FITNESS | What to expect when a coffee lover quits caffeine

My name is Cathy and I'm a coffee lover. It's been two weeks, six days and four hours since caffeine passed my lips.

And the funny thing is, I only started drinking coffee about two years, six months and four days ago! I always loved the aroma of it, and I even ate the coffee crème chocolates that everyone else left behind in the Christmas box; but once I was hooked on drinking the stuff, my relationship with coffee was one of my most reliable... it never disappointed, and consistently made me feel full of energy – creativity, even.

To me, coffee = morning fuel; the ultimate chocolate companion (mine’s an Avoca rice crispie bun or a peanut butter ball from St George’s Market). It was an instant energy boost and an ever-reliable Instagram prop. My first, and until recently, only cup of the day dispelled any threat of brain fog, leaving me feeling focused and alert with a spring in my step. But I started wanting more. And then I realised that the weak sleep and sore jaws (from grinding and clenching at night) were probably something to do with the caffeine. I was dehydrated too. Because although most of us know that caffeine is an appetite suppressant (and I never really drank it for that reason, but hey, a few less pounds ain’t no bad side effect, right?); it also supressed my thirst, and I found myself not drinking any water at all. All. Day. Long. Then all of a sudden at around 4 or 5pm the drug would wear off and I would be all-at-once starving and super thirsty. And we all know it’s futile to drink most of your 2L/day in one go. Plus the hunger turned to hanger and I was irritable and often reached for a quick, (unhealthy) food fix.

So I decided to step away. But could I do it? And was I right to?  

Most of us know that too much caffeine is not good for our health. And although I only really drank one cup of coffee per day, I was obviously very caffeine-senstive, so even my single cup was proving too much. My own research brought me to the point where the plus points of giving it up appealed more than that daily hit. I'm still at the early stages of my journey - and yes I still miss it - but am happy to say that the benefits have started to kick in already. Of course it hasn't been all roses, so I decided to journal my experience and share what led me to this point.

Anyone who knows me or follows along on social media will know that my life is pretty full on, thanks to a busy work schedule, colourful social life, regular travel and the absolute highlight, looking after my daughter, Valentina.

Like many busy working mums, reaching for a cuppa to keep my focus on point seemed the most natural thing in the world, but how has it really affected me - and what are the benefits of stopping?

Caffeine is the world's most commonly consumed psychoactive substance, aka it stimulates our central nervous system, affects neural activity in the brain and makes us feel more alert and less tired.

While alertness levels tend to drop after giving up caffeine, most people find that they soon return, along with greater stability and clarity of mind.

Naturally there are pros and cons to giving up caffeine and common symptoms last from a few days to a few weeks, such as:

·        headaches

·        fatigue

·        low energy

·        irritability

·        anxiety

·        poor concentration

·        depressed mood

·        tremors

I also gained weight almost immediately after giving it up. I was grazing all day long instead of living off the sugar hit from the bun and the energy from the caffeine. So that’s not great, but I just have to flatline a little bit – and I’m sure I will, with time. On the upside, there are multiple benefits from giving up caffeine in the longer term.

More Energy

Caffeine is a stimulant that causes increased energy, alertness and concentration. While withdrawal can initially lead to fatigue, zero energy spikes from a caffeine kick = zero lows when it wears off.

Tip: stick to a nutrient-rich diet and swap your daily cuppa for a vitamin-packed smoothie. I’ve just started the turmeric lattes from Panama café in Belfast – a perfect pick-me-up, with great anti-inflammatory benefits too!

 A Clear Head

Caffeine causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, slowing blood flow. Skipping it will avoid the painful headaches caused by the brain adapting to an increase in blood and help us think more clearly. Reducing caffeine gradually and replacing it with extra hydration will prevent headaches occurring.

Tip: bring on the water and herbal teas.

 Improved Sleep

As coffee acts as a stimulant, eliminating it can cause drowsiness. Its energising effects only last around four to six hours, hence the urge for another cuppa or that afternoon slump. You should soon notice an improvement in sleep quality and subsequent energy levels fairly soon after cutting it out. 

Tip: early nights - aim for at least 7 hours. I only usually get 6 – and I know I need more than that, long term.  Calm

Caffeine increases heart rate, blood pressure and the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, which is why too much can make us feel jittery and anxious. While withdrawal can cause anxiety in the short term, it will lead to a calmer state of mind in the long run.

Tip: stress reduction techniques such as yoga or meditation. I use the Glenn Harrold Deep Sleep app to help me drift into a really deep, relaxed sleep. It works so much better without the caffeine in my life!

 Focus

Caffeine actively stimulates the brain leading to increased alertness and improved focus, so quitting can cause difficulty focusing on specific tasks. Cut down slowly and increase hydration ... you'll soon feel sharp as a tack again.

Tip: pace yourself and drink more water.

Mood

Most coffee drinkers are used to the mood-enhancing effects of caffeine and some become irritable and moody without it (thankfully not me). There's no easy fix for this one, but replacing caffeine with little things that make you feel good will help. Rather than sit at an empty desk without at your usual coffee/tea break, go for a brisk walk, listen to a podcast or call a friend. As your body becomes less dependent on caffeine, your moods will stabilise.

Tip: self care is important. 

 Brighter Skin

The liver cleanses and naturally detoxes the body when you cut caffeine out, so around a month after giving up caffeine, you should notice clearer, well hydrated skin.

Tip: swapping caffeine for water will bring on the glow even faster.

 Whiter Teeth

Coffee can erode enamel and stain teeth due to a high acid content, so ditching it will lead to a brighter smile in the long term.

Tip: book in for a professional clean to remove stains after giving up caffeine... this will encourage you to steer clear! As you may know from other blogs, I highly recommend regular cleans and go to Sandown Dental in Belfast where I have learnt so, so much about oral hygiene and the long-term effects of good tooth care.

The Ups

Two weeks into giving it up, the most positive side effect so far is that I'm definitely sleeping better. I no longer wake up with sore jaws from grinding; the quality of sleep has improved and my body feels more rested.

It's even affected my mind and personality for the better. I feel more zen and chilled... I still love a good chat but am less inclined to over share without the caffeine spike.

And the Downs

Of course I miss the buzz that caffeine gave me... I think that's the bit we get so hooked on! It definitely gave me clarity and got the creative juices flowing, but I expect all that to balance out in the coming weeks. Apparently even greater clarity comes with time as caffeine and reliance on it leaves our system, so I look forward to that! Follow me on Instagram to keep up with my progress and let me know if you have any tips or decide to join in too!  :Lastly, I have gained weight – a lot. From grazing all day, but like I said, I hope this will flatline as I get back into a decent (and more healthy) routine.

 Delicious Alternatives

There are plenty of decaff options out there, though personally I'm enjoying something completely different to crush my cravings.

• Hot water with apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger, the best honey you can afford & the juice of half a lemon is super detoxifying and balances out the pH of the stomach and digestive tract. Add cayenne pepper or turmeric to give that spicy kick.

• Fresh Pineapple & Lime Juice (M&S do a great one) with crushed ice and slimline tonic tastes as good as a cocktail

• Cranberry & Raspberry juice with soda water and a slice of lime makes a gorgeous long drink, perfect for a sunny afternoon catch up. Much better than a latte and a bug bun!  

FOLIO | STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Tennessee Williams’s Pulitzer prize-winning masterpiece “A Streetcar Named Desire” has been brought back to the Lyric Theatre for the first time since 1984 thanks to Irish Times Theatre Award-winning director Emma Jordan.

Set in the New Orleans’ Latin Quarter, the play follows Southern beauty Blanche DuBois, who, in an attempt to escape her former life and past trauma, fulfils a role of false pretence in an attempt to escape the fact that she is not who she wants or claims to be.

As the play unfolds, this façade starts to marry into reality as Blanche struggles to balance the fine lines of truth and pretence she has created, slowly falling from grace into (what some call) madness. In today’s world we’d recognise symptoms of PTSD and treat her with dignity and sympathy instead of letting her drift into survival and coping mechanisms such as alcohol dependency and the needy, desperate love-seeking in not-so-nice men. It’s important to note that the play is set in a time when women were dependant on men and the lack of opportunities (plus heavy judgement that would undoubtedly come from society should a woman show signs of strength or stray from societal norms), meant that often women felt trapped in situations which they struggled to control. Compare that to the recent reaction to modern day music heroine Cardi B’s admission to using men to get through hard times and we can take a macro look at how women’s situations and perceptions have evolved.

But back to this performance - this Blanche is played by Aoibheann McCann with a fragile, yet steel intensity. I was mesmerised by her, and her powerful performance saw her act almost as stage manager, frantically trying to keep up the web of lies she has spun. As each lie comes undone to reveal the desperate truth, the complex and tragic character comes apart and McCann’s captivating performance is truly outstanding.

Blanche arrives at her sister Stella’s home in the impoverished Latin Quarter with hopes of starting a new life after losing her ancestral mansion, her job and her reputation. She is introduced to her violent brother-in-law Stanley, played brilliantly by Mark Huberman who despises his wife’s sister and her background. In a collision of different worlds, conflicts between the two soon follow.

McCann and Huberman act out the perfect display of ferocious hatred in the intense scenes that follow as the characters’ passionate dislike for each other reaches fever point. Huberman’s portrayal of the brutal Staney is impeccable, although my one critique is that his accent is more Bronx than Southern. That’s not important though, given his performance and presence. Like Meghan Tyler, who plays a sensational Stella, I can see how she’d want to make love to him and run from him at the same time.

There was barely a dry eye in the house as Meghan broke down before us in those final, heart-breaking scenes. The raw emotion that radiated from her performance was captivating and I couldn’t take my eyes off her, trying at once to empathise with her loss and sorrow as well as understand how a sister could let her sibling be taken off to the looney bin. The sense of loss paired with the realisation that she is once again truly alone allows us to glimpse what life is truly like for Stella; so watching as a woman living in modern society is difficult.

Without losing any of the complexity and tragedy that blankets itself around the original script, Jordan has successfully portrayed a story where there is a constant power struggle between fantasy and reality, shown faultlessly in the form of Blanche.
Although, as we begin to delve deeper into the storyline, we have to question whether anyone has a true grasp in reality; - from Stella who can’t see past the sex in her relationship to confront the true extent of the abuse by husband Stanley, to Stanley’s best friend Mitch (Seamus O’Hara)  who normalises Stanley’s (and his own) domestic abuse by saying that “it’s ok, they are crazy about each other”. The irony isn’t lost on me that Blanche, with her traditional southern values, is horrified at the domestic abuse yet blind to how men have abused her too.  

As we watch Blanche unfold before us, we can’t help but question whether she has in fact got her happy ending. Gore Vidal once said Tennessee Williams told him that A Streetcar Named Desire has a happy ending, and as I watched Blanche walk away on the arm of a doctor, leaving Stella behind trapped with a violent, drink-fuelled Stanley from whom she may never escape, you can’t deny that her new life, flirting enjoyably with the doctors at whatever institution she ends up in, appears to be more appealing than that of her younger sister’s, so this powerful production leaves us questioning whether the tragedy is more Stella’s than her older sister’s. The character of Blanche is often said to be based on Williams’ sister Rose, who suffered from mental health issues and tragically became incapacitated after a lobotomy. I do hope Blanche didn’t meet that end.

As ever with Lyric plays, the background team has proven itself to be as remarkable as those on stage. Enda Kenny did a fantastic job with the costumes and Lyric favourite Ciaran Bagnall excelled once again with the set and lighting. The music (by Carl Kennedy) successfully moved the plot along and the whole set beautifully highlighted Blanche’s move into madness.

FASHION | TV BAFTAs 2019

As stars of the silver screen took to the red carpet for the 2019 TV BAFTAs, we were delighted to see one of the best TV shows in like, forever, scoop multiple awards. Killing Eve nailed best drama series and best actress for Jodie Comer, who's performance was breathtakingly impressive. In a heart-warming acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to her nanna, dressed in a floor length, one shoulder magenta dress by Stella McCartney. (Jodie, not her nanna!)

Sidenote: if you haven't yet watched Fleabag by Killing Eve writer, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, you really must - it's both hilarious and touching. The same talented lady has also co-written the next Bond film. Dressed in a cornflower blue dress with cape detail by A.Teodoro at the BAFTAs, she also scores high in the style stakes.

 We also loved the Derry Girls’ support of Irish designers including actresses Saoirse Monica Jackson and Louisa Harland both wearing dresses from renowned Irish designers.  Louisa opted for a black puff-sleeve midi-dress from Natalie B.Coleman while Saoirse chose  to go short and sweet, with a tiered floral embellished dress with tulle underlay by Helen Cody.

Tess Daly in bespoke trouser suit by Suzanne Neville & Kurt Geiger shoes

Camilla Kerslake in Gyunel

Billie Piper in Dundas & Jimmy Choo

Ellise Chappell in Alberta Feretti

Helen McCrory in Alberta Feratti

Jodie Comer in Stella McCartney

Jodie Whittaker in Jasper Conran and Luly Guinness handbag

Keely Hawes in Suzanne Neville

Kimberley Garner in Kristensen Couture

Lolly Adefope in Kitty Joseph

Paloma Faith

Phoebe Waller Bridge in A. Teodoro

Rochelle Humes in YSL

Ruth Wilson in Alessandra Rich

Suranne Jones in Alexis Mabille

FOLIO| IN GOOD COMPANY

By Zoe Stevenson

Following his sell-out production of Les Miserables in 2016, director James Huish returns to the Grand Opera House with Darren Gardiner (of LSFX Productions who recently brought us the spectacular Ulster Orchestra/Lush Classical) to bring us Stephen Sondheim’s musical comedy – ‘Company - The Musical’.

There is always something magical in the moment where the lights dim and the curtains lift, giving us our first anticipated look at the theatre set in front of us. In Company, as the curtain lifts we are transported to Manhattan and catch our first glance of main character Robert, who is celebrating his 35th birthday.

Unable to think of a wish as he reluctantly blows out his birthday candles, ‘Bobby’ questions whether he should be happy with his own lot surrounded by his married friends - “these good and crazy people” – or if he should wish for his own romantic partner.

Company boldly premiered on Broadway in 1970 and was a comic take on the evolving nature of relationships amongst the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation as the growing ‘Hippy’ movement challenged the traditional marital status.

As the plot develops, we journey with Bobby to a series of dinner parties, first dates and meaningful conversations where he tries to understand the pros and cons of marriage from those “good and crazy” friends as well as making sense of his own persistent bachelorhood. The scene where Bobby unwillingly tempts his two best friends, Harry & Sarah, played hilariously by Meabh Quinn & Eamon Connolly, to fulfil their damaging vices before a karate showdown ensues is particularly entertaining.

These snippets of conversation offer an evocatively ambivalent study of marriage, perfectly displayed in “Sorry-Grateful” where three married men talk about the tug the contradictory impulses of marriage: “you’re scared she’s starting to drift away – and scared she’ll stay”, a theme which runs throughout the play.

Another favourite part is when Amy, an anxious and jittery bride (and one of Bobby’s best friends) desperately tries to cancel her wedding, to the dismay of a never-escaping nun. Spitting out the fast and furious “Getting Married Today” at astonishing speed, the audience was left in that belly-holding-tear-inducing laughter state that can only be brought on by great acting and great writing – something this play has in abundance.

Although Mark Tilley plays a character that is emotionally disconnected, there is no denying his magnetic ability to make the audience connect with him; and he plays Bobby’s character brilliantly.

His fierce portrayal of a confused character battling against himself as he questions what he is and what he wants to become is powerfully delivered in songs such as “Being Alive”.

Surrounded by a great group of supporting actors who each bring their own wild vocal attack (can’t not mention Marta here, played by Katie Shortt who delivered an excellent solo performance in the first act), the cast each give their own extraordinary performance.

George Furth’s quick quips & Stephen Sondheim’s dazzling songs about the challenges of dating, marriage and feeling trapped, flow in and out of each other in the form of ‘Bobby’ who perfectly portrays a man desperately trying to find the ending in his maze of emotions as he confronts his fear of commitment and the loneliness of being on his own. Ultimately, the story uses intelligent (and hilarious) humour to make us think about relationships, being vulnerable and “being alive”.

Put simply, Company is one of those fantastic grown up musicals that we can all relate to, we all have a ‘Bobby’ (or perhaps we are one) in our lives who, afraid to fully submerge themselves in the murky waters of commitment, timidly dip their toes instead in a desperate attempt to cling onto their freedom, unable to determine what it is they want, but constantly fighting the pressure to be stereotyped by modern society.

More information – including how to book tickets – can be found at:  www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/companythemusical

FASHION | Pink Carpet Style at Met Gala Ball 2019

The red carpet was swapped for a sugary pink walkway at this year's Met Gala Ball, the Oscars of the fashion world. In celebration of the theme, 'Camp: Notes on Fashion', A-listers arrived at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art draped in extravagant style ranging from eye poppingly playful to drop dead glamorous.  

The theme "Camp: Notes on Fashion," is based on Susan Sontag's 1964 essay "Notes on 'Camp.'" In Sontag's essay, she provides 58 definitions for camp. Among them is "The hallmark of Camp is the spirit of extravagance. Camp is a woman walking around in a dress made of three million feathers." So the Kardashian sisters def got that memo.

It was all a bit high-low. High art clashing with pop culture. It was about going over the top just enough to make a statement and look cool, but not so over the top that you've jumped into the kitschy category. Hamburger dress, anyone?  

Gemma Chan's shimmering Tom Ford chainmail caped gown was inspired by Elizabeth Taylor in 1968 thriller, Boom, while Saoirse Ronan's striking dragon and flame embellished Gucci gown channelled Game of Thrones. Cara Delevingne's rainbow-striped Dior ensemble and custom-made headpiece reflected her theory that 'camp is an expression of your most outrageous'... a theory we can't argue with!

After a genuine struggle to narrow down our fashion favourites, here are some of the best...

Madeline Petsch in Jean Paul Gaultier

Awkwafina in Altuzarra

Bee Shaffer Carrozzinni in Alexander McQueen

Cara Delevingne in Dior

Cardi B in Moschino

Ciara in Dundas

Doutzen Kroes (designer not shared)

Emma Roberts in Gaimbattista Valli Couture

Gigi Hadid in Michael Kors

Irina Shayk in Burberry

Janelle Monae in Christian Siriano

Kendall Jenner in Versace

Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell

Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell

Laverne Cox in Christian Siriano

Lily-Aldridge in Richard Quinn

Salma Hayek in Gucci

Saoirse Ronan in Gucci

Serena Williams in Atelier Versace & Nike

FACE| REVIEW: ESPA NATURAL FACELIFT AT POWERSCOURT HOTEL AND SPA

PowersCourt is set in the grounds of a beautiful estate and driving in I was mesmerised by the gorgeous views across a wooded valley. Although it had only been 30 minutes since I had left Dublin, I could have been a thousand miles away from the bustling city as the fresh air and acres of Wicklow mountain greenery transported me to a much-welcomed place of peaceful tranquillity.

Inside the hotel doesn’t disappoint either. The first thing I noticed were the flowers. The really beautiful and rich displays were just like those in the lobbies of the Georges V or Hotel Costes in Paris. Think more is more, but in a very tasteful and elegant way.

As for the décor, everything marries together to create a lovely, relaxed ambiance. Wide, sweeping staircases are enveloped in the light of a plethora of chandeliers and vast windows mean you are only ever a step away from the spectacular view outside.  And speaking of outside, the hotel gardens flow from formal, well-thought out lawns journeying into the wooded valley as birch and beech trees stand tall protectively – waiting to provide some shaded sanctuary on a hot summer’s day.

Unfortunately, today was not that hot summer’s day so I quickly made my way back inside ready to be shown to my room. At this point it is impossible not to mention the staff, who were friendly and kind throughout my stay and always ready to offer some advice on the local offerings (of which there are many).

After quickly dropping my bags off at my room (think BIG, with a gorgeous balcony and mountain views, plus a Pretty Woman worthy bathroom and the ultimate work-station where I caught up on some emails later that evening, after the best night’s sleep in an extra-wide and super-soft bed of dreams – literally!) But first, my date and I visited the outstanding and world-renowned SIKA restaurant.

Now that experience deserves a review all of its own, but suffice to say, we enjoyed delectable dishes and a really great wine (chosen to match my amateur description of what I like) by the restaurant sommelier. I’ve included some pics in my video review.

But let’s talk about the spa – my main reason for visiting this really fabulous hotel. First impressions always count, right?! And the ESPA spa certainly makes for a good one. Set out over two floors, the spa houses an extremely well-equipped gym, pool (its floor is actually studded with Swarovski crystals, I kid you not), a café, relaxation room, hammam suite and SO many treatments on offer.

I opted for the ESPA Natural Face Lift spa treatment – a facial designed to make skin look and feel better. My (AMAZING) therapist talked me through the treatment and what to expect, before beginning with an eye and lip cleanse followed by a facial cleanse. She then performed a pleasantly surprising skin analysis using UV technology which highlights any particular concerns and allowed the therapist to choose the best products for my skin’s needs.

My skin was slightly dehydrated - no surprise there, given the time of year, plus the copious amount of travel I had done of late, plus too much coffee/not enough water and the fact that I had spent the day on a shoot in Dublin, so the studio lights won’t have helped either.

Next up, came the second cleanse which is actually accompanied by steam to warm the skin and muscles.  I could feel my pores opening to let all the badness out and the goodness get in! My therapist mixed some Tri-Active™ Advanced ProBiome serum with an ESPA face treatment oil (specific to my skin’s needs) before beginning the facial massage.  This actually consists of four stages that replicate a workout and I have to say it’s pretty full-on, but in a good way! The first is a detoxifying massage with clarifies and drains toxins, then an invigorating ‘Kobido’ massage comes next which activates circulation and brings fresh oxygen to the skin cells. This did feel a little odd as my skin was pushed (and lightly slapped/tapped) into all directions, but not at all uncomfortable. Jade rollers were then used to help smooth lines and wrinkles before my favourite part of the facial massage – the sculpt massage. This involves deep, slow techniques that lift and smooth fine lines, and left me feeling thoroughly relaxed! I’m pretty certain I dozed off at this point.

Next, a lifting and smoothing mask was applied to my face, neck and décolletage. Packed with peppermint and eucalyptus, the instantly cooling sensation felt incredible after the previous warming stages. As the mask did its work, my therapist treated me to a soothing scalp massage before peeling off and applying ProBiome serum, eye cream and moisturiser to finish. She then led my fresh-faced and thoroughly happy self to the relaxation room.

Catching a quick look in the mirror, my skin immediately looked more radiant and dare I say it, more youthful – and this workout was much more enjoyable than my usual body pump!

Checking out was a reluctant affair. I had had the most wonderful 24 hours and really didn’t want to leave. The hotel – and the spa – now hold some very special memories for me and I have already booked a return visit. The trip was gifted but as usual, I have not been paid nor persuaded to give certain opinions here, except my own honest ones. And I can honestly say that this hotel and the spa treatments are right up there with some of the best I’ve experienced in the world. So go on and get it booked. Because you’re worth it. Absolutely one hundred per cent worth it.

 You can check out my best bits (including the He-Shi shoot I did just before the trip to Powerscourt) over on this Instagram highlight here ->  

https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODYzNzAwMTI4MzY1ODYx/?utm_source=ig_story_highlights_share&igshid=z227e30kvtnj

And you can book here:  https://www.powerscourthotel.com/special-offers/sometimes-it-s-nice-to-do-nothing-or-a-little-bit-of-everything---/51-17/ 

TEN OUT OF TEN FOR Q10 BY NIVEA

Although I embrace getting older and feel so much more body-confident now than I did 10 years ago, I do appreciate any help in avoiding further fine lines and a loss of elasticity as much as I can.  So when I received some of the new NIVEA Q10 POWER range products to try, I was more than a little intrigued to test them on my forty-something face.

 To launch the product range, the Nivea Ireland team also invited me to ask anything I wanted from the Nivea global product development expert Dr Dominik Goddertz.

Admittedly on trend skincare ingredients do come and go – but when it comes down to it, the nutrients which are already present in our skin are best and this range is so great because it replenishes what we already have. And with a promise to visibly smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the process, I was sold – I mean who doesn’t love the sound of that? Let’s find out what Dr Goddertz had to say on it:

Beauty Bitch: I think the best skincare is that which balances science and nature – you are so accomplished in science but tell me, how does NIVEA bring nature into its products?

Dr Dominik: The Q10 Power products work with the skin. Meaning that they power up the cells in a natural way while using Coenzyme Q10 and Creatine:

Creatine occurs naturally in human skin. Its purpose is to maintain the natural function of the skin cells. This makes it an important source of energy, as it boosts the production of new collagen fibres and consequently firms sagging tissue. As we age, our skin produces less and less creatine, and our cells perform their functions less effectively. With its high dose of creatine, the new NIVEA Q10 POWER range boosts the skin’s natural creatine storage. The result: visibly reduced wrinkles and firmer skin in a matter of only 4 weeks.

Coenzyme Q10, which is produced naturally in the body, plays an important role in our cell processes and combats free radicals. It supports necessary processes in the skin cells, from cell regeneration to collagen synthesis. Being an antioxidant, it counteracts free radicals, which damage skin cells and cause the skin to age prematurely. Like creatine, the amount of Q10 in our skin drops as we age. NIVEA Q10 POWER replenishes this important coenzyme and helps the skin make up for age-related deficits on its own. The result: visibly smoother, firmer skin.

Beauty Bitch: NIVEA evokes lovely memories for me, as both my parents used the original Crème and then my French pen pal’s mother used all the brand’s first modern skincare ranges. In fact, I specifically recall a distinct smell from a cooling cellulite leg gel mid 90s; when I smell that scent, my mind goes back to France. Can you tell me about the evolution of the brand? And the facecare range today?

Dr Dominik: When I was a child my mum also used many NIVEA products like the NIVEA cream for my face and body or the sun lotion at the beach. The brand NIVEA always meant family, high quality and trust to me. After 8 years working for NIVEA I can tell it is really like that. I enjoy working with my team and all the other highly engaged colleagues on new innovative products every day.

Beiersdorf scientists came across Coenzyme Q10 already in the early 1990s and investigating its essential role in the energy metabolism of human skin cells was one of the major topics at Beiersdorf RnD. In 1998 Beiersdorf RnD Team succeeded in making skin’s own Coenzyme Q10 for the first time available for human skin by topical application. Since that time various new findings about Q10 and its regulation of the cellular energy metabolism led to continuous improvement of our Q10 skin care range. Today Coenzyme Q10 offers the ideal platform to enhance cellular energy metabolism by combining it with other beneficial active ingredients like creatine and will be continuously be improved.

Beauty Bitch: And the latest range, what are the other core ingredients? And how can each of those benefit me as I reach my mid-forties?

Dr Dominik: From the age of 25, Collagen, the most abundant protein that contributes to skin’s firmness decreases by 1% per year. Further the production of new collagen fibres also slows down. As a result, skin loses elasticity and becomes much thinner – cue fine lines and wrinkles.

In the fight to maintain your natural youthful skin, NIVEA scientists had started intensive research to find the right partner for Q10 and to make the products even better than before.

In the morning you should apply the Q10 Power Day Cream as it effectively helps your skin counteract the effects of ageing. Its UVA/UVB protection with SPF 15 guards your skin from the damaging effects of sunlight, which cause premature skin aging.

I recommend using the Q10 Power Eye Cream: It's specially developed for the delicate eye area to visibly reduce wrinkles and diminish the appearance of dark circles. For a smoother and younger looking complexion.

In the evening, when you deserve a relaxing moment: Apply the new NIVEA Q10 Power Sleeping Melt-In Mask on a freshly cleansed face and neck. Give yourself a gentle face massage and relax for 5-10 minutes as the formula absorbs. It will pamper and nourish the skin overnight for a smoother and firmer skin feeling.

Beauty Bitch: Most things in nature will heal and rejuvenate themselves if left to their own devices, but sadly we cannot say this for skin these days, as so many environmental factors affect the surface of the skin. What is the best balance of being gentle with our skin and using products to help revive and revitalise it each day?

Dr Dominik: Facial skin has a visibly different structure and different needs compared to body skin. Its epidermis is much thinner and more sensitive than body skin. Facial skin is more individual – some people tend to get very oily skin, others suffer from dry skin. It is put under high mechanical stress as we use our face a lot to communicate and express our feelings, what results in laughter lines and eye wrinkles. And of course, our facial skin is always exposed to external influences like heat, cold, and especially sunlight. The UVA rays from the sun have a long wavelength and go deep into the skin. These rays damage the skin’s collagen which results in wrinkles – about 85% of the wrinkles which appear in the face are caused in this way. Therefore, we offer our Q10 Power Day Products with sufficient sun protection. Its comprehensive UVA/UVB protection with SPF 15 guards your skin from the damaging effects of sunlight, which cause premature skin aging. NIVEA Q10 POWER + Firming Day Cream is also available with SPF 30 for those who want a higher sun protection.

Aside from the sun, there are also other contributing factors: When you are stressed, ill, tired or lead a rather unhealthy lifestyle, your body consumes more nutrients than usual to repair itself and fight the short-term obstacle in its path. With all the Q10 being used up, your body has a greater need for CoQ10. This lack of CoQ10 can have serious effects on your skin, as you’re not getting all the nutrients and energy you so badly need.
The use of NIVEA Q10 Power products will help you to replenish the needed Q10 level.

My Verditct?

I have been using the new range for little over a week and I have noticed a considerable difference. My skin feels softer and definitely looks brighter (also any dark circles from late nights catching up on work after Easter holidays are long gone) and fine lines are visibly reduced.

I particularly love the sleeping melt-in mask which feels gorgeous to touch and glides onto skin, waking me up to a gorgeous glow – always great for busy mornings on the go when there is no time for makeup!

I’ve been applying the replenishing serum pearls before adding the anti-wrinkle day cream SPF 15 (it also comes in a pore-be-gone version for combination skin). I think I will upgrade this to an SPF 30 for summer as the sun’s rays intensify.

I can see the eye cream fast becoming a handbag essential and I have already found myself popping a little under the eye during the day to give me a little lift (and to keep new wrinkles at bay of course).

Overall, this does exactly what it promises to do and even the harshest of critics will be impressed. It’s easy to see how NIVEA is one of the nation’s most-loved skincare brands – maybe I will be following in my parents’ footsteps more often!

Love Cathy x

FAMILY | LIFE AFTER STILLBIRTH - THE AGONISING GRIEF OF LOSING YOUR CHILD

Life After Birth. Stillbirth.

**An edited version of this first person piece appeared in my column in the Belfast Telegraph on 11 July 2011**

08.07.11, Val do Lobo, Portugal. Yesterday I raised my head from my sun lounger for a quick check on my stepdaughter who was playing in the ocean waves below me and had another unexpected but acute reminder that I no longer had a pregnancy bump.

There are two explanations needed with that statement. The first is that I’m on holiday as I write, and secondly, just a matter of weeks ago, my pregnancy ended suddenly when I gave birth prematurely to my baby daughter Rosie, who didn’t survive. A stillbirth. But it’s still ‘birth’, you know? So many don’t it seems. And that’s ok.

Stillbirths, neo-natal deaths and late miscarriages are, unbelievably, on the up in the UK and Ireland. Figures show that today, in the UK alone, up to 17 women will lose their babies through stillbirth or neo natal death and 290 women will suffer a miscarriage. Early miscarriages (before 13 weeks) are often down to chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, but late miscarriages, like TV presenter Kelly Brook’s, are much less common and quite unusual. They can be caused by blood-clotting disorders, anatomical problems with the uterus and cervix, or infections, and only one or two per cent of women suffer a late miscarriage in pregnancy.

Recent losses by celebrity mums including Amanda Holden, Kelly Brook and Lily Allen have highlighted the risk somewhat, but stillbirth remains very much in the shadows and it’s not really talked about in pregnancy books or in antenatal classes.

Nothing can prepare you for the immeasurable devastation, shattered expectations and heart-breaking, agonising and emotional turmoil of losing a baby. Or having to give birth to one whose life is extinguished before it begins.

Even in the immediate moments after Rosie’s birth and death, when the doctors and midwives left us alone to have some time together, I wanted to cry out ‘Don’t leave us! We don’t know what to do!’ But holding her until her perfectly formed, warm little body went cold in my arms gave me huge comfort.

I kissed her. My dead baby.

I remember making strange kinds of animal-instinct cries and wails. Maybe they were only inside my head; maybe they weren’t. Much is blurred, but equally, some moments are crystalline in their clarity. The exit without accompanying car seat (and baby, obviously) like all the other new parents hits hard.

The wailing was real, it seems, and I wept for weeks, mostly in bed at night, and woke up crying - when I managed to sleep at all - as if the weeping had begun uncontrollably and subconsciously in my dreams.

I didn’t eat. Nothing tasted of anything. And what was the emptiness of my stomach compared to the emptiness of my soul? With hindsight, it was healing though, all that physical manifestation of my grief.

I came to feel overwhelmed by flowers - I received almost 100 sympathy bouquets. Many just died in their packaging as I had no will nor desire to nourish them in all their beauty. And who owns 100 vases anyway?

In the middle of all this I went back to work. Dove in. Just days later. It was a daytime distraction while the agony weighed me down at night.

Much paperwork followed. Post mortems, questions, examinations. Burial or cremation? Coffin size? Who’d carry it? When would we get her back to bury her? What would the priest say - she wasn’t baptised? Or had her last rites. Or did she? I now have vague and hazy flashbacks of a priest coming to bless me and her in theatre.

But from all this there are so many positives. I still have my own health, and my life - not to sound too melodramatic, but it’s true. My labour was physically traumatic - not to mention the impending emotional doom - and without pain relief. I had developed sepsis, a potentially fatal infection putting my own life at risk. And I don’t think I had any idea of the enormity of this risk to my own life until days - maybe weeks - afterwards. I’d just felt flu-ish in the supermarket as my waters broke among the last minute Easter egg shoppers. *Turns out they didn’t ‘break’, there’d been a rupture for a few days - possibly how an infection got in. We don’t know yet.

I only went to hospital because it was a Saturday (Easter Saturday) and my obstetrician told me to do so on the phone... Had it been Monday-Friday without a bank holiday the following week, I suspect I might’ve put off a GP appointment for a couple of days - and unknowingly at my own risk.

Fate worked in my favour in some way, I suppose. The hospital team was very efficient. I started to vomit in a waiting room while bloods and fluids were examined and a swift induction was agreed upon. Julian told me afterwards I was green. Like, Shrek green.

Her heart was beating but there was a severe and fatal infection in her amniotic fluid, which had already transferred to me. The sepsis. As it stood at that moment, my body was weaker than hers. Like many mammas in nature, my body was continuing to nourish her as much as possible at its own expense. But she would not survive the aftermath of such an infection; she was too teeny and too weak, however I could (survive), if they acted fast.

In some countries, (including less than a hour away in the Republic of Ireland) where an induced labour in these circumstances is not allowed while a baby’s heartbeat exists, her life and mine could have been extinguished the same day. And there’s nothing like imminent death to bring clarity to one’s life. Not at the time though. It’s only now I feel the screen of the TV show in my head of those few days has come into focus and a gruesome realisation stares me in the face.

In the midst of all this grief however, I feel a new strength and a positive lease of life. Cheating death tends to do that to a person. I’ve always been a Carpe Diem kind of girl, but the switch has flipped, work’s not so important after all, and I’m embracing every opportunity and refocusing on some of the important things in my world. The only issue is that I have to balance my fortune with her misfortune. And that’s a tricky rollercoaster to ride.

I have three fabulous step children and a great network of industry colleagues, friends and - importantly - my family around me; all of whose comforting words, hugs, cards and even - in this technical world - texts and emails, were all so welcome in my time of need.

And I have found great solace in sharing stories and hearing others’ - it’s incredible how many people came forward to share stories of their own losses with me. It’s comforting to not feel alone. I’m told it’s an unspoken ‘duty’ of one stillbirth mamma to another. There’s a mutual understanding in the (thankfully rare) depth and breadth of this kind of loss. It’s a club no one really deserves to be a member of, but community pulled me through, truth be told. And many truths were told, incognito mostly.

We buried Rosie beside my father. A small gathering of people besides me grieved at Rosie’s mass, which was very private and just perfect.

My husband carried Rosie’s little white box. It seemed so fragile. She was just 3lb at birth and much lighter again in death.

My mother was emotional and told me that day that she was re-living the grief for her own lost babies. I’d no idea.

My eldest stepdaughter Sasha, who had held her at the hospital too, understood more than her siblings, but they all lost a little sister that day and I wonder how (or if) they’ll remember her?

I’ve come to loathe flowers, hopefully not forever, but peonies were in season when we buried her and they’re a special kind of rose, so I’ll remember her with those, I think.

Next month, on the day of my proposed baby shower, I’m having a girls’ get together at my house as a thank you for my friends’ support. I’m also planning to make the occasion a fund raiser, so instead of bringing along a bottle of wine or box of chocolates, I’m asking guests to donate to charity.

Who knows, maybe I too will be pregnant again? Maybe I won’t. Rosie’s loss is immense, still unexplainable and truly everlasting, but I have her little foot and hand prints on my wall and a grave, beside my father’s, to visit.

A report in medical journal The Lancet placed the UK 33rd out of 35 Western countries for stillbirth rates. And this is just not good enough, considering the causes are mostly preventable and countries like Australia have reduced rates by up to 80% through increased research, routine testing and extra scanning.

The national charity Sands (Stillbirth and Neo Natal Death) campaigns for government research to develop new ways of screening pregnancies to find out which babies are more at risk… and to save their lives.

Locally, mum Jillian Gilmore is leading the way in raising awareness of the risks with Group B Streptococcus, which is a common germ found in the reproductive tract of 25% of women but it is a major killer of unborn and new born babies (although this was not the cause of death for Rosie). Recently, Jillian met with Michelle Gildernew who was very supportive although after writing to Edwin Poots, he came back to say he didn't agree with routine testing.

But the road is long and even if awareness helps pregnant mums ask for tests and extra screening, then at least we are perhaps a couple of babies away from another stillbirth statistic.

One thing’s for sure though, I’m ready to do my duty and be there for the next mother.

FUN | KELLYS PORTRUSH CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

- “LIVE AT THE BEACH PORTRUSH”- KELLYS PORTRUSH CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY YEAR WITH NORTHERN IRELAND’S BIGGEST EVER BEACH FESTIVAL!-

 Northern Ireland’s biggest and best beach festival has just been announced to take place this summer as the world’s hottest DJs join the Ulster Orchestra to mark 50 years of partying in Portrush - all thanks to Kellys and Lush!

 Kellys Portrush/Lush! have announced plans for an all-new 12,000 capacity Beach Festival in their spiritual home of Portrush this summer and we can’t wait!
Following the overwhelming success of the sell-out Lush! Classical shows at the SSE Arena Belfast and Ebrington Square, Derry/Londonderry for the Clipper Yacht Race celebrations, Lush! are now taking things to the next level with their Biggest classical show to date...taking the ‘Lush Classical’ concept outdoors with the North Coast’s stunning coastline as its backdrop. The event is in celebration of Kellys 50th year providing top-class entertainment for music fans across Northern Ireland…bringing it home to Portrush… can you imagine a better Summer evening?!

Lush! Classical Live at the Beach will be staged on August 10, 2019, at Portrush’s famous East Strand and will feature some of the hottest dance acts on the planet collaborating with Northern Ireland's most accomplished classical musicians. The event is part of a three-day music festival event in partnership with LSFX Productions.

For generations of music-fans in Northern Ireland, Kellys in Portrush has always been synonymous with the biggest stars of the local and international dance scene filling the floors every weekend for the most enthusiastic revellers. We all remember uni nights spent dancing the night away in Kellys.

The newly revamped Kellys venue is also renowned for innovation and pushing the boundaries of genre, while pioneering new forms of dance music. 

 Despite the fact it’s celebrating 50 years providing top class entertainment, for 2019, the team at Kellys is planning the biggest and best celebration to date.

 The Lush! Classical Live at the Beach event will see a 55-piece Ulster Orchestra, produced by Kylie Minogue’s musical director Steve Anderson combined with the genius of DJ and musical producer, Dave Seaman and featuring ‘Ibiza’s favourite saxophone player’ Lovely Laura and Maria Nayler. The event has capacity for 12,000 music fans -making it the biggest ever outdoor Classical dance event in Northern Ireland estimated at contributing more than £1.8million to the local economy. 

 Special guests include Seb Fontaine, Tall Paul, K Klass, Ben Santiago, Dee Montero and Junior J and tickets are expected to sell out quickly for what’s set to be Northern Ireland’s biggest ever beach party.

 Peter Wilson (48) is the second generation of his family to take over running Kellys, originally set up by his late uncle James Kelly in 1969. 

What started as a cowshed for staging barn dances 50 years ago has developed into one of the best-known nightclubs in Europe and this summer’s event will the most ambitious to date.

“This is going to be a golden year for Kellys as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, so we really wanted to pull out all the stops and give our loyal fans the party of their life,” Peter said.

Lush! Classical Live at the Beach will be staged on August 10, 2019, at Portrush’s East Strand from 5pm to 11pm. 
Tickets cost £35 and £50 (plus booking fees) for the VIP area (hosted by Ibiza’s Café Mambo) and can be purchased from the usual outlets. 

For more information go to www.liveatthebeach.co.uk. Note, this event is strictly over 18’s only. 

FURNISH | WIPE A SMILE ON YOUR FACE...

Here at #TheFWords we are partial to a fancy doormat. I mean they clean your shoes, stop mud trailing through your home and they greet you every single time you step through the door so you might as well make it worth looking at, right?!

When I discovered these super-cute doormats at Red Candy I wanted them all (don’t worry, for once I was good and stopped myself at two…I mean obvs both doors should feel the fun-factor).
Finally it was time to say goodbye to the little brown mat that can probably be found on doorways across the country and say hello to these little beauties, the smoochiest door mats I ever did see. From wildlife to quotes to pretty designs these are a great pick me up after a hard day

The perfect first impression, guests (& delivery men/women alike) can’t help but smile and comment on my bright door display and every time I open my door I am greeted with something much cooler than the standard mundane beige mat (which is totally fine if that is your thing, but you all know I LOVE a bit of colour and so why should it not transgress to my front door mat as well?).

With so many designs in all shapes and colours you are guaranteed to find something a little of you…

(All items stocked by Red Candy. See the full range here - https://www.redcandy.co.uk/doormats)

FOLIO | ‘BOUNCERS’ IS THE RAUCOUS NEW COMEDY AT THE MAC... JUST DON’T WEAR TRAINERS!

This season’s offering at the MAC is already getting people talking, as John Godber’s hit play Bouncers comes to town for a three-week extended run. The show is a co-production between the MAC and Big Telly; starting on Saturday 30 March.

Set over the course of one night in a 1980s Belfast nightclub, giving it a distinctive Northern Irish flavour, Bouncers is a darkly funny play about the characters and shenanigans of an 80’s Belfast disco, as seen through the eyes of the club’s doormen.

Quick-witted and at times close to the bone, this rollercoaster of a play features four of Belfast’s finest comedic actors - Ciaran Nolan, Conor Grimes, Martin Maguire and Chris Robinson – who play all the parts. All the familiar characters from a typical night on the tiles make an appearance, from the cheesy DJ, to the kebab-shop proprietor and, of course, the foul-mouthed bouncers themselves.

As always with the MAC, you can expect something a little different, as all the action takes place within the exclusive Luminaire Club, transforming the theatre space into an intimate jazz-club experience complete with table service.

The MAC’s Creative Director, Simon Magill said: “Bouncers has been described as one of the funniest plays written in the last 40 years, but with the creative direction of Big Telly’s Zoe Seaton and experienced cast members like Conor Grimes, Ciaran Nolan, Marty Maguire and Chris Robinson, this promises to be a no-holds barred theatre experience.

It’s a play that is unapologetically provocative, remaining true to John Godber’s original script. However, we've relocated the action to a Belfast nightclub, with an evocative 80's soundtrack that many people will relate to.

You’ll be immersed in the 80s vibe and enjoy the extra special experience of our Luminaire Club, where we’ve played with the flexibility of our theatre space creating something very special for audiences. With this intimate club setting serving as a backdrop, this fast-paced, rollercoaster of a show will have you laughing one minute, then questioning if attitudes have really changed since 80s Belfast.”

The show will run from Saturday 30th March until Saturday 20th April, but with tickets set to sell out fast, book now to avoid disappointment! Avail of discount prices of up to 25% when you book multiple events in advance. This also applies to premium cabaret tickets which will allow for the full nightclub experience

FASHION | How to say ‘What? This old thing?’ and genuinely mean it

Belfast born image consultant, Ciara Lowe-Thiedeman now located in London guest blogs for us today about this season’s fashion trend “Conscious Consumption” – resurrecting the old, reducing the need for new!

Clearly fast fashion is not a new issue but it has been catapulted smack bang into the public eye this past year, with massively increased media attention like Stacey Dooley’s doco ‘Fashion’s Dirty Secret’. But change isn’t happening fast enough and the shocking statistics behind the mass production of clothing is far from sustainable.  The problem is global but the solution is local. We need to stop and question our part in this... and what we can do to hit back…

A long time promoter and host of upmarket recycling charity events, I got a little giddy when I saw Cathy’s insta story about #TheKindnessCollection. Showcasing and promoting recycling and encouraging people to ‘bring it back’ is a key way stylists can effect change in the fast fashion crisis. And hats off to Cathy for doing it large on the @BFW stage. Educating people how to update classic pieces in your wardrobe through styling may seem ‘small scale’ but if it makes us stop before we shop, it can only do some good –for the environment and for the charities that stand to benefit too.

 It was my 40th birthday that first sparked my idea to do something with my guilt of excess and my passion for recycled fashion, so I decided to celebrate this milestone by raising money and awareness for suicide and mental health charities – a cause close to my heart. A little idea to dig into my privileged friends’ wardrobes for their unloved high end items that grew arms and legs and raised over £30K, generated two trucks full of donated clothing and spawned a little documentary into the bargain. We had Beyoncé’s costume designer, Ruth Tarvydas attend and top end stylists queuing to style up old pieces for the catwalk. It was clear this kind of fashion fundraiser provided an opportunity for people to do their part to help more than one growing problem – excess consumption and underfunded charities.

I have subsequently run smaller, more intimate ‘Bring and Buy’ events which I call “Excess Baggage Girls Nights In” where a group of 20 or so women gather at my house with their unwanted high end bags and clothes and we again rid ourselves of excess and buyer’s remorse while simultaneously raising funds and awareness for mental health. These nights always generate more than £2K and immense feedback about the opportunity to do good with our excesses – and bag a Balenciaga bag among other designer bargains!

 So it turns out Cathy’s decision to take action on dealing with ‘what to do with the old’ is perfectly timed. ‘Bringing it back’ and resurrecting vintage pieces sitting idle in your wardrobe (or someone else’s) is absolutely the new trend happening this season – bigger than ever before.

I look forward to seeing what Cathy can do with the pieces she has gathered for #TheKindnessCollection and how she’ll style them up.

But here is my top tip for SS19 season to help you resurrect the old and reduce the need for a constantly revolving new wardrobe:

 Invest in a stylist. The rewards will last you a lifetime.

 A good stylist will get to know you and won’t recommend you spend your hard earned money on cheap, eco-unfriendly items, but will teach you how to ‘shop your wardrobe’ and get better use from what you already have. You’ll learn to pair or fill in gaps with quality styles and colours that suit you and best match your personality. A good stylist will encourage you to consider buying secondhand and give you tips on how best to do that. Your investment in a good stylist will ultimately save you significant time and cash, and quite possibly be a positive step towards helping save the planet.

 Ciara Lowe-Thiedeman

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FOLIO | THE 39 STEPS AT THE LYRIC THEATRE, BELFAST

The Lyric Theatre and Bruiser Theatre Company’s current production of John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps is the perfect antidote to this week’s howling wind and rain outside, bringing back a brilliant and hilarious sell out show last seen here in 2016.  

.This fast-paced, action packed co-production, which runs from 02–31 March, features 4 fearless actors (Hannah Brackstone-Brown, Michael Condron, Michael Johnston and Benjamin Stratton) playing no fewer than 139 roles and delivering some of Hitchcock’s celebrated scenes including the train top chase and the Forth Bridge escape as well as many funny scenarios with belly-laugh accents and a few quick step choreography moments across the Highlands and lowlands of Scotland. As in John Buchan’s book,  we follow the adventures of the dashing hero Richard Hannay as he grapples with dastardly murderers, double-crossing secret agents and devastatingly beautiful women; narrowly escaping from a succession of hair-raising escapades and hooting with laughter as he and his fellow characters deliver some absolutely great one-liners.

The casting is excellent and delivery, wonderful.

Most definitely worth a watch.

www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

FACE | BESPOKE ENVIRON TREATMENT

It’s sunny and spring-like but still cold; and my lacklustre skin needed a boost of hydration and well as some glow, so I took up the invitation to go see Lisa at ENVY Aesthetic Skin Clinic in Crumlin for an Environ Hydraboost facial. It has been almost two years since I had this treatment (with lovely Claire Duff in Dunmurry) so it was great to get the opportunity to have another one, as I recall my skin looking (and feeling) pretty darn perfect last time.

  Formulated by Dr Des Fernandes, the world-renowned plastic surgeon, this intensive treatment already has an army of fans including Elle McPherson, and is said to be the perfect antidote to dehydrated skin – so it’s exactly what I needed. It is a deeply intensive facial but not bank-breaking, at £65. It hydrates, plumps and firms the skin, but be aware, this is more of a treatment than a ‘treat’. It’s definitely not one of those facials you lie back and relax during – the mask is thick and covers the eyes and lips, so you cant see or speak during it, but I actually found that quite liberating! Plus the glowing skin afterwards makes the masque worth it. 

 The products used contain a high percentage of Vitamin A which promotes the production of healthy collagen and elastin – helping to improve the appearance of fine lines as well as lightening pigmentation and improving skin tone. The whole range of Environ Skin Care is packed with powerful antioxidants that protect and nourish skin and, after a skin consultation, Lisa tailored the products to my own skin type.

 So – here goes:

We kick started with a dual action pre cleansing oil, a gentle plant oil based pre cleanser that helps dissolve excess surface oil whilst maintaining the natural acid level of the skin.  Lisa told me that he best thing to get rid of any pesky blackheads on my nose is to use oil products on there – a new tip for me, as I was avoiding adding oil to what is already an obvious build up of sebum, but Lisa’s theory sounds totally logical, so I am definitely going to try that from now on!

Next up, we used a botanical infused moisturising toner which contains special ingredients that work in synergy with the environ products to assist in moisturising the skin and improve the appearance of uneven skin tone. Then with double-cleansing done, it was time for the first of the treatment products to go on, and so Lisa added the A C E treatment gel which facilitates sonophoresis (that’s the ultrasound waves to you and me!).

 Next, an intensive hydrating serum which holds up to 1000 times its weight in water is applied over the face. Then, a ceramic wand is glided over the skin, using ultrasound waves to help the hydrating serum penetrate 4000 times deeper into the skin, than by application by hand. After this, there was a hydrating clay mask, which absorbs excess oils and impurities and micro exfoliates to refine appearance of skin.

Then, the pièce de la resistance – the nutrient-rich alginate masque. Please note before booking that this masque is really thick and covers both the eyes and the mouth; it’s  very strange sensation and one that doesn’t seem to suit everyone apparently as only small holes for the nostrils are left for breathing. This super thick glutenous textured masque is made up of all natural ingredients, including fresh water algi extract (algin) which obstructs transepidermal water loss to increase hydration in the skin. Ultrasound probes are then attached to the edges and they gently pulse electrical currents through the mask. These gentle currents are impalpable and really help to restore skin by penetrating the layers of epidermis and dermis much more effectively than a topical cream. This part of the treatment lasts for about 10 minutes but apparently it’s about 70 regular facials-worth of treatment, and so it’s a good time to just concentrate on breathing and meditation while environ works its magic.

To finish off, Lisa applied some vita peptide eye gel. And, according to Lisa, peptides are the business when it comes to eye wrinkles. The eye gel also contains argireline ( friendly botox ) as well as anti oxidants and Vitamins C & E. Again, this product is available in salon only and retails at £57.00 Finally, some Environ Sun Care RAD - a revolutionary SPF15 antioxidant sunscreen which protects from both UVA and UVB irradiation. It’s a combination of sun filters and reflectants to provide medical grade SPF15, while natural anti oxidant vitamins increase sun protection and assist in fighting against free radicals.

I upgraded my visit to include a full body massage as well and Lisa used the Eve Taylor London products, which are pre blended aromatherapy essential oils, totally balanced  for hydration.  After two hours lying down and a blast of vertigo the week before, I was very slightly dizzy getting up, but Lisa gentry propped me up and made me drink 500ml water before dressing slowly and heading on my way.

 I think I will have the sleep of my life tonight… And I look forward to looking in  the mirror tomorrow!  

 Environ Skin EssentiA ‘Oil Free Eye Make-Up remover’ (£19)

Environ Skin EssentiA ‘Dual Action Pre-Cleansing oil’ (£23)

Environ Skin EsssentiA Hydrating Clay Masque (£29)

Environ Skin EssentiA Mild Cleansing Lotion (£32)

Environ Focus Hydrating Serum (£69)

Environ Youth Essentia eye gel (£49.95)

Environ Skin EssentiA AVST Moisturiser (from £41)

Environ Sun Care RAD SPF15 (£19.95)

NB: This treatment was #gifted, but regular readers will know that I will always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or not!

FUN | GALENTINES - THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR FRIENDS IN BELFAST

VALENTINES/SCHMALENTINES….

If you’re single this Valentine’s Day, and in fact, even if you’re not, why not celebrate the love of your friends and catch up in the city with some fun things to do?  This weekend I’m hosting the Cathedral Quarter’s inaugural Galentine’s event at the Merchant Hotel with some of my friends including Paddy McGurgan, Tiffany Brien and Fiona McCartan (Gluten Free Fi) and it inspired me to go seeking out some fun things to do with my gal-pals. Here are my top ten…

1. THEATRE DAHLING!

Take in a show at the MAC, The Lyric or The Grand Opera House. Each of these venues provides a fab backdrop and interesting architecture as well as the shows on the stage. At The MAC, “Ubu the King” is grotesque, gruesome and hilariously absurd. Inspired by Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi, which caused a riot in Paris in 1906, Tinderbox Theatre Company dares to bring the primal monster to life through a succulent feast of sheer inventiveness and fearless theatricality. A feast for the wicked.  

At the Lyric, Michael Cameron’s ‘RUBY!’ celebrates the life of popular 1950s singer Ruby Murray, who hailed from Belfast but enjoyed global fame as she became the only recording artist in history to have five songs in the Top Twenty in the same week. But there is more to life than pop songs it seems…

And down at The Opera House, the international, award-winning smash-hit musical based on the blockbuster film, THE BODYGUARD is back and features  three-time Brit nominee and X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke.  Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron (Burke)  from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love.

 2. ARTY MARTY:

I recently saw the Leonardo DaVinci exhibition at the Ulster Museum, which is awe-inspiring when you think just how influential he has been on modern art and science, among other subjects….. but there is also a Game of Thrones Tapestry exhibition on at the Museum too. Weaving the story from Seasons 1 to 7, this impressive tapestry gives Game of Thrones® fans the perfect chance to reminisce over all the action that led to the finale of Season 7, with further panels depicting the story of Season 8 due to be added to the tapestry in June 2019. And even if you’re not a GOT fan, feel some pride in the fact that it was designed locally by hand but woven by a state-of-the-art machines and hand finished in Northern Ireland. The linen used to form the background of the tapestry has been sourced from Ferguson’s Irish Linen, one of the last surviving linen mills in Ireland – and as a former marketeer of Irish Linen, I am intrigued to see this piece of work.

There are lots of other galleries and art-filled places to see in the city too – and a personal fave of mine is at the Ulster University art/textiles students’ shop at the Belfast campus too.

3.  BRUNCH BUNCH

I haven’t even been here yet and I’m recommending it; such is my trust in so many foodie friends’ judgement. Brunch at Freight Belfast – formerly Pot, Kettle, Black - is reputedly delicious with a capital D.  Located in the C.S. Lewis Square in east Belfast, five converted shipping containers house one of Belfast’s most talked about eating spots and I am most definitely making a date to eat there this weekend myself.

 Another great brunch venue, but back in the city centre, is AM:PM. Positioned at the epicentre of all that happens in Belfast both literally and metaphorically, AM:PM is unique, quaint, chic, cosy, opulent, and funky. These descriptions almost-but-not-quite describe how fab this place is. You will find the shabby chic rubbing shoulders with the classically demur.

 Brunch or lunch at Café Parisien is definitely dining with a view, although I’d recommend it anytime from dawn ‘til dusk for the truly wonderful French cuisine – from delicious morning crepes to bistrot dishes and succulent steak au poivre. And the house wine isn’t bad either!

Finally, Brunch at Babel in Builltt Hotel’s rooftop bar and garden offers panoramic city views, mouth-watering cocktails and delicious food. Accessed via its own entrance on Ann Street side of the hotel. Babel’s creative shrub cocktails use ingredients and garnishes inspired by its living walls which contain over 300 plants. Babel prides itself on its home grown botanicals, subtle sophistication and innovative ideas. If you’re tee-total, it’s important to note that Bullitt serves arguably the best coffee in the city, if you’re an aficionado like that…

4.  ON YER BIKE:

For some physical activity, why not hire Belfast Bikes or let your feet do the talking and take to the towpath or the seafront paths – breathing in some fresh air while you’re at it. If the weather’s bad (and it’s kinda likely, considering this is Ireland) then pop into Flow Yoga studio in Hill Street for a stretch and some zen time.

5.  SHOP TIL YA DROP!

Visit Victoria Square, CastleCourt, Donegal Place and out of town areas like the Lisburn Road or  Bloomfield Avenue are great places to soak up some retail therapy.

6.  MANI/PEDI/SPA DATE

My personal favourite in the city for a girlie get together, spa-style, is the Merchant Hotel Spa, where the therapists are highly trained and super knowledgeable. Plus, the sauna and relaxation areas are perfect places to really get away from it all. But having said that, there are loads of great salons and spas across the city, and getting a booking for a group shouldn’t be to hard if you plan in advance.

7. JUNGLE BOOGIE:  

Be a tourist in your own city and take a tour of The Tropical Ravine and The Palm House in Botanic Gardens. The Palm House contains a range of tropical plants, hanging baskets, seasonal displays and birds of paradise, and is one of the earliest examples of a Victorian style glasshouse made from curved iron and glass. The building was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, who also helped design parts of nearby Queen's University. Across the paths lies the Tropical Ravine, which contains some of the oldest seed plants around today, as well as banana, cinnamon, bromeliad and orchid plants. The listed building dates back to 1887 and has been restored with many of its original Victorian features reinstated and preserved. The ravine is split over two levels with an open reception area on the ground floor, and the building has been modernised to make it more energy efficient with new triple-glazed windows installed to retain heat and create the right environment for the tropical plants it is home to. Visitors can learn about the conservation work and plant collection through interactive and digital exhibits. And, final point on both these places? They’re both fab backdrops for insta-perfect pics!

8.  COFFEE AND CAKE:

I’d recommend Patisserie Valerie on Donegall Square West, where you can enjoy the unique café atmosphere including the now famous Toulouse-Lautrec style cartoons by Terron. In their havens of self-indulgence, you will discover only the best quality cakes and patisserie, continental breakfasts, lunches, the finest teas and coffees and an atmosphere that is unique to each location. Across the road, Hotel Chocolat offers wonderous chocolate treats and hot chocolate drinks while out of town and up the Lisburn Road, you’ll find Miel et Moi, which is inspired by classical French patisseries… This truly is a little bit of Parisian Paradise in the city with its enchanting afternoon teas, delicious dishes, scrumptious cakes and delightful cocktails.

 Even though I rarely eat bread and cakes myself, the ultimate afternoon tea experience for me is at the Merchant Hotel. Set in the sumptuous splendour of The Great Room Restaurant, Afternoon Tea in The Merchant Hotel is a truly elegant and utterly delicious experience not to be missed.  Complete with a bottle of Krug Champagne and Royal Beluga Caviar, it really is the height of indulgent luxury.

9.  MAKE ME UP:

A group lesson or make up application at Paddy McGurgan’s Make Up Pro store is the perfect experience for anyone who wants to gain an insight into their own makeup routine or just get ready for a night out with friends.

10. COCKTAILS:  

The Perch Rooftop Bar is located on the fifth floor of a historic building and has a beautiful large centre bar, surrounded by original window features, original brick clad walls and adorned, of course, with birdcages and similarly themed artwork lending itself to the name. Nip up in the original sliding door lift and find yourself looking over the sights of Belfast whilst sipping a cocktail in the outdoor area or take a perch at the bar and sample some delicious beer and gins.

FASHION | A DECADE OF IRISH DESIGN

Last week, F Words contributor and all-round stylist-slash-model- slash-design-queen Melissa Elliott took to the launch of the tenth Irish Fashion Innovation Awards, an annual event which celebrates the ever evolving Irish fashion industry by showcasing the newest and most innovative Irish designers, alongside Ireland’s most established designers.  Check out her report here:

 The Morgan Hotel in Dublin City Centre was the setting for the tenth anniversary press launch, and guests were greeted with delicious breakfast nibbles, fresh juices and warming coffee by the gallon, while we previewed some of the upcoming collections and had a chance to meet a few of the designers showcasing at the main event. There is nothing I love more than being in a room filled with passion about Irish design, sustainable fashion, craftsmanship and creativity.

 Knitwear made a strong statement, particularly in the work of Colin Burke who has featured in Elle magazine. He showcased an array of highly skilled hand crochet and knit alongside innovative design development. An exploration of texture is always a winning trend and Colin has unsurprisingly been named in the One to Watch category alongside Charlotte Lucas, who showcased part of her elegant, effortless and luxurious bridal capsule. A beautiful mix of flirty feathers and bespoke tailoring.

Credit: Colin Burke

 In addition to the several competitive categories in Fashion, Accessories, Millinery and Jewellery, the evening will feature “The Perfect 10” – which will comprise of ten leading Irish designers featuring their unique designs. Meaning this ten-year anniversary is sure to be a stand out night with a spectacular display from Ireland’s more promising designers, a platform to showcase to the industry experts whilst most importantly generating public support that will last for years to come.

 It is one of the highlights of our fashion calendar and this year  - on 14 March - it will be showcased at the stunning Galmont Hotel & Spa in Galway City.

 Tickets are on sale now via https://galwaynow.com/irish-fashion-innovation-awards-2019-tickets/

FACE | PUCKER UP THIS VALENTINE'S DAY!

 ORMEDIC Lip Enhancement Complex Will Give You Perfect Lips for the Perfect Kiss!

Whether you’re spending some quality alone time, attached to a special someone or “it’s complicated,” Valentine’s Day is a good time to focus on one of the hardest-working parts of your body: your lips.

ORMEDIC balancing lip enhancement complex 7ml (€26.50) which quenches lips with hydration while calming and soothing damaged or sensitive areas. The ultimate anti-ager for lips, this non-sticky, clear and glossy solution can add up to 40% of moisture volume if you use it consistently.

It also diminishes fine lines as well as helps reduce irritation after lip injections. Using this product can also enhance the effects of professional dermal fillers!

 (This amazing lip hero is also available in a subtle pink. With every purchase of ORMEDIC sheer pink lip enhancement complex, we donate $1 to the Care for Skin Foundation, which provides medical skin surgeries to those in need.)

Here’s the three ingredients inside our lip complex worth noting:

Peptide complex: A messenger peptide for collagen renewal, retinoic acid like activity without irritancy. In vitro collagen stimulation by 350% and stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis by 146%.

Avocado oil: A nourishing, emollient organic oil that contains high amounts of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids.

Ubiquinone: A super-powerful antioxidant that helps regenerate aging skin.
May your lips be pouty and your kisses be magical! 

To locate your nearest IMAGE Stockist please visit www.imageskincare.ie/find-a-pro

FACE | HYDRAFACIAL AT CATHEDRAL AESTHETICS - THE PERFECT KICK START TO SPRING

February comes from the Latin Februum, which has several meanings around the notions of cleansing, purification, renewal and regrowth. Although it is still cold outside, February also  signifies the start of spring - with early daffodil buds popping up across roadsides and roundabouts everywhere. It is not surprising then, that many people come out of the wintery hibernation which is the month of January (granted, they’re probably all broke from Christmas and New Year festivities, plus they’re detoxing their livers after festive overindulgence) to begin their own kind of spring blossom - and a good old skin pamper after the wintery weather, central heating and dehydration from overindulgence is just the ticket.

I went for a Hydrafacial at Cathedral Aesthetics recently and I think it is the perfect facial to kick start the skin’s new year regime, even if it is after a month of hibernation and recuperation from December excess. Check out my video review here:

 To book, call Cathedral Aesthetics on T: 028 9026 2785 E: clinic@cathedralaesthetics.com

GOLDEN GLOBES - MY TOP FIVE RED CARPET DRESSES

As Business of Fashion so brilliantly put it earlier today, last year’s #GoldenGlobes were something of a coming out for the #MeToo movement, with women eschewing the usual red carpet glitz for all-black ensembles to draw attention to Hollywood’s mistreatment of women. The campaign, plus fiery speeches at the ceremony from Oprah Winfrey and others, brought unprecedented attention to the problem and emboldened victims and activists to take on some of entertainment's most powerful men.

One year on we saw some powerful and empowered women serving up strong looks on the red carpet.

For me, Lady Gaga completely stole the show in her lilac gown by the house of Valentino - an homage to Judy Garland’s dress in the original A Star is Born movie back in 1957. I also loved Lupita Nyongo’s purple/electric blue number which looked stunning with its touch of sparkle. Julia' Roberts’ caped trouser suit and Susan Oh and Constance Wu’s dresses were worthy of note.

FACE | INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER ROCK AKA THE SKIN NERD AS SHE LAUNCHES NEW BOOK

In a world where beauty consumers are inundated with marketing messages and every product is said to be the ONE you need for your skin, where does one turn to for truthful and helpful advice without agenda?

Look no further because The Skin Nerd, Jennifer Rock shares all her skincare expertise, and the passion and knowledge gathered in her extensive career in this helpful beginner’s guide. The Skin Nerd: Your straight-talking guide to feeding, protecting and respecting your skin is a 360° approach to your healthiest skin.

Written with Jennifer’s unique brand of humour and honesty, her first book is jam-packed with skinformation and advice, which will educate and empower you to know what your skin needs and how to achieve better skin health. Readers will learn how the skin works from the inside out with information on nutrition and beneficial skin vitamins and supplements, to managing the ageing process and tackling skin conditions. Jennifer also shares her core Nerd Philosophies and Commandments and the benefits of Spritz O'Clock. With all this information and more The Skin Nerd: Your straight talking guide to feeding, protecting and respecting your skin will be your skin bible for life.

Extractable sections:

·       The ideal skin diet

·       The skin test - assess your skin situation

·       Spot quick fixes/remedies

·       Jennifer’s favourite skingredients and makeup products

·       The Korean skincare regime and other skincare trends

·       Jennifer’s special event skincare schedule

Our editor Cathy caught up with Jenn for a bit of a chit chat on how she got to where she is today.

What was your tipping point, getting you to actually turn The Cleanse Off Mitt into a business? 

I was a skin therapist in London and I had clients who were buying premium results-driven skincare but using face wipes to “cleanse” first so the fantastic skincare wasn’t able to properly penetrate into the skin and do its job. They may as well have been pouring half of the serum directly from the bottle onto their bathroom counter (and expecting skin results). 

I knew that there was a gap in the market for an accessible, affordable and skin-friendly alternative to face wipes so I created it and so the Cleanse Off Mitt® was born. 

#cleansewithme is the new #getreadywithme - but can you overcleanse?

Yes! Of course you can! I think it more has to do with what you’re using to cleanse than the amount of cleansing you're doing. I advocate for a double cleanse - remove your makeup and debris with your first step and then cleanse with something that is either soothing or pacifying the skin or delivering active ingredients after.

Overcleansing is when you are using too many skin-stripping ingredients, you’re using active cleansers too frequently (such as a cleanser with a high salicylic acid content twice a day) and you’re essentially damaging your skin’s barrier. 

Everyone wants to know about adult breakouts - are they caused by food, hormones or products? Or a mixture of all three?

They can be caused by any of these or combinations. I believe it is important to investigate the root of the concern, to figure out whether it’s stress that is causing your breakouts, whether it’s lifestyle, whether it’s products that no longer work for you or whether it’s an intolerance, for example. 

This is why we send all clients of the Nerd Network a skin diary to complete, to track whether they slept correctly and how much sugar they ate, for example, and see if these things correlate with their skin troubles. 

Skin from within - which supplements would you recommend for healthiest skin?

All of them. First and foremost, vitamin A in some shape or form so long as you are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Probiotics are something that everyone should take, as are omegas. Vitamin C is key for tackling pigmentation, boosting our collagen production and strengthening capillaries to aid with redness. If you’re looking for plump, youthful skin, collagen supplements like IMAGE’s Yana are the ticket. 

Is sugar the devil? Should we stay away from it for our skin - for our health in general? 

Unpopular opinion but yes, sugar should be avoided whenever possible. Sugar increases inflammation throughout the body (thus in the skin) and helps to form AGEs (advanced glycation end-products) which attack our collagen and elastin and age our skin faster. 

That being said, all in moderation. Every once in a while, it’s not the end of the world if you have some chocolate. If that same chocolate helps to reduce stress, then isn’t it having a positive effect on your skin nonetheless?! 

For the blurb about book at end, can we feature the consultations too like so? (I've attached the book press release again below)

For an online skin consultation and personalised results-driven routine from an expert, as well as access to your recommended products on The Skin Nerd® store, exclusive content, events, webinars and so much more, visit www.theskinnerd.com/onlineskinconsultations/ and join the Nerd Network.