Natural Beauty Hacks and Tips

Whilst in the beauty world we're all drawn in by pretty packaging and known brands, the new craze at the moment is more natural methods of taking care of ourselves.

Whilst researching some natural beauty tricks online I stumbled across the brilliant and the baffling, so I thought I'd share with you.

#1 Oil Pulling. This one, in my opinion, is just as bizarre as it sounds. Basically, you're supposed to swill a teaspoon on coconut oil for twenty minutes, every single day. Then spit it out (in the bin as it will solidify in your pipes if it goes down the sink). I know this sounds crazy but apparently it's great for gum health, teeth whitening, migraines AND hangovers! Worth a try, maybe?

#2 Cider Vinegar. Try cleansing with this one. It keeps the skin fresh and it fantastic for calming down breakouts. The acidity in the vinegar also lightens any scars you may have from pesky blemishes. Genius.

#3 Ground Coffee. I've actually heard of this one before... Try using ground coffee as an exfoliant. The rough grains quickly remove dead skin and get the blood pumping around your body quicker, giving your legs a glowy appearance. 

#4 Strawberries. This one really is quick strange, but if it works, hey, who am I to judge? Rub fresh strawberries on your teeth to whiten them. No, really, I'm not joking! The malic acid in strawberries is like a natural form of bleaching, and it's completely harmless! For best results do this once a week.

#5 Fruit Juice and Vinegar. Now for your locks. After washing your hair throw a cup of fruit juice over your hair before a final quick rinse. Lemon juice for blondes, cranberry juice for red-heads and cider vinegar for coloured hair. All three of these brighten, boost and freshen up your colour.

#6 Toothpaste. This is a tip I've actually been using for many years, after my mum taught me a few tricks! A tiny blob of toothpaste on an angry blemish (make sure the skin is unbroken) will sooth the redness and the mint will calm down the inflammation. I tend to pop a dap on before I go to bed and then rinse off in the morning, but you can just leave on for twenty minutes or so until the toothpaste is dry. I can definitely vouch for this one, it works like a dream!

#7 Olive Oil. This is such a multi-purpose product. You can use olive oil as a cleansing oil to take off all your make up, you can also use it to moisturise nails, cuticles and any dry patches of skin. You can even mix it in to a mashed banana for a face mask, or natural yoghurt for a hair mask, you can even use it just on its own if you fancy. It's a wonder oil.

#8 Peppermint Oil. Another minty product. Peppermint oil is great for plumping the lips so add it to a lipbalm or lipgloss, or just rub it on your lips for instantly plumped, juicy lips.

#9 Caviar. This is another of the really weird ones, but apparently it works. So, if you have some spare caviar lying about, lucky you! You want to rub the caviar over areas where you have stretch marks, For some reason the oils in roe deeply hydrates and removes any discolouration from stretch marks. Personally, I'd rather eat the caviar, but each to their own.

#10 Milk. Milk is a great gentle toner, just make sure to follow it up with a rich moisturiser. Alternatively, soak a couple of cotton pads in milk, I'd go for goats milk or almond milk as they aren't as high in fat as cows milk, and places over the eyes for 5-10 minutes. It's a great cooling and soothing eye mask.

So there you have it, some weird and wonderful beauty tips. Let me know if you try any of them!

Top 5..Blushers

And so the "Top 5" series continues. Now for a splash of colour, of the blusher kind. Matte, shimmer, sheer, cool, warm- there's tons of different types out there. But only a select few have made it onto my list...Let's check 'em out. 

Note: I'll be talking about certain shades specifically, rather than actual formulas.

In at No. 5 we have the Sleek Blush in the shade "Flushed". This is a very deep toned red. It looks a little alarming in the pan, however this is actually a sheer formula, so it just gives a healthy flushed look to the cheeks, as the name would suggest. At first glance it looks matte, but it actually has a very fine milled shimmer running throughout which also gives a subtle glow to the skin. A great goes with everything kind of blush.

Grabbing the number 4 spot on my list is the Pixi Beauty Blush in Perkiest Pink. This is a very shimmery candy pink. It gives cheeks that freshly pinched look whilst adding one heck of a glow. Very pretty.

#3 has to be the 17 Blusher in Plum Puff. This one is pretty sheer too, with a hint of shimmer in the pan, though this doesn't translate onto the cheeks. It has a beautifullly buttery texture and glides onto the cheeks seamlessly. I've repurchased this at least twice, so it must be good!

Ooo, we're getting near the top. My number 2, that just missed the top spot, is Smouldering Plum by Clinique. This is actually very similar to the 17 blush, with a slightly warmer undertone to it. I think plummy tones are very flattering on paler skintones, whilst the cooler pinks work better on darker skin, so this one is brill for me. It's my go to everyday blush at the moment, and I'm sure I'll continue to use it for ages. Foolproof, lasts all day and can be built up for stronger colour on the cheeks. Love it.

Annnd a drum roll please *does a little drum roll*

Grabbing my number one spot is......Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush in Lover's Blush. This is literally THE perfect blush/bronzer cheek product for a pale skinned gal. It's a terracotta-ish, peachy golden-y blush that is just perfect for warming the complexion. The fine gold shimmer running through gorgeously highlights in all the right places. Oh I really do love this. The great thing about this one too, because of it's sheer formula, is that it could be applied in the dark without a mirror and I wouldn't look like I'd been smacked in the face. Perfect for when I'm in a rush in the morning. Please never stop making this Estee Lauder.

So there you have it, a run down of the best blushers out there, in my opinion. Do you have any recommendations for me? I really want to get my hands on some of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes!! 

The Plain White T

Ah, the plain white t. Everyone has one. The majority of people overlook them. Personally, I feel that a plain white t-shirt is an absolute style staple. You can dress it up or down, that's the great thing about something so plain, it's uber diverse. Here are a few suggestions from me of how to spice up and style the under-loved plain white t.

Jeans.

For a chilled vibe, pair with a light wash pair of jeans. Add a pair of sandals or converse for a super laid back look and you're done. You could even try a pop of colour, with a bright wedge. Alternatively, grab a pair of black jeans, black ankle boots and a leather jacket for a more edgy-cool look. 

Denim Shorts.

Okay, so for when the weather finally gets warm enough to get your legs out, grab a pair of denim shorts. Be it light or dark wash, whatever you prefer. Pair with your T, a pair of converse, throw on a light kimono and a pair of shades. Done. Effortlessly cool.

 The Pencil Skirt.

My final outfit idea for you involves a pencil skirt. Super chic and extremely easy to wear. I go for classic black, with my white t, keeping bang on trend with the monochrome theme. A classic court shoe and simple clutch finishes this one off nicely. 

So there are my outfit ideas for you. How do you like to style a plain tee?

Until next week...

Liz Earle- The Review

A few weeks ago a giant package of Liz Earle goodies* landed on my doorstep. I've been trying the products out for a little while and thought it was about time I let you know what I've been thinking of them. The first thing I must say is how well the company do what they do. Everything arrived very quickly and each item was beautifully packaged, either wrapped in tissue or in it's own waterproof bag or Liz Earle box.

Now, for the actual products. I've recently been trying seven of their products, three skincare and 4 body/hair care items. Let's start with the skincare.

A three step skincare system is a system adopted by quite a few well know brands out there, because it works so well. Three quick no nonsense steps and you're left with happy skin. 

So, we begin with quite possibly the number 1. cult skincare product in the blogging world; the Cleanse& Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. The 100ml pump bottle retails for £14.75 and includes a muslin cloth. I'd previous tried a sample of this cleanser so I was over the moon the see it in the box. For me, it's the perfect cream cleanser. I always used to have difficult oily teenage skin, but in the last year my skin has settle and decided on being dry/combination. Around a pump massaged all over my face clears all my makeup and general impurities on and under the skin and leaves my skin feeling clean, plump and actually quite moisturising. This is TOTALLY worth the hype and is definitely a product I will continue to use.

Moving on to step two.. the Instant Boost Skin Tonic. This is an inoffensive, gentle toner that just finished off the cleansing process nicely. I think you can probably find slightly more affordable toners on the high street if necessary, but this is a lovely one to have if it's within your price range. A 200ml bottle with cost £13.25, I personally think that's fair considering the quality of the ingredients within the product.

And finally, step three...the Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination skin (19.25 for a 50ml jar). I was a little sceptical about this one at first In the jar, it has a someone balm like texture, something you would expect of a very rich day cream. However, when applied on the skin it feels incredibly light. My next worry was that it wouldn't sufficiently moisturise my skin. How wrong I was. It soaks deep into the skin quickly making it a perfect base for makeup and keeps skin hydrated for a long time- The first time I used it was in the evening; I woke up the next morning to comfortable moisturised and plump skin.

Overall, I really would recommend the skincare products that I've tried out. I think they're great value for money, the brand prides themselves on the natural ingredients that go into their products, so credit to them for delivering fantastic quality. The scent is natural an herbal, almost like a quick session of aromatherapy, which is great for calming down redness and irritation in the skin. Can you tell I'm sold? I love the skincare.

Moving on to the body and haircare items....

Starting with the Botanical Shine Shampoo for all hair types (8.75 200ml). I won't ramble about the rest of the products I'll just tell you exactly what I think. As a texturising shampoo (which it isn't supposed to be) I think this is great. It gives my hair real grit and a good strong hold, perfect if you're washing your hair and want to put it put straight away. However, I don't actually feel like this washes my hair particularly well. That textured feeling, turns into a greasy feel within about 24 hours. This could be because my hair is quite thick, but unfortunately this one didn't work too well for me. Whilst lathering, it has a lovely citrus-y scent, but when I began to wash it out the scent turned almost soapy and then lingered my hair. Sadly, I'm not a fan, but I do think it would work very well for those with thin hair.

Botanical Sine Conditioner (for normal hair) 8.75 200ml. I actually quite like this conditioner. I couldn't really detect a strong scent. It's creamy in texture and sufficiently moisturised and restores my hair, which is all I really want from a conditioner. Nice.

Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash  200ml 12.00. LOVE the scent, it filled my bath with citrus scented bubbles and turned my entire bathroom into a kind of aromatherapy room. Very relaxing and luxurious. Definitely worth it.

Nourishing Botanical Body Cream  200ml 17.25. Like the Skin Repair Moisturiser, I was sceptical of this one at first as it doesn't exactly have the texture of a body cream that would be particularly moisturising. It actually feels more like a light lotion. Turns out, it's the perfect thing. I can slather my self in this stuff, it soaks into my skin really quickly, doesn't leave me feeling greasy AND I can still feel the benefits for a least a couple of days post application.

So there are my thoughts on some of the most loved Liz Earle skin, body and hair products.
What do you think of Liz Earle products? At some point I hope to let you in on my thoughts of the Liz Earle beauty range.

Until next time..

xoxo

*DISCLAIMER- I did not purchase these items myself.

April Favourites

April has been the first real month of Spring here in the UK, and with the warmer, sunny weather, I've felt the need to shake things up and change things around. I've also been trying out a few new things and rediscovering some old favourites. Of course, this wouldn't be a monthly favourites post without the good old cliché, I can't believe the month is over already! That aside, we'll jump into my faves.

First of all, a new nail polish discovery; my perfect nude nail. If you follow my blog regularly, you'll have seen my post on this already, if you haven't seen it yet, go check it out here. Seeing as I've already written about the Collection Hot Looks Nail Polish in Milkshake, I won't go on about it too much, but I love it. I've been repainting my nails constantly with this shade and I'm sure I will continue to do so throughout May.

Next up is an old favourite/re-discovery. The Nivea Daily Essentials Tinted Moisturising Day Cream (blimey, that's a long name). It only comes in one shade, Natural, but somehow seems to work for many a skin tone. I use about a pea-sized amount (Don't go overboard here, you WILL look like you've been Tango-ed). I then use a flat foundation brush and blend the tinted moisturiser all over. It leaves a nice fresh feeling on the skin and just covers what needs to be covered. For me, whilst I can sometimes see the value in spending a lot on a good foundation, I prefer going for a budget option for my tinted moisturisers, and with this one I don't feel like it's necessary to shell out for something expensive.

Moving on to something that definitely isn't a budget offering, the Estee Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator. This is PERFECT for the time of year. Essentially, it's a radiance boosting base that you can apply under makeup or wear just on its own if you fancy. It's a white lotion, with a sort of gel texture with a fine gold shimmer running throughout. Again, I use about a pea sized amount all over the face. Don't be alarmed; you won't look like Edward Cullen, it gives the skin a subtle sheen and really looks like you're glowing from within. Of course, it's from a luxury brand so it is expensive, but there are alternatives. 

Another Estee Lauder product that I've really been enjoying using recently is the Bronze Goddess Matte Bronzer. I just take a little of this on my Kanebo Blush Brush and do the classic "3E" motion. It just gives a slight hint of warmth to the complexion without looking orange or muddy. 

After receiving the NAKED 2 Palette for my birthday, which was last month, I've completely fallen in love with it. It definitely leans towards the cooler end of the spectrum, and just like the original NAKED Palette, it's the complete package. My favourite shades right now are Bootycall which is a very very pale peach shimmery shade which is stunning for highlighting under the brow and in the inner corner and YDK which is a great shade for either blending all over the lid for a quick wash of colour or used through the crease to deepen up a look. I also adore Chopper which is a striking mix between a warm gold and a copper. It looks fantastic against blue eyes.

And last but certainly not least, my final beauty favourite for the month of April is the Model&Co Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Striptease. Glamour magazine were recently giving away Model&Co products a few months ago so I snapped this up quickly. It's the perfect sheer peachy-nude gloss with a hint of a blue toned shimmer running throughout. The gloss is the perfect consistency, not too thick and sticky but it lasts well on the lips and the blue tones in it help to whiten the appearance of your teeth. I've just been pairing this with a fairly nude lipstick all month long for an effortless goes with any kind of makeup lip.

Right, I think that's all for my round up of April favourites. Let me know what you've been loving this month!

xoxo

Dealing with insomnia...

Whilst this isn't beauty related at all, insomnia and other sleeping disorders can have a massive impact on general well being, including the state of your face.

I've struggled with insomnia for the last six months and thought I'd let you in a few ways to make it more manageable and also I thought it would help some of you that aren't in the know understand what insomnia really is.

There is a common misconception that if someone is an insomniac they never sleep. Last time I checked, I wasn't a zombie. Insomnia, affects the amount of sleep you get, it doesn't completely deprive you of sleep, you just don't get anywhere near the right and healthy amount a normal person should have (which can be anywhere between 6-9 hours). Whilst insomnia is one of the most common sleeping issues, it's not one single disorder in itself, it's usually linked to one of a number of different things, Anything from drinking too much caffeine throughout the day, being stressed about work or it could be linked to something more complex like an underlying medical condition.

Here are a few symptoms to look out for that could point to possible insomnia....

Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired

Relying on sleeping pills to get to sleep

Waking up too early in the morning

Fatigue or irritability during the day

Difficulty concentrating

Waking up frequently throughout the night

Trouble getting back to sleep

Useless sleep (Waking up without feeling refreshed in any way)

On average, I get around 4 hours of sleep a night. This is very rarely a solid 4 hours...I usually get to sleep at a reasonable time (around 11-ish) but I then continually wake up throughout the night. When insomnia first strikes it's an absolute pain in the bum. It used to take me HOURS of tossing and turn to finally get a few, very unsatisfying, hours of sleep. However, along the road I've learnt a few tips and tricks that help me relax into the bizarre sleeping pattern that I now have.

My first piece of advice would be to avoid the lure of sleeping pills. Even though the immediate promise of guaranteed, uninterrupted sleep sounds great, when you find yourself hooked and not being able to sleep without popping a pill, then you're in real trouble..You've just made the problem worse for yourself. This probably won't sound nearly as effective, but try something far more natural such as chamomile or peppermint tea..Both are soothing and the warmth really helps to calm you- just make sure you avoid caffeine in your pre-bedtime drink!

Try and get into a routine. Your body is a diva and it reacts to change. Where possible, try to do the same acticvities every night before bed. If you like to watch TV or a bit of Netflix before bed make sure you turn of around half and hour or an hour before you plan to sleep. Television and surfing the web keeps your mind extremely active. Before sleep a calm and inactive mind is pretty essential. Try reading (an actual book, not an iPad or Kindle etc...keep away from technology..avoid texting too) or listening to some chilled music to get you ready for sleep. 

Make sure your bedroom is an environment that you associate with sleep. This can be difficult, especially if you're a student (such as myself)..our bedrooms tend to become our caves where we do everything, but this is seriously bad for sleep. Work in another room if you can, or go to the library. Don't eat in your room and where possible avoid watching TV in bed too. Your bedroom is for sleeping, remember that. Make sure your bedroom is the optimum place for sleep too. What works for you differs from person to person, but avoid light either with heavy curtains or an eye mask and try sleeping with your window open. A constant supply of fresh air is good for the body and it makes you sleepy. If noise is an issue, invest in some ear plugs- they work wonders.

Along with the point I mentioned earlier about having a routine, try and keep your rise and sleep time roughly the same, including weekends, even if you're too tired. Everybody hates Monday's because after a weekend of not getting up till 10, you suddenly have to rise at the crack of dawn. Avoid this feeling by keeping your biological clock balanced. Your body WILL thank you for it, eventually. 

And last but certainly not least, please avoid naps during the day. It's terrible for your sleeping pattern as your body gets confused about when you should sleep AND you feel worse when you wake up from a nap. Power naps can work for some lucky people, but in the long run they're trouble! If you're really desperate for a bit of kip limit yourself to a max of 30 minutes before 3p.m. and set an alarm so you don't go over the time.

Just quickly, even though you're supposed to stay away from technology, I thought I'd mention two apps that don't require contact and that have genuinely helped me. The first is Sleep Time. This is free on the App Store and logs your sleep. It also has a built in alarm which wakes you up at the optimum time i.e only during Light Sleep rather than Deep or REM. Knowing your sleep is extremely important for your body, the more REM the better, it's the seriously good stuff.

The next one is Calm. Again this is free on the App Store. Calm is essentially for pre-sleep meditation, it's also great if you struggle with anxiety. You can set your time- anything from 2 minutes to 30 minutes and the soothing voice will take you through the stages of totally relaxing your body (I usually fall asleep even before my session is finished, that's how good it is!)

Hopefully I've covered everything here!

Sleep tight!

xoxo

The Nude Nail

Personally, I've never really been a fan of nude nails on myself. On others they look effortlessly chic and naked, on me, I've always felt like they look like I have freakish hands without nails. Probably due to the fact that I usually wear very dark colours on my nails, I'm a Linkin' Park After Dark (OPI) kinda gal.

However, on Thursday whilst raiding the beauty aisles in my local Boots I stumbled across quite possibly, my perfect nude shade. And here's the thing... it ain't even nude. Nor is it any kind of skin colour. It's actually a very dusky pink and comes in the form of "Milkshake" from Collection's Hot Looks line (they dry in 60 seconds, which is perfect for me as I'm so impatient!) For some reason, perhaps because I have a warm undertone to my skin, it just blends into my hands and makes then look well manicured and healthy. I think I'm converted!

Now I've made the scary move into paler nail polishes I feel like experimenting...Maybe a white polish will be next on my list?

What are your favourite shades to wear on your nails? 

xoxo