The Style Bite

Sleep. One of the most important things we can do to maintain our health and our looks. I read a magazine article today that told me every woman should aim to get six hours sleep a night. Six hours!! Even when I worked in a competitive, targetd driven job in London that kept me at my desk for ten hours a day I still got more than that. The fact is, women learn to listen to their bodies and we all begin to realise what our optimum sleep hours are. Mine? I could easily live on ten hours a night and refuse to listen to either my boyfriend (who thinks we should leap out of bed in the morning) or my sister (‘ha ha wait until you have kids!’) who both claim I’m an oddball for wanting to snooze the hours away. One of my biggest hates is not being able to fall asleep or waking up too early but there are things you can do to help you get a good nights zzzzzz’s.

Don’t eat too late! Some claim you shouldn’t eat past 6pm but how realistic is that. The best meals to chow down on in the evening are carb heavy – yes, I said carbs. They release their energy slowly, over a long period of time, which is perfect for sleeping. And besides, who doesn’t want to fall asleep after a visit to Pasta Browns?

Smell you later! Add some lavender or eucalyptus  oil to your pillow (or create a scented spray like me, see blog archive). Lavender is soothing and will relax you, whilst the eucalyptus promotes breathing which is perfect if you have caught a cold already. Apparently, if you have a cold you wake up a number of times in the middle of the night – although you don’t realise it – so unblocking airwaves is a good thing.

Tea for two? Any caffeine-free tes is good but try sipping a chamomile or a peppermint tea before bedtime. Chamomile is well known for it’s soothing effect and will promote sleep. Just be careful not to drink too much as it’s a diuretic too.

Set a structure. Following a regular sleeping pattern will help wonders as your body will get used to it. Sleeping in at the weekend is actually disrupting your body clock. However, this is easier said than done after coming home from one cocktail too many at 2 am on a Saturday morning.

Keep it cool. Open a window to let some fresh air circulate around your room (1st floor to penthouse only please!) and sleep in pj’s made of natural fibres. Let yourself breath!

On your back! OK I’m not sure of the actual sleep benefit here but this is a tip my mother gave me years ago. Sleeping on your back means a non-squashed face which equals a wrinkle-free complexion in years to come. She also swears by wearing a bra in bed to keep her assets separated, therefore ensuring a crepe-free decollete. I must admit, it seems to have worked on her but unfortunately, I’m too much of a wriggle monster to train myself to sleep in one position. Although one person I know swears by satin or silk pillow cases so her face doesn’t crumple up and her blowdry lasts longer.

And lastly, lay off the booze. Alcohol will only promote a restless night which will leave you pale, tired and worn out the next day. And when that happens, out comes the sugar to keep me going through the day – a nasty roundabout. If you have to drink and can’t avoid it (me most of the time) then drink lots and lots of water before bed and try pricking a vitamin E capsule and adding it to your night cream. This will, at least, ensure plump, hydrated skin the next morning.

Sweet dreams stylebiters! xoxoxox

Asleep for 100 years but still wakes up with fresh breath? Pur-lease...

Ok guys, that’s it. The time has come and I am running across the Spanish border with reckless abandon!

Would you believe it, when I woke up this morning I had a beautiful, proud spot sitting on my jaw. I know this spot, I’ve seen him before. He comes to announce the arrival of my period with his little flag and trumpet. Well not for much longer Mr Spot for I have a secret weapon which comes in the form of a little tube called Aveda Outer Peace Blemish Relief Lotion and it’s going to kick that spots ass!

I’ll be back on the 31st and will fill you in will all my exciting dutyfree beauty purchases!

Adios amigos! x

I will never underestimate the power of a beautifully scented candle and what it can do to influence my mood. I am particularly fussy about my smells though and wont just light any old thing! Which is why I’m so excited by the special edition RED candle from luxury candle makers Diptyque. The ultimate candle brand has created a relaxing, subtle fragrance by combining Madagascan and Indian vanilla with their hints of spice, tobacco, grass and sensual undertones of wood and balsam along with Rooïbos which gives a fresh aroma with notes of virginia tobacco, mate (a leaf that Argentinians use to make the bitter tea they love so much) and red fruits. It’s a truly inviting candle to light in the evening when you are having a glass of red wine and sharing a cuddle with someone special (you know who you are – mwah!). Better still, 10% of the proceeds of each RED candle is donated to the Global Fund, helping provide medicine to Africans with AIDS. A candle that cares!

Mmmmm… I’m sitting in my room at the Malvern Spa Hotel and I’ve just had two hours of pure pampering – the things The Style Bite goes through for its readers! I began by trying out their range of sauna’s, steam rooms, scented showers, jacuzzi baths and indoor/outdoor pool and then I began my treatments with a dreamy ESPA Muscle Relaxing Massage where the therapist used aromatherapy oils to sooth tired muscles and relax my mind (well I had started the day with a run!). She used a blend of cloves, west indian bay, rosemary and peppermint which has left my skin feeling soft and smooth and sent me into a zombiefied state of relaxation. Then I followed my massage with a long, luxurious Jessica manicure – I chose a light pink varnish as I’m off to a wedding tommorrow. Now all I need is for room service to send me up a glass of wine and I’ll be complete! Where is that phone….

M2 Beaute have just released a ‘lash activating’ serum. The beauty brand is all about products that create ’natural beauty’ so that you only have to apply minimal make-up or none at all. Their research has identified that most of us want long, thick lashes and this is the product that is going to give it to us. After applying  to your eyelids, much like a normal eyeliner, in 6 to 8 weeks you should notice a significant improvement in the length, thickness and strength of your lashes. The secret lies with an ingredient called MDN, which stimulates the lashes at the root, increasing the number of lashes and promoting growth. Definitely one of the most innovative products I’ve seen on the market for a long time and is available from Harrods, £120.

www.m2beaute.com

OMG people! O.M.G.

I have just had the divine pleasure of smelling Laura Mercier’s new Creme de Pistache range of body treats and they were good enough to eat! The range comes in her signature glass jars and there are three products to indulge in, a body scrub, body cream and bath lotion. I love all things pistachio; ice-cream, chocolate, macaroons – sometimes I’ll even eat an actual nut – so this range was made for me! Although with the cheapest jar coming in at an eye watering £42, I think it’s one for my birthday list. Nothing stopping me going back into the store for a smell every now and then though!

Me and Prince CharChar? Oh yeah he’s a cutie and we had, like, so much fun at the Cartier polo yesterday darling! Not only was HRH CharChar there but so was Sir Ben Kingsley, Geri Halliwell and Holly Valance with her absolutely minted boyf, property developer Mr Candy. Oh yes, so was the gorgeous and super skinny Cat Deeley sharing a sneeky cigarette with one of her girlfriends, hidden away from the paps by security. Cat looks so cute in a maxi dress (just like me) but I wasn’t so sure about Geri’s mini bodycon – although she is looking absolutely fabulous and certainly has a great figure.

With lots of champers and pimms and a delicious picnic it was a gorgeous day out. What girl cant have a good time when there are polo players involved?? Hope to see you there next year!

Stop the press and hold the phone! My life has been totally and utterly changed for the better since I had my Brazilian blow dry a week ago. If you have hair like mine (bleached, curly, nice hint of frizz around the edges) then you NEED to get a brazilian. My hairdresser firstly washed and dried my hair before coating sections in a pure keratin paste, drying in again and finally sealing the product in my heavily straightening my hair with the hot irons. Then came the worst bit – no washing my hair for four day. Four days! On the last day my boyfriend couldn’t even look at me and the disgusting greaseball I had become. Because my hair would curl up in my sleep I had to straighten it again every morning and avoid tucking it behind my ears or putting it up in a band otherwise I would have a permanent kink. On the fourth day I washed it (in a special sulphur free shampoo) and dried it.

It. is. amazing.

With a quick rough dry, no round brush or any products, my hair dries into a sleek, straight, glossy mane and I haven’t needed to use my straighteners once. Incredible. It lasts for four months and I am a convert through and through. Nicole Richie is also an advocate. If you haven’t tried it then GET IT NOW!

What an absolute treat I’ve discovered in central London recently! One of my journo buds has drawn my attention to the London College of Beauty Therapy based in a gorgeous regency building on Great Marlborough Street. She came across it when she noticed an enormous queue outside one day and found that they were trying to get into the Guiness Book of Records for the most amount of manicures completed – and rightly, she joined the end of the queue!

I popped along to see what all the fuss was about. I booked myself a deep cleansing facial with one of the students there and was really surprised at how professional, and relaxing, I found it to be. My therapist Debbie showed my into a little booth and she soon got to work on cleansing, exfoliating, steaming and massaging (mmmmmmmm!) me into a state of bliss. Sure I could hear other students being taught their classes and bursting into fits of giggles every so often but there was soothing music on in the background which eventually took over. As the girls (or guys) who give you the treatments aren’t yet qualified the treatments are all at a heavily reduced price, my 60 minute facial was only £20! I’ve got some time off over the next two weeks and I know I’ll be going back for their £10 pedicures and £25 full body massages!

www.lcbt.co.uk

I’ve recently taken up reformer pilates due to the promise of ‘ten sessions to a new body’ and I must say that it really is much more of a challenge than I ever expected it to be. Only four sessions in, I have yet to see even a hint of the promised ‘new body’ but I do spend the next couple of days after each class reduced to shuffling around like a pensioner as my muscles are so sore! Each class lasts an hour and you perform a number of different exercises on a ‘reformer’ machinewhich constitutes a sliding base, five springs, 4 pullies, shoulder posts and, well, I can only say that it has an uncanny resemblance to an medieval torture rack… During the hour long class the teacher leads you through the exercises which can be as simple as tricep dips to more complicated moves such as performing shoulder stands with both feet in a strap and then being asked to perform the splits in the air! It does require concentration but is bags of fun and you use muscles that are ordinarily tucked away in very dark corners of your body. I go to www.beautcamppilates.com.ukin Bayswater, their classes are limited to 10 (so you need to book well in advance) but they have lots of different class times every day and their first class is free so there is no excuse not to give it a go!