and even if you don't sleep it's far more comfortable to lean on!
• A wrap or throw - I use the blanket they give out on my feet and legs, they are a bit scratchy so like to have my own wrap to put around my upper body to keep me warm.
• Noise cancelling headphones - their headphones don't usually work so well. My ones also block out the sound of all the commotion around me so I can sleep or catch up on movies in peace!
• A big bottle of water - get this after you've passed security and sip throughout the flight to keep you hydrated. I also like to bring a packet of Glowelle http://www.glowelle.com/ to add to it to give my skin a boost.
• Fruit - you can make a fruit salad at home or bring pieces with you. These also help to keep you hydrated and is better for you than all the salty snacks the crew pass around. Be sure to eat it all or get rid of it before you land though - you can be fined for bringing it in to other countries!
• Makeup remover wipes - I like to take my makeup off after I've gotten on to the plane. Wipes pass the security measures too.
• A bag with travel sized beauty products - I put my beauty travel items in a clear plastic bag before I leave the house. It enables you to pass security quicker as they are already together and within the limits of what you are allowed to take on.
• I bring: Liz Earle http://www.lizearle.com/ Instant Boost Skin Tonic - the travel size of this comes in a handy little spray bottle. I spritz with this throughout the flight to stop my skin from drying out.
• Arcona http://www.arcona.com/ Peptide Eye Serum from the Four Your Eyes Only kit. The serum helps repair and moisturize the eye area and also helps depuff, ideal after a long flight. The rest of the kit is great for travel too, I keep it in my checked baggage for the rest of my trip!
• Talika Eye Decompress http://www.talika.com/ These amazing little eye masks are in tablet form that you immerse in the liquid they come with. They transform into an instantly cooling and soothing mask that refreshes tired eyes and helps smooth fine lines. I put one under my sleep mask (www.dreamessentials.com do great ones that are molded so they don't press against your eyes) just before the lights come back on!
• Janson Beckett http://www.janson-beckett.com/ Alpha Derma CE comes in a small bottle too so that you can take this on with you. I moisturize with this at the start of the flight when I've removed my makeup, it keeps your skin from looking dry and tight at the end of your flight.
• Orlane http://www.orlane.com/ Morning Recovery Concentrate is a miracle in a little bottle! Just before you reapply your makeup at the end of the flight, apply this and give it a minute to work. It revs up circulation and gives you a glow making you look like you slept even if you didn't! It's also non greasy so you can put your makeup on straight over it.
• Colorescience Pro http://www.colorescience.com/ Lip Serum looks like a gloss so it does double duty, but is really an intensive treatment for dry, parched lips.
• Jonathan http://www.jonathanproduct.com/ Pocket Redo freshen up wipes are an ingenious product! They not only freshen your skin but are for use on your hair too. Removing smells and grease and leaving a subtle scent. Perfect for 'redoing' your hair just before you deplane.
• Pacifica http://www.pacificaperfume.com/ have a great selection of solid perfumes. I like to take these onboard as obviously they pass regulation and don't offend other passengers by clouding the air! Leave the plane smelling as sweet as you got on with a quick swipe of this behind the ears and on the wrists.

With these tips and products you can arrive looking as great as when you left, even after an 11 hour flight - I do this a lot!

Day 2 of my beauty advent calendar....

Today is the day to start making a few changes to your diet. I don't mean go on a starvation diet just include a few superfoods. You should see and feel the health benefits in a couple of weeks and hey you might lose a couple of pounds too....just in time to make room for all that Christmas food!

Here are the top 10 superfoods and what they mean for your health:

1. Apples: They are packed full of antioxidants and one apple has a quarter of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, essential for healthy skin and gums.
2. Blueberries: These tiny powerhouses are also full of antioxidants and are said to improve micro-circulation which in turn helps with water retention and varicose veins.
3. Broccoli: Two florets of this raw or lightly cooked counts as a full serving of vegetables - one of 5 of your daily fruit and vegetable portions that you should eat. It's a good source of Folate (naturally occuring folic acid) which is thought to be of major benefit in preventing heart disease.
4. Olive Oil: It lowers bad cholesterol levels and increases the good ones. It's also rich in antioxidants and is a large part of the Mediterrean diet, thought to be the most healthy of all diets.
5. Whole Grain Bread: After the no carb revolution you may be relieved to know that Wholegrain bread especially the seeded variety is very good for you. The fibre is essential to maintain a healthy digestive system and the low GI means that it doesn't spike sugar levels and keeps you feeling fuller for longer so helping with weight control.
6. Salmon: Oily fish such as salmon contain omega 3 fats that reduce blood clotting and inflammation. It dramatically reduces the risk of heart attacks and the fats are said to help prevent depression.
7. Yogurt: Is a good source of calcium essential for healthy bones and great for kids who dont like drinking milk. It also contributes to the health of the large intestine and can relieve some gastro-intestinal upsets.
8. Tea: Black or green tea, it doesn't matter - they are both great sources of the antioxidant called catechins. Studies suggest that catechins protect against the formation of sticky blood clots and protect the artery walls from damage therefore helping to protect against heart disease.
9. Brazil Nuts: These are one of the few good sources of selenium which may help to protect against depression, Alzheimers disease and cancer. They are also full of vitamins, minerals and fibre and so are a good all rounder for health purposes.
10.Bananas: Are a great source of potassium which helps to flush out excess water and vitamin B6 which is great for healthy skin and hair. They are also filling and are just enough before exercise to give you a boost of energy.

If you try to incorparate some of these foods into your lifestyle, not just for now but for forever, you should not only feel better but look better too. If you are the kind of person that likes to take supplements too, I highly recommend Glowelle Beauty Drink http://www.glowelle.com/ it's full of vitamins and antioxidants and tastes delicious too!