I've always been completely honest, if there was a (safe) magic pill I could take to lose fat from my tummy area, without dieting and without exercise, I'd be first in the queue! I eat a fairly sensible balanced and healthy diet, I am quite petite and certainly not overweight, and I do love the post-workout feel good factor!  But I lead a busy life and I don't love exercise enough to prioritise it consistently. But in the absence of a safe magic pill I was very intrigued when I started to read about the original EMSculpt and the latest EMSculpt NEO from BTL Aesthetics. Could these non-surgical treatments really work and provide us with an effective body contouring solution, a non-invasive treatment with no downtime?  Are they worth the investment?

So I was very excited to be invited to experience and review a full course of EMSculpt NEO treatments myself at the multi-award winning, doctor led, medical aesthetic clinic, S-Thetics in Beaconsfield.  S-Thetics specialise in the most up-to-date and scientifically based skin and non-surgical body treatments.

The S-Thetics Clinic was founded by surgeon and cosmetic doctor Miss Sherina Balaratnam. Miss Balaratnam has over 23 years medical experience, she trained as a plastic surgeon for 6 years is passionate about offering the most advanced skincare products and facial treatments as well as non-surgical skin rejuvenation and body contouring using the latest medical grade technology there is.

Having won 'Medical Aesthetic Practitioner of the Year' at the prestigious annual Aesthetics Awards in 2022, Miss Balaratnam is well-respected, highly trained and knowledgeable.  She is a much sought after expert especially as the S-Thetics Clinic also won 'Best Clinic South England' in 2022 and Beaconsfield is such an easily accessible town to access from London and the whole of the South of England. I spent my teen years living in Beaconsfield and have loved going back to the Old Town to visit the clinic over the last few weeks. The fast trains from London Marylebone only take 20-25 minutes and the S-Thetics Clinic is a short taxi journey from the station.

This is a gifted blog post.
​This post was originally shared in December 2022.

It's that time year again, and I've noticed a few new dry patches of skin - particularly where my bra straps sit on my shoulder, why there?  No idea!  Even googling it doesn't give me a clear answer ... anyway when the cold weather arrives in the winter months I always turn to Gem's Dry Skin Balm.  Now full disclosure Gem is my niece (in-law) and is like another daughter to me (or little sister depending on how brave I am about the age gap), Gem lived with us for a while and we are very close.  When she was living here we worked a lot together on her small business, then she moved to Devon, had a baby paused for a few years to concentrate on being a new mum, but she's back and thank goodness because I was running out of supplies of her balm, Gem's Dry Skin Balm really is a beauty cupboard essential, for both summer and winter.  
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Winter can be a tough time for our skin, especially for women over 50 navigating midlife. As the temperature drops, the combination of cold air, indoor heating, and low humidity levels can mean our skin changes and leaves the skin feeling dry, tight, and uncomfortable. Add to this the natural changes in our skin’s texture and elasticity during midlife when our hormone levels drop (especially oestrogen), and it’s no wonder winter often feels like a battle for hydration.  But that is why we all need one hero product - a dry skin balm.

This is a personal recommendation - although I do receive gifts of Gem's Dry Skin Balm regularly because Gem is my niece! 

​Get 15% off Gem's Dry Skin Balm below!

Hello!  Is it too late to say Happy New Year!?  Do you even want to hear it or does it all just sound a bit repetitive and hollow!?  Answers on a postcard (or comment below) ... I have been in a bit of a writing hiatus, I've not wanted to appear on Instagram and have had several attempts at this post but my creativity just isn't flowing, I am very much in hibernation mode.

There is so much pressure to do something in the new year, to celebrate, to set goals, make resolutions, or whatever else the new 'insta-buzzword' is!   Why do we feel we need to create a better version of ourselves?  You as you are is just fine.  I feel like I have lost my way a little and I am desperately treading water just to keep up with the basics.  

So my first priority is acknowledging that today is just another day, that expecting everything to change just because it is the beginning of January is ... well ridiculous!  I am going to allow myself to take my time.  In fact I started this process way back in the Autumn so throughout January I will be building on my plans rather than rushing out to join a gym, start a new diet or change my lifestyle only to look back next January and realise I didn't manage to sustain any of it!

Below are a few ideas to take things slow and be gentle on yourself .... this is where I am and I hope it reassures you that real life isn't about perfection we all see on Instagram.  I'm certainly not dressing up, daily uniform currently leggings and a sweatshirt!

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