FACE | Urban Escape at Belfast Met

New Year, New You? But what if you’ve spent all your money on the Christmas you? And now you’ve nothing left to invest in all the resolutions you made to get your summer body kick started this cold winter?

Well, one thing you can do is cut down on hair and beauty charges by heading along to Urban Escape at Belfast Met – a fully functioning hair and beauty salon which is run by experts and manned by stylists and therapists in training.

It is open every Friday for appointments from 9am-12 midday and the range of treatments serves most beauty purposes – everything from dry flotation tank therapy to massages, waxes, manicures, pedicures and facial treatments as well as a full range of hair treatments and services.

I popped along last month for a fab Dermalogica facial, plus a full body massage AND a blow dry (which turned into a trim) and I loved the treatments and the prices.

I also met some lovely people too – from the older 80-something gentleman who chatted charmingly with me before we both went in for our massages, to my therapists Emma and Georgia plus my hairdresser Michael Keogh who came to Belfast from Dublin a decade ago and hasn’t looked back.

The only downside, if you’re funny like that, is that the beauty therapists work in one large room, with the beauty beds separated by curtains, but this didn’t put me off whatsoever and in fact I heard my older pal chatting away about his joints on another bed nearby – and that brought me a wee smile. The therapists may still be in training but the service I received from Georgia and Emma was amazing – they took direction well when I asked about pressure during massage and later when I (probably very annoyingly) asked Emma what each product was as she worked through the steps of the facial. It’s important to note that most of the staff working on clients here are already out in the beauty industry and not complete rookies going crazy on your skin and hair!

My hairdresser Michael, who works in George salon in Church Lane,  complimented my hair (it is almost as long as Rapunzel’s) but we agreed to chop a bit off to take a few dead ends away. Looking at his photo now I wish he’d actually taken more off – but again, I was very pleased with his work.

All in all I loved the treatments and felt revived and refreshed afterwards. I definitely recommend a trip down – your purse will thank you for it! As will your feet – there is ample car parking underneath the building too.

For further details or to book an appointment contact Sandra on 028 9026 5000 ext. 3299 or email sjohnston@belfastmet.ac.uk 

My product of the week this week is the Skinician Hand Cream:  It’s so important to ensure you protect your hands from the winter elements this season using local product Skinician Luxe Hand Lotion (£15.00 from Skinician.com). The skin on our hands is much thinner than on the rest of our body and therefore much more prone to drying out quickly – particularly when they are regularly exposed at this time of year.  Your hands are also a tell-tale sign of age so be sure to keep yours looking, and feeling, soft and youthful this winter using Skinician’s nourishing combination of soothing Aloe Vera and deeply hydrating Cocoa butter, Shea butter and the ever-reliable Vitamin E.

IS CHEATING EVER OK?

A Sex Therapist Explains

I’ve been cheated on by a partner I adored - and whom I thought adored me. It absolutely shattered my heart and the core of my very being; and it took a long while to heal from because it was the worst kind of cheating - the serial and continued type, and with women he paid for. I am still healing and learning to accept and move on from it, so when I came across this article on Mind Body Green by therapist Robert Weiss, I devoured it - it resonated so much with me, so I felt I had to share it here again; because although my self-esteem, my self-confidence, my trust - and even my will to live - lay on the floor for months, I can tell you that there is life after infidelity, if you work your way through acceptance and accept loved ones’ honesty when the mistrust and lies dissipate.  It’s not easy, and it’s not a path that works for everyone (myself included), but it is possible.

And for anyone who wants to know, Robert’s right, number 3 IS the worst part. For me, the worst part wasn’t the sexual act with someone else, it was the lies and the deceit - and then the gaslighting when he was found out.

MBG//Robert Weiss:

In my book, I define infidelity as the breaking of trust that occurs when you keep intimate, meaningful secrets from your primary romantic partner.

I use this definition for three very important reasons:

  1. It encompasses both online and real-world sexual activity. Thus, it is effective in the digital era.

  2. It encompasses sexual activities other than actual penis-in-vagina intercourse.

  3. It focuses on the loss of relationship trust rather than on specific sexual and/or romantic acts.

Based on both research and clinical experience, I can tell you that the third item on that list—the loss of relationship trust—is by far the most important facet of infidelity. Put simply, for a cheated-on partner it's not any specific sexual or romantic act that causes the most pain; instead, it's the lying, the secrets, and the newfound inability to believe anything the cheater says or does.

So is there ever a good reason to engage in infidelity? In my opinion, there is not.

This does not, however, mean that every relationship must be monogamous. In fact, many couples that I know, both personally and professionally, have perfectly happy relationships that are, in one way or another, nonmonogamous. That said, having a relationship that is not monogamous in the traditional "till death do us part" sense is not something one partner should ever force onto or keep secret from his or her significant other.

Instead, open relationships should be approached with integrity, with both partners having an equal say and mutually agreeing, without coercion of any kind, that certain activities are (or are not) acceptable within the bounds of their relationship.

There are many reasons for a couple to have some form of an open relationship, including but by no means limited to the following:

  • Both partners are tech-savvy and enjoy using things like digital pornography, webcam sex, sexting, and hookup apps, and neither wants to give these things up just because they're in a committed romantic relationship.

  • One partner has a much greater sex drive than the other, and they can mutually agree that satisfying this drive, within certain limits, is acceptable.

  • One partner consistently refuses to have sex or is reviled by the experience of sex and doesn't mind if the other partner seeks sex elsewhere.

  • A couple is separated for long periods of time thanks to career, family, or other commitments, and both still want to have an active in-person (rather than purely digital) sex life.

Any and all of the above are perfectly good reasons for having a nonmonogamous relationship. However, there is no excuse for doing this in secret. If two people truly love each other, and they are psychologically capable of having an honest, open-minded discussion about their sexual desires, that is the approach they should take.

Consider the case of Sam and Mary. In 2005, Mary was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident. Afterward, she was unable to perform sexually. Plus, she lost all interest in sex. For Sam, this was a problem. Because they loved each other very much and had no interest in ending their marriage, they were able to mutually agree on certain sexual boundaries. For instance, Sam could watch and masturbate to porn, and if he truly felt the need for physical sexual contact he could hire an escort. He did not need to tell Mary about his use of porn or escorts, but he did need to be honest afterward if she asked him where he'd been or what he'd been doing. Twelve years later, they are still happily married.

My point here is that monogamy and traditional visions of marriage and fidelity are not absolutes in today's world. Many couples happily engage in all sorts of sextracurricular activity with the knowledge and consent of their primary partner. Sometimes these relationships are open from the start; other times life creates circumstances where sex outside a previously monogamous relationship makes sense.

As long as secrets aren't kept and lies aren't being told, such behavior does not qualify as cheating. As such, as stated above, it is my belief that there is never a good reason to betray a partner by engaging in infidelity.

This material is based on the book, Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss.

Credit: The original article is here:  

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-29017/is-cheating-ever-ok-a-sex-therapist-explains.html

FACE | LUSH CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Christmas Gifts That Go Down A BOMB!

What is a bath without a bomb?  This week I took a trip into LUSH in Belfast city centre and was BLOWN AWAY by these fantastic bath bombs which make perfect sticking fillers for guys and girls of any age. I mean, how could you not love a LUSH bath bomb?!

Check out these new releases available now…

Never mind the ballistics…  Watch the sunset has you relax in the tub with this red and yellow coloured bath bomb which meshes together to form a beautiful sunset orange colour.  The cocao butter will soften your skin give it that wonderfulsun-kissed glow.

Mistletoes!  You’ll feel like your skin has been kissed when this bath bomb melts in the water - it will give you a truly sensual experience, with its romantic fragrances and deep purple colour. Oh-er!

Father Christmas Bath Bomb Feel ho-ho-wholly relaxed when you drop this Christmas spirited bath bomb in to the tub.  With the red and green colours fizzing in the tub you’ll get a warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling instantly.

Luxury Pud  Lavish yourself with this Christmas dessert treat has you drift away to the rich smell of lavender and comfortingfoam.

These pretty white star bombs will look just as cool on your bathside as they will whizzing around the tub working their magic! Feel ultimate relaxation as this star bath bomb melts into dust, the gorgeous scent of vanilla and rose wood, before the citrus kicks in and awakens your mind and body giving you a boost of energy. You will leave the tub glowing like a star.

Shoot for the Night Stars Soak in a pool of midnight blue as the shimmering coca butter and olive oil stars dissolve into your skin, and enjoy the sweet orange and bergamot oils aroma … you will feel like you are floating amongst the stars.

Northern Lights Watch in amazement as your bathtub magically explodes with colour and popping candy creating a night sky covered in an array of dazzling stars, you will feel as though you are floating with the stars as you breathe in the scents of floral jasmine and ylang ylang.

Butterbear Brrrrr.. its cold outside and this is the perfect bath bomb to beat the winter blues, warm and relaxing coca butter and sweet vanilla and yang you will feel cosy in the tub and your skin will feelgorgeously soft and hydrated.

Ruby red slippers Step into Christmas with this gorgeous ruby red glittering bubble bar with spiced clove oil and floral carnations.

Snowie ‘Bowie’ bubble bar This alternative bubble bar is inspired by David Bowie with the coloured flashes and eyes. The scents of grapefruit, uplifting neroli and floral rose will hit you as you lye in the tub.

Santasaurus Bubble Bar  

This Christmas themed Santa-saurus bubble bar is perfect for young children and will bring some excitement to bath time.  Ivy green with comforting honey, refreshing orange and fruity bergamot will create a wonderful scent in the bath your child will be roaring to get into.

Cinnamon Stick…. Enjoy the festive feeling with a wave of this cinnamon stick watch as bubbles appear as if by magic   with cinnamon leaf and Fair Trade organic clove refreshes your skin and gives you that ready for Christmas feeling.

Princess Wand Fabulously pretty and pink this wand will create a cotton candy like pool of bubbles you will be enchanted by as the sweet vanilla scent sends you into a drifting daydream.

Christmas Penguin Let it snow with this small cute blue penguin will bring a white winter feeling to the bathtub with a beautifulblend of lemon oils, floral and citrus aromas refreshing you as you lie in the winter wonderland.

Snow Angel: Relax in a warm blanket of snow with mounds of white foam; the shimmering gold will leave you with an angelic glow. The Sweet marzipan scent and cocoa butter softening your skin you will feel as though you have been touched by an angel.

This creamy Snow Castle soap will make you feel like the queen of the castle as you treat yourself with the luxurious coconut oil and almond – which leaves you with silky smooth skin.

Santa’s post box – love this cute soap! You won’t be disappointed with this delivery with the citrus fragrance and sweet orange flower with bergamot oils.

Reindeer Rock It would be RUDE-OLPH not to try this cool reindeer pebble soap with a rich aroma of roses and lingonberries you skin will feel beautifully comforted and cleansed.

Papa Noel Shower Jelly… Lather and massage gently over the skin to cleanse and gently exfoliate. The citrus blends will leave your skin feeling rejuvenated with the refreshing trio of lemon, lime and tangerine.

Santa’s Belly Shower Jelly This jolly, jelly belly gel soap is back for 2016 with a new and improved shape. Red wine, star anise, and refreshing apple fragrance this belly of jelly is ready to burst with an infusion of fragrances.

Snowman Shower Jelly This is one snowman you’ll not worry about melting this winter as the citrus infusion of Sicilian lemon and bergamot oils melts onto your skin and your skin is left nourished and hydratedfrom the carrageenan powder.

So there you have it… Stocking fillers? Sorted!

Merry Christmas everyone!

FACE | COSMEDIX AT THE MERCHANT

So all this Christmas gift-giving and drinks quaffing got me thinking about a nice gift-to-self… Between parties and social occasions, I was craving some me-time, just getting away from it all and cleansing my skin between indulgent dinners and drinks. So where better than the calm sanctuary of the spa at The Merchant Hotel for my treat? And what better range of products than the newly arrived Cosmedix range for a clinical clean with all the luxury of a 5 star spa?!  

On arrival my therapist Eithne greeted me and reminded me that she had treated me previously in another spa a few years ago. It was lovely of her to remember – and even lovelier of her to be so gracious when I didn’t remember at first! We got straight down to business and kick started with not just one, but THREE cleansing steps! We began with a deep cleanse using the Purity Solution Oil Cleanser to remove any make up and surface debris. It turns out I had quite a bit! This was followed by the Benefit Cleanser to clean and condition the skin and lastly, the Purity Clean to deep clean and gently exfoliate the skin. In this treatment the thorough cleanse will ensure the active ingredients in the later exfoliator and Blueberry Smoothie treatment can easily penetrate the skin for best results.  After the three stage cleansing, we took a deep look at my skin with a 7-point skin analysis using the Woods UV lamp which shows up any sun damage, dehydration, oiliness, sensitivity/broken capillaries, scarring and congestion. The results of this analysis often determine the next steps in the treatment, but luckily my sun damage and dehydration wasn’t too bad, so I was able to have the lovely Blueberry infusion. (Which really does smell of blueberries!)

Purity Clean 150ml - £39.95

The exfoliator came in the form of the Pure Enzymes Exfoliating Mask. This product contains cranberry fruit enzymes and L-lactic acid to gently eat away at the inter-cellular bonds gluing  dead skin to the face. As Eithne told me this I was imagining those tiny little fish used in some pedicure places who eat away at dead skin. Thankfully though, no fish were used in this facial!

Rescue +Hydrating Balm & Mask - £54.70

Following on from the mask, the Blueberry Smoothie Infusion was applied. This treatment infusion is a gentle but deep exfoliating treatment using blueberry, blue corn meal and again L-lactic acid which softens and smooths the skin revealing a more even, glowing complex.

Right about here, Eithne gave me a really fantastic head, scalp and neck massage which immediately opened up my sinuses and allowed me to breathe clearly for the first time in days. And with the deeper breathing came a sense of sleepiness, and I always sleep better at night after facials, they just seem to relax the soul and relax the mind – so it’s no surprise that I was in bed by 9pm that night!

We finished with some Affirm Serum which is an antioxidant serum used to fight free radical damage. Eithne mixed this with some Rescue + Balm to protect and deeply hydrate my skin after such a deep cleansing treatment. On my eyes she added some Opti Crystals Eye Cream and some Reflect SPF 30 right across the face to protect my skin from UV damage.

On the whole I would say this treatment is a perfect winter pick-me-up, or indeed something to book for new year when all the Christmas parties are done and dusted and you’re in the mood for renewing and rejuvenation. It costs: £85 and lasts 60 minutes.

FACE | SCENTS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas quite often means a new perfume or aftershave for many. This week I look at some of the fab new scents on the market which would make ideal gifts for the ones you love this festive season…

DKNY Be tempted

Give in to temptation and indulge yourself with the new shinier, redder apple of DKNY. This perfume will reel you in with the gorgeous scents of Black Currant Bud, Devil Liquorice Accord, Red Fruit Accord, and Lemon. The sweet scent of Rose Oil Essential, Violet, and Orange Flower will keep you enticed and Patchouli Oil Indonesia, Vanilla, Myhrr giving that warm homely scent.  The deep red forbidden fruit style, snake embellishment packaging will catch your eye and the feminity, passion and mysterious scent will entice and seduce you into purchasing the perfume.  Truly Tempting!

-Eau de Parfum, 30ml: £33.30 (Boots) / £37.00 (House of Fraser).
-Eau de Parfum, 50ml: £50.00 (The Perfume Shop).


The girl

The girl of the moment Gigi Hadid is the global brand ambassador of Tommy Hilfiger and the inspiration for ‘The Girl’ this scent channels her optimistic, confidence and effortlessly cool personality. The girl is crisp and fresh to reflect how free- spirited and magnetic she is. Your senses will be awoken with a burst of green pear, green fig and violet leaf followed by the soft feminine scent of jasmine petals and silky mugue and Cedarwood and cashmerman brings a strong scent which channels confidence and individuality.

-EDT, 30ml: £25.00 (Tommy Hilfiger) / £18.00 (Boots) / £18.00 (Superdrug).
-EDT, 100ml: £35.00 (The Perfume Shop).

Michael Kors Wanderlust

You’ll be lusting after this new Michael Kors with the fragrance of adventure, romance and discovery. The model Lily Aldridge is the face of the campaign for this captivating, romantic scent.  Blossoms and spices almond milk and woods this fragrance is wonderfully enchanting. The bottle is curved with a glam gold top relating to the romantic, feminine scent that lye’s inside.

Eau de Parfum, 30ml: £38.70, 50ml: £55.80, 100ml: £67.50

Michael Kors Amber
This luxurious, metallic gold gift set with a warm amber set looks glamourous and will warm your heart this winter. The set includes Michael Kors Sexy Amber Eau de Parfum Spray 100 ml, Ultimate Body Lotion 150ml Sexy Amber Eau de Parfum & Lip Luster Dual-ended Rollerball 5 ml and a fabulous Michael Kors Cosmetic Bag which brilliantly compacts into the drawer of the Michael Kors box.

Eau de Parfum, 100ml gift set (as pictured): £87.50 (The Fragrance Shop) / £88.00 (Debenhams).

Michael Kors Jasmine

MK Jasmin box and contents contains a feminine floral fragrance with a glam rose gold packaging. This glamourous set includes Michael Kors Sexy Amber Eau de Parfum Spray, Ultimate Body Lotion,  Sexy Amber Eau de Parfum & Lip Lustre Dual-ended Rollerball l and Michael Kors Cosmetic Bag to keep all your fabulous cosmetics in.

Eau de Parfum, 50ml gift set: £60.00 (Harrods) / £60.00 (House of Fraser).

 

AND FOR THE BOYS...

 

Aramis aftershave

Only the best for your man this Christmas with this suave, sleek brief case design and selection of aftershave, anti persprient , lotion and fragrance these warm, hearty scents is a heart-warming gift    to give to your loved one this Christmas.

-EDT, 100ml: £62.00 + engraving option (The Perfume Shop) / EDT, 110ml: £21.95 SPECIAL OFFER (allbeauty.com).

-EDT, 7ml mini gift set: £25.00 (Boots).

Lab series gifts

Max LS

Max LS products Deluxe set includes amazing age defying productsDaily Renewing Cleanser , MAX LS Instant Eye Lift,  MAX LS Age-Less Power V Lifting Cream 1.7, MAX LS Power V Lifting Serum Deluxe Sample.

MAX LS Skincare gift set (as pictured): £79.00 (Lab Series) / £79.00 (House of Fraser).

Red
Two power products All-In-One Face Treatment 100ml and a freeMulti Action Face Wash 100ml the only two products your man needs for daily cleansing.

Red High Performance Duo Skincare Giftset (as pictured), 100ml x 2: £34.00 (Lab Series) / £34.00 (House of Fraser).

Blue

4 of lab series most wanted in one package it’s a perfect way to introduce your man to the Lab series brand this Christmas.  The starter series includes Multi Action Face Wash, Maximum Comfort Shave Cream, Age Rescue and Face Lotion and Pro LS All-In-One Shower Gel and everyday skincare is made easy.

Starter Series (as pictured): £15.00 (House of Fraser).

FASHION | 24 HOURS IN MAXMARA

As Ireland’s Ambassador for the UN-supported Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, I had a busy schedule on November 18th - which is the annual date for International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. To kick start proceedings, I was hosting a breakfast in Dublin supported by Ulster Bank’s #BusinessWomenCan initiative, which saw speakers including TD Kate O’Connell and mentors like Fiona Gratzer from Unislim as well as super lawyer Majella Creenan take to the stage to share stories and insights into the world of business, politics and academia.

For this event, and indeed for the six events I had to attend throughout the whole day, I partnered with MaxMara, who agreed to dress me for the occasion. Or rather, occasions! This blog and vlog tell my Max Mara story.

To breakfast, I wore a beautiful Italian woven wool jumpsuit in grey with a black fleck embroidery and paired it with a thin black poloneck underneath. Polonecks are huge this season and adding one under this jumpsuit gave winter warmth as well as adding a dimension of demure and discretion - keeping my speech and the work done by women in Ireland to the fore. The fit was perfect, with a nipped in waist and a panel across the front which could be worn open or closed - I chose half open to take emphasis away from my bust and draw the eyeline down towards the waist line. The leg was wide, and super chic, allowing me to wear flats underneath for the dawn walk from my hotel, but equally complementing my Louboutins which were slipped on as I entered the building.

After breakfast, I drove to Belfast where I attended the Prince’s Trust ‘Lunch With an Old Bag’ charity luncheon event at the Harbour Master’s Office (a beautiful historic building in the heart of the city’s docklands). This charity, which is the foundation of HRH Prince Charles, does wonderful things for less privileged kids to get them integrated into society and the world of work. The lunch was fun and, with author, comedienne and sometime activist Helen Lederer (Absolutely Fabulous) speaking after lunch, it was a really inspiring couple of hours. The look I wore for this event was my favourite of the day, another jumpsuit, but this one was light pink brushed wool on the (flared) leg with a green sequin top and monochrome stripe pockets - not a look for a shrinking violet! It drew much admiration and, I think, a few buyers from the store, although it was very much limited edition.

Mid afternoon, I moved on to the Northern Irish Women’s Entrepreneurship Day event, where I spoke about the uncertainty of a new Trump Presidency in the US, and the effects of Brexit on north-south business relationships. Here I wore a coffee caramel coloured dress with leather and tweed panels as well as some more monochrome inserts. Again, a dream to wear with the shape and fabric totally flattering on my non-model-like figure. (For the record I am a UK 10 and 5’5” tall).  I had topped this off with a truly beautiful and iconic MaxMara coat for bracing the November weather outside. If you’ve never tried a Max Mara coat, please make it your mission to visit a store and put one on - for the experience if nothing else. It is the dreamiest of mantels - with wool so soft you could sink into a slumber, should you decide to rest your head on it. It’s no surprise that iconic women the world over choose Max Mara when they are looking for a stylish staple to last season after season - and in some cases, generation after generation!

Just after this, I hosted a fashion show wearing what I would call the party version of the previous dress. The staples were the same - more of that beautiful coffee caramel coloured wool, but with monochrome patchwork pockets, similar to the pockets on my lunchtime jumpsuit, and, like the lunchtime jumpsuit, the top half of the dress was sequin, a coppery gold coloured sequin, which was perfect for the time of year and the pre-Christmas-season that was the occasion.

I also popped in quickly to a press briefing on SS17 wearing the most beautiful silk blouse and cream silk pants - I was so very lucky to have pre-season access, and I am glad I did because the ‘all white everything’ look really stood out inthe wintery crowd.

Lastly, I attended some industry cocktails wearing a casual but VERY cool striped sequin jumper with black silk pants. The jumper screamed cool in the most unassuming way possible - and after wearing it to this, the last of so many events that day followed by a late supper in the former butchery which is the much-accoladed Bull & Ram restaurant in Ballynahinch, the final stripes had me hooked, I purchased the top the very next day.

In short, I had the most wonderful day playing my own kind of grown-up dress-up, wearing clothes made from the finest of fabrics and fibres. The staff at the Belfast Lisburn Road store couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating, especially with sizes as they listened to my personal whims and woes about shape (or misshape!) from outside the changing room curtains.

I always say it is better to save for investment pieces rather than fast fashion which isn’t always about quality nor about attention to detail in the design. With the house of Max Mara you can feel the craftmanship ooze out of each piece of Max Mara clothing like design is in the very vein of the garment. Que bello!

FITNESS | Too sweet to be true? The low down on sugar myths

When it comes to sugar, what you don’t know can really hurt you. Kill you in fact. And in my opinion - we are consuming it at unknowingly harmful and alarming rates similar to the way in which our parents’ and grandparents’ generations consumed tobacco products. There is an obesity epidemic across the Western World, and here in Europe (especially in the UK & Ireland) we are only slightly better offthan in the world sugar capital country of the USA, where 2 out of every 3 people are overweight or obese. That is bonkers, really bonkers! But sugar isn’t just killing overweight people, a recent crunching of government health statistics found that 1 in 5 American adults of normal weight were pre-diabetic, that is, had elevated blood sugar. That’s the classic “skinny fat” syndrome.

With the food lobbies working together to hide much of the information on sugar levels in our food, it is easy to ‘stick it to the man’ and blame the food companies for proffering all those sweet and fatty foods that we eat. And we are right to do that - why on earth should we allow companies to strip original food ingredients of all nutrients and process it beyond belief in the name of shelf life (AKA profit)? But people, don’t exclusively blame others - please exert some self-control - and arm yourselves with information! Knowledge = power. And greater knowledge helps willpower!

Here are some myths often associated with sugar - and some views from Dr Frank Lipman (with the odd one of my own thrown in for good measure) on the realities. I am passionate about sugar and try as much as possible to eliminate it from my daily food intake - but with my chocolate addiction I know my 3pm daily bar is way more than I need. And I am quite a healthy person - when I see what my friends, colleagues and family eat in terms of sugar, it makes me realise even more that I need to work to sustain a manageable level for my body’s health, and that of my daughter.

No doubt this will not be my last blog on sugar - there is so much to say!

MYTH #1: To avoid sugar, just read the label.

THE REALITY: Labels benefit the manufacturer, not you.

By law, most foods (with the exception of fruits, veggies, and prepared foods) come with a label that lists their ingredients and nutritional stats. In theory, the labels should make sugar pretty easy to find, but in reality, much of the sweet stuff is “hidden” sugar, buried in the ingredients list and hidden in a pile of technical terms no layman could easily identify. One way of identifying some sugars (but not all) is to look for words ending in -ose. They are usually sugars.

Confused by the ingredients list, your next stop may be the nutrition “facts” list. There you’ll find a very rough estimate of how much sugar is contained in a portion. Where it gets tricky, though, is with portion size: By listing abnormally small portion sizes, the manufacturers can make the sugar counts appear less fearsome, fooling you into thinking you’re eating less sugar. So, that quarter-cup of tomato sauce (who has ever eaten a quarter-cup of tomato sauce?) with 8g of sugar will more likely wind up being closer to 20g by meal’s end. Look out for the per 100g measurement and use that all the time (checking the size of the food pack and/or how much you’re actually using to give you the full multiplier effect). It gets even worse when the sauce is poured over pasta, which is a simple starch that quickly breaks down to glucose in the blood—in short, even more sugar.

BOTTOM LINE: Take every label with a huge grain of salt, (metaphorically of course!) and know what your average portion size looks like on the plate—chances are, yours will be considerably larger than the manufacturer’s. But the absolute best way to avoid hidden sugar? Stick to a whole-foods-based diet and kick processed foods—aka, anything with a nutrition label—to the curb.

MYTH #2: Artificial sweeteners in moderation are fine.

THE REALITY: Artificial sweeteners make cravings worse!

When patients are overly attached to their artificial sweeteners, it’s often a challenge getting them to part with those sweet little packets. They think it cruel and unusual punishment, and in the early stages of a sweet stuff breakup, it can be challenging. Trouble is, sweet begets sweets. Artificial sweeteners can make you feel hungry and actually eat more—and they dull our taste for naturally sweet foods. It’s the definition of the vicious circle. Add to that, the fact that they don’t help with weight loss and don’t taste good either. So dumping the stuff once and for all seems like the sanest route, difficult as it may be in the short term. Cold turkey, people! 

THE BOTTOM LINE: The less sweetness the better. If you eliminate all types of artificial sweeteners from your life, you’ll help liberate your body from the tyranny of sugar in its many forms. In their place, swap in naturally sweet-tasting spices like cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, cardamom, caraway, and nutmeg to support health with tasty, medicinal effects. Get used to drinking your coffee and tea without added sweeteners. If you’re going to indulge, try whole leaf, raw stevia — a small amount packs a big punch.

MYTH #3: Managing diabetes is all about going on a low-fat diet.

THE REALITY: It’s really about sugar and carbs – particularly the processed ones.

The US government is still peddling the low-fat diet as the best defence against high blood sugar and diabetes. Boy, are they out to lunch! The real culprits are carbs, in particular the ones that come in the concentrated form of added sugar or in grain-based processed foods, like bread and pasta, that readily break down to sugar in the system. While losing weight is an excellent way to fight back against high blood sugar, being normal weight doesn’t mean you have a blank check to consume as much sugar and as many carb-rich foods as you like. Even though these adults aren’t eating too many calories, their systems can’t handle the amount of sugar and carbs hiding in plain sight on their plates. They are candidates for the ‘skinny fat’ phenomenon.

BOTTOM LINE: To keep blood sugar in check, cut carbs to the bone (especially the fast-digesting ones), and lose the added sugar. Get moving, keep moving, and drop the excess weight to keep metabolism humming and protect against Type 2 diabetes. And if you’ve crossed the diabetes line, know that you can cross back to the healthy side by following the same low carb diet.

FACE | September 2016

After a summer of grief and heartache, (my adorable mum passed away and my heart got broken) coupled with too much sun and not enough taking care of myself, I needed a boost from within to get my myself back on track.

I started, as always, with bringing my eating back into line - getting fresh, healthy and mostly veggie ingredients and preparing meals and snacks from scratch (with the lack of oompf this summer I had allowed my eating habits to slump as much as my melancholic mood). Food is so vital in determining mood and emotions, plus it has a massive effect on the outer shell of our bodies – and that includes hair, skin and nails among others. Next up, I got back into yoga with my amazing yoga teacher Kim Constable who teaches me daily about the importance of an holistic attitude to our bodies and care from within. My final adjustment was to start taking the Lumity supplement which is recommended by model and mum Yasmin Le Bon.

These supplements come in a chic box with supplies for 30 days. There is one capsule bottle for daytime and another filled with tablets for night time. Mine came from Lisburn Road’s Rejouir skin clinic and Pamela, who runs the clinic, gave me an almost prescriptive consultation before I kicked off with the programme for the month of September. She explained that our bodies have different needs at different times of the day in terms of what minerals and vitamins it can (and should) absorb; plus, the body is more efficient at digesting and processing certain things at certain times too. And that all made perfect sense, so, armed with that info, I left the clinic and went home taking the first set of supplements before bedtime and a new trio of tablets the next morning – and so that continued for 30 days.

As I slept that night (and every night that month) I also treated my skin to a night time application of a new favourite product - the VivDerma perfecting facial oil. (£65 - available nationwide).    This ultra-fine facial oil is a veritable elixir which nourishes, moisturises and hydrates instantly by penetrating into each layer of the skin to maintain moisture for a brighter and more radiant complexion. It combines rich Moroccan Argan Oil with Rosehip Oil to help improve pH balance, skin tone, luminosity and texture. I’m totally hooked.

On my body I smothered myself in the Elemis Frangipani Monoi body oil for a scent of the exotic and a rich hydration and sheen on my skin. The massage itself also smoothed away some of my grief and it helped bring back many memories of another lovely mum - not mine, but my French exchange student Sophie’s mum, as she swore by Tahitian monoi oil for her hair and body way back as far as 1989 when I was a young teen and I remember thinking this amazing new smell was one of the most exotic and lovely scents I had ever experienced. The Elemis oil is perfect for the bath also – and where better to lie dreaming of happy times than in a good old fashioned tub?

On my hair I used a collection of affordable products by CIEN at LIDL and found the conditioner (£1.49) and repair mask (£1.79) to be amazingly restorative. I’m still using these products now and love their travel pack sizes for holidays too.

To bring sexy back for daytime (because it was still warm enough to go bare legged), I added some colour to my legs, arms and shoulders (the style was still all about the peep shoulder in September) with Skinny Tan’s new Tan & Tone oil which also comes in a travel sized container at just 100ml, so I was able to bring the bottle to London for FASHION WEEK and not have to decant for my hand luggage! Thankfully, I don’t have cellulite worth speaking of, so I can’t comment on the product’s claim to tackle the dreaded orange peel, but it certainly brought some lustre back to my skin anyway and I loved how it was pretty much fool proof and impossible to streak with its lightly oily texture which allows for a super even texture.

And finally, in terms of make up, I used the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF15 (a totally AMAZING product which looks summery but which is designed to be worn all year round for totally dewy skin). It is the perfect bridge between Liz Earle’s iconic botanical skincare and their innovative colour range. It has a rich and creamy formula, yet it is so lightweight that it blends effortlessly into the skin. This award-winning complexion perfector, available in three shades, is enriched with a carefully selected blend of avocado and British borage oils. At £24.50, this is a little tube of youth and happiness for every skin type. I topped this off with the Liz Earle Bronzing powder compact, which, again is perfect for travelling (who else has opened a loose powder bronzer after travelling and spilt it EVERYWHERE?).

A lovely alternative to the Liz Earle compact bronzer is the amazing Make Up Forever bronzer (now available at Paddy McGurgan’s Make Up Pro store - eeek!) for its depth of colour and pigmentation. I learnt a whole new level in strobing with the products from PUR cosmetics (available at M&S); and their Moonlit strobing palette in particular was a special summer find. Highly recommended!

By the end of the month I was almost back to me again. I had luscious hair again and skin that glowed instead of looking matt and arid. I still felt the awful hole in my life from a recent bereavement (and the loss continues to hurt) but the immediate and physical after-effects of grief were slowly passing and I am thankful to Lumity and Kim for helping me to kick start that part of my healing from within.

Sometimes, critics bemoan beauty and all its pampering and preening, but even the ancients found a certain spiritual healing and self awareness when indulging in a little bit of self love, albeit that they wont have called it ‘me time’ like we do these days.