TOP FIVE HAND CREAMS

I don't smoke, rarely drink, have the odd flutter on the lottery or the horses. No addiction. I can take it or leave it. But, the one thing I can't live without.... is hand cream - what a vice. I go through tubes, tubs, jars and pots of it. Before I've finished one, I've bought the next. I must not run out. You get the picture - I neeeeeed it. My name is Stephanie, and I am a hand cream addict. So here are my top five...



Barbara Daly Helping Hands Serum, £6.75
Tesco

I've been using hair serums for years, more recently, face serums but now... hand serum! And how lovely it is too. Soft like satin and smooth to the touch, Helping Hands by Barbara Daly (no relation) for Tesco is designed to moisturise, soothe and protect. Just one tiny drop reduces dryness to create healthy hands with fewer lines. It's the perfect size for a handbag, so slip one in your shopping basket. 

Herbal Aloe Hand Cream, £8.50
http://products.herbalife.co.uk/

Herbal Aloe Hand Cream will make your hands super soft. As the name suggests, the range contains Aloe Vera, a natural moisturiser recognised for thousands of years for its nourishing and vitalizing benefits. This hand cream is the perfect thirst-quencher for people with dry skin - it will leave your hands feeling soft and your cuticles smooth. It's subtle scent is really lovely too.

Hands First Invisible Gloves, £4.99 (75ml)
Superdrug

Busy hands need a resisiliant hand cream. Hands First Invisible Gloves not only moisturise skin to keep it silky soft but it also builds a protective layer over your skin - making it ideal for applying before household chores or gardening to protect them from detergents and dirt. Rumour has it that using it pre-fake tan will protect you from staining your hands. I've not fake tanned in a while, but will give it a go and report back! This is fragrance free too, so suitable for people with sensitive skin.

VIE at Home Blissful Hands Softening Hand Cream, £7.50

http://www.vieathome.com/

Vie Blissful Hands Softening Hnd Cream has a delicious smelling fruity fragrance. The cream contains Rosehip Seed Oil, Chamomile, Allantoin, Glycerine and Cocoa Butter to keep hands super-soft. The packaging is super-girly, and would make a great gift for a hand cream lover!

Dove Visible Effects Hand Cream, £3.56 for 75ml
Boots

Finally, Dove Visible Effects Hand Cream is a fab new product to give hands deep-down mositurisation. It has a 'Multi-Layer Complex', which basically means that it doesn't just sit on the top layer of skin, it sinks into lower layers to offer lasting hydration that lasts for ages.

All this talk is making my hands thirsty. I need my next fix...

TOP FIVE SPRING CLEANING PRODUCTS

I love a good spring clean! Particularly going out afterwards, and coming home to a sparkling, sweet smelling home. Bliss. Waking up with a small hangover, I worked through it this morning, trying out some new cleaning products - where's my medal? Below are my top five spring cleaning products.



Narcissi Spring multi-surface cleaner, £5.15 http://www.homescents.co.uk/



Numero uno. You need a good cleaner, as well as being good at getting things clean, it's nice to know that it's also good for the environment. The Home Scents range of eco cleaning products are scented with essential oils, and leave things sparkling - and smelling lovely. The multi-surface cleaner can be used neat on surfaces or diluted to clean floors.

Sarah Smith Ultra Absorbent Cloths, £2.05
http://www.sarah-smith.co.uk/

There's no need for drab cleaning cloths - Sarah Smiths Ultra Absorbent Cloths have really cute designs - so they'll brighten up you cleaning cupboard! They're machine washable too - so you can get lots of use out of them. 

Flash Power Mop

Her name is Mrs Mop, and she is bloody good at her job. Push the button on the handle of the Flash Power Mop - a battery-powered gadget -  and she'll spray cleaner across the floor - you then just whizz her over dirt or spills and she sucks it all up! She has changeable cleaning pads, so you just bin them after they're dirty. There's even a scourer on the side to scrub stubborn splodges of dirt without getting on your hands and needs. Get one.

E-cloth Window Pack, £8.99
http://www.e-cloth.com/

Sometimes when I'm cleaning, I want feel like I need a little bit of magic... et voila. The E-cloth - it cleans with water alone. Wow! The cloths breaks up, traps and absorbs grease, dirt and bacteria from all hard surfaces - leaving them cleaner for longer. I've been using the e-cloth Window Pack - you can use it on mirrors and the window frame too. Simply wet the cloth, wring out any excess water and use as required, then follow up with the Glass & Polishing Cloth to remove any remaining smears. It really does work - a great space-saving product if you live in a small flat.

Oust

Once your home is clean, it also needs to smell nice. Oust is a great air freshener - as it doesn't just put a flowery smell over a bad smell - if  attaches to odour-causing bacteria, killing them and taking them out of the air. Amazing.

TOP FIVE SHOWER GELS

Showers. Something we do everyday, and what a difference a shower gel can make. No really, it can leave your skin - and therefore you - feeling amazing, it can be so zingy that it wakes you up or so full of foam that you can't help but smile among all the bubbles. Maybe I'm just a little over-excitable, but what the hell, here are my top five shower gels!



Dr Organic’s Organic Rose Otto Body Wash, £5.49
Holland & Barrett



Wake-up!  Dr Organic’s Organic Rose Otto Body Wash is cleansing cocktail of organic Rose Otto Oil, Aloe Vera, Lime and Passion Flower extracts. The ingredients were chosen to be perfect for waking you up by  invigorating skin. This shower gel smells lovely, and the gel glides onto skin and washes off easily - leaving it silky-soft. This product claims to be anti-aging too - not quite clear on how this works - but if youre searching for eternal youth - this could be the shower gel of your dreams?!

Kings & Queens Chinese Princess Jasmin Shower Gel, £5
Waitrose 

The ingredients for this shower gel were based on a Chinese legend that tells of a princess who planted jasmine so that her lover would never forget his vows. The results of whether her man strayed were not shared, but she may have had more luck getting him to stick-around by using Chinese Princess Jasmin Shower Gel from Kings & Queens - it smells so great that he'd have hung around just to steal her shower gel! This shower gel is enriched with Pomegranate, Blue Egyptian Lotus and Malachite - it's really dreamy.

Skin Wisdom Day Spa Gingerlily & Orange Body Wash, £3.97
Tesco (pictured on left)

Launched exclusively in Tesco, Skin Wisdom Day Spa is a new bathing range created with the help of award winning spas across the UK. I've tested out the Gingerlily & Orange range - including its shower gel and it really is lovely - a luxury silky-soft shower gel that feels really premium. It's only £3.97, and would look great in your bathroom. The range also has a shower scrub for body buffing and a great hand and body lotion too. So, for about a tenner, you can turn your bathroom into a home spa. Pick one up on your next supermarket trip!

Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Moisturizing Body Wash, £8.35 for 200ml

                    http://www.paul-mitchell.co.uk/

If you've had a hard day, then melt away the day’s stresses with Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Moisturizing Body Wash. Mmmmm, this luxurious, conditioning cleanser is scented with lavender, mint and tea tree to soothe senses. Skin is left squeaky clean and silky-soft thanks to the natural oils in this lush body wash. It's not cheap, but some of the best things in life aren't, so if you feel like treating yourself, pick one of these up.

Impereal Leather Foamburst in Japanese Spa, £2.54

I'm all in a lather! And there can only be one thing to blame - Foamburst! When you press the top of this miracle can, a gel comes out, which quickly transforms into a really rich, creamy lather. I really love the scent of the Japanese Spa variant - it contains a blend of green tea, rice milk and jasmine. It's the among the most fun you can have in a bathroom. Enjoy!

TOP FIVE HOME FITNESS PRODUCTS

If you've been reading this blog, you may have noticed that this year, I'm getting buff! I love the gym, but I think it's a bit pricey and struggle to find the time. Anyhow, this month I've been testing some great equipment that will help you get fit in the comfort of your own home. There's a range of price points, depending on how much you want to commit, and how much you have left over after January sales shopping!



iJoy Human Touch Board, £344.99
http://www.surfdome.com/

I've had this gadget for a few years. To use it you stand on a motorised skateboard-sized platform and try to stay upright while it wobbles about. I call it my 'surfboard machine' - which is basically what it is. It's not a cardio workout, but it will strengthen your core. To see effects, you should use it twice a day for 15 mins. The handy part about this machine is that it shuts off after 15 mins, so you know that you've done one session. I recommend playing some of your favourite tunes while using it, and having a little dance. I also use it with some small dumbbells to workout my arms while I'm on it. It's really heavy, so you'll need a space for it at home - but it doesn't need much space while you're using it - so could be a viable option for someone in a small flat.

Silva ex series Pedometer, from £13.99
http://www.silva.se/

Research has found that walking 10,000 steps per day can do great things for your health - it also burns 300-400 calories. I'm a Londoner, and I think we probably walk more than most people - to the tube, around underground tunnels, on the busy streets (and round the shops!) so I was clocking 10K without even trying, which is way above the UK average of 3K-4K steps. The Silva pedometer can count your steps or can convert them into calories burned - its up to you. It's actually quite scary how far you need to walk to burn foods (you need to take 1,750 steps to burn off a digestive biscuit)... I better go for a long walk!



Easyshaper, £29.95
http://www.argos.co.uk/



The Easyshaper is an innovative product that can give a great home workout for men or women. It's perfect if you want to tone up - I particularly like the pilates element of the DVD (that comes free with the Easyshaper). There are hundreds of moves you can create with this bar - from the one pictured - which will work your abs, to tricep dips (where you stand up with your feet in the stirups, raise the bar above your head, and then let your forearms drop behind your head). You change the resistance of the Easyshaper by twisting the bar forward - which tightens the strings, so you can use this piece of equipment forever - changing the resistance to make moves harder as you progress. Three metal bars slip together to build the Easyshaper in seconds (they can easily be disassembled for storage - although I just keep the whole pole in my wardrobe!). I've heard that Danielle Linekar is a fan of this, using it to tone up at home. Bargain price too - less than £30. 

CafePress personalised yoga mat, £22
www.cafepress.co.uk/+yoga-mats

I have wooden floors, so floor exercises need a mat. There's a fab website called CafePress were you can design your own yoga mat - simply select a mat colour, then chose either a pre-loaded design template or upload your own image or graphics. They're really fun and easy to create - and would make a fab gift for a yoga bunny. You can add text too - perfect for a birthday message. Et voila - a comfy home yoga mat.



Dumbells

Ok, so there's nothing new and innovative about dumbells, but they are super versatile. As mentioned, I use them when I use my Human Touchboard, they're also handy to have to hand when doing home workout DVDs. If you do 50 reps a night for a week, you'll have solid arms in no time. I am guilty of using them more as a doorstop than an exercise tool, but I'm going to pick them up right now and get me some Madonna arms! They vary in price, but you can pick them up from a few pounds. If you don't want to commit to a set - just get a pair.

TOP FIVE HAIR REMOVAL PRODUCTS

I do get a little sad that we've not fully evolved. There's no logical reason why any woman should have hair below her bottom lashes. Until the scientist have conquered cancer, and moved onto more important things - like creating a genetic mutation that prevents unwanted hair growth - I've put together my top five products for removal of unwanted hair...

Gillette Venus Embrace
www.gillettevenus.com/uk

Usually, it's men that get the high-tech shavers. We've seen the ads. There's always multiple blades at optimum angles and titanium coatings... Well, now girls can have that 'close shave' too, with Gillette Venus Embrace. This razor is extra special, as it has a protective moisture ribbon that lets the razor glide smoothly. I use this razor for my legs, and it really is the best shave your pins are ever likely to get. The five blades individually adjust so that even the tricky bits - like ankles - can be shaved to within an inch of their life! I've been loyal to Venus for years, and long may this relationship continue.

www.sknclinics.co.uk/
Prices vary

Ouch, ow, ahhhh, agggghhhh I think they were the words coming out of my mouth during my first laser hair removal session at SK:N... and then I bit my hand as I thought it might just numb the pain as my bikini area was zapped. I've had seven sessions at SK:N clinics, and I must say, the hair is gone - Woo hoo! No more shaving or  waxing 'downstairs' for me. Each session did hurt, but the bikini-area session is over in ten minutes, so you just have to lie back and put mind over matter (washed down with some Ibuprofen). It's expensive, but if you can find the money, it's well worth investing.

parissa Express Wax Strips, £7.99
Sainsbury's and Boots

I'm not a particularly hairy person, but sometimes I'll see a few hairs on my top lip (or on my toes) that I want to get rid of, and fast. A really quick and easy way to remove hair that will last a few weeks is, obviously, waxing. Parissa make great express wax strips that are perfect for keeping on-hand for any hairy emergencies. The pack contains 8 double sided wax strips. Simply warm one between your palms for a few seconds to loosen the wax, apply to your 'hairy area' - wherever it may be - and then pull away against the direction of hair growth. You'll be fuzz free in seconds. I'd always use these at night if possible, so that your skin has time to calm down afterwards - as waxing can leave skin a little red afterwards.

parissa Azulene Oil, £7.99
Sainsbury's and Boots

My next fuzz-free product actually comes with the above-mentioned wax kit, but can also be bought on its own; Parissa Azulene Oil. It's a nifty little oil that prevents in-grown hairs - fab for using post shave or wax.

Threading

Finally, the brows. I'm always torn about the best course of action, as mine are naturally quite a decent shape - so I tend to just pluck the strays. However, I really need to haul my ass down to the nearest threader to have a professional shape. These little cotton-waving magicians really can transform a face. There's threaders everywhere - particularly in Asian neighbourhoods (as they're the real threading pros), and they start at cheapy-cheap prices like £3! Perfect brows. Done.

TOP FIVE NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

There's something undeniably reassuring about putting something natural on your skin. Products that don't contain chemicals, that will not only be better for your skin, but which are also less likely to have a damaging effect on the environment. Below are my top five natural beauty products...

No Nonsense Organic Hemp & Shea Real Skin Cream, £15 for 100ml
 http://www.nononsensebodycare.co.uk/.

Delivering truck loads of moisture to skin, while avoiding all chemicals, No Nonsense Real Skin Cream has been developed for face, body, hands and feet using 100% organic oils. I really love the Hemp & Shea Cream. From the tin the texture of this product is like a mousse, but one applied to skin, it melts, leaving you  with super-soft skin that has a glossy shine  (that'll be thanks to those organic oils!). The entire No Nonsense range is hypoallergenic, so it would make a great gift for a person with sensitive skin. Give it a whirl!



Rosa Mosqueta Bath & Shower Gel, £10
AubreyOrganicsUK.co.uk



Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta®  is enriched with Rosa Mosqueta, macadamia and almond oils that will leave skin feeling super-soft. You can use this product in the shower or as a relaxing bath soak (which is my preference). The geranium and lavender fragrance will really relax you and leave your skin smelling fabulous too.  All the ingredients are 100% natural, so you'll feel great, smell beautiful and feel good!



Naturally Cranberry & Moro Orange Body Butter, £8 for 200g

For stockists call: 01277 220 842

Naturally Upper Canada is a botanical body care range that's 97% natural; using botanically active ingredients while remaining free from nasty  Parabens, mineral oils, SLS, and synthetic dyes. The Cranberry & Mono Orange Body Butter is really indulgent, and soaks into skin easily, keeping skin soft without feeling greasy. At just £8 for a big tub, this sweet-smelling body butter is a real bargain! 



Montagne Jeunesse, £4.99
Available nationwide at Tesco



All Montagne Jeunesse products are bursting with natural, ethically sourced ingredients and they have a new product - Tottles! Basically, Montagne Jeunesse make fab sachet face masks, and a Tottles holds 10 applications! So there'll be no more frantic searches for scissors in the bathroom - followed by you opening a sachet with your teeth and ending up with face mask in your mouth -yuck! I tried the Sensuous Spice mask without any danger posed to my taste-buds - a gorgeous and exotic blend of Cinnamon, which brightens and tightens, and uplifting Ginger, to leave your skin radiant and cleansed. The warming sensation feels amazing on skin - and the terracotta coloured mask makes you feel like you're in a spa! The best bit? I get to use it nine more times! God bless you Tottle - a new bathroom staple.



vertese Skin, Hair and Eyes, £4.99 for 30 capsules
http://www.vertese.com/



It's always good to be healthy on the inside, as this will come through skin to keep you looking radiant on the outside. vertese is a health and beauty supplement brand where all products -as well as being vegan friendly -are derived from natural sources. I've been taking vertese Skin, Hair and Eyes recently - daily beauty capsules that contain Vitamin C and Zinc, for a healthy immune system; Biotin for healthy hair; Vitamin A which acts as an antioxidant and Lutein, which provides nutritional support to help keep eyes healthy and maintain normal vision. I've not found a supplement that does quite as much as this one - so it's now my beauty essential.

TOP FIVE PRODUCTS TO MAKE YOU ZZZZZzzzzzzzz

It would be nice to think that the sky turning black at 4pm and working long hours would mean that we all fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow, but sometimes we just can't nod off. Below are some products that may help you fall into the most blissfull nights' kip you've ever had...

Devon Duvets
www.devonduvets.com/

First things first, you need a super-comfy duvet to sleep in. Devon Duvets are natural with a 100% wool filling and are encased in soft cotton. The wool is reared by British farmers and the unique and natural properties of the wool resist dust mites and could help to relieve allergies or asthma - helping you drift off and have a comfortable nights sleep. 

BetterYou Magnesium Oil Spray - Goodnight, £11.95
www.revital.co.uk/



BetterYou Magnesium Oil Spray - Goodnight is a unique combination of magnesium and essential oils to help promote peaceful sleep. Spray it on skin to replace magnesium lost through modern diet and pressured lifestyles (Magnesium deficiency is responsible for nervousness that prevents sleep). The spray also calms muscles and nerves which regulate melatonin - the hormone essential for normal sleep cycles. Each bottle contains up to 800 individual sprays to send you into a peaceful sleep every night.  

NiteHerb, £5.99 for 3 tablets
 http://www.niteherb.co.uk/,



I've spoken before on this blog about Valerian, as it's clinically proven to help sleep. New NiteHerb tablets contains 150mg of extract from valerian root. When people with sleep problems take Valerian, the quality and duration of their sleep improves, so insomniacs should give it a go.

Tisserand Sleep Roll-On Remedy,  £5.25

 http://www.tisserand.com/

Small enough to keep in your handbag, the Tisserand Sleep Roll-On Remedy is a great way to help you switch off. Just roll over pulse points when you wish to feel sleepy and feel yourself relax. It smells lovely - with calming lavender oil, comforting bergamot oil and ylang-ylang which aids relaxation. This is the perfect travel companion for people who find it hard to sleep away from home.


Gingerlily Eyemask, £12.90
http://www.gingerlily.co.uk/



I often wake up too early when the sun rises - even in winter, and an ideal way to ensure you stay in a deep sleep is to invest in an eyemask. Although masks you pick up on flights are an option, look after your skin with a silk one - like Gingerlily's. As silk is high in protein, it is extremely soft and kind to the skin - you'll be able to sleep for longer without getting wrinkles! I'm sure Sleeping Beauty had one of these!

What do you use to ensure you get enough sleep?



TOP FIVE FITNESS DVDS & CDS

Well, it's 2011, and I'm doing pretty well at getting fit. I've cut down on snacks, added more veg to meals and started exercising again! I don't really have time for the gym, and would quite frankly rather spend £50 a month on shoes, so I've started working out at home using some rather fabulous fitness DVDs ...

Davina Body Buff, £19.99

What I love about Davina is her honesty. Getting fit and staying fit is not easy... and she doesn't pretend it is. She gets out of breathe during the workouts and she's glad when each set of exercises finishes so she can have a little break, but her enthusiasm throughout this workout is infectious - possibly because she knows that hard work works. Davina's been knocking out fitness DVDs for seven years now with over one million of her workouts being bought by women eager to get in shape. Davina's Body Buff won't let you down - it's high energy, and great for people determined to get fit... It certainly left me the most exhausted of all the DVDs! If you're worried it will be too fast paced, fear not, there's an older lady that works out alongside Davina that shows you how to do the same routine at a lower intensity.

Zumba Fitness £49.98
http://www.zumbafitness.co.uk/

If you're really committed to getting fit, my top recommendation would be picking up the the Zumba Fitness box - it comes with four CDs,  a booklet with fitness & diet tips as well as some maraca-like toning sticks. The DVDs are AMAZING, and the first CD - Zumba Basics - has all the classic Latin moves broken down incredibly well, so you can pick up the sexy samba, salsa and raggaeton  moves. The four CDs provide you with a great option for varying your workouts, which will keep it interesting. This workout box is the most expensive workout DVD I tried, but is excellent value - I genuinely LOVED dancing round my lounge to these DVDs, and will be using the set to get in shape for my holiday!



Diet Chef, Shape Up at Home, £19.99
http://www.dietchef.com/

Pilates lovers may want to try the Diet Chef's Shape Up at Home DVD. This DVD is low-impact, and designed to sculpt and tone yourbody. I found it a little slow, and hard to get motivated by it, but it does have its plus points. Firstly, it doesn't require a lot of space to do the moves, as most of them are mat-based (unlike a lot of the DVDs, which seem to think people have dance-studio sized lounges. Hands up who's kicked over their coffee table or high kicked their TV in the past!?) and it would suit those who aren't used to exercising strenuously. This DVD really worked my core - and used regularly, would give you great abs!



Step Up The Dance Out, £19.99





If you're already quite rhythmic, and like a challenge, then Step Up The Dance Out may be the fitness DVD for you. It follows the film Step Up and is loaded with street dance moves. The slow versions of the moves are still quite quick, so if you have two left feet, keep away from this DVD. The music you'll workout to is great, with tracks from Timbaland featuring Nelly Furtado, Run DMC and Ciara featuring Missy Elliot - so you'll have fun dancing away and learning some moves as you burn calories and tone up for 2011.Definitely one for the cool kids!



The Workout Mix 2010



If working out at home's not for you, give The Workout Mix 2011 a try when you hit the gym or go out for a run. The CD is the result of music and fitness experts joining forces to create music to keep you motivated while training. There's three mixes - pump it, burn it and push it - so you can load three mixes onto your iPod to add some variety to your workouts. The CD contains music from Rhianna, The Black Eyed Peas, Florence & The Machine and Lady Gaga, to name a few. It'll make your workouts fly by and makes for some good listening as you dance around preparing for a night out.

Soon I'll be reviewing home fitness equipment too, so if you liked this post, check-in again soon!



TOP FIVE RELAXATION PRODUCTS

A recent survey from Arnicare found that we girls just aren't finding the time to relax, with a quarter of  us admitting that we relax for less than one hour a day and a frazzled 1 in 12 of us saying that we have no time for relaxation at all. Now most of us are back to the daily grind for 2011, perhaps we should make one resolution; to take a wee bit more time to chillax and unwind. Here are a few products that may help you achieve your inner zen...



Arnicare bath & massage oil, £7.95
Available at Boots, http://www.arnicare.co.uk/

We all know that baths provide a great way to relax, but to ensure you're getting the maximum out of your time in the tub, drop in a couple of cap fulls of Arnicare bath & massage oil. It smells divine, and contains Arnica montana to help soothe and relax muscles, Calendula, Evening Primrose and Sweet Almond Oil tohydrate and nourish skin as well as Lavender and Grapefruit oils to help relax the mind. Arnicare arnica bath & massage balm can be rubbed directly into the skin after bathing to seal in moisture and help massage away aches too.

Valerian, £9.95
Nature's Best, http://www.naturesbest.co.uk/



Sleep is another great way wind down, rest and regenerate but sometimes, when we need it most, we find it hardest to bed down. Valerian is especially good to take during times of stress, anxiety, tension, hysteria, and over-excitability. It is a handy bed-side table sleep aid due to its ability to raise levels of the nerve chemical ‘gamma-aminobutyric’ which calms the brain and body so sleep can occur naturally. It can also be used to treat and conditions worsened by stress like irritable bowel syndrome.

Diet can help you relax, particularly if you eat foods rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the brain produce serotonin - a chemical that calms you down, and melatonin - a hormone that can make you sleepy. Try foods like cheese, chicken, eggs, milk, nuts and rice for a natural way to de-stress yourself.



HoMedics 3-Node Deluxe Shiatsu Foot Massager, £61.27
Available at Boos, http://www.boots.com/

Massage loosens muscles and helps us feel more relaxaed. After a long day on your feet, try using the HoMedics 3-Node Deluxe Shiatsu Foot Massager. It gives feet an invigorating massage, relieving stiffness and tension. It can be operated with your feet - so there's no need to move. Just sit down and relax. It feels amazing!

Balance Me Wind Down Wash, £12.52
http://www.boots.com/

Sometimes there's no time  for baths or sleep, so a really speedy way to relax and unwind is required. Balance Me Wind Down Wash contains contains Ylang Ylang which energises  skin and leaves it cleansed and balanced. This product contains essential oils to optimise health and well-being, you'll love it!

TOP FIVE FRUITS & THEIR BENEFITS

I'm doing pretty well at keeping trim in 2011. The inability to eat on New Year's Day helped somewhat, but I've also loaded my fridge with fresh fruits. My favourites are listed below...



Passion Fruit, approx £0.80



Of South American origin, these juicy little fruits are absolutely delicious. There are two varieties - purple skinned and yellow, although I've never seen the yellow version in the UK. Passion Fruits are super sweet, and have a sloppy/sludgy texture inside - unusual on your first taste. These little beauties are a great source of vitamins A & C and Potassium, and the seeds are a good source of fibre. Research has also found that passion fruit juice reduces cancer cells too - bingo. The biggest, juiciest passion fruits come from Colombia, so look out for this on the fruit packet!

Pomegranate, approx £1.50

Pomegranate juice contains the highest antioxidant capacity compared to other juices. Antioxidants are the naturally occurring substances in plants that protect the body from free radicals - 'bad' chemicals in the blood. As well as tasting delicious, Pomegranates are also loaded with vitamins A, C, E and iron. The fiddly seeds can be messy to release, so I'd advice picking them up from M&S where the seeds have already been freed. You'll be glowing with health in a week's time.

Pink Grapefruit, aprox £0.50



One of the many health benefits of grapefruit is that it can help people lose weight, as it's low in sodium, high in fat burning enzymes and has a high water content. These things combined speed up the metabolism to keep you skinny. Therefore, grapefruit is a powerful fruit for people trying to get rid of their post-Christmas belly. I hate to pick favourites, but as well as tasting sweeter pink grapefruits contain over fifty times the cartenoids of white grapefruits, which are converted in the body to vitamin A - which is great for skin.

Pineapple, approx £3

So long as you know when to stop, Pineapples are sooo good (we've all burnt our tongues from eating too much, right?!). This scrumptious fruit is also high in vitamins B1, B2, B6 and  C. It also helps digestion at the end of a high protein meal thanks to an enzyme called Bromelaian, that also breaks down excess mucus, so it's ideal for relieving systems for conditions like bronchitis, sinusitis and asthma

Raspberries, approx £2.99 per punnet

If there was one fruit I couldn't give up, it would be Raspberries. I'll handily never have a need to give them up, as technically, I could grow them in my garden, as they thrive in Europe - even in the UK! Raspberries are packed with fibre, to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and manganese - a mineral that helps keep your metabolic rate high, which in turn burns fat. Woo hoo. Preliminary medical studies have also found consuming raspberries regularly can help protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cognitive decline and eyesight degeneration, so pick up a punnet of these delicious berries and throw them on your cereal!

Have a very juicy new year! x