Vodka and Soda

OAL update: supplements are your friend

a few months into my fitness program, i started using supplements to either give me a boost during my workouts or help me recover faster from them.  i'm not a supplement freak nor am i a pill popper but i carefully choose what i take and what i put into my body.

 

luckily my RMT - who happens to be a  personal trainer, a physiotherapist and has a degree in sports science - is always availble to chat with me about all things fitness so he gave me some ideas how to improve my performance and overall health.

active green tea extract.  apparently, this is supposed to help with weight loss and increase fat-burning.   i'm not into taking pills or drinks for weight loss but during a chat with my RMT buddy, we had a pretty indepth discussion whether green tea extract really does boost weight loss.  he said it really helped him but i called bullshit because for real yo, if this really was proven to help burn fat faster, wouldn't this be the most popular product in the world?   so, i decided to do a little experiment on myself:  i started taking these regularly with an objective to prove him wrong.

after nearly a month of taking this (3 capsules daily with food, which is the recommended dosage), it's beginning to seem that he's right [wipes egg off face].   since i started taking it, i've been seeing a significant difference in my most problematic area (mid-section).  although i lost a lot of inches in that area with insanity, i didn't see the ab definition i wanted however since taking these pills, i've noticed that my midsection seems even more toned, smaller and i can actually see the lines in my obliques without much flexing. 

a good, quality multi-vitamin.  not all multi-vitamins are made equal.  many have a lot of filler crap in them so it's best to head over to a health food store and purchse one that's geared for active people (it'll also cost you more).  when you're working out regularly/hard, your body uses up a lot of important vitamins and minerals.  while food plays the most important role in providing your body with required nutrients, taking a multi-vitamin can be an effective and quick way to replace what you've lost, especially if you're on the go or if you have dietary restrictions.

multi-vitamins for active people typically contain double (or more) of what you find in regular multi-vitamins.  your body aborbs what it needs and excretes the rest through urine, depending on your activity level.  i noticed that on days when my workouts aren't as intense (cardio days), my urine is brighter (sorry, TMI) and during days when i push my muscles past the point of exhaustion (interval weight training), my pee is clear.  this tells me that my body absorbs/requires more during very intense workouts.

CLA - conjugated linoleic acid.  mainly found in red meat and dairy products, CLA is an important amino acid that helps build muscle, reduces the conversion process of glucose to fat and helps reduce the process of converting dietary fat into physical fat.  that statement alone works for me.

because i use high-intensity workout programs and my consumption of red meat and dairy are very limited, i decided to take CLA supplements for the muscle building component only;  i had no idea it's being marketed as a "fat loss supplement" until i bought it.  

has it helped me or have i seen a difference?  hard to say.  perhaps this is working in conjunction with the green tea extract (and my workouts) to shrink my mid-section but who really knows.  all i know is my muscles are becoming more defined, i'm getting stronger, my clothes are getting bigger and clothes i haven't worn in years (like my capris circa 2006) are even loose on me.  

aside from the above, i regularly drink the following:

 

 

unless my workouts finish right before lunch, i drink this instead.  your body is primed to receive proper nutrition within 1 hour post-exercise and recovery formulas are an effective and quick way to replenish glycogen levels (via sugars, carbs and protiens), reduce muscle sorness and assist in muscle building/repair.  i find that it definintely helps me as my muscles don't feel as wasted a few hours after i drink this (or the next day).   i like the vega sport line because it's natural and plant-based.  this flavor i bought (apple berry) tastes like ass so i just chug it but next time, i'll by the lemon/lime one.

 

please note that supplements alone will not help you lose weight.  there is no magic pill or drink that will make you lose weight.  healthy weight loss must be done through a clean diet and regular exercise.   when combined with these two things, supplements can be a healthy way to provide your body with the nutrients it needs in the event of certain dietary restrictions or if you're on the go.

product review: aura cacia argan oil

 

you all know from previous posts that i've been struggling with my skin lately and this is my saviour:  100% certified organic argan oil.  i wanted to give it time to truly see the benefits and after a month of using this religiously (twice a day), i can honestly say that this is the best product i've ever bought for my skin.

my skin freaked out twice - once when it decided to give my la mer cream and expensive sunscreen the finger and then i screwed it up even more by over-processing it when i did a major skin care haul and applied everything i bought onto my face at once (done out of sheer excitement, stupidity and impatience to systematically incorporate each product into my routine).  i royally fucked up my skin's barrier and i was plagued with red, hyper-sensitive, irritated and super dry skin.  the dryness centered around my eyes (which, in turn, made my concealer look horrible and aged me 10 years, nothankyou), dry patches on my cheeks and under my chin area.  gone was my smooth, supple skin and i looked like something that crawled out of a crypt, i shit you not.

i turned to argan oil as a last resort (and sort of by accident) and after slathering it on for 2 days, the skin around my eyes were no longer dry.  the skin under my chin stopped peeling and those gross patches went away.  i now use this twice a day (morning and night) and since then, a lot of the fine lines around my eyes have disappeared.  for $14 a bottle, id' say that's fucking amazing.

this product has actually simplifed my skin care routine so instead of applying 5 products like i used to, i only need 3:  hydrating serum, argan oil, moisturizer and then i wait for awesomeness to set in.

benefits of argan oil:

• argan oil has active substances called triterpenoids which aid in the healing, offers anti-inflammatory and sun protection
• amazing for eczema.  i have eczema and this has eliminated most of it. 
• can also be used to add nourishment to hair and cuticles.  a product that does 3 things!
• not all argan oil is made equal (although some people may say otherwise).  i used that josie maran garbage for three weeks straight with zero results and i spent a ton of money on it.  after 2 days of using this organic argan oil (which only cost me $14 from a health food store), my skin cleared right up
• cools and soothes irritations
• reduces wrinkles by restoring the skin's hydro-lipid layer (fancy talk which really means:  dry skin = wrinkles and argan oil will fix that shit right up)

keep in  mind though, that not everyone reacts well to skin oils.  it's wise to do a test patch first by applying a small amount of product close to your face (usually by your jaw line) for one week and watch for a reaction.  i test patch on my neck because the skin is as sensitive as the skin on my face.  

product rating:  10/10

OAL product review: vega sport pre-workout energizer

 

 

i'm serious as a heart attack with my workouts;  like, so serious that i've started taking supplements to up my game and push myself just a little bit harder.  

the last time i took supplements was when i was in my teens and 20s and into heavy lifting.  i took a lot of protein back then in various forms - bars and/or powder - and not only did they work, they really worked to a point that i used to get asked several times if i was a body builder (?!). 

this time around, i'm not looking to bulk up; instead, i'm going for energy and focus to push me just a bit farther with my workouts (insanity and p90x).  don't worry, i'm not going to go steriod crazy and get all jersey-shore-ronnie-rage-like but i just want a little boost to make me last longer during the really intense workouts.... sort of like viagra for my muscles.

however, i'm weary about these types of things; i remember taking ripped fuel (once) when i was in school (beacuse i was always falling asleep in class and needed to get through one day of tests) and that wasn't any fun.  i was so jittery, my heart was racing and i could barely even write anything because my hands were shaking.  mind you, this was before they banned ephedrine from all supplements within canada so you can imagine how hopped up i was.   

enter vega sport.

hubs told me about it and what caught my eye was the fact that it's a natural and plant-based product, not to mention vegan.  not that i'm a vegan but vegans avoid any processed/chemical substances so i knew this would be as pure as they come.  my body is my temple so i refuse to pour chemicals into my system for an extra boost.  this product line was created by brendan brazier, a professional ironman triathlete whose diet is all plant-based and he couldn't find any supplements on the market to suit is dietary (vegan) needs so he created the vega sport line.   and because he's an ironman triathlete, you know this shit is for real.

i take the pre-energizer powder (lime flavor) which has a pleasant, limey/lemony taste with no weird after-taste.  it does give you an extra energy boost but not that crazy jittery ephedrine-pumped kind of boost.. something that gives you just enough to push you a bit further and you can tell it totally burns off because you're dead tired a few hours after your workout.  

instructs are to mix 1 scoop of powder with 1 cup of water (or non-dairy liquid) and drink 20mins before exercise.  

i tested the intensity of this product by taking it right before the hardest insanity workout (max interval circuit) and it actually gave me the energy to push through, i didn't have to rest as much as i did and i actually completed the entire workout with only 2 rests outside of the designated rest times (instead of multiple rest times to call 911, vomit,  restart my heart....you know how it goes).

rating:  10/10

product review - george's cream + awesome giveaway!

 

a couple of weeks ago, a rep from George's Cream contacted me about doing a product review for their skin cream.  i'd heard of George's Cream from a fellow blogger who mentioned that it was a solid product for dry skin and i checked around my local drug stores with no avail.  gah! winter skin, you make my wallet cry!!

i love the fact that this is a canadian owned and operated company.  George's Cream was created by pharmacist, George Doherty,  to help alleviate dry skin that is often the result from our brutal Canadian winters.  all of George's skin creams are manufactured in canada and are free of lanolin, urea and fragrances. 

The Test:

i'm very judgemental when it comes to creams because i have super dry, sensitive skin and i need something that absorbs fast and does the job.  i received two products to review:  one 30ml tube of the special dry skin cream and a 360ml of the light special moisturizing lotion.  

the texture of the special dry skin cream is thick and very creamy.  you only need a little to get full coverage, it takes a bit of work to fully massage into your skin but it has no scent (most fragrance-free creams smell like plastic to me) and i was surprised at how fast it absorbed considering how heavy it was.  it didn't leave a greasy feeling behind and my hands were soft and smooth.  

i brought the light special moisturizing lotion to work and i used it with the same results as the special dry skin cream.  it's a lighter version of the special dry skin cream; i actually like this better because it's a little bit easier to work into your skin and leaves your skin just as smooth and soft.  with both products, my skin didn't react and their motto is right:  it works!

both products receive a 9/10!

now, it's your turn!!

 

George's Cream has generously offered to give ONE lucky reader this amazing prize pack!!  

 

your prize - a $35.00 value - includes 4 items:

• George's Special Dry Skin Cream - a 450g jar and 30ml tube
• George's Light Scpeical Moisturizing Lotion - a 360ml bottle and a 30ml tube

 **Please note:  this contest is open to all U.S. and Canadian residents only.

 

HOW TO ENTER THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY:

MANDATORY ENTRIES:

1.  you must either "Like" George's Cream Facebook page  OR  follow @Georges_Cream on twitter  (1 entry)

2.  leave me a comment on this post with your email and what products you use to keep dry skin at bay (and so i can contact you if you win!). 

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: 

copy, paste and tweet this giveaway:  "i entered @vodka_and_soda's awesome @Georges_Cream giveaway! you get a 4-pack of amazing skin products!  http://bit.ly/IyeY4A "   (+2 entries).

click here to follow me on twitter and then leave me a comment with your twitter handle so i can follow you too (+1  entry).

click here to follow my blog.  if you have a blog, please leave me a comment with your blog URL so i can check it out  (+1  entry).

click on the "Like" button at the bottom of this  blog post and then leave me a comment with a link to your facebook page (+1  entry).

 

contest is open from April 11 and closes April 29 12am EST.  one winner will be randomly selected and emailed within 48hours of name selection

 

GOOD LUCK!  

**** THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED****

product review: dermalogica

 

i've been on the hunt for the answer to my crazy, dry, sensitive and irritated skin.  it seems that my current moisturizer just wasn't cutting it (boohoo!) and i'm not sure if it's because of my hormones (it appears to be), the weather (highly likely) or a combination of both but these days, my skin freaks the fuck out.  by this, i mean it's dry, red, itchy, sensitive, painful and just plain crazy.  i've gotten used to figuring out what is wrong with my skin and i knew it was because my skin needed more moisture.  it's not my diet nor my sleep (both have been excellent since january) so i narrowed it down to my skin products.

i came across the dermalogica brand and tried a few samples.  in particular, i was interested in anything they had to offer that provided some serious hydration.  after going through all of their samples and grilling the lady who worked at the clinic, i took the plunge and bought the following products (after which my wallet was, and still is, crying from the pain):

intensive moisture masque

made for dry to ultra-dry skin, this mask contains evening primrose oil, vitamin E, plant extracts, honey and vitamins A and C to help restore the skin's softness,  alleviate fine lines and visible dryness.   it contains no artificial fragrance or color.  

the consistency of this mask surprised me as i'm used to hydrating masks being creamy.  this has a clay-like feel to it; it's thick coming out of the tube and spreads easily on the face.    slather on a thick layer, let sit and wash off after 10 minutes.  

 

boo!

not only does it turn you into casper the friendly ghost but washing this sucker off is the hard part.  i'm still trying to find a better way of washing it off other than stealing one of kayla's face cloths.   

i use this twice a week after exfoliation.  my skin feels soft and supple right after.

product rating:  8/10 

******

skin hydrating booster

of all the dermalogica products i've tried, this is one of my favorites.   containing hyaluronic acid, this light, clear, scent-free  gel gives the skin a super-hydrating boost as it soothes and minimizes fine lines.  i apply this morning and night on a clean face, under my moisturizer.  the tear-dropper application allows you to administer a small amount and a lot goes a long way.  i find it works exceptionally well combined with my moisturizer and my skin  is hydrated and soft all day.  this is definintely a "holy grail" product.

product rating:  10/10

 ******

 super rich repair

i was sad that the effectiveness of my moisturizer had lost its touch but ecstatic that i could finally be free of spending a ridiculous price for it.   

 

enter:  the super rich repair.  from dermalogica's AGEsmart line (gah!), this is a heavy duty  moisturizer for chronically dry and prematurely-aging skin.  it boasts "powerful peptides stimulate collagen production while and acid-free smoothing complex improves elasticity and tone. Shea butter and oil of evening primrose replenish skin with maximum hydration while reinforcing skin's natural defensive barrier. Antioxidant soy flavonoids shield against extreme environmental elements that con accelerate the visible signs of aging".  Contains no artificial fragrance or color.

for some stupid psychological reason, i need a heavy cream on my face otherwise i feel that it won't work.  maybe years of la mer has brainwashed me into thinking that thicker is better and while in some cases it is (heh), that doesn't necessarily translate into a better moisturizer.  while this product isn't as thick as la mer, it certainly has some weight.  it comes in a pump and you don't need much to spread the product on your face.  it glides on easily, absorbs quickly, doesn't have any scent  and my skin feels smooth and soft.   i just wished they would use a jar instead of a pump because i want every.single.drop of cream for the price i paid for only 50ml.

product rating:  9/10 (i'm not a fan of the packaging)

 

******

ultra calming serum

another one of my favorites!  

my skin has this annoying habit of suddenly flaring up and freaking out for no reason.  i'll be sitting there one minute with perfect-looking skin and then the next, it'll be red, angry and ugly.  

when i came across this product, i didn't believe it when the esthetician said that it instantly calms irritated skin;  no product i've ever used has ever done that.  well, on one particular day, my skin was going schizo so i applied some of this and miracle of miracles, my skin calmed right down and the itchy, burning, irritated sensation went away.  you can bet i went back and bought a tube of this right quick!

made for ultra-sensitive skin, this product "has botanical actives that work below skin's surface to control inflammation, itching and discomfort. Bisabolol and Boerhavia Root Extract work with Oat and Ginger to provide relief and fight future flare-ups. Aloe helps calm and restore moisture balance. Peptides help ease the discomfort of and build skin's barrier layer. Oil of Evening Primrose, Sunflower Seed and Avocado extracts help restore the natural lipid barrier layer of skin and defend against future assaults".   the only thing that's not appealing is the consistency.  i'll be honest and say it looks like something that starts with a "j" and ends with a "zzz"; you do the math hahaha!

i apply this twice a day (morning and night) and it definintely helps calm my skin down.  in fact, i carry this in my purse for sudden onslaughts.

product rating:  10/10 

 

have you used any dermalogica products?  which ones do you like?

product review: Cala powder brush

  

$7.99, Winners

 

i'm not one to search for things at discount stores but when i happen to stumble upon a bargan, i snap that shit up right quick.

while looking for something else at Winners, i stumbled upon this brush.  at first i thought it was Ecotools (which is a great brand, btw) but when i looked closer, it was by Cala.  when i touched the bristles and held the brush, it was the same handle (bamboo) and the bristles are synthetic but so soft.   it's a fluffy brush with a large head designed to distribute loose powder during your makeup application.  i really liked the way this felt; it was soft and i loved that it was so fluffy.  for $7.99, i knew i'd regret it if i didn't pick it up.

putting it to the test:  i don't have loose powder so i used this with my pressed powder instead.  the wide, fluffy  head allows for even  and light powder distribution so you can apply more if need be.  a problem i have with some brushes are the bristles that come out and stick to your face (which is really annoying!) but so far, these bristles held tight to the brush.  

i LOVE this brush; i'm wondering if i should seek out their blush brush even though i already have 2 blush brushes (but by different manufacturers).

product rating:  10/10

product review - bobbi brown corrector

 

bobbi brown corrector in light peach, $22CAD.  available at holt renfrew or select sephora canada stores.

 

if it's one thing i never leave home with out, it's concealer.  now that i'm closer to death 40, i have to worry about dark circles and wrinkles.  did you know that as you age and your hormones take a nose-dive/goes wacky, it shows through your skin in the form of melasma?  essentially, that's hyperpigmentation due to schizo hormones and melasma tends to show up on your upper lip thereby giving you perma-stache and darker under-eye cirlces! egads!!  

before i found my holy grail of concealers,  i bought bobbi brown's corrector in light peach.  this line of concealers are peach or pink-based that are designed to neutralize dark under-eye circles.  you can wear this alone or layed with a concealer on top.  

the product has a thick, creamy consistency and i used a concealer brush to apply the product.  i found it was a little difficult to blend and to  my dismay, it was also pretty drying.  near the middle of the day, it looked cakey and gross - a look that i absolutely HATE; i constantly felt like i was on display and people were starting at my cakey, gross concealer.  it didn't really do a job of concealing my dark circles at all;  if anything, it just highlighted the fact that i had dark circles.  and with the wrinkles i looked like gollum :(.  if  i really wanted to hide them, i had to apply a lot of the product and then it looked so obvious that i was wearing concealer.

i returned this product,  boo.  bobbi brown is one of my favorite brands so it was disappointing to have to return this.

product rating:  4/10.  

 

product review - Sugar Lip Treatments by Fresh

 

 

$26, available at Sephora

 

fresh's lip treatment line boasts a "natural" lip balm that promises soft and supple lips (LIES!!!) while protecting them with SPF 15.  it comes in plain as well as several colors - plum (a dark wine color), honey (a nice nude color), rose (a pretty pink color) and passion (a bright red color).  all of these colors are sheer so they give you a pretty hint of color.  

last weekend, i bought the plain and rose one and when i first put it on that day (the rose one), it coated my lips nicely, kept it soft all day and gave me a pretty hint of color.  i was so excited when i thought i had finally found a tinted lip balm that worked.  unfortunately, the next day, my lips reacted and they felt a little dry and weird so i thought it might be the color in the Rose one so i switched to the plain.   that didn't help at all and by then, my lips were in full-on reaction mode:  they got super dry and started scaling/peeling like crazy.  WHAT.THE.FUCK.  if it's one thing i absolutely loathe is dry, flakey lips.   it was so awful; the skin around my lips were so dry and tight.  you know the tightness you feel when you get glue on your hands?  and then you stretch your skin and the glue cracks and flakes/peels?   but instead of your hands, it's your lips so i would have this disgusting whiteish peeling skin nastiness around my mouth.  you know how those crack whores look with that white shit all around their mouth? well, instead of a crack whore, it was me with that nasty shit around my mouth.  i was so disgusted with it that i carried a mirror around with me and always checked to make sure there wasn't any vile white dead skin hanging around my mouth.  ugh, the thought of it makes me shudder.

SHAME ON YOU, FRESH, FOR MAKING ME LOOK LIKE A CRACK WHORE!!  >:(

it's only been yesterday that my lips returned to normal.  i returned that fucking product and will never ever buy fresh products - EVER!

 product rating:  0/10. 

mother nature, i'll fight you all the way

$54, available at holt renfrew or any kiehl's store

 

in my last post about fighting wrinkles, i've added this weapon to my arsenal.  holy crap, looking back at all my recent posts, i really need to stop shopping. 

anyhoo...

when i was at the armani counter getting the best concealer on the planet, the lady went into a longer-than-normal tirade about how  brightening serums help us look younger by clarifying and reducing pigmentation of the skin.  aside from feeling slightly offended that she was obviously hinting this at me, i kept my hand from bitch-slapping her, zipped my mouth shut and listened to what she had to say because lately, i've been thinking the same thing.  

i'll be honest and admit that in my youth, sunscreen was not as important as looking like the shiznit all bronzed and golden-like on the beach.  thankfully, i mended my ways in my early 20s and sunblock became a staple in my makeup bag however, the effects of sun damage tends to rear its ugly head and catches up to us around the same time that mother nature gives us the finger and our boobs and skin start to head south. hyper-pigmentation is also attributed to hormones - pregnancy and birth control pills are common culprits - and i definintely noticed that my skin composition changed after i had kayla.

i didn't want to give the offensive sales lady the benefit of selling me the brightening serum so i headed over the kiehl's store and talked to a sale guy who i swear, stole the skin off a baby's butt - it was that clear and bright.  he said that he tried it and after 4 days, noticed that his complexion was more clear and 'brighter'.  while this isn't a miracle in a bottle, it will even skin tone and lighten dark spots.  nothing will eliminate dark spots other than lasering that shit off.

well, it has been 4 days since i started using this serum and goddammit, he's right.  while my dark spots haven't miraculously disappeared, my skin does have a more "glowing" look to it.  maybe this product brightens the skin overall so the dark spots aren't as prominent but i love the way my skin looks.  even with makeup - and lately, my skin had been looking like a dried up old shoe - this product makes my skin look amazing and perked it right up like a big boner.

this serum has a very faint scent and absorbs very fast.  three drops will cover the entire face and should be applied morning and night before your moisturizer.  don't forget:  when you're using brightening serums, wearing sunscreen is a must.

product rating:  10/10

 

product review - giorgio armani master corrector #2, high precision retouch

 

do you want to stop looking like a haggard witch?  your answer is here! (and you're welcome)

 

master corrector #2 (and i'll be its bitch) $36CAD, available at holt renfrew

 

 after searching high and low and from sea to shining sea, i have found the holy grail of correctors.

i can go on and on about why i needed a new prodcut to hide my under-eye circles but the long and short of it is: aging and the fact that mother nature is a cruel bitch.

my problem is that i don't have the typical bluish/purplish under-eye circles; on my medium asian skin, it translates to a yucky brownish color.  for years i thought i needed a concealer with yellow undertones (pro MUAs:  you have lied to me all these years, shame on you) when in fact, i needed an orange-based product to neutralize the dark pigmentation.  

when i remembered the makeover a fellow bloggy pal got at the giorgio armani counter in vegas, i quickly youtubed that shit and the world stopped turning upon discovering the mother of all correctors.  i was so excited that i left work at 2pm yesterday (!!) to head to the mall because i needed it in my hands immediately.  

the master corrector comes in 2 shades - pink (#1) or orange (#2).  it's a light liquid that comes with a fine brush to apply the product.  because the fluid is so light, you can layer more if you need to and you only need a tiny amount.  blending this product is so incredibly easy and covers really well so you go from looking like the bottom of a shoe to an angel that's just woken up from a refreshing nap.  i went home, immediately washed off my old crappy concealer and applied this one.  after an hour, i looked in the  mirror again and guess what? no more haggard wench!  

product rating:  10/10

*****************

THE CONCEALER 

high precision retouch #3.5.  $36, available at holt renfrew

 

there are days that i feel and look like absolute ass so i also bought the concealer just for those days. did you know that your concealer is supposed to be about 2 shades lighter than your normal skin tone?  i didn't.  i was always told to match, match, match and anything different would only highlight your imperfections.  

when i looked at the color of #3.5, it surprised me because it's so light; like a light bisque color and something that i would never have picked up on my own.  like the master corrector, this concealer is lightweight, blends easily and packs a lot of pigment so all you need are a couple of dots under your eye area on top of the corrector and you're good to go.   using both, the dark circles that have plagued all of my 30s vanished like houdini and i almost cried; no product has ever managed to do this before.

mr. armani, not only are your clothes awesome, your cosmetic line is too.

product rating:  10/10.