Lets face it, we all enjoy a bit of pampering now and again and where better to spend a day than at a Champneys Health Resort. My sister and I took my mum to the Forest Mere Complex in Liphook, Hampshire for her birthday on Tuesday and I can’t recommend it enough. We had a fabulous day chilling out by the pool, walking around the lake and sipping smoothies and eating lemon cake in the Spa Cafe!

We opted for a ‘Spa Day’ experience which gives you access to the resort and all facilities (gym, pool, fitness classes), with this package you also get a Thalasso Pool Session (salt water and mineral pool with jets to get the circulation going), a 25 minute back massage and a 25 minute facial which was fabulous. A buffet lunch is also included plus towel and robe hire.

There are other day experiences available, I have also been to a ‘Top to Toe Day’ which includes a manicure, pedicure, massage, facial and buffet lunch. You can also go for a ‘Luxury Day’, ‘Relax Day’, ‘Mother To Be Day’, ‘Bride To Be Day’ and a few others. More information about the day experiences can be found here.

After a long day of relaxing and enjoying the peaceful surroundings we headed to the shop and bought ourselves some products to take home. I purchased the Champneys cleanser (£8), toner(£8), moisture lotion(15), two in one face masks (£6 for 4) and some luxury face wipes(£5). A good days work I thought!

To get yourself some Champneys products (which are wonderful by the way) you can go on their website and browse through the beautifully packaged gift sets, make-up, face creams and accessories. Visit the Spa Shop to get your hands on some goodies.

I am a firm believer in you are what you eat, and after reading Now magazine this week I have picked up a few helpful tips.

For skin, Apricots contain Lutein a pigment in food that helps safe guard the skin against UV Rays that cause premature ageing & pigment damage, other sources are Black grapes, Peas and Kiwi fruit. These also contain Vitamin C and antioxidants for help with Acne and dry skin problems.

For hair, Soya milk is a good source of Protein which helps strengthen and thicken hair, beans & nuts are also good sources of Protein.

Avocado is one of the best things you can eat for your hair as it’s full of Vitamin E, and if you’re feeling a real earth mother you can even smother it all over your hair as a deep conditioning treatment, might be a bit messy washing it off after though, but they never said being beautiful was easy!

Medicine nowadays has no boundaries; it never stands still as new remedies/procedures are introduced every day. I was interested to read in The Mail about the medicinal uses of Honey. I have always had a mug of hot lemon and honey if I’ve had a sore throat, it’s just something we’ve grown up with, but I never realised what other significant and powerful properties it had.

Apparently, you can protect your body from bacteria and viral attacks with the daily use of honey and cinnamon powder. If you have a cold or cough, take one tablespoon of lukewarm honey, mix it with ¼ spoon of cinnamon powder, take for 3 days and it you should see a significant improvement.

It is also a good antioxidant which helps restore damaged skin and aid conditions such as acne, eczema, sunburn, abscess and boils. To help your eyesight, add 2 teaspoons of honey to carrot juice and consume regularly; very helpful for those who spend hours in front of a computer screen!

Lastly, if you want a completely natural cleanser and toner for your skin – Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 teaspoons of milk; apply to the face and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and pat dry – voila!!

Next time you’re out shopping, don’t forget to pop a jar into your trolley, it’s uses are endless!

Warning! …. Check with your GP before giving honey-containing products to children under 12 months old.

I must admit I’m a sucker for Channel 4’s Diet and Beauty programs, first there was Gillian with ‘You Are What You Eat’, then ‘10 Years Younger’, then ‘How to Look Good Naked’, then Gillian again with ‘ Three Fat Brides One Thin Dress’ and now there’s ‘Cook Yourself Thin’ (Tuesdays at 8.30pm). I have just been over to the Cook Yourself Thin website and it’s brilliant; you can select your current dress size then select your goal dress size and they will tell you an estimated date of when you could reach it. You can then use their recipes and guidance to cook yourself thin!

If you actually want to become a member it costs £7.50 per month; there are a number of features you then have access to such as a food diary and recipes – it’s a bit like Weight Watchers. However, I don’t really see the need to subscribe because recipes are also available on the Channel 4 website with video demonstrations! This week they had the most amazing skinny lemon cake that I am planning on baking this evening.