Back Pain

Ugh, it's hideous, I have suffered from back pain for quite a while now and it is only getting worse.

I have a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck which causes a lot of discomfort but in recent months the pain in my lower back has become unbearable.  Most of my pain is caused from stress tension but my posture is also quite bad contributed mostly by the fact I am quite well endowed up top!  Now, I can't stop the ageing process but I still feel far too young to be dealing with joint and muscular pain like this.

I go for the occasional massage but nothing gives me the sweet relief I am looking for and really the next option is to see a chiropractor.  While I research the best ones to visit however, I needed something to ease my poor muscles and it seems I have found a brilliant solution.

I happened to mention my back pain to the girls at Aromatherapy Associates who quickly recommended their De-Stress range, in particular the Muscle Bath & Shower Oil and the Muscle Gel.  The Gel contains essential oils with a mix of black pepper, ginger and rosemary.

RRP £37

RRP £20

In all honestly, I thought this would just be a case of having a nice, luxurious bath, relieving the ache for half an hour or so before going back to the same old moaning and whining and requiring a billion pillows to prop me up on the couch.  I was so wrong.  So wrong.

I had a lovely warm bath.  No, it was a hot bath, really hot in fact with the De-stress bath oil which smells divine by the way.   I felt no real difference in the bath, it was just relaxing and purifying for the soul to take half an hour out to float away all the stresses of the day.  After my bath, I resisted the temptation to talc up (anyone else still do this? ... I am obsessed with talc - such an 80's child!) ... and instead used the muscle gel on my problem areas - my lower and upper back.  You might need a bit of help doing this.  It's a smooth gel, a little cold to apply but doesn't feel sticky at all, it's really just like applying your moisturiser.

Off to bed I went in nice snuggly jammies and fresh bed linen (ah, what a feeling!) ... next day I got up and my achey back was barely noticeable.  My back is usually at its worst in the office around mid-day but again, I still felt comfortable - it was as if by magic.  I kept waiting for a tinge of heaviness to kick in around my lower back but it never came.

That has been over a week now and I have only used the oil once and the gel a couple of times since but it seems to be doing the trick.  I can't contribute the ease of pain to anything else other than the new products as this has been a constant problem for months now with no relief whatsoever.   I have used various bath salts and massage bars in the past but nothing has made a difference until now.

I plan on keeping this little ritual up on a weekly basis to hopefully keep the pain at bay although for a longer term solution I will still continue my search for a fabulous chiropractor.  I am not sure what it is in these products that have made them so effective, maybe it is just the natural wonders of essential oils like so many people keep telling me and I am forever a cynic?!  One thing's for sure, this is working out for me.

Does anyone else have back cures they swear by?  Any must have products that lifts the ache as if by magic?

x

Treat yourself with Aromatherapy Associates

It's always around this time of year I up the pampering game.  The party season and cosy nights in always calls for an extra bit of TLC and one of the things I always look forward to are my long, lingering bath time rituals through the colder season.

Aromatherapy Associates is a bit of Christmas treat for me, I usually stock up on some products (my favourite is the Deep Relax bath oil) and it's a sure bet it will feature in a friends Christmas booty from me.  This year they have these adorable stocking fillers which double up as tree decorations with mini versions of your favourite bath oils.  At only £10, it's an affordable splurge on some gorgeous essential oils.

For an extra wee treat though, Aromatherapy Associates have just launched their new flagship boutique at Montpelier Street, London.

Bah, if only I lived closer!  It's a stunning salon with not only the full range of products available for sale but also treatments in their relaxing 'bedroom feel' treatment rooms.   From facials to 'stress buster' massages, the aromatherapy associates treatment menu offers a therapeutic experience using their famed essential oils.  I can only imagine how amazing this boutique must smell.

There is even the chance to have a one to one consultation with Aromatherapy Associates co-founder, Geraldine Howard who will create a bespoke blend of essential oils especially for you.

To visit the boutique you can visit the website here.  I know where I will be treating myself the next time i'm in LDN!

x

These face wipes should come with a warning!

It's my own fault really, it's a bit of a skincare crime to rely on some face wipes to rid you of the daily dirt and grime that our poor faces are subject to.

Normally one to be quite careful with a skincare routine, I have grown a little weary and downright lazy when it comes to looking after my face. This might be why, when purchasing my £4 jammies from Primark a few weeks ago, I couldn't resist picking up another bargain which lay in wait beside the tills.

Primark 4 in 1 gentle facial cleansing face wipes ... a pack of 2 for £1. Now you and I both know face wipes rarely come cheap, you spend up to a fiver or more for a half decent supermarket brand so this was a bargain I couldn't resist.

I didn't think for a minute they would be of a substandard quality or full of ingredients that may strip my skin of all it's goodness. It's Primark! What was I thinking?!

Aahhh.... *shakes head, tutting at ones stupidity*

I used these for around 2 weeks solid and have suffered from full on pizza face ever since! Painful, obvious, big, red, blinding spots have crept up all over my usually clear-ish skin. Urgh.

Silly thing is it took me a fortnight to realise the source of the damage.

Now I am on a mission to 'fix my face'. I am back into a cleansing and toning routine with a bi-weekly Strivechtin facial scrub, my trusty aromatherapy associates oil slathered all over my face with a little darphin purifying balm for good measure. Keeping my fingers crossed that my skin clears up as quickly as it flared up.

Other than booking myself in for a facial (any excuse!) Does anyone have any other quick fix recommendations?

x

Aromatherapy Associates Fine Line Oil

Whenever I'm asked if I would like to try an anti-ageing product my brain wrestles with itself. On one hand I want to jump at the chance but on the other I never see the point - maybe my skin is still too young (not really) for it to work as I never notice much of a difference. Plus, I really don't want to mess about or experiment too much with my skincare routine - once I have it mastered I like to stick to it so not to encourage breakouts or a dull complexion.

However, when Aromatherapy Associates got in touch about their fine line oil I immediately said yes, for a couple of reasons:

First of all, it's a brand I really like. I mean, really, really like. I had only ventured into their bath & body oils courtesy of birthdays & other special occasions so for me it is a real pamper product.
Secondly, it was an oil. I have only tried cream anti-ageing products in the past and since I am always being reminded about the hydrating qualities that oils have to offer then it was only right to play guinea pig.

I followed instruction exactly when using this oil - I wanted to take it to it's maximum potential. It advises to apply after serum and before moisturiser ... so I applied my serum (Laura Mercier) then applied the oil (only a drop or 2) over my face, massaging in as I went, particularly concentrating on any areas I may have noticed the appearance of fine lines. I then went onto apply a moisturiser (MAC moisturelush or Nivea).

The oil contains African Plum, evening primrose and raspberry seed extracts, which are known for their moisturising and anti-oxidant effects, as well as patchoulie, ylang ylang, apple and raspberry seed oils to help natural collagen hence softening the appearance of fine lines.

On application, you can't help but notice the smell, it is very soothing, so perfect for a bed time ritual. After using for almost 2 months now, I am not sure if I see a difference in fine lines but my skin certainly does look and feel velvety smooth - in that sense, yes, I guess I do look more youthful and fresher. It has become a part of my evening routine after cleansing that is here to stay.

It costs £38.75 for only 15ml of this oil but a little goes a long way and 2 months in and I am nowhere near halfway through this bottle. This is definitely a re-purchase item and one I will recommend to all the other old hags in my life ;)

x