Blog

Introducing Shrinking Tea, one of the hottest tea varietals to drink right now.

Shrinking Tea is a delicious, caffeine-free way to upgrade your tea habit. Boasting 50 percent more antioxidants than green tea, Shrinking Tea touts more benefits than green, black, and maybe even matcha tea.

While other teas have an acquired taste, Shrinking Tea has a sweet, mild flavour profile with notes of honey and vanilla. In fact, the Shrinking Tea blend is considered one of the most palate-pleasing types of tea out there.

Drink Shrinking Tea blend for maximum fat burning, it's the best tea to help you lose weight and blast belly fat, because we need a reason to drink more tea... Who doesn’t love a good cup of tea? In fact tea is the nation's favourite drink, and a staggering 165 million cups are drunk a day. On top of being comforting and delicious, another reason to love tea is that our Shrinking Tea blend can actually help you lose weight. A caffeine free alternative to black tea, with a sweet, delicate and rich, earthy flavour. Drunk black it’s calorie free! Shrinking Tea blend contains polyphenols, including flavonoids, which are directly linked to combatting obesity. Also including aspalathin which shows a significant reduction in the amount of fat stored over time and which helps to rid the body of free radicals. Aspalathin in our Shrinking Tea is considered a “magic ingredient” among weight watchers.

Read on to learn how to brew it...

HOW TO MAKE SHRINKING TEA

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tea bag of Shrinking Tea
• 8oz. water

Boil your water and pour over the tea. Infuse for 5-15 minutes covered. 

How to Drink Tea

Now we come to the important bit; how do you drink tea?

‘The exciting thing about tea is there are so many ways to enjoy it. Hot, cold brewed, or infused in a tea cocktail. Not only is tea a healthy beverage, but its interesting flavour profile means that it can be enjoyed in so many ways.’

Water Temperature

‘The important thing is to know a little about the type of tea you are preparing to serve, and to know the best way for your guest to experience it. For example, if you were serving hot tea, the general rule is to know that only black and herbal teas can withstand boiling water. Any other teas such as green, oolong and white teas need a cooler water so the leaves do not burn, which can produce a bitter flavour. Green or white tea are typically drunk without milk or sugar, as they have a much more delicate aroma and flavour.’ 

Iced tea is best brewed overnight in the fridge in cold water to allow for a delicate, naturally sweet tea.

Tea: The Social Rules

Tea should be taken when and wherever you like, and in whatever fashion best suits you.

‘There are better and worse ways to make tea and more formal and informal ways to enjoy it. But rules are there to be broken and tea is made to be enjoyed.’

‘The only thing I am slightly militant about is the cup or the mug I use. You wouldn’t drink fine wine from a pint glass, and I think the same applies to fine tea.’

I prefer porcelain or glass tea cups. 

How to Drink It 
Sit up straight and spread out the napkin on your lap. Hold the cup by the handle and bring it up to your mouth - avoid leaning forward to drink. Never cradle the cup in your hands and avoid raising your little finger. Take small sips and don't slurp, or blow on hot tea to cool it. The cup is put down on the saucer in between sips.

 Is it vegan and vegetarian?

It is caffeine free, vegan and vegetarian safe, dairy free, gluten free and sugar free. It's a great alternative to caffeine with absolutely no jitters, so aids in cleansing fat away and is safe and rapid. This Shrinking Tea contains no fats or carbohydrates. 

Shrinking Tea is part of the Shrinking Violet group owned by Tibby Olivier, a British company whose mission is to help people like you achieve their health and wellness goals.

Founded in Lancashire with our proud made in Britain flag in 2004, inspiration from our British passion for tea and a visit to Barbados in 2012 resulted in “creating the world's first Shrinking Tea”.

The popular two-step program combines Morning and Evening Shrinking Tea products as well as eating and exercise tips to achieve the results you have been looking for*. All of our products are Made in Britain from the highest quality herbs and extracts. We love to combine Shrinking Tea with our Shrinking Violet inch loss body care range of products for maximising results.

The team of health professionals in nutrition, naturopathy, and exercise are here to provide the support you need. We are proud to have assisted over 550,000 people just like you to achieve their health goals, and it is success stories such as these that motivate our team to provide the best products and service possible to make sure you do too.

*Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person. Shrinking Tea is not a food substitute. For maximum health benefits, it should be consumed in conjunction with a healthy balanced diet and exercise.

Happy New Year from the inch loss and detox experts at Tibby Olivier! You’ve likely been bombarded recently with commercials and social media posts encouraging you to join the fitness bandwagon in the new year. Whether it’s a local join a gym advertisement or a blog post about healthy recipes – you have gotten the message: “New Year, New You!”

Probably, like most of us, you know that these new year’s resolutions to “go to the gym four days a week” or to “cut back on carbs” are often short-lived. The reason is simple: most of the time, our resolutions focus around the physical changes we want to see within ourselves. This year, I want to challenge you to a new kind of new year’s resolution – one that focuses on physical changes combined with long term small key changes for maximum health benefits. If you can make this simple transition, all of the physical changes are sure to come. Here are 4 you can focus on:

1. Drink Shrinking Tea AM blend for maximum fat burning, its the best tea to help you lose weight and blast belly fat, because we need a reason to drink more tea... Who doesn’t love a good cup of tea? In fact tea is the nations favourite drink, and a staggering 165 million cups are drunk a day. On top of being comforting and delicious another reason to love tea is that our Shrinking Tea AM blend can actually help you lose weight. A caffeine free alternative to black tea, with a sweet, delicate and rich, earthy flavour. Drunk black it’s calorie free! Shrinking Tea AM blend contains polyphenols, including flavonoids, which are directly linked to combatting obesity. Also including aspalathin which shows a significant reduction in the amount of fat stored over time and which helps to rid the body of free radicals. Aspalathin in our Shrinking Tea is considered a “magic ingredient” among weight watchers.
    
2. Tap your toes - Boost your health by (no joke) tapping your toes. You've heard of "sitting disease," and how our desk-bound days can be bad for our health. Well, researchers at the University of Missouri recently discovered that simply fidgeting can reduce the arterial damage that happens from spending too much time on your derrière. In the study, healthy men and women were asked to intermittently tap one foot, while keeping the other one still. After three hours, they compared the blood flow in each leg and found that the fidgeting one showed improved vascular function, while the stationary leg was worse off. Other recent research found fidgeting mitigated the increased risk of death from sitting too much. Of course, actual exercise is still better at keeping you healthy, but considering that the average person sits 15 hours a day, a little fidgeting could have very real benefits as well. We recommend massaging your legs morning and night with our Shrinking Violet Cellulite Oil, which will visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite and aid in helping you lose inches. It’s natural ingredients like Lavender Essential oil calming and toning the skin too.
    
3. Eat breakfast every day - Research shows dieters are more successful at losing weight - and keeping it off - when they eat breakfast. If you don't already eat breakfast, start. If you are already a breakfast eater, try eating the same breakfast multiple days each week. Repeating the same meals can help you shed pounds, according to research. We recommend our Shrinking Shake to eat yourself slim. It's also portable and ready in less than 5 minutes take it right out of the door with you, so forget about using any "I don't have time for breakfast" excuses. Start your morning off with this Shrinking Shake that is healthy, delicious and super quick to make, its also dairy-free and vegan with zero refined sugar. Super filling Shrinking Shake is thick and creamy with such a delicious texture that’s different from your typical shake because it’s blended with the best natural ingredients like oats which are a gluten free whole grain and a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, cinnamon for its power effects on health and metabolism, ground flaxseeds which adds a delicious nutty flavour. Flaxseeds are a great source of protein and fibre, as well as a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Add a banana for a great source of fibre and protein meaning it's really delicious and a healthy way to start your day. It also couldn’t be any easier to throw together too. Your children will love this as well!
    
4. SlimBathe - who doesn’t want to slim and bathe? Relax every evening whilst taking a bath in our SlimBathe, a hot bath burns as many calories as working out, taking a hot bath burns about 140 calories and also can lower peak blood sugar after eating by 10 percent more than exercise can! We are in!!! This combined with the clinically proven SlimBathe for maximum inch loss is a win win. SlimBathe is a luxurious duo infused with the magic of Shrinking Violet. Relax in a hot bath with the aroma of lavender and geranium essential oils. SlimBathe contains a rich blend of natural ingredients and skin toners to eliminate that fat! After your SlimBathe apply the oil to problem areas for extra results as the solution helps smooth and refine those stubborn areas. Also don’t forget to drink your Shrinking Tea PM blend to stimulate weight loss as you sleep, also aiding the body to get rid of toxins, excess water and aid in restful sleep.

However much you love Christmas, it is often an energy-sapping marathon. A gentle detox now will help you feel and look as sparkling as the decorations. 

Tibby Olivier, the detox experts at Shrinking Violet, the clinically proven body wrap that transforms celebrity bodies at The Sha Wellness Clinic, have devised a three-stage detox plan for you, which you can do easily at home.

Toxins from food, drink, pollution and synthetic chemicals in cosmetics can unbalance our bodies and potentially cause disease. ‘A good detox lifts the toxic load and helps our liver, gut, lymph, circulation and perspiration systems work effectively to return our body to a state of balance where we feel full of energy, with natural sleep patterns and clear skin,’ they explain.

Here are the principles of the Shrinking Violet Body Wrap at Home Detox:

Shrinking Tea drink to your good health – drinking Shrinking Tea AM & PM Blends

STAGE 1: 7-DAY CLEAN-UP

Take plenty of SlimBathe Baths

This prepares your body and brain for Stage 2: Cleanse.

DO CONSUME 

• 3 meals and 2 snacks daily (eg, an apple/pear and 6 almonds) to help stabilise blood sugar.
• Fresh simple food with a small amount of protein at each meal (white meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, nuts, seeds).
• 5 to 7 vegetables in rainbow colours (no potatoes or parsnips), 2 helpings of fruit (apples, pears, berries; no bananas).
• Some fat with each meal: 1 tsp olive oil, coconut oil or a small portion of butter.
• Lots of still fresh water, and our fat burning Shrinking Teas - we like our Shrinking Tea AM - Fat Burning Tea in the morning and Shrinking Tea PM in the afternoon.
• Two days before your detox, start the day with 2tbs of ground flax seeds organic soaked overnight in half a cup of organic prune juice to eliminate toxins from the colon. Or if you prefer opt for the more substantial chia pudding which can be made in one big batch. Scroll down for recipe.

 AVOID 

• Processed foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which can overwork the liver and cause a build-up of toxins, leading to fatigue, headaches, gas, constipation, acne, bad breath and PMS. A detox can relieve these symptoms by lightening the load on the liver.
• Gluten-containing grains, milk or soy-based products. Gluten may cause intestinal permeability (leaky gut), leading to food sensitivity. Choose gluten-free bread and coconut or almond milk.
• If you do crave caffeine, try our Shrinking Coffee available also in caffeine free.

STAGE 2: 2/3-DAY CLEANSE

Ideally, organise this as a home spa weekend. Clear your diary and relax. 

Use the Shrinking Violet Body Wrap Kit daily or alternate using Shrinking Violet Body Wrap Kit and the Shrinking Violet Bums & Tums – AM & Shrinking Violet Cellulite Oil - PM.

• On rising, continue your bowel cleanse (2tbs ground flax seeds soaked overnight in half a cup of organic prune juice OR chia pudding). 
• Drink 3 cold-pressed juices or smoothies and 1 protein shake each day, around 8am, noon, 4pm and 7pm. Or swap your third juice for a green veggie soup. Finish by 8pm so your body has 12 hours to rejuvenate. See recipes below.
• For your protein shake use our Shrinking Violet Protein Shake, or blend a handful of soaked almonds in a green juice.

 Drink lots of water and/or Shrinking Tea  AM & PM- up to three litres.

STAGE 3: MAINTENANCE 

How you break(your)fast Is vital 

AM & PM Shrinking Violet Bums & Tums & Shrinking Violet Cellulite Oil or Shrinking Violet Stretch Mark Oil.

• Choose easy-to–digest fruit (eg melon) with alpro coconut yoghurt.
• For lunch have thicker vegetable soup - add beans such as edamame, frozen, to the pureed soups below.
• Return to the Stage 1 Clean-up diet for a week, longer if you can.
• Carry on with the bowel cleanse (chia pudding or soaked flaxseeds) first thing for two days.

NB: Children and pregnant/breastfeeding women should not detox. Please consult your doctor first if you have a medical condition or take any prescription medication. 

Shrinking Violet at Home, a 30- or 90-day tailored Body Wrap Kit delivered to your door. It includes Shrinking Violet Slimming Solution, Shrinky Suit, Tape Measure, Measuring Cup & Measurement Before & After Cards. £99.99 for 30 days, £247.00 for 90 days, www.GetShrinking.com

THE RECIPES 

BOWEL CLEANSE This helps eliminate old waste from the colon. Begin two days before your Stage 2 detox cleanse and continue until two days afterwards.

EITHER 

1 Prune juice and ground flax seeds

Soak 2tbs ground flax seeds overnight in half a cup of organic prune juice.

OR 

2  Chia pudding

Makes 8 small portions
50g / 1 ¾ oz / ½ cup chia seeds
250ml / 8floz / 1cup 100% unsweetened prune juice
2tbsp tahini
6 pitted dates, chopped
Handful of unsalted pistachios
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of cinnamon
225g / 8oz blueberries

Method 

1. Place the chia seeds in the juice and leave to soak for 20 minutes. The seeds should swell up and thicken the liquid.
2. Place all the ingredients but only half of the blueberries into a blender. Process until smooth and creamy. Stir in the remaining blueberries.
3. Spoon into bowls

CLEANSE PHASE - DAY 1

1 Bowel cleanse - Chia pudding or flaxseeds with prune juice, as above

2 Green juice A (ideally use a cold press juicer and organic vegetables. If using a blender, blend with coconut water).

2 Green juice A 

1/2 apple
1/2 cucumber
1/2 lemon 1/2 cup of spinach

3 Green juice B

1 kiwi
1 handful spinach
1 stalk celery
1 cucumber
1 handful parsley

4 Protein shake or juice with protein

1 Scoop Shrinking Violet protein powder
Handful of Spinach
300ml coconut water or unsweetened almond milk

OR

Green juice C with handful almonds on the side for protein

Green juice C

1/2 cup of spinach
2 stalks of celery
1/2 fennel bulb
Thumb of ginger

5 Green juice C (above) or Green Soup

Green soup

1 tbsp virgin organic coconut oil
1 large chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
2 large handfuls broccoli
3 chopped carrots
Handful watercress
Chicken or vegetable stock to cover - approx two pints. Avoid stock cubes 
A small handful of chopped fresh parsley leaves
Himalayan pink salt to taste
Black pepper to taste

Method 

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan
2. Fry onion and garlic until onions soften ]
3. Add stock and vegetables
4. Bring to the boil and simmer until vegetables are tender
5. Add the fresh parsley and simmer for a further 5 minutes
6. Blend until smooth

Eat one bowlful and freeze the remainder to eat immediately post-detox.

DAY 2 

1 Bowel cleanse. Chia pudding or flaxseeds with prune juice as before.

2 Red juice

1 small beetroot
2 carrots
1 celery stalk

3 Green Juice D

1/2 fennel bulb
1/2 cup romaine lettuce
1/2 cucumber
1/2 grapefruit squeezed
Handful coriander

4 Protein Shake as before or yellow juice with handful almonds on the side

Yellow juice

1/2 cucumber
1 stick of celery
1/4 medium pineapple
1 tsp ground turmeric or 1 finger fresh turmeric root

5 Yellow juice or orange (carrot and coriander) soup 

Orange (carrot and coriander) soup

1 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion
1 clove of garlic
One finger length fresh turmeric root chopped or 1tsp ground turmeric
10 carrots
Handful of fresh coriander
Vegetable stock to cover (around two pints).
Himalayan pink salt to taste
Black pepper to taste 

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan.
2. Fry onion and garlic until onions soften
3. Add stock and vegetables
4. Bring to the boil and simmer until the vegetables are tender
5. Add fresh coriander and simmer for a further 5 minutes
6. Blend until smooth

Eat one bowlful and freeze the remainder to eat immediately post-detox. 

AND FINALLY...

STAY RELAXED Breaking down cortisol, the stress hormone, is more work for the liver, so in Stage 2 do gentle exercise such as walking or yoga and avoid action movies and stressful arguments.

Apply SlimBathe slimming solution BEFORE YOU SHOWER This helps the lymph and circulation systems to get toxins out and starts to shrink your body.

USE NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS Tibby Olivier.com

***** rated by our testers.

Health experts have known about digital eye strain for a while, and the potential for all that blue light from digital devices to do eye damage. But can screens damage your skin, too? 

What is blue light? 

Blue light, is part of the spectrum of visible light, a high-energy, short-wavelength light (not to be confused with UVA or UVB rays). 

The main source of the blue light we're exposed to is the sun. However, we also get a significant dose from our computer screens, phones in fact all digital devices and indoor lighting. "It has been reported to contribute to eye strain as well as cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye disease." 

But blue light isn't all bad. "Blue light plays a critical role in maintaining good health, as it regulates our body's circadian rhythm — our natural sleep-wake cycle, blue light also elevates mood and helps memory and cognitive function." 

Is blue light damaging your skin? 

Recently, you might have noticed your favourite skin-care brand Tibby Olivier launched the Five Phase Ritual skincare system, NEW blue-light-fighting products — so, does that mean it's damaging your skin? "Visible light, especially in the blue wavelength, has become a hot topic in skin care, as there is mounting evidence that supports its contribution to photo-ageing, including wrinkles, worsening skin laxity, and hyperpigmentation." 

Research on how blue light affects your skin is ongoing, but what dermatologists know so far doesn't look good. One study of the effects of blue light on the skin, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2010, found that exposing skin to the amount of blue light we get only from the sun caused more pigment, redness, and swelling than when the same person's skin was exposed to comparable levels of UVA rays. 

The effects were mostly observed in people with darker easier to detect skin tones, but the researchers noted that pigmentation also lasted longer. "This study absolutely made us realise that blue light produces visible skin change, including redness and pigmentation."

Another study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, suggested that exposure to blue light might stimulate the production of free radicals in skin, which can rapidly accelerate the appearance of ageing. 

The blue light effect on skin still needs more research, though early evidence seems to suggest it has the potential to be very damaging. 

At Tibby Olivier we believe in preventative rather than curative, so we started working on protecting blue light actives a while ago and now the result of our research and testing has resulted in us launching Blue Venom skincare range.  

Featuring a unique blend of Bee Venom and Blue Light Protecting Actives, high performance next generation skincare. Suited to anyone who needs daily protection from their phones and computer screens, as well as office lights and the sun, especially if you are sat in front of your phone or computer all day at work, for any skin type aiding to protect against the advanced signs of ageing, helping to restore conditions of chronological ageing & digital pollution.

Blue Venom restores the skin’s adaptive capacity to overcome hypoxic stress. Limiting the appearance of free radicals and damage to the matrix caused by blue light. Blue Venom provides a true gust of oxygen, it strengthens the barrier function, smooths the skin relief and improves skin quality.  The healthy glow effect restored and the complexion radiance revived; a double deep formula that is then enhanced by the powerful effects of bee venom, help and also plump out fine lines and wrinkles, giving that immediate anti-ageing effect and lift. 

So, what exactly is the blue light doing? 

"Dermatologists have good evidence to show that visible light triggers certain skin conditions, such as melasma, where the skin is stimulated to produce more pigment."  

"There's also evidence that as blue light penetrates the skin, reactive oxygen species are generated, which leads to DNA damage, thereby causing inflammation and the breakdown of healthy collagen and elastin, as well as hyperpigmentation." 

There is mounting evidence that supports [blue light's] contribution to photo-ageing, including wrinkles, worsening skin laxity, and hyperpigmentation. 

"Although recently, scientific data points to blue light in general penetrating into the skin contributing to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and ageing, so, the more time we spend on our devices, the worse off our skin might be." 

Anecdotally, some dermatologists say they've seen what they believe is skin damage from blue light. "I am seeing a new pattern of hyperpigmentation in some patients that I am concerned is coming from holding a cell phone to their face, we have been tracking the effects of blue light exposure throughout the last few years. "Melasma is now often more on the sides of the face than on the central cheeks, where it had been most common." 

That's not all. "Dark spots after acne are often worse on the side of the face where the person is holding their cell phone."  

"It seems that, in these cases, the cell phone being right on top of the skin surface is giving high levels of blue light to the skin." Your computer screen, meanwhile, might not be so worrisome, because you sit farther away from it. 

Do skin-care products targeting blue light really work? 

Luckily, a wave of blue-light-specific products that work to block the high-energy wavelengths radiating from the sun and your digital screens is hitting the skin-care world. "We do think there is a place for blue light protection within skin-care routines, especially if you spend a lot of time in front of digital devices."  

At Tibby Olivier, we have just launched Blue Venom and have a five phase ritual skincare system, containing two face creams (one for day and one for night), a face mask, face serum, and eye cream formulated with active extracts, to protect against blue light and to help protect skin against damage caused by environmental pollution to specifically help protect skin from blue light damage. 

There is a place for blue light protection within skin-care routines, especially if you spend a lot of time in front of digital devices. 

Some skin types might have more need for a blue-light-fighting serum than others, like people who have "sun sensitive" skin disorders, such as lupus and rosacea. (sunscreens, which protect against ultraviolet A and B rays, don't do anything to help protect you from blue light rays.

Even if you're not "sun sensitive," we recommend our Blue Venom antioxidant-rich skincare to help counter the effects of blue light. "Blue light exposure is one of the reasons why our use of Blue Venom antioxidant serum in the morning is critical."  

"My favourite is Blue Venom Mask followed by Blue Venom night cream for a double whammy, protection with maximum lift and relax." says Tibby Olivier.

In addition to catching the blue-light-fighting skin-care wave, we suggest lowering the brightness level on your screens to help prevent skin damage. (Just don't dim it so much that you’re straining your eyes). And to cut down on the risk of hyperpigmentation where you hold your phone, go hands-free. 

Buy Blue Venom here: