Showing posts with label wellbeing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellbeing. Show all posts

Bedtime Routine with Nourish London | Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask & Sleepy Pillow Mist review

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Nourish London Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask & Sleepy Pillow Mist review

These two additions to my bedtime beauty routine from Nourish London make an excellent team for getting a good night's sleep and gorgeous glowing skin come the morning. Now if only they could stop the alarm clock from going off so early...

Regular readers will know how much of a fan I am of Nourish, and guess what? These two featured products are actually a re-discovery of old favourities from the brand. For those who are new to these parts, Nourish is a particularly lovely natural and organic skincare brand based in London with vegan and cruelty-free accreditations.  There's a lot to love from this company so feel free to check out my previous reviews and feature on Nourish here

For now, though, let's take a closer look at two of their bestsellers that you can add to your bedtime beauty routine; the Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask and Sleepy Pillow Mist.


Nourish London Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask & Sleepy Pillow Mist review
Nourish London Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask* (30ml, £26, link)

When I'm winding down for the evening and have some spare time on my hands, I love to indulge in a proper pampering skincare session. Think of a deep cleanse, a good facial massage, and of course, a luxury treatment to really get those relaxing spa-at-home vibes going. 

Nourish's Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask is a nutrient-rich, anti-aging face mask that delivers all the probiotic minerals that your skin needs to help repair itself and to support a healthy skin barrier against the elements. This award-winning treatment boasts ingredients such as Magnesium to calm down any inflammation and redness, whilst Zinc, Copper, and Iron helps to further repair and protect. Damask Rose and Lavender are also included to boost collagen, restore firmness and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The inbuilt pump makes applying this mask super easy and I like to apply a generous layer all over, avoiding the eye area. This mask gets to work in just five minutes before it's rinsed off with a warm flannel and it doubles up as an intensive overnight treatment that you can leave on while you sleep if your skin requires more TLC.
 
Nourish London Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask & Sleepy Pillow Mist review
Nourish London Sleepy Pillow Mist* (100ml, £20, link)

As a chronic insomniac, I'm a bit addicted to pillow sprays and always have to use one to help me to drift off to sleep. I've tried pretty much every one out there on the market and often come back to Nourish's Sleepy Pillow Mist as it's very effective. 

This is a beautiful aromatherapy blend of nine carefully chosen essential oils, all famed for their calming and soothing properties such as Frankincense, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Rose, Geranium, and of course, the most famous sleepy essential oil of them all, Lavender. There's also the addition of Epsom Salts which are rich in Magnesium; great for reducing stress, all wrapped up in an alcohol-free mist.

To use, simply spritz a few times over your pillow and bedding before going to sleep and breathe in the relaxing scent to help you to unwind.

Discover more at nourishskinrange.com

What products are in your bedtime beauty routine?

Modern Aromatherapy | This Works Love Sleep Breathe In & Stress Check Breathe Out Rollerballs review

Tuesday, 4 April 2023

This Works Love Sleep Breathe In & Stress Check Breathe Out Rollberballs review

Aromatherapy rollerballs are something that I often carry in my handbag when I'm out and about, and they're equally handy to have in your desk drawer/office space for those times when you need a moment of peace and calm. On the flip side, more of us are turning to aromatherapy use in the bedroom as well, which showcases the versatility of these natural essential oils, and the effects that they can have on our moods and emotions.

There are a number of British brands that specialise in aromatherapy rollerballs as part of their wider well-being ranges, and there's quite fun to make yourself as well (Youtube and TikTok have plenty of how-to's on this for anyone who fancies the DIY route). However, if you'd prefer the easy 'add to basket' option, here are two of my faves from This Works.


This Works Love Sleep Breathe In & Stress Check Breathe Out Rollberballs review
For The Bedroom Try: This Works Love Sleep Breathe In Rollerball* (8ml, £21)

Alongside scented candles, aromatherapy rollerballs are fast becoming a discreet must-have in the bedroom for consumers who are looking for an all-natural product to help them switch off and unwind so that they can reset their mood for intimacy. This Works Love Sleep range is certainly leading the way in this area with its unique 'Love Sleep' blend of essential oils which includes Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, and Frankincense. 

Tested on panel members, it's become popular thanks to its ability to help people to relax, unwind and feel more calm, whilst the sensual blend can get you in the mood for sex. Apply to your wrists and breathe in to feel the effects - it's great to incorporate as part of a pre-bedtime ritual.  

This Works Love Sleep Breathe In & Stress Check Breathe Out Rollberballs review
For The Office Try: This Works Stress Check Breathe Out Rollerball* (8ml, £19)

Whilst the root causes of major stress need to be addressed by a medical professional such as your GP or a mental health nurse, milder symptoms or 'moments of stress' can be somewhat easier to deal with, especially if they are related to an important meeting at work or an approaching project deadline. For these times, This Works Stress Check Breathe Out Rollerball may be able to give you a little bit of aromatherapy support so that you can get back in control of these stressful times that arise.

I'm a natural worrier as well, so I find this range to be very useful. The expert blend of Ylang Ylang, Neroli, and Lavender is wonderfully calming, and there's something about just taking a moment out of your busy schedule to apply this to your pulse points and focus on your breathing for 5-10 minutes, which really helps to calm the mind. 

Discover these products and more at thisworks.com

Do you use aromatherapy rollerballs?

Health & Lifestyle | NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser review

Tuesday, 14 March 2023

NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser review

Essential oil diffusers are one of the biggest must-have items for home offices, and it feels like every well-being brand on the planet has their own version that they are currently promoting. Prices can vary dramatically across the board, so I thought I'd feature one of the UK's bestsellers that is available for a more affordable price; the NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser.

Why Are Essential Oil Diffusers So Popular Right Now?
There are many reasons, but the main one appears to be that a lot of people who began working from home for the first time during Covid back in 2020 are still doing so. In fact, I've had countless conversations with brands and PRs that have discussed this huge lifestyle change that's occurred since the pandemic, and in fact, estate agents are also reporting that more people than ever are looking for an additional room in a potential new home that they can easily turn into an office space.

The rise of freelancers and side hustlers has boomed too as people seek new ways to increase their incomes, and thus products that help to boost productivity at home, or simply enhance our home working environment in some way, are selling incredibly well. So the Essential Oil Diffuser is definitely having its moment! 


NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser review
What Do Essential Oil Diffusers Do?
It's all in the name; they diffuse essential oils into the air to fragrance your room, usually without the need for any water to be added. The latest models are all sleek, rechargeable, super easy to use, and have a simple on/off mechanism. 

NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser
The NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser ticks all of these boxes effortlessly and I absolutely love its minimal, elegant design. Perfect for smaller rooms such as home offices, bathrooms, etc, this diffuser can even be used in your car! It's beautifully travel-friendly too so if you're planning any weekends away, you can easily pop it into your luggage and you're good to go.

Using cold diffusion technology, the essential oils are converted into a micro fine vapour without using water or heat, so they can be released into the atmosphere for you to enjoy their benefits. Genius!

NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser review
NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser review
How To Use
Most essential oil diffusers are generally quite similar, but I'll give you a quick rundown on how the NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser works if this is the first time you've bought one.

First things first, charge your diffuser using the provided USB cable. I attach this to my wall plug phone charger as I find it charges faster than when plugged into your laptop. Let it fully charge up for 6 hours before using. 

Place it on a flat surface. As you can see above, there's an internal chamber that comes out of the diffuser and this is where you insert your chosen bottle of essential oil that you'd like to diffuse. The NEOM Pod Mini is so easy; you simply push in the button on the bottom and hey presto, the chamber pops up at the top for you to take out. Unscrew to attach the essential oil bottle and pop it back into the diffuser. NEOM has even included an essential oil opener in the box which makes the task even faster to do.

NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser review
On the top of the diffuser, you'll find the on/off button to the right and to the left, there's a button where you can control the intensity with three bars next to it. Press it until you reach the desired intensity; one bar is the lowest and three bars is the highest. That's it! Sit back and enjoy the essential oil scent.

Overall Thoughts
The NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser is a small, but mighty modern device that requires no water to be added; just put in your chosen essential oil blend, switch it on and relax. The sleek design is very chic (the shade pictured is called Nude) and the rechargeable aspect allows the device to be placed anywhere without the need for any messy cables. Once fully charged, the Pod Mini is good to go for up to 50 hours and covers up to 60 square meters. I'm really happy with its performance and would definitely recommend it for small rooms and spaces.

P.S: Do I Have To Use NEOM Essential Oils?
NEOM recommend that you only use their essential oils (of course), however, I have tested this diffuser with a variety of other brands' oils and the results are the same. Though it's always good to point out that if you use another brand's essential oils, you risk invalidating your warranty should anything go awry, so I'll leave this up to you to decide!

NEOM Wellbeing Pod Mini Essential Oil Diffuser* retails for £55 - neomorganics.com

Have you bought an essential oil diffuser?

Health & Lifestyle: The Fine Bedding Co - De-Stress Biocrystal Bedding for a Better Night's Sleep - One Month Trial Review

Tuesday, 7 June 2022

 

The Fine Bedding Co - Crystal Bedding review
Searching for a new solution to help you to get that good night's sleep that you desperately need? Why not try the De-Stress Biocrystal range from The Fine Bedding Co?

Insomnia has plagued my life since I was about 11 or 12 years old. I've always been a poor sleeper and have found that it's unfortunately gotten worse the older that I get due to the stresses and worries of modern-day life. This perhaps explains why I'm willing to try literally anything to get a good night's sleep! 

In addition to a consistent sleep hygiene routine, I've had some good successes with a number of different products and techniques; from taking specialist supplements, using natural aromatherapy products, to interviewing wellbeing experts for their best-ever sleep tips. 

However, trying out bedding that has been designed to help you de-stress, is a first for me and as I'm always keen to try something new, I couldn't wait to try out these two products from The Fine Bedding Co.

The Fine Bedding Co - Crystal Bedding review
What is the De-Stress Biocrystal range?
This specialist sleep range combines 16 different crystals to bring about an innovation of nature, science, and technology to help promote good quality sleep. A mixture of crystal powder is immersed into the actual fabric of this bedding via the geometric printed pattern that you can see above - how cool is that?! 

These sleep crystals are carefully chosen for their unique benefits to calm your heartbeat, slow down rapid breathing, relax muscle tensions and reduce stress, thus helping you to get a good night's sleep. 

Does it work with my usual bedding?
Yes. Radiating up to a distance of 50cm, the patented Biocrystal technology works through bedding so there's no need to purchase anything else.

Do Crystals Work?
It's not an area that has had much scientific evidence backing it, however, The Fine Bedding Co report the following stats on their website which will be of interest to any prospective customers:-
  • 45% of users experienced decreased pain
  • 53% reported better body circulation
  • 76% of users had an overall improved night’s sleep

I tested out the De-Stress Biocrystal Sustainable Cotton Pillow(£35) and the De-Stress Biocrystal Sustainable Mattress Protector(double size, £77.50) over the course of a month to note down my findings. First up, the high quality of both of these items is fantastic. The materials used are luxurious and the cotton is sustainably sourced, so if you're simply looking for a new pillow and a mattress protector, I would recommend them purely based on that aspect alone.

The Fine Bedding Co - Crystal Bedding review
My Thoughts
I opted for the double-sized Mattress Protector which fitted perfectly and has a lovely, softly padded protective layer. The matching Pillow utilises the same materials with plump Smartfil Microfibres and a soft cotton cover. I particularly loved the Pillow as it was described as 'medium', which meant it was both comfortable and supportive. As normal, I used my usual bedding over the top of both of these and noticed that it didn't 'feel' any different - the geometric pattern that you see above is completely flat and not raised as it may appear.

As I snuggled into bed that first night, I was feeling pretty good after having a relatively relaxed day, and I slept well and woke up feeling refreshed. As the month progressed, I had a number of particularly stressful situations to deal with, and I have to admit that on some nights, I tossed and turned for hours as insomnia reared its ugly head. However, I did experience a higher number of good sleep nights in my sleep journal than the previous month, so I have been wondering whether it's due to the crystals or the softer and cozier feel of my bed? What do you think?

Shop the De-Stress Biocrystal range at finebedding.co.uk

New In Beauty: Tisserand Nature Spa Range - Uplifting Mandarin & May Chang Hand Cream and Hand & Body Soap review

Tuesday, 8 March 2022

 

Earlier this year, Tisserand released their brand new Nature Spa Bath & Body Collection so if you're in the mood for some self-care pampering at home, this is the range for you!


For those who aren't familiar with Tisserand, they are one of the UK's leading natural wellbeing brands with a vast range of aromatherapy-based products. Based in the beautiful countryside of West Sussex, Tisserand has become hugely popular, and I just love exploring all of the different essential oil blends that they have to offer. 


The new Nature Spa Bath & Body Collection has something for everyone and I was very kindly sent a Hand & Body Soap and Hand Cream from my personal favourite fragrance; the Uplifting Mandarin & May Chang.


Starting with the Tisserand Uplifting Mandarin & May Chang Hand Cream* (75ml, £12, link), this hand cream is a real pleasure to use thanks to its silky texture that is easily absorbed without any hint of greasiness. Packed with moisturising natural ingredients such as Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera, and Vitamin E rich Sunflower Seed Oil, it delivers instant hydration to dry hands and is something that I like to keep on my bedside table to remind myself to apply before going to sleep. Come the morning, my hands are so smooth and soft!

Another must-have in this new range is the matching Tisserand Uplifting Mandarin & May Chang Hand & Body Soap* (100g, £6.50, link). It's the ideal addition to your bathroom sink and a super-easy way to help reduce the amount of plastic that you use as this solid soap is simply packaged in a neat cardboard box. Embossed with the Tisserand logo and bursting with that gorgeous uplifting Mandarin & May Chang fragrance, this soap is enriched with moisturising Coconut Oil and Shea Butter to keep hands soft and supple throughout the day.

Shop the full range at tisserand.com

Have you used any products from Tisserand before?

Currently Loving: New Skincare, Bodycare and Wellbeing Favourites from Green People, The Somerset Toiletry Co, OSEA & Nudge Boutique

Tuesday, 1 June 2021

Here's my latest roundup of beauty favourites that have been winning me over recently from a lovely mix of established and independent brands. Have you tried any of these?

The New Wellbeing & Aromatherapy Range: Alexandra Kay for Green People - Time To Relax Essential Oil Blend* (10ml, £20, link)

I always get excited when there's a new Green People range launching and their latest release comes from the founder's daughter Alexandra Kay. This 100% natural, clean and eco-friendly line of pure Essential Oil Blends have been expertly blended by Alexandra and keeping with Green People's ethics, are also cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. 

There are three different blends to choose from to help your wellbeing and I was drawn to the Time To Relax blend which is composed of 10 carefully chosen essential oils to put you in a serene and tranquil mood. Top notes include Lemongrass, Sweet Orange, Bergamot and Lemon, with middle notes of calming Lavender, Basil and Geranium, all layered over a base of soothing Vetivert, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli and Frankincense. It's wonderfully relaxing with a sweet floral aroma and can be used in diffusers, in the bath or why not create your own bedtime sleep spray with it?

The Alexandra Kay range donates 10% of net profits to The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK. The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK (EDS UK) is a small UK charity whose work improves the quality of life for people living with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) – a group of genetic connective tissue disorders that affect the whole body.

The New Affordable Luxury Treat: The Somerset Toiletry Co Naturally European Verbena Luxury Hand Wash* (500ml, £7.95, link)

Last month, I had the pleasure of being introduced to The Somerset Toiletry Co. Although not strictly a natural beauty brand, they are certified cruelty-free and vegan-friendly so I wanted to include them as an affordable alternative to the kinds of brands that I usually feature on here. 

I absolutely love the fresh and uplifting fragrance of their Naturally European Verbena Luxury Hand Wash which comes in a huge 500ml pump bottle and looks rather stylish next to the bathroom sink. Not only is it infused with Lemon Peel and Verbena Leaf extracts, but it also feels moisturising so you can give your hands a little TLC every time you wash them without worrying about them becoming dry or chapped later on.

The New Anti-Ageing/Stretchmarks Body Oil: OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil* (150ml, $48, link)

If you haven't heard of OSEA before, they are a luxury natural and organic skincare brand based in sunny Malibu, USA. This Californian family-run business has been up and running since 1996 and have quickly established itself as a coveted clean, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free company that specialise in skin and body care that's inspired by the sea. 

I was delighted to try out their bestselling Undaria Algae Body Oil which is a truly one-of-a-kind type of product thanks to the addition of its key ingredient, Undaria Seaweed. This seaweed is hand-harvested and left to soak in barrels of oil for up to six months before it's turned into this sublime Body Oil. Blended with Acai, Babassu, Passionfruit, and Seasame Oils, this is a seriously luxurious pampering treat that helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and improve the overall elasticity for firmer, smoother, and more supple skin. A summertime essential!

The New Plastic & Palm Oil-Free Cleanser: Nudge Boutique Cocoa & Avocado Facial Cleansing Bar* (38g, £12.50, link)

Handmade in Norfolk, Nudge Boutique has been a lovely new discovery for me and I was lucky enough to win one of their popular Cocoa & Avocado Facial Cleansing Bars in an Instagram giveaway - yay! This vegan-friendly solid cleanser is made from just six natural ingredients and includes the likes of Avocado Oil and Cocoa Butter to create a gorgeous fragrance-free cleanser that transforms from a solid to an oil and finally to a milk texture once water is added. 

I like to warm the bar in my hands to create a light oil which I then massage into dry skin before adding a few splashes of warm water to emulsify. It's great for removing sunscreen and all traces of daily grime and impurities, plus as it's so moisturising, it won't leave your skin feeling stripped or dry afterwards. 

What are your latest beauty favourites?

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Introducing: Fleur - Eco Luxury Femcare / Period Subscription Box review

Monday, 10 May 2021

 



Subscription boxes are a great way to treat yourself every month, and with Fleur, you can even make your periods more convienent, bearable and dare I say, a tiny bit enjoyable?! OK, it's probably wishful thinking for the latter part but at least opening this box is fun!


I was recently introduced to Fleur via Instagram and their positive attitude to creating a 'feel good' luxury femcare subscription box with an eco-friendly vibe, definitely resonated with me. Their boxes have been specially curated to mimic a spa experience to help you enjoy some period self-care me-time, so if you're looking for a mix of skincare and yummy snacks and treats, in addition to your femcare essentials, you're in the right place.


Fleur were kind enough to send me a box to show you all, so let's get stuck in and see what's inside.


Plastfree Sanitary Pads Night Pack

When you subscribe to Fleur, you can specify whether you'd like to receive sanitary pads, tampons or a mix of both, and everything that they send you will be organic and plastic-free. In my box, I found a pack of 10 Night Sanitary Pads from Plastfree. These pads are biodegradable, eco-friendly, fragrance-free and free from any additional chemicals, with leak-proof wings and a high absorbency layer. Unlike mainstream plastic-based sanitary pads that can take over 500 years to decompose, Plastfree pads will biodegrade in just two years.


Jade Facial Roller

I was excited to see what kind of pampering products Fleur would include their boxes and I love this handy Jade Facial Roller which is perfect for indulging in some facial massages with. There are lots of techniques that you can use with these to depuff and encourage healthy collagen production and blood flow, and I find they work very well with your favourite facial oil.

Glam Up Clarifying Oatmeal Mask, Revitale Gold Collagen Eye Masks and UpCircle Eye Cream sample

I must admit that I was a little disappointed to see a selection of disposable, single-use sheet and eye masks in a box that has such an eco-friendly ethos about it. However, I've tried them out and they are lovely products. The Glam Up Clarifying Oatmeal Mask is a nice me-time treat that most skin types will enjoy, and the Revitale Gold Collagen Eye Masks are perfect for soothing tired eyes after a long day. I'm already a big fan of UpCircle's skincare and their Eye Cream helps to brighten and firm the delicate eye area.

Baylis & Harding Jasmine & Apple Blossom Luxury Hand Gel

Next up, there's a travel size bottle of Baylis & Harding Jasmine & Apple Blossom Luxury Hand Gel which smells beautiful! Formulated with added moisturisers, it doesn't leave your hands feeling stripped or dry afterwards and kills 99.9% bacteria.

Popcorn Shed Sweet & Salty Mini Popcorn

Moving onto the snacks, this bag of Popcorn Shed Sweet & Salty Mini Popcorn really hits the spot when you can't decide which flavour sensation to go for. It's vegan-friendly, gluten-free and less than 133 calories per pack for a guilt-free treat.

NOMO Caramel Choc Bar & Moo Free White Bar

Indulge your sweet tooth with these two delicious vegan-friendly chocolate bars! I love NOMO and their Caramel Choc Bars are literally heaven on earth with smooth and gooey caramel centre, whilst the Moo Free White Bar is a sweet and creamy solid bar of dairy-free white chocolate. Yum!

Rose Sweets & Heath & Heather Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea Bags

To round off the box, I found a selection of lovely rose-shaped gummy sweets and two samples of Health & Heather Raspberry Leaf Tea Bags which are caffeine-free and help to alleviate period pain.


Fleur Box is available as a monthly subscription from £17.99, or can be purchased as a one-off box for £22.50 from fleurstore.co.uk


Do you subscribe to any boxes like this? 


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New In Beauty: Nourish London 100% Natural Essential Oil Blends - Full Range Review

Saturday, 8 May 2021

 

As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of aromatherapy so I was delighted to discover this brand new range of Essential Oil Blends from Nourish London.


This new range has been created by the renowned organic skincare expert, Dr. Pauline Hili, who has over 30 years of experience within the industry including being the founder of Nourish London and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.


“Scent is one of the most powerful triggers of emotions. Having spent most of my career working with essential oils and seeing their benefits in wellbeing, I am delighted to be launching this carefully blended range of oils to enhance and support daily life. We hope these expertly created blends sourced from some of the best suppliers of essential oils in the world will make your days happier and lighter.” - Dr. Pauline Hili

I have always found aromatherapy to be a beneficial way to naturally boost my mood, and with so many different essential oils out there to discover, it's fantastic that consumers have an easy way to find what they need through this carefully curated new range.


There are four Essential Oil Blends to explore, all of which are made from just 100% natural essential oils. Like everything else made by Nourish London, these are also certified vegan and cruelty-free as you can see below.

Let's take a closer look at each blend, shall we?

Calm
A soothing blend to help calm and relax, this one is compromised of nine essential oils including Lavender, Geranium, Rose, Bergamot, and Frankincense. Calm has a classic relaxing scent that's quite heavy on the Lavender which I personally love, but there are enough other notes coming through to help it stand out amongst similar products of this nature.

Sleep
If you struggle to sleep like I do, I highly recommend incorporating some specially formulated products like this into your bedtime routine as I do find them very helpful when you're trying to get a restful night. Eleven different essential oils have been carefully chosen for this Sleep blend so you'll find the likes of Lavender, Frankincense, Chamomile, Neroli, and Petitgrain. Very relaxing with a more herbal and earthy fragrance, accentuated with light floral notes.

Energy
An uplifting blend to help energise and recharge, Energy boasts nine different essential oils such as Bergamot, Orange, Neroli, and Grapefruit for a really invigorating and awakening fragrance that's fresh, warm and summery. I love using this first thing in the morning to set me up for the day!

Focus
Developed to help focus and sharpen the mind, Focus is the essential oil blend for anyone who struggles to find motivation and inspiration at work or study during busy or stressful days. It's made with a stimulating blend of ten essential oils and includes Lavender, Frankincense, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang, and Eucalyptus.  A lovely fresh and herbal scent.


How To Use
There are a number of ways that you can use these Essential Oil Blends every single day to boost your mood, so I'd recommend trying out a couple of different methods to find what works best for you. You can add a few drops directly to a diffuser or oil burner to fragrance a room, or add 3-4 drops to a warm bath to enjoy some me-time. Alternatively, you can try adding a few drops to a base/carrier oil to create a bespoke massage/body treatment, or for a more intense aromatherapy experience, add a couple of drops to a bowl of hot water, place a towel over your head and breathe in deeply for 5-10 minutes.

Nourish London Essential Oil Blends* (10ml, £17 each) are available from nourishskinrange.com

Are you a fan of aromatherapy?

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The Weekend Post: Emotional Wellness Activities for College Students #AD

Saturday, 20 June 2020

At first, we all watched movies and series about students' lives where students did nothing but have fun, drink, sometimes travel, and fall in love. Now, we see very different styles of movies and series about students' lives. Previous year Euphoria became the top series in this field, and it is rather dark, if not depressive. Of course, not every student lives through such troubles as Zendaya's character, but many of them have enough problems in college. 

Emotional wellness is something that hasn't been widely discussed previously, but now it is a raging topic. It has been proven that emotional intelligence is not less critical than cognitive intellect, and is even more important in terms of success in life. That is why, being a college student, you should prioritize your emotional wellness. Here are some actions and activities which may help with it. 

Defining what well-being looks like for you

People are different, and it is normal that well-being looks differently for them. It is related both to emotional well-being and any other kind of well-being. It would be strange to expect all the people to have the same understanding of happiness and fulfillment. People tend to look at others and think about what others have achieved. It can be very challenging to adjust your life to someone else's expectations and successes. And the main idea is that you should not do it. You should Define what well-being in many aspects looks like for you and for you only. It is not a simple task, but once you deal with that, you will be ready to move forward without getting distracted by other people's understanding of life. We don't mean that someone else's understanding is bad or wrong; we just mean that you should be first of all on your own vision.

Screening your psychological state

Once you define what emotional well-being is for you, you can move to the next stop. We don't mean this article to be a step-by-step manual, and most of the activities we offer are not interconnected rigidly. However, their first two ones are connected, and it is better to do them one by one. There are many systems that help to screen your psychological state. We cannot recommend a particular one if you are currently communicating with a specialist, ask him for an individual recommendation. However, we can recommend a PERMA model to assess your life situation. P is for positive emotion, E is for engagement, R is for relationships, M is for a meaningful existence, and A is for achievement. 

Analyzing available resources

When you watch motivational speeches on YouTube or read them in books or articles, you may stumble upon sentences Telling you that you have all the resources to achieve whatever you want. It sounds so nurturing, so reassuring, but the fact is it is not valid. Unfortunately, it is not true. We all have limited resources, and mostly they are not enough to achieve everything we want, so we need to choose wisely. But before you choose, you need to make our goal, to understand the task for which you need those resources. Later you list all those resources available and choose from them the most suitable ones for the situation. For example, you may not have resources to address a psychologist right away, but you can't talk to a college counselor or join a support group on campus. You may not have enough energy for dealing with your essays, so you can address SmartWritingService, for example, which provides students with legitimate essay writing services for professional help from time to time. Not all our resources are interchangeable, but many of them are. Don't get discouraged from the very beginning, keep digging, and you will find the resources you need to achieve the goal and make your emotional well-being more stable.

Asking for help

This part is one of the most difficult ones because, from our childhood, we are taught that we should help others, and we are not taught how to ask for help without losing self-confidence. We know how to provide help to our friends, but we are often too shy to ask directly for this help ourselves. It is an important flaw in our minds that should be overcome. Think of three major problems that influence your emotional well-being and decide on people, which theoretically can help you with them. Of course, you won't make them responsible for those changes, you're the responsible one, but you can share your struggle and ask for some help, which will make the journey easier for you. 

Adjusting your diet

It might sound surprising, but it is very difficult to guarantee emotional well-being without adjusting your diet. We are not speaking about self-esteem related to body weight or appearance, though those conceptions are still very strong in our society. We talked about the influence that food we eat has on our brain, on our emotions, on our ability to deal with daily tasks and to stay confident in our abilities. Food that is full of sugar and preservatives has a strong effect on our emotional stability. You need to cut on sugar and junk food if you want to balance your emotional well being. Excessive sugar sends you to an emotional roller coaster, and no matter how long you meditate or how good your self-awareness is, you will have mood swings, which will make you miserable sometimes. Tracking your diet, connecting it with your emotional state, and changing the diet accordingly, will hugely enhance your emotional well-being.

Emotional wellness requires an investment of time and effort. You cannot expect that the moment you start tracking your mood, everything will become significantly better in a blink. You need to build a system that will help you to maintain emotional balance. At first, it may even seem like things are going worse. It is just the same as when you want to tidy your wardrobe and start taking everything from the shelves, sorting it, and your whole room immediately looks like a mess. Not a very tidy picture, right? For the moment, it may even seem that you did all wrong, you made things worse, and it will never get tidy back again. The same feeling can hunt you on your way to emotional wellness. Just know that if you feel this way, you require just a little bit more effort before things get better.

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Health & Lifestyle: How To Get A Good Night's Sleep - 3 Wellness Experts Share Their Top Tips #BestSleepEver

Thursday, 28 May 2020

best sleep ever top sleep tips
Getting a good night's sleep seems like an impossible task for many people and it's something that I've struggled with for years - I'm so envious of anyone who can just instantly fall asleep as soon as their head touches their pillow! To help those in the same boat, I decided to pick the brains of three wellness experts to see if they could share some words of wisdom so that we can all try to enjoy a good night's sleep at last.

My experience with poor sleep
For as long as I can remember, I've always been a terrible sleeper, especially since hitting puberty. After that, my early 20s were particularly stressful in many ways, and I fell into a lot of bad habits such as eating too much junk food, staying up too late, drinking too much alcohol before going to bed - all the standard hallmarks of early adult life some might say! The problem was that my sleep didn't improve that much when I began to clean up my lifestyle later on - I was still plagued with crippling insomnia that was causing me to fall asleep during the day as I was completely exhausted. 

I visited my GP who diagnosed insomnia and prescribed sleeping tablets which gave me horrific nightmares, so I sought a second opinion and was sent on a CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) course which helped a lot with my stress management, but it still didn't solve all of my sleeping problems. Frustrated by years of poor sleep, I've been going down the self-help route recently which has led me to contact some wellness experts via social media to see if they could share their knowledge on this tricky issue which affects nearly two-thirds of UK adults on a regular basis.

Aurimas Juodka
Meet AJ - The Health & Human Performance Expert
Aurimas Juodka is a Health and Human Performance Expert (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Nutrition Coach, High-Performance Coach - wellwithaj.com). In his career as an educator, speaker and coach, AJ has helped hundreds of his clients excel in life physically and mentally, after personally struggling with a range of health issues himself including insomnia, digestion problems, mental fog, low energy and a compromised immune system.

One of the key aspects of attaining good sleep comes through understanding the basics of the body's natural circadian rhythm. AJ explains that the circadian rhythm, "is an internal body clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Humans are ultimately still animals that thrive with the cycles of nature." This is why his top tip for better sleep is, "rising with the sun and blocking all artificial blue light". He recommends wearing blue light blocking glasses, installing f.lux or Iris app on your computer, using the night shift mode on your phone and having warm lighting in the house. AJ also advises that it's important to create a bedtime routine based on whatever helps you to wind down such as drinking tea, taking a bath before bed, turning your WiFi off, putting your phone onto aeroplane mode or his personal favourite, which is using an acupressure mat. 

The timing of your evening meal is another key factor as well - AJ recommends not eating within at least 3hrs before bedtime because "an overloaded digestive system makes your body focus on digestion rather than producing necessary sleep hormones. Pre-bedtime snack really isn't a great idea."

ursula james
Meet Professor Ursula James - Visiting Professor of Clinical Hypnosis at Robert Gordon University and a Visiting Teaching Fellow at Oxford University Medical School

Ursula James is a Hypnotherapist and Professor of Clinical Hypnosis (her company, Thames Medical Lectures, has lectured at most of the UK's medical schools including Oxford and Cambridge, and she is a Patron of Anxiety UK and the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV). She is also a Foundation Member of the Academy of Medical Educators and a member of the Women of the Future Network - ursulajames.com). Ursula treats people with sleep problems and has a hypnotherapy mp3 called Better Sleep which you can listen to in bed to help you to fall asleep. To further aid those who are experiencing poor sleep due to the Coronavirus pandemic, she has created a weekly Covid Calmer session which is conducted over Zoom every Wednesday - you can check out previous sessions on her YouTube channel here.

With hypnotherapy being Ursula's area of expertise, I asked her how it can help my fellow readers with their sleep. She replied, "Sleep is more than physical rest, it is mental housekeeping, without which we can go crazy. Using hypnotherapy helps you to prioritise, compartmentalise and discard information so you optimise your sleep. It also helps you with creativity and letting go of the things which stress you.

Hypnotherapy is a brilliant process for improving your sleep, whether it is to get to sleep, get better quality sleep, or to eradicate disturbed sleep. It does this by keeping your mind occupied with a simple process which moves in tandem with your natural sleep processes. It helps you leave out the upsetting thoughts, so you don’t dwell on them as you sleep, and focus on the positives from the previous day, as well as creating something to look forward to in the next day."

Aside from hypnotherapy, Ursula also recommends trying these top tips for better sleep; "a warm bath, an orgasm (partner not required), and a warm milky drink. Do not attempt all at the same time, you will probably spill your drink."

Meet Joel Jolen from Reset Breathing and Fellow of Buteyko Professionals Intl institute (FBPI)
Meet Joel Jolen from Reset Breathing and Fellow of Buteyko Professionals Intl institute

Joel Jolen is a Fellow of Buteyko Professionals Intl institute (FBPI). (He holds a BA Hons in Health Econ and his area of specialism is focussed on breathing techniques - resetbreathing.com).

The benefits of improving breathing to someone who is struggling to sleep takes many forms, as Joel explains below, "the key is how you breathe during the day. That’s whilst eating, working, exercising and relaxing. The causes of poor sleep from a breathing education perspective include:
  • Mouth breathing by day – this has become common place and you might be surprised by how many people think it’s correct to mouth breathe. This puts you on fight or flight and can create a cascade of stress throughout your body without you being aware.
  • Your breathing being audible at rest – this basically means you are breathing a volume of air far bigger than required. It’s often out of habit following a change to your breathing pattern after a sustained period of stress.
  • Sighing, sniffing, and yawning with big breaths also creates over breathing and impairs sleep when you finally get your head on the pillow.
  • Large breaths prior to talking along with lots of visible upper chest movement have a similar effect."
Joel warns that those who have jobs which involve excessive talking, such as teachers and sales executives, should be particularly mindful as they can be at risk of fatigue due to a loss of CO2 and oxygen. He advises that drinking carbonated water can help if you have a lot of talkative days. Other things to watch out for which can upset your sleeping patterns include eating processed foods - Joel recommends to "stay away from beige food and don't overeat as both increase breathing rate beyond that of fresh food. Eat light to breathe right", and make sure the temperature in your house isn't too warm as, "high temperatures can impair breathing too".

My favourite piece of advice from Joel is when he says the following which I think anyone who struggles to sleep will appreciate; "The benefits are life-changing and the techniques and accompanying lifestyle advice are simple. Admittedly, they are not easy to commit to but all you need do is focus on those life-changing benefits and they act as a huge incentive...especially as drastic improvements in health/sleep can be experienced in 4-6 weeks."

Thank you to all of the experts who shared their knowledge for this feature!

Do you struggle with sleep?

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