Tried and Tested- Pupa BB Cream + Dark Spot Treatment

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Hey Guys!

I hope you are all doing well!

Today I will be reviewing the Pupa BB Cream + Dark Spot Treatment, a two in one product that acts as a BB Cream and a Dark Spot Treatment since it has Whitening components.

I was contacted by Pupa a few weeks ago and introduced to these new BB Creams that they were going to launch on the market. There are a number of new BB Creams available, namely:

• BB Cream and Primer All Skin Types- Two in One BB Cream that also acts as a Primer- you may see more about this product here: http://www.pupa.it/eng/make-up/face/Product/professionals-bb-cream--primer_61341.aspx
• BB Cream and Primer for Combination Skin to Oily Skin- Two in One BB Cream that also acts as a Primer made especially for my fellow Combination to Oily Skin sisters out there- more info here: http://www.pupa.it/eng/make-up/face/Product/professionals-bb-cream--primer_61341.aspx
• BB Cream + Anti-Eta'- For all the ladies who want to keep their youthful glow, having an anti-wrinkle formula to smoothen out those laugh lines that came with all the laughs and smiles during the years- more info here: http://www.pupa.it/eng/make-up/face/Product/professionals-bb-cream--anti-eta-.aspx
• BB Cream + Dark Spot Treatment- The product I decided to go with, more info in this blog post.

The reason I decided to go with this product is that having suffered from Acne, my lovely coming of age spots decided to leave a mark on my face, you know, just in case I forget them, therefore, seeing that this product has a Whitening treatment, I decided to give it a go.

So first of all, let's see what Pupa had to say about this product:

"A multifunction product – exclusively formulated in PUPA laboratories – that is innovative and intelligent and combines a skin Whitening face treatment with the moisturizing qualities and luminosity of a BB Cream.
Perfect for all those women who wish to mitigate skin dyschromia and still have a natural look and a flawless make-up result.

WHITENING TREATMENT: a special new generation active ingredient stops the formation of  excess melanin in the skin.
Dark spots on the skin are progressively minimized and the skin looks more even and luminous.
At the same time it inhibits the formation of new spots.

CREAM MOISTURE: the formula is calibrated to pamper the skin and to take care of it in a   delicate way.

THE RESULT?
Just one step to:
• Moisturize, smoothen and make skin look perfect
• Even out and illuminate complexion
• Help prevent and mitigate all kinds of skin spots (due to age, UV rays and pregnancy) 

Available in two fondant colors, which can adjust to all complexion types."

So, one of the things I noticed that Pupa did not mention is the fact that whitening can also help towards making spots from acne scars lighter, a fact that having tried this product for the past week and a half, I have noticed, in fact, below is a picture of me mid-way of using this product, and I could already notice that my scars were a little lighter. Having said that I also use a re-rejuvenation cream, however, paired up with this BB cream, I am seeing a difference.

Sans BB Cream

 So Pupa state that it evens out the skin and helps moisturize the face, now look at my pretty face with the BB Cream, sans Powder etc.

With the BB Cream applied

 As you can see from my I just woke up grin, the BB Cream provides medium coverage, notably smoothing out the skin and hiding my scars. Of course, it does not provide a full coverage as a foundation does but it is a pretty decent coverage to go through the day and not scare my students with my no make up face!

The product comes in two shades, 001 Nude and 002 Sand. The shade I am using is 001 Nude and it matches my skin perfectly, as you can see from the swatches above.

Another thing that I loved about this BB Cream is the smell, the smell is very similar to moisturizers rather than your average BB Cream that tend to smell like a distant cousin of your foundation.

One thing that I am not a 100% impressed with, especially with this horrible weather (the weather is currently playing up and there is a lot of humidity around) is the longevity of the product, since I have had days were it has taken me through the whole day in tact (with powder) but other days I feel like a shiny penny... that being said, I actually don't look shiny but the feeling is still there.

I have also tried setting it and I noticed that it lasts longer. 

All in all I am very impressed with this product and have been using it religiously, especially during the day.

Another thing, this product retails for €  15.95, a pretty decent price seeing that you will  be getting a two in one product. 

I hope you found this information useful.

Until next time!

Martina XOXO

*Disclaimer- I was sent this product by Pupa for review purposes, however, my review is 100% my true opinion of this product. I was not paid to do this review. 

2016: A new year, a new mindset

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As the end of what was probably one of the most challenging years I have faced comes to an end, I can't help but reflect on the experiences that I have been through throughout this year.

Although the title of my post can be somewhat of a cliche, it is however, different than the usual "A new year, a new me" meme or posts we see spread across facebook.

By having a new mindset doesn't mean that I will be changing myself completely, as like everyone else, I have my good and bad qualities but I will choose to enhance the good and eliminate the bad.

Throughout this year, I have blogged next to nothing, reason being that I was so engrossed with my new career and course prospects that blogging just felt like a chore or a waste of time.

This year has been full of downs unfortunately, however, that being said, I have had some pretty good experiences throughout this year.

Focusing back on the downs, as I sit here writing this post after taking a break from reading notes on my next assignment, one sentence from my notes struck me.

This particular assignment is about quality in education and the idea of having quality in education or in any other organisation is the idea that whatever is being produced etc is not seen as a success or failure but as a learning experience.

This particular sentence struck me since one can apply it to his or her life mainly by looking back at one's experiences, especially during this time of reflection, cos lets face it, everyone reflects on their year on a day like today, and let's take some time to not view our year in terms of success or failure but with a mindset of what we learnt about ourselves during this past year.

These past couple of weeks I have been thinking about what I have planned for next year and what resolutions I should do, however, I decided that I will not do resolutions and start implementing some small changes to my life there and then and strive to achieve goals and re-evaluate certain mindsets, so here goes:

1. Remember that happiness is a choice: 
2. Work towards a healthier lifestyle and restarting a healthy exercise and diet regime;
3. Constantly challenge my comfort zone;
4. Practice  mindfulness and living in the now;
5. Journal;
6. Emit positivity.

At the end of this post, I encourage you to look at this coming year with a pinch of positivity and don't be too hard on yourself if you did not achieve the goals you set out for 2016!

Happy New Year to all!

Martina xx

Diet Diaries 2.0- Eye on the prize + Easy Chicken Recipe

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Hey Guys!

I've been meaning to write another diet diaries but with work and attending the last few lectures of my course, I had to postpone it to a quieter time to recollect my thoughts.

So since we last "spoke", I can safely say that I am being very good with my diet, eating healthily and also introduced green tea to my regime and believe me I am drinking LOADS of different flavoured green tea, more on that later.

Unfortunately my dates with myfitnesspal.com are not always consistent and regular, at the beginning, I was always updating it consistently nearly after each meal or at a particular time of the day, but for some reason, I am constantly forgetting or find it tedious... this was actually one problem I had when I went to Marika, for some reason, I always forgot or found it tedious to record every meal.

The thing is, although it may be tedious, I found that by actually documenting your meals and by reflecting on your daily eating habits, it can really help you stay on track, so I set a goal to restart documenting what I eat. Just a reminder, you can access myfitnesspal food diary by clicking this link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/tinav2407

You will see ALOT of entries that are empty... hopefully that'll change soon!

Weight wise, my weighing scales are not budging but clothes wise, I am seeing a difference. Clothes stay on better and instead of having a bulging tummy, my bloating has reduced, making me owe a huge thank you to all the green tea I am drinking.

People have also commented that my face is looking thinner and last time Chanel and I saw some photos from the past couple of months and the difference is noticeable!

With regards to food, I am quite consistent with lunch preparations. I tend to go for salads, veg or chicken and veg depending how long my day is.

I have found it super convenient to cook chicken breasts or tenderloins and season them with a mixed pepper and lemon mill- the results are simply divine!

The Pepper and Lemon seasoning I use is by Drogheria and Alimentari and I bought this mill from Miracle Foods in St. Paul's Bay, however, I think you can find it in a number of supermarkets.

 

So how do I cook the chicken?

 

 

First I leave the chicken to thaw a few hours and after it is towed, I spray a pan or grill, however, I am tending to favour pans lately, with a low-fat oil, leaving it a few seconds to heat up.

 

I place the chicken breast and grind some seasoning on it leaving it for a few minutes.

 

When I see that the chicken is browning, I turn the chicken and season the other side, adding a bit of water in order to keep the chicken tender.

 

I repeat this step another two times.

 

I usually take the chicken with some mixed veg seasoned with the Pepper and Lemon seasoning.

 

Et Voila! A very simple recipe that doesn't take much effort and is finger-licking good! 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this post!

 

Till next time!

 

Martina



Fabulous Events- Essence & Catrice!

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Hey Guys!

Hope you are all doing well!

Today I wanted to blog about the Essence & Catrice event I attended last week and give you a sneak peak of the products I received, especially since these products form part of the new collections that you can find on stands as we speak!

I plan to do a post which highlights the new products and also review each product, so stay tuned!

The event was held at the Hilton were we were stunned by a fabulous ballroom with an equally fabulous view! The highlight however were samples of the new make up collection paired with all the scrumptious nibbles and my favourite, a selection of Tea <3 BLISS!

At the end of the event, we received a gorgeous goodie bag filled with treats from the new collections. We were also encouraged to take any make up we sampled with us home! 

The products we received from both the Essence and the Catrice collections are photographed below:

Essence Collection

As you can see, there are quite a number of new essence goodies up for grabs at your essence stand!

From left, you can see the new lipsticks that are on stands now, from the new sought after liquid lipsticks to the new sheer and shine lipsticks.

The shades we received (and were able to take home with us) were (from left to right):
essence Liquid Lipstick- 02 Beauty Secret
essence Sheer & Shine Lipstick in 03 BFF and 07 Sparkling Miracle
essence Long Lasting Lipstick in 04 It's nude time

Just below the lipsticks is one of the new palettes available in a range of colours, I received the All about Greys eyeshadow palette which consists of a number of matt and shiny eyeshadows all in different grey hues.

On the right of the palette, are four products, three of which were samples I took home with me.
The first is the new Multi-action Volume Mascara whilst just below it you can see one of the new Mono Eyeshadows 13 Ocean Drive and Mattifying Compact Powder in shade 11. Just below you can see a sample of the new Camouflage concealer available as a duo.

Last but not least, we were given the 'Like a million miles away' perfume.

Catrice Collection

The Catrice collection also has something for everyone, from new lipsticks to palettes, I was ecstatic to learn that Catrice brought out new berry and nude shades for us to enjoy!

Starting top left, we were given the Ultimate stay lipstick, a gorgeous slim lipstick in the shade 030 Wood you love me, there is also a gorgeous berry shade which I cannot wait to get my hands on! Speaking of Berry, I absolutely love the Ultimate nail laquer in 94 It's a berry bash (which is actually my view as a type) and 98 No Coffee without Toffee.

Just underneath them you can find the Glossy lip glow, which if you recall a few years ago, is very similar to the Lip glow lipstick that changes colour depending on the PH balance of your lips, however, instead of being a lipstick, it is now in lipgloss form.. quite original don't you think?

Catrice have also launched a new mascara dubbed Lashes to Kill that give you a false lash effect without the falsies!

Last but not least, Catrice have also launched new palettes, the Deluxe Trio Eyeshadow focusing on nudes and berry colours. The eyeshadow palette shown is 010 Antique C'est Tres Chic. Just underneath, you can find the Pure shine Colour Lip Balm in 060 Go Flamingo Go!, a lip balm that I think has been already on stands since summer, assuming from the actual shade.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post! Stay tuned for reviews and more information about the new collections in the coming posts!

Martina XOXO

And so it begins... again...

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Dear Readers,

I hope you are all doing well. Yes, I am still alive and kicking but you all know me, I come and go and at times I am so unpredictable I surprise myself also.

These past few months have been quite a roller coaster ride of emotions for me, I have gone through so many changes in my life, physically and emotionally that some things had to give.

Throughout this journey I lost so much of myself that I stopped recognising myself, not only on an emotional level but also on a physical level.

I had gained back nearly all the weight I put off and due to this my self-esteem came plummeting down. One of the reasons why I also stopped doing outfit posts was for this reason, I was so ashamed of myself, having overcome my battle with my weight to lose it all again that I just went in a corner and gave up.

Slowly slowly I have started gaining back the strength I had before thanks to a great support system I have in my life and during this past month or so, I have been eating healthily once again, however, since I did try for a brief period in the past few months and failed miserably, I needed to be sure about this before restarting my journey and sharing it in the process with you.

Currently I am doing this journey on my own, not that I do not trust my nutritionist, but I felt that I need to regain control of myself and be able to point out to myself when I have cheated on my journey.

However, I do have a little tech helping me along the way plus my best friends are all on health regimes so I have very good shoulders to lean on when I see a bump coming up along the road.

The little tech friend that I have is a site that Chanel told me about called myfitnesspal.com, this is basically a site that tells you how much you consume a day and also allows you to measure if you need to eat more or less during the day.

I decided to make my profile online were anyone can access my profile and take a look at my online food diary, maybe I can give you some inspiration :)

You can access it by following this link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/tinav2407

Today I just wanted to write down a sort of introductory post but I am thinking of posting regular updates, any recipes which I find interesting, healthy and tasty and anything which tickles my fancy.

Don't forget to follow me on my facebook and Instagram pages: HERE and HERE were I will be posting regular photos of my food choices etc.

So Let's do this once more, I would love to hear your stories as usual!

Lots of Love,

Martina

Tried & Tested- Pupa Milano Soft & Wild Limited Edition Collection

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Hi All!

Hope you are doing well!

So I know I have been away for a while but I assure you I am alive and kicking just been super busy focusing on my career and other stuff in my life, more on that in an upcoming post!

Today I would like to talk to you about some products which have been sent over to me by Pupa Milano, however, first things first, let me take a few minutes of your time to show you this gorgeous collection!

First of all this collection is called the Soft & Wild collection and is a Limited Edition collection for Autumn 2015.

 

 

This collection features a number of different products from eye shadows to lipsticks to nail products that bring out your wild side whilst maintaining your soft features.

 

As Pupa put it:

"Pupa captures the trend and presents Soft&Wild, a make-up collection created for those women who love a sophisticated and romantic look with modern “aggressive” accents. Shades of powder pink blend with the bolder ones of fuchsia, for a collection that has a soft and wild soul."

You can view more information about this collection by clicking here: CLICK ME!

 

 

 

I received the Vamp! Duo Liner & Kajal and I'm Pure Colour Lipstick- Absolute Brightness in 003.

 

So, I have been wearing these products for the past week and I an safely say that I am OBSESSED with the lipstick and absolutely love the Kajal Liner, however, I am not wearing it out during the day due to the intensity of it. That being said I did wear it today to work but that was for review purposes!

 

 



In this photo you can see the look I created were I used the lipstick and the Duo Liner and Kajal.

 

Vamp! Duo Liner & Kajal

 

 

In this look I applied the Kajal Liner on the bottom of my eyes whilst the liquid liner on top. As you can see the intensity of the Kajal is much more intense than that of the liner, in fact when I wore it out, I went over the liner with the Kajal and eyeshadow.

 

The packaging itself is really trendy and I love the shape of both the Kajal and Liner. It is very controllable but you need a bit more control with the liner. I also noted that if the kajal gets wasted you can actually pull it out of place (granted I noticed this because I was a bit of a savage with it (see my wild side was coming out ;))

 

I also tested out both the kajal and liner by swatching them and putting them under water then wiping them off with a towel... look at my results below:

 

 

The black line on top is the Liner part whilst the black line on the bottom is the kajal part.

 

 

I was quite impressed with the Kajal part it actually went after a good rub with soap, however the liner part went out quite quickly when I washed it with soap.

 

That being said I still wanted to test out the longevity. I tested it out on a very long Friday night and I did have some bleeding from the Kajal and the Liner stayed on quite well, having said that I did put the kajal for more intensity on it, however, today I tested the Liner out with no added stuff..

 

 

As you can see there was a bit of fading of the liner and bleeding from the kajal but for a morning look the fading doesn't bother me that much.

 

 

All in all I love this liner and will definitely re-buy it once it runs out!

 

I'm Pure Colour Lipstick- Absolute Brightness in 003- Wild Red





 

I am OBSESSED with this shade! It is the right amount of red to wear at night or during the day and the application is soo smooth and it leaves your lips quite moisturised!

 

If you follow me on Instagram/ Facebook you know I posted this photo recently:

 

 

The shade on my lips is none other than the I'm Pure Colour Lipstick- Absolute Brightness in 003- Wild Red! The below photo is a closer look at the shade on my lips!

 

On the day, I also decided to test out the longevity and boy did I give this lipstick a run for it's money! On the day we had spare ribs for lunch so you can imagine what torture this poor lipstick went through.

 Considering what I put my lipstick through, I was quite surprised that I had a nice tint to my lips!

To be fair, today I re-tested the lipstick this time eating normally and drinking as I normally do:

Although the lipstick is not as vibrant as before, the red is still quite prominent and is still on my lips as I sit here and type whilst sipping on my Lemon & Ginger tea!

 

This lipstick comes in four shades, two neutral shades one on beige and one which is more pinky and a fuchsia shade. 

 

I absolutely love this collection and considering their prices which are a bit on the pricier side, I think that they are good value for the money you spend!

 

Before I forget... the following are the prices of all the collection:

 

Soft & Wild I'M Pure Colour Lipstick- Absolute Brightness - €12.45

Soft & Wild Vamp! Duo Liner & Kajal - €11.80



Soft & Wild Lasting Color Gel - €6.00

Soft & Wild Animal Print Effect Top Coat - €6.00

Soft & Wild Blush - €14.40

Soft & Wild Vamp! Wet & Dry Eyeshadow - €11.70 each

 

 Hope you liked this post!

 

Don't forget to like my facebook page: HERE and follow me on instagram: @allthingsfab

 

 Martina XOXO

 

*Disclaimer- I was sent the above products for free, however, this review is of my true and honest opinion. I was not paid to write this review.



Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Persona Free Breast Screening,

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Hey Guys!

I hope you are all doing well.

I would like to share with you some information that Persona have sent to me in order to amp up awareness of Breast Cancer. As you know, October dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness and a number of companies and institutions are driving campaigns towards Breast Cancer Awareness and Early detection all over the world.

Persona is no exception!

 

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year, Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre is inviting women to visit for a free breast screening consultation in their recently opened Breast Clinic. Free consultations with their Consultant Breast Surgeon are available throughout October.

“Breast cancer awareness month is a great time to remind women about the importance of regular screenings, self-breast examination and knowledge of your familial history of cancer,” says Kate Demanuele, General Manager at Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre. ”By offering free screenings in October, we hope to raise awareness and contribute to prevention and early detection – when the chance of successful treatment is best and the survival rate is highest.”

Breast cancer is the most common type of non-skin cancer in women, accounting for 14 percent of all new cases. However, deaths from breast cancer are declining every year for the past several years. In a recent study, the five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with breast cancer was 84 percent.

Routine medical care is important for staying healthy. Many women can survive breast cancer if it’s detected and treated early. Breast screening consultations, self-examination and a mammogram can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.

To book your free breast screening consultation, contact Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre on 21 340 366 or info@persona.com.mt. Appointments are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Martina XOXO
o.b.o Persona

 

Ray-Ban invites its fans to body-painting dares at Creamfields

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Hey Guys!

Hope you are all doing well!

Check out this awesome initiative from Ray-Ban! As you may or may not know, Ray-Ban is all about campaigning for change and encourages its fans to be true to themselves!

If you have been following me on facebook and Instragram, you know that I went to one of these initiatives at Isle of MTV earlier last month!

This month is no different! Ray-Ban are encouraging their fans to express themselves by welcoming their body paint challenge and they can win awesome prizes. More info below!

Martina

RAY-BAN INVITES ITS FANS

TO BODY-PAINTING DARES AT CREAMFIELDS

Legendary brand Ray-Ban is inviting its fans to change the world this summer by being true to themselves and openly expressing their beliefs, world-changing ideas and deepest confessions.

A specially designed lodge will be set up at the MFCC during the major dance festival, Creamfields on Friday, where adventurous partygoers can partake in body-painting dares, spraying on a graffiti wall and creating customised t-shirts.

“Both Ray-Ban lodges at the Isle of MTV and Café del Mar last month attracted huge crowds of people with plenty of #Campaign4Change spirit. Around a hundred people of all ages participated in body-painting dares and over 500 customised Ray-Ban t-shirts were distributed, as part of the incredibly popular #SpeakTheTruth campaign. We are very excited to meet more Ray-Ban fans at Creamfields!” said Helena Tua at Ray-Ban Malta.

Those daring enough to have their body covered in vibrant body paint will be rewarded a free pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. Meanwhile, those opting for a smaller piece of body art will receive Ray-Ban vouchers and Ray-Ban freebies, depending on how adventurous they are.

Creamfields partygoers can have their most honest confessions printed on a customisable t-shirt in the #SpeakTheTruth t-shirt factory.

The Maltese edition of the campaign, brought to the island by Class Optical, Ray-Ban’s official representatives in Malta, is also organised in other countries worldwide.

The #Campaign4Change and #SpeakTheTruth campaigns were launched in Malta at two high profile party events in July: Isle of MTV in Floriana and Duke Dumont at Café Del Mar.

Creamfields will be held at the MFCC grounds on Friday, August 14th. 

Brand loyalists are encouraged to use the hashtag #Campaign4Change and #SpeakTheTruth to pitch their world-changing ideas on www.ray-ban.com/malta, and to access details and images of the campaign.

Ray-Ban’s official outlets in Malta can be located via www.eyewear.com.mt.

Are you up for the challenge?....

No Use crying over split ice-cream

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Hi Guys,

I hope you are all doing well!

Today's post is something I have been putting off for a long long time, probably because I was so much in denial that I didn't want it to seem so real.

So as you know or you probably don't know, I went through a whole year dieting to achieve quite a great goal, losing 13 kilos and being able to put on clothes I had never imagined will fit! You can read about my whole journey here: http://allthingsfabulousblog.blogspot.com/search/label/diet%20diaries

In my last post on exactly the 12th of February 2014 I weighed 57 kilos and I was looking damn fine, I must say. Today, Monday 8th of June 2015 I weigh 67-68 kilos and I look like I'm in my first trimester.

So were did it all go wrong? Simple... I just didn't care anymore!

It all began when I needed a change in my life, I changed everything from my hair, to my style, my relationship etc etc. In that period all I felt like doing was having fun and nothing else, in fact I dare say that 2014 was probably my best year EVER! I was truly enjoying life, made some great memories and went out and enjoyed myself every weekend. With that however, came a lot of junk food and beer, especially in Summer were my signature drink was Cisk Chill Berry.

However, many might say that I did not gain that much weight, in fact looking back at photos this is not evident, reason being is that although I ate unhealthily, I was doing exercise 2-3 times a week, so I didn't gain any weight!

Things changed during the end of the year. I started comfort eating due to a complicated situation in my life and slowly slowly I started exercising less, especially since I had a new opportunity which took up a lot of my time and I then decided to focus on my career.

Come February/ March , my diet has spiralled out of control. I stopped exercising since I was attending a course during the times of my aerobics classes and assignments got intense that I comfort ate my way through these past couple of months.

Last week, I got a huge wake up call when I went on to try some things I had for summer and nothing fit! I had been rarely going out due to assignments that I didn't need to get dressed up, so I didn't realise how much weight I put on. I also went to try on dresses for my cousin's upcoming wedding and ofc I was not seeing myself I did before.

Today I decided that I will no longer let myself throw what I worked so hard for go to waste and I decided that once again I will start taking my dieting seriously and re-start my journey towards a healthy lifestyle including exercise!

That being said, the support I received online and the therapeutic value I got from writing down my struggles on my blog were what kept me going all those months!

So as I said before, let's do this once again and hey, it's ok to fall off the wagon, because you're strong enough to pick yourself up again and keep on driving!

Martina XOXO

Persona Med- Aesthetic Centre & SkinCeuticals- Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness

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Hi All,

Hope you are all doing well!

All Things Fabulous has joined Persona Med- Aesthetic Centre's drive towards Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness. Check out this information below... it can save your or some one else's life!

The month of May being dedicated to Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness brings the risks associated with sun exposure and the link with potential skin cancers to the fore of public opinion. To support this global health initiative, Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre, in collaboration with its team of leading dermatologists and supported by SkinCeuticals Advanced Skincare, shall be offering a number of free consultations for mole assessment throughout May, thereby increasing awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection of melanoma.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from melanin-producing cells, which are normally located in the basal layer of the epidermis or within the dermis, the outer layer of the skin. Aggressive forms of melanoma can spread to almost any organ in the body, making it of vital importance to detect it an early stage.

By far the biggest risk for developing melanoma is sun damage (UV radiation). The effects of sun damage are cumulative, meaning that they build up over time. Up to the age of around 30, cells recover quickly from damage and thus visible damage like sunspots, wrinkles and moles are relatively rare. Nonetheless every episode of sun exposure builds up damage (especially in sunny climates like Malta), which comes apparent and visible later in life.

Unfortunately, local dermatologists have seen a sharp rise in cases of melanoma over the last years. Experts indicate that this rise is due to a couple of different factors, such as the depletion of the ozone layer, popularity of tanning beds, more revealing fashion styles, and social norms encouraging the desirability of tanned skin. While it’s true that our bodies need a daily dose of Vitamin D, absorbing enough sunlight to reach your daily requirements is no problem for people living in Malta. With the amount of sun hours and strength of the UV rays in Malta, our daily required dose is easily satisfied without the need for any extra effort.

To protect against the harmful effect of UV radiation, it is recommended to seek shade and avoid the sunniest hours of the day, roughly between 11.00 and 16.00. When outdoors, try to protect your skin as much as possible, wearing a hat, sunglasses and clothing that covers you skin. Also, as a general rule of thumb, it is highly recommended to use a high factor broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF50+) throughout the year, especially in our sun-blessed Malta. In the summer months it is important to re-apply your sunscreen every 2-3 hours throughout the day when exposed to the sun.

Together with SkinCeuticals, Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre emphasizes on the fact that for optimal protection, the use of antioxidants in combination with a bread-spectrum sunscreen will be greatly beneficial and increase one’s protection level against harmful UV & IRA rays. Recent studies show that IRA (infra red radiation) is also responsible for skin’s photo-damaging effects, hence modern sun protection should include filters, that provide IRA protection as well. Whereas sunscreens protect against UVA and UVB radiation from the outside, antioxidants work from the inside, protecting against free radicals formation and DNA damage to skin caused by UV & IRA rays. Studies show that even the best sunscreen, when applied, offers up to 55% protection against UV damage, but when combined with a powerful and well-formulated antioxidant, protection levels rise even up to 98%. In this light, during the month of May, Persona is offering a Free sunscreen to all those who purchase one of SkinCeuticals’ revolutionary antioxidant products,  to help educate on the importance of combining and anti-oxidant with a high SPF sunscreen in one’s daily routine.

Another important element in the fight against melanoma is self-examination, for you to detect suspicious lesions as early as possible, and bring these to the attention of your dermatologist at a very early stage when treatment has a very high success-rate.

A popular method for self-examination is the ABCDE-method, where the letters stand for 5 indicating factors of melanoma; A - for Asymmetry in shape, B – for irregular Borders, C – for Colour variations, D – large (6mm+) Diameter, E – for Evolution that marks a change over time.

‘Dermatologists world-wide insist that there’s nothing healthy about a sun tan, therefore through this campaign, we hope more people will become aware of the dangers of unprotected or inadequately-protected sun exposure’, says Kate Demanuele, General Manager of Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre. ‘Prevention and early detection measurements of skin cancer, can save lives, therefore we hope this campaign will have its needed impact on people’s lifestyle and their skin health.’

By harnessing the power and influence of print and social media, Persona’s aim is to spread the message about melanoma as far and wide as possible. Various informative materials will be spread through Persona’s website (www.persona.com.mt) and its Facebook page (Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre) as well as through the local facebook page of SkinCeuticals, and through local bloggers and media, hoping to reach a bigger crowd.

We remind the public that as part of its SkinCeuticals year-long charity campaign launched earlier this year, Persona will donate 5% of all SkinCeuticals 2015 sales to Hospice Malta at the end of 2015.

SkinCeuticals antioxidants and high quality, broad-spectrum sunscreens are available exclusively at Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre in Ta’ Xbiex or can also be purchased online through the website www.persona.com.mt. Readers can contact Persona on 21340366 or info@persona.com.mt.

My Week in Pictures- Week Three

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Hey Guys!

Hope you are all doing well!!

My third instalment of 'My Week in Pictures' is a little more personal rather than fashion or beauty related, however, I still have some fashion and beauty pictures in tow.

To see my previous post, CLICK ME!!

So last week, my dear friend Chanel, you may remember her from Bon Ton Fashionista, left for a four month adventure to Berlin! I posted this photo of us when Chanel had taken me out when I was feeling a bit blue! Channy has been a total support system during a bit of a bleak phase that I was going through and I will forever be thankful to her!! Miss you my dearest bestja <3 xxx

My headband came out to play again! This time I paired up a Polka Dot Skinny Jeans with a Batwing Striped top and Long Cardigan. I also added some Nautical Inspired Rope Statement earrings. Oh yes, and check out my new mustard heeled combat boots <3

OOTD

Tsega Batwing Striped Top

Calliope Polka Dot Skinny Jeans

Shana Long Cardigan

Ontop Turban Top

Tip Toes Mustard Heeled Combat Boots

Parfois Nautical Roped Statement Earrings

Mango Ring

Some details from the previous days' OOTD. I ADORE this combination. <3

This photo was actually taken a few days before Chanel left for Berlin. We really enjoy sharing a Dolce Gusto together and whilst I was refilling up on water, Chanel grabbed our mugs and found these two cuties!

As I had said in my previous posts, I went a bit haul crazy last month especially when it comes to jewellery and accessories! Check out the gorgeous pieces I got from Mango! First off, the infamous ring I keep posting about and this gorgeous layered silver and gold necklace which I absolutely ADORE!

Last Wednesday I attended an Essence and Catrice event which was awesome since I got to see the lovely bloggers, especially since I was in hibernation, I hadn't seen many of them for ages! Check out  the products I managed to get my hands on ;-)

At home, my did a huge frame of old photos and many of them consist of me wearing a headband. So in true TBT fashion, I posted this old picture of me with a cute monochrome dress and white headband which kind of looks like a turban top... I guess some things never change! (BTW after I posted this my mum told me I never left the house with a head band back in the day!)

This is probably the most risqué outfit I wore. I was quite hesitant to wear it since I have gained a bit of weight lately. I paired up a woollen crop top which is surprisingly very cosy with a flowy midi skirt and my ankle boots! I also decided to take out my layered necklace out for a spin (the photo is not clear but as you saw from earlier on in the post its a gold and silver necklace) and I paired it up with my cross studs.

OOTD

Calliope Dark Grey Crop Top

Calliope Flowy Midi Skirt

Next Ankle Boots

Mango Layered Gold and Silver Statement Necklace

Shana Cross Studs

New Look Laser Cut Clutch

(not clear from photo)

Mango Ring

Tally Weijl Interlinked Ring

This photo is the details of the rings that are not visible in the photo above!

That's all from me!

Remember to like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/allthingsfabulousblog and follow me on Instagram on: https://instagram.com/allthingsfab or @allthingsfab

Martina X

My Week in Pictures- Week Two

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Hey Guys,

I hope you are all doing well!

As you recall from last week, I started off a new instalment, you can see last week's post: HERE!

So what have I been up to this week?

This OOTD is actually from the previous week when I went shopping with Chanel...cheating!! I decided to combine two prints which I thought won't go together but to my surprise they really merged together!

OOTD

Caliope Sweater

Shana Cardigan

Primark Tube Skirt

Primark Polka Dot Bag

H&M Leopard Print Scart

Independent Store Tan Boots

Chamilia Bracelet

Lately I have been drinking ALOT of Herbal Tea, specifically Twinings Vanilla Tea, which is just divine! I usually take this into lessons with me instead of water and carry it in my New Look Travel Mug which was a Christmas Present from a friend of mine, hence, the Penguins with Santa Hats... #notchristmas

This week the weather has been mildly kind to us so I sported my bright red pants for work one day!

OOTD

Orsay Red Jeans

Qed London Off Shoulder Heart Print Top

Jennyfer Cardigan

Primark Tank Top

Bershka Necklace

Tip Toes Mustard Ankle Boots

My gorgeous baby, my love, Titch <3 I took this photo when he was in super cuddle mode, how can you not love this face!

Pastels were front and centre for me this week! I sported my Peachy Pink Trousers and Leather Jacket for work!

OOTD

Orsay Jeans

Caliope Sweater

Primark Tank Top

New Look Leather Jacket

H&M Leopard Scarf

Independent Store Brown Ankle Boots

Last week I stocked up on some eyeliners and lip liners just because! I absolutely LOVE Make Up Store Liners, ok, I may be biased because I work there BUT they really are the best liners I have used, and I have said this even before I started working there! I bought a Black Eyeliner since it's super pigmented and I needed a strong black liner. I bought Seduced by the Dark which is a metallic-ish brown liner which is great for everyday use. With regards to lip liners, I needed a dark lip liner so I went for the darkest lip liner we have which is Russian Bordeaux, a gorgeous wine whilst my colleague suggested I try Gum and Dali. I'm obsessed with Dali already which is a two-toned lip liner having a pinkish and purple shade on either side which you can use separately or mix!

My printed trousers came out to play again!! I paired up my Red Baroque Print Trousers with a Beige Sweater and blue Cardigan and added my new Parfois Statement necklace! You cannot see it very clear from the picture but this necklace has some red touches to it!

OOTD

Caliope Sweater

H&M Baroque Print Trousers

Shana Cardigan

Next Ankle Boots

Parfois Statement Necklace

MVintage Studs

That's all from me!

Remember to like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/allthingsfabulousblog and follow me on Instagram on: https://instagram.com/allthingsfab or @allthingsfab

Martina X