For someone who loves highlighters, the Ultimate Glow Kit seemed like the best possible palette for me. After all, if it contains the ultimate highlighters then how could I not! I love gold and champagne toned highlighters, which is basically what this palette is made up of, and to top it off there's 6 of them, so I decided to go for it!

I'd tried a couple of Glow Kits before so I knew what to expect and I certainly wasn't disappointed, they are all the same great quality as the ones I had tried previously. They are also the sort of colours which would look great on any skin tone, whether you have fair or dark skin, it just depends on how much you apply, there's colours to suit everyone. So I guess it really is the Ultimate Glow Kit!

This Glow Kit costs £47 which is quite a lot compared to the others. Most of the others, if not all of the other Glow Kits cost £39 so it is a little bit on the pricey side but I can also see why it is. If it really is as the name suggests, then you can expect to pay a little more for it. For me that isn't an issue because I am obsessed with highlighters and Glow Kits so I would probably pay whatever it takes if I'm completely honest! But for most people, it is very expensive and although it is a great product, I don't think the extra £8 compared to the others is completely justifiable.


There are 6 shades in the palette, Snow (true icy white with platinum reflect), White Sand (warm beige with a gold reflect), Golden Dawn, (warm amber with a gold reflect), Sunday (warm copper with a peach gold lustre), Amber Gold (warm rose with a gold lustre) and Hot Sand (warm bronze with an amber lustre). All 6 shades are incredibly pigmented and can be applied as lightly as you wish for a more subtle highlight or built up for an intense glow.

If you're yet to try a Glow Kit or are wanting to add to your collection and are willing to pay the price for this Glow Kit then I would definitely recommend you to do so. If not, there are lots of great and similar dupes available for a fraction of the price! Anyone wanting to purchase from the UK can do so directly from the ABH site here.

Let me know in the comments if you have tried this Glow Kit and what your opinions are, or whether or not you would consider doing so.

Beth x

Decadence by Marc Jacobs was one of the first high end fragrances I ever bought, someone was wearing it at work and I fell in love, so I just had to get one for myself. Ever since then, it has been one of my favourite scents and is perfect for wearing in the Spring time.

I'm far from the best a describing scents but to me it is very fresh and floral, without being too over the top, I would definitely say that it is a very sophisticated scent.

For anyone who is interested in the notes and more about the scent, this is taken directly from the Marc Jacobs website. "The fragrance opens with sultry top notes of Italian plum, iris flower and saffron. The heart opens with luxurious notes of Bulgarian rose, jasmine sambac and orris. The indulgent dry down reveals the base notes of vetiver, papyrus woods and liquid amber."

The bottle is nothing like anything you have ever seen before, high end brands always go all out on the packaging which is an added bonus when you are spending so much money on it. It's a little bulky though if you're wanting to take it out and about with you, so I would personally leave the lid at home. But I still love it all the same!

Of course, the best way to truly experience the scent before purchasing is to go into your nearest perfume shop and ask for a sample or to try the tester. I can guarantee though that you will love it.

I'm always on the look out for new scents, so if you know of any which you think I may love, whether it be similar to Decadence or the complete opposite, please leave your suggestions in the comments!

Beth x

From the moment I tried my first ever Glow Kit, I have been desperate to get my hands on some of the others and I have finally managed to do so! I was a little bit unsure on this one at first, I didn't really know how I could make a blue highlighter work, but I figured for someone with fair skin like myself, it had the potential to look great.

This was definitely the case. It's not the sort of highlight I would personally want to build up but if you did want to give it a go, it's definitely possible. Personally, a light application gives a very natural glow to the face and looks particularly nice on cool skin tones.

The Moonchild Glow Kit costs £39 which I think is very reasonable for 6 amazing quality highlighters, however considering that they are more of an unusual colour choice for a highlighter, many people probably won't want to spend that much money on them for fear that they won't suit them. But I personally don't mind paying that sort of prize, but I am an highlighter fanatic!

There are 6 shades in the palette, Blue Ice (diamond white with an icy blue reflect), Star (moonstone fusion of mint, platinum and silver reflect), Purple Horseshoe (glittering lavender with an arctic blue reflect), Pink Heart (pearl white with a pink opal reflect), Lucky Clover (shamrock infused gold with canary yellow diamond reflect) and Blue Moon (frozen blue with a silver reflect). All the shades are incredibly pigmented and can be built up for a very intense highlighter, but can also be applied lightly for a more natural glow.


If you're yet to try a Glow Kit, I would definitely say to go for it! I would also very much advise you to consider giving this one a go, particularly if you have fair skin. It isn't as scary as it looks! Anyone in the UK wanting to buy this palette can do so directly from the ABH website here.

Let me know in the comments if you have tried this, or any of the other Glow Kits, and what you think of them.

Beth x

There are 3 main macronutrients which we need to consume, Carbohydrates, Protein and Fats. Each have different effects on our bodies but are all required on a daily basis, although it is pretty much impossible not to!

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates come as two different types, simple carbs and complex carbs. Simple carbs are absorbed quicker than complex carbs, so you may have heard complex carbs referred to as slow release carbs.

Simple carbs are found naturally in things like milk, and fruits, as well as processed foods such as white bread, sweets and fizzy drinks. Whereas complex carbs are found in things like sweet potato, brown rice and most vegetables,

Contrary to popular belief, carbs don't make you gain fat. What does is eating more than what our body requires, so there is no need to start on a low carb diet! Carbs are needed for functioning of the nervous system, kidneys, muscles and are essential for healthy brain function. They also contain fibre which is important for digestion.

Protein
Protein is responsible for the repairing of tissues such as muscles, nails and hair as well as being important for hormones and the immune system. Therefore it is essential, particularly for those wanting to gain muscle.

The body breaks down protein into amino acids, all the essential amino acids are found in what is considered complete protein sources, such as eggs, fish and chicken. Therefore, meat is considered to be the main source of protein, however if you are vegan or vegetarian, don't worry, quinoa, beans, chickpeas and nuts are also great sources of protein, as well as tofu and quorn. You will however, have to consume much larger quantities to get your required protein intake.

Fats
Fat is not bad for you, overconsumption can be, but only in circumstances where overconsumption has occurred over a long period of time. Every now and again still isn't good for you, but is unlikely to make you suddenly unwell before anyone starts to panic! There are 3 types of fats, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, all of which have different benefits and come from different sources.

Saturated fats come mostly from animal products, butter, cheese and cream. They create cholesterol and testosterone which helps build muscle and reduce body fat. As long as you are healthy and stick to a good diet, your liver will produce less cholesterol when you eat more of it, so there is also nothing to worry about here, despite the bad reputation it seems to have nowadays.

Monounsaturated fats are the good fats! They are found in nuts such as cashews and peanuts, avocados and oils. They are definitely the fats which you want to include adequate amounts of in your diet as they are very healthy for you heart.

Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9. Your body cannot product these itself, so it is essential that they are included in your diet as they have anti-inflammatory properties. These are found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel as well as flax and chia seeds.

Beth x


Photo source: http://stormlifestyle.nl/nutrition/macronutrients/

Highlighting is really in at the moment, and it's definitely a trend I love. I rarely ever leave the house without any highlighter on as part of my makeup. Ever since Anastasia Beverly Hills' first Glow Kit was released, I have been so desperate to try one, and finally I have!

Nicole Guerriero isn't actually a YouTuber who I tend to watch, but when I saw that she was collaborating with ABH on a Glow Kit, I was interested. The shades in this palette just took my eye straight away, the champagne and pink tones are just so girly and they are right up my street.

It was released on the ABH website on the 3rd March, and will be available on Sephora from the 15th. It costs £39 which I think is so reasonable considering the quality, even before I had tried them myself, I had heard all over that the Glow Kits were definitely worth splurging on so I didn't mind parting with so much money. Especially not for my all time favourite makeup product.

There are 6 shades in the palette, Kitty Kat (pink with a platinum reflect), Forever Young (pink pearl with a silver reflect), Daydream (coral with a white gold reflect), Forever Lit (platinum with a lavender reflect), Glo Getter (champagne with a rose reflect), and 143 (rose gold with a bronze reflect). All the shades are incredibly pigmented, but can be applied lightly or built up for a more, or less intense highlight.

If you're yet to try a Glow Kit, this is definitely one to get. It has one of my favourite shade ranges compared to the other kits, even if you're not a fan of Nicole Guerriero. However, this palette is limited edition so if you want to get your hands on it then I would recommend doing so quickly! Anyone in the UK can buy it directly from the ABH website here.


Let me know in the comments if you've tried this, or any other of the Glow Kits and your opinions on them.

Beth x

Your TDEE is your total daily energy expenditure, this is simple the amount of calories which your body burns in a day. This is calculate using a formula which combines your BMR (basic metabolic rate) and your activity levels.

Basal Metabolic Rate is the amount of calories your body needs to function when resting, just to keep your organs functioning. This equates to about 60% of your total calorie intake. There are lots of different online calculators which will help you to calculate your BMR using your height, weight, age and gender.

Your activity levels are rated as follows:
1.2 - for low intensity and leisure activities
1.375 - for light exercise (approximately 30 minutes to an hour walking, 3-4 days a week)
1.55 - moderate exercise 3-5 days a week
1.725 - active and exercising 6-7 days a week
1.9 - intense exercising 6-7 days a week, the athletes amongst us!

This is then multiplied by your BMR (BMR x activity levels) to give you your TDEE. However, everyone is different so it may calculate to be too high or too low for some people, and it is of course difficult to categorise your activity levels for an accurate result.

To lose fat, a safe calorie deficit would be to cut around 500 calories a day from your TDEE which would work out at 3500 less calories a week. However, this may vary depending on your body fat percentage.

To gain weight you would need to do the opposite and increase your daily calorie intake, as well as working hard and effectively at the gym!

Beth x

Photo Credit: http://www.gritcityfitnessandperformance.com/do-you-know-what-tdee-is/