Skinny Rebel Workout

A few weeks ago I was invited to the Conrad Hotel St James to train with Skinny Rebel and experience altitude training. Altitude training is performed at high altitude or by wearing an altitude mask to prepare an athlete's body to cope with a reduced supply of oxygen. With Skinny Rebel you experience a high intensity, full body workout with the option of wearing the altitude mask for some or all of the session.
By wearing an altitude mask, the skinny rebel workout exposes the body to reduced oxygen levels. With less oxygen available in the air and less oxygen circulating in your blood.

FITNESS BENEFITS:

 

• Improved aerobic performance
• Enhanced power output and speed
• Improved strength and endurance
• Increased exercise-till-exhaustion (ETE)
• Reduced recovery time after exertion
• Faster rehabilitation and injury recovery

 

PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS:

 

• Decreased resting heart rate
• New blood cell production 
• New blood capillary growth 
• Improved antioxidant balance 
• Promotion of health and wellness
• Improved physiological function 

Now you may think it sounds easy wearing a mask and doing a short 45 minute workout but let me say 45 minutes is enough. With the supress of oxygen to your brain its surprising how difficult 10 burpees can be. You start off feeling very confident on the first set and its almost like a switch is switched and your body comes to a complete stop but if you keep focused on your breathing somehow you manage to push through. Another thing which surprised me is how quickly your brain starts working over time. I got to a point where a simple conversation became impossible and I had to think about each word just to string a sentence together.

Overall it was a great experience and something I would recommend if you need an extra push in your training or just need to spice it up and give you a different focus.

If you want to give Altitude training a go please email info@skinnyrebel.com to sign up.

 

 

Pink Parcel

After the stressful week I've had having put an offer on a house with my boyfriend for it to be then dragged out over 5 days for us to be then out bid. This blog post is coming just in the knick of time. In the short 5 days I have realised what stress can do. Its put me off my food, given me a bad belly, my skins broken out in spots, I've not slept properly and the big one... its brought my 'time of the month' on 4 days early, being on the pill this is not something I expected to happen.

 

 

 

So after all that I will get to the point. I recently came across Pink Parcel. Pink Parcel is the saving grace to your monthly demon. For £12.99 P+P included you receive tampons or towels and a variety of beauty and lifestyle treats. These treats change each month, so opening your box will always be a surprise.

 

How it works?

• First you select your brand and preferred product. Pink Parcel have lots of brands to choose from Tampax, U by Kotex, Lil-Lets, Organyc, Always and Bodyform.
• Then give your monthly cycle dates, how long does your cycle last, when do you think your next period will start?
• Select your delivery date. You can choose between the 10th, 20th or 28th. Your parcel will be delivered the same day each month but you can change it if you give them 10 days notice.
• Then put in payment and delivery detail and wait for your period to start.

Take a look at what I received in my Septembers delivery.

 

 

Pink Parcel also have Teen Parcel which is aged at teenagers. A great idea because starting your period is a massive time in your life.

 

I really wish I had Pink Parcel when I started my period several years ago. It would of made it a much most nicer experience. Now excuse me while I indulge myself with chocolate and give myself a well deserved pamper session.

 

 

 

IT'S A MONTHLY THING.

 

 

 

 

SASS - Intamate Skincare Range

I'm going to start off by saying this is a blog post aimed at women and girls talking about a product for our intimate area just in case a guy stubbles across this and feels it not something suitable for them to read.

SASS is a an intimate skincare brand for women with lots products to choose from. From your morning wash, to a bikini line wax, to staying fresh throughout the day, the SASS intimate skincare range has been created to fit any lifestyle.

Talking about intimate care and hygiene can be embarrassing and not something everyone wants to talk about. If you ask a doctor what to use for intimate areas they will say just use water but most of us don't, using water just doesn't hack it some times. We use soap and body washes which can be harmful.

 

 

Did you know?

• Regular shower and shaving gels can cause microbial imbalances due to being the wrong pH, which can lead to issues such as thrush and BV. 60% of UK women suffer from intimate health problems each year, yet 63.3% of women don’t understand their intimate care needs.

• 41.5% of women suffer from ingrown hairs yet 53% of us don’t know how to avoid them.

• 59% of UK women aren’t aware that regular shaving gels aren’t suitable for intimate use and can cause imbalances.

This is were SASS have come along and saved the day, not only do SASS have a very discrete name there products also come in very pretty packaging meaning it can be sat on your bathroom side and nobody would know what the product was.

 

 

SASS cover 3 areas HEALTH, BEAUTY and SPORT.

HEALTH

Intimate pH Balanced Serum £12

pH Balanced Serum to help cool, soothe and restore the intimate pH for whens things don't feel right.

Intimate Dryness Gel £14

A gel to use after washing to keep hydrated and fresh.

BEAUTY

Intimate Purifying Cleanser £7

Everyday cleanser to use in the shower to maintain intimate harmony, gently purify and ensure everyday freshness.

Intimate Freshness Gel £10

Use after your morning shower for all day protection.

Intimate Refreshing Mist £8

To use through out the day when rushing around doing activity's. Refresh anywhere any time with a crisp subtle fragrance.

Intimate Soothe & Smooth Shave Gel £10

Designed to allow smoother shaving in your most intimate area. Protecting against ingrown hairs and razoe bumps. After washing apply in the shower. Wait for one minute before shaving. Shave precisely & then rinse with lukewarm water. Also helps reduce ingrowing hairs.

Intimate Perfect Skin Concentrate £12

Use after waxing or shaving, protect against skin imbalances, soothe and hydrate the intimate area and help prevent ingrown hairs and hair regrowth.

SPORT

Intimate Recovery Serum £16

To be used after intense activity, help soothe, cool and moisturise post-workout skin, whilst also providing antimicrobial protection against skin imbalances. Use once showered and dry.

Intimate Protection Barrier Cream £14

Use before exercise to reduces skin friction and provides ultra hydration during exercise.

 

 

You can buy SASS direct from the website, Sweatshop, Velovixen, and in store or online at Boots.

 

I have been using SASS for the last couples days and think its a great product. The gels and serums are gentle on the skin with a subtle smell and not over powering. If you are looking for a discrete female hygiene product I would say look no further. SASS is now going to become a regular on my shopping list and will be taking pride place on my showers shelf.

 

Let me know what you think of SASS by Tweeting me or commenting on my Instagram.

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The Bloggers Hangout

What a treat of an evening I had on Monday with The Bloggers Hangout. I attended their London Fashion Week Beauty Bar Event with the gorgeous Georgi who has just started her own blog Pure Bliss Beauty. Give it a read for all up to date information on beauty products. Georgi is also a trained beauty therapist so she knows a thing or two.  

 

This is the second Bloggers Hangout event I have attended and so far they have not disappointed. I got to meet a great much of people and more importantly great company's which I cant wait to tell you all about over the next coming weeks. It seemed a lot of the company's either sell in the High Street shops already or have been around for a while but we don't seem to know much about them. We see the product on the shelves but know no what it is, what it does and then never buy them and it seems we are missing out on some great products.

  

Sass, Pink Parcel, Sensationail are just a few of the company's I got to meet with many others covering everything from make up brushes, wrinkle oils, hair masks, exfoliating blade and jelly supplements.

Ahhh i'm so excited to tell you all about them!

 

Keep up to date with my blog posts on Twitter , Instagram and here on My Sophisticated Secrets

 

Persuading Suede

Autumn is coming!!! My favourite time of year, the season to layer up with boots and jackets. I'm desperate for the sun to go away and the clouds to come in just so I can pull out my winter wardrobe. I'm kicking it off with layers... layers of suede. Suede is going to be the new in material this season and it seems the High Street shops are with me on this one.

 

Skirt - New Look

Jacket - H&M

Boots - Linzi Shoes

Sunglasses - Topshop

LiLash and LiBrow

 I’ve always had good eye lashes or so I have been told but that doesn’t mean I’m not looking for new ways to enhance them. I was very excited when LiLash sent me an eye lash serum to help enhance my eyelashes. I was sent the Demi product which is a 12 week course. The Demi bottle is £53.93. which can also be brought in a larger size (24 week course) for £94.37.

 

Each night I have applied the serum to the top of my eye lashes. The serum doesn’t hurt or cause distress to your eyes. I did find in the morning I would wake with more sleet then normal but this didn't necessarily bother me. I have just finished my 12 week course which means its time to show you my results.

Below my before pictures before using the serum.

After 12 weeks of using the serum you can my lashes have thicken and lengthened. I'm actually surprised at the difference as I really didn't think much had changed. I'm very happy with the result and would recommend the product.
 

I had also been sent LiBrow which is the same concept as LiLash but yes you guessed it, its for your eyebrows. From my pictures you can see I have thick eyebrows so didn't have much use for it but I didn't want it to go to waste so I gave the product to my Aunt. The LiBrow also comes in 2 sizes, the Demi £53.93 and the original £94.37

Below you can see Nicola's before and after pictures and I'm very impressed with the results. Below is also Nicola's own view and experience from using the product.


Left Eye Before LiBrow

Right Eye Before LiBrow

Left Eye After LiBrow

 
Right Eye After LiBrow

when my niece Holly told me she had received a serum called LiBrow that was to help with
diminished hair on the eyebrow I thought ooh, I would love to try that! Lucikly for me Holly isn't exactly folically challenged in the brow department, so was happy to hand it over, as long as I agreed to give her an honest opinion on it. Happy!

I'm now on the other side of 45 and once upon a time long ago I too had thick bushy eyebrows (think Brooke Shields!), but unlike Brooke somewhere over the intervening years half of mine disappeared! So started using a defining brow kit, to fill the ends of my arch that I no longer had. This has been fine, but not without it's moments, like the time when I realised that at some point during the day I had rubbed it away, and now look a bit weird with half a dark brow!

I started using this as part of my evening routine, and applied a thin line where I wanted the hairs to grow. The weeks went by, and nothing, I slowly started to think what's the point. When one day at about 7/8 weeks a realised that there were new hairs starting to grow, and over the following weeks they carried on growing, WOW! I now have a reasonable amount of hair to make an arch (still not quite like Brooke) but certainly enough to make me happy!

I would certainly recommend giving LiBrow a go, if like me your hairs are sparse or non existent.The recommended 12 weeks to see results can seem like a lifetime but please stick with it, and hopefully like me you might get something to show for it!

As you can see from the pictures we have both had great results and its a product we have both been happy to use and write about.

 

Magnitone Lucid Cleansing Brush

As a woman I want most things in life. A good husband, a happy family, nice car, a walk in wardrobe, a gorgeous body, the list is pretty endless but these are all big things. So I'm going to start with something small and that something small is something I would say most girls want.. To be able to leave the house with out make up because our skin is clear, bright and soft. Its seems impossible right?! Well maybe not quite.

For the last few weeks I have been using the Magnitone Lucid Cleansing Brush. Magnitone Lucid is powered by Active Electromagnetic Technology™. Enhanced electromagnetic pulsations that send rapid vibrations through the skin. Which naturally unclog pores, and sweep away dry and dead skin cells, leaving a clearer complexion. Its basically like a round soft headed brush which vibrates on your face. The Magnitone vibrates for x3 lots of 20 seconds which means you cover the 3 parts of your face. I like to do

 Forehead, Nose - Cheek, Mouth - Cheek, Neck

 

 

This way your whole face is being cleansed. Not only does it cleanse your face but you get a very nice face massage at the same time, win, win situation.

The key points to know about the Magniton Lucid:
 

• Gives you soft and gentle skin in 7 days and suitable for all skin types
• Removes make up with 2 modes - Sensitive and deep cleanse
• Facial Cleanser Time - 1 Minute auto stop
• Fully waterproof so can be used in the shower
• Wireless travel charger - Charge can last up to 2 weeks
•  Use with your everyday cleanser

My skin is feeling softer, looking clearer and I even look a trip to shops without make-up the other day and I felt good about it-shock horror!!

If you are interested about buy a Magnitone Lucid click HERE!
This is a product you have to add to your daily routine. I'm not going back to my flannel and water.

Have a great weekend guys x

Slendertoxtea Teatox

For ages I have wanted to do a Detox. If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you will know I'm into keeping fit and have a healthy lifestyle so I was very excited when Slendertoxtea Teatox were gifting with The Bloggers Hub.

Slendertoxtea is a herbal, clean detox, organic tea. It works by breaking down the fatty deposits which adheres to the intestine enabling your metabolism. The benefits of a detox:

• Increased Energy
• Increased Metabolism
• Beat the bloat
• Weight loss

Ingredients:
Daytox Ingredients:
Hawthorn Grain, Red Bean, Sterling Bean, Radish Leaf, Camellia Seed, Camellia Flower, Green Tea, Fennel Seeds.

Sleeptox Ingredients:
Valerian Root, Large Hawthorn, Red Bean, Sterling Bean, Green Tea, Radish Leaf, Camellia Seed, Fennel Seeds, Camellia Flower.

You drink the Daytox first thing when waking up with warm water and the Sleeptox every other night a few hours before going to sleep. The taste is very bland with no lingering flavour in the mouth, quite nice actually. Now I'm going to be very honest with my review as it hasn't been the most pleasant experience.

My Experience:
I only managed 4 days out of the 14 day detox. Why? Through out the whole 4 days I have extreme belly cramp and my bowel movements did not stop. Most days I would be on the toilet up to 4 times a day even waking up in the night needing to go. Now I know this is a detox and I felt great when I didn't have the cramps or sat on the toilet but when you become worried to move in case your bowl starts making even more movement it takes the pleasure out of it. I did loss 4 pound in the 4 days which is great but I also got sent home from work on day 4 because the toilet turned into my office for the day, not so great!

Would I advice the Teatox? Yes I would but I would do it when you have plenty of time off work like a bank holiday weekend.

Would I do it again? Yes because I would want to compete the full 14 days to see what results I could achieve but I hope my body would get used to the teatox quicker next time.

If you want to give your body a good cleanse and feel refreshed inside then I would say give Teadox a go just be cautious with it.
You can buy Slender Teadox HERE!

Let me know in the comment box below how you get on with the Teadox if you give it a go.

Madame La La - Fake Tan

        With the weather slowly getting warmer it's getting harder not to show some skin and if your anything like me your skin is almost transparent from the little or no sun it's had during the winter. So I was pleasantly surprised when I was gifted from Madame LA LA through The Bloggers Hub.

Madame LA LA is a new American-Brit self tan and skincare brand inspired by LA, Malibu beach and the Hollywood lifestyle. The tan comes in two shades. Madame LA LA Tan Light which develops a sun-kissed glow which develops over 3 hours. The light tan is suited for the lighter skin tone. The second tone is Madame LA LA Tan which develops into a LA glow over the 3 hours. I am trying out the Madame LA LA Tan which develops as a dark tan.

 

 

It has been a few years since I last fake tan so I would call myself a beginner and definitely made the biggest school boy error! Please use a hand mitt when fake tanning! You can buy them from most chemists and beauty shops - Superdrug - Boots. The tan is in moose form which makes it very easy to apply and gives a smooth even glow. Make sure you moisturise all the dry parts of your body of where you want to tan. The moose does come out very dark and I would say you only need 2 pumps for each leg. One pump goes a long way.

 

 

BEFORE MADAME LA LA TAN

 

LEFT LEG ONLY WITH TAN AFTER 10 MINUTES 

 

BOTH LEGS WITH TAN 3 HOURS LATER

 

If you are looking for a easy applied tan with little fuss then that is what Madame LA LA is. The tan dry's in a couple of minutes so you can be dressed and out the door quickly. You can also top the tan up by moisturising and topping up every few days. I'm finally excited about wearing dresses this summer knowing I will keep an even glow.
Thank you Madame LA LA. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Embracing Flares

Ever since my last fashion blog entry I have been on the hunt for a pair of black flares. Its been a hard hunt! I've seen lots of denim flare jeans and I think you have to be brave to wear denim flares as it is a bold statement to be making. If you are not ready for the denim flare then a black flare is the perfect baby step.

   After looking high and low I finally came across the perfect (only) black flare. I'm not normally one to shop in NEXT but I think this weekends shopping trip may have changed my mind. They have a great PETITE section and most of the trousers come in Long, Regular and Short leg. I would be nervous buying off line though. I'm normally a size 8/10 depending how well the diets been that week but I ended up getting a size 6R. I would of liked a Short leg but these come in Regular or Long leg. This means I have had to take the jeans up like most of my trousers. Maybe I should do a blog post about how to take trousers up yourself as I seem to be doing it a lot! The material is a stretch fabric so perfect for the larger/thicker thigh. If I had brought a suit trouser flare then the material would have been to tight on my thighs and massive round the waist.

  Don't be nervous about embracing the flare, it elongates your leg making them look slimmer. I don't no why you wouldn't want to.

Jeans NEXT  | Shirts BERSHKA | Body Chain* ASOS | Boots* PUBLIC DESIRE | Earrings* RIVER ISLAND  | Watch CASIO

Please let me know what you think of my blog by commenting below.

Alexis Smith Lingerie

People say that the best things come in small packages and being only 5ft2 I would agree with this comment. For a girl, the best small package you could receive apart from a diamond ring would be luxurious lingerie, guys take note.

 

Alexis Smith is an online lingerie company specialising in larger cup sizes for smaller framed women. I am defiantly someone under this category with 32Ds  as I have always struggled to find attractive bra sets and now La Senza doesn’t exist, where is a girl meant to go! Alexis Smith are the new saving grace with luxurious lingerie sets. You can buy sets or separates individually.

 

 

I was lucky enough to be sent the Luxury Jade Satin Knickers. These gorgeous satin knickers are soft to the skin with a low rise front. They are the perfect bedroom knicker.

 

If you are looking for comfortable but sexy every day lingerie or something flirty to keep your partners pulses raising Alexis Smith is a company to have a look at.

Twitter: @alexissmithbras

Instagram: ALEXISSMITHLINGERIE

Facebook: Alexissmithlingerie

 

Since joining The Bloggers Hub I have been given some great opportunities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them.