Favourite workout accessories…

It’s that time of the year where we’re all getting ready to start working for that summer body. I’m all for the whole ‘you don’t need any equipment ‘ exercise approach, all you really need is motivation. But for those of us who love to have all the latest things to help us along and get us all geared up to sweat, here’s my favourite fitness accessories I’m loving at the moment.

Women’s Health Magazine

This is my first time buying  this magazine and I bloody love it. I haven’t even finished reading it yet, it’s rammed full of tips, workout routines, recipes, advice plus beauty tips and other general magazine goodness. I was apprehensive of the price but it’s worth every penny. It’s like a little book. And the workouts are perfect to keep coming back to. And the recipes. Love.

This is Yoga – Tara Stiles 4 DVD box set

I’m not all for exercise DVDs if I’m honest. I mean, that’s what youTubes for right? But I invested in this when I had no wifi in my accommodation and it was a life saver. Plus this box set has every kind of yoga workout plus a pose guide. Head to Amazon for a cheap buy.

Resistance bands 

I don’t use these as much as I should but they are great for helping stretch those muscles. They also can be used in a workout, look online for some inspiration. Use the band against the muscle you want to work as an effective and less sweaty workout.

Gym gloves

As soon as I started lifting weights my hands when to shreds. Especially us girls who don’t want peeling blistered hands. They don’t need to be expensive, just make sure you protect those hands. They also help your hands stop slipping.

Yoga mat strap 

As well as the obvious, this can also double up as a tool in yoga, helping you practice those poses where you can’t… Quite… Reach.

Phone exercise arm band

Have you ever wanted to listen to some tunes in your workout, shove your iPod down your bra and when it slips down you have that awkward rummage happening. Well yeah. Here you go. Plus you can also use tracking apps such as strava to monitor your workout. 

Seed shot

This may sound a bizarre accessory but seriously, it’s a fab alternative to shoving donuts in your face post sweat. These are low calorie and contain healthy seeds and dried fruit, with a tasty twist. Yum.

That’s it for now! Hope this motivates you to get your sweat on!

Let me know what you think or  any other accessories I can get my hands on.

Like and comment!

Insta – @laurenfairfax

Lauren xx

Tips to getting better skin overnight!

Everyone from time to time will get bad skin. For some people it lasts longer than others. Sometimes it’ll be down to that skin full you had the night before, or the bad diet you’ve been having this weekend, or even just the annoying time of the month. So here are a few tips that I’ve learnt that do help improve your skin the next morning.

Remove your makeup/wash your face properly

For most of us a quick skim with a makeup wipe is us done most nights. But if this is done everyday it’s not great for your skin. You’ll end up missing bits and it won’t cleanse your skin properly. So you need a decent cleanser to remove every trace of makeup on your face. Or if you don’t wear makeup make sure you give your face a good wash anyway to remove all dirt and impurities.

Face mask 

Invest in a good pot or tube of face mask, not just the funky cheap ones that come in sachets. Pop one on after you’ve cleansed and lean back and relax. This will make your face super soft and moisturised. 

Tone

Using a cotton wool pad make sure to close your pores and remove any last traces of rubbish by using a toner.

Treat spots/blemishes

For spots which you’ve already hacked into (eww) pop some perfume on, it will be painful but it will help speed up the healing. For spots you feel coming pop some sudacream on.

Moisturiser

Make sure not to skip this step. And make sure it’s a super rich night one to hydrate you overnight. Even if you feel you have oily skin and don’t need it, you do! Your skin will just over produce oil otherwise hence more spots.

Water

Before you go to sleep make sure to drink a glass of water and keep one by your bed to prevent your skin from hydration. 

Hope these work for you! 

Like and comment below, let me know what you think.

Lauren x

Instagram @laurenfairfax

Ootd: Spring smart casual look!

I had the luxury of going shopping with my mom this weekend and ended up with a few new items to help me get into spring (if the rain ever goes away).

So this was an outfit I wore to a family birthday meal last night that I thought I’d share with you.

Firstly the jeans are my beloved miss Selfridge steffi jeans which are comfy and supportive, help suck everything in! 

Then my new top is from H&M in their coachella collection. I’ve been after a white bardot top for a while and this is so gorgous, pairing with denim shorts in summer will look awesome!

Then I have my leather jacket from forever 21. You can never go wrong with a leather jacket. They’ll always be in fashion and make every look a bit more edgy.

Then there’s my new gorgous shoes! These are really for my holiday but I couldn’t resist trying them out! They were on sale in new look and are the perfect nude heels to go with any look! A chunky heel also means I can actually walk with out breaking my neck! 

I teamed my look with my Michael Kors clutch and jewellery, a glittery smokey eye, and I didn’t have time to do anything with my hair so it’s au nateral. 

Let me know what you think!

Like and comment below. 

Instagram @laurenfairfax

Snapchat lauren.fairfax 

Lauren xx

Spring workout playlist!

  
First of all let me say a big thankyou to those that have followed me, as I’ve now reached over a 100 followers! It’s crazy to think people actually want to read what I post! 

I thought I’d just do a quick post on the music I listen to during a workout, or when I just want a little party in my bedroom haha! 

• Get ugly – Jason Derulo
• Work – Rihanna
• Girls like – Tinnie Tempah ft. Zara Larson
• Do it again – Pia Mia
• Cheap thrills – Sia ft. Sean Paul
• Chunky – Format B
• Cake by the Ocean – DNCE
• Nothing like this- Blonde ft. Craig David
• Where are you now – Justin Bieber
• Team – Iggy Azealea 
• Work from home – Fifth Harmony
• Rinse and Repeat – Riton
• Intoxicated – Martin solveig 
• Antenna – Fuse ODG
• Freak of the week – Krept and Konan ft jeremih 
• Best is yet to come – love bug  

Hope these give you some motivation to hit the mat or grab your running shoes.

Like and comment below!

Instagram – @laurenfairfax

Lauren x

Little Mini Haul

The reason this is a “little mini” haul is because, well, I’m very poor at the moment. Student life is a killer. But nevertheless less I went and had a little spend to make myself feel better…

Shoes – Oasis in House of Fraser £5

Oh these beautys. I’ve been looking for some of these for ages but my abnormally skinny feet means none fit. But these were the last pair in house of Fraser and were reduced to a fiver!! And they fit! They are a smaller size than I normally get which is probably why they actually fit, but for a fiver I couldn’t complain. They were originally £30. These are perfect for the spring, wearing with leggings, white jeans or maybe a skirt? Bargain.

Soap and Glory Body Mist – Boots £1.75

From one bargain to another… What can I say it’s a gift. If you have a boots locally then run! I saw these were reduced to £3 a few weeks ago and for some reason didn’t get one. Now they’re £1.75!! They smell delicious and are perfect as a day fragrance for school or work. I don’t think people have cottoned on as there are loads left everywhere I’ve been so get yours quick!

Radox feel calm shower gel – Boots £1 

I’ve recently ran out of my lush so I needed a new yummy smelling shower gel and this looked ideal. There’s a huge variety all £1 at the moment in boots. And the “calm” bit is what sold it to me.

Marks and Spencer’s Lavender and Chamomile Room spray – £5

There is a reason behind me getting this, which involves a little trip to the minor illnesses ward and day off work with chest pains. Long story short, I’ve been dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety this week which left me feeling really ill. So my mom suggested I get some lavender room spray as it’s known for relaxation. This ones smells absolutely delicious and I would recomend anyway. They have a big range and all smell amazing.

Simple Cleansing Makeup Wipes

Makeup wipes are for my lazy days where cleanser is pushed to the side. These leave your skin feeling super refreshed and soft.

Khloe Kardashian Strong looks better naked – the works £5

I included this in an earlier post this week and actually purchased it last weekend but I wanted to include it to give a little review. The kardashians have a bad rep, which to be honest is valid due to naked selfies and lack of talent. But what you can’t argue with is their exercise and health advice. And this book is exactly what you need if you need some motivating words and tips. Plus Chloe is the funny more down to earth one. The book includes a bit of a biography, motivational words, recipes, and exercise advice. Don’t judge the book by its cover… Literally!

That’s its for now. If you want to hear more about how I cope (or don’t) with stress and anxiety let me know.

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Thanks for reading!

Lauren

Bring back red…

When I was rummaging around my lipstick collection this morning I realised that most lipsticks I wear nowadays are either nudes, Browns or pinks. Now we’re fully into spring, and summers on its way, I thought, why not add some colour? And then I found my red lipstick and gloss stash tucked away in my draw.

Red lips seem to have gone out of fashion. In the endless makeup tutorials I’ve watched in the past few months, none of them are featuring red. Has it lost its appeal? Is it tired and over done? Is nude the new go to lip?

But after I had a little play around with them I realised how much fun wearing red is. There’s something that makes you feel super glam and feminine about a red lip. You feel grown up and classy and fab. And it suits everyone.

So why don’t we bring red back? It doesn’t have to be as scary as you think. Why not go for a gloss like Smashbox gloss in disco rose or still a lip glaze in starfruit for a more subtle pop of colour? Or for a bolder sharper red add a liner like mua lip liner in brooding plum. Go for a pinky red like Barbra daleys lipstick in stylish. Or you could go for a dark red for a night out or special occasion like mua shade 8. Or go bright for summer like Ysl rouge volupte or Clinique cherry pop (below).

 

Let me know what you think.

Like and comment below!

Follow me on Instagram @laurenfairfax

Lauren x

How to get out of a bad mood…

  
Honestly, some days I just hate being a girl. I could write a whole list of reasons, but the most annoying is that sometimes we have those days where we feel so crap. You have a bad mood for absolutely no reason at all. You wanna sit and wallow in self pity and Ben and Jerrys.

Admittedly, I have these days a lot recently, especially since I’m on my own a lot with only Netflix as company. So I’ve complied a list of ways to get you out of your mood…

Blast some tunes

Bieber never fails. By whacking some loud upbeat music on it really helps you forget why you were down in the first place.  Make a playlist of your favourite songs ready for when you need that burst of energy. 

Read

I love love love getting lost in a book. My go to books are usually rom coms by authors like Lindsey Kelk or Sophie Kinsella. More recently I’ve been loving thrillers, such as Gone Girl or Girl on a Train. But yesterday I splurged on Khloe Kardashians book and it’s definitely my new guilty pleasure. Look out for a post on my favourite books soon.

Exercise 

This might be the last thing you wanna do when you feel crap. But exercise is known to give you a release of endorphins, so it’s like giving yourself a little burst of happy. I promise, that hour at the gym will be worth it.

Cooking

I’ve recently got into cooking and I actually love it. That is, when it actually turns out alright and I don’t set a tea towel on fire. But get yourself a easy cookbook, or look online and get your apron on.

Have a bath or long shower

Sometimes a bath or shower can be refreshing. It can wash away your bad vibes and start a fresh. Get some lush bath bombs going on, or a face mask and enjoy.

Clean and tidy

This might sound a strange one. But if you’re living in a mess your minds going to be a mess. Tidying will make you feel more organised and put together afterwards. 

Plan something exciting 

If you haven’t got something planned in the next few months, a day trip, night out, holiday etc. Plan one. Then you can google all about it and get all excited. Having something to look forward to is key to getting through the crap times. I always check out the place I’m going on holiday in summer, or where I’m going to go on my next shopping trip.

That’s all I’ve got for now. Hope this helps. 

Let me know any other tips and if you have days like this! 

Lauren x

5 minute workout – Bum

   
So I’ve got another 5 minute workout for you and this time it’s all about those bum muscles!

Let’s be honest, the best way to work your bum is to squat your heart out but here’s an alternative if you get bored.

When you get stronger you can up the sets and duration of each exercise. We’ll all be kardashian level in the ass department soon.

Start:

40 seconds- Sumo squat

 

I’m sure you know how to squat but with this one you want to get nice and low, bringing your arms together in front of you as you go down. Remember to keep your back straight.

20 seconds – rest

40 seconds- Glute raises

  20 seconds on each leg

On all fours extend one leg back straight, then curl to your chest. Make sure to keep your body central and to not lean on one side.

20 seconds- rest

40 seconds-  jumping squats

  

This is actually quite fun. This time take your squat to the floor, and as you go back up push with your feet to jump. Don’t give up halfway!

20 seconds rest

40 seconds – single leg deadlift

  

This one is more tricky due to balance than anything else. Go slow at first and hang on to a wall or chair if needed. Bend one leg behind you and bend forward towards the floor. Use a weight if you have one.

20 seconds rest

1 minute- Bridge leg raises

  

If you’re new to these exercises, a bridge alone might be enough to engage those muscles. But to really work that bum raise one leg and lift knee to chest. Lower but don’t touch the floor. Do 30 seconds on each leg.

And we’re done!

You’ll be definitely feeling this the next day. Remember to adjust the workout to your own needs. 

Let me know what you think, and what else you’d like to see!

Like and comment below!

Also give me a follow on Instagram and I’ll be sure to follow back @laurenfairfax 

Lauren x

Makeup I love and hate.

 Do you have a pile of products that you bought and discovered were pretty rubbish? It’s so annoying when you spend your money on something and it turns out to be disappointing. And it’s even more annoying when, like me, you’re a student living in your overdraft and every penny counts.

So I thought I’d rummage through my products and let you know what’s worth the cash and what needs to be avoided.

Love:

  

Maybelline Lashsensational mascara:

I bloody love this mascara. I’m on my third one and I don’t intend to change. I don’t need to wear fake lashes anymore because these do a fabulous job of making my lashes super long and full of volume. It’s really affordable and well worth the money. 

Collection Extreme Felt tip liner

This is fab. I use it every day and I’ve mastered the perfect wing. It’s not too skinny or fat, and isnt too long which I find better to control. It also doesn’t dry out, and is three quid…. So you can practice your wing till your hearts content.

Smashbox lipglosses

I have a variety of colours and these are pretty much the only glosses I like. They’re not too sticky, and have just the right amount of pigment. They’re great on their own or on top of lipsticks.

Real techniques sponge

When I first got this I was bit stuck as to how to use it. But now I use it everyday to help blend all my makeup. There are so many ways you can use it, and you don’t ever have to worry about cakeyness or unblended foundation again. Just make sure you wash them with soap regularly. 

Nivea night cream

This smells amazing and is super rich and creamy. It’s perfect for young skin that doesn’t need expensive anti wrinkle creams. It leaves your skin really soft and glowing in the morning.

Rimmel Clear Brow Gel

I don’t know what I did before this. It makes your eyebrows seem more ‘real’ after you’ve filled them in. And it holds them in place, as well as ensuring the colour doesn’t rub off. Definitely a must in your makeup bag.

Hate:

  

L’oreal super liner eyeliner

I’ve only had this two months and it’s dried out. And even before it had it was never dark enough, it needed a fair few layers to be able to be seen. Also, the pen is too small, which is super annoying and makes everything tricky.

Loreal true match crayon concealer

I did a first impressions on this a while back but that’s completely changed now. This morning I almost reached the end of it, I have only had it a month. It also makes my skin really dry and cakey. I’ll be definitely back to my liquid concealers after this.

No 7 midnight lash mascara 

I was expecting big things. But my lashes are tiny. Seriously. Three coats and nothing. And this mascara isn’t really that cheap so I was quite annoyed. Definitely don’t waste your money.

Benefit tint

I’ve had this a few years and I keep going back to it hoping to fall in love but I just don’t get it. I mean, it’s red, which I think is a bit of a bright odd colour for blush, and it feels weird putting a liquid on my cheeks. The consistency is very watery and something I wouldn’t choose to put on my skin. As a lip product it seems very drying. All in all I’d say I’m staying away. 

Urban Decay Naked Foundation

This might not be a crucial thing to most people but it stinks. It’s like putting paint on your face. And the coverage isn’t great. Luckily I only got a free tester, definitely won’t be purchasing. 

So that’s it, hope this helps in deciding what to splash out on. Everyone will find the products different so this is just my opinion but I hope it helps! 

I’ve also realised that the products I don’t like are generally the higher end products, which just shows you don’t have to spend a fortune to get good quality products. Thank goodness.

Let me know what you think and any products I should try! 

Lauren x

My hair care routine

  

I took the plunge recently to dye my hair blonde. I mean, I was already blonde but I wanted to be blonder. But the problem with dying your hair is it means you actually have to actually start looking after it. And I’m usually so lazy. *sigh*

Anyway, I thought I’d just share the products I use, to help me try and get healthy soft hair.

For washing and conditioning I use herbal essences. Any one will do but I usually go with the coconut one because it smells yummy.

Occasionally I will use a hair mask in place of conditioner. I’ve almost finished the herbal essences one which leaves your hair silky. I also have a Mark hill one which contains argan oil for a rich treatment. I try to do these twice a week.

When blow drying I use a heat protection spray which is a must. This one is Andrew Barton and smells amazing. I also use an oil on the ends to lessen the dryness. This one is also in the Mark Hill range. 

In between dyes I’m also going to use John frieda lightening spray. I’ve been using this for years and if your looking for an alternative to dying your hair this is a must. It’s heat activated and works when you dry or style your hair. 

Lastly, I use batiste dry shampoo inbetween washes to keep me going and add some volume.

Let me know what other products I can add to my routine and what you think of these.

Lauren x