Meet the new Vitamin C: Vitamin D

Anytime you have a cold, you're usually told two things: drink lots of fluid and consume lots of Vitamin C. Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but one of those two have been proven to be virtually 100% ineffective.

Research has proven within the past few years that Vitamin C does not help boost the immune system in any shape or form. However, one Vitamin luckily does.

Allow me to introduce you to Vitamin D. Most people know this vitamin as a way of boosting your mood during the cold, depressing winter days. However, it does SO much more than that.

When I was young and still in high school, I was essentially known as the girl who pretty much always had a cold. I got sick constantly and binging on oranges never helped. However, that all changed when I began regularly taking Vitamin D. At first I only took it because I lived in rainy Vancouver and therefore was rather deficient and needed to supplement. Then after a while, I began to notice two things: 1) I couldn't remember the last time I had a cold, and whenever I did get sick, the symptoms were no longer as harsh and would only last a few days rather than 2 weeks of being bed ridden, and 2) My skin had never been so clear.

Once I did my research and got some advice from doctors, it turned out that Vitamin D helps balance out hormones, as well as give a massive boost to your immune system. Talk about a win-win! Sadly, very few people are aware of this. Therefore I am writing this blog post to try and help spread the word. The majority of doctors still recommend high doses of Vitamin C because they haven't read up on research in years, but if you're lucky, you'll come across a well-informed doctor who doesn't believe in this nonsense that was based on one study in the 60's...

I personally take 2,000 IU a day, and when I feel a cold coming on or am having proper PMS mood swings, then I take 3,000 IU a day. Before I use to take just 1,000 IU a day but then I had a doctor tell me I can take up to a maximum of 3,000 a day and that 2,000 IU made much more of a difference than just 1,000.

If you're someone who spends a lot of time indoors or you live in a very grey climate, or you're just sick of, well, being sick all the time, then I would highly recommend supplementing with Vitamin D. As always, do your research and first consult your doctor, especially on dosage. Be cautious and aware.

Now go ahead and share this blog post if you want to see the number of flu cases go down ;). 

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Current Favourites

I realized I haven't done a favourites in a while, and there have been so many items that I've been loving lately, so I thought I'd do a little post with mini reviews.

First up, the Zoeva Rose Gold Brush Set. I know, everyone is probably so sick of seeing them on every second beauty blog (I know I am), but they really are so worth the hype. Besides looking gorgeous, they are honestly the best quality brushes I've ever had. I got them as a christmas present and I can finally say, these are in fact better than the Real Techniques brushes. My two absolute favourites from the set is the 102 Silk Finish foundation brush and the 127 Luxe Cheer Cheek blush brush. The foundation brush literally halves the time I need to blend out my foundation. The cheek brush is also a dream to use, it's the perfect size for my face and it picks up product really well. I personally use it for powder blush and bronzer.

Second thing I've been loving have been two minis I picked up from Antipodes: the Divine Face Oil (Avocado & Rosehip) and the Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream. These two together are gorgeous. I had been suffering from dehydrated skin for months and finally found something that, when I put them on, made my skin sigh in relief and go "Ahhhh..". Ever since I got these two, my skin hasn't been dry in the slightest and has been pretty darn clear too. I first apply the oil and then the cream on top. I highly recommend this set to anyone (it's for all skin types, mine is combination/oily) who wants to make their skin sing from joy.

The Mary Lou-Manizer, a blogger classic and rightly so. I had this highlighter on my wish list for years now and finally one of my good friends made this wish come true this winter. How much do I love it? Well, let's just say my boyfriend has caught me singing "You know I'm all about that glow, bout that glow..." ;). I mean, who doesn't want to glow like JLO??

The L'oreal Lumi Magique Concealer has been a staple in my kit ever since November. It's just the ideal highlighting concealer. It's perfect for under the eyes and wherever you want some glow. The finish of it is quite unique because it dries down matte (and therefore doesn't budge ALL day), but still looks glowing and fresh. Will forever keep repurchasing.

And my last two favourites are oldies that I have rediscovered. The Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in  Park Avenue Princess and NYX lipgloss in Tea Rose. For some reason, years ago I thought this bronzer was too orange/dark, but now it's the just right. Basically, I constantly fall in and out of love with certain bronzers and now I'm back to loving this one :P. I also have a goal to hit pan with this bronzer by the end of the year and I'm quite chuffed with the dent I've already made with it. And the NYX lipgloss is one of the prettiest pink shades I own. Looks amazing with some warm peachy cheeks, and golden eyeshadow.

And there you have it, my current favourites! Let me know in the comments what you've been loving lately :). 

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Review: GHD Style - Root Lift Spray

Living abroad in Germany occasionally has its downsides. One of them tends to be me wanting to  repurchase a beloved, trusted product that sadly is only sold in North America. And when times get tough (aka none of my relations or friends back home are visiting anytime soon), I am forced to find alternatives. Such an occasion arose a while back when I found myself with an empty bottle of my holy grail hair product, the Sally Hershberger Supreme Root Lift Spray.

How good of a product is it really, I hear you ask? So good, that it's the reason I started this blog in this first place. Just to tell the whole world how awesome it is... #firstblogpost. Now, moving the nostalgia aside, I realized that I needed to find a substitute for it during my time here in Europe. So I searched far and wide... on the web that is, and finally came across something that sounded like it had full potential of being a dupe. 

And that my friends is the GHD Style Root Lift Spray. Essentially, these were my expectations of the product: it would lift my hairs roots (thus giving me MUCH needed volume), and as a lovely consequence of lifting my hair slightly, increase the time my hair stayed clean/non greasy. Sadly, it did none of that. Made hardly a difference to my hair. It would give it a hint of lift for the first hour and then just fall back down, flat as an ironing board. But that's not even the worst of it. It completely dried out my hair. It became knotty and dry, and thus breaking a whole lot more easily and just made brushing an absolute nightmare. Oh, and when you spray it, the smell is so strong and chemically that you end up having a coughing fit and sounding like a grandpa. Lovely. 

Honestly, I feel a bit stupid for having bought it in the first place when I eventually realized what the second ingredient was. Alcohol Denat. *Face Palms*. I had hoped that it wouldn't be that strong/bad, but it really was. For those of you who are curious,  there is zero alcohol in my holy grail Sally Hershberger spray. Juuuust saying ;). Needless to say, the next time I'm in Canada, I'm stocking up. Sorry GHD, it simply wasn't meant to be. 

If you have any recommendations for a root lifting spray, let me know in the comments! :)

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