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Liv

Travel: Marrakech Me If You Can

The vibrant colours, food and striking décor are just a few reasons that Marrakech has been on my hit list for quite a while. So it was about time to take a trip there and from speaking to people who had visited, it seems a few days is plenty.

Accommodation: Hotels in Morocco, known as Riads, tend to be fairly small and include open courtyards and mini pools which keep the temperature cool throughout. All you see outside these amazing riads is just a plain wall and a large door with no idea of what is in store.

We stayed in Riad Adore, which although is rated highly on Trip Advisor still exceeded our expectations. It's fairly small but much more spacious and bright than I could tell from the images on the website. The décor is modern fresh white and grey, though with traditional elements.

Zahia Room at Riad Adore

The Bathroom 

This is located in the heart of Marrakech, five minutes from the hustle and bustle. Though as with most places in Marrakech you have to walk down numerous back streets to find it. It is close to impossible not to get lost at least once, I can't say I'm normally good with direction but Marc is brilliant....yet he even begun blaming the maps when we just could not navigate our way around. You have to rely on the small signs i.e turn left at the dumpster, right after the third grate and left before the stained glass window.

The Library at Riad Adore

The staff are so helpful and accommodating. The owner, a British man will also help guide you to anywhere you are planning to go (which as explained you need as much guidance on directions as possible).

Day trips: We decided to do one day-trip to the Atlas Mountains on our first day. A word of warning, and probably an obvious suggestion to most, wear appropriate footwear. I opted for fashion not functional with my girly sandals...oops.

The trip included a visit to see Argan Oil being made which was really interesting and they had so many variants to buy. I had to stop myself from buying the shop so just opted for the citrus argan oil it smells so good.

Markets: we were warned that you get so much hassle in the souks but I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps due to having visited places in Asia where the sellers follow you around shops, in comparison this was refreshing. Sure people approach you as soon as you show interest but you simply have to say no thank you and they retreat.

Food: Every meal we had was delicious, however I can imagine if we stayed there longer than three days it would become a bit 'same-y'. We pretty much had a tagine for every meal.

Even the breakfast was great in the riad, this always included Moroccan bread, jams, juice, tea, fruit and then special pastries and pancakes which varied each day.

Breakfast at Riad Adore

One night we had dinner at riad Kniza, which seems to be famous amongst celebs judging by the amount of photos the owner has with A-listers which adorn their bookshelf.  When we first entered the dining room it was empty and seriously lacking some atmosphere but before long it began filling up and everyone was so friendly we found ourselves chatting to most tables. 

Moroccan salads at Riad Kniza

The dinner was incredible they just kept bringing more courses, we had soup with bread, pastilles, delicious Moroccan salads, huge tagines and then desert....we were stuffed and pretty much had to roll back to our riad but it was brilliant and highly recommend anyone to go for dinner there. 

Dinner at La Sultana

Another night we tried La Sultana, where I opted for the Moroccan salads to start, which I love, usually consists of an aubergine dish, carrots, lentils etc. For my main I went with fish which although was nice I don't think it's their strong point. The setting was gorgeous, the atmosphere was more romantic with dimly lit tables outside by the pool with a musician playing.

Spa: Three days of Moroccan mountains and markets do mean of course a trip to the spa is a must and when choosing which treatment to opt for, I always feel it’s important to try out the local pampering custom.

In Morocco it’s all about the Hammam, so that was our decision made. Let’s just say I was not ready for what was in store, the first half of this ‘treatment’ involves a steam room. Sounds pleasant enough. I guess it depends on what lady you get but mine was pretty scary and with no word of warning marched in and poured a bucket of water over me at intervals before scrubbing me.

Mythic Oriental Spa

Not to knock their tradition as I’m sure some people love the cleansing element of this but I’d rather clean myself thank you very much!

Overall a brilliant trip, I couldn't believe I was only there for a long weekend. If you are after exciting culture, delicious food, friendly people (those that don't try to rip you off) and markets to get lost in try Marrakech...just ditch the map and enjoy getting lost!

Liv x

Beauty: Skin Revivals Oils

Even though argan and plant-based oils have been used in beauty treatments for centuries, it seems that over the past year face and hair oils have been hailed as the 'new' beauty miracle products.

I work in central London and as much as I love it, the commute and pollution definitely takes its toll on my skin, making it look and feel dull. This brings me to facial oils, which are known to help revitalise your skin, they dissolve impurities in the skin far better than water based products. 

At first I struggled with the idea of facial oils, I have combination skin so the thought of smothering my face in oil was not something I jumped at. However, I have now embraced these and am a bit of a fan.

The new Skin Revivals Facial Oils are 100% natural, the products that caught my eye were the Vitamin Boost, Anti-Ageing Facial Blend and of course Organic Argan Oil.

Just a couple of drops applied daily and you already feel the difference, my skin feels more hydrated and brighter.

Vitamin Boost Blend £9.50:

Any product with the word 'vitamin' in the title and I'm sold. I use this in the morning after cleansing my face, for maximum effects the tip is to apply this when your skin is still moist to help lock in the moisture. My skin does feel greasy at first, so I try to apply it early enough for it to sink in before applying my make up.

Anti-Ageing Facial Blend £11.50:

I have been applying this before bed, again after cleansing my face. I feel as though it is getting to work as I sleep which is great. I love the smell, it is a really refreshing citrus scent. This contains Evening Primrose, Argan Oil, Rosehip Oil, Sea buckthorn Oil (which consists of vitamins A and E) and Mandarin Oil.

Pure Organic Argan Oil £11.00:

Argan Oil is the magic ingredient, claimed to nourish and protect skin, hair and nails. It contains vitamin E, essential fatty acids and antioxidants as well as being renowned for its anti-ageing properties. As I have been using the other two products for my skin, I have used this on my hair and nails, it has been brilliant at helping to keep my nails strong as the weather has turned cold.

These products are all available in 25ml dropper bottles from www.beautynaturals.com

Liv x

Nails: Halloween Style

It has to be said I love Halloween, it's an excuse to dress up, have a party and eat fun food. So to embrace this, I've tried out a few Halloween inspired nail art designs for you, using only the 4x nail polishes listed below and a toothpick.

Seche - 'Seche Base' - when painting your nails bright or black it's important to protect your nails
OPI - 'Roll In The Hague'
Nails Inc - 'Floral Street'
Rimmel - 'Black Cab Lasting Finish' (N.B. this is so glossy without even a topcoat)

First up the Jack Skellington

Skeleton and bats

Spider and Cobwebs

Eyes in the Dark

 

Liv x

Creative Inspiration: Dreamtime Scenes

People inspire me every day by being creative, motivated or just positive when times are tough.

Here's some creative inspiration for you; artist Queenie Liao has produced these beautiful photographs of her child's dreams by using basic household items such as sheets, books and teddies for the backgrounds.

Using her imagination she has created magical fairytale-like scenes showing her baby’s journey through his dreams. Below are just a few from her album ‘Wengenn in Wonderland’ which is a collection of over 100 photos...

 

 

To see the album click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tLfIxLLUxM&list=HL1382544574

 

Liv x

*source BoredPanda.org

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Beauty: Skinny Tan Review

I'm not a big self tanner, mainly due to the fact that I don't trust myself to get an even coverage. However, like most girls, I do like to have a bit of a glow for a special occasion.

Skinny Tan first caught my eye on Dragons Den when co-founders Kate Cotton and Louise Ferguson pitched to the Dragons and won the backing from both Kelly Hoppen and Piers Linney. They presented the range as a coconut-scented self tanner that features cellulite reducing ingredients - so win, win! 

I decided to try out the 7-Day Tanner and the Gradual Tanner.

First up was the 7-Day Tanner which includes a guide tan so you can see where you are applying it. This is important for me as you will learn later on. You apply this before bed and then wash it off in the morning to reveal a natural looking tan.

To illustrate this product I used it on half of my stomach:

Left: 7 Day Tanner. Right: None

Rather than the normal biscuit aroma, this product provides a light coconut fragrance and the colour looks great. 

Next up was the Gradual Tanner, which let's just say I had a bit of a nightmare with. I squeezed far too much out and then realised it wasn't rubbing in...oh oh...so needless to say I woke up the next day looking fairly patchy and orange.

A little tip should this problem occur, dab some toner on to cotton wool and wipe the skin where the streaks have appeared - this helps to blend the tan.

As a result of the above, I much prefer to see the lotion on my skin, and therefore the 7-Day Tanner is the obvious winner for me.

Left: Gradual Tanner. Right: 7 Day Tanner

Verdict:

The 7-Day Tanner provides an even coverage, natural colour and is easy to apply. However, it does come out fairly pale so one to perhaps build up if you are after a stronger colour.

The Gradual Tanner is not one for me but probably a good tanner for those more experienced self tanners!

Visit http://www.skinnytan.co.uk/ to purchase 7-Day Tanner £26.99, the Gradual Tanner £19.99 and many more products.

Liv x

Afternoon Tea: The W Rock Tea

Me and the girls LOVE afternoon teas, it's kinda our thing. So we are always on the hunt for the next one.

This time we decided to try out the W Rock Tea at The W Hotel on Wardour Street.

The W Hotel is located in the busiest area of town in between Leicester Square and Piccadilly however as soon as you walk through the doors you forget you are in the middle of the hustle and bustle. The lobby isn’t anything special however we headed straight up to the lounge which is gorgeous. It's spacious and bright but still comfortable with deep sofas to lounge on...and recline after you're full.

The afternoon tea is served on a 3x tiered stand that looks as though it is made from gold vinyl records and each element of the tea is named after iconic rock albums such as The Clash’s ‘London’s Burning’, Rolling Stone’s ‘Sticky Fingers’ which is brilliantly created out of meringue and shaped to look like the Rolling Stones mouth.

The girls ordered the peach iced tea which of course arrived looking like a swish cocktail with frosted mint leaves and berrys. The sandwiches were tasty, but the main attraction, of course, was the sweet treats. My favourite had to be the ‘Cherry Bomb’ and ‘Purple Haze’ mainly for my love of marzipan.

I’m not a huge fan of scones, they are pleasant, but I can take or leave them. However, according to my review panel (aka ‘the girls’) they were perfect; soft with the right amount of crumbliness I believe was the verdict. 

Full moon....

..nom nom..

...half moon...

...almost total eclipse..

Overall Verdict:
Great décor, delicious food, comfy seats...if you get the right ones, my friend and I got lumbered with the stools which weren’t as comfortable so that would be the main downside. Apart from that I highly recommend this as an afternoon tea treat, for something a bit different yet still includes the classics that you crave for an afternoon tea.

Liv x

Haircare: NutriHair Trial

I've been having an argument with my hair for about a year now, or at least I think that's how long, point is I can't remember when it started but I've noticed it has become so thin and in bad condition, yet I don't know why.

I've tried everything; hair treatments, serums, specially designed shampoos, hair masks you name it I've used it. So why does does my hair seem to lack the oomph it used to? 

The main problem is how thin my hair has become, it must have been a gradual change as I never used to have thin hair. From this picture you will see what I mean - this is ALL my hair!

So it's time to try a new approach and make changes from within, according to research there is a strong link with hair shedding / thinning and low iron.

I am going to trial a haircare supplement and fingers crossed this makes a difference. NutriHair is recommended for women who have reduced hair volume compared with several years ago - tick, or who have noticed hair shedding more than before - tick.

They recommend to take 2-3 tablets a day for up to six months and after reading the glowing reviews most people see a difference after about 3 or 4 months so here's hoping.

I'll let you know how I get on in a few months time.

Nutrihair (£24 for 180 tablets, visit www.naturesbest.co.uk to buy)

Liv x

Skincare: Top 3 Cleansing Products

I’ve always been an avid follower of the ‘Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise’ regime but back in my student days these consisted of cheap high street cleansers, toners and moisturisers until I was introduced to the brand Elemis - then everything changed and I realised the importance of using good quality skincare.

Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser

Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser

Compared to the previous cleansers I had used, this product made my skin feel really clean. Rather than just removing the top layer of makeup I could see it had got rid of all dirt and grime from the day yet without stripping the skin of moisture.

I also have the Balancing Lavender Toner which compliments this product and helps to close the pores after cleansing.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - Hot Cloth Cleanser -

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

About two years ago I attended a beauty awards event and was so excited to see the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish in my goody bag. I had heard such great things about this product as well as the brand as a whole so had high expectations...it didn’t disappoint.

This is a much thicker cream and smells so fresh, it is made from natural ingredients such as Eucalyptus oil and Beeswax so you know it's good for your skin. After massaging one or two pumps of this on to your face you then run the muslin cloth under warm water and wipe it off, this also acts as an exfoliator.

This makes your skin feel so fresh and tingly!

Left: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. Right: Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser

The only down side is the effort, I realise that makes me sound lazy but after a hard day the thought of smothering my face in a thick cleanser and taking time removing it with the cloth...I'd rather just use a lighter, quick cleanser you can remove with cotton pads. Therefore, I tend to use this about once a week or at the weekends to thoroughly clean my skin.

Clarisonic Mia

After much hype around the Clarisonic from the press to the celebs (Millie Mackintosh swears by it...and from looking at her glowing complexion she's a pretty good advert!) I was so happy to get a Clarisonic Mia of my own about a year ago.

I would love to say I have used it religiously ever since, but noting my earlier comment reality is I do go through phases of using it lots and then not for a while. However, when I do use it I notice the difference in my complexion. 

Clarisonic uses small sonic vibrations of up to 300 movements a second, to help clean, soften and smooth your skin. They state that you can use it up to twice a day but I would say it's probably best to use it every few days so to not over exfoliate your skin. However, the great aspect of the Clarisonic Mia is that it isn't harsh at all instead it provides gentle cleansing process but I always believe in balance and not to overdo it. 

Another great element of this product is that it alerts you to move on to the next area of your face with a series of beeps. I like this feature as it makes me feel I have spent enough time for my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. 

One thing to note that gets me every time is that it can feel a bit ticklish especially around your nose...every time I use it on my nose I have uncontrollable giggles! 

After using it a few times a week for a few weeks my face felt noticeably smoother and looked much clearer. I also feel that it must be helping to tone my skin due to the vibrations, this will help prevent sagging and loose skin in years to come.

To conclude

Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser for everyday use, Liz Earle Cleans & Polish to really clean the skin and for deeper longer lasting results also use the Clarisonic Mia a few times a week.

Liv x