I Heart Natural Beauty

Scents and Scents' Ability - headache busting in a hurry

2013-03-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Image via

Headaches can be a devil to get rid of the natural way, especially when a caffeine boost or sugar fix can seem to bring temporary release.

If you have the chance to be indulgent, a scalp massage, quick nap, plenty of water and even an orgasm can ease the pain. If none of the above will cut it, try flinging Eucalyptus, Cedarwood and Peppermint together. Combine with a carrier oil in the bath or inhale over boiled water with a towel to keep in the steam.

I recently invested in a Soto Aroma Diffuser (madebyzen) and will never go back to burning oils with a candle. This is attractive - think modern day lava lamp with mood lighting - I get lots of compliments and interest when guests see it in use. If you want to use it without oils you have an ioniser to hand. Quite often I just use one oil for a subtle scent and ambience.

This is the perfect accessory for a wind down ritual at the end of the day. Combine with (non toxic) candlelight and a herbal brew.

Image via

Hummus

2013-02-04T03:28:00.004-08:00

Image: my own (yep, keeping Cath Kidston in business)

Hummus has been a mainstay of my diet for as long as I can remember, especially handy for those who can't cook/won't cook which was me for many years. I didn't see what the fuss was about until recently and even now I have to be in the mood to roll my sleeves up in the kitchen.

I'm pretty particular about my hummus and I'm always disappointed when someone's fannied about with flavours, especially when it tastes of factory. I don't need synthetic coriander, chilli or sundried tomatoes in my hummus. I need it straight up and unadulterated.

For a good old fashioned guide to hummus making I found How to make perfect hummus invaluable. Felicity Cloake has done all the hard work for us. I followed her perfect hummus recipe almost to the T. I failed on soaking chickpeas - tinned means I have more time for fun stuff - and I used smoked paprika instead of ground cumin. Either way this is a bad boy. It tastes good, is super easy to make and I love the the oil is added just on top.

What's your fail safe dip? And the crucial question - do you eat hummus and then feel self conscious all day about the raw garlic coming out of every pore?

Sex on legs soup

2013-01-17T05:10:00.004-08:00

I made this soup for lunch today post meeting and post throwing balls for my dog in the freeeeezing British weather. It's absolutely sex on legs. I threw in whatever veg I had - happened to be sweet potatoes, carrots, frozen peas and green beans, tinned sweetcorn and chickpeas. I skipped the greens and tinned tomato due to what I had in, but I reckon that any combo would work wonders with this gorgeous seasoning. The peanut butter (I used cashew nut butter) and honey (I didn't have raw) make it so filling and decadent that I didn't miss bread or need a second bowl.

I discovered that frying onions and garlic in this seasoning and then stir frying in veg of any type or adding steamed or boiled vegetables would be a fabulous complement to short grain brown rice (the type of rice my nutritionist insists I stick to). You could always add pre marinated tofu for a perfectly balanced meal.

Thanks to the fab Bari Tribe blog for this recipe which I found via Well & Good nyc. I love to find a few basic seasoning ideas which I can replicate in different ways to keep my palate satisfied.

‘Back On Track’ Winter Soup

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1.5 tbsp. curry powder
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 can organic diced tomatoes (with canning liquid)
8 cups vegetable broth
1 can organic corn, drained
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tbsp. raw honey
3-4 cups chiffonaded mustard greens (any greens work here; swiss chard would be great)
sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven, and sauté onions over medium heat for 5 minutes or until translucent.
Add garlic and sauté for another minute. Add sweet potato and spices – coating all vegetables evenly – and sauté for another minute.
Add tomatoes and broth, and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Add corn, chickpeas, peanut butter and honey. Stir and let simmer for another 10 minutes.
Stir in greens. Season with salt, starting with 1/2 tsp. and adjusting to taste.

Photo via Sarah Levy for Bari Apotheke

On being good

2012-12-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

I was reminded of Rudyard Kipling's 'If...' last night whilst watching Boardwalk Empire. It was a moving moment in the series. It's beautiful in its own right but also seems pertinent at the moment.

In the spirit of The Secret and generally attempting to behave like a grown up I have tried to turn any adversities into learning opportunities of late. I don't always get it right but it's a win win situation when it works. Rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of another's behaviour, I find myself asking if I'm perfect. As the answer is always a straight 'no' I realise that there is something I could do for someone else or something I could do to improve myself/remedy a situation. By changing the focus like this and being as good as can be, little disappointments seem to fade into the background.

Do you have a method for being true to yourself and as good as can be when you are faced with challenges?

IF...

IF you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,

if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Ojon Oil

2012-11-29T07:52:00.000-08:00

I think it's fair to say that every girl has bought into a recommended/latest hair serum or oil at the salon and then held onto it half heartedly alongside a load of other barely used products, not really knowing if it makes a difference. This often happens to me and I ask myself if I'm not using it right or if my hair is too processed for me to be the judge of a good oil or not. Well, stop press.

I've decided the Ojon oil does live up to the hype. This is Boots own and has been heavily advertised across the board. It comes in at just under £30 so for that price I need this baby to work. I recommend this for thick/dry/coarse/processed hair as it may be too conditioning for those with already silky locks. I use a little 'gloop' of it on damp hair and then blow dry. I've noticed a huge difference in condition with increased softness and perhaps even additional length, but that may be a coincidence as I'm not applying this product to my scalp. I suspect it's that I need less trimmed off the ends now that the general condition is improved. If your hair is fried this really could be your new best friend.

'World's most infrequent blogger award' goes to...me

2012-08-28T05:04:00.001-07:00

I know, I really do deserve this award. I've been a complete slacker on the blogging front - my apologies and thanks as always to all those who've been in touch about all things beauty and healthy living.

I've been a busy bee juggling various work projects. I've also been to Ithaca and adopted a rescue puppy (Herbie, whom I shall soon introduce), visited friends and family, started back my military style fitness regime, explored hypnotherapy and have had a few weddings to attend...and it seems like time just disappeared.

At times I've felt I had no time for anything at home, so the last few weeks for me have been about rediscovering the food processor, training little Herbie to sit and 'investing' in velvet cushions and the like.

Here's a few pics from the little known island of Ithaca.

Sunrise from my sunlounger...oh to wake up to this again

I ate loads. I just love Greek, fresh, simple food

My view by day. From this spot I enjoyed...

Dandy in the Underworld has got to be the funniest book I have ever read. Disgusting and hilarious. Total must read. I laughed out load a few times per page.

Yours truly shivering...late May was beautifully hot but cooler in the evenings.

A view of beautiful Fiskardo, (Kefalonia) where I went last year, from the sea. If you are into lazy quiet Greek holidays Kefalonia or Ithaca will hit the spot.

Natural dry shampoo

2012-05-17T06:10:00.002-07:00

Via

Some time ago I was seduced by the idea of not washing my hair. After a few days of attempting this I chickened out. I haven't tried again since and must confess I use a regular shampoo and conditioner, albeit sulphate free. I love this tip which I found on the fab Well & Good NYC (one of my all time fave beauty sites): Cindy Joseph, a celebrity make up artist, says that one of her beauty obsessions is good old corn starch which is found lurking inside many a kitchen cupboard. She simply coats her hands in the stuff and rubs it into the roots of her hair on an off day. Cindy says this leaves her with that fresh hair feeling and she loves that this is chemical free. I shall trial this next time I favour a little shut eye over a shampoo in the morning.

Hot stuff - how to heal burns the natural way

2012-05-16T08:42:00.001-07:00

Via

I managed to burn myself a few weeks ago by spilling boiling water over my arm. I was trying to multi-task with two mugs of tea (I should have done the Buddhist thing of focussing mindfully on one task at a time) and as I never want to keep my wounded body part under cold running water for long - because, let's face it - it feels pretty cold and unpleasant, I end up with ugly burn marks. I remember learning in first aid that it's not enough to simply immerse your burnt body part in a bowl of cold water because the burn actually raises the water's temperature. Anyway, I've been left with a rather unsightly arm burn and have been turning to two of my natural friends in my time of need.

I bought 3 Aloe Vera plants for the new pad just for aesthetic purposes. They've turned out to be great pals as I've been tearing off the leaves and applying the goo to my burn and then intermittently slathering on neat lavender essential oil. I'm seeing a real improvement as the scar diminishes. I've also experimented with talking to the Aloe plants lovingly every now and then, but that's another story.

For those not in the know, a brief history lesson on lavender: Rene Maurice Gattefosse was a French chemist and perfumer who burnt his hand badly in his laboratory. Being the first available compound handy, Gattefosse treated his badly burnt hand with pure undiluted lavender oil, which not only immediately eased the pain, but helped heal the hand without any sign of infection or scar. Gattefosse coined the term aromatherapy in 1937. The moral of this little story is that it's well worth ensuring you have lavender oil and Aloe Vera to hand in the kitchen. Could make a big difference to a burn.

Health note:

Lavender is absolutely lovely and seems to have shaken off its granny image in recent years. Relaxing and gorgeous, it's one of the most popular oils and certainly a favourite of mine. I love a little sprinkle on my pillowcase for relaxation and often use lavender in my own oil blends. Lavender is an emmenagogue which means that it can stimulate menstruation. This is great for anyone who is trying to regulate their periods, but for obvious reasons is best avoided in pregnancy. Those with low blood pressure can feel a little dull and drowsy after using this oil.

Heartbeats

2012-05-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

How was your bank holiday weekend? I went foraging and fabric shopping...good for the soul.

Somerset House

Even though I haven't yet found the right rescue dog, I'm already looking at snuggle cushions for dogs - a girl's gotta plan ahead, right?

Picking out fabrics for my outdated footstool was a serious mission but good fun. I settled on this Designers Guild fabric as I figured it will be fairly practical colour wise and will complement the grey pallete I've chosen at home. I'll need to paint the legs grey to match.

Choosing a sensible fabric wasn't easy when there were a number of pink and crazy psychedelic numbers to hand

A walk in the woods isn't complete with a little tree hugging. My friend Adele demonstrates beautifully...

This is the perfect time of year for wild garlic. We enjoyed with a buckwheat pasta salad.

I would love to tell you we made this wigwam.

Julia and Dotty

I'm totally in love with my neighbour, Dotty. She is so cute. We all pampered and stroked her for hours. A dog's life really isn't bad.

Happy weekend

2012-05-04T13:48:00.002-07:00

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

Sorry for being so quiet on the blogging front. Life has been going quickly. Here's to making time to breathe consciously every day. Happy weekend - a bientot. x

Office candy

2012-05-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Phew! Last week seemed like one of the busiest weeks of my life. I spent the weekend catching up with a huge pile of admin whilst the rain came down in droves. There are a lot of birthdays coming up this month so I've also been running around buying pressies and cards - I wonder if statistically, May is a popular birthing day...anyway, despite all of this busyness I've somehow managed to keep on top of personal grooming and have been leaning on my essential oils ever more for balance and relaxation to wind down at the end of a hectic day. I'm a little behind on posts but in the meantime, this is my latest office candy inspiration. Having moved house not long ago I'm still putting together my office and this has only served to make me think of the importance of a good radiator.

Jenna Lyons via

Confidence: the 21 day plan

2012-04-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Liz Foster - Coach

This week I had the pleasure of attending a confidence seminar and workshop held by the Bath Coaching Cafe. Like most people I can feel ultra confident at some points and then not so confident on an off day. So as far as I'm concerned there is always something new to learn when it comes to loving the self.

The gorgeous Liz (above) led the group and ended by giving us a 21 day confidence plan which will make a difference when followed with commitment. I thought I'd share it with you as I plan to do this for the next 21 days and would love for you to join me on this challenge!

In isolation, the components of the 21 day plan are not new news to me - Healing without Freud or Prozac is a brilliant book for detail on the benefits of breathing exercises and cardio, even if it's just a jog at the pace of a snail. There's also a lot covered on SAD lamps and sunrise imitation alarm clocks. Happier details the benefits of gratitude, kind acts and reflection, not to mention all kinds of interesting stuff on what happiness means.

Nevertheless, it's often about the packaging. When someone presents a task with boundaries (21 days), a step by step guide so you don't have to select and create your own programme and, most importantly, a goal (which in this case is to feel more confident after the process), it's much easier to just do it.

The 21 day plan:

1) Write down 3 things you're grateful for each day

2) Journal about 1 positive experience each day

3) Exercise every single day (it doesn't have to be hardcore)

4) 15 minutes of meditation daily (you don't have to be a seasoned yogi - just do your best)

5) Do one act of random kindness each day

I shall report back in 21 days - who's up for the 21 day challenge?

Super skin needs steam

2012-04-18T02:57:00.002-07:00

Via

Anything that Kelly Brook has to say about beauty...I'm on it. This is because despite being picture perfect in this shot, whenever Brook is papped sans-maquillage after a long flight, she still looks healthy and pretty.

Kelly swears by regular steam sessions to keep her skin looking fresh. If you have access to a steam room in your gym it's worth popping in there a few times a week. It can be hard to time a post-workout pamper session in the gym changing room since we're also contemplating our protein fix at this point and wondering how we'll eat within an hour of acing the tricep dips. If you manage to get some me-time in the gym then it's worth showering, shampooing and conditioning before you steam. The heat will activate your conditioning treatment whilst your pores open and the toxins pour out.

If you're without a steam room you can do this at home for your face. Just fill a tub with near boiling water and throw a towel over your head. Allow your face and neck to be exposed to the steam which is caught under the towel. You can add essential oils to the mix. It's a lovely feeling to pick out oils which best suit your mood and needs for the day.

If you're not confident picking an oil blend you could start with something like lavender which is well loved.

Health note: avoid lavender in pregnancy and remember that it may make you drowsy.

Heartbeats

2012-04-17T04:50:00.001-07:00

Moments from my week...

Images: my own

Apple Cider Vinegar = say 'see ya' to congested skin

2012-04-16T04:40:00.013-07:00

Thom's Cider Vinegar of choice, available here with a beautiful little price tag too...

I'm thrilled to introduce a guest writer today: the clever and innovative Thom Milson. Thom has discovered an inexpensive way to cope with acne and a whole array of health and beauty challenges. In fact, Thom has got me drinking Apple Cider Vinegar to boost my immune system. Enough from me, over to Thom...

Hi I heart Natural Beauty readers, Thom here with a news flash on a dynamic and little known beauty weapon which you may already have in your kitchen cupboard.

If you told most people that Apple Cider Vinegar could be used as a beauty product, they wouldn’t believe you. In fact Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the most important and powerful natural remedies out there. It’s been known to help with weight loss, sinus infection, allergies, arthritis and acne. It’s usually taken in water as a drink, but can also be used topically, which is what I’m going to talk about here.

When I was younger I suffered from acne and tried everything – creams, washes, pills, you name it. Back then I was naive – I didn’t realise that most external problems were symptoms of internal problems. I started to look at the things that I eat and the stress that I put myself under. I tested foods by removing them from my diet, such as milk, bread, eggs, pasta and rice. Not all of these made a difference, but some of them did, with highly noticeable differences (all positive) when I removed milk. After being tested it was indeed confirmed that I was Lactose intolerant. After doing some research into lactose intolerance I discovered that milk actually contains a lot of hormones that can make acne sufferers have worsened breakouts!

It’s safe to say that over the next few months I noticed improvements and eventually over the years, I started to grow out of acne. The thing is, I am now left with scars, as well as having the occasional breakout.

My mother suggested using Apple Cider Vinegar because as she said it, “It restores the acid mantle of your skin, so it heals quicker” and it’s all true (Parents really are the source of knowledge kids!).

The acid mantle is the skin’s first defence mechanism against invading bacteria. This defence layer develops at puberty, around the time that many teenagers will probably start noticing the symptoms of acne. Using face washes and creams like I did can often damage and prevent this layer from developing as it should. This all happens as we start to produce hair on our bodies, and sebaceous glands cause changes in the skin’s pH. The pH of human skin usually settles somewhere between 4.5 and 6. But this often varies with age.

In our late teens and early twenties our Acid Mantle should be at its best. It should adequately protect against harmful external factors, heal extremely quickly and generally take care of itself. The skin’s pH value is an overlooked, but major contributor to acne and various other skin problems. Propionibacterium acnes are bacteria that live on the skin and are actually found in everyone, regardless of whether an individual suffers from acne.

However, the number of P. acnes is greatly increased in acne sufferers. Research has shown that the growth of these bacteria is very much dependent on the pH value of the sufferer’s skin and its growth is minimised with a skin pH of 5.5. In fact, even a slight shift towards the alkaline pH would create an environment in which it can thrive.

Nearly all soaps are Alkaline in nature and even the ones that are advertised as ‘good for your skin’, usually have a neutral pH of 7. When using soaps, we think we wash them off quite quickly, but there is almost always residue left behind. Over time, soaps start to change the pH of our skin away from its natural acidity, to a very unnatural alkaline state. It means that our skin will actually become dependent on these products as it is incapable of self-defence – certainly not a good state of affairs.

Apple Cider Vinegar works to return your skin to its natural acidity, reversing and healing the effects of soap. It works even better if you stop using soap all together, which may seem like a brash decision to make, but it’s perfectly natural to wash with just water. In fact dirt plays no part in acne whatsoever and is actually a marketing technique used by many companies to make sufferers feel self conscious and want to buy their products. I could talk about this for a long time but I won’t. For now all I’ll say is, that if their products actually worked, you would have no need to buy them anymore – it is not in their interests to actually solve the problem {Ed: fingers in my ears - tra la la la - I love my cleansers and they are important if you're a make up wearer!}.

The way to use Apple Cider Vinegar is to apply it to the skin. You can either apply it all over as a toner, or simply to the affected area as a “spot treatment”. In fact as well as rebuilding the Acid Mantle, Apple Cider Vinegar reduces the visible redness and inflammation. It’s important to note that some redness is normal and may last for about 10 minutes, with a slight burning or tingling sensation. If this feels too much, wash your face with water immediately, as you don’t want to rush your skin into anything. I would also suggest that you do not use it un-diluted, especially when you start using it. Many people find that they can, but it is usually something they have worked up to. I would suggest starting with a mixture of one part Apple Cider Vinegar, three parts water, slowly working your way to a 50/50 mixture. Here is a list of a few more things you should consider when using Apple Cider Vinegar:

• Start with a mixture of three parts water, one part Apple Cider Vinegar, eventually working your way to a 50/50 mix.

• Always buy Apple Cider Vinegar with the “Mother”. This is very important, because it is the mother part of Apple Cider Vinegar that is most beneficial. If you buy standard culinary Apple Cider Vinegar it has often been filtered and pasteurised, meaning most of the beneficial elements have been removed. The cloudier the better. My favourite brand is one called Biona Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother.

• Avoid Apple Cider Vinegar that contains sulphites, these can be harmful to the skin.

• Uses cotton pads or cotton balls to apply. For best results a spray bottle works best. To be honest I use my hands.

• Apply to face when dry.

Apple Cider Vinegar is also very good for dandruff, when rubbed into the scalp, but it also intensifies the main drawback of Apple Cider Vinegar, which is the smell. The smell can seem very pungent at first and can make you feel a little self conscious when spending time around other people. You do eventually get used to the smell, and if you are using a diluted mixture, it tends to wear off quite quickly anyway (it takes a little longer if using it un-diluted). I find that I prefer to not use it before I do things like go on a date, or go to a club.

Apple Cider Vinegar doesn’t need to be something that is just for acne suffers too, it is also topically beneficial for:

• Insect bites and rashes because it reduces inflammation

• General scar healing

• Ingrown hairs

• Razor Bumps

I hope you try Apple Cider Vinegar and see some of the benefits yourself. Good luck on your adventure.

Thom Milson (above) is a writer who is all about the natural and likes to blog about many of the amazing things he discovers. He also occasionally blogs for Tiger Sheds, who specialise in garden equipment.

Make your eye cream work for you

2012-04-15T13:12:00.002-07:00

Via

Hope you had a lovely weekend? Mine involved dog walking (my neighbour has let me loose on his Springer Spaniel - just a pup - LOVING it), getting back into the gym now my cough has subsided, spending a lovely evening with friends and fizz and a good old retail therapy fix. A gluten free cupcake topped it all off with a cup of herbal tea this afternoon in Salisbury (an old English market town with one of the world's most admired cathedrals - but the tea shops monopolised my attention). Lovely.

Now, onto business - crow's feet are the topic of the day. If you don't already use an eye cream it's never too late to get into the game. I've used one since my late teens and I'm glad I did. Dab it on with your ring finger, less pressure this way. I wouldn't advocate using the product as close to the eye as this picture demonstrates. The skin tissue is very absorbent here and will soak up the cream like blotting paper. In fact, I've heard that plastic surgeons report finding a build up of product in some women's eye sockets when doing eye ops. I would suggest using in the area where crow's feet are (or would be, if you're lucky enough not to have any). It's worth going out to the corners and slightly down to the cheek bone there as we forget that eye wrinkles can cover a lot of ground.

The jury is out on whether it's worth applying cream under the brow bone. I did so for years (with the idea of firming this area which droops over time) but many in the industry believe this is a waste of product and time. It can't hurt to be generous but underneath the eye is most important. But don't stop just yet...you can also dab eye cream from the sides of the nostrils down to the sides of your mouth. This is another area where ageing starts to show; the lines here deepen over time and of course get so much worse in smokers. In fact, if you do smoke (naughty!) then it's worth dabbing the eye cream on the skin immediately around the mouth - ever heard of the expression 'cat's bottom mouth'? It's a horrible but accurate way to describe a smoker's bouche over time. I have no idea how La Moss gets away with it.

I tend to pop my eye cream under my moisturiser. The most important thing is to remember to use it morning and night. You'll see a difference.

Make your evening beauty ritual an early one

2012-04-12T11:03:00.001-07:00

Image and some great flossing tips via

How often do you feel exhausted by the time you need to take your make up off and get ready for bed? Sometimes we don't want to get off the sofa only because we're too tired for the next part of our journey up the stairs and into the bathroom.

In an ideal world we'd set aside plenty of time to get ready for bed and on Sunday nights it's possible to pamper in a hot bath and the take the papers to bed. But in real life, loading the dishwasher, replying to that email, calling so-and-so back and getting ready for tomorrow can mean a late night.

If you think you're likely to be heading to bed late or you're already dog tired, I suggest embarking on your evening wind down ritual earlier rather than later so that embarking on a flossing session will seem less like climbing Kilimanjaro.

Once you've had supper, head to the bathroom and clean your teeth and floss etc. The fresh minty taste should put you off snacking if you're a late night snacker. Then, take your time to cleanse, tone and moisturise and throw in any microfoliants and serums at this point. There, you're done for the evening. You can massage your night cream or oil in - your skin will love you for this.

Now you're ready for bed and free to get on with your evening errands. The only downside to this that I can see is being make up free all evening...but it is really nice to be able to flop into bed without the hoo ha.

Heartbeats

2012-04-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Moments from my week...

Images: my own. Cakes by Crumpet.

Cleanse twice

2012-04-10T02:21:00.002-07:00

Via

Have you tried cleansing twice? If you're not already a convert then you might be shocked to find that a second cleanse reveals yet even more make up on your cotton pad.

We really do need to remove all of the make up and grime which acrues on a daily basis. When I lived in London I really noticed the pollution on my skin, but even in a quieter city when I walk near a dirty road I can feel the dust settling onto my skin. So it's there, and it needs to be removed completely so that your pores can breathe and your skin can repair overnight.

Cleansing twice is worth the time and the expense of extra product and cotton pads. Really work the cleansing product into your skin paying particular attention to the jaw line, nose area and forehead, where congestion tends to be more of a problem.

This rule extends to hair care too. Shampooing twice and rinsing really well extends the life of your hair between washes. It's a lot easier to wash hair the second time round as the product goes further. Cleanliness is close to Godliness

Short grain brown rice = detox

2012-04-09T04:14:00.000-07:00

Via

Ever since I read Bad Science I get kind of nervous about using the word detox. Apparently there is no such thing as detoxing. But, whatever, we all know what we mean by detoxing and anything that helps to fight free radicals and boost our health mojo is fine by me. I recommend trying to eat short grain brown rice daily. It must be short grain specifically to get the benefits. This is said to be very good for colon care and helps to balance the body.

It's easy to fit it in almost every day (no-one's perfect). I tend to cook it in big-ish batches so that I have two days worth in the fridge to make up cold lunches with. Alongside a stir fry, curry or fish and veg these grains offer a great form of starch and help to stabilise blood sugars.

I asked my nutritionist what I should do when I stray from my healthy eating plan. I generally follow gluten/dairy/sugar free, but I'm only human and will sometimes stray off piste or a glass of wine will sneak itself into my hand. I was told to do 3 things to get back into balance:

1) go for a walk and breathe in the air

2) do some yoga

3) eat some short grain brown rice

I heart the nutty texture and wouldn't dream of touching white rice now. It does take a while to cook but it's so simple to build a dish around this.

What are your cupboard staples to stay healthy and balanced? Would love to know.

This week I heart...

2012-04-08T09:52:00.006-07:00

Pelvic floor maintenance sometimes seems like just another freaking thing on my to do list, so thank heavens for this lovely lady, Betty Herbert, for doing her kegel homework so that the rest of us might benefit. Loving this post.

Still confused about the benefits of LinkedIn? If you're a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to cyber space self-promotion, you might like Alison Doyle's tips on how to make the most of it all.

I heart a cleanser which is speedy to use and Avalon Organic's Lavender range doesn't disappoint. The last thing I feel like doing last thing at night is to fanny around for ages in the bathroom. The lavender which isn't too lavender-y, in the sense that it doesn't feel like it's aimed at the granny market (disclaimer: not that there's anything wrong with grannies!!!) and has a comforting, feminine and clean fragrance.

This goes on easily, comes off quickly and has a pump bottle design which is always a bonus as far as I'm concerned. The product lasts a good while. I'm not a fan of mean cleansers because it's nice to be generous with applications. This is not an item to skimp on because we want all of that make up to come off along with any dead skin cells sitting on the skins' surface. Prices vary but this costs less than a tenner which is really not a bad price by today's standards. If I use synthetic cleansers, no matter how expensive they might be, I tend not to like them long term, so I try to opt for natural or organic.

The cleansing milk is my favourite, although I've also tried the gel and it's great for anyone who likes to have a wet face and feel scrubbed to holiness last thing at night. The gel leaves my skin feeling a little tight which I'm not a fan of. I tend to prefer milks as gels nearly always have a drying effect, even when they claim not to. If you have oily skin, opting for gel washes is a good general rule.

If you're after a complete range, I've long been a fan of Avalon Organic's hand washes, hand creams and body lotions, especially the lemon which is divine.

Onto wedge trainers - totally heart...

I heart these Ash trainers and I'm deliberating over colour. My Ash boots have got me through many a winter sartorial dilemma in 2011/2, so I'm looking to these wedge trainers to inject some Spring casual glam into my wardrobe. These look easy to wear. The key thing is comfort for me - sad but true, I'm just not prepared to suffer.

Via

I heart meditation bells. I've bought some which are a little more ornate than these (above). I was listening to Thich Nhat Hanh whom I respect deeply. He was saying that whenever you're upset or about to have a pop at someone, you should go and sit in your breathing room to ring your bells and breathe mindfully. I like to ring my bells to mark the beginning and end of a meditation session. They add pomp and atmosphere - the clear sound resonating in the room is powerful indeed.

Happy Easter

2012-04-07T10:54:00.001-07:00

What a cute little fella Via

Happy Easter, Naturally Beautiful people. I'm recovering from that cold, milking it for all it's worth, making friends with the dog next door, planning some long walks to see the lambs and hoping to make some yummy dishes over the weekend.

If you're in need of food inspiration over the weekend I recommend a visit to pure2raw, the 10 cent designer, Lisa's Project Vegan or i heart wellness...some super yummy recipes from vibrant gal bloggers.

Skin Food

2012-04-07T04:22:00.006-07:00

Image: my own

I've been suffering from this noisy, dramatic cough and general lurgy which seems to have afflicted the whole of the UK. I've got friends who haven't shaken their cough off after weeks and even months. There's no beating around the bush, I've looked rough for the last few days. My boyfriend confirmed that I looked a long way from desirable, which I couldn't dispute since all I could manage was the most basic of cleansing and moisturing routines before falling back into bed with the most stunning performance of poorliness that you've ever seen. Somewhere between the last stages of consumption and a death scene from the horror genre. But I mustn't brag. I've been slapping Weleda's Skin Food onto my skin like there's no tomorrow in the hope of revival.

Ill health blesses us with the ability to see every imperfection, line and flaky bit on one's visage. Hands look dry and dehydrated, face looks like it's never been acquainted with a decent serum in its life and even hair plays up. Skin Food is known as nature's answer to 8 hour cream and is a poorly kept secret in fashion circles. It's the certified natural answer to poorly post-cold noses, elbows, lips, cracked heels (why can't we have heels like babies' for life? So unfair) and anywhere needing to be saved and nourished. This is one to reach for after a bender...it's always nice to put products to work whilst we get our 40 winks.

Via

Made

2012-04-03T08:43:00.001-07:00

I've been 'deconstructing' the bachelor vibe in my home for the last 7 months and shopping for new bits and pieces. I've shabby chicified a few pieces of furniture (who knew that whipping wood with a chain could produce such delectable results?) and I'm now at the stage where the home isn't my main project but it's an ongoing sideline. I've ordered a grey fairly trad sofa, just because I like a really comfy place to nest of an evening and I don't think super chic would give as cosy as I like. I also like furniture that doesn't 'commit' too much to one particular room or home. On my cyber travels I've come across Made and I'm loving their low prices on high design...

All images via Made

Cold blasts are a must

2012-03-29T02:50:00.001-07:00

This advice is as old as the hills - but oldies are goodies...

Finish your shower with a blast on the cold setting. This closes pores and assists with circulation (for silky skin) and shuts down the hair shaft for a glossy mane. You can blast your hair with the cold setting on the dryer for the same reason.