Bellisle Spa Coleraine

Set back from the main road into Coleraine sits the stunning Bellisle Spa. I was lucky enough to go and have a peek round the spa and hear from the lovely staff about all they have to offer. Bellisle pride themselves on using only award winning products and have chosen their suppliers with great thought. They ensure the use of organic and naturally derived products at all times to coincide with their high standards.

From the minute you drive through the gates and down the stone path you know you are in for a treat. The bright and airy reception area has some information and a gorgeous display of products available to buy. I was told that after a treatment when the client is relaxing in a gorgeous room your therapist will bring you the products that were used on you and talk you through them and how to use them should you wish to buy them. This is something that sets this spa apart because too often I have been for treatments and told I need to buy a whole array of products, handed my card over and away I go with no knowledge of when and how to use them, so big props to the girls here they are definitely gaining brownie points on customer service.

Another touch I noticed in the reception area was a certificate to show therapists are trained in being able to customise treatments for massage to encourage relaxation in cancer patients. Again this is just another string to their bow and made me well up a bit to see that they were trying to help people through their dark days.

Next I was shown round all of the treatment rooms and relaxation areas. Every room is bright and airy but has gorgeous decoration which makes it feel sumptuous and lots of candles are used to give a stunning effect. The décor is just right with different pieces to suit each room. Too many spas are too clinical these days but Bellisle has captured the spa feeling but with a touch of luxury.

There are many different packages available and they can all be checked out here but here is just a taster

Couples Retreat

This includes a session in the Rasul where you can experience a steam and mud treatment before you choose from a seaweed oil massage or a prescriptive facial. This is £80pp and I think this could be a lovely treat for a friends birthday or your other half.

Refresh, Revive, Revitalise

Here you have an organic scrub followed by a body massage. This costs £75 and sounds amazing.

Pregnancy pamper package

This is a lovely treat maybe as a baby shower gift and includes either the ultimate pregnancy massage or revitalising rose facial along with a bellisle foot therapy treatment. This costs £80.

Of course you don’t have to take a package, you can go and enjoy a one off treatment. Some delights include:

Gel Polish £20

Seaweed Soak £25

Pure Organic Peppermint Sugar Glow Exfoliating Treatment £40

Age Repair Facial £85

Voya Seaweed Oil Massage £60

Refreshing Marine Eye Treatment £35

Soothing Facial £60

Hot lava shell body massage £65

Full leg wax £20

Without a doubt there is something for everyone here. A little added extra that I think is gorgeous is you can add on an afternoon tea for only £6.50 per person. They have a lovely room for this and you will get some scones, tray bakes and tea and coffee. I can’t think of a better way to end a nice treatment than having a yummy treat.

Opening hours at the spa are as follows

Monday closed

Tuesday 10.00 to 18.00

Wednesday 10.00 to 18.00

Thursday 10.00 to 20.00

Friday 10.00 to 18.00

Saturday 10.00 to 18.00

Sunday closed

Should you want to bring the girls for a weekend treat or a nice getaway with the other half, there is onsite self-catering accommodation that can sleep 14 people. Check it out here

The spa are having an open day where you can come along on Thursday 4^th June from 11am to 4pm, and you can get little taster treatments, view the rooms and talk to the therapists. It’s a great opportunity to see what they have to offer.  I will definitely be popping up as there are a few products I have my eye on and for sure want to book in for a couple of treatments.

It’s a great idea to keep an eye out on their Facebook as they always have offers on. This month’s offers are fab check them out.

Without a doubt it is a little hidden gem to get away from it all and have some me time in stunning surroundings. Have any of you ever visited. Hope to see you all at the open day

Alison xx

Magnitone Lucid Cleansing Brush Review

Recently during the #BHTWITTERPARTY I was asked if I would like to review a Magnitone Lucid Cleansing Brush. I jumped at the chance as I was very interested as these brushes seem to be getting more and more popular. Clarisonic were the leaders in this market but at they are out of a lot of our budgets, but with the advancement of technology etc  Magnitone have been able to bring you this brush at a fraction of the price.  The Lucid Brush comes in a few different colours blush pink which I chose as it’s so girly, aqua green, dazzling blue and sunshine yellow.

The box landed on my doorstep and was beautifully packaged and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into it as my skin has been looking dull and spotty recently especially round my jawline and bad bumps etc on my forehead. You will see in the pics I have a few marks from a recent seizure they will just take time to fade so I was eager to see if the brush would help these.

The brush claims to cleanse and exfoliate skin gently enough so that it can be used daily even on sensitive skin as there is a sensitive setting on the device. Without a doubt it is gentle enough as I have been using it well over a week now and have found no irritation etc and I would have quite sensitive skin.

I have been using my normal Liz Earle cleanse and polish with it and you can really feel the brush working with the cleanser to get the maximum results. I have also used it with the origins modern friction cleanser scrub which gave great results, my skin felt amazing afterwards.

The brush is waterproof and I have used it a couple of times in the shower and there has been no problems but I normally cleanse etc at sink but I think this is a great added feature.  A great feature is that it bleeps intermittently to ensure you aren’t over cleansing as you don’t want to do your skin any harm. Also charging is so easy, there is a magnetic charger which you simply place on the handset and you are good to go.  Each charge will last approximately 2 to 3 weeks so its great for travelling or for us people who forget to charge their things!

Overall I definitely feel there is a change in my skin, my forehead is clearer and my nose feels that it is cleaner with the pores looking more refined. In terms of my breakouts on my jawline they are still there but I don’t think anything will clear them as I have been led to believe they are due to hormones.  My skin just feels and looks better and I definitely will be continuing to use this.

I have been given a fantastic code so you can get  20% off, which means instead of £69.99 you will get it for £55.99! Just enter : Alison20 at checkout. Grab your Lucid  Here

Thanks to Magnitone for giving me this opportunity to review the lucid. It’s definitely a firm favourite in my routine now.

Do any of you use cleansing brushes in your routine?

Ali x

Epilepsy....The good, the bad and the very ugly

Epilepsy…… That’s a word I hate. I have had seizures now for about 13 years and they have changed my life. Gosh when you say that out loud you realise how much it really has changed your life.

I was at university and had a fall on a wet dancefloor banging the back of my head and falling on my spine. That was the start of it the have I wet myself questions, has anyone seen me etc everything someone with seizures go through.

Initially they didn’t know what was wrong, I had one episode as the quacks like to call them and then nothing for months, all I was able to tell them was how I felt afterwards and the circumstances I woke in. they scheduled me for an eeg which basically they set you in this wee dark room and have your brain monitored to see for activity. I had this done in Oxford and I remember my bestie Nikki coming with me cause the John Radcliffe is a really old building and I remember the smell and everything. The test came back inconclusive. I had no more episodes for months then in the March I had one and they decided to put me on medication. I remember thinking well if there is nothing wrong why throw medication down my throat, I was very angry at the time but I know now why they done it. So nothing over the summer then in September I met my amazing hubby as he joined our uni and stayed in the halls I was now looking after. We started dating on Halloween night basically and within 2 weeks he was in the hospital with me for a brain MRI. Again they couldn’t tell but they told me that 95% of epileptics have a normal MRI

I started to feel was there anything actually wrong, was it all in my head, was there something mentally wrong. I fell into a deep depression and went to a very low place in my life. The day I had my first seizure in front of Scott is something I can’t massively remember but he was amazing, he took it all in his stride, got me washed, the bed changed and just went back to sleep.  We decided to move back to Ireland as things were just getting too bad, the injury from my fall on my back was getting worse and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

I had video telemetry for 5 days in the royal Victoria Belfast and nothing not one iota of a seizure, the consultant thinks I was willing it to come on so much that adrenaline basically kept it away. I had one in the carpark of the hospital!! How ironic is that and just typically me!

So years on and countless seizures, I am sitting here writing this with a nice big and sore carpet burn on my face another little seizure injury, you can see that gorgeousness below! Goodness there have been a few, broken wrist a couple of times, carpet burns on face, bruised ribs.

Epilepsy has taken so much of my life but it has given me a sense of thankfulness, especially for my mum dad and scott. They treat me like I am normal and when mum was alive we used to be able to joke about it. Dad has seen me in states that he should never have to see me in, but yet its just another day to him. Scott has dealt with me fitting in the biscuit aisle in sainsburys and in the car not long after he passed his test.

If you have epilepsy and are reading this I want to tell you you are normal we just are a little differently wired but that makes us unique. Never feel you are any less than a “normal” person, as a friend of mine once said we are in the epilepsy possee and its an exclusive members only club.

If you have just came across this post or you are a friend of mine, just know that I cant control this and the best way to deal with it is not to be scared incase it happens with you,and if I do pee myself never worry a washing machine and shower will soon sort that out.

I think what I am trying to get through with this post is that yes epilepsy is crap and yes it has changed my life but I have learbed to deal with it and if I fit outside I couldn’t care less now, let people look and stare its their ignorance not mine.

Epilepsy yes I do hate you but you wont beat me, unless I fit in front of the Ulster Rugby Team or someone really famous then we will fall out!!

Love to all you preeners, you all make me strong

xxxx