Lovely Bits

Homemade Moisturiser with Shea Butter, Aloe Vera and Almond Oil

2013-01-08T20:00:00.000+00:00

With my homemade experiments working quite well recently. I decided to try and refine my moisturiser recipe for the winter. My current moisturiser has done wonders for my skin. Check out homemade moisturiser. However, I feel like I need something a bit more intense for the winter months.

I decided to add Shea Butter to the mix. Having used it in my homemade lip balms, I thought I'd try it here. Shea Butter is very rich, but it is not pore clogging. Did you know that there is a comedogenic (pore clogging) scale? Shea Butter and Aloe Vera score 0 on this scale, meaning that it is not at all pore clogging. See this website on Comedogenic Scale For Other Ingredients

Ingredients:
Shea Butter
Aloe Vera Gel
Almond Oil
Essential Oil is optional ( I used Orange)

I recently used shea butter to make a hand cream and tried to whip it by hand, mixing it with almond oil. The result was a great thick moisturiser, but it took a lot of hard work and the shea butter left some small grains in the cream.

This time, I decided to gently heat the Shea butter in a pan so that it was easier to mix.

I used 3 tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel and added 1 tablespoon of Almond Oil and used a knob of shea butter. I wasn't so strict with amounts, but I would say the amount of butter you would need for a sandwich. This makes enough for 1 jar. I used an old moisturiser jar and rinsed it with boiling water.

Method:
I whipped the aloe vera and almond oil together first. It should have a yoghurt consistency. If it is lumpy, you probably need more aloe vera. I then heated the shea butter very gently on the lowest setting. Once it melted, I gradually added the shea butter to the mixture while mixing it in.

I ended up with a lovely creamy textured mixture. I added about 3/4 drops of Orange essential oil, which is just lovely. Shea butter doesn't have the most pleasant of smells. It is quite strong, but I can see how some people might actually like it too. Perhaps it's one of those Love/Hate things. Adding essential oil helps with the smell.

**orange works fine for my skin, but my mum said it irritated her skin and she is a bit allergic to citrus fruits, so try another oil if you have allergies**

I was very pleased with this moisturiser. I have quite dry skin and it has worked really well for me. The Aloe Vera has a tightening quality to it, whereas the shea butter has the intense moisturising element. I find it works well under my makeup as well and keeps my skin hydrated all day.

Homemade Christmas Garland for £3

2012-12-17T22:09:00.003+00:00

I'm not usually the thrifty type, but when I saw the price of christmas garlands, I thought I would shop around a little...

Then I came across these cute christmas wreaths for £1 each in Poundland. I was quite proud of my craftiness when I thought I could use them to make a garland.

So here is what I started with...

The wreaths were held together with a little plastic tie. I undid the tie to straighten the wreats out...

I used electrical tape to join them together...

And voila, a lovely homemade christmas garland. All I need now are a few fairy lights to top it off :)

Have you made any of your own christmas decorations?

MUA Nail Varnish £1

2012-12-09T13:42:00.000+00:00

Shade 1 - Dark Metalic Blue

I got this shade to match my spidery halloween makeup. I loved the shade in the bottle as it appeared to have little glittery specs.

On application, I found the nail varnish to be very thin and one coat would definitely not do. I had to apply around 4 coats in the end. Saying that, the varnish did dry pretty quickly between coats.

As you can see the first coat is very transparent

Getting better with coat 2

Coat 3 is adaquate, but there were still little see through streaks in some places.

I was disappointed with the colour as the metalic "gliterriness" didn't show through. From any sort of distance, the colour looked black rather than blue.

Not too much of a big deal for a halloween costume, but not really what I expected it to be. I found the varnish to be long wearing, lasting up to about 1 week.

I am really impressed with MUA as a cosmetics range in general. £1 for a nail polish is a god send if you're playing with one off colours for a bit of fun and experimentation, so I'd be interested in trying out more colours. I like their eyeshadows too. Check out my review of MUA Eyeshadow.

I also recently bought one of their eye shadow palettes, which I will review soon.

On the whole, I think this nail varnish is value for money. It takes a little more applications than other products, but I don't mind this for the price. I would like to try out other shades in this range to compare :)

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream

2012-11-21T11:37:00.000+00:00

Ok, I'll admit it, I am so late to the BB Cream party. I hadn't even heard of them until about a month ago!

At first I thought hmm they sound a bit like tinted moisturisers, what's the big deal? But after researching a bit more, I can see that they are a little different.

For those of you who have also had your head stuck in the sand, a BB Cream is said to prime, moisturise, cover blemishes and provide SPF protection as well as a host of other claims. Bascially they are supposed to be everything rolled into one. The idea originated in Korea with the Korean brands being quite popular.

I did use my own moisturiser before applying, which I have heard you should do.
After reading some online reviews, I decided to give the L'Oreal Nude Magique a go.

My Skin: Dry, red blemishes, acne prone

What it says on the bottle:

Bare Skin Beautifier
5 in 1
Mimics the texture and glow of perfect bare skin
24 hr hydration
SPF 12
Smart Pigment Capsules
30ml
Available in 2 shades: Medium and Light. I'm using the Light Skin Tone colour
Price: £9.99

So, on squeezing the cream out of the tube, it is white in colour with little blue specs. These give it a slightly gritty texture. but not so much that it would irritate the skin. The formula is quite thin. When you apply the cream to your face (with fingers) it changes colour. I did find the colour a tad too dark for my skin and had to use bronzer around my neck area to blend it a bit.

The cream doesn't feel wet at all, it strangely drys up as soon as it's applied and almost looks like a light powder finish. It evened out my skin tone quite a bit, but I had to reapply in some areas that weren't covered from the first layer. It seems to build well, but there were still come blemishes I needed to top up with concealer.

I would describe the coverage as light. It is nice to have something on your face that doesn't feel heavy for a change. You don't really feel like you are wearing makeup.

I wore this to work one day, and it didn't last the full day sadly. I'm happy to wear something like this on the weekend though when my skin gets a bit of a break.

Overall, I thought it was decent for the price and a good alternative to foundation. If the colour was a little lighter, I would be very happy with it.

It claims to give a "fresh dewy glow", but I actually found it to be the opposite. It is definitely more of a matt finish, but could have been down to my dry skin.

Hydration - it claims to have 24 hour hydration. Well I wouldn't be keeping it on for 24 hours to test that! but it isn't as drying as some foundations I've used and it does improve the dryness in my skin.

So bad points for me - the colour is a little too dark and coverage could be a little better, but I don't mind touching up with concealer in return for a lighter feeling makeup.

Watch this space for my next review of the Dr Jart BB Cream (one of the original Korean brands), which is completely different from this one :)

GOSH Natural Touch Foundation

2012-11-18T15:00:00.001+00:00

I would never normally buy a foundation in a hurry, but the day before I went to America I had to get something better than the drying foundation I was already using. Luckily it wasn't too much of a disaster.

So I was just looking for something light for the warm weather. I nearly gave up and this caught my eye as I was leaving the shop.

Costing only £8.99 I thought I'd give it a shot. Wearing it for the first time on my flight over was probably not a good idea. I don't think I've ever had a foundation that survives a long haul flight.

What you should know about my skin first:

Dry
Pale
Occasional acne
Red blemishes from acne

What it says on the bottle:

Flawless Natural Finish
Organic Sweet Almond Oil
Moisturising and Nourishing
SPF 8
30ml

Available in 6 shades - I tried 36 Ivory

My skin is quite dry and I'm an on/off sufferer of acne, so coverage is important to me most of the time. I wasn't too concerned about coverage for my holiday though. I just wanted something that didn't feel heavy in the heat.

The texture is very light and colour is natural (yellow toned). It contains sweet almond oil, which is great for the skin. Comes in handy pump bottle and one squirt is enough for the whole face.

I like the feel of this foundation on my face, it's very lightweight and goes on smoothly. I would describe the coverage as light to medium. If I had a bad breakout, I'm not sure this would make the cut, but at the moment the coverage is enough. I would liken it to the Smashbox Healthy FX foundation as far as texture and coverage goes.

On my skin, I didn't find that it was very buildable. When I tried to go over my blemishes again it kind of clumped. It worked better when I touched up blemishes with some concealer.

I've been wearing it everyday to work and I'm finding that it is lasting all day long. I've also been getting more skin compliments since using it, so I guess it looks pretty good and natural.

It looks more natural than the Revlon Colourstay Foundation I've been wearing recently. I don't look like I'm wearing makeup, which is a plus for me. The shade is a tad too dark for my pale skin, but it's not bad.

One downside for me would be that it smells quite perfumey, but it's not overpowering.

Apart from that and the fact it doesn't build well, I think it's a great sheer foundation that lets my skin breath for a change. It's great value for money at £8.99. I've been using it for 2 months now (everyday) and there is still plenty left.

Homemade Lip Balm With Shea, Coconut and Orange

2012-10-23T10:27:00.001+01:00

This is the latest of my homemade beauty experiments and I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the results.

I used to think making my own beauty products would be time consuming and just add to everyday stress. But in fact, it's the opposite. It's a bit like baking cakes and is very therapeutic. The hardest part is getting your ingredients together.

I've heard a lot of bad reports about petroleum jelly, so after already making my own Homemade Moisturiser, I thought I'd give lip balm a go.

This one involved a little bit of "cooking".

What you need:

A small pan - a non-stick one worked well for this
Containers/pots

Ingredients:

Shea Butter
Beeswax
Coconut Oil
(Optional) - esssential oil of your choice. I used Orange

These ingredients are really easy to source on the internet. I got mine from Amazon and got the Coconut Oil in Holland and Barratt.

I wasn't too strict about amounts, but as a general guideline, I tried to use about a tablespoon each of shea, beeswax and coconut oil .

I grated the beeswax and added it to the pan. Turn the heat on the lowest possible setting. You only want to melt the ingredients so that they are easier to mix together.

Once the beeswax has melted, add your shea butter and coconut oil. Once melted give the mixture a stir. Then add about 8 drops of essential oil.

Begin spooning the mixture into your containers. Some people prefer to use a little funnel for this part, but it worked fine for me to just spoon it in.

Leave the mixture to cool and voila, you have your very own homemade lip balm. This recipe made 4 lip balms.

If you prefer your lip balm softer, you can add more oil to soften it up or less beeswax. The lip balm has a lovely coconut/orange smell and is very nourishing for the lips. I left it on overnight and woke up with lovely soft lips.

It's also possible to buy empty chapstick tubes on ebay if you prefer that.

The great thing is, they make great presents for family and friends :) Have you experimented with lips balms? Let me know if you gave this receipe a go?

Primark Autumn Winter Buys

2012-10-20T18:07:00.000+01:00

Called into Primark recently to buy something at £1 and low and behold I ended up spending over £50! How did that happen?

Well I was quite impressed with some of their new stock. I couldn't resist stocking up on winter woolies and various other bits and bobs.

This is what I intended to buy. Some empty containers for making my own lip balm. Also good for packing cosmetics in your airplane hand luggage. £1

I then spied this cute little wollen skirt in burgundy. They have loads of wollen skirts in different colours and patterns. £8

On wondering what I could match this up with, I saw this lovely Ivory jumper. It is quite a fine knit, so would be good if you don't like heavy woolies. £12

Strategically placed beside the Burgundy skirt were matching tights (Opaque, 80 Denier). So of course I had to buy those as well ;) £2

Winter would not be complete without a christmassy jumper. I was very tempted to buy the "penguin in a santa hat" jumper, but went for this one instead. £14

This denim shirt was a bit of an indulgence buy. I'm not ashamed to admit I have fallen for the return of Dallas and I am liking the style of the ladies on the show. So this shirt, studded on the pockets and collar, reminded me of that style. Bargain for only £12.

Of course, as you make your way to the till in Primark, there are a whole host of goodies lined up to tempt you. So I picked up this 5pk of socks for £2.50

And that's how I spent £52.50 in Primark on my way to work. I suppose I got quite a lot for my money when I look at it like that.

To be honest, I could have spent a lot more. There are a lot of nice items in the shop at the minute :) Have you bought anything nice from Primark recently?

Crew Clothing Ballater Skinny Jeans (Google Affiliate Ad)

Getting Married Abroad Tips Part 2

2012-09-21T08:30:00.000+01:00

Hello!

If you've finally arrived at the decision to get married abroad... congratulations! This is a really amazing step you are taking and I'm convinced you won't regret it :)

If you haven't decided yet about getting married abroad, check out my post with some tips about deciding ... Here

So! You've decided that you're going to go for it. Planning a wedding abroad can be a little daunting becuase ... well... it's in a different country. You don't know who to trust, you're not sure if it will work the same as at home and you're worried about getting everything co-ordinated from a distance.

The brilliant thing is, it's completely possible and really not that difficult once you get going.

The first thing you must decide is Location. With so many places to choose from, it can be overwhelming. My first line of advice would be to consider getting married in a country you have already visited. This way, you know that it's your cup of tea without having to waste a trip out there, just to see if you like the country. If you've a lot of money and time to go jet setting around trying places out, go for it. But for the most part, this is unlikely.

If this still doesn't narrow the choices down much, consider what country is the easiest to fly to. Perhaps looking at journey time, frequency of flights and the cost of accommodation options. This will make it easier for you and your guests.

Another thing to consider is the type of wedding you want. Do you want a religious service? Check out the conditions for getting married in this country and see how easy this would be. If you want a civil service, some countries require you to be resident in the country for a set period of time. So it's best to check these things out first. Other countries will only give a church blessing and require you to have a civil ceremony at home before you come over. If you want to avoid this, do your research into the legal and religious rules in that country.

Sometimes you will already have a location in mind. Perhaps the place is special to you in some way etc. This is the ideal scenario and will narrow it down a lot.

You might also want to email a few hotels or wedding planners and ask for estimated costs of the wedding meal and other services just to get an idea of the overall costs.

If you have decided on the country... well done! You are one step closer to your dream destination wedding :)

The next thing you might want to do (and I really recommend it), is to source a wedding planner in that area. There are some dodgy ones out there, so it's best to go on a recommendation, either by someone you know or from other brides you meet online. I found a great wedding forum and was able to chat to loads of brides past and present and get recommendations. Ensure that the people you are talking to are genuine brides. Some planners troll the forums to advertise themselves. Here is the forum I used and found really helpful for wedding planning. WOL

The advantage of a wedding planner is that they take care of everything on the foreign end including any legal or religious paperwork. They have also spent a lot of time sourcing good suppliers. Wedding planners want to keep a good reputation, so they will ensure that they are using the best suppliers and have tried and tested them.

Once you find a few wedding planners, you should email them and ask them for some venue options and prices. Sometimes you warm to a planner and know they are the one you want to use - even through email. If you like the venues they have to offer, book a date to meet with them and book those flights! This is really the most exciting part. A good planner will spend a lot of time with you showing you around the area and the various venues. Looking back, this was one of my favourite parts of wedding plan.

You will know when you see the venue of your dreams. You can really imagine your wedding there, it's fantastic. At this stage, I wouldn't be too worried about asking questions about minor details. Your main concerns will be logistics of moving your guests around from hotel to ceremony and to the venue etc. For this part of the planning, it really is great to be able to walk around the beautiful venues and soak up the atmosphere. My parents came with us and it was great to have them involved as well - this may be a total no no, depending on yourself of course :)

Check what's included in the price. You'll be surprised that the price often includes extras that you would pay for at home. So don't be shocked when you hear the price per head and remember the currency conversion rate. Normally included are room hire, arrival drinks (including alcohol) for guests, canapes, drinks throughout the meal and things like chair covers etc. There are often options to pay for an open bar all night for your guests. Obviously this increases the costs, but it is usually value for money and a great treat for your guests if you can afford it.

On the trip, try and have a look around the area and check out if it would be suitable for your guests to stay. Check out what there is to do in the area and what accomodation options there are. You could pick up some postcards form the area to use as save the date cards :)

It's not completely necessary, but probably likely that you'll want to take another trip to the area to meet other suppliers and do a menu tasting. However, it is completely possible to organise the rest of the wedding from home if you are happy enough with the suppliers you have chosen.

When you come home, take a little time to let it all sink in. If you're happy enough to go ahead and pick your venue, the next stage is to make the leap and book your wedding date!

A last final tip - a good planner will not pressure you into making a booking. They will be confident enough with their services that they will not need to push you. They shouldn't charge you for a viewing either. Some will justify the cost because of the time it takes and the fuel costs, but I personally don't think they should.

If you are considering Spain as an option, I can whole heartedly recommend Marcella Doran from Your Dream Wedding in Spain. She is a true pro and won't let you down. We had an amazing wedding with the help of this lady :)

Please let me know if you have any questions in the comment box below :) If you have any tips of your own, please contribute too :)

Tips on Coping With Anxiety and Depression

2012-09-14T08:30:00.000+01:00

Hello there!

I just wanted to do a post on tips to cope with anxiety and depression. When I suffered from it (still do), there were some things that I found useful and wanted to pass them on. When you're in the thick of it, it's so hard to imagine a way out. You feel like you're always going to feel that way and you can't see how you will possibly get better.

First up - I'm no expert, this is merely some things I have learnt through my own experience. I experienced high anxiety over the past year. It was the first time and it was very scary. Anxiety and depression are very closely linked, so I'm guessing I had depression too, as hard as it is to admit that, but the symptoms seem to indicate so!

What I did wrong:

I thought that chilling out and relaxing literally meant doing nothing at all. Planking myself in front of the TV and trying to do as little as possible. This eventually led to mundane tasks seeming like a huge effort. Even the thought of making food or putting a wash on made me feel sick to my stomach.

I started avoiding things that made me anxious

I made excuses not to go out or meet friends

I thought I could continue not having confidence for the rest of my life and that would be ok

I struggled through the working day and flopped on the sofa for the rest of the evening

I put pressure on myself to be good at everything - my job, my marriage, my home, everything!

How did I change?

I was petrified of going to the doctor and being put on any sort of drugs. I was afraid of getting addicted and depending on drugs for the rest of my life. Evenutally I had to go!

While at the doctors I mentioned another health complaint that I didn't think anything of. Turned out I had a problem with my inner ear, making me lose balance and making me significantly panicky and anxious. I thought my dizziness and balance problems were purely down to my anxiety. So it was a bit of a vicious circle effect.

The doctor recommended I take beta blockers for a month to take the edge off my anxiety. I was so reluctant. Nearly cried when I took the first pill. But the doctor assured me they were not addictive and only effect your physical symptoms, not the mental. I.e. racing heart, shakiness. Do visit your doctor if you feel that you really can't cope.

They did help me, but what really made a difference were the changes I made to my lifestyle and my way of thinking. I am still putting them into practice now. It takes time and patience and suddenly you realise you feel a lot better than you did "x" months ago.

**Don't get overwhelmed by these tips. Starting off with just one or two will help :) **

Being Pro Active - just get moving and do it! No matter how much you don't want to do something, just get up and get going. Go clean the bathroom, go get the dinner on, go walk around the block. Just get things done. That thing you're dreading, just do it. This alone will make you feel a bit better.

Don't slob around trying to relax. Do an activity to keep your mind active. Whatever it is you enjoy - reading, knitting, a crossword, learn a song, learn an instrument, a language, bake some buns, go for a walk, write a story - get the gist? do something to keep your mind occupied. You can still use your brian and relax at the same time. Learning something new will make you more confident and improve your self esteem.

Talk to someone - anyone who'll listen and who you trust. Talking will instantly lift the burden. If you feel like you can't yet, there are many internet forums where people are talking about their experiences. Reading about anxiety and depression helps you realise that there are millions of other people just like you.

Take small steps - make small changes to your life that you are comfortable with. E.g. make a decision to try and exercise a bit more or introduce more fruit/veg into your diet. Push yourself a little at a time. E.g. is going to a busy shopping centre just too much to cope with? What could you cope with? Going to a small shop at a time you know will be quiet? Going to the cinema on a quiet night rather than the weekend? Anything you can do will help :)

Exercise - If you fancy making me a promise - introduce exercise into your life immediately. It will be the last thing you feel like doing, but I promise it makes a huge difference. It has to make you sweat and out of breath. Even if it's just for 15 mins. Go for a run, get an exercise DVD, do star jumps, run on the spot - whatever works for you. Try and do it twice a week then try and increase to 3 times a week. Get a shower/bath afterwards and take this time to do a bit of body grooming too. Cut your nails, moisturise, shave etc. You'll feel so good the rest of the evening and have a great sleep.

Sense of purpose - I found this really great tip from an online video. Finding your sense of purpose is key to how you feel about yourself. There are lots of tips online about finding your sense of purpose. I still haven't exactly found mine yet, but the process is really helping me focus. Work out what you want to do with your life, find some goals and work towards them.

Healthy Lifestyle - Making small changes to your lifestyle can help you bucket loads. If we think about it honestly, we all know there are improvements to be made in our diet. Introduce more fresh fruit and veg, fresh oily fish (or omega supplements). Don't depend on sugar and caffeine for pick-me-ups. It's best to keep your blood sugar level consistent throughout the day, so eat small at regular intervals. Drink lots of water.

Sleep - try to get a good quality sleep. Have a routine. Go to bed at the same time every night. Relax before bed - read a book or listen to some music, pamper yourself, drink a camomile tea (very relaxing). If you're really having trouble sleeping I found progressive muscle relaxation helped me drift off.

Assess your life. Are you taking on too much? Is there anything you can cut out? Is there something you've said "yes" to, but shouldn't have? Keep your life focussed on what you really want to do. It's not possible to do everything you want to. Prioritise what is important to you.

Mindfulness - I'm just getting into this now, but it is so interesting. It helps you think about life and daily tasks in a different way. Focussing on the present rather than the past and the future. There are some facebook pages that give daily mindfulness tips. Here is one I follow Mindfulness Ireland

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - this is a good technique used by therapist to help you think more realistic about the things you are anxious or depressed about. There is a great self help book explaining how it works called Mind Over Mood

Start taking joy in life - the smallest things can make us feel good. Get back to that mindset. A nice cup of tea can be the best, a dance around the living room to your favourite song, a hug from your favourite person, a conversation with a friend, singing a song. Remember the things that made you smile before your anxiety kicked in.

Believe you can get better. Make a decision to end this cycle and not let it beat you. Every day is a new start. Wake up and think "Today is going to be good. I'm going to get my life back".

I'm still working with my anxiety, but all of these things have helped me a lot. I feel like I'm finally returning to normal. I'm looking at this as a chance to live my life in a different way and think about things differently. Up until now I was just biding my time until an anxiety attack kicked in. I'm hoping that these changes will be a good foundation for carrying on life in a better way. With mindfulness and CBT, give these things time. It can be frustrating, but remember that you have thought the same way all your life. It will take time to get into a new way of thinking. I'm still working on these things.

I hope these tips can help somebody somewhere. I know feeling anxious can be very lonely. If you have any tips yourself or questions, please comment below :)

Acne - no antibiotics

2012-09-07T08:30:00.000+01:00

Weeeeellllllll.....

My background with Acne - I was grand as a teen, I hit 23/24 and ever since I've had terrible skin. Ragin!

I've been on and off antibiotics. I find they work temporarily and then it all comes back, so really they aren't working are they?! They kill the good bacteria in your gut which can take months to recover from and get back to normal. The pill didn't agree with me and anyway, I don't like the idea of putting synthetic hormones in my body. Like really, there must be a better way!

Noticing that my skin is seriously dry as well as having the acne, I thought I would experiment with making my own moisturiser, makeup removers, face scrubs etc. The idea being that perhaps the stuff I was using was drying my skin out.

See my previous posts on these...

Homemade Moisturiser
Oil Cleansing
Olive Oil for Beauty

I have noticed an improvement after switching to natural products. There was a bit of an adjustment period where my skin didn't know what was going on, but my skin seems in better condition. At the same time, I've been trying a few other things, so I can't quite put my finger on which one is working!

After a week in Spain, I'm sorry to say that the daily drinking was bound to be the reason for my breakout. So, I decided to try and cut down or at least not drink just for the sake of it.

I also:

committed to eating one piece of fruit a day. Stopped at a green grocer on a monday morning and bought 5 pieces of fruit to eat in work.

I've also been trying my best to add more veg into my diet. I love veg and don't know why I don't make more of an effort.

I've been using different oils to help the dryness in my skin e.g. olive oil, almond oil and coconut oil. I'm finding coconut oil to be most effective at adding moisture, but adding too much to my foundation was a big mistake! It slipped into my eyes - very irritating!

I'm taking a B vitamin supplement. I heard that acne sufferers could lack in the B vitamins.

I'm using my own natural moisturiser made with aloe vera, almond oil and coconut oil.

I remove makeup with olive oil

Make an effort to keep clean pillow cases

Drinking more water

Use 100% aloe vera gel if I spy a spot coming out

What I don't do:

I don't use any commercial facewash now. Just olive oil in the evening to remove makeup and splash my face in the morning with water. I honestly believe acne facewashes strip the oils from your skin and make you produce more spots. I always found them to be harsh and very drying.

Try not to put anything else on my face apart from my makeup

Don't use toner - I know this might be controversial, but I just think the more you mess with your skin, the worse it gets.

One last tip would be to try and control the amount of stress in your life. This really affects hormones, which can lead to acne.

I haven't had a breakout since coming back from holiday. I'm due to go away again, so I'm guessing it'll breakout again. But I'm hoping making these few natural changes will improve my skin in the future.

Have you found a way to combat acne without antibiotics? Would you consider ditching your antibiotics? Would love to know your thoughts below :)

Getting Married Abroad Tips Part 1

2012-09-02T01:30:00.000+01:00

Some people are lucky enough to know if they want to get married abroad or have a traditional wedding at home. But for some, it can be a tough decision with a lot to think about.

Are you having trouble deciding?

I knew from a young age I wanted a wedding abroad. I was at a wedding in Cyprus and just thought the atmosphere, the weather and everyone's mood was amazing. I just knew that's what I wanted to do. I suppose the decision would be even more difficult if you have never been to a wedding abroad.

This article is bound to be biased as I just think a wedding abroad is the only way! But I have tried my best to be impartial ;)

Things to think about:

Small or big? It is harder to reign in the numbers at a home wedding. Usually those who really want to, will make the effort to go abroad. On the contrary, you may want a big wedding, which means a wedding abroad may not be the best option, as not everyone can make it.

Elderly relatives? or any relatives who you would dearly love to be at your wedding, but can't make it because of travelling.

Kids? It's not really a viable option to ask people to leave their kids at home for a wedding abroad. It's best to give people the choice at least. With a wedding abroad, it's more likely kids will be invited as babysitting is more difficult.

Weather? Does the weather bother you? Do you dream of having a beautiful sunny wedding day? Lets face it, if you live in the UK/Ireland, it's really not likely.

Atmosphere - I have to say one of the best things about a wedding abroad is the fact that the guests are on holiday and have had a chance to get to know each other before the event. There is a great relaxed vibe going on rather than formality.

Parents - some parents have a huge problem with their son or daughter getting married abroad. They would prefer the traditional path. I was lucky enough that my parents were totally up for the idea, so no battling with that one. Both sets of grandparents have passed, so I didn't have an issue with elderly people travelling.

Costs for guests - if there are certain people you definitely want at your wedding, but you're not sure they can afford it, it might be best to mention it to them and see what they think. You can help by picking somehwhere with reasonably priced accomodation and flights.

A wedding planner? I would most certainly recommend a wedding planner for a wedding abroad. It takes a great deal of the stress out of it. But would you be happy with this? You still get to pick everything you want, but your choices are limited - sometimes not a bad thing!

If you are considering a wedding abroad, I would say do it if you absolutely want to. I would only really be concerned about the opinions of those you want at your wedding. Be prepared for the fact that a lot of people might not be able to go. This wasn't a problem for us. We wanted an intimate wedding.

I'm not sure that we spent less, but the standard of venue, location and food was out of this world for the price we paid. I don't think we could have afforded a similar wedding in Ireland.

Hopefully that wasn't too biased - I tried my best!

My next post will look at tips for getting married abroad. Watch this space :)

Have you any questions on getting married abroad? Let me know below :)

Maybe you've had a wedding abroad? Let me know your thoughts on this post :)

Money Saving Tips for Weddings

2012-08-30T11:39:00.000+01:00

Having been married a year and everything is settled, I can now look back and consider what it was all about and if it was worth the money.

I believe that we spent a lot of money on our wedding - 14k for one day in your life is a lot of money. But in comparison to what people are spending, we came in about 10k less than the average. I mean can you imagine spending over 20k in one day, just like that? and believe me, it is just like that. You're wedding day is the quickest day of your life.

Everyday, someone will come up with a new idea about what you HAVE TO HAVE at your wedding. All a big marketing ploy to catch you while you're in wedding hype mode and make you spend more money. Worrying about everyone's expectations, we suddenly believe that we need to have singing parrots (or whatever the next new thing is). It's totally ridiculous, but the truth is you so want your day to be amazing you become blind to people basically taking you for mug!

There are a lot of things you CAN have for your wedding, but do you NEED these things? Will people actually notice them? and will you look back and think "why did I throw away 500 quid on wedding favours?"

These are the bits we wanted to get right:

Music
Food
Venue/Location
Photographer

These are the things you and your guests will remember. Guests always comment on these things! If they are treated well, they will remember it. They won't remember the fancy guestbook and pen or the program you spent hours making.

Things we skipped and didn't miss:

Wedding Favours - I can't tell you how many times I've heard brides say they were the biggest waste of money because the guests left them on the table at the end of the night
Church flowers - really no one noticed this! spending hundreds on flowers for one hour is a sin
Cake - we didn't skip it, but we kept it simple
Table plan - we hung cards to a nearby tree (outdoor reception)
Menu Cards
Video - a great friend did loads of interviews with guests, these were invaluable. We still laugh at them
Luxury honeymoon - most people regret what they spend on this. Pick somewhere you know you're going to like, just book a nicer hotel if that makes it more special.
Minimal Bridesmaids and groomsmen - you won't believe how much they add up

Things I regret spending money on:

Flowers - even though we went totally minimal, I still can't believe what a waste it is and how unbelievably expensive bouquets costs.
Car - they are used so little. We had a Jaguar, I didn't even like it. I just got it because my Dad wanted a car. Sometimes you have to keep the parents happy.
Cake - we didn't spend a lot, but I still wonder why we even bother with them

Things I wasn't going to spend money on, but glad I did:

Hair and Makeup. I had the crazy idea that I could do this myself. I have no patience for doing my hair on a normal day and I didn't realise how nervous I would have been on the day. The ladies were real pros and there's no way I could have done half the job they did.

BBQ the day after the wedding. Was coaxed into this by my parents, who helped with the cost. But as we had a wedding abroad, it was nice to thank guests for their effort in coming over and didn't cost a huge amount compared to other wedding costs.

Final tips

Spend what you can afford. Don't get into debt buying diamond encrusted wedding rings if you can't afford it. How do you think we ended up in a recession? People always put themselves under so much pressure to buy what they think they should. I always remember weddings from my parents day, they were so simple. There are people I know paying off a wedding a year after the day - this is ludicrous!

Pick a few things that are most important to you e.g. entertainment and get that right. And don't depend on wedding gifts to pay for your wedding. Despite what people say, guests do not pay for themselves in wedding gifts!

It's so easy to get caught up in wedding fever. You want everything you see in sight. But just ask yourself the question "do I really need this? Is it worth the money? Is my sane self going to tell me off about this after the wedding?".

What do you think of these tips? Do you have any yourself? What are the important elements of your day?

If you're considering getting married abroad, go on over to my post to help you decide Here

Alison Claire Foot Cream Bio Natural Beauty

2012-08-26T12:10:00.000+01:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one to admit that I completely neglect my feet. Although the few times I actually bothered to do a foot scrub or moisturize or visit a chiropodist (once), my feet felt amazing afterwards. Have you ever had foot rub? so good if anyone is willing to do it for you ;)

It's like looking after your feet relaxes your whole body, feels refreshing and makes you think "why don't I do this more often?". It has the amazing ability to make you feel light on your feet.

So I was quite excited to try out Alison Claire's Peppermint and Witch Hazel Foot Cream. Alison Claire products are described as bio-natural. And I love this concept, as lately I've been obsessing with natural beauty products and have even been experimenting with my own recipes.

Check out my posts on homemade moisturizer and oil cleansing :)

Reading a bit about the product range, I learn that their ethos is to eliminate the use of chemicals found to be harmful in mainstream products. They describe the four main "nasties" that they ensure they don't use as Laureth Sulphate, Parabens, Phenoxyethanol and PEGS. Quite scary what some of these chemicals can do. Find out more on their website here. The products also don't have preservatives, synthetic fragrances or colors. Sounds like my cup of tea!

So on to the foot cream! I love the packaging design. It's very simple, which is in sync with the idea of natural products. On opening the foot cream there is an amazing smell of peppermint. I love it, it's so fresh and uplifting. Perfect for tired feet! The texture is quite light, kind of like a mousse, which I think is great for a foot cream as you don't want anything too dense that will take a long time to absorb.

I decided to use this after a bout of house cleaning. So it was well deserved if I do say so myself. It was so nice to just give my feet a bit of rubbing attention. The coolness of the peppermint really cooled my feet down and the smell was so nice. After giving myself a 5 minute massage with the cream, I felt great. This would probably be even better if you can get someone to do it for you ;) It didn't take long for cream to absorb into my skin either.

I have horrendously dry skin, so for me, I would probably need something more intensive as far as hydration goes, but I think this would be a great cream for other skin types. I could smell the zingy freshness for ages as it was still on my hands, which was lovely.

As well as peppermint and witch hazel, the cream contains aloe vera (my wonder product!), marshmallow and comfrey to condition the skin. The witch hazel is an astringent which helps get rid of loose skin cells. Tea tree oil and green tea are also used for their antibacterial qualities.

Full of lovely goodness!!!

The foot cream is £12 for 200ml. Most products are around this price range with the lip balms at £4 :)

Have you come across the Alison Claire range? I would love to know what you think of the products.

Married a year - we survived!

2012-08-23T11:40:00.002+01:00

We heard this a lot before we got married. "oh the first year is the hardest". We were told we'd be arguing a lot, we'd be really irritated by each other and it would be difficult to get used to.

I have to say this made us feel a little apprehensive. Why wouldn't it?

I don't really know what everyone has been talking about, it's been absolutely fine! And dare I say it, we've actually quite enjoyed it!

To be fair, I've also experienced the worst year of my life, but this had nothing to do with marriage. In fact, I realise that our relationship is strong considering what we've been through. After a serious family illness and a nightmare with my own health, I can't remember a time when I felt worse.

We only moved in together when we got married and I was seriously thinking, "he is going to do my head in and I'll probably do his head in". Getting used to cooking, cleaning, shopping and general house maintenance has been a bit of stress, but it was also quite enjoyable getting our little house together the way we wanted it. Every now and then we look at what we've done and smile. We've worked and saved and done lovely things to our house. We are still working and saving to do more!

I have to say one of the things that helped was deciding early on if something annoyed us, we'll just say it there and then! And this has really helped. On the odd occasion where I didn't do that, we had a minor tiff, so it really works!

I'm not sure where people find difficulties - perhaps they expect more help around the house, maybe they didn't realise each others habits, I'm not sure really. We don't have kids yet, so I guess that will test us to the max. I know one girl who seems very annoyed that her husband can't look after himself. But I do wonder - did she not know this before she married him?

My husband is quite independent and wants to help around the house as much as possible, although it sometimes takes a nudge from me to let him know WHAT needs done. After having quite a stressful year, I've come to the conclusion that I wish I was born a man. They just don't seem to worry as much as women do. Practical housey things are not at the forefront of their mind. I wish it was like this for me! I have found being a homemaker pretty difficult, but I feel like I'm getting into the swing of it a year on.

Last week, I wrote a list of chores that need done. We both blitz it for an hour and half on Saturday morning and it felt so good to just get it all done and that was that for the week! (for the most part)

I also find that continuing to do fun things together really works. Some of the stuff we do...

Go to the cinema
Go Bowling
Go out for dinner or pub grub after work
Listen to music together
Meet up with friends
Plan holidays
Go to gigs
Sit down to watch a movie or TV series together

It can be very easy to live in the same house, but live separate lives. We do this, but we both like the space. At the end of the day we'll make a "date" to sit and watch a tv show or something together. It sounds silly, but it's actually a really nice thing to do.

In conclusion, the first year was tough for me personally, but not for our marriage. We couldn't believe how quickly the year flew by. Once you hit the year mark, you definitely know the wedding fever is over! Not a bad thing - see my post on wedding stress

I'm pretty sure we will hit tougher times than our first year!

Are you married and how did you find your first year? Would love to know ;)

Olive Oil - Oh So Versatile

2012-08-19T16:25:00.002+01:00

I'm in love with a beauty product I've just discovered. Having only ever used it for cooking, I'm so amazed that this product can be used in so many ways for home beauty.

Yes, Olive Oil. I'm so excited to have discovered it's beauty uses as it's cheap and I always have it in the house. I also know exactly what I'm putting on my skin, knowing that it won't damage it.

Why is it so good?
It contains Vitamin A and E, both well known to promote healthy skin. It also contains Hydroxytyrosol, an antioxidant preventing free radical damage to the skin cells. Olive oil repairs and renews skin. These factors make it a great moisturiser as the olive oil traps moisture in your skin. Olive Oil does not clog pores like many high street products. Could it get any better?

Here are my top uses for Olive Oil...

Moisturiser
It takes olive oil a while to sink into skin, so I personally would only use it before bed

Makeup remover
I was amazed by how good this product was at removing my makeup. I've tried other commercial makeup removers and facial washes and was disappointed that many of them still left makeup on my face! Quite disappointing if you've spent a lot of money on them.

** pour a little olive oil into the palm of your hand, spread over your face, let it sit for a wee second and then remove with a cotton pad. It's so good!**

Top tip - it's also suitable for removing eye makeup and is a great substitute for eye cream. I remove my makeup in the evening and just leave the residue on overnight. After a few weeks I saw definite improvements. My delicate under eye area is looking great at the moment. Really bright and more plump. I'm well pleased with this!

I've taken to just splashing my face with water in the morning rather than washing and stripping the oils away. I have quite dry skin, so this works for me.

Facial Scrub
Mix with bicarbonate soda or sugar or sea salt for a great moisturizing scrub. Some people say use the sugar for body rather than face as it may be too abrasive.

Hair conditioner
Apply to hair as you would normal conditioner. Almond Oil and Coconut oil are also good options :)
It can also help dandruff. Apply to hair, leave for 5 minutes and shampoo after.

Nails and Cuticles
Rubbed into nails and cuticles, the skin is conditioned and the nails shine.

Have you tried Olive Oil in your beauty regime? Let me know below :)

Eyeshadow base budget comparison

2012-08-16T11:30:00.002+01:00

So... as I'm completely skint these days (after leaving the family home, getting married and having to look after myself), I've decided to try and be a bit more choosy about makeup products.

I sometimes wonder if high price really means high quality in the cosmetic industry. Or is it a bit like jeans - all made in the same factory with different labels put on them?

After a phase of spending big on products, I've decided to go proper "budget", because I literally will not be able to do anything enjoyable if I spend all my money on makeup.

One of my staple makeup bag products is an eye shadow base coat in a white or ivory colour. I ran out of my No 17 one (which I didn't think was that good) so I put out a request on twitter for some suggestions. Someone recommended Urban Decay shadows, but honestly, I cannot afford £14 for an eyeshadow. That's like 14 loaves of bread lol

So I called into Superdrug. Not looking at the brand names, I was just looking for a nice ivory shadow with a touch of shimmer. I came across the MUA and Accessorize concessions. They both had decent looking Ivory shadows. The MUA one was £1! And the Accessorize shadow was about £2.99 or something ridulously cheap. I bought both - why not for that price?

The first one I tried was the MUA shadow. It's quite metallicy, so I would guess I'd prefer to wear this one in the evening. It probably wasn't subtle enough for me for day time. Although it did make a nice colour to layer browns etc. on top.

With a base coat, I normally cover my whole eye completely from lash to my eyebrow. This way, you've kind of added a highlighter to your brow (if it has some shimmer).

Throughout the day, I did realise that the shadow had creased, so not really ideal, but I was still happy enough with it for the price.

I hadn't expected to like the colour of the Accessorize shadow as much. It looked to have a gold tinge to it, but in fact it was more subtle and less metallic than the MUA shadow. This is more what I was looking for. It made my eye look quite smooth and evened out before applying some browns to create a smokey eye. I was quite surprised, as it blended really well with my eye shadows.

In contrast to the MUA shadow, there were no problems with creasing or wearing off. I'm quite happy with the Accessorize shadow. I will still use the MUA Shadow. Admittedly I have never used an expensive eyeshadow, so I can't compare them at all for you. I'm happy to use the budget version and be oblivious to what's out there on the higher end of the market. If I tried an expensive one, I'd probably like it too much :)

Have you tried any of these products? Are you a fan of more expensive eyeshadows? I 'd love to know the difference :)

Altea, Murcia and Surrounding Areas Spain

2012-08-10T15:35:00.001+01:00

Hello! Just back from a weeks holiday in Spain, feeling refreshed but a bit depressed to be back at work.

I just wanted to tell you all about the area I visited. It's always nice to hear other people's experiences on holiday.

So, we've been to the region a few times before and actually got married there last year. This was a bit of an anniversary trip!

We flew into Alicante airport (Murcia also an option) and drove to a resort called Los Alcazares. It's a beach resort, but not your typical crowded, high rise, horrible place like Benidorm. Spanish families also holiday here.

We got a really good deal on an apartment on Roda golf course from a private rental. £300 for 5 days (for 2 couples). The apartment was great value. Pic below...

This area has amazing value on eating out and groceries, particularly alcohol! We spent £400 between us for the whole week. I couldn't believe it.

Driving will help you make the most of the area. Nearby there is a small port city called Cartagena. It's really beautiful and relaxing with loads of nice eateries and good shopping. Murcia city is also nearby and is lovely, but way too hot in the middle of the day.

There were a lot of families in the area and options for a quiet or lively nightlife. Shopping centres in Spain are also amazing. So many shoe shops!

For the last 2 days of our trip we drove up the coast to a town called Albir (near Benidorm). There is a lovely beach here too. The resort seems to be full of scandanavian tourists, but also has some english/irish comforts around - can't go anywhere without seeing an Irish bar right?

We stayed in a lovely 4* hotel called Albir Playa Hotel. It's about 10/15mins walk to the beach.

About 10 minutes drive from Albir is the old town of Altea. I'm in love with this town. It's just so spanish and absolutely beautiful. Last year we stopped off here to get wedding photos. During the day there are only a few coffee shops open and it's nice to have peace to look around. In the evening, it becomes very lively. Full of restaurants and little quirky shops. Seeing Altea is a must if you are ever in the area, it's a real treat. I would recommend getting a taxi up, so you can enjoy a nice meal with wine :)

We went to a restaurant right next to the church, it had the most amazing mountain views. Bliss!

Another treat, is to take a drive to a town in the mountains called Guadalest. Once you get there, there is a short uphill walk through the town. Again there are many lovely shops here, with really cool housey items. Once you get to the top, there is a really amazing view of a resevoir down below.

The Albir/Altea region really has a special place in my heart. I wish I had stayed there a bit longer. On the downside, it is slightly more pricier than Los Alcazares.

Any questions about the area, just let me know :)

Would love to hear of any cool places you have been to...

Confessions of a Newly Wed

2012-08-07T15:07:00.002+01:00

I look back at my wedding and think "was it worth all the stress?" and I think "no, nothing in this world is worth that amount of stress".

Don't get me wrong, I had the most amazing day ever. I know every bride says it, but I can honestly say I wouldn't change one thing about it - apart from the ridiculous pressure I let myself get under beforehand.

It is still affecting me now. I shudder at the thought of "organising" something. Anything. Even a night out in the local pub.

In the run up to my wedding, I was having nightmares, waking up with short breath, getting dizzy spells and 2 weeks before the wedding I lost loads of weight from not being able to eat. Does that sound crazy? I was!

Top wedding stresses:

Trying to keep everyone else happy
Taking every comment to heart
So many things to do, so little time - too much time can be bad
The Countdown! - freaked me right out even though I was organised
Money - save more than you think you will need
Hoping your other half won't go mad at the escalating costs - it's his day too, he should understand the reality
Problems with suppliers/services
Wanting everything to be perfect - let go a bit

I remember when I started wedding planning, I said "I'm not going to get stressed about this, it's going to be really simple".

How wrong was I?!!

The problem is you don't even consider that everyone will have an opinion on your decisions. You couldn't possibly have imagined that your aunt, who you never see, has a problem with your choice or invitations. You see it as your day and no one else's, only to realise that your parents see it as their big day too (their little girl is getting wed). It makes sense when I look back at it now, but at the time, I thought how dare they! lol

People you barely have any connection with are offended they won't be invited. Your guests want to bring along a troupe of kids and you lose a friend because you didn't ask her to be a bridesmaid.

I'm telling you, this wedding business is unreal. And to think, that these people will not remember your day a year later, but you will!

There is no stopping these things from happening, so the only advice I can offer is...

Have a short engagement - it shortens the stress period
Be prepared for people sticking their noses in
Make sure you are doing what you want because you're the only one who will remember it vividly
Try not to care too much about pleasing everyone
Take breaks from wedding planning - focus your mind on other things and don't make it your only conversation topic

Short of this, organise your wedding in secret and invite people out of the blue!

When it's all over, you are left with what's truly important. A life with the person you love. That's when it really begins.

No you won't feel different the day after your wedding. You won't magically feel like a wife. And you think "was that it?" lol

I apologise if I've made weddings sound depressing. It's one of the most joyous and exciting times of your life too. It's great being able to pick and plan everything just the way you want it, so try and relish in the nice parts like picking your dress, visiting venues and picking your menu. These are all truly lovely bits :)

Facial Cleansing- with Oil!

2012-08-05T18:49:00.001+01:00

Wow, I was very dubious about trying this one out, but I'm determined to find a better alternative to using evil chemicals found in most cosmetics - even the expensive brands.

The idea behind this method is that oil breaks down other oils. It will also not strip away your natural oils that you really need to keep you skin in top condition. Castor oil is good for cleansing and drawing out impurities. Olive oil is very hydrating and full of antioxidants

Ingredients:
Castor Oil
Extra Vigin Olive Oil

**recommend trying a nice smelling essential oil (a few drops), as castor doesn't smell too good**

You can experiment with ratios, but as I have very dry skin I used 1 part Castor Oil to 2 parts Olive Oil. Castor oil makes the mixture quite thick and gloopy, so it sticks to your skin well without coming off.

Method 1:
Apply the mixture your dry face and gently massage into skin
Apply a hot face cloth to your face and leave for about 10 mins
Then use the towel to remove the oil from your face

Method 2:
Same as above except don't use the hot towel
Apply before getting in the shower and rinse it off at the end
You may need a little help to wipe off residue with a cloth or cotton pad

Don't worry, I know it feels strange at first, you skin might feel a little greasy and the whole sensation is a bit alien, but after completing the method, I took a look at my skin and it LOOKED cleaner than it has in a long time. The cotton pad I used to wipe away the residue had grim on it! I also only needed to use a little moisturiser before putting my makeup on.

I suffer from Acne and have very dry skin on bottom part of my face.

So far I've only tried it twice and the results are good. The only downside is I'm not too fussed on the smell of the castor oil, but I am going to try adding a few drops of nice smelling oil to see if that makes a difference.

If you have any questions, post below. Or if you have tried it, let me know how it went. I would love to know how it works on other skin types :)

Palmers Cocoa Butter Tanning Cream

2012-07-26T18:32:00.001+01:00

This is a revelation! Yes, my hubby likes the smell of my fake tan!

He usually won't come near me when I've fake tan on, but last night he was shouting "what's that smell, it's really nice?"

Firstly I should say I'm quite pale and have normal-dry skin. My mum raves about Palmers cream, so I thought I'd give the tanning lotion a go. It contains cocoa butter and vitamin E - both lovely for your skin.

It feels nice when applying it, as it just seems like you're rubbing lotion into your skin. It does take a wee while to absorb, so I wouldn't do this in a hurry before work or anything. I put it on before bed.

It's described as a "gradual tanning moisturiser", so I was shocked to see it had properly developed the next morning. I was expecting to have to apply for a few days to see a difference. The next shocker was I didn't reapply it and the tan lasted for about a week! It seemed to get darker and then died down again.

I was very pleased with this - because it's all about minimal effort for me! I think if I applied it once a week it would maintain a nice tan for me.

The colour was very natural. If you're in to deeper tans, it would probably work to apply it everyday. I was super impressed with this product and it only cost about 6 quid! It comes in a pump bottle which is great and less messy.

I think I'm converted and will reach for this rather than the expensive brands from now on. Well pleased! :)

**unfortunately the tan developed the usual fake tan smell on the second day. There is no getting away from that smell! **
Have you tried it? Let me know what you think.
Any other fake tan recommendations? Comment below :)

Room - Emma Donoghue

2012-07-23T11:59:00.001+01:00

This book is a little gem. I haven't read a book anything like it in recent years. I didn't know something could be so heartfelt and endearing while also being quite sinister at the same time. Having received this book as a christmas present, I had no idea what it was about or what to expect. And sometimes this is best way to discover something new!

Without giving too much away about the book, Jack and his mum are living in one room. They don't have a life outside the room and Jack has never known the outside world. The reason is kept from the reader for quite a while until eventually it is revealed. We join Jack and his mum on a journey as they try to get out of the room.

What is unique about Room, is that it is written from the point of view of a child, using a child's language and ways of speaking. It is a little unnatural to read at first, but you soon get used to it and go deep into the world of little Jack.

The book is so insightful into his way of living and must have required a lot of research from the author. Can you imagine never seeing another living person apart from your mother? Not knowing about nature, other children and family?

It's an amazing story of how a young mother created a world inside one room for her son because she had to. She educates him, entertains him and tries to give him a normal childhood. If you are looking for something a little different to read, this is a good choice :)

Happy reading! Please comment below with your ideas for good reads or if you have read Room yourself :)

Homemade Moisturiser

2012-07-20T15:09:00.000+01:00

I've suffered with bad skin for about 7 years now. Weird, because my skin was ok until I hit 23 years old. Since then I've had acne on and off. I've tried all sorts of medications and products, but it's still here!

So in the past few weeks I've decided to experiment a little with homemade beauty products. While having acne, I also have terrible dry skin and it suddenly dawned on me that the products I use to clean and moisturise my face are probably stripping the natural oils away. I have no idea what the chemicals in cosmetics are and what they are doing to my skin. So on my quest, I discovered that a lot of stuff I already have at home can be use to make my own products.

Ingredients I've been trying out:

100% natural Aloe Vera Gel
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Almond Oil
Honey
Vitamin E Oil
Bicarbonate Soda (Baking Soda (not Baking powder)

There are many other products to try, but so far I've been messing with these.

First up - I tried making a moisturiser with Aloe Vera Gel and Olive Oil. Aloe Vera gel is amazing for healing skin and I find it gives moisturiser the thickness and "stickiness" needed to mix with the oil. Olive Oil is a great moisturiser for skin, but I did find the mixture a little too oily for me - May be great before bed, but not to wear under makeup. So I ordered a bottle of Almond Oil online, which is supposed to be more absorbent. I find the Almond Oil is working better and isn't as greasy.

I mix 3 parts aloe vera to 1 part almond oil. Give it a good long whip to combine the two together. This gives a really nice light moisturiser. I am still finding that parts of my skin are dry, so for the next batch, I will add a little more oil to the mix and see how it works, but this really depends on your skin type.

It feels so good knowing exactly what I am putting on my skin and it is quite therapeutic making my own products. I have noticed an improvement in the smoothness of my skin after 2 weeks. The great thing is you can adjust the amounts to suit your own skin and I'm sure it will end up being a money saver!

Next I will try and make a hydrating face mask and scrub!
Stay tuned for the results! :)

Please comment below and let me know if you have tried any homemade products. I am still experimenting and would love your ideas too :)