Bodycare Review: Crabtree & Evelyn Somerset Meadow

Getting washed is a regime I enjoy; I love waking myself up with a revitalising face scrub and come the end of the day there's nothing better than the feeling of fresh, clean skin when you head off to bed.  I both shower and bath, using soaks and cremes to soften my bath water and cleanse my skin wearing exfoliating gloves with body washes and gels.

Shopping for shower gel isn't a fail safe task if you're wanting something really good and long lasting.  Qualities I judge in a good body wash include: how natural and realistic the scents are, the consistency, lather and effect on my skin.  I've used some dreadful ones that have lost their foam on contact with water and some that have dried my skin out.  I don't think anyone finds these characteristics particularly endearing!

Crabtree & Evelyn is one of those quintessentially British brands that I've used on occasions.  I've had some shower gels, shampoo and hand creams before and also their Iris eau de toilette which was a gorgeous scent, so I'm fairly familiar with the brand.  Recently I was lucky to win a little bottle of Crabtree & Evelyn's new Somerset Meadow bath and shower gel in a competition so I thought I'd give a review on it.

Somerset Meadow bath and shower gel comes in a clear rectangular bottle with a white lid that flips open to dispense the gel which means no screwing off caps.

The scent of Somerset Meadow is very light and 'green' - think along the lines of freshly cut grass, but it's much more than that.  A sniff of the deeply fragrant perfume conjures up breezy, lush grasses, dewy hedgerows and an abundance of wild flowers; buttercups, ivy and apple blossoms.

Pouring a small amount into my exfoliating gloves, I rubbed my hands together to generate a froth and massaged it into my skin.  The gel felt light and refreshing, but I found it didn't create much of a lather which meant I used quite a bit more product than I usually would.  It went much further when I took off my gloves and washed with just my hands.  After drying my skin felt soft and cleansed with a hint of floral perfume.

Somerset Meadow really does appeal to me, it has that type of scent that I really like and look for in my refreshing body products.  If I were to change one aspect it would be to increase the bubble factor!  I adore natural perfumes that smell realistically floral and as Somerset Meadow contains many naturally derived plant extracts it makes me feel extra good to my skin.

Becky x

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Start at the Foundation - Make up and Lingerie

Foundation is at the heart of every good make up bag.  We strive for the best shade match and perfect coverage to smooth and correct our skin so we can then build up on with whatever look we want to achieve for the day.  Sultry vamp or English rose, once we've applied the best foundation the make up world is our oyster.

Cute Cath Kidston Cosmetic Bag

In recent years the beauty industry has let us in on its little secrets, such as the use of a skin primer which is applied right before you glide on any foundation.  The reason for this is because the better we correct our skin and prepare it for it's base (much like painting a wall over a primed surface), the better our foundation will perform and look.

The very same principle applies to our clothing too.  Putting together a fabulous outfit is nothing if the foundation of the clothing is not right.  Wear the right underwear for your clothing, and your outfit will look priceless (even if it only came from Primark.)  Wear the wrong underwear and an expensive outfit will look horrendous.

So looking at the foundation of your make up or clothing, think 'unobtrusive, corrective and complimentary.'

Lingerie

Basic colours are your best bet if you don't want bra show-through.  A bra in a colour similar to your skin tone most achieves the 'barely there' look.  Nudes, honeys, caramels and chocolates are good base colours.  White and black bras are also handy, depending on the colour of your top.  Again, choose knickers in skin colour and the colour won't show through clothing.

Freya's Smooth Cup Deco Bra

A smooth line bra with limited fancy detail and stitching is necessary for a streamlined silhouette beneath a close fitting top.  Avoid bright colours and lace if you don't want to draw attention to your bra.  Seamfree knickers, thongs and high waist briefs avoid the dreaded VPL.

Ultimo's Multiway Bra

Wearing a backless dress?  A plunging neckline top?  A daring strapless?  Bras come in a variety of wearability options.  A basic strapped bra does the job for most sleeved items of clothing, even vest tops and choose a push up style for the perfect cleavage boost.  Where the straps and back of a bra will show, a multiway or bra with removable straps provide flexibility and freedom with choosing how to wear your bra according to the needs of your wardrobe.

Make Up 

The basic primers are going to be translucent gels or creams that will provide a smooth surface for your colour foundation to be applied.  They want to be non sticky and non greasy.

L'oreal Paris' Studio Secrets Primer

Problem skin can be corrected by way of coloured creams; purple for sluggish skin, green for flushed skin.  Combination and oily skin benefit from mattifying benefits with oil free and non clogging ingredients.  For dry areas, moisturising and skin quenching properties can help soothe and calm your face so your foundation will apply more evenly.

One of Boots No7's Colour Calming Primers

Once you've prepped the skin, a good foundation that matches both your skin type and colour is imperative.  It's also handy to know your skin tone.  Cool skin types suit pink under tone foundations, where as warm skin tones better suit yellow under toned foundations. 

So make up and clothing, although different mediums, still follow the same rules.  An excellent foundation makes a more glowing and confident YOU!

Do you abide by a fail-safe regime for perfect foundation?  Have a favourite primer or perfect shirt bra?

Becky x

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Fibromyalgia, Modelling and Me

I wanted to touch on something that I wouldn't usually discuss on this blog but felt compelled to write about.  I have a condition called fibromyalgia.

I've been suffering with fibromyalgia for several years now and have met along the way some lovely people who also live with the illness including other bloggers and even models.  It is a common health condition yet still is a relatively little understood illness which I am often asked about of its effects.  New acquaintances and quite often photographers are timidly putting the question to me, curious but at the same time not wanting to offend.  It's become apparent to me that some people are in a way afraid.  Afraid what it is, what it means and ultimately how it affects them.  So I've decided to lift the lid and bare all.

Fibromyalgia, or FM or FMS for short, literally translates as muscle pain ('fibro' means the fibrous tissues, 'my' is muscles and 'algia' is pain).  It's a chronic condition meaning long standing, and very much widespread of the whole body, specifically in certain areas.  In a nutshell it means it's generally a lifelong condition that involves pain in its many forms body wide.  It's also a syndrome which means the pain is simply the beginning, before delving into the nitty gritty, some of which include fatigue, tiredness, stiffness, migraines, short term memory loss (commonly referred to as 'fibro fog'), irritable bowel syndrome and depression.  Over days, weeks and months, severity of symptoms vary, whilst peak painful and disturbing periods are known as flare ups.  Medication coupled with careful planning can help with the daily management.  'Pacing yourself' is the mantra you live by.

By Chris Rout

I don't want to get in too deep with all the medical speak, it's not all that interesting if it doesn't affect you and even for a fibro sufferer myself, it can get really tedious!  It is important however if it's something you've heard about and maybe if you've found yourself asking the question yourself.  I understand that it can sound big and scary especially if you've read it as a health notice on one of my modelling profiles.  I want to clarify how it affects me and what it means you can expect.

I do have to live with daily fatigue and pains in various parts of my body.  Days are better than others and vice versa.  I take medication and generally I can cope pretty well with the symptoms.  I may feel it, but I try not to show it, and I've never heard anything negative about it affecting me on a shoot.  I have my fiance with me going to, on and from my shoots because I do need the assistance.  Driving is very draining for me and most distances cause me agony, so it's best not to drive myself.  During the shoot, it can be difficult for me to put on some clothing and need the second pair of hands.  Some poses can be stressful for me, I may require help getting into a position, but I will always try.  The fact is a shoot is never that long and as soon as I'm finished I begin winding down.  Well, the winding down is actually more like dying, or at least dropping off to sleep as soon as I land in the car.  Sometimes I realise I have overdone myself and the effects will come upon me like flu.  It's not uncommon for me to go to bed for several hours immediately following a shoot, sometimes for up to a week.  I don't model full time purely for the reason that I need to allow repair time and will never model on the consecutive day.  When shoot day arrives I'm well prepared, fresh and ready to go.  A lot of the time aches and pains can be mentally manipulated.  I may well be feeling like crap and you will never know.

By Chris Rout

It's important to me that those I work with can understand a little where I am coming from but I also don't expect special treatment.  I'm a hard worker, passionate and dedicated to anything I sign up to.  I'm not perfect and live with a disabling illness but I don't allow it to run my life and ruin it.

Generally people are understanding and sympathetic which I really do appreciate.  The industries in which I work can be cut throat, yet I've had the pleasure to work with the most friendly and down to earth, creative people.  Those who avoid me thinking I am more trouble than it's worth possibly need a little more education, but their negativity isn't worth me the pain.

By Sean J Connolly

I hope I have enlightened those of you who have wondered about fibromyalgia and what it is.  I decided being completely open and transparent is the best medicine and I'll sleep a little more soundly tonight.

I was a guest blogger for health and beauty website Talk Perfection last month when I discussed fibromyalgia.  To read the feature please follow this link to Talk Perfection.

Thank you for listening.

Becky x

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