WHAT TO SPRAY WHEN PREGNANT

I am a massive fan of spraying products, I found that it's convenience and refreshing at the same time.    I found that being pregnant means feeling tired a lot easier, and sometimes my body muscles tend to stiff up easier, too and the effect could be lasting.  Recently I have tried two more products by Cussons Mum & Me (from the Bump collection) and wanted to share with you.

**Cussons Mum & Me Cool & Relieve Soothing Spray (£4.70)- I was really excited to give this a try when I saw the words 'cool & relieve soothing spray'.  When pregnant, I feel that my body temperature is higher than my non-pregnant self, so anything that says cooling is very welcomed.  However I was slightly disappointed that this spray isn't for the face, but never mind I am all prepared and have other beloved face mists.  This product is, designed to use all over the body when feeling hot, and is especially good on the back, tired legs and feet.  The bottle is a little bit too big (150ml) for my liking to bring with me in my handbag so my thought was that I would keep this at home.

One night whilst I was sleeping, I felt cramps in my leg, it wasn't a bad one but I had to rub it out.  Suddenly an eureka moment sparkled whilst I was half asleep, I sprayed this directly to the area where the cramp was, it instantly relaxed the muscle and I was able to go back to sleep really quickly.  The next morning I thought to myself, 'wow this stuff is impressive!'.  When you are pregnant, you are basically living a 'drug-free' life, so anything sprays which are targeted for muscle relieve is no good and you've just got to deal with it.  Whereas this soothing spray, it's designed for pregnancy use; so it's a perfect choice if you are looking for something similar.

The spray dispenser is quite powerful, which I like as it instantly gives a 'pick-me-up' to the areas you spray this to.  It contains peppermint oil so your skin feels really refreshed afterwards, and it isn't oily at all on the skin, but absorbed rather quickly.  It only has the mildest scent of peppermint which is great, too.  I totally recommend this product to mom-to-be who needs a bit of a relaxing pampering throughout the day.  It works especially well if use this at the end of a tiring day, spraying this over the legs, neck and back have worked amazingly well for me.

**Cussons Mum & Me Relax & Unwind Sleep Mist (£5.25)- I am never a person who suffers from insomnia, even during pregnancy, sleeping is like a dream.  When this sleep mist arrived at my doorstep, I wasn't too excited by it purely because of the reason above but I was willing to give it a try.  I spray this around my bed area before I snuggle up comfortably in bed.  It smells of a soothing lavender scent which is nice, and relaxing.  The scent doesn't linger around for too long though, so if you found it difficult to fall asleep, you might want to top it up later on (if you are still awake).  As I fall asleep naturally quite quickly, I didn't think I needed the sleep mist to help me to fall asleep quicker.  It's helped me to relax which is true.  However I wouldn't say that without the use of this, sleeping would be a struggle.  For me, this is a bit of an unnecessary product but if you are someone who relies on products to unwind and fall asleep, I would encourage you to give this a try.

Do you use similar products to chill and relax when pregnant?  Are these something you've tried?


**PR samples.  This post is not sponsored, all my views on both products are honest, and are 100% my own and have not been affected by third parties.

THE TRUTH ABOUT VITAMIN C

I'm never a fan of Vitamin C containing product, to say the least I'm rather sceptical about it.  It's because of the sensitive nature of my skin, and Vitamin C is meant to have the effect of 'brightening, and anti-ageing'.... so potentially it can be a little harsh to sensitive skins.

However, things have taken a 180-degree turn recently, and I have two Vitamin C skincare products which I have been really enjoying using, and noticed a difference gradually.

StrVectin-EV Vitamin C Actives - It's a brightening serum where I use it strictly in the evening as I (still) fear about the potential sun-damage that I would get during day time if this was to be used in my morning skincare routine.  After cleansing my face, I would put a thin layer of this on my face before putting on a facial oil.  This serum isn't potent at all, unlike other Vitamin C products.  It doesn't irritate my skin nor has it caused any breakout to my face.  It's absorbed so quickly by my skin, it doesn't feel like I am putting on an extra layer to my face. I've been using it for more than 4 weeks now and I've noticed a gradual change in the complexion on my face, it's a little brighter (less dull).

Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz - I love a good facial mist, and this one by Body Shop is a total surprise, in a good way!  I don't carry this around with me when I'm out and about as the bottle is still a little bit too big to my liking (100ml).  However I have introduced this good stuff as part of my morning and evening skincare routines.  After cleansing my face, I would spray this spritz all over my face, and neck.  The trick to spray this, is never, never directly to the eyes as it can sting!  Make sure you close your eyes, and spray from a good distance away.  Close your eyes for a few seconds after spraying, letting the spritz settled down on the face a little bit before opening your eyes, this way your eyes won't be irritated.  As it's Vitamin C- containing it's not surprising that this spray has a hint of citrusy scent.  Normally I'm not a fan of citrus scents but the smell disappears quite quickly so it doesn't bother me that much.  I love using this, especially in the morning as it wakes me up a lot and I found that this spray seems to have locked moisture in my skin better.  I've been continuously using this 2-3 times a day for a month, and noticed an improved in my skin tone; it's brighter and looks fresher!  I'm more than half way through the product, and am already thinking about repurchasing it.

Are you a fan of Vitamin C products?  What have you used before?

CUSSONS MUM & ME NEW MUM STRETCH MARK FADER REVIEW

I realised that it's been a while since I wrote anything pregnancy related, here's another one!  If you were curious about what I wrote previously, you can click here and here for a catch up.

A quick update, I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and have been applying oils/ creams targeting the prevention from stretch marks development since week 13.  I don't notice any 'new' stretch marks developed in the areas of bump and thighs.  However I do notice that my existing stretch marks have become a little bit more obvious but they aren't bad at all as I've lived with them for so many years, from all the weight loss and weight gain I've had in the past.  I have tried a few so far, and recently I have finished using up another one which I really wanted to share with you all pregnant ladies (or planning to fall pregnant ladies) out there.

Cussons Mum & Me is a fairly new brand to me, they are not as well known as Johnson's baby shall we say; well at least to me.  I've always been interested in trying something from their range these days whenever I'm in Boots.  So, when I saw that this New Mum Stretch Mark Fader was on offer a few weeks ago, I thought this was the time to give this brand a go.

This stretch mark fader comes in a slim and long tube shape, the packaging is sleek compared to other similar products which often comes in quite bulky, heavy and often in big tub or glass container.  Packaging aside, the texture of this stretch mark fader is also quite unique comparing to other products.  It comes in a thick serum, it's not sticky and rather it's absorbed by the skin rather quickly.  The application is also somewhat neater, as it's a roller application; you only need to squeeze the tube then roll it onto the affected area; then gently massage it with your hands.

The only downside is that it only took me a week or so to finish the whole tube (70ml)!  I used it twice a day all over my bump, back and thighs areas.  This product isn't designed to use all over the body but on affected/ targeted area.  It's more like a serum than a stretch mark oil.  If you are thinking of using a stretch mark oil for all over the body, this isn't one for you but if you have a small area of stretch marks that you want to take control of it; I would recommend you giving this a try.

What other stretch mark oils or creams have you tried?  Have you tried this one by Cussons?

BUDGET BUY PALETTES: REVOLUTION

Have you heard of this new kid in town?  Revolution Makeup London I am talking about.

I saw its stand few weeks ago when I had my routine visit in my local Superdrug (508-520 Oxford Street, W1C 1NB).  I was rather attracted by the range of products, the design of the packaging, as well as the price tags!  I was particularly mesmerised by the blusher palettes and it's kept floating and reappearing in my mind.  Then I saw a couple of Youtubers talked about it, so I made it a mission last week to pay a purposeful visit to track down Revolution Makeup.

It's got a full range of makeup from foundations, to brow kit, eyeshadows and lipsticks, etc.  The prices of all products are unbelievably reasonable to say the least.  However both the quality and packaging have not been compromised, 2 more brownie points from me!

I picked up a couple of things:

Ultra Blush Palettes in Hot Spice:  This palette contains 8 shades of cheek colours, contours and highlight will only cost you £6!  There are two ranges of shade for the palette, and I chose this one which has more of a peachy shade theme running through it which I thought would complement with my fair skin tone.  The other blush palette is called Sugar and Spice  which has a range of vibrantly pink colour, which I think would suit girls with darker complexions.

My eyes were then drawn to the numerous eyeshadow palettes on offer, 20 to be precise. I picked up the Ultra 32 Shades Eyeshadow Palette in FLAWLESS.  It consists of 32 colours in this palette and will only cost you £8!  Can you believe it again?  The colour range is amazing which contains some neutral shades, to some darker and more dramatic shades for rocking those smokey eyes!  It has 9 matte shades, and the rest has slight shimmer runs through it.

I have tried both palettes a few times in the past week, and OMG; I loved them so much!  The eyeshadows are so easy to blend and pigmented, and I can create so many looks out of it.  The blush colours work so well, too.  They are pigmented but it doesn't stain on one part of my face and it stays put so well.  I think I can safely regard it as a hybrid between Nars and Sleek!

Have you tried anything from Revolution before?  I think I'll definitely go back to pick up a few more things to try.

You can pick up Revolution Makeup in large Superdrug, or online at Revolution Website.

BIG HAIR BOOSTERS: TRIED & TESTED

My hair is pretty straight and flat, the end bits tend to get a little frizzy.  I have tried so many products to tame and give it some volume in the past.  In the past year my focus has been on 'the big hair' look, especially around the crown area.  The most recent three products I have tried are worth a little blogging about so here I am....

The 'Oh I needed some volume on the go' - VO5 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder (£4.19) - The cheapest option of the three.  It's ideal to bring it with you on-the-go as it works well styling on dry hair.  Sprinkle as little or as much of these white powder along the roots of the hair and work it in.  You will notice that the powder provides a 'friction' and 'grit' to the hair to create the volume and give it a little oomph.  It doesn't leave any whitecast on your hair so that's a plus point.  However because of the texture of the powder that it gives makes working to the hair a little tricky.  It does give quite impressive volume once styled, however the lasting power isn't all singing and dancing.

The 'natural hair thickening agent' - Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray (£21.5) - One of the most expensive hair thickening agents on the market.  I'm never a Bb fan as I'm often fazed by the price tag that comes with every product.  I adopted this little baby from my sister (@forksandbrushes).  I have to say I'm impressed by it.  This is sprayed onto damp or wet hair.  The best result is that if you spray it to the roots of your hair by section, and at where your hair needed the most volume.  For me it's the crown of my head.  After spraying, styling as usual but I would concentrate on giving where the area has been sprayed a bit more heat than the rest of the head.  Something quite magical would gradually form, I noticed my hair would slightly thicken and it stayed put fairly well.  Of course, it collapses after a couple of hours but as would other volumising products I have tried.  If you have spare cash and want to splurge on a little bit, I would recommend this.

The 'pro salon-feel-like hair thickening product' - Head & Shoulders Extra Thickening Treatment (£9.99).  The newest hair thickening product kid in town that I tried.  I am currently using this with the Head and Shoulders Thick and Strong Shampoo and Conditioner.  You get the hint, I'm seriously working some volume to my hair.  I feel like this product has won my heart both in terms of application and end result. Similar to the Bb thickening spray, it's used on wet/ damp hair. I spray this onto the roots of my hair by sections, repeat in areas where it needs more thickening agent. My scalp would then feel a slight tingly sensation after around 30sec of application, but don't worry it doesn't hurt your scalp at all.  However it's worth doing a skin test prior using it just in case if you are allergic to this product. This made me feel like it really is working its magic to my hair. Then I would style it as usual. My hair does look like as if it's been thickened slightly. Again the result isn't "dramatic" but definitely looks natural enough! The lasting power is better than the Bb thickening spray. I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that I also team it up with the thickening shampoo and conditioner but nevertheless, for £9.99 I think it's easily the best and most effective product on the market.

Do you share the same problem with me that you are always looking for that bit of oomph to your hair? Have you tried any of the above? What's your hair thickening routine?

NATURAL REMEDY TO FIGHT AGAINST COLD WHEN PREGNANT

Catching a cold makes you feel run down and sick, and want to be in bed all day.  It's not nice for normal healthy and fit people to experience cold/ flu, and it's even worse if you are pregnant (like me!) and trying to fight off a cold.

Last week, I've managed to catch Mr Holiday's cold and suffered from it as a result!  I have a few tips I wanted to share with you all pregnant ladies, and perhaps those who like to fight off cold/ flu the natural way.

My doctor has told me that I can actually take paracetamol (follow the instructions and seek individual medical advice) during pregnancy, although ibuprofen is a No-No!  She also advised me that if I have a temperature, it's best if I take paracetamol to bring the temperature down, luckily I didn't.  Your little one inside your tummy isn't going to be affected by the cold/flu you are suffering from, so that's one piece of very good news!

But for those of you who are like me, who is a little sceptical about taking medications during pregnancy, what can you do to make yourself feel better apart from drinking plenty of water and having lots of bed rests?

I have two tips for you:

Lemon & Honey for the Sore Throat: The good old trick to cure nasty cold.  This combination is known to help soothens the sore throat.  I don't have it excessively though, instead I have it around 3 times a day.  A couple of pieces of freshly sliced lemon, together with 2 tablespoonful of honey (any honey will do); mixed with very hot water (some might say hot water actually makes honey tastes sour but you've got the lemon in there anyway so who cares?!), sip through it whilst the drink is still quite hot, with cautious though.  It really works to soothen the sore and dry throat.

Eucalyptus Oil and Tissues for the Blocked and Stuffy Nose: This time round I had particularly bad blocked nose and there were a couple of nights I could only breath through my mouth which was quite difficult when trying to fall asleep.  A quick google search, and a private consultation with my friend who is a qualified medical herbalist, Eucalyptus Oil is what you need to help unblocking the blocked nose the natural way (again please seek medical advice before using it).  I have never heard of this essential oil before, and the good news is that it's very accessible in your local pharmacy, and I got mine from Boots. I dropped a few drops of it onto my tissue to inhale and when I needed to blow my nose.  It's got quite a pungent minty scent so do be careful before sniffing it.  As it's quite strong it seems to have the power to send the scent down my nostrils to unblock what's been blocked.  It also helps to 'awake' the head and clear the mind a little bit just when you feel you are dying!

I don't know whether it's the cold or the pregnancy that has weakened my immune system, it's taken a good whole week for my cold to clear!  I've certainly had worse cold/flu in my life before but having had to rely on my body to fight against it is a bit of a first for me.  I'm glad to report that I am now well, and the two things mentioned above that I tried were of great help!

How do you fight off nasty cold/ flu?  Do you turn straight to medications or are you a natural kind of girl who likes to fight against it organically?

Ooooh! POWDER?! BEN NYE LUXURY LOOSE POWDER

There is something about my preference and habit of my makeup routine that is changing over time.  Last time I talked about eye primers, today I wanted to share with you a face powder!  Never have I wanted to 'powder' my face as I have quite dehydrated skin.  Any products that are less than hydrating or moisturising will end up clinging onto my dry patches.   Recently though, the word 'powder' kept creeping into my mind, especially after applying make up, I feel that it's lacking of something without a light sweep of powder.

May I introduce to you Ben Nye Luxury Loose Powder (£9.95).  It's not your average high street or high end face powder that you can get as easily.  I bought mine at IMATS 2014, you can also purchase it easily from Guru Makeup Emporium situated conveniently at High Street Kensington.  Check out here for a more in-depth detailed blogpost by my sister (@forksandbrushes).

If you look at the powder from the outside of this little bottle, the powder looks quite yellow and even when I swatched it on my hands, it looks yellow and rather chalky.  However, once after it's been blended, it's all transparent and smoothened out.  It's pretty good.  I have wearing it for a good few weeks now and it's never dried up my skin or looks cake at all.  It's got such a soft and thin formulation that it disappeared once blended but yet it's able to brighten up the skin complexion further in a very natural way.

There are two brushes that I use to powder.  If I just wanted to powder small areas in my face, e.g. under the eye areas, I would use my Real Techniques' setting brush.  If I wanted an all-over the face powder then I would reach for my Zoeva #101 Luxe Face Definer Brush.  Just to add that, you might think that the Zoeva brush looks gigantic, its tapered shape made it ideal to target those delicate under eye areas and round the nose areas!

Are you a powder kind of gal?  What is your favourite face powder?