Transform Her: Week 5

That’s another week done and another week of being poorly. Honestly, no idea what I’ve done wrong but I’ve been ill for like 2 weeks straight now and I’m a little fed up! I am still loving this transformation though, I’ve had so many people comment on how much I look I’ve lost and that fills me with so much happiness. So with that, let’s crack on!

Height, weight, measurements and BMI.
I went to the Drs yesterday to get a couple of jabs and whilst I was there the nurse asked to weigh me. Now, the Drs scales are measured in kg so I had absolutely zero idea how much I weighed in stones and pounds until I got home and googled it. I was weighing in at 77kg and when I googled it, it told me I weighed 12.125 stone. I panicked. I had been so good with my eating and I couldn’t understand why I’d put on that much weight, I thought I weighed more than when I started! Ben then explained to me that I didn’t weight 12 stone 12 pounds, I actually weigh 12stone 1.25 pounds, thank god! So in 5 weeks I have lost half a stone AND my BMI means I am no longer classed as obese anymore. I am so proud of myself.  My measurements have also changed some what too, so here they are.

Chest:                         Before 38        Then  37      Now  37
Waist:                         Before 32        Then 32       Now 31.5
Belly Button:             Before 36.5    Then 36       Now  35
Hips:                           Before 39        Then 38      Now  37.5
Thighs:                       Before 23        Then 21       Now  21
Calf:                            Before 14.5      Then 14.5   Now  14
Arms:                         Before 12          Then 12      Now  12

What I’m eating. 
SWEET POTATOES. You have no idea how much I have wanted to eat sweet potatoes, they give me life. I just love them. I’m still keeping my protein high, eating berries and natural yoghurt. Also because my tonsils have still been giving me grief, I’ve been freezing natural yoghurt and having it with my berries, I would recommend it, it’s lovely! 

How I feel. 
I feel like I’m on the mend, finally! My energy is lacking but I can feel myself getting better. Other than that, I’m feeling so optimistic and I love that people are actually commenting about how I look like I’ve lost weight. I tried some size 12 jeans on yesterday and THEY FIT which makes me feel so so amazing, you have no idea. 

Goals set. 
Now, last week I said I was going to try to stay away from the Easter chocolate. I succeeded 99% of the time! I have a very big sweet tooth so it was hard but I managed to not eat too much chocoate! This weeks goal is to get back into my workouts. I have been doing them, but not to the standard I was doing before I got poorly. I’ve had quite a high temperature and if I get too hot I tend to faint so I didn’t want to push myself too hard. Now I’m feeling a little better I will get back to it! 

Thank you for continuing to read my blog posts about this journey and I hope it’s an interesting read for you all, it means the world to me that each one of you is supporting me during this transformation. I’m really enjoying this lifestyle change! 

Thank you for reading! 
Bryony x

Transform Her: Week 4

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you have an egg-celent time (yay for egg puns). This week has been a funny one for me, obviously judging by the last post you will know that I was poorly, I got a lot worse after my last post. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t swallow and I only managed to do two exercise days. However, I am treating you all to a before and after photo because I am just beyond amazed with how this looks. This is a photo from just before Christmas 2017, I was obese but I wouldn’t admit it! The photo on the right was me this week.

Height, weight, measurements and BMI. 
GUYS I’VE GROWN. I’m being serious, I got measured today and I have grown 0.3 inches... maybe I’m just standing taller because of my new found confidence or maybe the machine just messed up and I’m actually still the same height as I have been since I was 14. I have managed to lose 2 pounds in the week, I think that was purely because I wasn’t eating though if I’m honest and I DO NOT recommend not eating as a way of losing weight! Last time I got myself weighed I had lost 2kg of my body fat mass, today I have gained back 1kg. I want to explain what happens when you’re ill as best as I can. Because I was poorly my body panicked and tried to store as much fat as possible, this means that is sneakily dipped into my protein storage for fuel which resulted in muscle loss and fat gain. It sucks basically, getting ill sucks. My BMI has gone down though and so have my measurements! My new BMI is 29.7! My new measurements are:

 Chest:                        Before 38        Now  37
Waist:                         Before 32        Now  32
Belly Button:             Before 36.5    Now  36
Hips:                           Before 39         Now  38
Thighs:                       Before 23         Now  21
Calf:                            Before 14.5       Now  14.5
Arms:                         Before 12          Now  12

What I’m eating. 

I am so thankful I can eat again, I’ve missed food so much over the last week. This week we have introduced feta cheese. I LOVE cheese. Most of my cheat meals so contain cheese and a lot of it so this new introduction makes me so happy. I’m focusing on upping my protein again so I will be eating turkey, chicken, meat, greens and eggs... everything stripped down to being as natural as possible and if some of those big supermarkets didn’t inject their meat with water it would be SO much easier, just saying. 

How I feel. 

I’m going to be completely honest, when I saw the print out of my weight and body mass fat I was actually upset with myself. Although I feel good in myself and I feel a lot healthier, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d failed a little bit this week. That’s until it all got explained to me and in fact, it’s not actually 100% my fault. It was my damn tonsils fault! I have so much more energy now that I’m better and I am ready for this week, I’m going to be back to smashing it! 

Goals set. 

I fell flat on my face with last weeks goal. I just couldn’t physically eat or drink that much at all so my protein was not at the level it should have been and my results have shown that. This weeks goal is to not give into temptation with the amount of chocolate which will be around my house for the next week. My children are having an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden and all of the eggs are currently sat in our bedroom and have been for a couple of days now.... I haven’t eaten any which is actually an accomplishment in itself, is it not? Will power is key!!! 

I am ready to get back into this journey, I’ve upped my weights, I’ve upped how many workouts and what sort of workouts I do. I am going to smash this week! I hope you’re still loving this series, if you’re not then that’s just tough. I will cyber speak to you all next week! 

Thank you for reading! 

Bryony x

Transform Her: Week 3

Hi everyone! I’ve survived another week, but only just. I had to go to the out of hours last night and have been told that I actually have tonsillitis, so as you can guess I’m in quite a bit of pain. However, I have still plowed through this week like the little champ I am and I have also done my measurements for this week too, however I am still only doing my weight every 2 weeks so you will have to wait until next week for my next weight update!

Height, weight, measurements and BMI.
Height is the same as ever and as I’ve mentioned above, I’m not weighing myself until next week so you’ll have to read next weeks blog to see how that is going. HOWEVER, I am treating you all to my measurements update:

Chest:            Before 40.5           Then 41              Now  38
Waist:            Before 33.5           Then 32.5          Now  32
Belly Button: Before 40.5         Then 37.5         Now  36.5
Hips:              Before 42              Then 40.5          Now  39
Thighs:          Before 24              Then 24.5          Now  23
Calf:              Before 15.5            Then 15             Now  14.5
Arms:            Before 13               Then 12.5           Now  12

Remember that the last 2 lots of measurements are only 7 days apart... 7 DAYS.

What I’m eating.
This week we introduced natural yoghurt which makes the berries extra scrummy! I am having to eat only soft things at the moment due to my tonsils being the size of a golf ball (that’s probably a slight exaggeration but I am in a lot of pain) for my lunch I have been reaching for salads with different cold meats, mainly turkey. I have also realised this week that tomatoes do not agree with me, I had quite a bad attack of acid reflux for maybe 5 days in a row and it suddenly dawned on me that I used to always have trouble with tomatoes giving me little ulcers in my mouth so maybe they’re just too acidic for me in general. Staying away from tomatoes from now on! With my soft food diet, I have also been advised to get some protein shakes and basically drink my meals, now that doesn’t sound appetising to some people, but it’s just the same as drinking smoothies all day, yum!!!

How I feel.
If I leave aside the fact that I obviously feel like death warmed up, I’m actually starting to get my confidence back. I can see myself getting smaller and I can feel myself getting healthier. I have to walk up 4 flights of stairs at work every day- multiple times a day. When I first started I couldn’t get up those stairs without getting out of breath by the second flight. Now I can walk up and down those stairs however many times a day and I do not even feel it! I know how much I am progressing because I have now upped my weights during my workouts! Hell yes! Your girl is getting fit.

Goals set.
If you follow me on Instagram you will see that I did actually go for a walk with my children this week, we met some horses, then it started literally hailing on us so we had to get home and fast. I also took them to the park on Thursday after picking my son up from Nursery. I was planning to do a lot more but I just haven’t got the energy with being ill. However, half term is coming up and I have so many plans! My goal this week is to try to keep my protein intake up while I’m poorly and still try to do my workouts even if I don’t feel like it. That doesn’t seem like a big goal but you should all know how gross you feel when you are ill and how little you want to do and eat.

I really hope you are loving this series of blog posts! Let me know if you are! If you don’t already then go follow me on instragram.com/thebbblog
If you want to follow Poynton Fitness who run this programme (which you should) here are their social media’s:

Instagram: instagram.com/poynton_fitness
Twitter: twitter.com/SLIMM1NGSECRETS
Facebook: facebook.com/PoyntonFitness/
Website: https://www.poyntonfitness.co.uk/

Thank you for reading!
Bryony x

Transform Her: Week 2

What is with the snow in the middle of March? Like, seriously. It’s messing with my emotions. Although, it could lead to me having a day off from work tomorrow so I won’t whinge too much. Anyway, moving on to why you all clicked on that little link, week 2 of the Transform Her programme. Oh my god, I have never felt so good! Mentally, physically... just all round I feel amazing. You are what you eat and I am healthy! *sassy finger click*

Height, weight, measurements and BMI. 

I’m still a short arse, that will never change. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little disappointed with my actual weight loss, I’m now 12st5 and my BMI is 30.4. However, what I am happy with are my measurements which are below:

Chest:            Before 40.5   After 41  
Waist:            Before 33.5   After 32.5
Belly Button: Before 40.5  After 37.5
Hips:              Before 42     After 40.5
Thighs:          Before 24     After 24.5
Calf:              Before 15.5  After 15
Arms:            Before 13     After 12.5

What I’m eating. 

On Wednesday, which was exactly 2 weeks of when I started the Transform Her programme, I started to eat berries!!! You have no idea how much I have been wanting fruit over the last couple of weeks -and that’s not like me at all, I would choose chocolate and cake over fruit any day before I started this journey... it has changed my mind set. I would be lying if I said I NEVER craved chocolate or cake but I definitely know and understand how to repress those cravings. Also for after my workouts I have found these scrummy little protein bites by Graze, you can get them in 3 different flavours that I’ve seen but I always seem to reach for the cocoa vanilla because they are DELICIOUS. However, since I found them and fell in love with them, it seems everyone else has too because I cannot for the life of me find a shop that has them in stock! There’s just empty boxes! Other than that I am eating clean and healthy, keeping my protein high and my carbs low. 

How I feel. 

So freaking good. I am currently a little bit poorly with my ears, obviously this has nothing to do with  the programme but I want you all to feel sorry for me. The workouts have been kicked up a notch so I feel like my body is burning 24/7 but that just shows I’m doing something right! I am loving my new outlook on life and I cannot believe how much a switch in diet can do so much for your mental health. I was allowed a cheat meal on Thursday so I went straight in with pizza because, you know, pizza is life but after I had eaten it I felt so sick and for the whole night I was genuinely in the worst mood and that’s even after the nausea surpassed. Headaches wise.... I seem to be getting them again after a good week without them but I think I’m going to put that down to me feeling a bit under the weather. 

Goals set. 

Well last weeks goal worked a treat, I made the conscious effort to drink more water and I did it! I was drinking about thrice as much as I did in the first week so I can firmly say that goal was accomplished. This week I going to set the goal of going for more walks with my children, that may not sound like a big goal but at the moment I am also taking an online course which I am putting all of my energy into and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I haven’t been paying as much attention to my children. That makes me sound like a horrible parent and it’s not like I never pay attention to them but I’m so focused on making a better future for them that I’m not there in the present. So, my children are coming first and I’m going to start taking them out a lot more. 

This programme is starting to change my life for so many reasons and I am so grateful to Poynton Fitness and Ben for letting me be a part of it! If you’re getting to the point of wanting to go through a complete lifestyle change that I strongly recommend you sign up to this programme, either their online programme or if you live near Poynton, then their local programme which means you get to use their gym and take the many classes that are available. You’ll also be added into an amazing VIP Facebook group where we share recipes, meal ideas and have a generally awesome chat every day. 

Thanks for reading! 

Bryony x

Transform Her: Week 1

Just over a week has gone by since I started the Transform Her programme and yes, this blog is a little later than I would’ve liked! I’d like to start this blog post by saying this is not easy but it’s worth it. My experience is being made so much easier by Ben, who is helping me all the way the programme and is literally just a text or email away.

Disclaimer: just before I delve in I would like to point out that my weight and BMI from my last blog post were wrong. I was using my bathroom scales at the time and then went and used the one at Boots. My actual weight and BMI from last week were 12st7 and 30.7. Its safe to say I prefer my scales at home.

Height, Weight, Measuremants and BMI.
I did get told before I started not to focus too much on my weight and measurements because chances are, they won’t change in the first couple of weeks as this is more of a detox stage. However, I have managed to lose a couple of pounds! I now weigh 12st3 and my BMI is 30.29. I’ve decided to take my measurements every two weeks instead of every week, just because I don’t think it would be good for my mental health to focus on my measurements every week.

What I’m eating.
Protein... and a lot of it. I tend to start my day with eggs, either poached or scrambled, with a side of salmon or sausage/bacon. Sausages need to be 90% pork and bacon has to have the fat cut off. For lunch my go to is some sort of salad, making sure I have either chicken, prawns or fish as my protein source. For dinner I seem to orbit towards chicken breasts or some sort of fish fillet a long with lots of leafy greens. The programme does say to have 2 snacks a day too but by the time I’ve eaten my 3 main meals, I can’t physically squeeze anything else in!

How I feel.
Honestly? I feel so good. I feel a lot better in myself, I feel generally happier in life. I feel a lot healthier and I’ve not felt like this for a very long time! The first week of headaches were pretty intense and made me pretty cranky but now I’ve come out of the other end feeling fabulous. Another thing I should mention is how much my skin has cleared up! I used to blame my breakouts on hormones but it’s  becoming clear that it was my diet... or lack of.

Goals set.
My goal is to drink a lot more water, I’m not drinking near as much as I should so I’m going to buy myself one of those water bottles with the amount you should be drinking an hour on it, I think this will help me to achieve my goal.

I’m really enjoying this programme at the moment. The workouts are killing me but are so worth it. I never thought I would enjoy a diet but here I am, complete lifestyle change and absolutely loving it.

That’s it for another week! I’ll be checking in with you all next week.

Thanks for reading!
Bryony x

Transform Her: The Beginning

If you have read any of my blog posts you may know that I am quite open about my weight struggles. Since having my second child my weight has become somewhat of an issue for me, not only physically but mentally too so when I got offered to try a 6 week fitness programme called Transform Her by Poynton Fitness I accepted almost instantly and I thought I’d bring you all on this journey with me. 

Height, weight, measurements & BMI.
So my height will not likely change throughout these 6 weeks, although I wish I would grow to be 6 foot tall, at the moment I am 5ft3, I weigh 12 stone exactly (168 pounds/ 76.2 kg) and my BMI score is 29.76 which is only .14 off from being classed as obese. My measurements are:

Chest: 40.5 
Waist: 33.5
Belly Button: 40.5
Hips: 42
Legs: 24
Calf: 15.5
Arms: 13 inches 

What I’m eating. 

These first two weeks are classed as a detox stage and it is very strict! No alcohol, which isn’t too hard for me anyway, no sugar, no caffeine, no carbs and very high protein intake. I’m eating a lot of egg, fish, meat and green veg. I didn’t think I would like it as much as I do, with there being a very limited items I can eat I thought it would get very boring very fast but I’m really enjoying it and it’s interssted to see just how much protein you find in certain things. 

How I feel.
With every blog post detailing my weight loss and fat loss journey I will also tell you about my emotional journey, detailing how I’m feeling that particular day. For instance, today I am feeling motivated to get this programme started. I’m tired and I feel drained but that is an everyday occurrence for me, hopefully this programme will put a little bit more life back into me.

Goals Set.
Each week I will be setting myself personal goals, not just in weight loss but in everyday life too. Little things like taking the stairs, drinking more water, take care of myself a bit better. Then the following week I will report back as to whether I achieved these goals or not.

At the very end of the 6 weeks I will be posting a picture of me before and after. If you follow me on Instagram, you will see these posted 2 weekly when I redo my measurements. You will also see some pictures of my meal ideas and possibly some of the workouts I do. 

I really hope you all enjoy reading this series of blog posts on my weight loss journey in the next 6 weeks. I’m very excited to be sharing this with you all.

Thanks for reading!
Bryony x

Curly Hair Care

All of my 24 years of living I have had curly hair and I have finally figured out a routine that really accentuates my curls so I thought I'd share what little wisdom I have on the subject with you guys!

Shampoo and Conditioner.
I've started using the Ultimate Blends Coconut Water Dry Hair Shampoo and Conditioner, they don't contain any silicone which means it won't weigh down your curls. They also leave your hair feeling nourished and shiny. Any silicone free shampoo and conditioner will have the same effect, in fact OGX have a very similar formula which is currently on offer at Superdrug.

Products.
After I've washed my hair and got out of the shower I brush my hair whilst it is still sopping wet and I apply Schwarzkopf got2b Twisted Curling Mousse again, whilst my hair is still wet. I've tried a lot of different mousse products but this is by far the best I have tried. It really defines your curls and doesn't leave your hair all hard and scrunchy... if you have ever used scrunchy mousse then you will understand what I mean.

Hair Dryer.
ALWAYS USE A DIFFUSER. With curly hair you need to use a diffuser to reduce the frizz. If you like volume to your hair then dry it with your head upside down and really focus on drying your roots and mid sections first. I tend to dry my roots and mid sections, then flip my hair back and work on my ends. Never towel dry your hair because the material can cause frizz.

Aftercare.
A wide toothed comb will be your best friend, brushing your hair will cause frizz and possibly cause breakage so switch to a comb. I find that if I sleep on my hair it will go quite frizzy so I like to use a serum on the days when I don't wash my hair. I use the Elvive Extraordinary Oil at the moment but any serum would really work.

So those were the tips I have accumulated over the years and some of my product recommendations for curly hair. I hope they have helped slightly and please let me know if you try any of these!

Thank you for reading!
Bryony x

My Skincare Routine.

As a teen my skin was always under scrutiny by the kids at my school. I developed acne by the age of 10 and I hated my skin so much. I still occasionally break out now but I keep them at bay with my skincare routine.

Makeup Removal.

I would like to start this by saying I don't always take my makeup off before I go to bed, I know its a sin in the beauty world but in reality, by the time I get to bed I just fall to sleep and don't even think twice about taking my make up off. When I do remember to take off my make up, my go to is Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water for Combination & Sensitive Skin. This removes my makeup, cleanses my skin and leaves it looking mattified. I simply pour a little Micellar Water onto a cotton pad and wipe my makeup off, there's no need to scrub at your face with this product at all.

Moisturising.
At a time where I was struggling financially, I needed a moisturiser that wouldn't break the bank as a quick fix. I was shopping in Aldi one day and saw they did a Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Multi Intensive Serum and decided to give it a go and for two pounds it was a steal. I am currently on my second bottle because I fell in love with it. I dot the moisturiser on my forehead, nose, chin and both cheeks and rub it in, not forgetting my neck because that is the first thing that starts to age!!! I've been using this since November 2017 and can honestly say I've noticed a difference in my wrinkles.

Face Masks.
After I've removed my makeup and moisturised I occasionally like to treat my skin to a face mask. I don't really have a particular brand that I hover towards but at the moment I am using the Garnier Skin Active Pure Active Matcha Detox. The mask is supposed to unclog your pores and absorbs pollution and oil with the help of Matcha Tea Extract & Kaolin Clay. After using the mask for a week, my skin is definitely more matte. I'm not sure whether you can buy this yet as I got sent it (this is NOT an ad) but I will definitely be buying it when it comes into stores.


I've only just started taking skincare seriously and hopefully this will be the skincare routine that sticks but obviously over time my skin type will most probably change and when that happens I'll keep you all updated with my new routine.

Thanks for reading!
Bryony x

The Kardashian Era.

With over 440 million followers between them on Instagram alone, the Kardashians are probably one of the most talked about family on the planet. In this day and age people will search for the celebrities they love and the ones they love to hate, so what makes the Kardashians so popular?

How they became famous.
We can all remember THAT video and people will arguably say that this is the reason that the Kardashian family became well known, but can we just remember that Kim was actually a well-known friend of Paris Hilton for a while before that happened? She also had that killer bod that everyone took an interest in, including her booty. The Kardashian's rise to stardom did not happen over night, nor did it happen thanks to the member of family you might think. Robert Kardashian brought the name into light by being the lawyer of famously acquitted OJ Simpson in 1995 and that started the ball rolling.

Keeping up with the Kardashians.
In the year 2007 a little reality show was born thanks to the bad-ass Momager Kris Jenner. It starred a family of eight, 6 children and parents and followed them around as they lived their hectic and definitely never boring life! With Kris Jenner co-owning Smooch, a children's clothes boutique and the 3 older sisters (Kourtney, Kim and Khloe) owning Dash, a lot of their older shows were based around them learning how to balance their work lives with their personal lives. Now, however, Dash is rarely spoken about, Smooch closed down and their work lives have excelled amazingly over the last 10 years. Whilst the show helped Kardashian become a household name, it was their presence on social media which excelled them to fame.

Relationships.
The Kardashian/Jenner relationships are very well known, especially since a lot of their relationships are with well known people! Kris Jenner was married to Olympian Bruce Jenner. Kim famously married Chris Humphries and stayed married to him for a total of 30 days (he was an asshole Kim, we understand). She later married rapper Kanye West. Khloe was married to basketball player Lemar Odam, who she later divorced due to a long list of discrepancies and is now pregnant with Cleaveland Cavaliers player Tristan Thompson's child (never been more happy for a celebrity to be pregnant, fyi). Kourtney had a long term relationship with Lord Disick which ended due to his dependency with alcohol. Kendell Jenner likes to keep her relationships private but the rumour mill churns out a lot about her, eg Harry Styles, Blake Griffin, ASAP Rocky (this is embarrassing to admit but my four button which is also the dollar sign button isn't working on my laptop... so yeah). The youngest sister, Kylie's most known relationship was with rapper Tyga... she now could still be with rapper Travis Scott who she could also maybe or maybe not be pregnant with his child KYLIE JUST TELL US.

Social Media.
Social media has a massive part to play in the Kardashian's fame, like I've previously stated, they have over 440 million followers between them on Insta and 166.3 millions followers on Twitter. They always keep up with the latest trends, most of the time creating those trends themselves and constantly look effortlessly flawless. There is always something going on in the Kardashian family that will be news worthy, Khloe's pregnancy being the main big moment happening right now... and Kylie's possible pregnancy. My personal social media accounts are ALWAYS blowing up with conspiracy theories about the sisters and pap photos from their latest holidays. Even if I wanted to escape the family for a day, I don't think it would be possible. Like I said, you either love them or you love to hate them and either way you are posting about them to some sort of platform.

Like all good things, will it come to an end?
Will we eventually get sick of seeing their perfect faces every time we turn on the television or check our social media accounts? No doubt! But for now, with 10 seasons of KUWTK under their belts, multiple spin offs and countless business' they've got going on, I can't see it happening any time soon and I don't want it to. I, like many, are intrigued how the other half live and I'm not ashamed to admit that and if Kylie has had enough of being a Jenner then girl, let me take your place!

Thank you for reading,
Bryony x

Peel Face Mask Trial... Ouch.

You've seen the viral videos of people taking 'peel off' face masks off their faces and screaming because of how badly it hurts, they make for some good entertainment! After watching multiple I had a few questions- 1) do they work? 2) does it really hurt that much? 3) where do I buy them from. 

Purchasing a peel off mask.

Turns out you can buy them from pretty much any drug store/ supermarket/ online store and they're not that expensive at all. I ended up going for the Soap and Glory 'What a Peeling' de-clog mask. Can we just take a minute to appreciate the puns Soap and Glory come up with, I do love a good pun. Anyway, the things that first attracted me to this particular face mask was that it was pink, it was made by Soap and Glory and it comes with a tiny spatula type thing to apply the mask onto your face... and it was 3 for 2 on all Soap and Glory items at Boots. 

Applying the mask.

The spatula seemed like a good idea, no mess on my bathroom floor and easy application HOWEVER, I still somehow managed to get the mask all over my hands, eyebrows, hair line... you name it, I probably got face mask in it. It started to dry pretty quickly but I had to sit around for 20-25 minutes until it had properly set and had clung to all the little nasties in my pores, so I popped the kettle on.

Can you see the regret on my face?

Taking the mask off.
I've seen those videos of people screaming and near enough crying whilst taking their masks off and I can confirm... that they must be really good actors because it doesn't actually hurt at all. It's more of an odd feeling, like you're peeling off a layer of skin, which sounds painful, but really isn't. I mean, my eyes watered a couple of times but that was probably the mask pulling out any unwanted moustache hairs hanging around my lip so I'm kind of grateful.

The results.
SO MUCH CRAP CAME OUT OF MY PORES. It is oddly satisfying to have a look at how much came out actually, I was studying the mask for about 10 minutes finding all these bits that had come out of my face. My skin felt amazing and so smooth! A couple of days later I did have quite a bad skin breakout and I honestly don't know whether that was because of the mask or because my skin hates me even when I try my best to keep it happy, who knows.

I think everyone should experience a peel off face mask at least once in their life and I can totally recommend the Soap & Glory de-clog masks!

Thank you for reading,
Bryony x

Influenster X Rimmel London Vox Box Review

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. It's a day late but better late than never, right?

Now down to business! I have been sent my first ever Vox Box by Influenster and my god, was it a good’un. I have the privelidge of testing 8 of Rimmel London’s new products for free! I will say now that this is an AD and I received this box for free in exchange for my honest reviews.

The Products.
As I said previously, I was sent a total of 8 products: Lip Art in shades Pearlescent, Gold and Blush; Ink Me Eye & Body Liners in shades Golden Gang and Pitch Black; Ink Me Sticker Tattoos; Glitter Top Coat in shade Ruby Crush and the Wonder'fully Real Mascara.

Wonder'fully Real Mascara.

I was so excited to get my hands on all of these products. The Wonder'fully Real Mascara was definitely top on my list to try because I had been looking for a new mascara for a while. While the results are amazing, some people may find the mascara to be quite thick and clumpy. I personally love the clumpy look. Another thing I will say about the mascara is that it takes a while to dry, being a mother of two children who love me so much they don't let me have 2 minutes to myself (including bathroom trips), I need a mascara that will apply fast and dry even quicker.

Lip Art.

These shades will go with any lipstick you own! I have tried mine with multiple matte shades, I am yet to try them with any thing other than matte lipsticks. I love the look it gives and the dimension it gives to your look. However, you need to make sure your lipstick of choice is completely dry before you apply this product otherwise I find it mixes together and creates an odd colouring. The product also doesn't dry so if you have a drink or some food then you may have to reapply afterwards.

These are the results of the mascara and the Lip Art

(wearing matte black liquid lipstick with shade Pearlescent over the top)

Ink Me Eye & Body Liners.

I had been looking for a gold liner for a while for the festive period and this one did not disappoint me at all. Its easy applicable (as easy as liquid eyeliner can be to apply) and the pigment is really strong with both shades so you don't have to go over your lines again and again. I have only tried them on my eyes, I haven't ventured into drawing on my body yet, my tattooist does that for me, but I can imagine the results would be the same no matter where you applied it. I personally prefer the felt tip kind of liquid eyeliner and this application brush is flimsy BUT I still found the product easy to apply. The product does smudge so that is something to consider before buying it but as long as you don't sweat, cry or rub your eyes... you'll be fine.

Ink Me Sticker Tattoos.

I really don't have a lot to say about this product if I'm completely honest. They're not something I would usually wear in my day to day life. However, if they are something that you would wear then they are worth a purchase. They go on easy and I'm not going to lie to you all, I applied stars around cheek bone, temple and eyebrow and pretended to be Kat Von D for the day... don't judge me. 

Glitter Top Coat.

Now, again, I'm not someone who would really wear this product because in the line of work I do any nail varnish I wear will come off. That being said, the shade they sent was perfect for the festive period and I loved it! It does blatantly say in the product name that it is intended as a top coat but I am a rebel and didn't bother putting a colour underneath. It still works and its still beautiful but I would recommend putting a colour on underneath because it will make it look even more pretty. If you're someone who loves to sparkle on a daily basis (because who wouldn't if you could?) then this product is a must buy! 

Thank you's and where to buy!

I would like to thank Influenster for sending me this VoxBox and I would like to thank Rimmel London for bringing out/sending these products because I love them! You will find all of these products on the Boots website by searching for Rimmel London and then clicking on 'Whats New', they currently have an offer on of Buy 1 get 1 half price! You can also purchase these from Superdrug who have the offer of  3 for 2 on Rimmel London plus you get a Wonder'fully Real Mascara for FREE when you purchase any 3 products. Is this where I should hashtag Ad? Cause #AD. 

Thank you for reading!

Bryony x