The Breath Company

What are they?

A range of breath-freshening products that target the bacteria living on your tongue's (and throat's) surfaces. These bacteria are responsible for causing halitosis (bad breath).

What's the PR blurb?
The Breath Company range of products were originally created by Dr Katz to help his teenage daughter conquer her severe and chronic bad breath. The Breath Company oral healthcare system has been refined to be the most complete oral care system available, and is clinically proven to be effective at controlling the sulphur-producing bacteria that can cause embarrassing bad breath. According to the company, clinical tests of Dr Katz's patients treated with The Breath Company products repeatedly resulted in the elimination of over 98% of the volatile sulphur compounds that cause bad breath.

The products are designed to work instantly and keep working for over 12 hours to keep your breath smelling fresh. Each of the products works on all types of bad breath and dry mouth (xerostomia) and contains no harsh ingredients (e.g. alcohol, detergents, artificial flavours, colours, animal products or gluten).

The range includes:
The Breath Company Fresh Breath Fluoride Toothpaste - Mild Mint (£8.99)
The Breath Company Oral Rinse - Icy Mint and Mild Mint (£12.99)
The Breath Company Mouth Wetting Dry Mouth Lozenges - Mandarin Mint (£8.99)

My verdict
This range of products were very popular in my household. They are all well packaged and well presented.

The oral rinse's minty flavour wasn't too strong and had a lovely after-taste. We found that it removed breath odour effectively although, as with any mouthwash, the effects didn't last more than a couple of hours. It did moisten a dry mouth too, which was an added bonus, especially at night. My only concern for regular use is the cost for most people.

The sugar-free lozenges were delicious - possibly too delicious, as it was very tempting to eat them all day! However, the instructions are clear that you shouldn't eat more than seven in 24 hours (due to a potential laxative effect). I could taste the mint well, but not really the mandarin. I'm not sure whether these helped a dry mouth any more than sucking on a sweet, but they made my breath feel fresh. The lozenges are individually wrapped, which makes them highly portable, so you can grab a few and put them in your bag for the day. The box is also well designed with a dispenser flap.

The fluoride toothpaste also had a lovely minty flavour and my teeth felt clean afterwards. It helped to keep my breath fresh, although not for more than a couple of hours. This effect lasted longer when combined with the other products in the range.

Where can you buy it?
The Breath Company range is available in Boots stores nationwide and online at www.boots.com.

Ovio Organic Olive Leaf Infusion

What is it?
Ovio Organic Olive Leaf Infusion is an olive leaf supplement drink claimed to boost your immune system and your energy levels.

What's the PR Blurb?
Ovio Organic Olive Leaf Infusion delivers hydroxytyrosol, a potent antioxidant, and up to 30 beneficial plant compounds and phytochemicals found in the Mediterranean diet in one handy, concentrated dose.

Recent research on behalf of Ovio by Dr Pamela Mason, expert nutritionist and chair of the Government's Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances, suggests that hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein may be the key to many of the health benefits associated with olives, olive oil and the Mediterranean diet.

The no-fuss infusion is made from 100% organic ingredients including freshly picked olive leaves, soothing calendula, grape and lemon juice and spring water. All ingredients are non-GM and pesticide free.

You take one shot a day, or a couple of times a week. Each 500ml bottle delivers seven days of natural wellness in 70ml shots, and because there is no added sugar and only a trace of fat, each dose contains a mere 13kcal.

My verdict
Ovio has great packaging. The taste was a bit sharp for me, so I preferred it with a fruit juice or herbal tea. But other members of my household liked it neat. You can also add Ovio into a smoothie. I also tried the suggested recipe of 100ml of elderflower cordial, 700ml of sparkling water and some ice - delicious.

Where can you buy it?
Ovio Organic Olive Leaf Infusion costs £13.99 for seven doses and is available from selected Boots, Wholefoods, Holland & Barrett and independent health stores in the UK and Ireland.

Ovio has recently changed its name from Ovivo, to avoid confusion if you find the older packaging in the shops.

PLEASE NOTE: I received an Ovio Organic Olive Leaf Infusion sample for free in exchange for an honest review.

Teen-skinactives

What is it?
A skincare range specifically designed for teenagers by aromatherapy skin and body care specialist Eve Taylor OBE.

What's the PR Blurb?
Teen-skinactives was specifically created and formulated as a unique product range. It is designed to work with younger teenage skins that often need to have that extra special attention to help improve the skin's overall condition. It can be used to treat those everyday teen skin issues, such as acne/breakouts/oily skin - as well as dry/dehydrated skin.

Teen-skinactives products have been formulated and tested for younger skin types - so that they are non-drying, non-irritating and don't contain any alcohols, mineral oils, lanolins, peroxides or artificial colours and fragrances, as these often dry and irritate the skin.

The range consists of the following products:

• Clearing Skin Wash
• Clearing Skin Scrub
• Clearing Skin Lotion
• Clearing Spot Gel
• Anti-Shine Skin Balm
• Restoring Skin Masque
• Daytime Skin Defence with 15SPF
• Overnight Skin Support

My verdict?
My two sons (pre-teen and teen) are at a stage in life where image is important. They want the right haircuts to fit in with their friends and also want to have good skin so they can blend in with the crowd. As they enter their teens, their skin is gradually becoming greasier and more prone to spots. However, it is often very difficult to motivate them to look after their skin effectively and, in particular, regularly.

Most skincare products for oily/spot-prone skin are aimed at women. Those aimed at men are often quite harsh on the skin, while products formulated for teenagers tend to have quite feminine packaging. Teen-skinactives, however, has unisex branding and my two sons were very happy to try out several of the products (the Skin Wash, Spot Gel and Anti-shine Skin Balm). Each product is colour-coded for easy recognition. My sons liked the fact that these products were specifically for them, rather than for the whole family.

The products were straight-forward to use, didn't cause any stinging or irritation and didn't leave my sons' skin dry. Any existing spots cleared up within a couple of days and their skin was much clearer when they used the Skin Wash and Skin Balm regularly.

This is a lovely teenage skincare range, ideal for both boys and girls, and uses natural ingredients. It is well priced too.

Where can you buy it?
Prices range from £6.99 for the 15ml Breakout Express spot gel up to £12.99 for the 150ml Clearing Skin Lotion.

Teen-skinactives is available from some pharmacies and also online from www.teen-skinactives.com

PLEASE NOTE: I received the Teen-Skinactive samples for free in exchange for an honest review.

iPhone Medical Photography

iPhone Medical Photography: Everything you need to know to get quick answers and reduce doctor visits.
By Dr Zameel Panthakkalakath
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (9 December 2014)
ISBN: 978-1505221596

Publisher's description
Own an iPhone? Then you have in your hands a fantastic tool that can take high quality medical photos, share them in seconds and get you answers fast. But in order to produce pictures that can be used for reliable diagnosis, your phone needs just a little help from you.
Combining easy-to-understand explanations and simple practical tips, this book shows you how to take photos that capture the relevant information in a wide range of different scenarios. Images and videos that show the doctor the full story can be hugely valuable in speeding up diagnosis in a wide range of conditions - if you know how to get it right.
From skin conditions to child development and emergency care to joint problems, iPhone Medical Photography shows you exactly what to do and explains why it's not enough to simply point and shoot.
Topics include:

• Why photos can help doctors even when you're able to meet face-to-face.
• The medically-approved way to post patients for different types of shots.
• What to include in each photo - and what to take out.
• How to capture images that help doctors focus on what matters most.
• What to consider when storing and sending medical photos.

Apply the knowledge give here, and you'll be able to use your own photos to speed up communications and save time and money.
There is also a useful discussion for doctors on how to incorporate iPhone photography into medical practice.
The techniques are easy both to learn and use, making this a valuable resource for patients, doctors and first responders alike.

My verdict
iPhone Medical Photography is a novel combination of an iPhone photography guide and a book on how to aid take photos and videos that could be used in a medical context. It's aimed at both patients and healthcare professionals, and could potentially be useful in medical conditions with visible flare ups, such as eczema or rheumatoid arthritis.

These days, most of us walk around with smartphones, using these to take quick photos for convenience. The only drawback of smartphone cameras is that they don't provide photos of the same high quality as those taken with an actual camera. The book's goal is to help patients and healthcare professionals produce an image that is as useful to a doctor as possible.

I myself have taken photos with a smartphone to help in diagnosis/treatment a couple of times myself. The first occasion was when my son developed an unusual form of hives that occurred all over his body but had no known trigger. The hives were severe, with white raised welts on a red flare. But each time, the rash lasted only around 20 minutes, so there was nothing to show the doctor at an appointment the following day. By taking photographs, I could show the doctor what the rash looked like when we went for the consultation. The rash turned out to be dermatographism ('writing on the skin'), a form of hives that is triggered by any pressure on the skin, including clothes rubbing. The second occasion was when the same son slammed his finger in a car door - luckily an x-ray revealed that nothing was broken, although the nail bed was slightly damaged. As we changed the dressing daily, we took a photograph to keep an eye on the healing process and the nail growth.

iPhone Medical Photography is easy to read, with useful photos and diagrams. But if you are squeamish, be warned that some of the photos are not for the faint-hearted. There is information on how to get the angle right, framing the photo and the use of a ruler or tape measure to show scale, alongside useful iPhone photography tops on zoom, flash, exposure, HDR mode etc. Some of the tips seemed obvious, such as putting the main area of interest in the centre of the picture, but others (e.g. capturing the most natural skin colour and tones) were interesting reading. There is also general advice on keeping photographs secure - both on the iPhone and sharing them with others - which is particularly important for healthcare professionals.

Cloud 9 Skin Solutions

What is it?
Cloud 9 Skin Solutions are a new British skincare brand, focusing on creating solutions for specific skin problems - initially, dry skin, spots, cellulite, scarring and varicose veins/tired legs.

What's the PR blurb?
'A range of premium products that create solutions for skin problems, using a unique blend of active natural ingredients.'

The products are:

• Body Makeover Cellulite Treatment - a fast-absorbing gel that leaves no residue and visibly reduces the appearance of cellulite within two weeks of use. Contains Ivy extract.
• Nature's Miracle Varicose Vein Treatment - a duo-action formula that helps soothe tired, aching legs, reduces inflammation and the appearance of varicose veins.
• Tranquility Ultra Soothing Cream for Dry Damaged Skin - helps relieves common symptoms such as extreme dryness and red inflamed scaling skin. Contains vitamin B12 and avocado oil.
• Skin Rehab Scar Minimising cream - helps reduce the appearance of existing scars and helps prevent new scars forming. Contains St John's Wort, extract of Onion, extracts of Calendula and Yarrow and Arnica.
• Clarity Skin Clearing Spot Gel - works to reduce inflammation, control oil production, inhibit blemish-causing bacteria and prevent spots from returning. Contains chamomile extract and vitamin B3.

What's my verdict?
The products don't come cheap - rrp £35 for the 150ml Body Makeover Cellulite Treatment and rrp £32 for the 50 ml Clarity Skin Clearing Spot Gel. However, you do get a lot for your money and the lovely glossy packaging shows that the products are clearly aiming for a premium market. Each product is colour coded too, so you can distinguish between them easily.

So far, I have tried two products in the range - Clarity Skin Cleansing Spot Gel and Nature's Miracle Varicose Vein Treatment. They are both very easy to apply and don't leave the skin sticky, as some other products do.

I certainly noticed an improvement with Clarity Skin Cleansing Spot Gel, finding that spots clear up more quickly. And amazingly the gel hasn't dried out my skin, which is a problem I find with many products aimed at spot-prone skin. Although I naturally have oily skin, making me prone to spots, my skin also dries out easily.

It's still too early for me to say whether Nature's Miracle Varicose Vein Treatment is effective, although I do think that my veins may be slightly less prominent since I have been using it for a couple of weeks. My legs feel smoother too. I will report back after another couple of months once I have given the product a long-enough trial.

Where can you buy it?
Cloud 9 Skin Solutions are available from selected retailers, including John Bell & Croyden and Garden Pharmacy, as well as through www.cloud9skin.com.

PLEASE NOTE: I received the Cloud 9 Skin Solutions range free from the PR company in exchange for an honest review.

The Hunger Type Diet

The Hunger Type Diet
By Lowri Turner
Published by Duncan Baird (30 December 2014)
ISBN: 978-1848992689

Publisher's description
What do most diets tell you to do? Eat only when you are hungry. Simple, right? NO! The trouble for many of us is that hunger comes in many forms, not just physical hunger, but boredom, stress, emotions and habit. The result: you gain weight. The Hunger Type Diet draws on the latest scientific research to help you identify exactly what is driving your over-eating. Then, by offering cutting-edge eating plans based around the role of hormones, it shows you how to lose and correct any hormone imbalances. To begin, there is a questionnaire that will help you to identify which Hunger Type you are. Once you have identified your weak spots, the 48-hour Hunger Rehab Plan puts you on track and highlights unhealthy eating patterns. This is followed by a 14-day Hunger Rehab Diet that will help you to kick those bad habits and may also se you losing up to 10 pounds in the process. After this, a maintenance stage offers delicious recipes that will help you to keep your hormones in balance and keep the weight off for good.

My verdict
I received this as a free e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like many people, I'm always on the search for an ideal way to lose weight. In reality, the only true way to lose weight, and keep it off, is to eat less and exercise more. But this is easier said than done when you crave food all the time. This book focuses on how hormones affect hunger levels, what's driving your eating habits and why do you always feel hungry...

In her book, Lowri Turner discusses that there are three phases of eating - hunger, eating and satiation. For some people, the hunger never actually switches off. This all sounds very familiar to me as I could eat all day long.

First of all the book discusses how different hormones impact on hunger. This section was very easy to understand and well written. It established that cravings and hunger pangs could be due to sub-optimal levels of key brain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, and hormones in the body, such as insulin and leptin.

According to the questionnaire I completed, I am a mixture of three hunger types - Anxious, Never-full and PMS. Although I would actually consider myself to be the Bored hunger type too. The book then provides advice on rebalancing my hormone levels, depending on my hunger type, with tips on what and what not to eat and meal plans. This was followed by the 48-hour Hunger Rehab to follow, to rebalance my hunger levels and learn how to recognise true physical hunger, rather than hunger driven by other factors.

There is a recipe section at the back of the book, split into breakfast, lunch, snacks and main meals. I will certainly be trying some of these recipes out, alongside the other recommendations (e.g. increasing my magnesium intake, cutting down on sugary foods, drinking green tea).

An interesting read for someone who knows how to eat healthily but is struggling to lose weight because they simply can't stop eating!

Rockabilly Kids Toothbrush

What is it?

A toothbrush aimed at children aged three to seven years, with an ergonomic handle for small hands, soft multi-length bristles and a patented base design that keeps the toothbrush upright on storage.

What the PR blurb?

On a mission to revolutionise teeth cleaning, Rockabilly Kids offer children much more than a toothbrush. Claiming the title of Europe’s first self-standing toothbrush, the clever design will never topple over, promising to entertain tots and adults alike. A toothbrush and a toy, Rockabilly Kids can guarantee that what is normally considered a daily chore will be something children look forward to, creating the biggest smiles in more ways than one!  With six different characters to choose from, including Astronaut Andy, Chef Cheryl, Freddie Footballer, Superstar Stella, Cowboy Clint and Vet Valerie, there is a toothbrush that suits every personality.  The Rockabilly Kids have captured the imagination of little ones perfectly, and is guaranteed to add a little inspiration before bedtime!
It is not just children who are impressed, adults have been bowled over by the endless benefits too. For just £6.99, families can buy the most hygienic toothbrush in the bathroom, which not only provides addictive entertainment, it has been approved by dentists. Even better, it comes with a year’s supply of heads, making it a fantastic investment. 
The Rockabilly Kids is designed by Stand up and Smile Ltd, a British manufacturer specialising in the creation of innovative children's products.

What's my verdict?

This is a fun-looking toothbrush with a fat stand-up base to keep the toothbrush clean - so there's no need for a toothbrush holder, which often harbours germs. The Rockabilly Kids toothbrush reminded me of a Weeble toy. As you push it, it wobbles and then rights itself again so it can't fall over.
As the mum of two boys (now out of the age range of this product), I know how difficult it is to motivate children to brush their teeth properly, so novelty oral care products, such as this innovative toothbrush, can help to make toothbrushing fun for reluctant kids.
The toothbrush sent to me was royal blue with an astronaut picture, making it appealing to boys within the intended three to seven year age group. There are two other boys' products and three girls' versions too. The changeable brush heads were easy to take on and off, clicking into place so they can't fall off as the toothbrush wobbles. Three extra brush heads are supplied within the packaging. Since dentists recommend that we should change our toothbrushes every three months, the Rockabilly Kids will last a year - all for just £6.99.

Where can you buy it?
Rockabilly Toothbrush is available from Boots (instore and online).


PLEASE NOTE: I received the Rockabilly Toothbrush free from the PR company in exchange for an honest review.