30 day shred review & results.

I DID IT! I COMPLETED THE 30 DAY SHRED!

you can't say i don't spoil you. who else would spend over a month writing a blog post for you? das rite. ME. and what a blog post it is. i have finally completed the 30 day shred, and it feels oh so good to finally publish this review - along with the results, obviously. needless to say i am extremely pleased with how i've done. i've tried to cover every single little detail and hopefully those who are on the fence will be encouraged to complete it.

with the exception of my waist, i took measurements at the thickest point. i have a sort of mangled apple body shape, where any weight i gain goes straight to my tummy. this means that i have narrower hips than most, and that any weight gained on my thighs goes on my inner thighs rather than my outer thighs. (i know right. talk about awkward.) i also am a giant wuss and opted out of posting pictures - to see the results properly, i'd need to be in my knickers and as before/after pictures are widely circulated, i don't want any photos of me wearing very little lurking around the internet. sorry! however, i can see a difference. no i'm not exactly unrecognisable, but my waist does look smaller as do my arms. my general mid section still is by no means perfect, but looks more toned. there isn't a crazy difference from the side though, except that my tum is slightly flatter.

measurements before:                         measurements after:

waist: 29''                                                           waist: 27" (-2)

hips: 38.5''                                                         hips: 38.5 (-0)

thighs: 23.5''                                                     thighs: 22" (-1.5)

calves: 13''                                                         calves: 13" (-0)

upper arms: 10.7''                                         upper arms: 9.8" (-0.9)

lower arms: 9.5''                                              lower arms: 9.1" (-0.4)

TOTAL INCHES LOST = 4.8"!

amazing, right? i feel so completely proud of myself, and feel a new sense of positivity towards fitness as a whole. i really don't want to stop at this point - rather, i want to continue challenging myself and push myself so that i  get into the best shape i've ever been since 2008 in my life. i wish i could meet jillian and thank her, because she really did deliver - and luckily for me, she has so many dvds out so i am spoilt for choice.

for those who are interested, the biggest changes occurred during level one which is somewhat ironic given that it is supposed to be the easiest. i think my body got a real shock to the system, and decided to tell me by losing 2.8". during level two, which i found the hardest by far, i lost 1.1". and throughout level 3, i lost 0.9". however, i have gained weight (3kg) which i suspect is water weight. i don't care though, because inches coming off was what i always wanted.

NEVER  WILL I DO THESE AGAIN!!!

before the shred
little bit of background info here. i admit that i was a little cocky before starting this. i usually do 45-60 minutes of zumba several times a week, and walk quite often. i thought that it would stand me in good stead, and i guess it did when i read other diaries which describe sheer pain (my favourite was one where the blogger couldn't sit down on the toilet). additionally, the only part of me that is toned has always been my calves, ever since i could remember. i can't pinch them at all. this, in my warped little brain, made me assume that i would ace any leg exercise she threw at me. i guess my sense of realism only kicked in with the acknowledgement that even though the shred is designed to be complete in 30 days, i wasn't ever going to push myself if i were to feel any proper pain or injury. i wasn't ever going to cause myself any damage just for the sake of saying i didn't take a single day off.

in terms of equipment, you will need a mat (that is, if you are exercising on a hard surface), proper shoes (i can't stress how important this is), and handweights. my weights are so small, and frankly, i can't be bothered to get heavier ones. i have 3 sizes which i got from argos - i think they cost around £15. the pink weights are 0.5kg (1.1 lbs) each, the blue are 1kg (2.2 lbs) each, and the green are 1.5kg (3.3 lbs) each. i admit that, at times, i wished i had heavier ones - not because using these weights were easy (NO) but because i would've been able to push myself further on my good days.

during the shred
for optimal results, you'd obviously have to have a good diet aswell. as with a lot of her dvds, jillian includes a meal plan. unfortunately, i didn't do this - so it will remain a "what if?" as to how many more inches i would have lost if i did. in true jasmine form, i didn't cut a single thing or restrict my eating in any way. in the 30 days there were mcdonald's, kebabs, pizza, pasta, and bread. truly carb central. the only thing i did not consciously have was alcohol except on one occasion - but this was more due to me adjusting my priorities, and putting studies before any nights out. other friends which accompanied me on the programme were: harry ramsden, colonel saunders, wagamamas, and ping pong dim sum. however, i'd also supplement the workout with long walks and other exercises when i felt like it... so maybe that's how i got away with it.

i also found that there is a really supportive e-community on twitter & tumblr with lots of people using those platforms to update how they're finding it. i'd get all sorts of tweets congratulating me, giving me advice, or sharing experiences - and that too was really nice.

after the shred
what next? well, i'm fitter, stronger, ever-so-slightly leaner and really positive about having this new thing (that is, serious fitness) in my life. i now have something that counterbalances all the crap i eat, and minimises the damage i do to my body all the time. here's to that next stage of getting a killer body! thanks to all the people (especially on twitter) who gave me kind words of support. i do really encourage anyone to do this, and trust me, you won't look back. as for blogging about these things, well, i'm hoping to make a series out of this and do detailed reviews/results for each of her dvds. :)

the diary: i kept a diary of how i was finding the workouts every day. interested? read on...

smokey eyes using urban decay 24/7 eye pencils.

hi friends. i am happy to report that i am slowly figuring out how to do a smokey eye without butchering it up completely. gone are the uneven eyes and looking like taylor momsen! for a ~blogger~ i really am clueless and have the make-up proficiency of a chimp, so please do cheer for me in light of this breakthrough. i suppose i can attribute this new-found success to the fact that, after a long, long journey,  i'm starting to vaguely come to terms with the fact that the crease brush from urban decay is better suited to my eye shape rather than a mac 217. and for the record, i love urban decay brushes as they are soft, never shed, and are cruelty-free. a dream combination.

jumper - vivienne westwood.

face: no 7 beautiful skin day cream, sephora base subliminatrice, illamasqua skin base foundation (10).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, nars eyeshadow palette (arabian nights), urban decay 24/7 eye pencils (covet and lucky), maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.
cheeks: illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), mac blush (ladyblush), no 7 illuminator (peach).
lips: revlon (mauve it over).

i used a lot of cream products on my skin to make it look more natural & dewy. to me, heavy-handed powder products and matte skin just look too harsh against the eyes. unfortunately, i wanted to go for a green liner rather than a bronze (i love the combination of green and black), but this is through no fault of my own. now, before i embark on a massive bitchfest of a review, i just want to restate that i love urban decay. i am a serious fangirl and love everything they bring out. if i remember correctly, it started when i 16 and happily discovered that there was a product out there which would stop my eyeshadow from slipping off. hell, i even remember the days where i'd derive happiness from buying so much of their stuff in heathrow terminal 5 - back when they weren't so widely stocked! so yeah, this love goes way back.

however, one thing pisses me off. and it pisses me off a lot. in fact, i think we need to sit down and talk about it. my source of anguish is this: their 24/7 eye pencils. fantastic pigmentation? incredible colour range? creamy to apply? easy to blend? you're probably sitting there thinking "gurl, what's your problem" - and what my problem essentially is, is that there is this fantastic product encased in terrible packaging. i feel like a monkey seeing a banana except the banana is surrounded by lasers and i just can't claw away at it. with the pencils, it is essentially the same thing. their packaging is so tough and impractical that i simply cannot use the product. i can't sharpen the pencils without cracking them and causing a mess. today, it was in fact my sharpener which broke this time instead of the pencil - one which lasted me for years

see what i mean?

it really does hurt me to say this, because i love the pencils. it's not like it's rubbish both inside and out. it's in fact the best eye pencil i've ever used and now i can't use it anymore because of this. :( why must do you do this urban decay? WHHHHHHYYYYYYYYY? so if anyone has any recommendations for industrial-strength sharpeners, please do let me know.

nail art tutorial: summer brights.

i am well and truly british. i may have brown hair and brown eyes, and my fluency in other languages may be semi-convincing - but let me tell you that my game is totally up once a single ray of sunshine peeks out from behind the clouds. that's right. in true brit form, the moment i detect even a hint of sunshine, out goes the winter wardrobe, out comes the colourful accessories, and new hobbies begin to include reading in the "sun" (that is, anything above 15 degrees).

because of the sort-of mild weather, i've really been enjoying bright and playful nails in pastel colours. shades that remind of me liquorice allsorts, even though i actually hate them. this is one sort of style i've been wearing recently - and it's very easy to do, so read on to find out how.

l-r: model's own nail polish (3-in-1), boots expert nail and cuticle oil, barry m nail polish (lemon), dotter, model's own nail file, rimmel nail polish (rose libertine) and 17 nail polish (nightshade).

as my nails are not in tip-top condition, i began by rubbing nail oil onto them and pushed my cuticles back. i then applied the model's own nail polish as a base coat to prevent staining. then, i added the yellow polish all over. so far, so easy. this is then followed by pink triangles/ovals (triovals?) which is probably the hardest part as you have to have a steady hand as well as a good brush - and as you can probably tell by how uneven they are, i had neither! then, finish by adding a black tip across the top, followed by a base coat. the polka dots were achieved by using the wider end of the dotter, and makes it that much more interesting. alternatively, you could also go further and use the narrow end of a dotter to add another colour in the middle of the dots if you so wish.

here's to more summery looking nails!

illamasqua s/s 2012: human fundamentalism.

yippee! the new illamasqua website is up (a massive improvement if i do say so) and has given a preview of the new collection too! and from the looks of it, i absolutely adore it - although them using a blue-haired model only makes me miss my dear friend maxine more. finally, the long wait is over!

you're probably thinking that i need to get a hobby. and frankly, i agree with you. i'm just stoked because their collections are truly the only make-up collections i ever get excited about - they're a total feast for the eyes and alex box is a total genius who always brings something new and exciting. the new collection is called 'human fundamentalism' (ooOooOoooo) and is available to pre-order on the site from early march.

review: estée lauder idealist even skintone illuminator.

last week i was flicking through stylist magazine when this advert for estée lauder's even skintone illuminator caught my eye. i admit that i have limited experience with the brand (we fell out once they discontinued my favourite eyebrow pencil) and so i was doubly intrigued by this new product.

it purports to be some kind of super base (BOOMBADABABOOMBADADA BASS... sorry) and promises to even out complexions and minimise the appearance of blemishes, all while illuminating the skin. definitely the sort of product i've been looking for since the dawn of time. i therefore had made up my mind and go and seek it out... that is until...

nails - barry m (peach melba).

... a sample was waiting for me further on in the magazine! woohoo! it was clearly fate. i do wish that more magazines gave more cosmetic samples rather than perfume samples (one sniff and the joy is over) or foundation samples (which won't cater for everyone) to be honest. so, i went home rather chuffed and excited to try it out.

now, i'm going to be mean and give you nightmares but this has to be done: a 'before' photo of my skin without any make-up on. i mean, i personally couldn't care less but i understand that some of you may be easily traumatised - and consider this a disclaimer, because i am not paying for any therapy you may require thereafter. as you have probably gathered, my skin is pore central, with dark circles around my eyes. i have some redness on my cheeks and around my nose, along with some old scars from spots. i also have eyebags large enough to store britain's debt.

before.

my first impressions of the product were good - it looked like a yellowy, tinted lotion, and had a lovely citrus smell. i applied it sparingly at first, and then looked in the mirror. hmm, no change. i then applied some more. once again, no change. i then used up all of the sample, and failed yet again to see any sort of even complexion before me. this irked me somewhat, for sure.

by this point the product felt quite thick on my face, and took a while to absorb into the skin. it does illuminate your skin, but frankly, i fail to see how it wouldn't - because even moisturising can accomplish the same effect. however, i do believe that it would act as a nice base for make-up, as my foundation glided on top and stayed put all day... but that isn't something that my (cheaper) primers are incapable of.

after.

suffice to say, i'm glad that i got the chance to try before i buy, because it really didn't work for me. it costs £46 (OUCH!) and boy, i'm so happy my money didn't go down the drain. sorry estée lauder! in other news, i'm really enjoying brick tones (so oranges, reds, browns, terracottas) as of late because it warms up my face. it's definitely more of a summer look but i'm so wild and crazy and off the rails that i'm wearing it now.

 jumper - river island.

face: estée lauder even skintone illuminator, no 7 essential natural mineral foundation (220 light beige), bourjois healthy mix foundation (2), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: maybelline gel liner, mac studio fix lash (black), mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.
cheeks: bourjois delice de poudre bronzing powder, sleek blush (rose gold), no 7 vital illuminating highlighter powder.
lips: chanel (a mysterious shade from a long time ago - the label has rubbed off).

the shade of this lipstick is killing me. it's from a long time ago (much longer than i'd like to admit) so if you suspect you know the shade name, do let me know! it's definitely discontinued though which is a shame. it's a nice orange terracotta and completely unlike anything out there right now - which is probably testament to how old it is, hence it being out of style! haha.

topshop haul.

naughty me. i'm sorry, blog - i've been ever so busy. i haven't done a review/purchase post in so long and what a way to bring it back with some gorgeous products from topshop! i tried fighting it but i just can't do it anymore: i just love their products. i recently popped into the flagship store and treated myself to some meadham kirchoff nail wraps (they have vaginas on them, so now my fingers can scissor), a lip pencil in "fearless" and a matte lipstick in "all about me". i've never used nail wraps before, but i'm saving them for a special occasion so i won't be showing them to you just yet (read: i haven't figured out how on earth i put them on, so i am postponing that trouble for another time).

i admit that i am always so pleasantly surprised by topshop's products - more so than their clothes in fact. i mean, this lip pencil's shade is fantastic. i can think of at least four lipsticks i own which would go with it as it is a really standard pink. it's not gimmicky or wacky, which is what i was after. and yes, it's not a revolutionary shade by any means, but i had been looking for a shade like this for so long and nowhere else had it. the lip pencil has decent pigmentation (not like the ones by mac though, which are just crazy) and feels nice on the lips. but then again, it's not as creamy as the ones by no 7... so although i'm in love with the colour selection of lip pencils at topshop and grateful for this pink goodness in my life, in terms of formulation, they're not my all-time favourites. then again, the other brands i've mentioned are slightly more expensive, and if you're on a budget then these really are decent for the price.

sorry for the rubbish swatch.

however, the star of the show (and the reason i ventured into topshop in the first place!) is the lipstick. a topshop make-up artist follows me on twitter and had their latest campaign shot as her profile picture. i asked what lipstick the model was wearing, and made up my mind to buy it. i had never tried topshop lipstick before, and when trying out new lipsticks, going for a matte shade is high-level dangerous business. totally high risk behaviour. it's essentially jumping into the deep end, because matte lipsticks are where so many brands can often get it wrong (so wrong). but step aside, ladies. "all about me" is a loud, attention-grabbing hot pink and definitely lives up to its name. unfortunately it's a blogger's nightmare though, as i can't get a photo which accurately depicts the shade: sometimes it looks red, sometimes purple, sometimes pink! but trust me when i say that this is definitely a hot colour which would suit many complexions.

having worn it for a few days now, i can happily report the following: topshop matte lipsticks are brilliant. intense colour, coupled with staying power and a creamy formulation despite it being matte? AND CHEAP?! absolutely cracking stuff. i always go on and on about how revlon matte lipsticks must be concocted with fairy dust or unicorn hairs or something to make them so magically creamy - but this formulation definitely comes second place (which is still a compliment of the highest order). 

 i find it quite interesting how higher-priced brands still fail to accomplish creamy matte lipsticks though, and wish they'd follow suit. if topshop or revlon got their mitts on my beloved 'ruby woo' and made it creamier, i would definitely be in lipstick nirvana. so yeah, i'm pretty sure that topshop is slowly becoming my top recommendation for make-up if you want to spend less but still get great quality cosmetics.

also that perfect-looking plait on my head? not my real hair. that's right - gettin' wiggy with it. i look so tired.

face: 17 primer, illamasqua skin base foundation (10), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: maybelline gel liner, no 7 lash adapt mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).

cheeks: topshop (high five).

lips: topshop lip pencil (fearless), topshop lipstick (all about me).

make-up inspired by lana del rey.

can't say i'm a killer lana del rey fan. sure i like some of her music, but i have to be honest and say that i hate the rubbish she comes out with in interviews. when 'video games' came out i was like fjdghhfgdshfgshfgs this is like, SO amazing~ ...but then it just turned into total overkill. interviews everywhere, a vogue cover (gotta love uk vogue for being a massive turd when it comes to covers) and all sorts - and this was way before she even released an album! nevertheless, i saw this cover and really liked the make-up. very simple, no? so here is my take on it. 

i liked the bold cat liner and nude lips - all in all, it looks pretty retro and classic. however, i had to tweak it for a few reasons. firstly, i don't have the products to add that 'sheen' to the liner that is in the cover. if you really want to have that effect, just apply your liner as you normally would and then add mac's 'mixing medium shine' on top. i don't own it because i can't justify it, but it would look awesome. i'm also lacking in white eyeliner (for the waterline), which has mysteriously vanished. also, lana's matte lipstick is also exceptionally pale (it's not far off her own complexion) which would never, ever work for me - so i had to change that too. i am also sorry to say that i also have misplaced my bumblebee.

all of that aside, it's so basic - a really easy look. even if i did somehow end up with a lot of eyeliner on my hands. in lana's cover, the flick is a little longer but as i'm a regular joe, i also toned it down a little. 

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, sephora base subliminatrice, bourjois healthy mix foundation (52), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: urban decay primer potion, revlon 8-hour colourstay quad (in the buff), urban decay eyeshadow (virgin), maybelline gel liner, rimmel exaggerate liquid liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.

cheeks: illamasqua (lover).

lips: no 7 lip pencil (nude), revlon lipstick (mauve it over).

i'm also realling loving silver nails at the moment. adele rocked the grammys and i loved her nails so much ('jewel' by deborah lippman)! but as the broke ass bitch that i currently am, i gotta make do with what i've got. silver? glitter? even more glitter? oh go on then. a little bit of NASA, a little bit of drag queen, and a little bit of ghetto diva. you just have to love it.

nails - barry m (silver), gosh (silver star), barry m (hologram hexograms).