What's in my Glossy Box

Hoorah! My first ever Glossy Box came yesterday. It was such a lovely treat coming home after a long day at work to a cute little box hiding on my door step. So I thought I'd share with you what I got inside. If you are unaware of the concept of Glossy Box (where have you been!?), it is a company that sends you a box of sample sized beauty goodies each month. You never know what you are going to get, which is part of the fun of it, but there is a list of brands you could be sent on their website. The best thing about it is it only costs £10 a month (plus £2.95 P&P) and you get to sample loads of different products without having to go out and buy the full sizes!

I absolutely love how Glossy Boxes look so lovingly put together and the packaging is gorgeous. This months box (of course being January) is all about the detox.

So...what's inside!?

Duck Island Limited - Body Lotion
Have never heard of this brand before so eager to try it out. This is a body lotion with a definite mandarin and bergamot fragrance (think body shop mandarin shower gel).

Elemis Fresh Skin - Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator
I've been wanting to try some Elemis products for ages so was pleased when I saw this one. It smells very fruity. Can't wait to try this exfoliator instead of my usual Origins Modern Friction.

Premae Skincare - Balance Rescue Face Tonique
This one I am probably the most excited to try! Again another brand I have never tried before. This is a "step 2" toner product. It smells amazingly of lemongrass which is such a fresh and reviving scent - great for the detox theme. Also, Glossy Box subscribers can get 20% off the next purchase from premaeskin.com so if I like this one I will be sure to re-purchase!

Jason - Lip Bee Healthier
This is a great one for me as I am addicted to lip balms. This one smells like After Eight mints and has a tingly feeling when applied.

Monu - Aromatic Mask
Apparently this is a warming clay mask. Smells of Lavender - looks like another lovely product which I can't wait to try out. I haven't indulged in a face mask in a while so this will be a welcomed treat!

There is also a "Glossy dreams" sleep mask which, to be honest, I probably wont use but it's a nice added extra that makes the box feel more special.

Is anyone subscribed to Glossy Box? If so, I would love to know your thoughts on this months box. Harriet is currently debating whether to subscribe to the Carmine or Feel Unique beauty boxes. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Isobel x

Isobel's Diet

So, in a bid to keep up with my all time, ultimate, number one New Years resolution I am starting a diet and have decided to write about it here on this blog. With any luck, I am hoping that this might actually motivate me to some sort of success this year!

I'm starting the oh so on trend diet, Intermittent Fasting. Also named by some as Alternate day fasting or 5:2. Call it what you will, essentially the principles are this: you eat 500 calories on two non-consecutive days (600 calories for men) and the other 5 days you can eat as you normally do. The idea behind it is that the fasting days lower certain hormone levels in our body that help you live longer and of course with the restricted calories you lose weight along the way too. This is not a quick fix diet but more of a way of life.

I have to say, my blogging pal Harriet is not entirely enamoured with the idea of fasting and, believe me, her opinion comes from a very knowledgeable place!

Anyway, I decided today would be my first "fast" day. So far, so good! I mean, I haven't been strict with the calorie count (I'm too busy to be counting calories to the decimal!). So I feel the easiest way for me is to have 3 meals of about 150-200 calories. For breakfast I had a small bowl of porridge made with water and a dash of unsweetened soy milk, lunch was a bowl of vegetable soup and dinner was a piece of granary bread, a poached egg and a bit of spinach. And give or take a black coffee or two that was literally it! I have been feeling hungry, but knowing that I know I can eat whatever I want tomorrow, it hasn't actually been that hard.

Well I plan to update now and again on how it's going, it is still VERY early days I know. Let me know if any of you are planning on starting intermittent fasting, or if you're a pro, let me know how it's going.

All images courtesy of weheartit.com