After lazing through winter in baggy jumpers, jackets and smock dresses, the shock of summer and having to reveal skin often catches many by surprise. All of a sudden the words detox”, diet” and even, God forbid, exercise” become buzzwords around the office. It’s around this time people begin to investigate which supplements can give them a nudge in the right direction. The beautydirectory team decided to find what works for them and what doesn’t – giving each staffer a product to test out for a two to three week period. With mixed results, here’s a rundown of how the trial turned out …
Super Fruit Smoothie Creamy VanillaSuper Fruit Smoothie Creamy Vanilla [Michelle]
This smoothie is a low-GI meal replacement drink that says it will help you feel fuller for longer due to the inclusion of the ingredient LuraLean®. It comes in three flavours, includes protein and extracts rich in antioxidants, plus it's meant to encourage a healthy metabolism. The directions indicate you can replace 1-2 meals a day by mixing a sachet with 250ml of skim milk, and to have the drinks alongside a calorie-controlled diet and exercise program to aid weight loss.
Now I've never been a dieter nor have I ever been inclined to skip meals to lose weight. Fact is, I'm a happy eater. When we talked about doing a trial of supplements, detoxes or weight management products, I was more interested in finding out if meal replacements can really make you lose weight or if you're still so hungry after drinking one you end up eating anyway (in addition to the 249 calories you've just consumed).
A box of the new Blackmores Super Fruit Smoothie landed on my desk and it contained 10 sachets including the flavours Creamy Vanilla, Mixed Berries and Dark Chocolate & Blackcurrant. The first meal I replaced was lunch with a Mixed Berries smoothie. The drink is easy to make up and the flavours aren't bad at all (Dark Chocolate & Blackcurrant is my favourite), although I did find the texture a little strange. Interestingly, my biggest concern about still being hungry after drinking a meal replacement drink was dismissed straight away. Half way through the smoothie I felt full so I didn't finish it, and then didn't find it difficult to wait until dinner for my next meal – a great effort for someone who snacks as much as I do!
I wasn't interested in replacing two meals a day so I've stuck to just having a smoothie at lunch. It hasn’t been 100 per cent consistent as I've had a few lunch meetings, but I've had the smoothies enough to believe that they really do fill you up, and that with continued and dedicated use it would be quite easy to lose weight by having this meal replacement.
Rapid Burn Metabolism Booster and Fat-Trapper [Sarah]
I currently have good health and energy but chose to trial the Rapid Burn Weightloss System to try and lose a couple of winter kilos that I’ve found hard to shift. I was apprehensive at first as I prefer to get all the energy and nutrients I need from natural food.
I felt the effects of the product within one to two days. My hunger decreased dramatically to the point that I would have to remind myself to eat, whether this was the product or a placebo effect is unknown. I found that my energy levels were still high regardless of my lower food intake and I had no negative side effects straight away.
After a few days I noticed an increase in dehydration, which increased as the days went by. I found that I often had a very dry mouth especially late afternoon or when I woke up in the morning. Also due to the dehydration, I found that I was visiting the bathroom less. Sometimes in the afternoon I would feel a bit jittery like I had drunk one too many Red Bulls. To stop this happening, you need to be very aware of your liquid levels and keep up the water intake.
Unfortunately I was unable to continue the trial as I became ill with the flu and my medical practitioner recommended I cease taking Rapid Burn due to my dehydration.
I was surprised with the positive and immediate weight loss results and would continue to take the product. I think that it is very important that while on this system you are very aware of your liquid intake and definitely do not take more than the recommended dose.
Pretorius Olive Leaf Extract [Bree]
I have heard a lot about Olive Leaf Extract lately and had no idea exactly what the benefits were, so when a bottle of Pretorius Olive Leaf Extract arrived on my desk, I jumped at the chance to trial it.
Before taking my first dose, I went to Google to discover what I was about to put into my body. The apparent benefits of this liquid include protecting the body from viruses and bacteria, improving circulation, curing colds, the flu and pneumonia, acting as a diuretic and digestive aid, preventing intestinal muscle spasms and increasing energy and overall wellbeing. With all this, the thing that really impressed me was the fact that it is twice as powerful as green tea and five times more powerful than vitamin C.
Another thing that attracted me to the product was the fact that it’s a liquid formula - this suits me just fine as I cannot stand swallowing tablets. I had been warned that the taste was uncomfortably bitter, but when I took my first 15ml dose I was pleasantly surprised. It was sweet at first, with a very mild bitter aftertaste.
I have been taking the Olive Leaf Extract for over two weeks now, and even though I can’t say I look 10 years younger (yet), I can say I do have more energy and have been miraculously able to avoid the nasty flu that has infected the bd team.
Do I think the olive leaf extract assisted in building my immunity? Yes! Will I make it part of my daily life? Absolutely!
Nature’s Own Balance Plus Cleanse Multivitamin [Lucy]
This multivitamin contains a variety of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, in particular milk thistle to enhance liver function and green tea to help reduce free radical damage. To be taken once a day with food, the product promises to help improve general wellbeing, aid digestion, maintain a healthy gastro-intestinal system and improve the body’s detoxifying capacity.
I don’t believe in taking artificial food or shakes to detox, but a scan of the natural ingredients in this vitamin and I was on board. Although I felt fine before I began the trial, I decided it would be a good way to cleanse” my system of everyday toxins. The tablets taste disgusting, but if you swallow them whole with water you can get away with minimum distaste. The girls in the office had warned me that it was going to make my pee bright yellow, which really freaked me out at first, but eventually you get used to it. After a day or two, I noticed that the vitamin was helping to reduce bloating, which I was very prone to prior to the trial. That was the main benefit I noticed from taking the tablets, but it’s enough for me! I’ll continue taking these and would buy them again.
Rapid Loss Meal Replacement Shake [Kym]
Seduced by those meal replacement commercials with stories of amazing weight loss stories and feeling a little frumpy after the winter season, I decided to join the bd team and detox. Well, sort of detox… I like food too much to go without for any length of time so I decided to replace just one meal per day.
I have never tried diet shakes before and was a little curious to see if all those adverts for meal replacements were true. Many of my friends have talked highly of them and in the life of a working mum, it’s much easier to have a shake for breakfast.
It’s simple to use, you just take one big scoop of Rapid Loss and mix with skim milk, for best results place in the blender. It tastes like a big sinful milkshake, too nice for diet fodder! Surprisingly, I felt pleasantly full after my morning shake and it definitely tied me over to lunchtime.
Rapid Loss is packed full of vitamins, which provided me with lots of energy. After two weeks, I lost 1.5 kilos without even trying too hard. The Rapid Loss experts suggest combining the meal replacements with fresh foods to achieve the best results. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone trying to lose weight, but ensure you read the instructions and never exceed the recommended daily dose of two rapid loss meals per day.
[Liz]
I can be a bit turned off by a detox - mainly because it involves, or should I say doesn’t involve, food. When detox time is in need though, the Blackmores Kickstart Detox suits me to a T because I am still getting the benefits of a detox but with a less intense approach. All it requires is taking a tablet before every meal up to three times a day.
The Blackmores Kickstart Detox gets you on the pathway to a healthy diet and exercise program and helps your body to cleanse, purify and detoxify. I think the most noticeable effect of the detox was that it kept bowel movement regular, but not in an aggressive way, in an reassuring way. I definitely felt much lighter and didn’t experience any boating after meals while taking the detox tablet - I normally experience bloating quite a lot.
When I first started taking the supplements, I did notice a few breakouts on my cheeks, however, these started to calm down after a few weeks of using them. The detox claimed to detoxify the skin, which did work to an extent as it cleared my cheeks (stomach-related pimples) but the hormonal breakouts on my chin didn’t subside. I didn’t notice any harmful or unwanted side effects with these supplements.
MIND AND BODY
Health and wellbeing isn’t just about your body, it’s also about your mind. Create the perfect surroundings to have your head in the right place with the below candles that all contain specific healing properties.
- Featuring the uplifting island aromas of amyris, vetiver, bay and lime, this candle helps rejuvenate the senses.
Be Genki Tranquility Candle – Made from soy wax, the Be Genki Tranquility Candle is fragranced with lavender, roman chamomile, sweet orange and sandalwood scents that are renowned for their sleep-inducing properties. Designed to be used in the evening to unwind from the day in preparation for sleep.
Belle Fleur Lavender Soy Candle – This candle is made from natural soy wax and features the calming aroma of lavender. Lavender contains soothing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and nourishing properties.
Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy Distillations Revitalising Aromatic Candle - Creating a revitalising environment to revive and energise, this naturally clean-burning candle is created with essential oils of lemon and spearmint with sweet orange and clove.
- "When you want your home to feel soothing and welcoming at the end of a busy day, I recommend musky scents due to their comforting characteristics,” reveals ECOYA perfumer Isaac Sinclair. Dorothy by ECOYA has a rich base of patchouli, tonka bean and musk with subtle nuances of carnation, rosewood and muguet to create a calming, nurturing atmosphere. Feeling calm is the first step to tranquility and resting well."
– These long-lasting fragranced candles bring warmth to any environment. The grapefruit scent has uplifting characteristics, while the amber and lavender has calming qualities.
L’Occitane Aromachology Relaxing Candle – The Aromachology Relaxing Candle creates an atmosphere of wellbeing and harmony, filling the home with a relaxing essential oil perfume.
Mind to Body Massage and Lotion Candle in Lemon & Green Tea - Mind to Body is an all-in-one product that works to calm the mind with its fragrance and relax the body with the warm massage oil from the candle. Made with cosmetic-grade soy wax with organic ingredients and vitamins A, B, C E and F, the Lemon & Green Tea fragrance captures the mind and body in an oasis of comfort with invigorating lemon and healing green tea.
Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Medio Candela - The perfect antidote to hectic days and disordered thoughts, the yuan zhi candle invites the soothing powers of ylang ylang, cardamom, purple orris and ginger into your home. Deep, comforting and will help you unwind.
MOR Emporium Candle in Snow Gardenia – Created using soy wax, the fragrance features notes of gardenia, juniper berry and angelica and continues with notes of ylang ylang, vanilla and sandalwood. Ylang ylang has a calming effect on the mind and body and is used in cases of frigidity and impotence. It is known for it’s stress-relieving properties and is thought to reduce anxiety. Sandalwood is relaxing and has a harmonising and calming effect, which reduces tension and confusion.
Sundari Gulkand – The Sundari Gulkand candle has a floral and sweet scent. The rose oils are a legend to open the heart and reduce fire creating an atmosphere of balance, while fresh rose petals spun with honey and sugar complete the scent.
Synthesis 345 First Light Organics Massage Candle – This can be used as an aromatic room candle, or extinguish the candle and use the warm pool of oil for a regenerating massage or to soothe dry skin. The First Light Organics Massage Candle is made from certified organic, unrefined and cold pressed plants, nuts and seeds including shea butter, jojoba oil, soybean oil and soy wax. The candle is available in three scents: jasmine for confidence, sensuality and optimism; rose for balance, harmony and brightness and sandalwood for strength, equanimity and focus.
Urban Rituelle Flourish Organics Soy Wax Candle – Using natural and organic ingredients, this soy wax candle creates a fragrant oasis in the home or garden. Using pure essential oils, the candle includes an uplifting blend of lemongrass, lemon myrtle, grapefruit and eucalyptus. Vanilla, lavender and geranium deliver a comforting, sensual feel.