Mani-Monday // A Favourite Nude from OPI

The weather was so beautiful in London this weekend, I wanted to celebrate with some of my favourite Spring-appropriate nude shades. I lined some of my favourites up, before choosing my shade du jour.

I love a Sunday evening spent indulging with a bubble bath, a face mask, and then putting on a great film, while I paint my nails.

I start by trimming and filing my nails, before gently pushing my cuticles back. I chose one of my favourite nude shades, OPI’s Dulce de Leche.

Not only is it a gorgeous colour, so classic and easy to wear, but it only takes two coats to give a smooth glossy finish.

I finish off with Sally Hanson’s Quick Dry Top Coat, which is great if you are in a rush. It gives you a glorious glossy finish and I find it keeps my nails chip-free for longer than other quick-drying top coats.

What nail colour have you been reaching for recently? 

xoxo 

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This Week's Best in Beauty

I thought it might be fun to start an edit, rounding up some of my favourite beauty-related things in the form of a short and snappy weekly favourites blog - let me know if you like this kind of post!

So, without further ado, here are a few things that I have been loving this week.

Elf’s Dewy Setting Mist - a lovely lightweight mist, it sets your makeup in place, leaving a gorgeous dewy finish - minus any sticky or stiff feeling. Unlike some setting sprays, this one is  also great for refreshing your makeup look throughout the day.

Infused with coconut, it smells delicious - think natural coconut, not chemically coconut - plus the coconut means it’s great for keeping your skin hydrated.

It works wonders when setting makeup in place, and it gives any powder products a natural, dewy ‘like-skin’ look.

This spray is perfect if you are looking for a way to set your face, while creating a natural finish - it keeps your makeup in place all day, it’s refreshing, hydrating, and at a price that doesn’t break the bank.

Neil’s Yard White Tea Facial Mist - there seems to have been a mist theme going on this week, doesn’t there? I have been loving this particular mist so much, it is also in my monthly favourites round up, over on Youtube.

I really love this spray. This mini was a gift and I used it up in a flash - testament to how much I love it.

It can be used to refresh, calm and hydrate your skin - whenever you need it - whether its during your skincare routine, throughout the day, and over makeup.

It’s beautifully lightweight and it's one of those products that gives you an instant result. My skin felt soothed and hydrated from the first time I used it.

Its perfect for sensitive skin, thanks to its lovely natural ingredients, which include aloe vera - amazing for soothing inflammation and hydrating.

The main ingredient is of course, White Tea, which is rich in antioxidants - which give your skin a pick-me-up, while also helping to protect it from pollution - essential when living in London!

Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment, in Simply Rose - I love Kiehl’s products and this lip treatment is no different. A hydrating hero for your lips, it's made up of a blend of butters (the main one, being lemon butter) and oils (including coconut oil, increasing it’s hydration powers), creating a nourishing lip balm.

It is a gorgeous lip balm which not only looks beautifully natural when on, it also soothes and hydrates, helping to cure (and avoid) any chapped lips  - a true multitasker. Don’t expect a very pigmented finish, it's more of a ‘my lips but better’ finish.

Bonus points - has SPF 25 - making it perfect for sun-seekers.

Last, but by no means least, this gorgeous Hand cream from The Body Shop.

The Body Shop English Rose Hand cream -  I love anything rose scented and this has a beautiful, light and natural scent. Deliciously rich, it is super hydrating and absorbs into the skin quickly - so none of that post-lotion-greasiness.

It’s a great size for your handbag and I love using it before bed for some hand-hydration and it’s gorgeous rose scent.

What products have you been loving this week? 

xoxo

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Spa-ring Around at Home

With everything that is going on in the world at the moment, it’s important to recognise that everyone is feeling a little blue. Waves of changing emotions seem to be constantly crashing on our shores, sometimes they take you up, and other times they let you fall, plummeting into rough and stormy waves. 

It’s easy to get lost in the storm, but there are calmer seas ahead. 

With blues to banish, I turn to some serious pampering. Some quality, unashamed, ‘retreating from the world, me-time’.

Seeing as we cannot get to the spa at the moment, or anywhere for that matter, I thought I would bring the spa to home, for those days when you need a little gentle pick-me-up and a beauty-cuddle. 

First things first, let’s set the mood. Soothing sounds and the warm, flickering flames dancing in the dark, from an overload of candles.

It’s facial time - home-style. 

Lets get started by cleansing the day away. I love cleansing balms for a more luxurious feel - but use whatever cleanser you have to hand.

Emma Hardie’s Morninga Cleansing Balm is divine, and Clinique's Take the Day Off Balm is a fab, while The Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm is a wonderful budget-friendly option. 

Next up, it’s time to exfoliate. 

Not only does exfoliation get rid of dead skin cells and unclog pores, it also helps to prevent blemishes, boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage, but it also boosts the efficiency of your other skincare products, by allowing them to penetrate deeper into the skin. 

I have been loving The Ordinary’s Peeling Solution, for an acidic exfoliation - I talk more 

about it in this post - it is amazing for getting your skin glowing. 

Lets get steamy!

If you are feeling a little extra, pour some hot water into a bowl and add a couple of drops of essential oils. Try Lavender oil to soothe and calm, or Tea Tree oil, to clear pores and relieve inflammation (especially good if you have a cold or are feeling a little stuffy). 

Cover with a towel to keep the steam in, then dive into your personal steam room, popping your head under the towel and breathe deep. This step helps to open up your pores, allowing any subsequent products to be absorbed more efficiently. 

Masking Around

I love a deep cleansing mask for times like this, one to pull out all the impurities, getting rid of any toxins and bacteria. Clay masks are great for this kind of job, for a couple of affordable options try - L’oreal’s Pure Clay Detox mask - the charcoal works wonders for some deep detoxifying. I have just started using The Inkey List Kaolin Clay Mask, so I will keep you posted

Sit back and relax - cucumber eyes are optional.

Once you have removed your mask grab a toner - if you use one, before moisturising. 

Saving the best till last, it’s time for a facial massage. Your fingers are as good as any tool when it comes to facial massage, but recently I have been loving using a facial roller. Mine is more affordable than some out there, but is fab and it’s a great way of trying out a facial roller, before committing to some of the slightly more expensive ones. 

Use your favourite facial oil (or night cream) and get rolling. A massage (and the roller) will help your skin absorb any serum, cream or oil you have used. 

You want to make sure you are massaging upwards - going against gravity. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil is my favourite for helping your skin’s natural recovery process overnight - I rave about it more here. 

Revolution’s Night Restore Oil is a great affordable alternative. 

Rounding everything off with my own makeshift hot-tub, complete with bubbles and bath oil - the works. 

I am loving switching off from the world, giving myself a couple of hours to unwind and to super-charge my chill-out time.

I would love to know if you have any tips for an at home spa - let me know in the comments! 

xoxo 

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Not So Ordinary Skincare

Tis the season for self-care!

I have been anxiously getting my head around everything that is going on in the news, and with everything that is going on around us at the moment, I have found that carving out a little bit of me-time is helping to reduce my anxiety and focus my mind. I wanted to share a couple of super-skincare-saviours from the Ordinary, that I have been loving, especially when spending all this extra time at home. Not only are they fab, the price tag is pretty wonderful too.

I am a little late to jump on the bandwagon of The Ordinary, but boy oh boy, I have been missing out. They are the single best skincare brand I discovered last year, actually make, that-the-one the all time best brands that I have discovered.

In a nutshell, they have been making some serious waves in the skincare industry since they were founded in 2013. The reason for those waves? They create no frills, affordable skincare with scientifically proven ingredients, that actually work. No magic-making claims, no fancy packaging, (but don’t get me wrong, I do love me some beautiful packaging), just fab ingredients that really work. You just have to cut through some slightly confusing science-style language and/or know exactly what ingredients could help your skin.

Unless you are into the science-side of skincare and know exactly what specific ingredient your skin needs, their products can be very confusing. If you are into the more nerdy side of skincare, or want to be, the best thing you can do is head over to their website, to get the low-down on each product.

Last year I began a mission to take more of an interest in the specific ingredients in my skincare products, and what they do for my skin, in an attempt to find what works for my skin and what doesn’t. This is where the Ordinary, specifically their Hyaluronic Acid, came into my life.

Hyaluronic Acid is not a scary kind of acid - its a beautiful, plumping acid that naturally occurs in your skin - simply put, it is a water magnet that works to fight dry skin, fine lines, uneven tone and texture - all those things that I (and I am sure you too) am very keen to avoid.

Looking for a super hydrating hero and having used products with Hyaluronic Acid as their main ingredient, I was very keen to give the Ordinary’s version a go.

It is made up of different types of  Hyaluronic Acid, which work to target the different layers of the skin, increasing its overall hydration, plus, it has B5 (vitamin B5 - boosts surface hydration). Oh and did I mention,  its less than  £6? Winning!

I have been using it for around a year now and swear by it. I use it every evening and some mornings, (when I need to inject some much needed moisture into my complexion). It’s a complete game-changer - so easy to use, I pop it on before my night oil or moisturiser, it absorbs into my skin quickly, leaving a wonderfully hydrated, plump finish.

You will see a difference in a week - your skin (and purse) will thank you for it.

Being so impressed by my first fling with The Ordinary, I began to look into what other products might help my skin. I decided on their AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution.

Made up of Alpha hydroxyl acids, or AHA and Beta hydroxyl acids (BHA’s), the combination of acids work to deeply exfoliate the skin, improving visible blemishes, the skin’s texture, as well as boosting its radiance and minimising fine lines.

I am very careful with this product - not only does it make you look like an extra from a horror movie, when in use (its bright red and terrifying when on - oh the things we do for beauty), but it can be a little too much for some sensitive skins - aka mine. If you have sensitive skin, I would suggest sticking to once a week usage, if not, go wild and maybe try using it twice a week.

After 8-10 minutes (no longer, my sensitive skin friends) you are left with soft, smooth skin - you’ll see a difference straight away.

The next morning any blemishes seem miraculously reduced in appearance and, when combined with ultra hydrating products, it creates a wonderful smooth, hydrated complexion. A word of warning - it can sting when its in your skin, but I promise it’s worth it!

Have you tried any of The Ordinary’s products? Which ones are your favourites?

xoxo

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Green Goodness Smoothie

This sneakily delicious smoothie is a superfood breakfast, made in a flash of a blending minute, packed with green goodness.

I know there are a bajillion (approximately) green smoothie recipes out there, but this one is a firm favourite of mine, to give you some blending inspiration.

Packed with nutrients it is the perfect start to your morning and it helps to keep your hunger at bay till lunch. It is also a superb afternoon pick-me-up, helping you swerve that four o’clock something-sweet craving.

It might look a tad (ok, very) hulk-like in its colour, but trust me, you can’t taste the spinach or the spirulina. So you can pack in the greenness with this smoothie and spinach is a goodie, being one of the lowest calories and nutrient dense foods there is. Full of vitamins, spinach also works to lower blood pressure, fight off cancer cells, slow the ageing process and is an anti-inflammatory.

Spirulina, meanwhile, has a whole raft of health benefits and is packed full of vitamins A, C, E and B, as well as minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

This green baby also serves up potassium and fibre, thanks to the banana and some delicious healthy fats from the nut butter.

For one large glass you will need:

2 dates (Medjool dates are by far the yummiest)

1 banana

1 teaspoon of peanut or almond butter

1 large handful of spinach

1 teaspoon of spirulina

250ml of a milk of your choice, I used coconut milk for this one - it keeps it light and very refreshing!

A few ice cubes

Pop everything into your blender and whizz it all together.

Pour into your cup and slurp the goodness.

Smug-smile is optional.

What is you favourite smoothie recipe? 

xoxo

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