Pink Parcel – November Box 2016

So this month, Pink Parcel decided to treat us even further by creating a special box alongside Look Magazine!

Pink Parcel is a monthly subscription box which offers 3 dispatch dates for you to choose from, based on your time of the month so you can be sure to receive your box before your period is due. This box removes any and every monthly cycle worries you may have as you are able to choose your preferred brand of sanitary products so your box is specific to you. It is only £10.50 per month (postage is free) and you get your first box for £6.99!

As always, I received my period essentials for the month with the super cute drawstring bags. Although I have a tampon only subscription, I also received some pads for bedtime. I think this is a great addition to the box as it alleviates any fears during the night and you can have a peaceful sleep.

So onto the lifestyle and beauty products! For the first time, not everyone received the same products. Pink Parcel had 12 products available, of which everyone received 6 beauty/lifestyle goodies, tea and a sweet treat! I was excited to see what I would get.

1. First is the Seacret Ultimate Hair Trio, which consists of a sachet of Shampoo, Hair Mask and Hair Serum. All 3 products are specially formulated to restore moisture and revitalise your hair. Looking at the price for the full sized bottles (ranging from $39.99-$79.99), you can tell that Pink Parcel spoilt us with luxury!
2. A 50ml travel size bottle of Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish (full size RRP £18). This body polish exfoliates dead skin cells and helps to tone and reduce the appearance of cellulite. This smells fantastic while using and makes my skin so much more smoother and softer.
3. A mini bottle of  Ciate Mini Liquid Velvet in Diva (full size RRP £17). This lipstick is such a daring bold red and is now a staple of mine. The formula is smooth and doesn’t leave your lips dry even though it has a matte finish.
4. Next is a nail polish from Mavala in Basel (RRP £4.95). This polish is brown mushroom colour which is perfect for the season.
5. The last beauty product I received was a travel sized can of Batiste Coconut & Exotic Tropical dry shampoo (full size RRP £1.99). This is said to banishes oily roots, giving dull, lifeless hair the makeover it needs without any water. I personally don’t use dry shampoo so I cannot confirm its claims.
6. A sachet of Drink Me Spiced Chai Latte (full size RRP £2.50) which is an instant blend of aromatic spices with skimmed milk & sweetened black tea. It was perfect to sip on whilst reading my Look Magazine.
7. Lastly, I received a delicious bar of Ombar Strawberry Mylk (RRP £1.99) which is raw chocolate infused with strawberries and coconut cream. Not only tasty but healthy too!

You might have noticed that I mentioned everyone received 6 beauty/lifestyle products but I was unfortunate and only received 5….eek! Whilst, I am upset I missed out on another goodie I don’t particularly want to hassle Pink Parcel for one item. Regardless, this box was still great and I certainly won’t be cancelling my subscription any time soon.

L’Oreal – Pure Clay Masks

I was kindly sent three clay masks by L’Oreal from BzzAgent to review. I was really excited to get this opportunity as clay masks are the in thing at the moment and I have been looking for ways to improve my skin. Normally good quality face masks are really expensive and only on offer by specialist skin care brands but thankfully L’Oreal have saved us and offered a range on the high street.

L’Oreal launched three face masks which are designed to provide you with an at-home spa experience at a bargain price. All three masks retail for £7.99 which is great as each jar provides 10 applications. The packaging of these mask are very sleek and makes the masks look more expensive than they actually are.

Each of the masks tackle different skincare problems, therefore they have slightly different ingredients but they all contain 3 clays: kaolinite, montmorillonite, and ghassoul.

• L’Oreal Pure Clay Purity Mask (Green one): This mask is for those who have oily skin and it aims to purify and mattify the skin.  Besides the three variations of pure clay, it contains eucalyptus leaf extract to deep clean, purify, and remove excess oil without leaving your skin dry. This mask made my face feel so soft, I had to force myself to not stroke myself.
• L’Oreal Pure Clay Detox Mask (Black one): This mask is made for those with normal skin and it aims to remove dirt, oil and impurities from your pores. The varying ingredient in this mask is Charcoal which is currently a big trend in beauty and skincare products lately. This mask definitely made my skin feel cleaner but not stripped or dry.
• L’Oreal Pure Clay Glow Mask (Red one): This mask is aimed at those who suffer from dull looking skin. It aims to exfoliate the surface of your skin and illuminate your skin tone. This mask contains Red Algae which is known to provide anti-oxidants and brighten the skin. This was the only mask out of the three to have  a gritty texture which is for the exfoliation.This mask helped to reduce the appearance of my pores which provided a smoother appearance.

Surprisingly, considering the ingredients none of these masks had a bad or chemical smell. In fact, they all had a flowery scent which wasn’t overpowering. The masks are really easy and simple to use. I simply used my fingers to distribute the product as required onto my skin and they applied really smoothly.

I used all three of these masks individually and I found that they worked OK but not great. I realised that this is because I have combination skin, so whilst the masks worked well in some areas, they didn’t in others. As a result of this, I decided to to multi-mask by using all three masks at once in order to target the various problem areas on my face. My forehead can get really oily so I used the purity mask there, whilst my nose gets clogged with dirt so the detox mask was used and my cheeks often appear dull and dry so I used the glow mask there. I found that this worked perfectly and gave me a customised skincare treatment.

Overall, I truly like this range especially for multimasking. The masks are inexpensive, available on the high street and really easy to use…what more could you ask for? I will definitely be adding all three masks (combination skin problems!) to my skincare regime as they work wonders for me.

I am a member of BzzAgent, and get products to try and give feedback on – all opinions expressed are solely my own.

Pink Parcel – July Box 2016

It’s that time of the month, which I am actually excited about. Bizarre isn’t it? Well, Pink Parcel definitely makes the idea of Aunt Flow coming seem ok.

Pink Parcel is a monthly subscription box which offers 3 dispatch dates for you to choose from, based on your time of the month so you can be sure to receive your box before your period is due. This box removes any and every monthly cycle worries you may have as you are able to choose your preferred brand of sanitary products so your box is specific to you. It is only £10.50 per month (postage is free) and you get your first box for £6.95! Be sure to read about what was inside my June box.

I was a bit worried when I received my box this month as the seal was broken (as shown in the picture above). Luckily, the products inside my box weren’t tampered with and nothing was missing.

As always, I received my period essentials for the month with the super cute drawstring bags. Although I have a tampon only subscription, I also received some pads for bedtime. I think this is a great addition to the box as it alleviates any fears during the night and you can have a peaceful sleep.

So onto the lifestyle and beauty products, as per usual Pink Parcel sent some great goodies!

1. A full sized Bellapierre Gel Eye Liner in Ebony (RRP £14) which is amazing! The consistency is perfect and it applies really well. Furthermore, this gel liner is great for all types of weather as it is smudge-proof and waterproof….what more could you ask for?
2. Continuing with beauty, I received a Jelly Pong Pong Supercharged Eyeshadow Duo in Lightning (RRP £17.95). The shades are gold and charcoal  so it would be perfect for a smokey eye look. They are both highly pigmented and appear to be long-lasting.
3. A beyond beautiful pair of Vintage Cosmetic Company Slanted Rose Gold Tweezers (RRP £8). Firstly, I really needed a new pair of tweezers and secondly this was an exclusive launch in this month’s Pink Parcel. They aren’t yet available to purchase so that made me feel even more special (thanks Pink Parcel!). Because of this exclusive launch, I also received a little Vintage Cosmetic Company nail file with a 20% discount code for their website.
4. As you know, I have a love for nail polish so I was happy to see Lottie London Polish in Rainy Days (RRP £5.99). This is a lovely nude brown colour that I cannot wait to try out.
5. Continuing with nail and hand care, there was a Patisserie De Bain Hand Cream in Strawberry Cream (RRP £3.99). This cream smells utterly delicious and left my hands feeling soft and moisturised.
6. Pink Parcel were kind enough to ensure my feet also get moisturised by sending a a 15ml sachet of Freeman Bare Foot Lavender & Mint Foot Cream (RRP £1.50). This cream keeps you feet soft, moisturised and fresh which is essential now that the sun is out. The only negative to this cream is that the packet isn’t resealable but there is enough for multiple uses so it might go to waste.
7. There was chocolate this month!!! Well…kind of! A pack of Bahlsen Choco Leibniz biscuits were included this month. Even though they were slightly melted, they tasted delicious!
8. Last but certainly not least is a luxurious La Via Del Te Tisana Sweet Relax Tea bag . This tea is sold in Harrods and has a  sweet natural flavour of wild strawberry.

Again, another fantastic box from Pink Parcel. It is great that they are consistent with the quality of their boxes. I think this is the best subscription box around at the moment as it definitely caters to every female.

Pink Parcel – June Box 2016

Pink Parcel is a monthly subscription box which offers 3 dispatch dates for you to choose from, based on your time of the month so you can be sure to receive your box before your period is due. This box removes any and every monthly cycle worries you may have as you are able to choose your preferred brand of sanitary products so your box is specific to you. It is only £10.50 per month (postage is free) and you get your first box for £6.95! Be sure to read about what was inside my April box.

From my previous posts, you might have gathered that Pink Parcel care a lot about their customers. As a result of some recent customer feedback, they have made some small changes to the boxes. There will no longer be any SASS feminine products, there will be less sanitary products (to be fair, I was collecting enough tampons to open my own shop!) and the price has reduced to £10.50!!!

Furthermore, this box featured an apology from Pink Parcel because the colour of the box was slightly darker than previous boxes! I personally didn’t even notice because I was too excited and focused on opening the box. This just shows how much they care about the quality of the boxes.

As usual, I received my period essentials for the month with the super cute drawstring bags. Although I have a tampon only subscription, I also received some pads for bedtime. I think this is a great addition to the box as it alleviates any fears during the night and you can have a peaceful sleep.

So onto the lifestyle and beauty products, as per usual Pink Parcel sent some great goodies!

1. A full sized Model Co Power Lash Mascara (RRP £24) which has now become one of my favourite mascaras! This mascara promises to lengthen your lashes with its unique formula and non clumping applicator brush. It definitely fulfills its promises!
2. A Bubble T macaroon lip balm (RRP £10 for a set of 5)in lemongrass and green tea. I have not used any Bubble T products before but the packaging of this lip balm is really cute. It is really moisturising and left my lips feeling soft and smooth.
3. As mentioned before, I love scented candles so I was happy to see a White Jasmine scented Wax Melt from Imperial Candles (RRP £1.99). As an extra gift, 10 random subscribers will receive a wax melt with a piece of jewellery in it. Unless the jewellery is embedded in the middle of the melt, I don’t think I was one of those lucky subscribers.
4. Purifying facial wash and matte finish moisturising cream by Amie Naturally Kind  (RRP £1) which are the perfect size to take on holiday or a quick weekend away.
5. Continuing with face care, a Star Glow  Ooharr  Face Mask (RRP £1.50) which aims to cleanse and revitalise skin – leaving it soft, smooth, supple and radiant by its mixture of natural ingredients and natural clay  to detoxify skin and draw out impurities.
6. I am not the best at nail art but Pink Parcel have my back by including a pack of NPW Halo Nail Stickers & Gems (RRP £1.50).
7. Bandzee hair bands (RRP £4.95) are revolutionary hair bands. Made from super-soft elastic trim, they prevent any tugging, snapping or hair breakage. They can even be worn as bracelets.
8. No chocolate this month unfortunately but still a treat, Joe & Sephs Gourmet Salted Caramel Popcorn. 
9. Last but not least, a Tea Shed Emergency Tea Teabag which wasn’t a fancy flavour like previous boxes just simple English Breakfast but delicious nonetheless.

Overall, it is great to see that Pink Parcel take their customer service really seriously and have shown that they listen to their customers. The products were great this month, so the reduced price didn’t affect the quality of the box. In fact, for £10.50 it has incredible value!

If you want to know more about Pink Parcel, check out their website: http://www.pinkparcel.co.uk 

Getting Summer time fine with the help of my Dolphin Pro Fitness Tracker Watch

It has taken me a while to review this fitness watch as I wanted to use it in it’s full capacity to give it an honest and unbiased review. The spec of this fitness tracker watch is quite similar to the more expensive branded ones like Apple and Fitbit.

The watch came in a plastic box with a small set of instructions which were very informative and useful and a magnetic charger. Before you use the watch, it is recommended to charge it for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

The watch is small and neat. It has two pins as a clasp so you can adjust the size according to your wrist size. Because of this, the watch can fit a really small wrist all the way up to a large one so one size literally fits all. I find this feature perfect because when I am exercising, the watch doesn’t irritate me by sliding up and down my arm. It can initially be a bit fiddly to do but you get used to it and manage to find a way to pop it on. This watch is waterproof so you don’t have to fuss around with taking it off for your shower.

I have tried a couple of fitness tracker watches before and I have to say that this one in particular is simply flawless when it comes to setting up. All I had to do was simply download the app called “Smart Band” and I was able to instantly connect my phone to the watch via bluetooth. This app is available in the Apple app store and the Google Play store so it is compatible with Apple and Android phones. All you have to do is open up the app then select devices on the menu. It will then display the available devices that you can connect to. When you select your watch, it automatically updates with the date and time. Once synced, the watch can access any previous data your phone holds regarding fitness and it will display charts of your fitness progress.

The watch display is a great size and isn’t too bulky. The screen is just the right size to show the details that you need to see without it affecting your wrist movements or looking too masculine so it is great for men and women. The screen is touchscreen and really responsive so doesn’t require any harsh taps. There is also a gesture function available, so when you turn your wrist, the watch lights up and displays the time.

The features of this watch are great. It tracks how many steps I have done, calories burned, distance & time I have spent on fitness throughout each day. At night time, it tracks my sleep and breaks it down into the amount of hours of deep & light sleep I have had. I am also able to set daily goals that I wish to achieve. This is a great benefit to help me get healthier as I can gradually increase my goals. Additionally, if I have been sitting down for too long, the watch vibrates as a friendly reminder/ nudge to get up and get fit.

My favourite feature of this watch and the app is that you can add other users as friends on the app so that you can see their stats and compete against them. I find that this feature motivates me to work out even harder.

Besides fitness, the watch also shows and vibrates when you receive a text message, a phone call or any social media message and it also says what the notification is for and from on the screen. The watch also syncs really well with the alarms you have set on your phone via the app. When your alarm goes off, the watch vibrates quite a bit to ensure it wakes you and grabs your attention.

In terms of battery life, it is advertised on Amazon as lasting a week but I have to say that it performs much better than that. I believe the battery life reduced by roughly 4-5% a day! Furthermore, it charges really quickly. It takes less than half an hour to charge it to half the battery capacity which is awesome. The charge is fantastic as well, as it is small enough to pop into your pocket or handbag. It is magnetic so it “clips” onto the back of the watch and it is a USB lead so you can attach it to a traditional plug, your car or computer.

I really like this watch and would recommend it to anyone who wants to track their fitness but don’t want to spend too much money. This does exactly what it says it will. According to the user manual, the watch comes in a variety of colours so if you wanted a bright coloured one then you could get one. It would be great if you could swap the straps of the watch but at least it is black and will match with everything.

I will be wearing this smartwatch continuously to help with my fitness and weight loss, Dolphin Pro did an excellent job with this watch.

I love Pink Parcel…..

As you may know, I have subscribed to Pink Parcel which is a monthly subscription box which caters to your all your period needs. From sanitary products to chocolate and other little pick me ups, Pink Parcel has you covered.

I have done a few reviews on my Pink Parcel boxes but what truly makes me love Pink Parcel is their customer service!

In March, Pink Parcel gave their website a face lift and it now looks awesome! As a result of this, all of their customers had to re-enter their payment details. Now I had a bit of difficulty locating the payment details area of the site but I really didn’t want to miss out on getting my April box.

I sent an email to their customer services and I received a really friendly response from Jacqueline. She didn’t make me feel stupid at all (thank God!). She was able to direct me to the correct area of the website and she kindly amended my shipment date so that I wouldn’t miss my April box.

Unfortunately, it is now 9th May and I haven’t my April Pink Parcel box. I have seen Instagram pics and Twitter posts about how great it is and I’ve been brewing with jealousy. I sent an email to Pink Parcel‘s customer service team at 09:15am and received a prompt apologetic response from Elle at 09:27am!

She was kind enough to send me a free April box today, so it should be with me soon and she assured me that I would receive my May box on time too.

Now Pink Parcel do not know who I am personally, so their kindness was not because I write blog posts about them. It is simply how they are as a company and I think that is pretty awesome! The best customer service I have received from beginning to end!

P.S – Look out for the April Pink Parcel review soon!

Fruity Water – My taste buds need excitement

So everyone pretty much knows that drinking water is great for your mind, body and skin. If you have forgotten the benefits, here is a refresher:

• The body is composed of 60% water so drinking water helps to maintain the natural balance of body fluids.
• Water is a natural weight loss aid.
• Dehydrated skin tends to look tired so drinking a lot of water can reduce the appearance of dry and wrinkled skin.
• Water helps to flush away waste and toxins from the body.
• 75% of brain tissue is water.

The list of benefits is endless so it’s a given that water should be an important factor in your diet.

I am terrible with my water intake; I very rarely drink it unless I feel extremely dehydrated. As much as I should be lucky to have such easy access to clean water, I don’t like the “taste” of water. I know I know, water doesn’t have a taste per-se but for as long as I can remember, I’ve never liked the taste or lack of one shall I say.It is such a plain beverage and my taste buds need some excitement!

Quite a few of my friends who are gym fanatics have fruit infused water bottles and they have been going on about how good they are, so I decided to try it for myself.

Strawberries & red grapes

I found this water infuser bottle on Amazon and loved it! I loved the colour of the bottle, it is a nice vibrant purple which is quite eye-catching and strangely enough, made me feel positive about drinking water.  The bottle is a really nice size as it holds 800ml of water and isn’t too big or bulky. The fruit holder inside the bottle is also a good size as you can fit blocks of fruit in it without having to cut them down into small chunks.

Lemon & Lime

After a few variations of fruit flavours, I can confidently say that I really enjoy drinking water now….shock shock horror! My fruit infused water bottle allows me to reap the benefits of drinking water whilst savouring the subtle and refreshing fruit flavours.

It is really easy to make  fruit infused water. You simply cut up some fresh fruit of your choice and put it into a bottle with some water then leave it to infuse for around 4 hours in the fridge. To get a stronger flavour, you should leave the water to infuse overnight. However, I have found that with citrus fruits like lemons, the flavour is naturally strong so you can taste it in your water almost instantly.

Lemons!

I am a bit of a plain Jane as my favourite infused water flavour is lemon (yes, I’ve realised that I was complaining about plain water not too long ago, lol). It is really refreshing and flavoursome. Additionally, lemons have their own benefits such as cleansing the liver, improving digestion and they nourish brain and nerve cells due to their potassium content.

If you hate drinking water or you just need to drink more, I definitely recommend getting a fruit infuser water bottle. I now drink a minimum of 2 bottles a day which is 1.6 litres. A stark difference to going months without any water at all!

 

Pink Parcel – February Box

There are tonnes of subscription boxes available these days and it can quite overwhelming trying to decide which one to sign up for. I can firmly say that I am rubbish at doing make-up so the majority of beauty boxes didn’t appeal to me but I knew I wanted a monthly treat! Upon further research, I discovered Pink Parcel.

For practically every woman, we tend to dread that time of the month but Pink Parcel have decided to change that and make it a positive by sending you your preferred sanitary essentials and a few extra surprises to make you smile! These can be anything from health products to beauty products.

Pink Parcel offer 3 dispatch dates for you to choose from, based on your time of the month so you can be sure to receive your box before your period is due. This box literally removes any monthly cycle worries you may have as you are able to choose your preferred brand of sanitary products so your box is specific to you. It is only £12.95 per month (postage is free) and you get your first box for £9.95!

Upon opening my box, I was excited because there were more boxes inside! It made me feel like a child at Christmas with lots of presents, I couldn’t wait to see what was inside each box.

The first thing I noticed was a a full sized product! It was SASS Intimate Soothe & Smooth Shave Gel (RRP £10) which had a great quote on the box might I add!

This is a crystal clear shaving gel for your pubic area. It’s formula was designed to reduce ingrown hairs and protect you from razor bumps and irritation. This is beyond a decent sized goody to get from Pink Parcel. I haven’t tried it yet but I will definitely post a review about it once I do.

The next thing I opened was a little drawstring bag which said “for now” on it.

 Inside were sanitary towels and tampons. This is such a cute little bag as I can pop it into my handbag for when I am on the go. If you’re like me, I tend to forget that I am on my period for the first day and end up having to buy extra tampons whilst out.

Following on with the theme, I opened up a thin box which said “for later” on it.

This box was literally FILLED with tampons! It was definitely all I needed to get through this month’s cycle without having to purchase more tampons. Besides my essentials, there was a pack of Tampon Disposal Bags by Fab Little Bag (RRP £1.99). These are great for putting into your bag as well especially with the cute design on the packaging. They are also big enough to use for panty liners which is a bonus!

By the time I got to the last box, I had begun to feel a lot like Alice in Wonderland! This box said “for you” on it.

This box had goodies galore! In total, there were 8 items to cater to your beauty or lifestyle needs.

1.  A travel sized bottle (75ml) of Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner which made me really happy as it is my favourite conditioner.  This conditioner promises to revitalise dry and damaged hair by locking in moisture and protecting your hair from the elements. I can confirm that Aussie definitely fulfills its promises!
2. A beyond cute mini photo frame by Sass & Belle in my favourite colour, red. This frame is perfect to have on my desk at work  with a picture of my smiling daughter.
3. Speaking of my daughter, she absolutely loved the Pink Parcel lavender scented eye mask, and so did I. It smells lovely and immediately made me feel relaxed when I went to bed that night. I don’t think I’ve fallen asleep so easily and quickly before!
4. A sample sachet of Merumaya Melting Cleansing balm and Youth Serum which is like TLC in a little packet. They both feel so lavish when you put them on your skin. They left my face feeling smooth and extremely soft.
5. A travel sized rollerball sample of Sweet Lullaby Soothing Body & Massage Oil by Lola’s Apothecary. This oil is 100% natural and can be used for multiple purposes such as a cleanser, moisturiser, stretch mark treatment and massage oil. It smells heavenly! It is a comforting scent made of Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Sweet Orange, Patchouli and Vanilla.
6. Tasty Rainbows & Whirlwinds Energising Tea by Lola’s Apothecary. This tea is a herbal blend of Green Yerba Mate, Ginseng, Gingko, Nettle, Spearmint and Lemongrass. When I read that the tea was a “a refreshing minty citrus flavour”, I was a bit apprehensive to try it. I am glad I did eventually make a brew because it is delicious! The flavour is strong (in a good way) and the ingredients compliment each other.
7. A piece of delicious Double Trouble Chocolate Fudge from Fudge Kitchen.  I only managed to get a small bite of this before my daughter wolfed it down! From the little bit I did have, I was in chocolate heaven.

Overall, for my first box from Pink Parcel I was thoroughly impressed! My favourite gift in the box was the body oil by Lola’s Apothecary. The concept of the box is great and actually works really well. It is also great value for money, I don’t think I have come across a subscription box which offers so many products for such a good price.

As I said before, I am not into make-up as much as other women so the typical beauty box doesn’t appeal to me. Pink Parcel have created a box that is bound to appeal to every woman. There are beauty items, lifestyle items and even food…what more could you possibly want?

For once, I actually can’t wait for my next period to come…weird, I know! If you want to know more about Pink Parcel, check out their website: http://www.pinkparcel.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil Pulling with Minty Coco

I have heard so many great things about oil pulling but the idea of swishing oil in my mouth never appealed to me. That is, until I noticed my friend’s extremely white teeth and asked what toothpaste she had been using. She happily told me that she had started oil pulling so I immediately looked into it. To be honest, when it comes to cheap beauty trends, I am always happy to give it a go at least once.

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that requires you to swish a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for around 15 – 20 minutes. This is meant to remove the toxins in your body, primarily to improve oral health but also to improve your overall health. The reported benefits of oil pulling are whiter teeth, prevention of cavities, stronger teeth, healthier gums, fresh breath and surprisingly, improvement in skin problems and headaches.

After researching, I was pretty much sold, so I was happy to find this Minty Coco kit.

Minty Coco

It arrived in a really nice and professional looking box with 14 sachets of oil (enough for 2 weeks use) and an information booklet. The booklet was really useful as it explained the ingredients, how to use the product and it had some FAQs.

The sachets are really great as they can be easily taken with you anywhere due to their size. They fit perfectly in your hand so if you need to warm up the oil, it is really easy to do so and the rip off feature was really simple. One thing to note, if you haven’t warmed the oil enough in your hands, it can be a bit difficult to fit the oil through the small hole. Coconut oil is a solid at room temperature but a little bit of warmth easily melts it.

So how do you oil pull? You empty the contents of the Minty Coco tube into your mouth and swish it around your mouth like you would with mouthwash. I would advise that you do it slowly and gently because you have to do it for 15 minutes. You don’t want to end up with a stiff achy jaw. Also, be sure to spit the oil into some tissue and throw it in the bin as it will block your drains if you spit it down the sink.

The first time I used the oil was very weird and strange! The sensation of the oil in my mouth was bewildering but I got used to it. It did feel a bit gross at first and made my tongue feel icky. I am not a fan of even eating oily food as it makes me feel sick but the mint flavouring really helped me to keep the oil in my mouth for 15 minutes. At first your jaw does get really tired as 15 minutes is quite a long time but over time, it gets easier. I find that doing it whilst in the shower makes it easy to forget that I have oil in my mouth.

I preferred oil pulling at night as I had the 15 minutes to spare and I enjoyed going to bed with an extra minty fresh mouth.

Since using this product (7 days) I have to say that my teeth have actually become slightly brighter and I have faith that with continuous use, they will be noticeably white. According to my boyfriend, I have been waking up with pleasant morning breath so that is definitely a plus (haha). I also tend to suffer from sensitive teeth whenever I eat something sweet. My dentist has said that my teeth do not product enough fluoride. Since I have been oil pulling, I have not had a sensitivity issue so I can enjoy eating chocolate again.

Some people will say that £20 is very expensive for this kit but I actually think it’s worth it. I know a few people who spend hundreds on salon whitening so I would definitely recommend this kit plus it is natural so not harmful to your teeth at all.This kit is also cheaper than others that I have seen.

A lot of reviews that I have read about oil pulling talk about taking a tablespoon of oil and putting that in your mouth but as I previously mentioned, I hate the taste of oil so having a flavoured oil is perfect for me!

If you’re interested in trying the latest health and beauty fad, you can purchase the kit on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oil-Pulling-Kit-Formulated/dp/B016L0Y4CW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_121_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51oXBXiK1yL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1VE9H9K9MJKBB675AH4D

 

Fitness Tracker Watch

I have been determined to get fit and track my progress this year so in order to motivate myself, I decided to purchase a fitness tracker watch. The spec of this fitness tracker watch is quite similar to the more expensive branded ones so I was happy to make this purchase. It arrived quite quickly which was great as I could get to work straight away.

The fitness tracker watch connects to your smart phone wirelessly via Bluetooth and transmits the data to your mobile through an app called Zeroner. This app is available in the Apple app store and the Google Play store so it is compatible with Apple and Android phones.

The watch came in a plastic box with a small set of instructions which were translated into various languages. Before you use the watch, it is recommended to charge it for at least 30 minutes.

Once you download the Zeroner app it is really easy to setup even if you aren’t tech savvy. All you have to do is open up the app then select devices on the menu. It will then display the available devices that you can connect to. When you select your watch, it automatically updates with the date and time.

The watch is a great size and isn’t too bulky. The screen is just the right size to show the details that you need to see without it affecting your wrist movements or looking masculine. The screen is touchscreen and really responsive so doesn’t require any harsh taps. There is also a gesture function available, so when you turn your wrist, the watch lights up and displays the time.

The features of this watch are great. It tracks how many steps I have done, calories burned, distance & time I have spent on fitness throughout each day. At night time, it tracks my sleep and breaks it down into the amount of hours of deep & light sleep I have had. I am also able to set daily goals that I wish to achieve. This is a great benefit to help me get healthier as I can gradually increase my goals. Additionally, if I have been sitting down for too long, the watch vibrates as a friendly reminder/ nudge to get up and get fit.

Besides fitness, the watch also shows and vibrates when you receive a text message, a phone call or any social media message and it also says what the notification is for and from on the screen. The watch also syncs really well with the alarms you have set on your phone via the app. When your alarm goes off, the watch vibrates quite a bit to ensure it wakes you and grabs your attention.

In terms of battery life, I have had this watch for 5 days now and I haven’t needed to charge it yet so I would say that is pretty good considering the amount of data it is dealing with.

The only negative for me is that the app isn’t the best and could do with a face lift but that can be easily fixed and doesn’t affect the functionality of the watch.

I really like this watch and would recommend it to anyone who wants to track their fitness but don’t want to spend too much money. This does exactly what it says it will.

If you want to give this fitness tracker a go, you can purchase it here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0192KPYCW?ref_=cm_cr-mr-title