You Go (Carbon) Coco

Firstly, is anybody actually able to use the word "coco" in a sentence without thinking of the "you go Glen Coco" scene in Mean Girls?  I'm betting that I'm not the only one... Surely.

Anyway, today's little blog post brings you a review of a product I was VERY kindly sent by the team at Carbon Coco a few weeks ago.  So pretty much everyone and their gran has heard about one of the latest crazes on social media that is "activated charcoal" teeth whitening.  You'll have seen the pictures online of people brushing their teeth and their mouth looking like they've just swallowed a pint of tar, and like a lot of people, I was pretty intrigued but probably a little reluctant to actually try it out... Will it work?  HOW does it work?  What's in it?  Do I really want to make a mess of my bathroom sink?

When I received an email from the CC guys, I did some initial research into their products and thought now was the perfect opportunity to give the good ol' charcoal stuff a shot and see what all the fuss was about.

Carbon Coco are an Australian company that provides all-natural alternatives to oral care and teeth whitening, and here's a little more information taken directly from their website: Their activated charcoal is "made from 100% certified organic coconut shell charcoal" and "not only brightens your smile, but also improves your overall mouth health.  Our medical grade activated charcoal powder removes toxins, stains, and plaque from your teeth through a process called adsorption, in which activated charcoal binds with these particles and flushes them out of your teeth and mouth.  The super finely milled polish won’t damage your enamel or gums and also contains bentonite clay, a natural ingredient that helps remineralise teeth plus a hint of lemon myrtle, which has gentle and non-acidic antibacterial properties."

So what's the verdict?

For best results, you're advised to use the activated charcoal powder, followed by the charcoal toothpaste, daily for 7-14 days.  Although results will most likely be different from person to person, I have only used the products four times so far and I've definitely noticed a difference in the whiteness of my teeth.  In fact, I actually noticed a difference after the very first use.

It's super easy to use - brush your teeth with the powder for three minutes, spit out and rinse, and follow with the toothpaste for another three minutes.  The powder feels quite grainy on your teeth to begin with, but as you're brushing, it feels like you're giving your teeth a good exfoliate and your mouth definitely feels squeaky clean afterwards.

Here's a couple of before and after shots:

I've had my teeth laser whitened before and I have to say, I don't ever want to do it again.  Although I had amazingly white teeth afterwards, the whiteness didn't last as long as promised and my teeth have definitely felt more sensitive since having the procedure done.

As the Carbon Coco charcoal powder and polish are so easy to use without the yucky tingly feeling, and given that I can already see a difference after such a short period of time, the Carbon Coco products are definitely ones that I'll continue to use; Perhaps not every day, but a few times a week.

If you're looking for a natural and safe way to brighten your teeth, then I'd definitely recommend that you give Carbon Coco a try.  To make things better, delivery is FREE worldwide and they have a promo code in February for 20% off.  Go figure.

If you make an order, let me know what you think!

(Oh and also, if you're going out and planning to wear your brightest red lippy, brush your teeth with these babies beforehand for some extra ooomph in your smile!)

Rachel

What I Want to Achieve in 2018

Well, we’re half way through January 2018 already(!) and, now that it’s finally dawned on me that we’re into a new year (anyone still writing the date as 2017? Yep, me too), I’ve decided that now is as good a time as any to set some personal goals.

It’s taken me a heart-breaking number of years to accept that I’m not a teenager anymore (I was a bit of Peter Pan who wanted to stay in Neverland forever), but now that I’ve left that sink in, I find myself growing as a person with each year that passes and things that didn’t matter to me before now do, and things that were significant to me in the past, are no longer.  My perspective of what is and isn’t important in life have changed and as a result, I find it helps me stay focussed and channel my energy into things that matter to me.

The first thing I’ve done this year is think about what I really want to achieve.  I haven't set New Year resolutions for the last couple of years, mainly due to the fact that they were always broken by 4^th January and quite frankly, I was setting “goals” just for the sake of it.  I didn’t ACTUALLY know what I wanted to achieve, so in reality, I’d failed before I’d even begun.

So, what's on the agenda for 2018?

Being more positive – This is something that I think about quite a lot, and although I’ve taken steps in the last few months which have definitely helped me lead a more positive life, there is still room for improvement.  Like every human being on the planet, I have my down days.  I have days where all I want to do is lock myself in my flat, feel sorry for myself and not talk to anyone.  I have my moments when I feel like my issues are everyone else's fault.  I have times where I feel unattractive and like I'm not good enough.

As part of being more positive, I’m learning to become more open minded.  I’ve always been quite an opinionated person and before, no amount of debating or persuasion would change my mind.  I believed what I believed and there was no changing that.  Now, I’ve come to learn that everything happens for a reason – People say things or act in particular ways, usually as a result of something they’re dealing with in their own personal life.  I’ve learnt to take a step back and, rather than make rational assumptions about a person, I’ve considered that they might just be having an off day.  And that’s ok, because we all have them.  Being forgiving, letting go and not getting hung up on small things that don't actually matter will, I promise, be a weight lifted off your shoulders.

As cliche as it may sound, positive thinking really has the ability to completely change your outlook on life.  All you need to do is find what makes you feel those "positive" and motivating vibes, and remember them each time you feel like you're having a crappy day.  Think positive, act positively and become the best version of you.

Look after myself more - This includes a lot of things for me, so it's quite a general goal to have, but it's something I know I should do and don't currently make much time for.  Like a lot of people I know all the things I should be doing, so why amn't I doing it;  Lack of time?  Lack of money?  Lack of motivation?  Probably all of the above, but I'm adamant this will change this year.

I want to make more of an effort on things that will make me happier and healthier, both physically and mentally - I want to visit family and friends more, because the feeling you have when you're surrounded by love and laughter is like no other feeling in the world.  I want to look after my body and skin better, because when I do, I always feel amazing and I'm a firm believer that if you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside.  I want to eat better and drink more water, and I want to take more "me time" and learn how to switch off from a busy day at work.

The most frustrating thing is, some of these things are so easy to achieve with just a small adjustment to everyday life.  I know that it's all about balance, so it's time for me to beat the bullshit and just get.things.done.

Spend less time on social media - Well this is perhaps a bit of a strange one, given that I'm a blogger who is trying to increase my blog following.  So, what I think I mean is, I want to spend less time obsessing over unattainable bodies and unrealistic lifestyles on Instagram and instead, focus on being influenced by the more positive messages that social media has to offer.

I personally feel that social media has got out of control over the last few years.  A lot of it is photoshopped/perfectly contoured/digitally enhanced "perfection", all in the name of getting a few more likes and followers.  But it's not.  Sadly, much of it is fake, unhealthy and it can be totally damaging to individuals who can't decipher what's real and what's not.

Although I feel like I have a pretty firm grip on reality, it's sometimes difficult not to compare yourself to others online, so I've made a conscious effort to unfollow any accounts that I feel portray a negative image and instead, will continue to follow those who make me happy, inspire me, and make me feel better as a person.

Well, if you've read this far in what feels like an essay rather than a blog post and I've not bored you to death, I'd love to hear any thoughts/comments/feedback you might have.  Do any of my goals resonate with you?  What do you want to achieve and how do you intend to do it?  Feel free to comment below!

Rachel x

Wardrobe Newbies

Hey guys, hope you’re well this cold but gloriously sunny Sunday!  I feel like winter is truly upon us now and it’s completely acceptable to be wrapping up in a big chunky scarf, woolly hat and glove combo.

I’ve been super busy since my last blog post (WE GOT A PUPPY!!), but it hasn’t stopped me from finally getting my hands on some of my long anticipated asos wish list goodies.

So I’ve jumped on the baker boy hat bandwagon because well, why wouldn’t you?  I’ve never been a huge hat person before, mainly because I didn’t think I was “cool” enough to pull them off so I didn’t have the confidence to wear them. But now, I’m still totally uncool, however I’ve just hit that stage in life where I don’t give a monkeys about what other people might think and so hat life, I am embracing you.

Another new addition are these OH SO LOVELY burgundy boots.  I love them.  Bright red boots seem to be all the rave right now, but I wanted something a little less in yo face and I thought the colour of these were perfect for Autumn/Winter.  They also go perfectly with most of my chunky knit jumpers that I’ve bought recently (or that I’ve had for years as I tell my bf), so they were a must have for me as soon as I saw them.

Lastly (and probably my favourite recent asos purchase) is this amazing checked blazer that I’ve had my eye on FOREVER.  The little bugger was out of stock in my size for weeks, but one night it magically became available again and I checked my basket out so fast I didn’t even bother my stingey self to look for a discount code.  Miracles do happen.

The blazer is £60 which is a little more expensive than some other checked blazers currently on the market, but once you feel it in person you know why.  It’s super thick, pretty heavy and just feels like a real good quality jacket.  It also has some subtle burgundy colouring throughout which I love (not to mention it goes perfect with my new boots), so it’s definitely one of my most favourite buys in a long time.

I ordered the jacket in a size smaller than I normally would and even then, it’s still pretty oversized, so just bear that in mind if you decide you want to give it a try.

So there it is, a few recent asos pieces that I obviously had to share with you.  There's links to them below or they're also on my blog wish list if you fancy a nosey.

Does anyone else share my mentality that if something you like becomes available only in your size, then it’s fate and obviously you have to buy it?  That’s my excuse anyway and I’m sticking to it.

Anyhoo, enjoy the snaps!

Rachel x

Blazer - asos

Boots - asos

Hat - asos

A Trip to Mexico

Hola!  If you follow me on Instagram then you'll know that I've just returned from a dreamy trip to Riviera Maya in Mexico.  My friends are probably sick of the sight of all my holiday snaps now but hey, what's a girl to do?!

I spent 10 days at the Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort & Spa in Puerto Aventuras where I FINALLY managed to unwind and switch my brain to downtime mode.  It's been a bit of a crazy year so it has, so some time away from it all was long overdue and in fact, it reminded me of the importance of taking some time out to escape everyday life and recharge the good ol' batteries.

The Catalonia was a great choice with clean, modern rooms, a good selection of different themed  buffet and a la carte restaurants and eateries (there was a crepe van people!!), and of course a couple of lovely big pools and private access to a gorgeous white sand beach.

Although we were unlucky with the weather a couple of days (it is hurricane season in October afterall), I would highly recommend visiting Riviera Maya if you're after a quiet, all inclusive resort holiday.  The food was fab, beaches amazing with stunning crystal clear waters and most importantly, I could have as many mojitos as I wanted... Like, what else do you need?!

As our last few holidays have been pretty busy, I was a little worried that we'd be bored lounging around by the pool/beach all day (a ridiculous thought, in hind sight), but actually after buying a flat this year, switching jobs and so on, a wee break was exactly what the doctor ordered.  It turns out that some sunshine and snoozing on hammocks all day really is the best kinda medicine... Who knew!

We did one day trip whilst we were away which was to Tulum to see the Mayan ruins.  Despite the fact I was nearly eaten alive by mosquitos (nasty little buggers), it was really interesting to learn about the history there and I would definitely recommend a visit if you're into that kind of thing.  The site is quite small, but set aside at least two hours so you can wander around at your own pace and take it all in.  And please, if you do go, TAKE YOUR MOZZY SPRAY.

Anyway, a holiday is of course a perfect excuse for a blog post so instead of rambling on about how perfect the sea and cocktails were, I thought I'd share some photos with you.

I would definitely love to go back to Mexico one day and perhaps try a different area, so if you've been and you have any recommendations then holla!

Rachel

Bikini Top - ASOS

Bikini Bottoms - ASOS

IRIS! (By Vera Wang, not the Goo Goo Dolls...)

Greetings, stranger!  And by stranger, I mean me because y'know, I've gone AWOL and abandoned my blog for what feels like forever.  I only ever intended for theforbesfile to be a hobby but even at that, it can be difficult to set some meaningful time aside to write "proper" posts, especially between moving cities, buying a flat (the most stressful and emotionally draining time of my life, EVER) and lazing on the sofa stuffing my face whilst binge watching Line of Duty.

Nonetheless, if you follow me over on insta then you may have noticed a picture recently of a lovely little blue Vera Wang bottle. That, my amigos, is my new favourite perfume.  And it smells bloody delicious.

"Periwinkle and Iris" is part of the Vera Wang Embrace range and there are four flirty floral scents to choose from.  After sampling them all and smelling like some sort of tropical garden, I quickly knew this one was my fave and whapped out a pleasantly surprising £21 for my 30ml bottle.

The perfume is light but noticeable and boats a pretty sweet, even musky scent.  It's also soft, classy and I'd even go as far to say intriguing, and I think it's perfect for everyday use, especially during the summer months.  I've already had loads of compliments on it at work and every so often I catch a whiff of myself and I'm like oh yeah, I smell gooood!  Totally modestly, of course.

Come to think of it, my first thought when I smelt it for the first time was "parma violets" and what do you know, it's made from violet petals!  It's very subtle, but it occasionally brings me back to my retro-sweetie eating childhood days.

If you're looking for something fresh, feminine and just generally "ooo, what's that you're wearing?!" then I highly recommend giving this beauty a try... If you do, let me know what you think!

Rachel

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN

Hey guys... So I'm quite possibly the worst "blogger" in the entire world and it's been MONTHS since my last official blog post. Pathetic attempt, I know. Must try harder.

So I have a few posts on my radar that I want to share with you soon, but until then, I thought I'd share my new do with you! Now I don't know about you, but I'm typically "that" annoying friend that never seems to be happy with their hairstyle - I go blonde: "Oh my god I wish I was brunette again", goes brunette: "Oh no I want to go lighter again for the summer because it will totally go with a tan!", cuts my hair short: "Holy crap what the hell have I done". Yep, that's me. Can anyone relate?

But anyway, new year and a new start and all, so I decided to take the plunge and go back to the dark side and I have to say, I LOVE IT! One of my upcoming posts is going to be all about taking care of you and making yourself feel good, so I'm not going to blabber on about it too much right now, but what I will say is that sometimes all you need as a wee "pick me up" is a good hair cut or a style change and Lordy, you feel like a new woman. Sometimes the smallest of changes is all we need to freshen things up a little and give yourself a good ol' confidence boost. And I'm all for that.

My little January perk me up is following a visit to the lovely Junction Hair Salon in Aberdeen where Lauren worked her magic. Better yet, the salon had a January offer on for a complete cut, colour and blow dry for £50, so extra points for that one!

If you're in the area then I would definitely recommend a visit. In fact, my mum has since booked herself in! All of the girls were lovely and provided me with endless cups of tea and biscuits (extra bonus points, of course), so if you're in need of a change and live in or around the old Granite City, then get yourself booked in.

I'll try not to leave it as long next time...

Rachel

FACE WASHIN'

Hey folks, if you follow me over on insta then I promised a post bringing you "the mother of all face washes", so voila!

If you read my previous review about the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate then you'll know how much I loved it, so much so, that it encouraged me to try some of Kiehl's other products.

I'd read a lot of good reviews about their "Ultra Facial Cleanser" so thought I'd give it a go and I have to say I'm really glad that I did.

I have normal/oily skin and I've probably tried every face wash under the sun that promises to reduce shine, minimise pores, clear blemishes blah blah... You know the script.

The first thing I noticed about the Kiehl's cleanser was how dreamy and creamy the consistency was.  It's pretty thick and my first impression was that it would maybe be too much for my skin, but actually, you only need a teeny, tiny amount of this glorious wash and it glides beautifully over the skin.  Lather it up, wash it off and I promise you that your skin immediately feels fresh, makeup-free and squeeky clean.

Kiehl's promise that the wash "thoroughly cleanses skin and removes makeup without over-drying or stripping the skin if its natural oils".  I can confirm my lovelies, that it does exactly that.  I have found some face washes in the past to be very harsh on my skin, leaving it feeling dry and even red and blotchy, but this certainly does what it says on the tin and leaves your skin feeling top notch without drying it out.  Follow this at night with the Midnight Recovery serum and ooohhhhh my god, your skin will LOVE you for it.  Pinky promise.

The Ultra Facial Cleanser comes in two sizes; 75ml at £8.50 and 150ml at £15.00.  Now in the past, I would never have normally spent more than a few pounds on a face wash but this is definitely worth the extra couple of quid.

As I said, you only need a very small amount of this so even your 75ml size tube will last like, forever.

When I bought this wee gem I got a free sample of the "Daily Reviving Concentrate".  If I'm honest, I've not used this enough to give you an honest opinion, but it certainly gets top marks from me for the smell and ability to wake yo skin up in the morning pre-makeup.

Next on my wishlist is the "Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque" - I'm off to Florida soon (AAHHHH!!) so I'm hoping to treat myself to lots of Kiehl's and other skincare products whilst I'm there.  My skin can hardly wait!

Do you have any skincare recommendations?  I'd love to hear from you!

Muchos love, Rachel x

WEDDING BELLS

Hey everyone, and happy hump-day!  Now that July is over and we're into August (I know, what the actual muff), we're well and truly into wedding season... Hooray for pretty dresses, copious amounts of alcohol and fascinators bigger than my head.

 

I love a good ol' wedding as much as the next person, but when you have several in the space of a year, it can definitely come at an expense with all the outfits, wedding gifts and potential travel and accommodation involved.  As someone who is currently saving her butt off in attempt to get on the ever price-increasing property ladder, I decided to reel the spending in a little bit this summer and set myself a target of buying an entire outfit for under £50.  Was £50 realistic?  Maybe, but at the time it didn't seem that way, and I can't tell you how many times I saw a gorgeous dress in excess of £100 and managed to refrain from sticking it on my credit card.  Good restraint, Rach.

 

After weeks, maybe even months, of drooling over dresses online I finally managed to find this lacey little number when snooping through the rails at TK Maxx.  I thought "oh, that's nice, and I have shoes already that would match so I would only need to buy a bag and a fascinator..."  With that in mind, I turned over the label to be very, VERY pleasantly surprised that it cost £19.99!!!  An absolute steal if you ask me.

 

My next hunt was for a matching bag and fascinator and with a mahoooosive sale on, it seemed Accessorize was the only place to go.  I managed to pick up a pretty snazzy looking fascinator for £10.50 (reduced from £35!) and a cute, ivory satin bag to match for £6.00.  Now maths wasn't my strongest subject in school, but that my friends, takes my grand outfit total to a nice little £36.49.  Mission accomplished.

 

I know that shopping through sale rails can be a task in itself at times, but if you're on a budget then I can't recommend enough taking a little extra time to look for a good bargain.  This time of year is especailly good for them as many shops have their summer sale going on.

 

Do you struggle with finding the right outfit for a special occasion?  Where are your "go to" shops when in need?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

 

Unfortunatly these pictures were taken on the day of the wedding with an iPhone, and with my prosecco cap on, I didn't think to take more detailed pictures of my accessories but I hope you enjoy having a peek anyway!

 

Rachel

Fascinator - Accessorize

 

Clutch bag - Accessorize

 

Dress - TK Maxx

 

 

HELLO, SUN?

Helloooo!  I hope you are well this rainy, Thursday evening.  If you're a Monday to Friday-er then I'm sure, like me, you'll be glad it's Friday's Eve and starting to think about getting into that Friday feeling!  If you work over the weekend then er, sorry.

I'm not sure where you're reading this from but if you happen to be from the North East of Scotland, then I'm sure you'll back me up when I say that our "summer" has been shocking so far.  I'm desperate to get back into my denim shorts and snazzy floral numbers but I feel like it just ain't happening.

With that in mind, I've pretty much been dressing for Autumn type weather so I thought I would share a quick "outfit of the day" with you.

As much as I LOVE this Mango jacket; please, please, PLEASE Mr. Weatherman - Send us some sun and warmth!  Muchos gracias.

Rachel

 
 
 
 

Jeans (Shop similar) - TK-Maxx

Mini satchel - River Island

Black asymmetric top - Matalan

Jacket - An oldie from Mango!