A lovely and quick treat for your lips which is especially helpful if they are dry and chapped.
Begin by removing any make-up then apply some lip balm, with a soft toothbrush (not the one you use for your teeth!) gently brush your lips and the surrounding skin with small circular movements. Next wipe clean with a damp cloth or cotton wool and finish by applying a generous amount of a good moisturising lip balm (preferably organic and paraben free!)
This is a lovely treat for your lips, it’s especially beneficial to do at night where you can leave a nice thick layer of lip balm on without worrying about anyone seeing you.
Category Archives: Beauty Tips
Protect, Protect, Protect Your Skin!
I can’t stress enough the importance of protecting your skin from the sun and elements.
The sun plays a significant role in the ageing and premature ageing process, whilst we definitely need the sun for vitamin D etc little and often with protection is always best.
As soon as you feel your skin getting hot, it’s time to get in the shade until it cools down. Your skin will also suffer if over exposed to wind, rain, heating, air conditioning, pollution, the list goes on…. We’ve all heard of prevention is better than cure, it’s so true!
I really like Clinique – CLINIQUE SUPER CITY BLOCK OIL FREE SPF40
I put it on every morning after moisturising. It’s great as it’s oil free, SPF 40 and is safe to put under the eyes where the skin is much thinner and sensitive therefore more susceptible to ageing.
Gently massage it in to your whole face, neck and décolleté, it does leave you a little paler if you have olive, dark or tanned skin, but your foundation will cover that, then apply foundation as normal, do this every day of the year what ever the weather.
Remember your skin is your largest organ and covers you from head to toe, it should be protected, respected and nurtured, as it is what protects you!
Shaving Rash Tips & Savlon
I love Savlon, I’ve always got a tube in the house incase anyone scratches or burns
themselves, it doesn’t have a strong smell and it’s not too painful to apply if you’ve hurt yourself.
It’s also great to use to help avoid that unsightly and uncomfortable shaving rash particularly in the bikini area.
Tips to help avoid shaving rash – shave in the direction of your hair growth and never use a blunt razor or one that has started to rust! Applying Savlon Antiseptic Cream to the area once dried can also really help and if at any time you feel itchy, never scratch it instead apply some Savlon!
Why & How To Clean Your Hair Brush
So you’ve just washed your hair, it’s silky, fresh and smells gorgeous, you stand in front of the mirror flicking it around watching it glisten in the sunlight (ok I know I’ve gone a bit far) and then you put your grimy, greasy, hairy, product laden, dusty brush through it.
‘Oi…My brush isn’t dirty’ I imagine you shouting at the computer screen, but if you haven’t washed your hair brush in the last month, then I’m sorry to say it is, combs too!
However the answer is quick, easy and simple.
Firstly remove any hair which is stuck in it, use another brush or comb if it helps, next fill your sink up with warm water and a blob of clarifying shampoo or your normal shampoo.
If your brush is plastic then soak it for a few minutes, if it’s a fabric cushion brush do not submerge it in water, just gently dip the bristles in. Next get a toothbrush (not the one you use for your mouth) and rub the bristles and the fabric or plastic base, if it’s really dirty or product laden apply extra shampoo, then rinse under cold running water, repeat if necessary. Shake your brush and towel dry, leave it on a towel to dry or if you are in a hurry dry it with a hairdryer.
Aim to be cleaning any brushes and combs every two weeks to help keep your hair clean.
Why Cleaning Your Make-Up Brushes Is Important
Not only does cleaning your make-up brushes extend the lifetime and let’s face it good brushes are quite expensive, but it’s so important for your skin.
Not cleaning your brushes means they collect bacteria, oils, dirt, dust, old make-up, viruses and dead skin cells (quite disgusting really)
Is there anything else you use daily that you don’t wash?? My guess is no, so it’s best not to neglect your brushes.
It’s particularly important if you have sensitive skin, eyes or are prone to acne and/or breakouts, for you I would recommend cleaning your brushes after each use or every night before bed so they can dry by the morning. For normal skin, once or twice a week would be fine.
It’s so quick and easy, once you get into the habit of doing it regularly it’ll just become part of your beauty regime, here’s what to do.
Wet your brush holding it downwards in running water, next apply a generous amount of soap, any soap is good but anti-bacterial is even better. Work the soap through the hairs gently, I like to gently rub the brush in my palm, then rinse until the water runs clear. Repeat if necessary, if you haven’t washed your brushes before or in a long time you may need to initially repeat the process a few times.
Gently squeeze out the excess water, shake a little then leave to dry on a towel or paper towel. Always wash and dry your brushes facing downwards to minimise water loosening the glue which holds the hairs together.
Homemade Exfoliators-Important & Healthier
Homemade facial and body exfoliators are simple to make, kind to your skin, healthier for the environment and your wallet!
A large portion of beauty products such as exfoliators/scrubs, cleansers, soaps, toothpaste and even some shampoos contain man made plastic micro-beads such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate.
Whilst lovely for your skin, the impact on the environment is becoming catastrophic and the death rate of fish and bird life due to ingestion is alarming.
These beads are so small they are not being sifted out by sewerage plants, therefore they are ending up contaminating our beautiful oceans.
These plastics are not biodegradable and in some seas the plastic beads are more plentiful then plankton which are being mistaken for food by marine life.
All of which is awful and totally unnecessary! So pleeease try and use these homemade recipes below.
Exfoliating is an important part of any health and beauty regime. Not only does it remove dead skin leaving a healthy glow, it helps premature ageing, promotes cell renewal and among many other things enables your creams to penetrate rather then sit on top of dead skin cells.
Exfoliation does however have to be done gently and only once a week for dry and/or sensitive skins, twice a week for oily and/or congested skins. Whilst Sugar increases premature ageing when eaten, applied to the skin it has the opposite effect. It’s excellent for breaking down the dead skin cells, smoothing the skin and promoting cell renewal.
The Easiest And Quickest Recipe For An Exfoliator
Once you have chosen a cleanser which is kind to your face and the environment, dispense a 50 pence size amount into your palm, then simply add some sugar (not caster sugar though) to make a paste. Ta Daaah you’ve made an environmentally, wallet friendly exfoliator!
Keep reading for tips on how to exfoliate.
Another Recipe For Homemade Exfoliator
All you need is either fine Sea Salt or Organic Sugar and either Organic Olive Oil or Jojoba Oil or Grapes Seed Oil or any other of your favourite oils (Organic is a personal preference any sugar or oil is fine)
Method
Heres what you do, pour a small amount of either the sugar or salt into a small cup or bowl, then gradually mix in some of your chosen oil stirring the mixture until you have made a thickish paste.
After cleansing your face and neck and whilst still damp, scoop up your mixture in between your fingers, hold it there to warm it briefly then distribute it over your face and neck. Massage in gentle slow circular movements avoiding the delicate eye area, pay special attention to any areas which are oily, dull or congested. Remove the mixture with warm water either by splashing water or by using a muslin cloth or soft face flannel. Finish with a mask or moisturiser of your choice. Voila! Beautiful skin and No nasty chemicals or plastics in your body or the environment.
Both the above methods can be applied to your body so you can enjoy beautiful skin from top to toe with a clear conscience!
Fabulous Benefits Of Rose Water
Rose water is my all time favourite toner!
But it’s not just fabulous as a toner…..oh no….It’s uses and benefits are tremendous, from the food industry for sweets, desserts and condiments, to the cosmetic industry for skincare and perfumes.
Unlike the man made almost sickly sweet rose scent, pure rose water has a luxurious and subtle scent, It’s texture is soft and almost silky with a gentleness that feels kind, soothing and nourishing.
It’s benefits are vast from strengthening your skins cells to rejuvenating your tissues, it has a natural anti-septic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, not to mention it’s full of anti-oxidants and vitamins.
Rose water is excellent for all skin types, it’ll sooth irritated and sensitive skins, soften mature and dry skins, balance congested and oily skins, in general, nourish and benefit everyone.
The science part (very briefly)- Rose water is the watery by-product that remains once rose petals have been distilled by steam to make rose essential oil.
If you can, buy rose water organically produced and pure, thats when you will reap most of it’s benefits.
As a toner – after cleansing, apply some rose water to cotton pads, then gently wipe all over your face, eyes, neck and decollate. As a toner rose water will cleanse your face, slow the ageing process down and nourish your skin.
Or why not treat your eyes to a soothing compress – If you want you can first cool your rose water a little by placing it in the fridge for 20 minutes to half an hour.
Soak two cotton pads in your rose water, lay back and place them on your eyes gently pushing them in place.
You can do this either in the bath, or on your bed with some relaxing music or if you do any meditation/ relaxation, this is also great to do if you’ve put a face mask on.
Lay back and relax for 15-20 minutes, then remove the pads and moisturise your eye as normal.
This is a great treat for puffy, sensitive, tired eyes, it’ll nourish the delicate skin around your eyes whilst uplifting and soothing your senses.
An indulgent, nourishing and soothing bath – Light some candles, run a bath and add one and a half to two cups of rose water, you can also add some rose petals (if you have any rose flowers which are just starting to die) Lay back and let the delicate scent sooth your mind while the water nourishes your skin.
Neck tightening & toning exercise
Here is an excellent exercise to tighten, tone and help your neck from sagging and wrinkling.
Stand or sit straight, look up to the sky or ceiling until you feel a comfortable stretch.
Then gently bite as if you are chewing something at the same time as puckering your lips or pretend to kiss the air, you should feel a pulling motion.
Start with three sets of twenty or thirty, then build up gradually so you don’t pull any muscles.
Do these a couple of times a day, especially if you look down for the majority of your day due to work etc.
Not only will this help delay the signs of ageing it will help to improve any you already have.