Protein World

A while a go I was given the opportunity to trial Protein World’s premium weight loss package. I’ve been trying to shed the pounds I’ve gained since re-starting office work, and a quick fix like slimming shakes did seem appealing. However I’ve always been quite sceptical of diets like these, shakes and pills seem unhealthy and I’ve had a few friends who have had bad experiences with similar diets, light headedness, shaking and racing hearts have been common side effects.

I also know people who have done really well in shedding stones with these kinds of diets, only to pile the weight back on the second they stop having the meal replacements, shakes etc. Despite this I felt safe enough to give Protein World a go after a lot of research and reassurance from the brand.

So I stared my Protein World journey about two months ago now and overall it has been a success, I’ve lost 14lbs (1 stone) in total, although it has not been without its downfalls. In the weight loss package I received a tub of the best-selling slender blend protein powder, a tub of slender blend capsules, a tub of multi-vitamin capsules, a protein shaker and a weight loss guide; full of recipes and weight loss tips and tricks. Protein World also sent me a sheet of super cute gold transfer tattoos!

Each day you are advised to have two shakes (one for breakfast and lunch) and a balanced and healthy evening meal. You are advised to take one vitamin in the morning and one in the evening and slender blend capsule with your breakfast shake and one with your lunchtime shake. This goes up to two capsules in the morning and two at lunch after your first week.

My first week I was really committed, I stuck to a healthy diet and paid great attention to calories, fats and balanced meals. I managed to lose 6lbs in just seven days! That weekend I went away to Liverpool, taking my shakes with me! I stuck to a reasonably balanced diet, food-wise, but drank quite a bit of alcohol one night and was horrified to find that I’d put 4lbs back on when I got home!

I stuck to my diet after that and as I said lost a stone in two months, but in the first few weeks I felt a lack of energy and motivation – something I couldn’t rectify with coffee as it’s one of the ‘bad’ drinks listed by Protein World! However after about three weeks I was back to normal and was adjusting well to the new routine.

Over-all it’s been a pretty decent experience. The shakes and capsules have been easy to transport to and from the office and has worked out cheaper than my daily meals. Also the weight loss part has obviously been pretty successful and I’m feeling a lot better about my weight!

My one concern is the speed at which a managed to regain the weight I lost after a small binge! I would suggest weaning yourself off the shakes, rather than stopping outright, to anyone wanting to try Protein World. Your appetite should be smaller after trying this diet for a while so weaning yourself back onto normal foods by trying soups and light salads for a while instead of stuffing yourself will definitely benefit you more.

I think I’ll carry on with Protein World for a while longer and see if I continue to lose weight and feel healthier. If anyone else wants to give it a go you can click THIS link. If you do try it, and at any point start to feel unwell, do get in touch with a doctor immediately or tell a family member who’ll be able to help you – do not continue with the shakes until you are sure you are safe to do so!

Also I’d like to take this opportunity to tell any of my followers who are struggling with their weight, or any insecurities, that I’m here to help! No matter the time or day, no matter how insignificant or strange you feel your problems may be – I am always happy to listen. I will try my best to help and offer advice, or at least offer you the details of those who’ll be able to offer the best help for you. Just remember you’re not alone!

Have you ever tried Protein World? Or do you have any interesting diets that you would recommend? Let me know in a comment below!

October BirchBox

 So it’s Birchbox time again and we’re going back to basics with October’s box of goodies! The Birch team have designed a box that will help take you back to your beauty essentials! From cleansing products to cosmetics, this box has all the bits and bobs you’ll need to get ready for the cold months ahead!

The October box contains a full sized Eyeko: Fat liquid eyeliner, a full sized Seche Vite dry fast top coat, a Bioderma mini micellar water, a Regenerate Enamel Science advanced toothpaste, a Beaver professional Hydro Nutritive moisturising shampoo, plus a Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive moisturising conditioner!

The Eyeko pen is a super black, anti-smudge eye liner that costs £12 from the Birch store. I love this product and it really is smudge proof, however I’ve found it to be too thick for everyday wear and have resorted to saving it for nights out where bold and black eye makeup is more acceptable! It’s the perfect product for wearing under fake eyelashes – which I’ll be wearing a lot of over the festive seasons! Buy your Eyeko fat liner HERE.

Seche Vite is a brand I’m really fond of, so I was super excited to get their top coat. You can layer on this product pretty thick and it will still dry in minutes, it’s recommended you top up the product after three days to prolong the life of your ‘at home’ mani, but I’ve found it lasts longer than three days without reapplying. This product also doubles as a great base coat if you want to make your nail polish easier to remover and reduce the risk of stained nails! You can get your top coat for £9 HERE.

I’ve already posted about how much I love Garnier’s Micellar Water in my Bedside Routine post, so I was pretty excited to try out more Micellars! The Bioderma Sensibio H2O is £10.20 for a full size product and is really good for smoothing impurities and removing make up. It’s a really good product and does exactly what it says on the tin, but I think I’ll stick to my Garnier product just because it’s better value! However if you do want to try the Sensibio you can get it HERE.

The Regenerate toothpaste was a really nice and thick product which felt really good and hard working when I brushed my teeth. However after using BOCA for so long I was really worried about the chemicals it might contain. Turns out it’s not all that bad and helps to reverse invisible signs of enamel erosion, as well as protecting against cavities and whitening your teeth. A good product over-all but I think I’ll be sticking to my BOCA. You can get Regenerate’s toothpaste for £10 HERE.

The Beaver Professional shampoo and conditioner uses the natural benefits of avocado oil and aloe vera to repair your luscious locks, leaving it soft and smooth. I loved this product the shampoo was great on its own and left my hair silky smooth and the conditioner is great for when your hair is feeling a little frazzled! I will definitely be purchasing these products in the future! The shampoo costs £11.50 and the conditioner is £12 – shop them both HERE!

There’s still time to get your hands on the October box – just follow THIS link. Have you ever tried Birchbox or any of the above products? What did you think of my reviews? Let me know in a comment below!

Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm*

I recently received a sample of the Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating flash balm to review, I'm a big fan of Elemis products but had never tried this particular one, so I was really excited to give it a go. This skin radiance flash balm promises to brighten, smooth and rejuvenate the skin to give you a more youthful and healthy looking complexion.

Although I'm only 20 I do worry about wrinkles and having old looking skin, so a product that promises to give me a 'smooth and even complexion' and 'dewy luminosity' was one that I couldn't miss out on!

Elemis state that the product will: "Instantly brighten the complexion and exude health and vitality". The balm is formulated with a powerful vitamin complex that protects against moisture loss, whilst the Purple Orchid, Noni and Acai used in the formula help to defend the skin against early signs of aging e.g. the stress lines I'm starting to get on my forehead and under my eyes!

Ultimately Elemis promise that the flash balm will reveal a smooth, even and dewy luminosity that you never even knew was achievable! But did it do everything it said on the tin?

My first impressions of the moisturiser were good, it's a light product so it doesn't feel cloggy when you apply it to your face. I used it for a week straight to see the full result and I have to say I was slightly disappointed.

Now I wasn't expecting to see my face completely crease and flaw free however I did expect to see some change. The dewy look that was promised looked more like greasy skin and the most significant improvement to my face was that the dry skin around my nose had gone - achievable by using Asda's own smart price moisturiser.

That was about all I got from this product. Does it make a good moisturiser? Yes it does keep your skin fresh and moisturised. Does it give everything it promises? No it doesn't. Is it worth the price? Definitely not.

At £32 for 50ml this product really isn't worth the price as you can get the same results from using a drugstore moisturiser that costs around £5. The product was okay but not worth the price and I probably wouldn't use it again. However if you do want to try out for yourself you can shop the product here.

Let me know if you've ever tried any other Elemis products, as I'd like to know if they have other products that are better and this was just a one off or if they're all just average, by leaving a comment below!