Signed Up for the Gym? What To Wear?

Source: weheartit

Having taken the plunge and decided to join a gym or a fitness class near you, you are then hit with that age-old question - What do I wear? If you are historically a bit of a fitness-phobe or it�s just been a while since you exercised, knowing where to begin kitting out your gym bag can be tricky. This is not made any easier by the barrage of advertising trying to sell you one gimmick or another on their sports clothes, that quite frankly, at anything under professional level, are usually pointless. There are however, certain items of clothing that work better for different activities. Follow this guide to make sure you have the right kit when you start out on your fitness journey.

Swimming
If you have chosen swimming or a class, such as aqua aerobics or aqua zumba, as your route to getting fit, you will not need much kit at all. A bikini will not cut it though. You will need a proper swimming costume to do lengths in or jump around in a class so that you have the right level of support and are not concerned about any wardrobe malfunctions when exercising. There are many swimming costumes from George that are both practical for exercise as well as flattering and stylish. Remember a towel and something comfy to put on after your session and then you�re ready to jump in.

Gym
In any gym you will find a wide mix of people wearing a huge variety of clothes. Some like to show off their perfectly sculpted figures in a sports bra and short shorts, but the majority stay a little more covered up, opting for t-shirts, tracksuit bottoms, shorts or sports tops. Anything is acceptable in the gym and you should wear whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and gives you the ability to move freely. Be aware though, if you want to use the machines you should give the ultra baggy tees a miss as they may get caught in the mechanisms.

Yoga
When doing Yoga and Pilates you will be required to contort yourself into all sorts of shapes and being upright is not always a given. If you wear a loose shirt you may spend half the class with this around your head and your tummy and bra on show. For this reason it is advised that you wear clothing that is tight yet comfortable. Leggings and a strapped top are a good bet to begin with, and you can invest in proper sports tops and leggings later down the line if you wish. You don�t need specialist gear for these classes though, and many of the instructors will wear just their normal clothes, providing they are tight enough.

Well done on taking the first step towards better fitness, wellbeing and health, that�s the hardest part over with. Don�t let anxiety about what to wear hold you back. Stick to the guidelines above and find what you are most comfortable in over the first few weeks. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to working out. So have fun and get fit your way.
*Sponsored Post

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MUA Lash Boom Mascara: Review

As you may already know i'm a big fan of MUA. I couldn't live without my Undress Me Too palette. Lash Boom (which follows last year's Lip Boom) is their newest mascara launch costing just �3.00. As you can see from the photo above it features a rather odd wand. Read on to find out how i got on..

Here's what MUA have to say about Lash Boom. �Magnify your lashes for a spectacular false lash effect with the brand new MUA lash boom mascara. Encased in a gorgeous purple tube, this volumising mascara has a long wand which creates length with added drama.

Coat your lashes from root to tip for longer fuller lashes in a flash, minus the irritating clumping. The multi comb, silicone wand will catch each individual eyelash whilst defining and separating to create a flirty fanned out look.�

The Results

The brush has plastic bristles and the bulge on the end made it difficult to use to start with. Once i'd mastered the technique the wand catches the tiniest lashes on the outer corner to create a fanned out effect.  The smooth formula coats lashes evenly and leaves eyelashes clump-free.  I would agree with MUA's claim of being a volumising mascara and it helped to lengthen each lash. The only negative would be that the end of the wand can have too much product on so you have to swipe it before using to remove excess. This is a good mascara is you're on a budget but still want fluttery eyelashes! 

All in all this is a great budget mascara and actually does what it claims to. I found it works just as well as mascara's costing twice as much. Well done MUA! You can get this from Superdrug or online from the MUA shop. Lash Boom retails for �3.00 for 7ml. 

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Autumn/Winter 2013 Makeup Trends: Eyeliner

So eyeliner is BIG this season and it's here to stay for S/S 2014. Make up artists at Anna Sui and Moschino got inventive with pencil and liquid liners by using them as eyeshadow to fill in the whole lid. If you wanted to try something that looked a little softer, at Michael Kors dramatic cat eyes were blended into sockets and paired with nude lips and sleek ponytails. Bored of black? Take inspiration from Dior who opted for silvery, ice blue winged eye liner. I love this trend as it suits all eye-shapes and looks great day or night! Whether you're going for subtle wisps or graphic blocks, here are some of my top eyeliner picks to get you ready to line___

A.K.A Cosmetics Eyeliner in Grey Blue �7 The small brush makes this really easy to get a precise line. The ' Grey Blue' shade makes a nice change from black eyeliner whilst still being really wearable. The staying power for this is great, but i do need to apply to coats two achieve a block colour.

Makeup Atelier Paris Cream Cake Liner �12.50* I found the best way to use this solid eyeliner is with a wet brush,. This glides on smoothly and dries quickly to leave an intense black line. 

Cargo Texas Liner �19.50*(with mascara) The first product I've tried from Cargo and i really like it! As you can tell from the photo's above it has quite a thick tip, making it perfect for re-creating the look at Anna Sui. 

Collection Extreme 24 hour felt tip liner �2.99 The nib has just the right amount of flex to it, not too hard that it's difficult to apply. The 24 hour claim is waaay too much. I'd say this lasts around 5 hours before needing to touch up. This also comes in purple,teal and blue if you're feeling creative! 

Eyeko Skinny Liner �10.00* My favourite liquid liner, ever! This lasts all day with no need for touch ups, leaves an intense colour and it super easy to use. Eyeko have recently launched some metallic shades to their collection if you wanted to get the Dior A/W '13 look! 

Collection Faststroke Waterproof Eyeliner �2.99 I needed a waterproof eyeliner so i thought i'd give this one a go. The formula to this is a lot more watery than any of the others mentioned above. I have to apply a few coats of this to reach full opaque-ness. This is very long-lasting but not that waterproof - sorry Collection!

Will you be trying the eyeliner trend this Autumn? Make sure you check out my other A/W makeup trend posts here and here! 

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Halloween 2013 Collection - Spellbound Nails PRE-ORDER

If you follow me on Facebook you'll know all about my Halloween 2013 Collection. For those who don't, this is for you. :)

I am now taking pre-orders for the Halloween Collections. Head over to my Storenvy and get your order in because pre-sales are only open until 9/27. Pre-orders ship 9/28, and the Halloween polishes go up for normal sales 10/1. Did I mention these polishes come with optional scents? You can buy unscented, but you can also do apple cinnamon, pumpkin pie, candy corn, or a variety!

But first ... keep reading. You don't want to miss seeing these polishes!!!

This is the full Halloween 2013 Collection. 6 of these polishes were inspired by the Halloween movie Hocus Pocus and can be bought separately. And the other 2 are the Halloween Thermals and can also be bought separately.

This is the Hocus Pocus Collection. Hocus Pocus is my favorite Halloween movie; certainly not the only one I love and will watch, but my favorite. And each polish is this collection was inspired by something in this movie. If you're a fan of Hocus Pocus I'm sure you can figure them out. If not, keep reading. :)

Firefly from Hell, the shimmery topper of this collection, shown over Revlon No Shrinking Violet.

Amok (imagine me jumping around chanting amok much as Sarah did in the movie) is an orange based jelly polish with various shapes and sizes of black glitter. Superstitious is inspired by Binx and is a black based jelly with large and micro holographic gold glitter and melon green dots. All that holographic makes it gleam like a cat's eyes in the dark. Firefly from Hell was inspired by the quote "You buck-toothed, mop-riding, firefly from hell." made by Billy the zombie to Winifred. It is a milky, shimmery topper that glows violet in the dark. Be-witching Old Broads was inspired by the bewitching old broads themselves, the Sanderson Sisters, and is like magic on your nails with a deep purple based jelly and tons of purple holographic micro glitter and silver holographic stars and moons. You're a Virgin?? is the basis of this entire collection, much like it was for the movie. This black based jelly with red and holographic red glitter was inspired by the lighting of the Black Flame Candle by a virgin! The movie wouldn't have worked without this and neither could my collection!! And last but not least we have Zombie Guts inspired by Billy Butcherson, a friendly zombie but still a zombie. This is a green based jelly polish with pastel green, red hexes and squares, and black and grey dots.

The Halloween Thermals are coloring changing polishes. These 2 beauties change from orange when cold to green when hot. Unholy Holo is (YES) a holographic thermal! It changes from a burnt orange to minty green and is stunning in sunlight!! It's sibling is Pumpkin Crusher, a bright orange to light green color changer with orange and pastel green glitter. This polish is interesting no matter what color it shifts.

And because I know you're curious, I leave you with these swatches of the thermals. :)

Remember, you only have until the 27th to pre-order these polishes at discount prices. Once they release on October 1st the collection prices will go up. That said, with the October release you will be able to buy single bottles at my normal prices. :)

My Storenvy

Until next time. ?

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Vichy Idealia Life Serum: Review

I'm already a fan of the Vichy Idealia range (love the BB cream!) so i was really excited to hear they were expanding the range with the Vichy Idealia Life Serum. The new serum is designed for women who live life to the full. Instead of focusing on chronological or hormonal ageing, Vichy are targeting 'Behavioural ageing'. This includes factors such as pollution, smoke, stress, late nights, un-balanced diets and too many yager bombs. All these things effect our skins appearance and quality; changing the skin tone, skin contrast, expressivity and skin balance.

To combat this, Vichy have created a formula that focuses on repairing the skins appearance. The serum is full of skin-loving ingredients such as LR2412 and LHA. The LR2412 molecule is inspired by the jasmine flower's ability to repair itself, promoting epidermal repair and boosting the skin's natural ability to protect itself. It also works to reduce the size of pores and increase the thickness of the epidermis. The partner to this molecule is LHA; this stimulates cellular repair in tired skin with gentle exfoliating action.

Now this all sounds very impressive, but does it actually work? If you look closely at the serum it has a opalescent like effect to it. The tiny pearls help to instantly illuminate the skin and gives it a subtle healthy glow. It feels very light when applied and leaves a slight protective film without any greasy residue. About two pumps are enough to cover my face and neck. The delicate fragrance of green tea leaves, white flower and woods lingers for around 10 minutes after being applied. The serum creates a perfect base for make up allowing foundation to glide on easily. I love to apply this morning and night after cleansing, the instant glow makes my skin look fresher and i feel more confident knowing that my skin will be protected throughout the day!

Just because you're living your life, doesn't mean your skin has to show it! The Vichy Idealia Life Serum* is currently �25.05 from esentual.com here

*pr sample

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How To Use Essential Oils in Skincare

Full of diverse applications, essential oils are the main component in aromatherapy . They help to relax the mind, balance hormones and heal the body. The uses for essential oil in your beauty routine is endless and something you need to try now! From perfumes to mouthwash - essentials oils can be used in pretty much anything. Here are a few tips and tricks to make the most of essential oil in skincare.

Because essential oils are extremely concentrated, they need to be diluted with a carrier base oil. Usually you shouldn't directly use an essential oil on skin. By diluting it with a base oil such as sunflower or grapeseed allows you to apply oils directly. Grapeseed oil, above, is a skincare superstar! The high levels of antioxidants means it will boost the effects of sunscreen and helps to treat acne too. I use this as a body oil mixed with essential oils to suit my mood.

Essential oils are perfect for DIY skincare. Use them on their own to blend together for massages, face steams, to help sleep, in the shower or even for dandruff!You'll probably already know Tea Tree is great for treating spots ( i swear by it!) but did you know it also has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties? Lemon has astringent and toning effect and also acts as a natural deodorant. Orange oil can be used to help oily and dull complexions. Diluting this with a cold cream will keep oily skin at bay and can brighten tired looking skin. Lavender is one of the most versatile and widely used oils for healing. I bet at least one of your beauty products at home contains lavender! It's soothing and relaxing properties make it ideal for headaches and muscular aches and pains. Lavender is an extremely safe oil and you can even apply it undiluted. 

Miaroma have a wide range of aromatherapy products and are available from Holland & Barrett here. All of which are currently buy one get one half price! 

Let me know if you would like to see any DIY skincare tutorials using essential oils :)

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Blogger Spotlight: Belle Splash

If you could only wear one nail polish shade for the rest of your life, what colour/brand would it be?

This is so hard because I am a total nail polish junkie! In terms of a brand it would definitely be Barry M, their polishes have amazing formulation and they are so affordable! Although a colour I would wear forever would be Ballet Slippers by Essie, it's such a gorgeous very pale pink shade that looks so elegant and classy. I just wish it had the formulation of Barry M polishes though as it takes about 4 coats to be opaque! 

What is the best beauty tip you've ever heard?

I saw on one of Glamlifeguru's videos that you should leave dry shampoo in your hair for a few minutes before brushing it out (rather than brushing it out straight away) to get it's full effects and it honestly works! I swear by dry shampoo as my hair is really thick and is a total mission to wash and this technique really helps to soak up all the oil in your hair and gives your hair such a fresh look. 

You would cry if they stopped making...

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder! I am yet to find a better powder out there and I literally cannot live without it. I depend on it to finish off any make up look I do as I have combination skin so I really like to get rid of any shininess on my T-zone. I also absolutely adore the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation and would be very sad if they stopped making that as it's the only foundation I have ever found to match my skin perfectly (just like the name!). 

What beauty products will you be reaching for this Autumn/Winter?

I will definitely be reaching for my favourite autumn/winter nail polish and that is Piccadilly Circus by Nails Inc. It's a really pretty light purple shade that is absolutely perfect for autumn and winter and the formulation is easy to apply and long lasting. I also absolutely love an Estee Lauder lipstick in Hot Kiss, it's a plum and kind of mocha type colour that looks amazing on the lips and couldn't be any more suited for the autumn and winter. I also love my Estee Lauder Smoky Plums Deluxe Eye and Cheek Palette for autumn because it has some absolutely beautiful plum eye shadow shades! 

Highstreet or highend beauty products?

I would say a bit of both! I love high street makeup and the vast majority of my beauty products are high street however some products just can't compete with some of the higher end products. There are products I adore and swear by from both ends of the spectrum so I don't think I will ever be able to chose between the two. I think when I am older and earning money I will probably reach more for the high end but right now on a student budget highstreet products suit me fine! 

Three blogs you would recommend checking out?
So hard to chose just 3! But I would say Sparrow Mint (http://sparrow-mint.blogspot.co.uk/) as her blog is really unique, fun and interesting to read and she is such a lovely person. I would also say Aifric from Nocturnelle (http://nocturnelle12.blogspot.co.uk/) as even though she doesn't post that often her posts are different to what you see from most beauty bloggers as there is more of her personality put into it and that really shows. The last person I would recommend is Emily from Beauty and the Budget (http://beautyandthebudgetsblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html) as I love how she mainly only posts about budget beauty products and I always find products that I want to try from her posts! Her blog is definitely one of those blogs where I read every single post without fail! 

Thank you to Natasha for taking part in this months blogger spotlight. Make sure to check out her lovely beauty and fashion blog here.You can also keep up to date with Natasha on twitter  and instagram. Please get in touch if you would like to take part next month, doesn't matter how long you've been blogging for or how many followers you have- i want to hear from you!

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September Wantable Box - Image Heavy

*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Wantable. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hello everyone! After jealously eyeing all the subscription boxes other bloggers have been posting about recently, I was so excited to be asked to share Wantable and the September Wantable Box with you!!

If you've never heard of Wantable before you really need to check it out. It is an amazing subscription box that costs $36 a month. Not ready for a subscription? That's fine too. Wantable thought of everything. You can order just one box for $40, just to see if you like it first. Sound a bit pricey? Well, think about this. Each box is packed with full-size products hand picked just for you based on your answers to their customer quiz. Answer the questions honestly and that's 4-6 full-size products that you know you're going to love! This values the boxes between $80 and $100! AND each box comes with tips and tricks on how to use these products to the best of their abilities. Still not sure? Take a look at my box and decide for yourself.

I kinda loved opening the box flap and seeing this. I don't know why, but it just struck a cord for me. Like opening up a whole new world of beauty, and I guess in a way I was.

The insert tells you all about the boxes. Wantable has the Makeup Box (seen in my review), an Accessories Box (with 3-4 boutique jewelry pieces), a new Intimates Box (said to have camis, panties, socks, and more), and if you hurry you can pre-order their limited edition Ultimate Halloween Makeup Box filled with tons of products from Cinema Secrets!

First looks. I never look at inserts until I've browsed the products first. What's inside the box? What's it gonna be??? I love the surprise! Let's find out!!

This is Taupeless from Be a ... Bombshell Cosmetics. I was oddly excited about this lip gloss and used it right away! I am a huge fan of lip gloss, but pretty much the most I can get away with is nude gloss. My lips are just naturally very red and tend to turn most colored lip glosses really odd colors. This was perfect. It went on nicely, added a hint of color and shine to my lips, and lasted a long time without getting sticky and tacky.

The next thing in the box in Manna Kadar Hi Def Mattifier. I was really excited to try this, and it exceeded my expectations ... which admittedly were rather low. I've tried to find a finishing powder like this many times but always seemed to come up with something with sparkle or glitter to it. This is exactly what I've been looking for - a very simple matte powder that leaves a nice and smooth overall finish.

This is the only thing I was unsure about in this box - the Michael Marcus Refillable Eyeshadow Compact in Flawless. While taking the quiz I said I loved the lighter, more nude shades of eyeshadow, but I didn't exactly mean this.

As you can see, this looks almost exactly like my current face powder. Trying it, it did blend completely with my skin tone, but left behind a flawless finish. With this in mind I may try using it as a concealing powder later.

The last full-size item in the box is Laqa & Co nail polish in Nookie!

Nookie is a stunning shade of hot pink. It's actually a bit darker in person than shown here. But the best thing?? This is one coat with NO top coat!! If the entire Laqa line of polish is like this I am seriously hooked!

The promo code they included in my box might just be getting some major use! The code is good for $10 off $30.

The only product included in the box that wasn't full size was this. The Lise Watier Ombre Souffle Supreme eyeshadow. The card shows all 6 shades available in the souffles. I got samples of Sunrise Peach and Vert enchante (exactly the shades I would have chosen for myself). These are pretty awesome and really are whipped like souffle. They are so easy to apply with your fingertips. A little different than I expected but this is neither good or bad ... just different.

The small amount I used mostly just left a really shimmery hint of color behind. This gives me the idea that this small sample will last a long time for me.

And finally, here is the insert we skipped earlier of everything in the box, the retail value of each item, and the tips and tricks by Wantable stylists.

Ready to see how I used the products in this box? Plus some of my own products ...

I'm not a makeup artist or a model ... but I like it! :)

Products Used:

Dickinson's Witch Hazel: used to clean my face before anything else!

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

L'Oreal Infallible 24H Laquer Liner in Blackest Black: Yes, I use this before anything else (except my primer). I am far from an expert on liner, and I've been known to screw it up many times. It's just easier to clean up if I do screw up ... or use my eyeshadow to hide shaky lines.

Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color in Golden Copper: This is my all time favorite blush (as if you couldn't tell by the scratched and scraped container). It also lasts forever since it's so highly pigmented. It only needs a very small amount on a brush to add a blush of color to my cheeks. More in the winter hides the splotchiness from the cold perfectly too!

Lise Watier in Sunrise Peach and Vert enchante

Michael Marcus in Flawless (not shown): I used this on my brow bone and to blend the edges of the Souffle eyeshadow.

Revlon Lash Potion

Be a ... Bombshell in Taupeless

Manna Kadar Hi-Def Powder

I hope you enjoyed this box as much as I did. Thanks Wantable! :)

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*All products were sent to me for testing and review, completely complimentary, from Wantable. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Autumn/Winter 2013 Makeup Trends: Berry Ombre Lips

One thing that shouts autumn make up is red-wine stained lipstick. Check out my post from yesterday for my top berry lipstick picks! If you wanted to try a modern take on the trend this season, why not go for ombre lips? I first saw this look stamped onto lips at Kenneth Cole a/w '13. I love how easy this is to re-create. I wrote about this look in September's issue of Pure Beauty magazine (eekk!). I've added a photograph of my mini interview below so you can give this trend a go. I used Rimmel Kate Matte in 107 for the darker shade and Natural Collection in Crimson for the lighter lipstick. 

What do you think of berry ombre lips? Will you be giving this look a try for Autumn?

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