November 2015

Posted on November 26, 2015

5 benefits of using saunas

Some people get totally put off when they hear the word sauna. They associate it with half or fully naked people sweating together in a dark confined space – sorry for the visual image!

I personally think that there is nothing more unwinding than laying in the sauna, particularly, after a tough gym session. Not only does it help relieve my muscles, but it also gives me time to relax, contemplate my workout achievements and reward myself.

However, the benefits of using a sauna go way beyond muscle relief and relaxation. These are only part of the reason why I think people should use it more regularly. I’ve rounded up a list of some of the benefits that I have found from regular use of the sauna these past few weeks:

1, Relaxation

As I mentioned briefly, I like to use the sauna to reward myself after a strenuous workout. I find that sweating it out in hot air really does take my mind off any stress from the outside world. It helps my mind, body and soul (a touch of exaggeration) really get into relaxation mode!

2. Sounder sleep

This probably isn’t news to you, but it is much easier to fall asleep when our muscles are relaxed and free from any tension. The more relaxed your body is before and during sleep, the better quality of your sleep. I tend to use the sauna in the evening time because I find that the heat makes me sleepy!

3. Skin cleanse

There’s a reason why facial saunas were such a big hit back in the day. The heat of a sauna causes the pores to open so when you start sweating, it flushes out dirt, bacteria, oil and any other residue in the pores. After every use of the sauna my skin feels soft, moist and more youthful looking! It just gives you a natural glow!

4. Pain relief

I’m an absolute devil when it comes to doing post workout stretches. So much so, that it had started to take its toll on my knee joints. However, since I started using the sauna more regularly (and spending more time on my stretches) the pain has slowly started to subside. Generally, the heat of a sauna helps loosen muscles and to prevent soreness and ease achy joints!

5. Bye bye calories

Since the heat from a sauna produces an effect that is similar to what happens when we exercise (increased heart rate), using the sauna can burn additional calories. Of course, sauna usage alone will not help you achieve your weight loss goals – only diet and exercise can do that. But because heart rate increases by a good amount, it can help the body burn calories better throughout the day!

Using the sauna is also said to help with detoxification in the body, building a stronger immune system and improving blood circulation. I have yet to experience these changes in my body, but my changes so far are enough for me to want to continue using it on a regular basis and encourage others to do the same!

Top tips for sauna use:

Newbies should start with five to ten minutes until a tolerance for heat is built.
Take a break if you feel dizzy or faint – very important!
Be sure to rehydrate during and after sauna usage.

If you suffer from extreme blood pressure or any other major health issues, then of course, consulting a doctor before sauna usage is a must. But if not, then sweat away! 🙂

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Posted on November 23, 2015

Win!!! SOSU Christmas Gel Polishes!!!

win

The winner is simmybellenails!!!!! Please check your Instagram messages to see how you can claim your prize! Thank you all for entering, keep an eye out for the next one! x

With Christmas just around the corner, I’ve decided to do a giveaway for one of my much-loved readers. As you probably already know, I fell in love with the SOSU Autumn/Winter colours a few months back. And since I have a tendency to force my obsessions onto others (the perks of being a passionate person), I have decided to gift one of you guys with the newest SOSU gel polishes!

From left to right: Base Coat, Poison Apple, Rudolf’s Mistress, The Glass Slipper, Quick Dry Top Coat

These glittery colours are going to add an extra bit of sparkle to someone’s Christmas this year! If that winner happens to be you, then here are Suzanne’s top tips for getting the most out of your SOSU polishes:

Make sure the nails are shaped, filed and buffed before applying any polish. Then apply one thin layer of SOSU base coat, two thin layers of a SOSU colour of your choice followed by a thin layer of SOSU top coat, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next! The formulations in the SOSU base and top coat helps to protect the nails and also forms the gel-like, non chip finish which means the polish can last for up to 4-7 days before having to reapply.

~~To be in the chance of winning this prize, you must do all of the following things:~~

Subscribe to Enhance What’s Yours
~~Follow me on Twitter and Instagram~~
~~Like my Facebook page~~

~~You can retweet and repost as much as you’d like! There are no limits at all! Good luck gals 🙂~~

Terms & Conditions:

You must be a resident of Ireland. If you are under 18, you must consent from your parents to enter the giveaway as the winners will be required to give me their address in order to have their prize sent out to them. There will be one winner. This person will have 24 hours to claim their prize, otherwise another winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway ends on 15^th December at 10pm

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Posted on November 17, 2015

5 ways to make your workouts fun

fitness/ Health/ lifestyle

I often get asked how I find the motivation to get up at 6 o’clock in the morning, get into my workout gear, drive all the way to the gym for a morning session, and then carry on with the rest of my working day. Now putting aside the fact that I am a bit of a crazy person (aren’t we all), I think one of the main reasons I am able to find such motivation is because I know how to make my workouts a bit more enjoyable.

Naturally, I’m the type of person who easily gets bored. Be it a job, a hobby, people – yes, people. I just get sick of things very easily. That’s why switching things up in the gym is a must for me. Now by no means do you have to be a gym member to make exercise more fun, all it comes down to is being creative with your workouts!

So now that you have the back story, here are my top tips for making exercise feel less like a chore:

1. A killer playlist

Music, music, music. MUSIC. I really can’t stress it enough! A kickass playlist – excuse my French – will keep you going throughout your workout. A good techno remix does the job for me, but some people might like to listen to their favourite artist – whatever works for you! Just try not to get too carried away because you might just find yourself doing the Single Ladies dance in the middle of your workout!

2. Join a class

Some people hate dancing, but absolutely love swimming. Others can’t stand both but enjoy boxing. The point is, there is something out there for everyone. Once you find a class that doesn’t seem like a drag to go to, then you’re half way to becoming a #FitnessFanatic! My advice is to try everything at least once, because you never know what might work for you. I tried a Boxfit class recently and loved it!

3. Have a plus one

By nature, we are social creatures. So partnering up with a friend is always a good way of making exercise more pleasant. Not only does it make you look forward to your (super fun) workout, but the chances of you sticking to your exercise plan are much higher when you have someone to exercise with. Also, there’s always a bit of comfort in seeing your bestie struggle with burpees as badly as you – very fun indeed!

4. Set a target

Setting a target before your workouts can add a game element to them. If you set a goal, you will have something to strive for and as you will soon come to learn, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to push past your limits (or what you thought were your limits). What makes setting targets fun is the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel afterwards. Not sold? Try it!

5. YouTube

And for the times I don’t wake up at crazy hours to go to the gym……YouTube of course! I genuinely don’t think being a gym member is a must if you want to keep fit. Obviously if you have other fitness goals, then you’d need to lift a bit more than the 2kg dumbbells you have at home! But if exercise is just a means of staying healthy, then YouTube is the name of the game! Because there are so many fitness channels, it is near impossible to get bored! Some of my favourite channels are Blogilates, Tone It Up and Fitness Blender!

If you want more tips or tricks for making workouts more bearable, feel free to add me on Snapchat @FilomenaKaguako 🙂

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Posted on November 13, 2015

Feel So Good with The Body Shop’s Seasonal Range

product review

As you’ve probably guessed at this stage, I’m a complete junkie when it comes to The Body Shop. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I’m a big lover of taking soothing baths and I’m absolutely drawn to everything and anything that entices my sense of smell – the one thing The Body Shop never fails at!

So when I got the opportunity to attend The Body Shop’s Feel So Good Christmas event and take some products home with me, my anticipation to relax in my tub went sky high. If you’re big into your baths then you would understand the difficulty I had in containing my excitement. The Body Shop’s NEW seasonal range includes body butters, bath frizzers, scented candles and more!

The Frosted Plum range has just about everything you need to turn your Christmas into a magical one. With notes of ripe plum, magnolia and peony, this special collection is for those who want an indulgent and fruitful bath experience. Of the products I tried and tested, these are by far my top three faves:

Frosted Plum Shimmer Lotion 250ml, £8.00

This lightweight shimmer lotion leaves a lovely sparkle on the skin after application. I used it almost immediately when I got home from the event! Due to my dark skin tone, I found that a little bit really does go a long way with this product. I recommend using this shimmer lotion on the legs before a festive night out. The sparkle will highlight your legs, which will really elongate them – hello VS model legs!

Frosted Plum Shimmer Mist, 100ml, £8.50

Love, Love, LOVE!!! This globe shaped shimmer mist has a very unique fruity and floral scent. It leaves a subtle sparkle on the skin, which means you can use it during the day without looking too shimmery. It lightly fragrances the skin and leaves your body with a fresh feeling – you can’t go wrong!

Frosted Plum Candle, £10.00

The cherry on top of any luxurious bath is a scented candle. Like the rest of the Frosted Plum range, the Frosted Plum candle has a fruity fragrance with notes of ripe plum, magnolia and peony. It really adds to the pamper experience because the aroma of the candle just fills the room up – talk about getting the full package!

These three guys are my absolute faves in this collection and I’m dying to try the Frosted Plum Lip Balm – what doesn’t thing collection have, right!?

If you’ve tried any of the products from the NEW Frosted Plum range do let me know, so we can share our pampering experiences! If not, then get shopping ladies! I think it helps to add that The Body Shop has teamed up with Water Aid to help provide families in Ethiopia with drinkable water. With every specially selected gift bought this Christmas, a family in East Africa gets access to safe drinking water.

Have you done your good deed for the day? 🙂

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Posted on November 4, 2015

October favourites!!!

product review

I don’t normally do monthly favourites, but I just found that over the past month I’ve fallen in love with a couple of products that I think deserve a few minutes of fame! If you follow me on Snapchat (@FilomenaKaguako) then you might recognise one or two of the little gems I plan to talk about today. If not, here’s a roundup of the beauty and makeup products I’ve been drooling over in the past few weeks.

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette, €46.00, Debenhams

Surprise, surprise….. not. I carry this little gem with me almost everywhere! Being a smokey eye palette, naturally, most of the shades are quite dark. However, there are a few lighter ones that I use during the day. I found these shadows to be super pigmented and with the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, they could last a day and a half! The quality of the double-ended eyeshadow brush really helps give you the full effect of a smokey eye and ensures that you aren’t left with any unwanted creases because as you know, when it comes to achieving a strong smokey eye look, you have to blend blend blend!

The Body Shop African Ximenia Scrub, €30.50, The Body Shop

I’m just so predictable, aren’t I? I featured this product as my product of my month because when I first started using it, I literally used it every day without fail – don’t judge me, I’m just an obsessive! Thankfully, it is a super moisturising body scrub that isn’t harsh on the skin at all. It smells absolutely divine and just makes you feel like you’re giving yourself a luxurious pampering experience at home! Definitely a must try in my books, find the full review here.

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, €29.00, Debenhams

This Urban Decay product was another one of my must-haves last month. I tend to have quite oily skin, so if I don’t use a primer before my makeup and a setting spray after, then I just end up looking like a hot mess! I found this particularly good for night outs because it prevents your makeup from melting or fading. I don’t wear a full face of makeup every day, but if you’re someone who does, then I’d highly recommend using a setting spray. This one in particular is oil-free, and said to last for up to 16 hours!

SOSU Gel Polish She Means Business, €7.99, SOSU

You know the way we all have that one product that we have to hide from our loved ones because we’re afraid they might use it all? Well, for me, this is she! She Means Business is by far the most drool-worthy nail polishes I set eyes on last month. The warm magenta tone is feminine, strong and eye-catching. I tried this out along with the SOSU top coat and another SOSU autumn colour called Death by Chocolate. Find the full review here.

Vaseline Spray & Go, €6.49, Boots

Some would argue that because the texture of this moisturiser is so light, it is more of a summer product. I do think this is true for the most part, but because I don’t suffer from dry skin, I can get away with using it in colder temperatures. The nozzle and spray packaging makes it super handy to have as a moisturiser and I think it does exactly what it says on the tin, it ‘moisturises in seconds.’ I find it great for when I’m rushing out the door and want to get the job done in the quickest time possible. The cocoa butter smell is breath-taking,and it also comes in pure oat and fresh aloe!

So there you have it, my secret pleasures from the last couple of weeks! If you’ve tried any of the above, do let me know in the comment section below! 🙂

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Posted on November 3, 2015

5 health shots that are good for your body

Health/ health benefits

I always find that health shots are great for a quick pick-me- up. Being a non-coffee drinker and a complete energy drink foe, I have to find other ways to give myself an energy boost. Spirulina shots are usually my go-to, but recently I have been experimenting with a few others which are quite beneficial too.

Here are some shots you might want to try for either giving your body a little detox (hangover day), giving your immune system a boost (flu season) or simply because a shot of tequila on a Tuesday afternoon just doesn’t sound quite right……

1. Lemon, Ginger & Cayenne

When you mix a cleansing food (lemon) with a nausea relieving food (ginger) and an inflammatory reducing spice(cayenne), beautiful things happen! This trio is a classic juice shot that is thought to help give the metabolism an aul boost. The combination of these three ingredients makes for a rejuvenating shot that can help reduce inflammation and bloating too.

Directions: Mix the juice of ½ a lemon with an inch of fresh ginger. Add a dash of cayenne pepper and take as a shot.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

A shot of straight ACV is definitely the easiest option of the five – well, as far as making the shot goes anyways! ACV isn’t exactly the easiest thing to stomach, and I salute anyone who is able to take it without puckering. Regular shots of ACV help improve digestion, and it is also said to help improve the texture of the skin. If you’re only starting off, it’s a good idea to mix the ACV with water.

Directions: Mix half a shot glass of ACV with water and toss back. Don’t forget to breathe!

3. Beetroot

I love my homemade beetroot juice so it really is no surprise that I had to throw it in with these other health shots. A shot of beet juice can help improve stamina, so it would make for a great pre-workout shot. Beets also have anti-inflammatory properties that help combat premature aging. Instead of making a single shot of beet, I would suggest making a full glass and taking it in shots as regularly as you need.

Directions: Find my homemade beet juice recipe here.

4. Matcha

Matcha is a concentrated form of green tea and as you probably already know, green tea is loaded with antioxidants that can give benefit the body in more ways than just one. However, when you drink green tea, you are only drinking an infusion which means a lot of the health benefits are reduced. When you consume matcha, you consume the full leaf, meaning you get the full benefits. It helps with blood sugar regulation, reducing blood pressure, and most importantly, anti-aging (I don’t sound beauty obsessed at all!)

Directions: Mix 120ml of water with 1 tsp on matcha power in a glass to dissolve the powder. Pour into two shot glasses. One for now, one for later 🙂

5. Spirulina

A lot of people automatically think of chicken, eggs and fish when it comes to protein, but spirulina is actually one of nature’s richest protein sources. It is a blue-green algae found in fresh waters that is a complete protein, meaning it has all the essential amino acids we need to live. It is a natural detoxifier that helps boost the immune system and promote healthy digestion. I usually take this once a week.

Directions: Mix ½ tsp of spirulina powder with water in a shot glass and knock it back!

As well as the many other benefits that can come from taking these shots, they will give you the buzz without a crash! So instead of going for an energy drink the next time you need a quick boost, why not try one of these? Your body will love you for it! 🙂

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