Origins 'Calm to Your Senses' stress-relieving mask

Origins Calm to Your Senses stress-relieving mask

When I get wind of a new Origins product launch, I certainly don't need telling twice, the arrival of their Calm to Your Senses stress-relieving face mask had me racing straight for my nearest counter in a desperate bid to get my hands on a tube. I feel like I've referred to this a lot lately, but I'm a worrier by nature, and I often get myself far too worked up over things that I probably won't even remember a month down the line. I also have trouble with sleeping - I usually drop off all too easily, but I regularly wake up in the night and am unable to drift off again for a good couple of hours, which leaves me feeling tired and drained the following day in spite of having gone to bed nice and early. As a result, I'm forever on the lookout for products which serve to aid relaxation, and there is nothing I love more than a good pamper session and a long wind-down before I climb under the bed covers. Of course, it's rarely possible to go the whole hog during the week, as the evenings pass quickly and most of us will go to bed earlier, so the ideal is to have something on hand that will do the work for you.

Enter, Origins Calm to Your Senses.

A rich, creamy face mask containing buckbean and St. Paul's Wort extract to target tense, stressed-looking skin, it is not dissimilar to the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, in that you massage in a generous amount prior to bedtime and leave it to do its work overnight. Barrier-building plant butters help to replenish the skin's moisture reserves while you sleep, leaving it plump, soft and hydrated upon awakening, while a relaxing blend of lavender and chamomile soothe and calm the senses helping you to drift off more easily.

I'm not the biggest fan of lavender, but I do find it very calming when I'm ready to go to bed. I often reach for the This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, which is very helpful, and definitely speeds up the time it takes me to get to sleep when I get into bed with my mind still racing. That said, the Calm to Your Senses mask doesn't have a strong lavender scent at all, and in fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it smelled like oranges (much like the brand's High Potency Night-A-Mins). It's a pleasure to apply, and sinks easily into the skin - I find that while it is rich, it is lighter than the Drink Up Intensive mask, so if that one was too heavy for you then don't be put off.

In the morning, there is no residue left on my skin, but thanks to its plumping, hydrating effects, I often find myself reaching for it regardless of whether I'm worried about sleeping or not. As to whether or not it helps me to drift off, the jury is still out - as I mentioned, it's rare that I have trouble in that department anyway, but it definitely does make me feel relaxed when I get into bed with it on. I love that it takes just a few short seconds to apply and doesn't have to be washed off, as this makes it a real time-saver that be can used anytime, anywhere.

I'll be doing a round-up of some of my favourite products for relaxation soon, as I seem to have built up quite the collection. Do you have any favourites?

xx

The Health Series: Molkosan Fruit

Probiotics have received a lot of press attention in recent years, with the spotlight very much focused on the all-round benefits they offer in the health department. Contrary to popular belief, there's more to them than just their effect on the digestive system, although this, in itself is a great reason to take them.

Not only can they help to support normal function of digestive enzymes, but they also have a whole host of other benefits, from boosting the immune system to improving mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Yep, that's right - it might sound unlikely, but there is a wealth of evidence showing intestinal involvement in a variety of neurological disorders. We have neurons in the gut as well as the brain, which produce neurotransmittors such as serotonin, and if the balance is upset then it could result in some unexpected issues.

Recently, I have added Molkosan Fruit* to my daily routine. Made from 100% natural fermented whey and rich in L+ lactic acid to supports good gut bacteria, a small amount (20ml) is added to a glass of water or juice and taken first thing in the morning. The tonic also contains added calcium, and is 

enriched and naturally sweetened with aronia berry and pomegranate, which are crammed full of natural antioxidants.  Taken regularly, it contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes, making it a great daily tonic for digestive balance.

Unlike some supplements, this one tastes really pleasant - in fact, it's more or less like having a yoghurt drink as it tastes really fruity and quite creamy.

Now, personally I don't really have a problem in the stomach department, although I do feel a bit bloated on occasion. However, for those of you who do have 'troubles' in that area (and we are talking all sorts), this is a great option for restoring the balance.

I generally take Molkosan Fruit for its overall health benefits - it supports the metabolism, and should it have any effect on mood then I'm certainly not going to complain, as I'm the first to admit that a bit of help in that department wouldn't go amiss at times! I think this is probably the case for most of us, and so if we can prevent as well as aid any such issues then it makes sense to do so.

I've noticed that I am less bloated since starting to take Molkosan - funnily enough, I didn't really realise that this was an issue until it began to subside, so it just goes to show that we can become all too used to some things when actually, they are not necessarily normal - or if they are, we don't always have to tolerate them.

There are also other ways in which we can help our good gut bacteria to flourish. Eating a diet low in refined sugars and yeast and cutting down on wheat, while eating more foods containing inulin (artichokes, onions, chicory, garlic) and boosting your intake of short-grain brown rice can all do the trick, so if you're in need of an overhaul in that department then why not give it a try?

Molkosan Fruit is priced at £6.96 at www.avogel.co.uk

xx

And Relax....

If you read my October Agenda post on Sunday, you'll be aware that I, like many other bloggers, suffer somewhat from anxiety. It's not a constant thing, but at times it can affect me on a daily basis, making it really difficult for me to relax. I'm not necessarily constantly worried or stressed out about specific things (although I am a worrier by nature), but whether or not there is something on my mind, I do still suffer from the physical symptoms of anxiety, and even if I'm supposedly 'chilling out' on the sofa, I often find that both my mind and body refuse to relax. During the week, I long for the weekend, but come Monday I am already pining for another one, as I didn't manage to de-stress at all!

So, for those of you who can identify with what I'm talking about, and also for those of you who just feel a little bit stressed out at times, as everyone does, I thought I'd share with you some of the things that help to get me through and chill me out!

Rescue Remedy is my little secret weapon, and I carry it with me wherever I go. Whenever I start to feel the onset of that jittery, uneasy feeling, a couple of drops of this on the tongue often do the job. Sometimes, I've even forgotten about it after a few minutes. However, it's not a miracle worker, and on those days where the feeling is just too strong - which for me tend to be during the week before THAT time in the month - it doesn't cut the mustard, and on those occasions I have to employ some other tactics to get me through.

Chamomile tea is something else that I always pop in my handbag, just in case, and in fact, I try to drink several cups throughout the day with the idea that prevention is better than cure. I actually used to drink this before bed when I had sleeping problems in the past (it's great for that), but had somehow forgotten I had some in the cupboard until I spoke to @ladyloula on Twitter last week, so thank you for the reminder lovely! Chamomile is nice and calming, and there's something really relaxing about sipping a nice warm cup of it when you are not feeling at your best.

Scented candles are really nice for those evenings when you're able to have a bit of me-time. Your me-time can involve anything that you find pleasurable (oo er, I'm not talking about that!), or that takes your mind off things. For me, that involves slapping on a facemask, making myself a cuppa and sitting down to read some blogs and write some posts of my own, with maybe a few Youtube videos thrown in. Having the aroma of a lovely scented candle wafting around the room while I do so just makes things all the more enjoyable and pleasant, and scents such as sandalwood, bergamot and lavender are all supposed to have calming effects.

I was reluctant to add this one in as I know it's a cliche, and it has taken me until this week to actually give in and give it a try. I did try a yoga class many moons ago, but it wasn't for me at the time. However, having given it a try, I do have to admit that is has calming effects. One thing I will say, though, is that this probably isn't the thing to start doing when you are already feeling jittery or anxious, but rather as a daily exercise, again with the idea that prevention is better than cure.

Exercise is supposed to be the best thing people who suffer from stress or anxiety can do for themselves. Not only does it stimulate the release of feel-good hormones endorphins in the brain, but it also gets your circulation going and leaves you with a general feel-good sensation. I also find that I'm more able to relax after exercise simply because I know I've done it, so it's one less thing to feel guilty about not doing!

Now, if you're like me, you might find that getting yourself all out of breath and having your heart pounding can, at times, only serve to set off the anxiety, so i'd suggest just going for a brisk walk on those days and then trying to step things up a bit whenever you feel better. The thing to remember is that it's normal for your heart to beat that fast when you have been exercising and that actually, it only means you are doing good for your body - and your mind.

Supplements-wise, a daily dose of vitamin B complex and  magnesium are said to help support the nervous system as well as minimising the effects of stress and anxiety (deficiencies in either of these could even be responsible for the onset of your symptoms!).
Omega 3 is also great for this, and if anyone suffers from depression then this is apparently a good one for you, too.

source

A couple of quick 'don'ts' for you.

It may be tempting to turn to wine, chocolate or cake to help you unwind - and I must admit, I am prone to doing this myself! - but actually, both of these can exacerbate your anxiety, thanks to the alcohol and sugar in them. Coffee is another one to steer clear of when you are feeling on edge, and the same goes for energy drinks.

Personally, I won't deprive myself of chocolate and wine completely if I  feel that that is what I want, but I will limit myself to just one glass and a few squares. Anyone who feels anxious on occasion will know what a horrible feeling it is, and how it makes you feel you'd do anything to be rid of it, so I'm not about to knowingly make things worse for myself.

Another one I have got to mention is herbal remedies containing Valerian. Now, I'm aware that this won't be the case for everyone, and for some of you this may even be the answer to your troubles. But in my case, it most definitely was not. I bought myself some Kalms tablets, which are supposed to promote relaxation and natural sleep, and I can tell you that for me, they made things a zillion times worse. They gave me such a horrible, tense feeling in my chest and I just couldn't relax one bit, and I know that I am not the only one as I have heard the same thing from one or two other bloggers. So just a heads up - they might work for you, but be aware that they also might not.

That's about my tuppence worth on relaxation, I think. I am by absolutely no means an expert on this - if I was, then I wouldn't actually need to be trying all these methods in the first place now, would I?

One last thing I will say before I go, though, is: Never forget the importance of me-time. Set aside an evening per week and dedicate it all to yourself. Have a hot bubble bath, read a good book, bake, blog - whatever it is that you love doing. Spoil yourself a bit, because let's be honest, we all deserve it sometimes, don't we?

xx

October Agenda

A bit of a late October Agenda this month. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but these past couple of weeks I really seemed to have lost my blogging mojo for a bit. I think it's probably something we all go through at some point or other, and I think in my case it was down to two things. One is that I had been so excited about the prospect of moving home next year - and I mean ridiculously so, as I have wanted it for so long - that after the initial burst of happiness had passed, I crashed back down to earth with a bump, as I realised that it's still almost a year until it actually happens. So that means eleven more months of 'this'. The second thing is that my anxiety symptoms have been really quite bad for the past couple of weeks, and when that's bothering me I really can't seem to sit down and get anything typed as it does get me down, and makes me feel really restless too.

I haven't really spoken about anxiety on here before, and I don't want to dedicate a whole post to it or anything like that, because I don't think it deserves the attention. The thing about anxiety is that the more you focus on it, the stronger its hold on you. But a quick explanation for you: I don't suffer from anxiety in the sense that I am constantly freaking out about everything, but I suppose the culmination of the fact that I have always been a worrier, coupled with the fact that I've spent so long living far from the ones I love, has led to this. Anxiety is something that affects me physically, so that means that on a day to day basis, I get this weird jittery feeling, pounding heart and shortness of breath, even when I am feeling fine and not at all anxious about anything! It's really frustrating, and when it first started I had a really hard time believing that that's all it was - I mean, who has anxiety without actually feeling anxious!? 

So anyway, that's that. Let's see how I did with the tasks I set myself last month, before moving on to this month's Agenda:

September

1. Save as much money as possible.

I'm pleased to report that I've been pretty well behaved on this one, and have stashed away a fair few pennies. I say this, but I suppose I'm slyly ignoring the fact that I might have had one or two Ebay mishaps - in other words, yes, I have spent money I shouldn't have. It's just so easily done when it's online, isn't it - it seems like it's not real money until you get the bill at the end of the month....not looking forward to that one!

2. Get back to healthy eating and exercising several times a week

So last month, I told you that, being someone who usually does eat healthily bar the odd slice of cake, I had fallen off the wagon somewhat and could not seem to stop eating sweet things. The evenings are my problem, as when I'm home alone I either boredom eat or boredom bake! Anyway, it took me until the latter half of the month but I do seem to have managed to rein it in a bit. I'm still baking at the weekends and having treats here and there, but in a much more controlled fashion. As for the exercise, I tend to go through phases of going for it and feeling good about it, and phases of not being remotely bothered about it (mostly the latter). However, after reading this week that exercise is the single most important thing you can do to help anxiety symptoms, I have got myself back into gear - I get  annoyed when people complain about things and yet do nothing to help themselves, so it's got to be done. I will let you know if I see any difference.

3. Get Skyping.

The idea here was to make sure Skype plans actually came to fruition. My friends and I are constantly making and breaking Skype dates and one way or another, our chats just never seem to happen. And because we are always saying that we must Skype, I never get messages telling me what's been going on in their lives, as it is always assumed that we will talk about that 'when we Skype'. Which never happens. Sadly, I am no further along on this one, although not for want of trying. 

Now, on to this month's Agenda:

1. Keep saving the pennies!

Self explanatory really, and must be done.

2. Stop being a hypochondriac.

I don't know if I actually am a hypochondriac, but I still get scared that my anxiety symptoms are something else, which in turn only serves to make me more anxious. Not fun.

3. Keep up the daily exercise.

Again, it's got to be done.

4. Blog brainstorming.

There is so much more I want to do with my blog, yet something always stops me. Outfit posts don't happen because I don't have someone patient enough to photograph me the amount of times necessary for me to get a photo I'm satisfied with. Or a tripod. Makeup (face) posts don't happen because I can never seem to get an acceptable picture for those either, despite the fact I can take them myself. Baking posts don't happen because I always bake in the evening and then the lighting for photos is awful. All of this is really starting to annoy me, as I feel that it's really limiting me and my blog, so my aimfor this month is to sit down and have a think about what I can do to make these things happen, as well as coming up with some new ideas for content. Usually, I just write about what comes to me, and I like to do it that way as I feel more inspired, but at the same time it's good to plan some bits and pieces for those days when you just don't feel like it.

Phew, that was a hefty post. If you made it this far then well done!

What'son your agenda for October?

xx