Prioritising You And Your Health

As we get older, our priorities begin to change, and sometimes we forget to do even the simplest of things for ourselves. We begin prioritising other things, other people, like children, or getting that promotion, and other adult things. Which is great of course, but we get so caught up that we forget to check on the most important thing - ourselves. We forget to attend checkups because we don’t want to use our precious holiday allowance, we put off that appointment because we’ve only got an hour of free time and agreed to meet for coffee, its so easily done, and before you know it, that appointment we missed last week turns into 6 months ago, and so on. It’s incredibly important to look out for ourselves, and make sure that we’re doing all we can to keep ourselves happy and healthy. Here are some tips on making sure that we’re as good as we can be, and addressing things in the now rather than later. 

Make Your Safe Space

Making a space that makes you comfortable and at ease is a good way to de stress, and disassociate for a while, and how you utilise that space is entirely up to you.It could be a small room in which you take a book and read, it could be a mini gym in your house - it’s entirely up to you. As long as you have somewhere where you can rest, recharge, and do the things that you enjoy. It’s good practice to make that a part of a daily routine. It allows you to control the pace of your day, and effectively reset.

Try and Maintain Good Work/Personal Life Balance

I know, it’s a common saying, but it’s true. It really is important to have a healthy balance between your work and your life outside of it. Committing too much to either side can have an effect on the other. If you’re too focussed on work 24 hours a day, you’ll be too worn out and stressed to consider anything extra curricular, and it’ll start to drain you mentally as well as physically. The same is to be said about the other side - if you’re constantly partying and not thinking about what effect it could have on your professional life if you average around 3 hours sleep each night due to other activities, you may not be able to keep your job for very long. 

If Something Isn’t Right, See A Professional Right Away

Whether it’s physical or otherwise, if you think something is wrong, it’s vital you see someone as soon as possible. Make sure you have regular checkups - and don’t get into the habit of cancelling unless you absolutely have to. Stay on top of appointments with your GP, confide in them if something is ailing you. Make sure you visit your dentist regularly, and any work you need doing, dentures, root canals, don’t put them off just because they seem scary - you’ll only make the issue worse.

Credit:https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-rattan-swing-bench-with-cushions-2V5PJgGqyts

Having a Bedtime Is Important 

Having a solid sleeping pattern is a lot more important than people think - and is usually the first thing that adults tend to take for granted. It’s natural for people to think that they don’t have enough time - that they need to stay up and finish whatever task they’re trying to complete. Sleep is usually the first thing to be sacrificed, but a lack of sleep affects more than just physical weariness - your ability to concentrate, your rationality, memory and retention span are also heavily affected and will start to decline quicker than you think. It’s recommended that adults sleep around 7 - 8 hours per night, so try to find yourself a time in which you completely switch off, isolate yourself from distractions and blue screens. Set yourself an alarm if you’re worried you’ll oversleep, or even just to build up that routine, eventually your body will adjust and become used to it.

Regular Exercise

Staying fit and active is a great way to take care of yourself, in mind and body. However much you do is up to you - it’s not a race with anyone (Unless you are actually racing). Just as long as you stick to it and do it often, it all helps. Even if you take a few laps around your back garden - it’s still better than none at all. It’ll get easier the more you stick to a routine, and has actually shown to help with mental health - you may actually start to enjoy it and seek bigger challenges! x Neil.

CCLIMGLAM - Hair And Scalp Double Action Treatment

Innovative CCLIMGLAM have provided the perfect hair and scalp double action treatment to help intensively strengthen damaged hair, whilst also soothing and moisturising the scalp. The 9 second treatment is in liquid form but when applied to damp hair after shampooing it transforms to a moisturising cream that easily covers the scalp and every strand of hair. I would suggest to keep the formula on your head for at least 2-5 minutes and either use your fingers or a scalp brush to perform the perfect at-home head massage, before rinsing it off.

The CCLIMGLAM Hair And Scalp Double Action Treatment is a low-acid formulation whilst featuring patent ingredients which are 18 types of amino acids alongside broccoli extract, onion extract, methionine and cysteine. The haircare formulation does "NOT" contain the following which are parabens, tar pigments, silicones, talc, benzophenone, MIT/CMIT, mineral oil, and triclosan. The formula does feature Porphyridium Cruentum Extract which is derived from red algae and provides an anti-allergic effect whilst also alleviating irritation on the scalp. 

The full ingredients of the CCLIMGLAM - Hair And Scalp Double Action Treatment are as follows:

Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Water, Behentrimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Panthenol Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Niacinamide, Alium Cepa (Onion) Capris Extract, Artemisia Bulb Extract, Artemisia, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cysteine, Methionine, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Histidine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Threonine, Tyrosine, Taurine, Ornithine, Arginine, Alanine, Isoleucine Asparagine, Cystine, Serine, Valine, Leucine, Lysine, Glutamine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Elhylhexylglycerin, Fragrance

Presented in a 200ml bottle, the changeable cap to a nozzle is ideal to access and apply the product to damp hair, just remember to keep any water from entering the bottle as this will change the liquid formulation to a cream one! I was really impressed in how quick and easy it is to apply whilst there is a lovely fruity-floral musk scent that envelopes the senses throughout the application and rinse-off stage. My hair feels nourished, softer, and shinier but without any weigh-down which makes this the perfect at-home hair treatment with salon results! 

Purchase here: CCLIMGLAM - Hair And Scalp Double Action Treatment and don't forget to use my discount code: BLONDEMALE1 x Neil. 

Keeping Confident with Male Hair Loss

Hair loss is something that happens to everybody at some stage in life. For women, it can happen pre or postpartum or post surgery. It can also happen with age and hormonal changes. For men, male pattern baldness and early onset male pattern baldness are often a big concern. A receding hairline or widow's peak combined with a bald patch at the back of the head can lead to confidence issues.

Hair loss can therefore have a severe impact on your mental health, because if your confidence is impacted, the rest of you will be too. The good news is that it doesn't have to have long term effects and it doesn't need to be seen as a death sentence for your confidence or for your love life. For example, if you are losing hair, it may not just be from the top of your head. You could lose your eyelashes and your eyebrows at the same time, or you could definitely notice a thinning. Some men like to opt for lash extensions to help them when this happens. And others like to speak to a wig specialist about a toupee for the bald patch on their heads. Either way, you need to do what you can to stay as confident as possible when your hair is being lost, especially as a man.Here are the tips to help you to do just that.

Image source: Pexels

• Put it into perspective. Hair loss at the moment is going to feel like the worst thing that could ever happen to you, but in perspective, it's really not going to be. There are so many solutions to cover hair loss.Or to embrace it and just shave your head. Whatever you do, if your hair loss could be an unwanted change, you need to make sure that you are giving your appearance the once over as a whole and not just focusing on hair loss. 
• Get practical. Your hair needs to be looked after and while unpleasant, hair loss isn't dangerous. You can be practical with supplements and hair-boosting foods and serums. Honestly, though, the best thing that your hair needs is protein! Boost your protein (but don't overdo it!) and get your water in. Hydration and protein will make a big difference to your hair health and hair growth. Hair loss is normal and often genetic and when this is the case you can’t stop it from happening; you can simply slow it down. 
• Choose a new hairstyle. You may have to consider a brand new hairstyle when your hair is being lost but not short enough to notice it. A new way to wear your hair or a whole new cut can make a big difference to the way in which your hair looks. Choose a style for the hair that you currently have and not the hair that you want. 
• Care carefully. Hair care is a big deal and if you want to prevent any further loss, care for it carefully and properly and notice when you are making the right choices. Avoiding heat or too many chemicals can be vital for the health of your hair. 

Seeking professional help is also another option to consider to rule out any underlying health problems, but remember you are not alone when it comes to hair loss and finding the right treatment for you. x Neil. 

Technic Lip Rescue Serum

Bathe the lips in natural oils when applying the easy to use and affordable Technic Lip Rescue Serum in one swipe. Lip serums are the perfect product to apply because they instantly provide emollience with hydration for a quick but much needed treatment. Formulated with a blend of natural oils, the lip rescue serum can be used after lip scrubs, as an overnight treatment, or prepping the lips before applying lipsticks. A great tip to remember, especially for colder climates and seasons, is to apply the lip serum and then apply a lip balm over the top to seal over and create a barrier to stop the moisture wicking away from the lips.   

Technic Lip Rescue Serum Ingredients: HYDROGENATED POLYDECENE, POLYISOBUTENE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, OCTYLDODECANOL, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL; PHENOXYETHANOL, AROMA (FLAVOR), CITRAL, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), ROSA CANINA (ROSEHIP) FRUIT OIL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN.

Presented in a bottle with a doe foot applicator that is attached to lid, the serum should be applied to clean and dry lips. The lightweight and silky formula applies exceptionally well onto the lips without any drips whilst i felt no stickiness or greasiness after applying, just highly moisturised lips! A perfect lip treatment to apply at night or keep in your bag for when you need it, priced at £4.00 and available here: Technic Lip Rescue Serum x Neil.  

Ordo Hydro Sonic Water Flosser

Approved and designed by dentists, the Ordo hydro sonic water flosser provides the deepest and effective clean of your mouth whether you're at home or travelling. The innovative design features hydro-kinetic technology to blast away plaque and food debris from between teeth and along the gum line that your toothbrush can sometimes miss or reach. Regular flossing methods using traditional nylon or plastic floss can sometimes irritate the gums which is why switching over to a water flosser has been shown to be up to 29% more effective than traditional floss. 

The rechargeable ordo hydro sonic water flosser features a 260ml tank capacity (the largest on the market for any hand held flosser) and gives you 55 seconds of continuous cleaning that provides 2000 water pulsations per minute. Featuring three pressure settings which are Sensitive mode (low), Daily Clean (medium) and Power Clean (high), it also features an 'on demand' mode whilst the Smart 2 minute timer with quad-pacer pulses every 30 seconds to assist in cleaning the 4 quadrants of your mouth. The Lithium Ion battery with long life battery provides 4 weeks+ on one charge whilst the Smart LED indicator with low power reminder and power-off protection prevents battery damage.

I love how quick and easy the water flosser is to use with its non-slip grip texture whilst the 360 degree nozzle rotation is excellent to reach any area in your mouth at any angle. The flosser is also treated with a special antimicrobial additive that reduces bacteria buildup by over 99% whilst also featuring a travel lock to stop spillages and you can even store your flossing tips in the internal space featured on the flosser device. Available in four colours which are charcoal grey, pearl violet, rose gold, and white the contents inside the box is: Ordo Hydro Sonic Water Flosser, Ordo Premium Floss tips x 2 - Frosted Collar and Grey Collar, USB-C to USB Charging Cable, Instruction and User Manual.

Elevate your oral-care routine, priced at £44.99 but at a discount clicking here: Ordo Hydro Sonic Water Flosser whilst also don't forget to use my discount code on all products by clicking on it here: BLONDEMALEBLOG

Read my previous reviews here: ordo sonic electric toothbrush and the ordo sonic charging travel cases x Neil. 

SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum

Containing three retinols, the SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum is the perfect product to include in your evening skincare routine. Suitable for sensitive skin, though always do a patch test first, the Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum contains 0.1% retinol, 1 ppm retinal, whilst also including 5,000 ppm of Bakuchiol. The exclusive complex of the serum contains the patented technology of elastic-liposome that is able to deliver the effective and active ingredients deep into the skin to help improve elasticity, wrinkles, pores and skin texture. 

Presented in a bottle with a dispensing dropper tool, the serum appears and feels like a typical milky serum that should be applied to clean skin in the evening. I would suggest only applying once every 2 days for the first 2 weeks until your skin tolerates any retinol product and then you can build-up applications to every night. I really like this formulation though because not only does it contain emollients and humectants for hydration and moisturisation, but it also contains an abundance of skin-soothing ingredients to keep the skin calm and reduce inflammation. 

The full ingredients of the SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum.   

Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Bakuchiol, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Retinol (0.1 %), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Cetyl Alcohol, BHT, Collagen, Myristic Acid, BHA, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ceramide NP, Saccharomyces Ferment, Retinal, Asiaticoside, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Madecassoside, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Peptide, Resveratrol, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin

Easily spreadable on the skin, there is a slight fragrance that soon disappears whilst the serum absorbs really quickly leaving no stickiness or tackiness. I typically apply a retinol product to the skin and wait 20 to 30 minutes before applying a moisturiser and oil to allow the formulation to work to its full potential, just don't forget to apply your broad-spectrum sun protection the following morning to protect your renewed complexion!   

A gentle, but highly effective serum to contribute to your evening skincare routine and to benefit your skin, don't forget to use my discount code by clicking here: BLONDEMALE1 whilst purchasing here: SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum x Neil.

KAINE Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner

Restore and support the barrier of the skin when easily applying the hydrating KAINE Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner. Packaged in vegan, sustainable and recyclable packaging, the pH balanced toner contains antioxidants, humectants/moisturisers, with also anti-inflammatory soothing ingredients to calm the skin. It also noted that this skincare product is alcohol-free and is also free from fragrances and essential oils. Ampoule toners are a great product to use to deliver active and potent ingredients to the skin and this one does not disappoint, read on to find out more. 

The KAINE Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner contains 60% of fermented kombucha which is jeju green tea extract inoculated with lactobacillus and brewers yeast and fermented for 72 hours. The fermented kombucha after this period is found to contain 8 times more antioxidant vitamin c then lemons whilst also containing EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) that helps improve skin hydration, moisture retention, and wrinkle formation, in addition to radical scavenging activity and reduction of melanin generation. The formula also contains 1% panthenol which is pro-vitamin b5 that not only provides anti-inflammatory and skin-protecting properties but it also hydrates and helps the skin produce more lipids to support a healthier skin barrier. 

Hydrated skin is happy skin, this can easily be achieved thanks to the intense hydration from the 8 different hyaluronic ingredients which are: Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, and Sodium Hyaluronate, It is also combined with other humectant and moisturisers which are Propanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Glycereth-26, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Dextrin, and Glucose.

Skin calming with anti-inflammatory and soothing benefits are achieved by the additional ingredients cynanchum atratum extract, althaea rosea flower extract, Beta-Glucan, and Allantoin whilst antioxidants Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract and tocopherol help to prevent damage from environmental free radicals that can damage the skin. In fact, the whole formula does NOT contain artificial flavors and colors, parabens, phenoxyethanol, animal-derived ingredients and no mineral oil. All the products from Kaine are vegan-certified and are not tested on animals whilst the packaging is made from used and recycled plastics and glass.

Suitable for all skin types, but more beneficial for those who suffer with sensitive and dry skin because your wanting to improve the barrier function with hydration and soothing benefits, the ampoule toner should be applied straight after cleansing. The three ways you can apply are: Dispense onto a cotton pad and sweep gently over the whole face even the delicate eye area, Apply into your hands and gently pat into the skin until absorbed, Or moisten a cotton pad with the toner and leave this on a specific area for 5 to 10 minutes for a soothing skin treatment. 

The rich gel-like texture sets itself apart from other toners on the market as this one feels extremely hydrating and refreshing when applying and achieves more than just your standard water-based toners. Absorbing quickly, you can then proceed to apply your typical serums, moisturisers and sunscreen in the morning, whilst in the evening just remember to apply this first after cleansing before following on with your current night-time products. Hydrate, soothe, and calm the complexion when incorporating this affordable ampoule toner into your skincare routine. 

Don't forget to use my discount code: BLONDEMALE1 and purchase here: KAINE Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner x Neil.