CODE Beautiful Blog

I’ve always loved running from a very young age, I used to compete against different schools (and much bigger age groups), not that I’m competitive at all… honest 😉

 After quite a break, a few years ago, I got into running again and it felt gooood… I think it’s so good not only for your health and fitness but also for your wellbeing. 

So here are my top tips for running your first 10k…

1.  Buy a decent pair of trainers – don’t scrimp and buy cheap trainers, it’s so important to get a comfortable pair of running trainers that suit your feet!
2. Join a running club – I joined a local running club in Manchester - it was the best thing I did.  Such a welcoming and friendly group it gave me the motivation I needed to get out there and run.  It’s so easy to make excuses and not go ‘because it’s raining’ or ‘I’m working late’, I made the commitment to make sure I went come rain or shine - no excuses!  (I also find a little bit of competition, makes you want to run the best you can!) Lots of club start you off on a couch to 5k programme which is a great way to get into it!
3. Get the gear – you don’t want to be carrying your phone around whilst running, get an arm band or belt holder, listen to your fave music (when you’re not running with your buddies of course), although not necessary needed – I like to have a Fitbit watch too to monitor my progress and linked to MyFitnessPal to monitor exercise and food intake.
4. Plan – don’t just sign up to a 10k – get yourself prepared. Run with a club, join the couch to 5k – get yourself ready. Sign up to weekend Parkrun’s – they are great! 5k timed races.
5. Stay Hydrated – it’s important to drink lots of water
6. Don’t over do it! Make sure you listen to your body – if you need rest, rest!

I think the most difficult bit is getting yourself motivated (joining a club really helped me with this!) I ran the Great Manchester Run which I loved, such a buzzing atmosphere!

Good luck! 😘

As a solo mum I’m independent and have a dreamy idea of Lily and I travelling around the world exploring… when a good friend of mine asked if I fancied going on holiday with her and her 2 year old (Lily’s little boyfriend Arran)  I thought great, how hard can it be with a 2 year old on my own. 

Lily and I had already been away on a plane when she was a baby with my sister, and yes she is fully mobile and constantly has ants in her pants right now but, yeah it will be fine 😳

Friends and family said don’t do it, it will be too stressful you’ll need a holiday to recover bla bla bla (which obviously egg’d me on even more).

My reply to Jo, was yes let’s do this…. Our criteria was…. 

• Somewhere all inclusive 
• Somewhere the little ones would enjoy but we could still chill out too
• Not too far on the plane
• Sunshine but not too hot
• Sleeping space for little ones and us that was separate 

We decided on Fuerteventura, all-inclusive beautiful resort on the beach the down side of this package holiday was Ryan Air! But we’d survive it.

I gathered loads of info on travelling with a toddler before the trip (I’m a proper researcher… that midnight googler.. yes that’s me)  I felt like I had the ammunition I needed to make this a relaxing smooth trip. I booked into the airport on meet and greet so Lily and I could rock up at the airport and not worry about parking and I have to say all my research paid off we had the most amazing time it couldn’t have gone any better.

Here are my top tips that absolutely worked for a hassle free enjoyable trip with a 2 year old.

1. Luggage 

We took one case between us, since becoming a mama I’ve learnt to pack light, it’s all about her million and one outfits now.  I also got her a little back pack to wear for the trip with all her stuff in. come on…. you’re two you carry your own shizz, toys and snacks. I also had a backpack so I had two hands free at all times!!!

2. At the airport

I had a hand strap for lily and I to wear to make sure she stayed close, letting her walk/run about in the airport was good prep for her sitting still for 4 hours 20 mins!  We booked into the lounge stocked up on gin and food just in case the Ryan Air offering of substandard… (it was) obviously got carried away and legged it when they did a final call which the little ones thought was hilarious, the crew did not which they made clear as we were getting on by letting us know they were just about to lift our luggage… almost didn’t make it 😊

3 On the plane

A friend of mine recommended we wrap up some toys  / puzzles / books and ‘revealed’ new stuff every hour or so… this was the BEST idea… the suspense and then surprise of the next ‘present’ was perfect! We had activity books and small games toys which kept them entertained, so much so I literally only had to get up and walk about once! ( there was me pre trip thinking how stressful it would be for me and the other travellers for us to have to wonder up and down the aisle a zillion times.  We also got them headphones and they watched a bit of peppa and paw patrol yes I’m now one of those ignorant mums who said my child wouldn’t’ watch an ipad but now I know the benefits to her and me of exposing her to the ipad now.

4. Arriving 

We had booked a private transfer ( who wants to wait on a cab or drive around in a bus with two tired 2 year olds ) the driver turned up equipt with car seats and dropped us right at our door with our excited but at this point very tired little ones. We’d saved some snacks for the 30 min drive to the resort.

5. The resort

We had a cute little bungalow with space for us and them – vital for post hectic day tipple and chinwag, they called it our holiday home which is kinda cute and you wouldn’t’ quite get with a hotel room. I’d defo make sure our next trip was in a villa / home from home to give that holiday home feeling.  Our food, drink and fun was all in one family focused but chic resort. Perfect for them and us.

6. Your beauty routine

Park it, go minimalist chic…. Cleanser, sun protection, moisturiser, mascara and a flash of colour on your lips is all you need ….. We did however make time during a day time pushchair nap to get foot massages which was our little treat to ourselves – bliss.

So my take away was that they were wrong, it wasn’t stressful and I didn’t need a holiday to recover, we had a lovely time and a little geeky research and preparation went a long way…. Next stop Dubai ….

I don’t know about you but I ALWAYS overpack for holidays. My suitcase is normally brimming with more clothes than the duration of my holiday and I’m always in a panic the night before about whether I’m going to be over the weight limit.  

However, when it comes to packing my toiletries, I’m a big advocate of travelling light (not only does it mean more room for bikinis, but I also hate the feeling of wearing too much makeup on holiday).  

I’ve rounded up my top 5 holiday must-haves… now to just keep my eyes closed through duty free!!  

SUN CREAM 

If you only take one thing on holiday, please please make sure it’s sun cream! Looking after your skin should be your number one priority. You’ll still get a gorgeous golden glow but you’ll be giving your skin some of the protection it needs.  

MASCARA 

I literally cannot go a single day without wearing mascara, it makes me look and feel more awake and I love when I have that golden glow and only need to put on a couple of coats of mascara to be ready for dinner in the evening. You might think you need a waterproof mascara, but the formulas are actually really heavy and harsh on your lashes, so I’d recommend looking for a water-resistant formula instead; I’ve tested CODE VLM on several holidays now and can confidently say it doesn’t budge even when the weather is one big cloud of humidity!  

PERFUME 

Keeping my evening routine minimal is so important to me on holiday, after all it means more time for exploring and drinks! I can be a bit of a fragrance hoarder when I’m at home but I force myself to only take one on holiday. My go to at the moment has been Gucci Bloom, it screams summer… it’s feminine and floral but not too sweet… for me, it’s the perfect holiday scent.  

CLEANSER 

After a day in the sun or travelling around, I often feel like my face has accumulated so much grime (I feel the same way after travelling on the tube in London to be honest!) so I love ending the day with a good cleanser. A simple cleanse morning and night keeps my skin clear and happy and means I’m going back to the UK with a golden glow rather than a million breakouts!  

MOISTURISER  

There’s nothing I love more than a multi-tasking product that makes my life easier. I recently heard about these all-in-one moisture pads that are enriched with hyaluronic acid and act as a toner, essence and moisturiser all in one. They are also packed with vitamins and antioxidants... they’ll definitely be going in my case next holiday!!  
 

What are your holiday must-haves?  

 Chloe x  

Alex Waring, (@makeupbyalex), makeup artist, true professional, mum of two and simply all round lovely lady was kind enough to answer some of our questions about how she juggles life as a working mum and also shares some of her top tricks of the trade. 

So Alex, tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into makeup.

I’ve always been into drawing and being creative but I didn’t believe I could make a career out of it until a friend, who worked in music video production, encouraged me to pursue makeup. I started a degree in specialist makeup and that same friend put me in touch with a makeup artist to get some assisting experience, which led to so many amazing opportunities over the years. 

We love seeing what you’re up to on Instagram and who you’ve been working with lately, but with such a busy job, how do you manage your work/life balance and juggle motherhood with a demanding career?

As stressful as it can be working freelance, it does mean that I get to spend so much time with my children, even though I may need to stay away for a shoot here and there. I think whatever job you do, if you have children you’re always going to be crazy busy! 

We couldn’t agree more!! Do you have any tips for us tired mums? 

My biggest tip would be that no matter how exhausted you are, always follow a good skincare routine, morning and night. Your skin will thank you for it! 

Mascara was my best friend when I was at my most sleep deprived as it immediately made me look more awake so definitely have that at the ready along with a good concealer, cream brush, long-wear eyeliner and a smudged lip liner; that way you always have the perfect, quick daytime ‘I’m awake!’ look. 

CODE VLM is great for helping really open up your eyes and faking that wide awake look. 

Has your beauty routine changed since having children? 

Majorly!! I no longer have the luxury of time so I’ve had to alter my daytime makeup quite significantly and get used to having an audience when applying it. 

It sounds like you’ve got some budding assistants in the making! Is there anyone that has inspired you throughout your career?

I’m inspired all the time by so many different artists for different reasons. I’ve always been a massive fan of Pat McGrath and more recently I’m obsessed with James Molloy’s Instagram posts with his insanely perfect eyeliner application. My first very makeup idol was Kevin Aucoin. 

There’s no doubt about it that the beauty industry is such a fun and crazy world to be a part of, what have been your best and worst times of your career to date? 

The best times in my career would be when I first started working on music videos, I had so much fun and got to work with such amazing people. I think the worst times in my career used to be whenever I was quiet and waiting for the next job to come in, I’m now kept super busy with a 4 year old and 10 month old so I wouldn’t even notice a quiet period!! 

We’ve got so much respect for you and you already know we’re big fans of your work, what can we expect to see from you in 2019? 

Hopefully lots of beautiful editorial collaborations and some fun commercial jobs and, if you follow my Instagram page, the odd family pic thrown in too these days! ;) 

Thank you so much for your time Alex! xx

We love chatting to our customers about all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle and letting them know about brands they might not have heard of before. We also love supporting other women in the industry, so we get super excited when we get the chance to do both these things together!

We stumbled across this British brand and loved their story and products so much we just knew we had to share it with you. 

Kate McIver Skin is a vegan skincare company that focuses on helping people look and feel the best they can. 

“Life is too short and no matter what you are going through mentally or physically, you have the right to look and feel the best you possibly can.”  - Kate McIver.

Kate set up her skincare brand after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. After six months of intense chemotherapy, operations and daily medication, she saw the effects taking their toll on her skin. 

During her treatment she started to do some research, looking for a product that could help with extreme dryness, lines appearing, black/purple circles under the eyes and scarring, but she couldn’t find a formula that had all of the ingredients that she wanted in, so she set out to create her own bespoke formula. 

We love that similar to us, this brand focuses on a select range of products and rather than launch product after product, we both spend a lot of time tinkering with the formulas to make sure they are perfect before we give them to our customer. 

Kate created two formulas, both full of some awesome ingredients! 

The Original Secret Weapon formula is an "anti-ageing" double serum that has been created to diminish the signs of ageing and help achieve radiant, glowing, firmer skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. 

The formula contains Squalene which is a natural substance produced by our own bodies, however its concentrations in our mid-to-late twenties begins to rapidly decline. It’s lightweight enough for all skin types and can target your skin care concerns at a cellular level. 

The Limited Edition Secret Weapon formula was created to target acne and spot prone skin. Containing 13 incredible ingredients, this serum fights breakouts, boosts radiance, moisturises and relieves discolouration. It gives your skin the moisture it needs while the vitamins and antioxidants also fight damage such as UV rays and acne-causing bacteria. 

You can find out more about both formulas here.

We’ve teamed up with the lovely team at Kate McIver Skin to give you the chance to win incredible products from both brands! Head over to our Instagram or Facebook on the 30^th May for your chance to win! 

APRIL FOOLS! 

Okay we’ve got to confess, our signature gin launch is a prank, however we won’t rule out producing a real one should demand dictate it! 

As a sorry for getting your hopes up and a thank-you for being such a good sport, here is 20% off your next order. Use the code ‘APRILFOOLS’ at checkout. 

Offer valid for today only! 

SHOP NOW

Love, 

the team at CODE Beautiful 

xxx