Missguided Active

Fitness is on the tip of everyone's tongue, not only because it's January with 'New Year Resolutions' but because we live in a new age of where being healthy is… kind of cool. Now supermarkets instead of having a shelf of healthy options have entire aisles loaded with herbal teas, coconut oil and gluten free goodies.

Now popular retail brands are making sure they get a piece of the pie with a new type of offering of fitness gear rivaling the expensive alternatives such as a Nike sports bra which I paid over £30 for....

I have been touching on being healthy in a number of posts like exploring Soya and ways to make water more interesting and will hopefully move into more fitness inspired posts over the coming months.

But Without further ado, let’s talk about the launch of the eagerly anticipated launch of Missguided Active and it has hit us with a pretty sexy bang if you have watched the advert.

Missguided Active is an exclusive sportswear collection with 53 pieces in the collection and I am sure there is more to come as we move further into 2015. With prices starting from £9 (what a bargain) and vibrant prints mixed with edgy slogans, Missguided have created a winning combination in the field of sports-luxe.

Some of my favourite pieces from the collection are below; it would be great to know if you have seen the range yet?

View Full Post

£10 Makeup Challenge

Being a beauty blogger I am always using a range of different brands some inexpensive others are quite pricey like Laura Mercier but I do not necessarily rate quality on the price!

I have been set a challenge by Essence Cosmetics to create a look that costs under £10 and review the results, I of course gladly accepted. 

What are your thoughts on the final look?

Products used:

• Get BIG! LASHES volume CURL mascara - £2.29
• Eye Shadow - £1.59
• Lipstick - £1.99
• Kajal Eyeliner - £0.99
• Silky Touch Blush - £2.49

Total: £9.35

This is a total bargain, bearing in mind the average woman spends around £104* every month on skin, hair and nail products. 

I started with the blush which was subtly prominent from the get go, no need to build it up. To lighten after brush application I used my fingers to smudge for the final look. The eye shadow was my favourite out of all the products as it easily glided on and had a subtle shimmer. It wasn't too dark and would be a great product to use for Smokey eyes. The eyeliner which I used on the lid and the underside of my eye glided on fine and was a deep black, which was good as some are very faded and look more like grey. The mascara did not make my eyes as curly as I wanted but hey it was only £2.29. My only other comment is watch out through the day for mascara dust falling on your face. The lip gloss was a nice pale pink and really finished the look.

It just shows you, you don’t need to spend a fortune to look fabulous!

* Survey results source can be found on the Daily Star.

View Full Post

Give your water some WOW!

The Gossip: Enhance Drinks

Where2Buy: Ocado, Amazon, ASDA

The Price: £2 in ASDA until 12th Feb RRP £2.49

For more information: www.enhancedrinks.co.uk

With the new healthy lifestyle I have been trying to adopt since the New Year, water forms a large chunk - trying to drink at least 2lts can be hard and can get a bit boring!

That's where Enhance comes in. This little portable water enhancer comes in four fruity flavours to ‘enhance’ your drink:

Orange & Passion Fruit

Apple & Blackcurrant

Strawberry & Kiwi

Lemon & Lime

With just one squeeze water turns into a refreshing and tasty drink and these are perfect for keeping in your handbag or at your desk, creating around 32 drinks. 

Each bottle of Enhance is filled with real fruit juice, no added sugar, no artificial flavours and just 1 calorie per drink. It makes the perfect addition to my new healthy lifestyle and hopefully I will end up drinking more water as a result. 

Enhance also works with the charity Just a Drop and for every bottle sold Enhance will make a donation to help provide children in Africa with clean & safe drinking water.

What flavour would you choose?

View Full Post

Mani Monday: Nail Magic

The Gossip: The secret to shiny nails is not eating the correct food or taking expensive nail pills but using MICRONail

Where2Buy: boots.com, micronail.co.uk

The Price: £39.99

The company that introduced us Micro Pedi a great product for achieving salon worthy feet has launched MICRO Nail for shiny healthy nails without the need for polish. If I am not mistaken there is no other product like this on the market today. 

So I hear you ask, what does MICRO Nail actually do??? Well it makes your nails look healthy and like you have used a coat of clear nail varnish to make your nails shine, when actually you have nothing on. This effect can last up to two weeks, great if you want to give you nails a break or to go for the Kate Middleton look of au-natural.

Use the 'MICRO Smooth' roller (the white roller) to buff away ridges, reduce staining and stop that dry appearance that can occur with flaking. The next step is the last use the 'MICRO Shine' roller (the grey roller) for a beautiful shine.

<

>

Have you tried it yet?

View Full Post

A Purrrrfect Look

This week I am lusting over this purrrrrfect look.

These chic cat inspired essentials will keep you looking fab during the day. 

This outfit is also very versatile, just pop your cat eye sunglasses in your bag and you're ready to go on a night out! 

Do you have any cat inspired products? 

           Women’s ROSCHA Metallic High Sandals - Gold, Gold

         Charlotte Olympia Pussycat embroidered raffia and leather shoulder bag

      Le Specs Rapture cat eye acetate sunglasses

       3D Ear Black Cat ankle socks

     Topshop Neat-fit leather biker jacket

     Topshop Ribbed Structured Skort

View Full Post

Dulux trends for 2015

It's the New Year and it’s time to refresh your home or in my case finish decorating. Last year I got a sneak peak at Dulux’s new A/W colours and trends for 2015 and I can now share with you lovely lot.

One of the big trends this season is getting back to nature using rustic browns, reds with hints of forest green using landscapes like Ayers Rock as inspiration. This is moving far away from last year’s trend on using bright, loud colours.

These colours should hopefully install a sense of freedom into the room and inspire minimalism in your room layout, a perfect time to de-clutter your house and take it back for yourself!

Choosing a colour can be a daunting task so think positive thoughts. I remember when I was going to paint my living room even with 7 Dulux testers I still couldn't make up my mind so I just went for it and picked two without knowing how they would turn out – you can see the results here.

There is also another big decision, how are you going to mix the colours in the room? I personally loved how using a sponge or different brush stokes you could add colour to the top of the wall to create a different texture.

My favourite colours for the season are:

•  Intrepid Cave
• Powdered Heather
• Polar Pink

 What are yours?

View Full Post

The Frugal Way To A Luxury Holiday

Luxury doesn't often come cheap, but if there is one time you want a taste of the high life, it's when you're on holiday. Luckily, there are a number of tricks and little-known secrets you can use to add a touch of luxury to an otherwise average trip.

Better flights, the VIP airport experience and a swanker hotel could all be possible - for much less than you imagine. A few smart moves can make the luxury getaway you've always dream't about a reality.

Get a free upgrade to first class

First class isn't what it used to be with many airlines, and the truth is it's harder to get bumped up for free these days. But there are a number of tricks you can use to try and bag yourself a more comfortable flight - from dressing up like an investment banker to keeping a keen eye out for any problems to report.

Pay for a VIP airport lounge day pass

The first class travel experience isn't reserved for aircrafts and some airport VIP lounges will put your entire holiday to shame. But you don't have to fork out for a first class ticket or expensive annual membership to add VIP luxury to your wait at the airport. Many airlines let you buy a day pass for much less than you think - especially if you speak to them before you set off.

Blag yourself a discount 5-star hotel

After a free upgrade to first class, and a few hours living it up in a VIP lounge, the last thing you want is to crash back down to earth by staying at an average hotel. Luckily, there are a number of places to go for a cut price deal on luxury hotels. You can also often get a swanky pad for less if you book a local apartment or consider luxury house sitting.

Find luxury in a cheaper economy

Spa days and luxury massages can cost you much less in some exotic locations around the world. Southeast Asia is a favourite amongst travellers with all types of budgets, and you can find some real gems when it comes to services you normally couldn't afford back home. So next time you find yourself pondering where to go for a getaway, keep a keen eye on the local economy and what you can get for your money.

Get to know some of the locals

Even in the cheaper parts of this world it pays to know locals, who know exactly how to get more for less. This is easier than ever, thanks to the internet, with a huge range of language and culture exchange sites out there that make it incredibly easy to meet English speaking local people who usually love the fact that you’re showing an interest in their home country. You can frequently even stay with locals who rent out their homes to travellers with a quick search on Airbnb.

A little research goes a long way, and a quick look on travel forums, blogs and social media can offer up a range of other ways to save money or add an extra bit of luxury to your travels. Last minute deals and local wonders are everywhere to be found and all you need to do is ask the right people. You'll be amazed at what you can find!

View Full Post

Interview: Katie Piper

The fashion to make changes to our bodies has never been more popular, with thousands of people each year undergoing painful procedures to achieve their 'perfect look' but sometimes it’s not that perfect….and Bodyshockers: Nips, Tucks and Tattoos is coming back to our TV screens next week with the people who regret the changes they've made.

Time2Gossip was delighted to have a quick interview with the host, the beautiful Katie Piper to find out a bit more about Bodyshockers and some beauty & fashion tips! 

REMEMBER TO WATCH:

Bodyshockers: Nips, Tucks and Tattoos starts on Monday 12th Jan at 10pm on Channel 4 then every Wednesday from 21st Jan at 10pm on Channel 4.

What was your biggest Bodyshock of the series ?

I think meeting Joel really opened my eyes to how extreme the body modification world can be. We often see people stretching their ears but Joel had taken it to the next level and stretched his cheeks to holes the size of coke cans! When I was interviewing him I could see his back teeth and what was out of the window on the other side of the room!

What's your best beauty tip?

Always take your make up off!! I keep face wipes in my bedside table draw so if it is a night where you sink into the bed and can't be bothered to go to the bathroom in still able to give my face a quick clean.

Best beauty buy under £10?

I love changing my nail colour frequently and have just got the new Essie colours, which are brilliant. It such a quick way to change your look.

Favourite make up brand? 

I'm a Big Mac girl, I really love their foundation full coverage, I also love their brushes for great blending and precision.

Favourite fashion high st brand? 

I'm a huge fan of Miss Selfridge and have got a lot of my outfits from there recently. 

Favourite fashion trend at the moment? 

I love over the knee boots at the moment, they keep you so warm and instantly add an edge to a knitted jumper and jeans

Best luxury treat? 

I've just started using Dr Lancer, The Method. It's a three step polish, cleanse and nourish treatment. I use it daily and it's really made my skin glow!

View Full Post

Healthy Food With Plant Power

With 2015 officially here, this is hopefully one of the many posts that will focus on living more of a healthy lifestyle - which I am sure is many of my readers New Year resolutions, not just mine.

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you will know I have a love for anything with sugar, so this new health kick is going to be a challenge. 

So let’s get down to business by looking at: Alpro. Alpro have been around for a while, coined a healthy alternative with snacks and drinks. The key ingredient is soya ensuring each product is filled with plant based goodies - on this note I thought I would give it a whirl! 

There is a wide range of products in the Alpro range but some of my favourites feature in this post. There are some delicious desserts so you do not need to give up snacking, with flavours of vanilla and chocolate. These desserts make soya, vanilla or chocolate, mix in perfect harmony and with the creamy, rich texture every spoonful is more enjoyable than the last, nom nom.

Moving on… I am personally not a milk fan and from recent research it does not seem to have as many health benefits as one may have thought and has a lot of added sugar. Alpro has the perfect alternatives with a Hazelnut drink which makes a fantastic hot chocolate and tastes pretty darn good in a cake. Alpro Coconut is another alternative drink which only has 40 calories per glass and no sugar, making a much healthier drink or breakfast whilst giving you a refreshing taste. 

Alpro definitely proves that the plant-based goodness of soya goes with lots of yummy ingredients and is good for you. So enjoy more plant power on your journey to living a healthier lifestyle.

More information about Alpro and its products can be found here: www.alpro.com/uk

   

View Full Post

An oversized winter warmer

It's chilly, but the sun is out and T2G has the perfect winter outfit.

Treat your wardrobe to a warmer look with a cozy oversized jumper. This chic ensemble is simple and will keep you warm during the colder months. 

Layering is key to this look with a loose fitting shirt in a vibrant colour (I went for plum) along with leggings and tight ankle boots.

The Outfit: 

                                                                   Jumper: Paisie
                                                                   Shoes: Steve Madden
                                                                   Bag: Chloe
                                                                   Necklace: Kate Spade 
                                                                   Sunglasses: Toms
                                                                   Ring: Swarovski 
                                                                   Leggings: Forever 21
                                                                   Shirt: Lands End
                                                                   Lips: Clarins 

View Full Post