I made my first vlog for YouTube recently, and not only did I love putting it together, but it quickly became my most watched video yet. So it stood to reason that I was going to make another! Getting the opportunity to meet fellow bloggers and participate in a yoga class high up in the Shard with incredible views of London was an opportunity I didn't want to miss, and I was determined to capture it on film too.
The event was organised by Forever, a brand I've worked with in the past, to promote their Argi+ supplements, a vitamin complex that helps reduce fatigue. Having been impressed with Forever's signature Aloe Vera gel as well as their Infinite skincare range, I was definitely keen to get involved. I was so glad I did, as it was a fantastic experience, and I hope I've managed to capture a little of that in this video.
You can watch the vlog on my YouTube channel or right here. Hope you enjoy!
Are you a fan of yoga? And what's the most spectacular view you've ever seen?
Kate x
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Drinking Aloe Vera juice or gel has become a hot health and beauty trend in recent months, though the many benefits of the aloe plant have been well known for centuries. Indeed, legend has it that it formed a staple part of Cleopatra's skincare routine, so it's definitely nothing new. Just before Christmas, I was invited by Forever to take part in their 30 day Aloe Vera challenge, which would involve drinking a 60 ml shot of their signature Aloe Vera gel every morning for 30 days in order to judge for myself what the benefits are. Having fallen in love with Forever's Infinite skincare range last year, I was a already a fan of the brand. I was also already aware of the benefits of Aloe Vera. In fact, I had attempted to include the juice (produced by a different brand) in my diet quite a few years ago. On that occasion, my dislike of the flavour had got the better of me, but this time, I was determined to see the challenge through to the end.
So, how did I get on, and what benefits did I experience? Read on to find out!
When I accepted the Aloe Vera challenge, the first thing I did was turn to good old Mr Google for a little background research. I wanted to know what I was letting myself in for, and what benefits I could expect to see. The number one thing that became clear very quickly was that not all Aloe Vera juices are created equal. You need to be sure that what you are drinking has been processed properly. This means that you need to look for one of two words on the bottle - "decolorized" or "stabilized". Without getting too technical about it, both these processes involve the removal of the outer leaf of the aloe plant, which is potentially harmful, even carcinogenic, so this is really important.
Forever Aloe Vera Gel goes through a patented stabilization process, meaning that only the safe, inner leaf of the plant is used. In addition to that, it's also cold pressed and about as close as you can get to being a totally pure product.
So, how did I get on, and what benefits did I experience? Read on to find out!
First Things First - Source Good Quality Aloe Vera
When I accepted the Aloe Vera challenge, the first thing I did was turn to good old Mr Google for a little background research. I wanted to know what I was letting myself in for, and what benefits I could expect to see. The number one thing that became clear very quickly was that not all Aloe Vera juices are created equal. You need to be sure that what you are drinking has been processed properly. This means that you need to look for one of two words on the bottle - "decolorized" or "stabilized". Without getting too technical about it, both these processes involve the removal of the outer leaf of the aloe plant, which is potentially harmful, even carcinogenic, so this is really important.
Forever Aloe Vera Gel goes through a patented stabilization process, meaning that only the safe, inner leaf of the plant is used. In addition to that, it's also cold pressed and about as close as you can get to being a totally pure product.
Benefits
The reported benefits of Aloe Vera are many and can be traced back through history, but one of the most significant is its use as an ideal digestive aid. It is also known to carry several nutritional benefits that can, amongst other things, contribute to skin health. As I'm always looking for things that can help to improve the appearance of my skin, this is what has always intrigued me the most about Aloe Vera. I embarked on the 30 day challenge with plenty of motivation.
But Doesn't It Taste Horrendous?
Honestly? It's not that bad! As I mentioned, the taste of Aloe Vera has put me off in the past, so I'll admit I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to stick it out for 30 days. But when I took my first sip, I was pleasantly surprised. Keeping it nice and cold in the fridge definitely helps a lot, as does the fact that 60 ml really isn't very much at all. The flavour isn't too dissimilar to watered down grapefruit juice, and as for the fact that it's called a "gel" - don't let that put you off, as the consistency is no different to a regular fruit juice with the pulp left in it. The bottom line is, I can be a wimp about this sort of thing, but I found it much easier than I thought I would to drink it every morning for 30 days. If I can do it, anyone can!
But if you're still not convinced, Forever also offer flavoured Aloe Vera gels, including Berry Nectar and Forever Freedom (orange flavoured), which might be more to your taste.
The Benefits Of Aloe Vera - My Experience
So let's get down to the heart of the matter - did I notice any significant benefits from drinking Aloe Vera gel?
Yes!
Yes!
After about the first two weeks, the improvement in my skin was unmistakable. It was clear, soft and plumped. In fact, the last time it looked this good was when I was using Forever's Infinite skincare range, which includes Aloe Vera as a key ingredient. Clearly, my skin loves this stuff!
I've also noticed a change in my hair. Regular readers will know that I've been growing out overly bleached hair for some time now, and the condition has been slowly improving with the use of nourishing and hydrating masks. However, the Aloe Vera has kicked this up a gear and it's definitely stronger and shinier as a result - even my hairdresser has noticed.
With regard to digestive issues, I'm lucky enough not to suffer with any on a regular basis, so it's hard for me to judge the usefulness of Aloe Vera gel on this score. Interestingly, I have spoken to quite a few people about my 30 Day Challenge over the past weeks, and several of them have told me that they have taken Aloe Vera in the past for precisely these reasons. When asked if it helped, all of them said yes.
Finally, last week, my husband had a stomach bug. Usually, I will catch every bug going, so I was sure I was going to get it. I didn't. Whether that was the Aloe Vera giving my immune system a boost or just a lucky coincidence, I don't know, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Beyond The Challenge
I successfully completed the 30 day challenge more than a week ago, but I'm still taking my morning shot of Aloe Vera gel. For me, the effects I have seen on my skin and hair are more than enough to keep this product in my life for the foreseeable future. In addition to this, I think that a lot of the more general health benefits are probably things that become more evident over the long term, and from what I have seen so far, it's definitely well worth persevering with.
Have you ever taken Aloe Vera gel or juice? If so, did you see any benefits?
This post was sponsored by Forever. All opinions, as always, are my own.
I've got two products to tell you about in today's post. Although their uses are quite different, they can both be described as eye masks, and they have one other thing in common too - they're both amazing!
First up, these Starskin Smoothing Bio-Cellulose Second Skin Eye Masks. I've long been a fan of sheet masks, but until recently had never tried the kind that are designed for the under eye area. Like most people, I have some fine lines there, so I was curious to see whether these masks were effective at reducing their appearance.
There are lots of brands that make these, but many of them can be quite pricey for what is, after all, a single use product. I decided to go for the Starskin ones as at £8.50 for a set of two they seemed better value than many on the market. I ordered mine from Look Fantastic.
The masks promise to intensely hydrate the under eye area, smooth wrinkles, reduce puffiness, relieve fatigue and brighten dark circles. They are packed full of natural ingredients including firming acai berry, regenerating snail mucus, nourishing olive oil and soothing chamomile.
The bright red packaging is attractive, and I like the fact that the masks come in handy, travel friendly sachets. As soon as you open one of them up, you can see just how much serum the masks have been soaked with - there is loads of the stuff. You need to peel away the protective top and bottom layers before sticking the mask down beneath your eye, which is really the only fiddly part of the process. Once it's there, it stays put, and I found I was able to move around and do other things for the ten to fifteen minutes I was wearing the masks.
You're advised to keep them in the fridge for ten minutes before use to really make the most of the de-puffing effects. I didn't do this, as I don't really suffer from puffiness under my eyes. However, they still felt cooling and refreshing on my skin. In fact, wearing them made me feel as though I was actually becoming more awake, rather than just doing something to help me look that way.
Not only are these a pleasure to use, they're really effective too. I looked so fresh-faced after using these that I felt like they'd knocked a few years off. Plus, they plumped up my fine lines in a way that no eye cream has ever been able to do. Yes, the effects may be temporary, but even so, I was really impressed. I am definitely going to repurchase, as I want to have some in my stash ready for a big event or any time I've not been able to sleep and need to look like I have!
The second product I want to tell you about is something that was sent to me - It's called a spacemask*. It's the type of mask you place over your eyes when you want something to help you sleep, but this one is a little bit special. First of all, it starts to heat up as soon as you release it from the sachet, meaning that it feels wonderfully warm and comforting when you place it over your eyes. Secondly, it's scented with jasmine - one of my favourite fragrances - so you get a beautiful aromatherapy hit that helps you to relax even more.
As soon as I put this on, I felt myself letting go and I was honestly ready to sleep within a matter of a few minutes. I will definitely be getting more of these too. You can pick them up here at £15 for a box of five.
Have you tried either of these types of eye mask?
Kate x
The masks promise to intensely hydrate the under eye area, smooth wrinkles, reduce puffiness, relieve fatigue and brighten dark circles. They are packed full of natural ingredients including firming acai berry, regenerating snail mucus, nourishing olive oil and soothing chamomile.
The bright red packaging is attractive, and I like the fact that the masks come in handy, travel friendly sachets. As soon as you open one of them up, you can see just how much serum the masks have been soaked with - there is loads of the stuff. You need to peel away the protective top and bottom layers before sticking the mask down beneath your eye, which is really the only fiddly part of the process. Once it's there, it stays put, and I found I was able to move around and do other things for the ten to fifteen minutes I was wearing the masks.
You're advised to keep them in the fridge for ten minutes before use to really make the most of the de-puffing effects. I didn't do this, as I don't really suffer from puffiness under my eyes. However, they still felt cooling and refreshing on my skin. In fact, wearing them made me feel as though I was actually becoming more awake, rather than just doing something to help me look that way.
Not only are these a pleasure to use, they're really effective too. I looked so fresh-faced after using these that I felt like they'd knocked a few years off. Plus, they plumped up my fine lines in a way that no eye cream has ever been able to do. Yes, the effects may be temporary, but even so, I was really impressed. I am definitely going to repurchase, as I want to have some in my stash ready for a big event or any time I've not been able to sleep and need to look like I have!
The second product I want to tell you about is something that was sent to me - It's called a spacemask*. It's the type of mask you place over your eyes when you want something to help you sleep, but this one is a little bit special. First of all, it starts to heat up as soon as you release it from the sachet, meaning that it feels wonderfully warm and comforting when you place it over your eyes. Secondly, it's scented with jasmine - one of my favourite fragrances - so you get a beautiful aromatherapy hit that helps you to relax even more.
As soon as I put this on, I felt myself letting go and I was honestly ready to sleep within a matter of a few minutes. I will definitely be getting more of these too. You can pick them up here at £15 for a box of five.
Have you tried either of these types of eye mask?
Kate x
*Gifted product. All opinions, as always, are my own.
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