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Things I’m Loving – December

I’m quite excited about heading into the new year. 2017 has been a solidly good year for me. Full of happiness, good running, delicious food and lovely memories. I hope 2018 will continue these themes! Also I’m quite looking forward to being in an “even numbered” year again – is that odd? Anyway, on to some cool stuff I’m loving lately.

Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush

My skincare regime used to be cold water. Literally nothing else. But times are a-changing! After having my first ever facial last month I’ve given my face a bit more thought. Let’s be honest, I’m certainly not getting any younger and, well, I’m still single sooo…IMG_2263On that note I’ve made a couple of investments to my “beauty regime”. My mother is a terrible influence on me. She recently bought the Clarins version of the cleansing brush and let me try it out (yes we shared brushes, no I don’t care. She’s my mother). It felt amazing and left my face really fresh and clean. Then the next day we ended up in Boots and somehow I’d purchased the Clinique cleaning brush. Almost £100. I actually felt a bit sick when I got home. To be fair, it came with three other products, though I mean for that cost it better have!! (It came with a toner product as well not shown in the photo).

After having used it for a number of weeks I can say I don’t regret buying it. My skin indeed looks clearer and happier. I’m not one for getting spots or have “problem skin” but it definitely looks fresher. Plus it’s fun to use.

The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% Formula

I don’t actually know what to call this product. I heard about it after listening to the Don’t Salt My Game podcast where they debunked lots of skincare myths. It was one of the products that was recommended to actually work at keeping the skin looking good. It’s also very cheap (£5.50) and didn’t have all the guff and nonsense that other skincare products seem to have.IMG_2264It has a very high concentration of two powerful antioxidants: Resveratrol and Ferulic Acid, which are apparently great antioxidants for the skin.

I just put a couple of drops on my face after using my face buffer and then smooth it in. It’s quite oily but doesn’t leave my skin oily if that makes sense. I really like this product. Together with the buffer my face has really improved. And for someone who quickly gives up with skincare products after I don’t see the point of them, these are things I’ve maintained for a good number of weeks now and really like to use.

eGloves

I was recently sent another pair of eGloves to try out after I bumped into the guy behind the business at a parkrun and he mentioned that my current eGloves looked to be a bit too big for me (they’re a small). He very kindly offered to send me a new pair in extra small in the new range. It was also extremely good timing because I was finding my hands were getting really cold when I ran. The eGloves I originally had were more lightweight gloves which were good when it was chilly but not so much for when the temperatures were really low.IMG_1887When I first popped the new gloves on I knew they were the real deal. These bad boys are seriously warm. They’re also not big and bulky – as some winter gloves are – and still have the cool finger bits that allow you to still be able to use the touch screens of smart phones (so annoying when you have to remove your gloves to do this!). IMG_1983I wore the gloves during the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon and they were perfect. The material is very breathable so even when my hands got hot it didn’t feel like they were sweaty inside. Fully recommend these if you’re looking for some warm running gloves!

Oryx Desert Salt

I was also recently sent a set of salts to use for cooking. Oryx Desert Salt is an unrefined, sun-dried salt, free from additives and preservatives. It contains natural and essential minerals and comes all the way from the Kalahari Desert, where it is ethically and sustainably harvested. And, what I most love, is with every purchase they donate a percentage to the Khomani San and Mier communities who own !xaus Lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

The pack I received is a fab gift box set of three grinders containing coarse salt, smoked salt and wine salt and a cotton refill bag. I also received an apron (see below photo: my dad loves the apron).

Yes too much salt can certainly be a bad thing for your health, but used in moderation and sensibly, these salts really add a lovely taste to my dinner. Salt is also good for reducing the dreaded cramp and is important if you sweat a lot (hi all runners). IMG_2175I feel rather posh using them I must say! I personally loved the smoked one as it adds such a subtle tasty edge.IMG_2180

You can buy them in Sainsbury’s.

Next month I hope to talk about my vibrating massage ball (always sounds so wrong…) and my new running watch… 😉

Do you use a lot of salt when cooking?

What is your skincare regime like?

Are there any new products you’ve been loving this month?

**Full Disclaimer: I was sent both the gloves and the salt pack for free in return for a review on my blog. All opinons are my own honest ones.**

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eGlove Review and Comparison

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by eGlove (well, actually the husband of a lovely fellow runner friend) asking if I’d like to review their gloves for my blog. After finding out a bit more about them I agreed and was sent a rather nifty black pair.

The gloves are designed to be worn when running (though obviously not exclusively, you could use them walking or doing other sports, such as horse riding or cycling) and due to their special design you can operate your iPhone, Samsung or other touchscreen device while wearing them.

As someone who listens to podcasts when both running and walking I find it immensely annoying to have to remove my gloves to use my phone, especially if I’m mid run or if it’s very cold. In any running gloves I buy I specifically look for this touchscreen design now. Previous to trying the eGloves I was using my Nike gloves.

They too have the special design that allows you to still access your phone.

As I have both gloves I thought it would be interesting to do a little comparison. The Nike gloves cost approximately £7. They’re comfy, lightweight and do indeed work with my phone. However they are not really that suitable when it’s really cold. I found on a cold morning my fingers were numb despite wearing the gloves. Also the touch screen device can be a bit temperamental which is highly frustrating. They’re not perfect but they do look rather stylish and you can get them in different colours. They also have a little pocket on the palm to put your key.

The eGloves are very thin and lightweight BUT are a lot more warm than the Nikes, possibly because they’re slightly looser which creates a bit more of a vacuum between your skin and the cold air outside (or something science-y like that) and they have a thermal feel with a tight cuff to keep the warmth in.

The gloves also have a non-slip design on the palms so it stops the danger of your expensive smartphone sliding out of your hands. This is a genuine concern for me, the clumsiest girl on the planet (!), especially with running. If my podcast needs changing or I want to take a photo mid-run I don’t want in danger of dropping my phone.

They are more expensive at £24.99 though (however, there are different colours which are cheaper on the website). That said, they do exactly what they say on the tin and I can honestly say I prefer them to the Nikes.

They also do a whole range of different gloves, including ones specifically for snowboarding/skiing and cycling.

Do you wear gloves when running in the cold?

Do you look for gloves that can be used with your smartphone?

**Full Disclaimer: I was sent the gloves for free in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own honest ones.**