Press Sample - Getting Rid Of Those Achy Bits With Gwdihw - A Review For My Pure*

A few weeks ago I reviewed a few products that I'd been sent to help with sore and achy muscles - I loved the products and I really felt that they did the job, but you know me I never rest on my laurels and I always like trying new things so for one this months My Pure reviews I decided to try out another muscle soothing product, this time from Welsh natural beauty brand Gwdihw - Goody Hoo.

I've tried a couple of the Gwdihw balms before and I was pretty impressed with them (read my reviews here and here), so I thought I'd try out one the newer editions to the line, the Muscle Soother. Unlike some of the products that I reviewed recently this product contains no medical or painkilling ingredients, it just contains four naturally occurring extracts - Arnica Oil, Menthol, Camphor and Witch Hazel.

The product comes boxed and is packed in a clear plastic pump action dispenser. I've said it before and I'll say it again I love these dispensers they keep the contents relatively airtight, and it's easy to dispense exactly the right amount. 

The product is a gorgeous ice blue / aqua in colour and it has a cream / gel like texture. Other than the colour the first thing you probably notice when you dispense the product is the smell. It has a really fresh, nose clearing even, smell which comes from the camphor and the menthol. The product immediately feel cooling on the skin and when you gently massage it in, it absorbs really quickly without any greasiness or tackiness.

Over the next 15 or so minutes the skin where you've applied will go through that strange ice cold / burning feeling. Both me and Mummy Lou really liked this product, it really did make a difference to the aches and some of the pains. It wasn't as effective as say the ibuprofen and levomenthol gel, but if your after a more natural product to help ease those aches and pains this could be the product for you. Unfortunately as of 2021 this product appears to have been discontinued. If you have any questions as per usual please leave me a comment xx

* Press Sample

Ups and Downs, Goods and Bads

It's Monday so that means it's goods and bads time I am a bit thin on the goods this week :(

Bads

• Usual one for me but money - sorry to be materialistic but I really think my life would be improved a 100% if we had a bit more money
• Aches and Pains - when will it end :(
• People letting me down - I place too much trust and expectations on people and they never seem to live up to it
• I snapped my thumbnail right the way down yesterday and it is so sore!!

Goods

• I lost 2lbs this week I have a long way to go but I am determined to stick to it this time
• I have had a few parcels come - more on these later in the week x
• All you lovely people that bought from my blog sale I really do appreciate it - there are still a few bits left including some MAC and Benefit if your interested - click here to have a peek 
• I may have a little trip to the Metro Centre or Ikea this week - don't worry though I won't be spending I still have some vouchers left over from my birthday :)

I just want to say thanks again to the new followers I've had this week I really appreciate it :) I have a few posts planned for this week including 2 reviews, some goodies that I won, and maybe a overseas ebay haul from May so I hope you'll stick around x

The Return Of Goods and Bads

Hi Guys - I haven't done one of these posts for a while so I thought I'd start them up again for you :)

Bads

• I thought I'd start with the bads and the biggest bad is obviously the offending foot/ankle/leg eek - I am walking in my cast shoe without my frame now but it's isn't half giving me gyp - as well as been beyond itchy and dry, I keep getting little stabby and naggy pains particular where the clips came out, and my legs are aching like hell grr

•  Feeling a bit bleugh generally my cold is gone pretty much bar my nigh on continuous sore throat but I still don't feel myself, I feel down, and  unmotivated about everything and that's not me - everything even blogging seems like so much of chore for what seems like little reward. My sleeping is awful and everything
• seems like a chore - I hate feeling like this and want the old enthusiastic LouLou back  :(
• My godfather has shingles :( he's OK but he's in a bit of pain and he's in his 80's so it's a bit of a worry

Goods

• Hospital on Wednesday fingers crossed I can get the cast of doom off my foot
• Apart from my godfather my families 2011 illness/accident crisis appears to be over, whilst I was in hospital 2 other members of my family were in different hospitals at the same time, shortly followed by third - 2011 certainly didn't start that well for us hmm
• Sticking to my Project 10 Pan and not buying anything! - need I say more I haven't been tempted by a hardly a single thing in the past few MAC collections - is my MAC obsession over? I've also not been online shopping - normally feeling bleurgh is an excuse to buy but I've been good. I am starting to realise that shopping only gives me a little boost that to be honest doesn't last - lets hope I can keep it up
• Having said that about shopping -  I did receive a little parcel this morning the last part of my Next sale order - I placed a sale order on the 22nd December and it came today!!! To be honest I had forgotten about it but I'm keeping it, it's a lovely cozy grey winter cardi with a black belt pretty essential I am sure you'll agree especially since the snow is back :(

Well this was a big uppy and downy post wasn't it - hope it wasn't too depressing for you - oh another good - new followers - hi everyone and thanks for clicking the follow button I really appreciate it :) I'll see you later in the week with a hospital update post, a review and maybe a few randoms :) See you soon xx

A Little Purchase From December + An Update

Hey my loves just a quick little post to show you something I received in the post today. When I saw my bestie over Christmas on her finger was one of the infamous Scrabble rings. I really loved how it looked and being a bit of a Scrabble fan I ordered one from the lovely Dainty Dollymix
Excuse the bad nails - packing boxes etc hasn't helped my hands :(

Cute eh :) Thanks Sinead xx
Just a little update whilst I am on too, If you follow me on twitter you'll know that this week had mainly been spent packing my life into boxes ahead of the new central heating installation next week, I officially have no bed now too - my own bed didn't survive been dismantled so I am now getting my shut eye on a mattress, still after this hell is over I will be getting a nice new bed :) To be honest I wish this was all over it's going to be a nightmare I spent all day yesterday lifting boxes and stuff and I am really paying for it now :( I was in agony all night and I could barely move let alone walk, I had to get up early this morning because we had someone coming to move some furniture away from the root of the new gas and water pipes and I have to say I fell asleep on the sofa, bleurgh! Never mind after a trip back to bed I am feeling a tiny bit better so I am going to have a pretty easy rest of the day before a nice bath, some magazines and an early night x I had planned to do a few more posts this week but I'll try and get them up over the weekend - stay safe and enjoy the snow (again!) x x

Product Rave - SBC Arnica Gel

After my little tumble the other day so many of you both on here and on facebook and twitter said I should get some Arnica - thankfully Arnica is something that I already know and love. My Arnica product of choice is the SBC Arnica Gel. Used for centuries to treat bruising and aches and pains Arnica was something I first encountered many years ago from a friend. We were on holiday in Blackpool and we'd gone bowling and what happened, the ball came back up the shoot too quickly and my thumb was squished between two very heavy bowling balls. Back at the guest house my friend produced a tube of Arnica cream which I slathered on my throbbing thumb, and than applied a plaster -the next day there was no indication that anything was wrong, no swelling or bruising and my nail was still intact.
Anyways years later I was diagnosed with ME /CFS, for those of you that don't know as well as exhaustion and numerous other nasty symptoms, sufferers can also experience severe muscle and joint pain, and muscle spasms. Watching QVC as you do I listened to Alison Young talking about the SBC Arnica Gel, and how it could help with joint and muscle pain. Well me and my mum took the plunge and ordered some. I have to say I've found it a huge help, whether it's psychological I don't know but it certainly makes a difference.

As it comes in a light alcohol/ water based gel texture it's easily absorbed and it has a pleasant herbal smell. The gel texture means that it's more economical to use, and you can literally use it all over your whole body if you needed to. You also use it as often as you need to. Unlike the creams (which I've also found effective although they work out more expensive in the long run)it also comes in much larger containers - the pump action dispenser pictured contains 1 litre.
I would definitely recommend this product - it's one of QVC's top sellers and I can see why. I would always suggest you talk to you doctor if you have any pains, etc. - (I use this alongside prescribed and over the counter medication) but I certainly believe there is something to be said for herbal treatments such as this. You can also buy a bath soak, which I also use regularly, a shower gel and they have also recently introduced a Warming Arnica Gel which I really want to try. I bought my bottle here from QVC but I believe you can also buy it directly from SBC

(Oh, and you'll be pleased to hear my toe is feeling a lot better - thanks partially to liberal Arnica gel applications, the swelling has gone down and the bruise is already starting to fade - it would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you well wishes x ;)

7 Days of Happiness? Hmmm

Apologies that I am so late with this, this week, but I haven't been feeling too good. Caring for my mum, and catering for my birthday party has certainly taken its toll on my ME ridden carcass. I managed to miss the match on Saturday and to be honest I just about survived these past few days - ME related pains have riddled my arms, shoulders and back leaving me relying far too much on Mr Painkiller :( Added to that the recurrence of my earache and a trip to the doctors tomorrow - this week and being 31 in general hasn't started too well. Still lots of things last week made me happy and I need to keep up my happy thoughts



1)My Birthday -OK being a year older isn't a lot to be cheerful about normally, but I got some lovely pressies most of which you have already seen, and I got some lovely wishes from people on chat forums, facebook and so on their are some nice people out there :)Pictured here is one of my pressies from my bestie -OK maybe not the most obvious pressie for a 31 year old but I love my bright, shiny balloon - reverting back to childhood is good :)

2)My Birthday Carrot Cake - Since my mum is still a bit incapacitated it was left to me to make my birthday cake - I used her gluten free carrot cake recipe with cream cheese frosting and I have to say it was a total success and tres yummy! The pic really doesn't do it justice


3) Minstrels - yummy, yummy, yummy haven't had these for ages but I have just rediscovered them - Oh wow chocolate heaven - why haven't I shown these more love!

4)My Smashbox Stuff - Loving those nude lip liners especially - great colours and a good texture

5) Once again you - thanks again to you for following me on here and on twitter - it's very much appreciated and a big hello to my new followers x