A Blogful of Pretty: 2017

Octinoxate

What a great product... but wait, what's that smell??

June 22, 2017

Aloe vera

7 Ways I Use Aloe Vera in My Skin and Hair Routine

June 18, 2017

Health

2 More Tips That Can Help You Fall Asleep Faster

April 13, 2017

Hello lovely people!

It seems that there are some more tips that could help us sleep better. I've actually read about this before, but they kind of slipped off my mind when I was writing the 13 Tips to Better Sleep post.

TAKE A MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT

A couple of days ago, I read an article about magnesium which reminded me about the anti-stress effect this mineral has on the body. The author mentioned that taking a magnesium supplement to bed helps some people fall asleep easier. Magnesium relaxes the muscles, calms the nervous system and induces sleep. This research showed that taking a magnesium supplement improves sleep time and sleep efficiency, and reduces early morning awakening. Just be careful with the dosage, as too much magnesium can cause diarrhea. For adult women, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium is 310-320 mg, and for adult men - 400-420 mg. For more information about RDAs click here.

I will definitely include this tip in the challenge, as I think I will benefit from it in more ways than one.

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TO BED? SOCKS!

There are 2 kinds of people - those who wear socks to bed and those who don’t. Ok, that was not the greatest attempt at a joke, I admit. But still, you must have noticed that, on the one hand, many people think of this habit as a bit strange and rather unattractive. On the other hand, there are people who can’t fall asleep without socks… So, who’s right?

Believe it or not, warming your feet can help you drift off to sleep faster, as it causes dilation of blood vessels in your feet, which subsequently makes your brain think “hey, it’s warm and cosy, and it’s late… time to shut down all processes…”.
I used to wear socks to bed before. However, when I changed my mattress, I don’t have any problems with cold feet. For some reason, I find the new latex mattress (not so new anymore, I got it about 13 months ago) a bit too hot. This is maybe a topic for another blogpost, but yeah, I googled my “latex mattress too hot” problem and it seems that there are quite a lot people that have the some issue. I was worried that some other foam mattresses might be problematic in this sense, so I decided to buy one made from latex, as the previous latex mattress was quite pleasant when it comes to temperature regulation. Anyway, I found that putting two bed sheets over the new one, more or less takes care of the problem.

Ok, so, I will not be trying out the socks tip, but I plan to start taking a magnesium supplement before sleep.

What about you? Do you have a habit of taking Mg supplements? Do they help you deal with stress and sleep problems? Oh, and what do you think about wearing socks to bed?

Better Sleep Challenge: 13 Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep
Better Sleep Challenge: 2 More Tips That Can Help You Fall Asleep Faster
Better Sleep Challenge: First Impressions

Health

Better Sleep Tips: First Impressions

April 08, 2017

Hello lovely people!
The weekend is finally here and I hope you're making the most of it!

So, in my last post I shared 13 relatively simple tips that should help you sleep better! I've already started practising some of them and I would like to share with you my first impressions. As I promised, I will write a bit more about each of the tips I mentioned.

ENJOY THE DARKNESS

Apart from this tip sounding like a regular rock song title, it should also have a positive impact on your health. Research has shown that exposure to light during the night could affect hormones which regulate appetite and increase the risk for weight gain. Women who are exposed to bright light during sleep also have a 22% higher risk of developing breast cancer. Even exposure to dim light is not harmless and could lead to depression.

Why is that so?

Well, it seems that light during the night supresses melatonin levels and raises cortisol production. Melatonin is a hormone that controls your sleep and wake cycles. Its levels depend on natural (and indoor) light exposure - when it gets dark outside, melatonin levels go up, which causes you to be sleepy in the evening. Bright lights can disrupt melatonin production, which can create sleep and other problems. The hormone cortisole has an opposite effect, and its levels should remain low during the night, in order for us to sleep well.

My experience?

I know people who need total darkness so that they can sleep. I am not one of those people. It's easy to turn off all the lights and close the blinds, but I just don't like the feeling. Somehow I feel like I'm closed in a box, if that makes sense. However, I do plan to continue doing this, and I hope that I will see some positive effects during the next few weeks.

BREATHE FOR SLEEP

Breathing techniques can help us calm down, ward off stress, and also fall asleep faster. When you breathe slow, your heart rate slows down, too. The brain then gets the signal that you are calm and, as a consequence, the whole body relaxes as well. There are a couple of popular relaxing breathing techniques, with the 4-7-8 one being one of the most well-known:

Inhale through your nose while you count to 4.
Hold your breath for the count of 7.
Exhale through your mouth to the count of 8.
Repeat 5 times.

My experience?

Guys, I think this actually works! I don't fall asleep instantly, but I've noticed I don't toss and turn like I usually do. I modified the counts a bit and I basically do my own 5-5-5 method and repeat 5 times.

I would say that I need maybe up to 10 minutes to fall asleep thanks to this. However, I didn't sleep sufficiently a couple of nights this week (5-6 hours, which is certainly not enough), so that could also be the reason why I fell asleep fast. Or maybe 10 minutes is not fast enough, what do you think?

Like I said, I will slowly incorporate most, if not all of the better sleep tips I wrote about into my daily life. Some of them I am following already, like limiting my caffeine and alcohol intake. Oh, and I don't do naps. Still, I plan to write about these tips as well, as they might help some of you with your possible sleep problems.

Better Sleep Challenge: 13 Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep

Better Sleep Challenge: 2 More Tips That Can Help You Fall Asleep Faster

Better Sleep Challenge: First Impressions

Health

13 Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep

April 05, 2017

I must say, I love reading about and participating in different better life/health/diet/habits challenges that we often come across on social media. So, today I decided to write about my first challenge - the Better Sleep Challenge. I plan to check if one can really sleep better thanks to advice that we often find in books, magazines or on the internet. The idea is to incorporate the following tips gradually into my day (or rather night ;) ) routine:

Wake up and go to bed at approximately the same time every day.
Sleep 7-8 hours.
Avoid naps during the day.
Stay away from caffeine 6 to 8 hours before going to bed.
Avoid alcohol.
Don’t eat 3 hours before going to bed.
Avoid watching TV or using your cell phone, tablet or computer 2 to 3 hours before bedtime
Avoid spending time in brightly lit rooms before sleep, or simply put - dim the lights a couple of hours before going to bed.
Sleep in total darkness.
Practice breathing techniques to fall asleep faster
Drink a cup of warm herbal tea an hour before going to bed
Use essential oils that are known for their relaxing properties (lavender, lemonbalm, peppermint, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, etc.)
Eat foods that contain tryptophan or boost melatonin levels in the afternoon (almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, honey, bananas, oranges, pineapples, cherries, oats, rice, etc.)

These are most of the tips I collected that should help you sleep better. In this post I won't go into detail about each advice. As I plan to try them out step by step, I am going to write a weekly blogpost/report about the tips I followed and how and if they helped me sleep better and wake up well-rested. I've already begun to close the blinds each night before going to bed so that I can sleep in complete darkness.

So, what do you say? Would you like to join me in my Better Sleep Challenge?

Better Sleep Challenge: 13 Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep
Better Sleep Challenge: 2 More Tips That Can Help You Fall Asleep Faster
Better Sleep Challenge: First Impressions

Anti-aging

My Experience with Caudalie Skin Care

March 16, 2017

A couple of years ago (I think it was in 2010) I heard about the Caudalie brand and the story behind the company. I loved the fact that they were using natural plant ingredients (especially grape and vine extracts) which are known to be rich in antioxidants. One of these active ingredients is resveratrol, a phenolic compound which protects the skin from free radicals and thus, premature aging.

Now I don’t exactly remember which product I bought first, but I remember I got a bunch of samples with it, namely a couple of samples of Caudalie Vinexpert Radiance day fluid SPF10.

As I was going on a trip (to Denmark), I figured I could simply pack these mini-tubes of moisturizer instead of my regular one.

Caudalie Vinexpert
Radiance Day Fluid

The very first impression: I LOVED the smell of this product! It has a refreshing fruity scent that would always put me in a cheerful mood. It hydrates the skin well without feeling heavy and leaves a pinkish sheen. Now, after using it every day for 10 days, I actually noticed that my skin looked fresher and clearer than before leaving for Denmark. Maybe it’s because of the fresh air in this Scandinavian country, but I hold Caudalie responsible for this change. After coming back home and getting a bunch of compliments on my skin, I didn’t think twice before buying this product. Later, I understood that it was intended for women over 50 years, as it has powerful anti-age properties, so I didn’t use it regularly, but rather occasionally, when I wanted to give my skin a boost of radiance.

I was surprised to find out that they discontinued this product, and renewed the whole line, but even now, I can’t find the Vinexpert skin care line on the Caudalie site.

Over the years, I tried out many different Caudalie products. When it comes to facial skin care, I used:

1. Instant Foaming Cleanser 2. Grape Water
3. SOS Thirst Quenching Serum 4. Premières vendanges Moisturizing Cream

Instant Foaming Cleanser

This is a mild cleanser that doesn’t dry out the skin. However, it didn’t leave that feeling of squeaky clean skin, which I kind of missed, so I didn’t repurchase it.

Grape Water

I used the Grape Water after washing my face and throughout the day when my skin was feeling a bit dry. It’s ok, but I am not sure if it actually did anything for my skin.

SOS Thirst Quenching Serum

This moisturizing serum was really good and I’m planning on repurchasing it. During the summer I felt that it was moisturizing enough on itself, and that I can completely skip the cream at the end of my routine. Smells refreshing, reminds me of the Vinexpert fluid that I mentioned at the beginning of the post.

Premières Vendanges Moisturizing Cream

This was a good moisturizing cream, light enough for my combination skin. Nevertheless, when I used it up, I decided to go back to my (then) usual moisturizer (Vichy Aqualia Thermal).

5. Divine Oil 6. Fleur de Vigne

Fleur de Vigne fragrance

Caudalie also has a fragrance line that is perfume-free, alcohol-free and non-photosensitising. I tried the fresh Fleur de Vigne fragrance that I find perfect for the summer. It combines the scents of citruses, such as mandarin orange, grapefruit, bergamot and lemon, with wonderful sandalwood, cedar and watermelon notes.

Divine Oil

I left one of my Holy Grail products - Caudalie Divine oil - for the very end. This is a wonderful dry oil that you can use on your face, body and hair. I, myself, used it mostly on the body and during the summer on the face. It smells simply - waaait for it - divine! It combines the scents of moroccan rose and bulgarian rose with sweet and woody notes of cedar, vanilla and white musk. Argan, grape, hibiscus and sesame oil are the base oils for this product, so it nourishes the skin perfectly. However, if you have (very) dry skin, I don’t think this oil would be enough. In that case, I would rather choose a heavy duty lotion that is intended for extra-dry skin. As a face oil, this product can be used alone as a moisturizer, or after your regular moisturizing cream, as the last step of your beauty routine.

There is one more good news when it comes to this product! For every sold bottle of Divine Oil, Caudalie is planting one tree. On their official website, it is stated that they have already planted over 600.000 trees since 2012.

Caudalie also has a perfume that should smell the same as this oil. The Divine Perfume was launched in 2014 and its creator is Jacques Cavallier. Mr. Cavallier is also the creator of Giorgio Armani’s Mania (for women), which I also love! I’m curious to try this perfume, and I think I will buy it as a birthday gift for myself in a couple of months.

Have you had the oportunity of trying some of Caudalie’s products yourself? If so, what are your impressions? Do you maybe have a favourite Caudalie product?

Fragrance

Ultimate Favorites: Fragrances

March 13, 2017

Today I want to write about two of my absolute favourites when it comes to fragrances. When I was a bit younger, I had a lot of perfumes. Some of my favourites were Clinique Happy, Emporio Armani White, Giorgio Armani Sensi, etc. However, with time, I spontaneously chose my 2 “signature" scents - Omnia Crystalline by BVLGARI and Kenzo Amour.

One of these two is the perfect all year round fragrance, that I also find suitable for both day and night:

BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline

This fragrance was created by Alberto Morillas in 2005. The same man was behind the creation of some other perfumes I love (for example Sensi, Emporio Armani White, Miracle by Lancôme). It is a fresh, clean scent that is, in my opinion, perfect for day use and especially for summer. I think I've already gone through 4 or 5 bottles of Omnia Crystalline's Eau de toilette.

Upon spraying it, you will smell the citrusy top note of Italian Mandarin and the scent of Lotus Flower. Then come to light the heart notes of Lotus Flower, Orris Concrete and Heliotrope. In the end you’ll be left with the wonderful scent of Musk and White Sandalwood (the base notes).

If you love the scent of Musk, which I find dominant in Omnia Crystalline, you will most likely enjoy wearing this fragrance.

If you’re searching for the perfect evening perfume, I suggest you try my other favourite:

Kenzo Amour

KENZO AMOUR

This is a sexy fragrance that will most definitely make you stand out.

It was created by Daphne Burgey i Olivier Cresp in 2006. Olivier Cresp is also behind some notable fragrances like D&G Light Blue, Noa by Cacharel and Ange ou Démon by Givenchy.

The bottle was designed by Karim Rashid, and you can choose from three colours - fuchsia, orange and white - depending on the size (30 ml, 50 ml or 100 ml), as well as the type of fragrance (Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette). I have the Eau de Parfum (in fuchsia : ) ) and I can say that this is a fairly strong, sensual scent - one or two sprays will be more than enough to make you irresistible. At first, you will perceive the top notes of Rice and White Tea. After a couple of minutes, appear the heart notes of Cherry Blossom, Frangipani Blossom and Heliotrope. Just now I’ve noticed that Heliotrop is present in the heart of both of my favourite fragrances. Coincidence? I think not. ;) The base consists of Musk (no surprise here!), Vanilla and Cedar. This is a wonderful, sugary/powdery fragrance with, in my opinion, Vanilla as the dominant scent.

What are your Holy Grail fragrances? If you had to choose, which two scents would you wear for the rest of your life?