The Fashion & Beauty Boutique: MSN Life & Style Blog

All right all right, I know I'm being melodramatic and that dumbbells can't actually kill you. But lawks a mercy they can give you the shakes- especially when you're on your last rep of 12.

So last night Karen had me working on upper body strength at the Matt Roberts gym in Chelsea. Because it turns out I have none. I literally can't do one, single, full-sized press-up. We tried five times. I can do the girly one where you cheat by leaning on your knees, but not a proper grown-up one.

Karen can though, she can do loads of them and holds her posture as flat as an ironing board when she does them. I am a jumbling, back-dipping red-faced follower, desperately trying to catch up. But I will, I will. The press-up has now become our goal, see. It's going to be what we measure my (please god, rapid) progress by during my training schedule.

Karen has faith. She thinks I'll easily be able to do 10 in a matter of weeks. I'm not so sure, but after lifting loads of different dumbbells in all different muscle-building ways last night, I feel like I have the arms of King Kong today. So maybe there's hope.

If you're interested in finding a personal trainer, check out the Matt Roberts website.

Bubble & Balm has just launched a fairtrade, 100% natural skincare range. One of the first companies in the UK to offer beauty products carrying the Fairtrade mark, Bubble & Balm's new range contains wholesome ingredients such as fairtrade certified shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, rosehip oil and Vitamin E, all packaged up in elegant shiny bottles.

Prices range from £14.95 for Pure Shea, to £7.95 for Stubble & Balm, a shaving oil for men. Got a special request? The company offers a Made for Me service, where customers can create their own blend by choosing essential oils to blend with their favourite ‘base’ product.

Commenting on the launch, founder Sue Acton said: ‘We’re really excited to be at the forefront of Fairtrade beauty. Our new range is not only gorgeous and ethical, it’s also unique.’

Products are available at the company’s website, www.bubbleandbalm.co.uk.

Well, not quite, but I felt I deserved a body like hers while I was lunging my way through my first personal training session.

If you’ve never had a personal trainer before, believe me you feel like an A-lister when you first get one.

Imagine a marathon-sprinting expert whipping you into shape by choosing exercises specifically designed to reduce your flabby derriere, and pushing you’re sorry, tired ass around the gym one more time, all in the pursuit of the body beautiful.

I’ve started training at the Matt Roberts gym in Kensington – and a rather cool urban space it is too, all bare brick warehouse filled with the very latest in gym equipment.

It all started when I decided to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon this October. It’s a beautiful run through the capital’s parks and I fathomed a lot less hilly than that death-defying Great North Run of the same distance.

Matt Roberts is one of the world’s leading personal trainers. My mate - who does things like cycle through the night in 12-hour races (for some reason) nearly passed out when I told her I was training with his programme.

At his Chelsea gym, personal trainer Karen has the unenviable task of helping me develop a toned, muscle-bound shape. Now I think I’m reasonably fit: I walk 10K every day into work (just for the thrill of it), I go to the gym once a week(ish) for what I consider to be a gruelling two-hour session and am generally fairly active.

But my goodness, my muscles burned, burned people during that session. And I’ve had aches in places I didn’t know muscles existed.

See, a personal trainer makes you do all those awkward (and impossibly hard) little things that you wouldn’t make yourself do when you go to the gym. Like press-ups. Which I can’t for the life of me do without collapsing in a heap, it turns out.

But I’m only at the start. This time in three months I’ll have a body like Beyonce and be doing 50 press-ups one-handed just for kicks. You wait and see (well, one can dream)...

I’ll keep you updated on my progress. But meanwhile, if you’re interested in developing a personal training programme, check out the Matt Roberts site.

And find out more about the Royal Parks Marathon here.

This summer, eyebrow expert bliñk will be launching its very first lash bar, specialising in giving customers high impact lashes for a natural, gorgeous look.

Bringing Cheryl Cole-style glamour to the mainstream market, bliñk is offering affordable semi-permanent lashes that will transform the eye-area for up to two weeks.

bliñk’s lashes are made from high quality, high shine double-coated polyester, creating thick and healthy looking lashes. Each eyelash is applied individually to the lash line by one of the expert team, allowing the flexibility to achieve a subtly enhanced natural finish, or full-on maximum glam - depending on the desired effect.

Lashes come in an array of colours and lengths, including midnight black, electric blue or chocolate brown - and all colours are available in extra long, for that statement look.

The eyelash extensions cost £60 and will be available at bliñk bars from June in Selfridges London, Birmingham and Manchester, Fenwicks London, Brent Cross and Tunbridge Wells, Harvey Nichols London, House of Fraser Westfield and Terminal 5.

Visit www.blinkbrowbar.com to find out more.

You may have tried a body wrap, you may have enjoyed a hot stone massage – but at the Chelsea Harbour Club you can try a new treatment that puts both together for 75 minutes of pure bliss.

Taking inspiration from the ancient use of hot stones, Phytomer have created a unique thermal mud treatment.

In a private Hamam next the spa's poolside, you can lay back on a warm plinth while your body is covered in the mineral-rich Atlas Mountain mud from Phytomer.

You'll receive a full body massage using the stones to melt away any tension in your muscles, restore a natural balance to your body and induce an inner state of calm.

After 75 minutes of pure bliss, you'll feel your super-soft skin, body and mind are revitalised and refreshed. It’s like a relaxing deep cleanse that leaves you completely uplifted.

Wahanda customers can get an exclusive 20% off the standard £100 treatment price for a limited time only.

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What is Wahanda?

Wahanda is for wellbeing what Amazon is to online retailing – an intuitive and easy-to-use website where people can learn about treatments (including acupuncture, facials and massages to Pilates, Botox and personal training). Readers can share ratings and reviews and book the hottest deals, gifts and offers from a comprehensive listing of spas, salons, studios and fitness centres across the globe. Visit www.wahanda.com to find out more.