Stérimar Congestion Relief Adult & Baby

It was ironic that the week that the cold attacked our house infected Husband, Mum and Dad in law as well as myself, that I would recieve an email asking if I would be interested in trying some nose degestents for baby. Not only was it a yes but they also kindly sent adult versions for Husband and I to use as well.

The nose is the firt line of defence against germs so it is important that it is kept in the best condition possible. Using sea water from Fench coast of Brittany, it has no presertives or additives. It uses Hypertonic solution, a solution with a higher salt concentration than cells in the human body for a natural decongestant effect, called the osmotic effect. It is also safe to be used in pregnancy, breast feeding, doesn't interfer with other medication and in the adult version, children from age 3 (the baby version goes up to age 3).

Husband and I used them for a week as needed up to 6 times a day during our colds, and it was a huge relief to be able to breath. It took me a while to get used to the spray up the nose but that is because I haven't used sprays before. We now keep these for when both of our hayfever allergies flare up during Spring/Summer.

You can also use the sprays as a prevention and this we did with Bethany so she didn't get our colds.  I will admit she did cry at the spray (it is a finer spray version), but soon settled afterwards with no after effects. Most importantly she came out of it all cold free. You can use the spray as a nasal maintence, I use it more if Beth get sniffles during the night that are keeping her awake.

The adult version is RRP £7.14 for 100ml or £4.49 for 50ml. The baby version comes as a 50ml for £4.07. They both can be purchased from leading high street chemists. For more information you can go to their website http://www.sterimarnasal.co.uk/

H2Oh Yeah!

A hashtag discussion was going on on Monday regarding beauty tips, and of course I shared mine,

" @unevenlemming :#beautytip: The easiest & most repeated but never followed, drink more water! Keep a bottle with you so you can track of it. It does show!". I was never much of a water drinker being on a shop floor for 8 hours a day there was never really a chance to grab a glass of water. Now, I'm in office work and have a bottle on my desk I've noticed a huge difference in the plumpness and brightness of my skin. I wanted to look a little more in depth on why this really cheap beauty (and health) aid really does help.

The human body is made up 55 to 75% of water (depending on the size of person), and around 80% of people on a day-to-day basis are not getting enough water to hydrate they're body. So why start the habit of sipping the wet stuff?

Fend off hungry prangs

Most people feel that they're hungry prangs is because they are hungry when it is actually your body saying that it is thirsty. We start to feel the effects of dehydration (headaches, dizziness, and fatigue) when it can almost be too late, by getting into a habit of sipping regularly throughout the day can prevent this from happening and can be a factor towards weight loss as you are hydrating the body rather than feeding it when it doesn't need it. One of the best tips I've read is to drink a glass of water wait 20 Min's if still hungry then eat.

Cheapest Anti-ageing Product, Ever!

I noticed after spending a week on the wet stuff is that my skin looked a lot more clearer, in my early thirties I still get the odd spot and during this time I was braking out constantly. I hadn't changed my skincare routine a lot apart from being little more strict about it. What water does is support in the clearing of waste products out of the body, replenishing the lost liquid from this process, as well as act as a inner moisturiser. Look at the ingredients on most of your skin care products, the first (which means it contains the most of) ingredient is aqua or water to you and me.

It fights nasty bugs

Being dehydrated can also open up your body to infections because your body is focusing on supporting everyday function rather than fighting any baddies that can attack the body. We've mentioned that it flushes toxins out of the system where the kidneys and urine system are a key part. Water can help and prevent painful infections in this organs. When you have colds it can clear out airways for better breathing, so that is why your mother nags you to drink fluids every time you get sick.

Keeps you going harder and longer

Being rightful hydrated means that your concentration levels are higher, but also your body works better. For example, your muscles are around 75% water, your bones are about 22% and your blood is around 83%. Not that including the brain that is 85% water, that is a lot of high numbers that the water you do intake needs to reach!

Looks after your heart

When you are dehydrated your blood thickens, so the heart works harder to pump the blood around the body which puts more strain. Drinking more than 5 glasses a day can cut the risk of a heart attack by 41%.

So how to get into the water habit? I started by putting a bottle of water at my desk and sip during the day. I also drink a lot of tea, but try to cut back in the caffeine as this can also dehydrate as well as make you wee more. Talking about wee, if it's a pale straw colour already you have very little to worry about, if it's darker and cloudy then you need to boost your intake.

Grab a glass when get up as your body will be needing to replace water it's lost over the nighttime, give it squeeze of lemon and you also be having a clean out boost. Check for vegetables that have a higher water content like lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots and watermelon that not only count towards the water total but also towards your five-a-day - Multi tasking at it's best!

Sickness and How to survive it

The past two days I've been ill with a cold, you know one of those hot/cold flushing, can't breath, can't sleep, where everything takes effort and up to an hour to do one simple task. I hate colds, I do lie on the sofa and wail that I am dying where I full well know I'll be ok enough in a few days. The worst bit is I have a job interview on Wednesday morning to start working for Arden Beauty as an account manager, so this is no small interview, I'd really have to know my stuff and have a face full of make up (I'm not even going to show you how bad my skin is right now). A battle plan was made:

1. An arsenal of cold/flu meds was created and administrated at regular hours. Vitamin C is started as soon as there is a tickle, this will at least shorten the time it takes hold. I like the hot drink cold/flu stuff as the steam is good for loosen nasal goo, gives you an excuse to ask hubby to put the kettle on (which I am really grateful for).

2. Tissues and lots of them, and to stop it spreading I flush them down the loo so I lower the chances of hubby getting it. With the cloth hankies, boil wash them as soon as you're done with them.

3. Fluids - and lots of them, not only will it hydrate you (because my appetite disappears with a cold) but the walks to the loo will at least get you moving hourly so you don't get cramp.

4. Sleep - Do and when you feel like, you're body is fighting and rest so it gather troops for another round of fighting. If you can't sleep at night, Night Nurse is the best thing ever! (Read labels and check with the pharmacist to see if it won't cause you more harm than good).

You will feel like rubbish until the cold starts to come through, then it'll be less rubbish and you'll sound stuffy. You might want to adventure out and start getting back to normal. Make up wise keep it simple, mascara, lip balm, cream concealer over the red bits and little flush of blush. As soon as you feel the start of feeling better, have a freshen up - You will not have the energy before to change out of PJ's let alone wash. Use lots of moisturiser and keeps that skin well watered, when I do finally leave here I will be using my Clarins Beauty Flash Balm to get some healthy glow on me.

For now I need my next cold/flu drink, a snuggle with hubby (with face mask on so he doesn't get it), and sleeeeeeeeep.