Bootea Teatox

Firstly I’d like to apologise for the poor quality of images in this review! I made the mistake of not taking pictures before I started using the product and by the end of the detox the packages didn’t look great and, obviously, were empty! I'm using the pictures I took for my twitter account (@laying_it_bare) before I started the detox as they don’t look too bad. I like to have all the pictures in all my reviews looking the same but this will have to be an exception. It’s a bit of a different review anyway so it sort of works. Anyway, let’s get cracking......

 I don't know if you know but in the world of fitness and health there seem to be a new craze of Tea Detoxes. Having just started a health kick and trying to get a bit fitter I decided to try one of these Teatoxes to kick start my new lifestyle (and to demolish the first few pounds to keep me motivated!).

Bootea caught my eye as I've seen it all over Instagram and Twitter and the results pictures look incredible. I chose the 14 day teatox as I wanted to start small in case 1. It didn’t work and 2. I didn’t get on with it. The 14 day teatox was also cheaper (I think it cost roughly £20 excluding postage) and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a teatox to then find I didn’t like it. With this detox package you get 14 morning teabags, which are to be consumed first thing in the morning (or whenever you remember if you forget!) and 7 night teabags which are to be consumed before bed every other night. These night time bags produce a laxative effect which we will get onto a bit later on. I'm going to do this review slightly differently as it’s a big one. I'm going to split it into sections, starting with taste.

Taste: Being someone who drinks a lot of green tea and flavoured teas, I wasn’t worried about not liking the taste. I was expecting it to taste like a herbally green tea, and I was right. The tea has quite an unusual taste but one that I quite enjoyed. It was, as I thought, like a green tea but with some stronger flavours in there. I can’t pinpoint any specific flavours (I’m not great at distinguishing different tastes) but they all complement each other well and if, like me, you drink a lot of different teas anyway, I can guarantee you'll like it. The day and night tea's do taste different to each other because they are made up of different ingredients (listed on the bag of each packet in the pictures below) but they both just taste like herbally teas. If you find them a bit strong (like I did with my first bag) just let it brew for less time until you get the taste just right. 

Morning Tea

Night Time Tea

Night time Laxative effect: This is the one I was worried about when ordering so let’s get it out the way. I'm not one for normally talking about my bowl movements, but I’m willing to do it just this once to give you lovely people an accurate review! Here we go. I experienced absolutely no laxative effects what so ever. In fact I experienced the opposite effect. The day after my night time tea I would not have any bowl movements at all, and this happened with every one of my night time teas. It was generally the same day I would take the night time tea (but during the day before I drank it) that I would have bowl movements, so effectively, every other day. I hope that makes sense! This was better for me as I was worried I’d be running to the toilet every few hours at work (which I know would not have been the case but I’m a bit of a hypochondriac) and with the nature of my job, I can’t do that! I do have irregular bowl movements anyway, so it was just normal for me. On the bootea website it states that the night time bags may produce a few tummy cramps as they clean out the colon, I experienced a few of these but they weren’t bad. It’s just like the little pain you may experience when you need the toilet, but other than that I had no other side effectives which I was pleased with!

Effectiveness: So, I read that as well as aiding weight loss, this tea was also meant to boost energy and decrease bloating and I can definitely vouch for that! I felt a lot more energised during the day and didn't feel tired in the afternoon which I quite often feel, especially when I’m at work. When it gets to about 2 o’clock I start to feel exhausted (mainly due to my job being very physical) but during this teatox I felt really good and managed to make it to the end of the day without having a lethargic hour. I also noticed a difference in my skin. I quite often get breakouts and I didn’t get any during the teatox. This could be due to my healthy eating and increased water intake as well but I definitely think the teatox contributed. I also felt less bloated and didn’t get that sluggish feeling that often comes with being bloated. My tummy wasn’t sticking out as much and I generally felt a lot more energised.

So we've reached the big one, Results: Here's where you get to see my before and after picture, but first, let’s discuss weight loss. During my 14 days I lost roughly 3lbs1/4 which, to be honest, I was a little disappointed with, but, considering I’ve just started my health kick, that's not a bad weight loss for the first 2 weeks! Now, for the picture. Let’s just get this straight, I have a tummy. I'm not thin, I’m not obese, I’m a size 12/14 which I know is normal size and I’m not big by all means but I’m not happy with the way I look either. This is brave for me as I’m usually hiding my tummy away, hence why I’m trying to do something about it! Also, I want to remain anonymous so I’ve blacked out the background as I have pictures up on the wall (I didn’t think about the background when I took the pictures!) Now, considering I wasn’t impressed with the pounds I lost, I was rather impressed with the results I saw in the picture! My tummy is a lot less bloated and doesn’t stick out as much! I can’t believe that that’s just 3lbs weight loss. The night time Bootea might not have produced a laxative effect but it definitely cleaned out my colon and made me less bloated! I was quite happy with the way I looked in the picture (which I hope is clear enough!) I took both the pictures in the morning after going to the toilet but before eating anything, and, I’m sure this is obvious, the before is on the left and the after is on the right. 

Conclusion: So let’s conclude. Overall I think this tea does exactly what it says. It cleans out your colon, gives you a lot more energy, makes you less bloated, helps with weight loss and generally makes you feel better! All though I wasn’t completely happy with my 3lbs weight loss, I think the picture shows for itself that the tea has shrunk my tummy by quite a bit, and my bum too!  I would definitely think about doing this teatox again, even just for an energy boost and bloating decrease! I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to start a healthier lifestyle, or just someone looking to detox, especially after all the Easter chocolate I’m sure you're all enjoying! From a tea lover and, let’s face it, addict, I give it two thumbs up!

Miaflora Coconut Oil

As you all probably know from previous posts, I mess around and change my hair very often, which results in a lot of damage! (I mean A LOT; my hair has barely grown in the last year because it keeps breaking) I just can’t keep away from the bleach! Due to this, I'm always searching for new products that will give my hair the bit of TLC it deserves to make it feel (and look) a little better. For my birthday, I received a pot of coconut oil that my mum had been given but didn’t use, so passed on to me. 

At first, I didn’t have a clue what it was for. The oil itself is a hard consistency and, because I have acrylic nails, short, natural looking acrylic nails not the long scary ones, I didn’t really fancy digging these into the lump to get the stuff out. 

However, I’m glad I did! One night I was looking at my hair and how terrible the ends looked. I wear my hair in a bun for work and when I take it out it just looks like a birds nest! I was looking through my draws for something to put on it over night to see if that would fix it. A majority of the hair masks I have are either ones you need to wet your hair for or are too liquidy to put in overnight, waking up to a masked covered pillow wasn’t what I wanted! I picked up the pot of coconut oil, and that’s when the light bulb clicked. I dug my fingers in, scooped a lump out, and rubbed it in the palms of my hands which turned it into a normal oil consistency, smothered it on the ends of my hair, popped it in a bun on top of my head and fell asleep.

Well, the next morning it looked like I hadn’t washed my hair in months, and, quite frankly, looked disgusting. First thing I did was showered and washed it off and whilst doing so, I could already feel a difference in my hair. It was so incredibly soft! I had never felt my hair that soft before! I blow dried it and straightened it to see the full effects of the oil. Well, my split ends were a lot less visible (but obviously still there, this isn’t a miracle worker) but they were definitely a lot less obvious. It felt smooth and silky and hardly looked damaged at all! It flowed beautifully and didn’t frizz like the ends normally do. My birds nest was definitely a thing of the past. I have no idea what the oil did but it definitely did something and now, if I know I’m washing my hair the next morning, I smother it on the ends the night before without fail. It’s definitely one of my go to hair products!

I’ve also now tried using it on my skin, because of the nature of my job, my arms and hands get so dry that sometimes the skin splits which is very painful. So I’ve started rubbing the oil into my arms at night and it seems to be doing the trick and soothing the dryness. It’s quite greasy so I only use it at night and not during the day. However, I haven’t used it enough times yet to properly give a critic of how good it really is but my arms are a lot less dry now and a lot less sore so I’m giving it a thumbs up!

My friend also cooks with the stuff! (Obviously make sure the oil you buy is suitable for cooking, I wouldn’t cook with the pot I have!) She was recommended it for her skin and hair from a very nice man in a health food shop. She wanted something to improve her hair and help it grow. He said that eating the coconut oil and using it to cook will help immensely, you know what they say, and goodness comes from the inside out! (Well I don’t know if anyone else says that but it’s starting to be my new motto as I’ve started a new health kick... More on that later!)

So, to summarise, coconut oil, for me, is definitely a must have for dry hair! If you're looking for something to help with brittle ends, I definitely recommend giving this a try!

 

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Everyone has that off day where they can’t be bothered to wash their hair or have woken up and it’s greasier than expected. I always have days like this, and my ‘go to’ product to sort out days like that is Batiste's dry shampoo. 

This is my favourite dry shampoo and I've tried a variety! Due to the nature of my job, I have to have my hair up and out of my face. Well, I don't have to but it’s easier for me. I also get covered in dog hair and dog shampoo etc so washing my hair is a rare occurrence, as it just gets dirty again within minutes of walking through the door at work. For the in between times, I use this miracle product.

This powdery spray soaks up the grease in a matter of minutes revealing soft hair that looks, almost, freshly washed. At first it leaves a white residue as its sprayed, but after rubbing it in, the residue disappears. The hair doesn’t look as shiny as it would if it was freshly washed, hence why I said almost, but it takes away the greasiness which is what I need it for! If I want my hair to look freshly washed, I just give it a spritz of shine spray after applying the dry shampoo and I’m good to go! It gives the hair a sort of matt finish, which, for me, is perfect. It doesn’t make my hair feel thick or dirty which is what I’ve found with some other brands. I often use it 2 days in a row and it works just as good on the second day as it did on the first! I haven’t tried it 3 days in a row as I normally have a day off every 2-3 days so I like to wash my hair then, but I’m sure it would still be as good! The product is very manageable, with a few brush strokes, it feels like there is no product in there, making it easy to put up and plait. Some different brands, I’ve found, make the hair so thick it’s hard to brush and move. Also, I love that Bastise have a variety of different dry shampoo's that have different scents! (This particular bottle is my fave as it smells incredible! I love anything that smells of cherry's) 

For me, this product does exactly what it says, gives my hair a clean look as if it’s just been washed without having to wet my hair. Perfect! I always have this dry shampoo stocked up in my supplies as I go through bottles like it’s going out of fashion! I use it so regularly I need an endless supply, It’s definitely one of my favourite products!

Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation

Finding a good foundation, that lasts all day and gives good coverage, for me, is sometimes difficult. Being someone who often has break outs of spots and blemishes, I get quite sensitive about my skin and hiding my flaws. 

For my birthday, I decided I wanted some good quality make up and thought Benefit was a great place to start as I had heard great things about the brand. I started by getting my make up done in a Benefit store and to see how well it lasted, whether I liked the coverage and to get my colours matched. 

As soon as the foundation was put on my face I loved it! The makeup artist put the foundation on with a brush, which is never normally what I do (I read somewhere that applying with fingers made the coverage more even) but since having it applied by the Benefit lady, I’ve been doing the same and using a brush, and I have to say I’m very impressed with the product.

The product is very easy to apply and isn’t heavy on the skin, which has been my problem before. The coverage is very even and the colour matches my skin perfectly. It hides all my imperfections very well, which was my main point in buying it. As well as all that, it lasts all day! I've very often gotten in from a day or a night out to find my foundation hasn't lasted and my skin looks terrible. With this, I was pleasantly surprised that it was all still intact! My skin looked as flawless as it did when I had left. To be fair, I do pair this with Benefits Hello Flawless powder (review coming soon) which could help with the makeup lasting all day.

I have no negatives, once again, about this product. It’s a bit pricey at £25.50 but I definitely think quality is better than quantity and that you pay for what you get which, in this case, is an incredible foundation. It literally is what it says on the box, flawless.   

Fake Bake Flawless Darker

As a tan addict, finding a great fake tan is essential to my beauty regime. I've always sworn by St.Tropez and Fake Bake tanning products as they do exactly what they say on the tin and produce a great, dark tan that looks natural. 

When I was given this Fake Bake Flawless Darker tan for my birthday I got very excited, mainly because any tanning product that says "darker" on it is the one for me!

The first time I tried this I fell in love! (After discovering I had been using my mitt the wrong way round!) I found it went only smoothly blending well with my skin without leaving any streaks. The colour, as it was applied, was a lovely dark bronze which helped as it meant I could see where I had applied and where needed more adding. It also meant that I could layer up the tan without going overboard. Also, unlike some tans I’ve used, the tan doesn’t go funny or patchy after being on for a few days. It does fade, of course, but its coverage remains the same and has yet to go patchy.

I always fake tan over night to let it develop without risking it getting wet and becoming streaking etc. The results when I woke up were incredible. It was like I had woken up after being on holiday for two weeks! I was very impressed with the colour and the overall coverage. I had no streaks, patches or smudges, just a gorgeous glow! 

The only negative I would say is that, because you have to wear gloves underneath the mitt, I found it difficult blending the tan into my hand so there was no line. It just meant I had to take the gloves off to blend it down the hand, but other than that, this product is spot on and is definitely my new favourite tan!

Holland and Barrett Apple Cider Vinegar and Nutrition Headquarters Fat Metaboliser Tablets

In this day and age, looking thin and toned has become more and more important, especially for the younger generations. Being a young 22 year old and a size 12/14, I am constantly worrying about how I look and trying to find new fads that will help me shed a few a pounds the easy way!

When I was at University, diet pills were one of the fad's I turned to. Now, I'm not talking full on powerful fat busting tablets and replacing meals for them. I'm talking supplements that are, supposedly, meant to speed up your metabolism and melt fat. During my "desperate measures" research, I found a lot of articles suggesting that Apple Cider Vinegar, in large quantities, burned fat and aided weight loss. So, I thought, why not!

I had been given £20 worth of Holland and Barrett vouchers so, as well as my Holland and Barrett Apple Cider Vinegar tablets, I invested in some Nutrition Headquarters Fat Metaboliser pills, mainly because the word "metaboliser", to me, means weight loss and well a pill that metabolises fat sounded good! 

So I bought these pills with my vouchers and started giving them ago. It says on the bottles that with "healthy eating and an active lifestyle" (or words to those effect) the pills can help aid weight loss. Well, being a student, my diet was terrible and I spent most days lying in bed watching TV eating cake. (Sounds bad but that’s genuinely what I did!). Don’t get me wrong, not all students are like that, but I was the typical student stereotype.

So, let’s be honest. The pills did nothing. I noticed no difference in my weight or the way my stomach looked. With the Vinegar tablets, I didn’t take as many as they suggested as, well, the smell and taste of the tablets was very strong , obviously because they’re pure vinegar, so I struggled to swallow them which could have contributed to the lack of effect they had. I do feel the pills could aid weight loss when used properly, in conjunction with a calorie controlled diet and exercise regime as they suggest. I still have half the pills left in both bottles, and I’ve recently decided to better my health and work on my fitness, so I’ve been thinking about trying them again. If I do, and notice a difference, I will be sure to let you know! 

M&S Organic Green Tea with Lemon

I've always been a fan of green tea, mainly for its health boosting qualities. After trying different types and flavours of green tea, I came across this lemon infused tea in Marks and Spencer and decided to give it ago!

Apart from the fact that the box is really pretty, this citricy, fresh tea is absolutely divine. Green tea itself has quite a fresh flavour and with this added zing of lemon, it becomes amazingly refreshing.  Unlike some flavoured teas, the lemon is no way over powering. It’s not sour, like I expected it to be, it’s more of the freshness of lemon than the acidic quality of a lemon that the tea is infused with. I’m a big tea drinker as it is, and this is just what I need in the afternoon to freshen up my day!

The green tea means I still get the many health benefits but with a much nicer taste! Green tea itself doesn't have a great taste, I can still drink it and enjoy it but I much prefer a flavoured green tea, and this is my new favourite! I just love how refreshing it is, and at 99p a box, it’s a bargain!

Once again I’m lost with finding a negative. However, I feel with a food/drink product, it’s hard to find a negative. You either like it or you don’t. Simple as and this I love! So much so that I want to go back and try out some other M&S teas! Two thumbs up from me!