Taking Care Of Yourself Is Essential In Today’s World *

In these most unusual and trying times that we’re all living through, self-care is more important than ever. You might find any one of several things helpful- such as baking, reading or exercising, and the list goes on. Since we’re all home more right now it’s time to look in the mirror; consider those longed-for spa days- now is the time to take the time to care for your whole body, especially your skin and you can turn your home in to a mini spa experience.

There are wonderfully beneficial skin treatments on the market. It’s essential to pay attention to where you are in life (i.e., age), skin type, and where you are applying the products. Different body parts require different solutions.

The area around the eyes is incredibly delicate and becomes more so as we age. The undereye is the zone that shows the unfortunately named crow’s feet. Perhaps they should be called happiness lines. Regardless, it is vital to choose a product that will benefit the thin skin that surrounds your eyes.

Here is a useful video tutorial on how to apply eye care elements. Note that this video suggests using your middle finger. It is considered a best practice as it is the most gentle digit unless you have a built-in applicator with the product.


There are many fundamental things you can do to further self-care to implement healthier habits in your life. Bring in new rituals like meditation or guided meditation. Even though going to the gym or yoga studio are out of the question at this moment, there are a wealth of fantastic streaming services, DVDs, and the ubiquitous apps to find the one that best suits where you are in life right now and what you need at this moment in time. Search for whatever will bring you a feeling of calm. For one person that may be sweating to HIIT classes, for another, they’ll find peace with balancing and stretching forms in yoga or pilates.

Revisit the spa in your own home. If you live alone, invite your friends and family to share in your relaxing time over Zoom. If you are cohabitating with others, encourage their participation. It can be so enlightening and emboldening to look at each other’s freshly washed faces or cucumber face mask covered faces and just talk—no extra makeup. No pretense, just honest conversations or pure silliness at how ridiculous your green faces look. This, too, can be an act of self-care. Step out of what you usually do and try something new. On the other end, sometimes it is wonderful to close the bathroom door, apply your favorite products, take a soothing bath, and just relax.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Take time for yourself right now. One day we will all get back to a more ordinary world and a more ordinary routine but hat is all in the future. Take the opportunity today to help yourself become a better and more healthy you. Revisit your skincare products and routine to find the best brands for you. Drink an extra glass of water. Breathe deeply. Enjoy and appreciate what today is and what you can do with it. Be safe.



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4 Effective Life Hacks for Healthier Skin*

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

As the body’s largest organ, our skin plays a unique role in protecting us. However, it can also give us a glimpse into our overall well-being. Ever noticed that your skin breaks out when you’re feeling under the weather? That’s because our skin reflects what’s happening inside our body.

If you want to enjoy healthy, glowing skin all year-round there are some sure-fire hacks you can try. With these simple adjustments to your routine you can have healthier skin at any time:

1. Eat for your skin

We all know that a healthy diet can reduce breakouts, but did you know that some foods are known to be ‘skin-healthy’? If you want to enhance your skin try to incorporate tomatoes, mangoes, olive oil and green tea into your diet. With a mix of skin-friendly antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients, these foods will reduce the signs of ageing, protect your skin from UV damage and even help to heal wounds.

2. Manage stress

It’s normal to have some stress in your life but excessive levels of chronic stress can have a damaging effect on your skin and your physical health. While a facelift might hide the visible impact of stress, it won’t change what’s happening inside your body. By learning how to manage stress in a healthy way, however, you can reduce your stress levels and enhance your complexion. From learning to say ‘no’ to practising mindfulness, there are numerous ways you can change the way you respond to stress.

3. Prevent dry skin

Dry skin is an extremely common issue but it’s one that can be hard to treat. If you have naturally dry skin or if you’re exposed to environmental factors which dry out your skin, it’s important to keep it well hydrated. Rich moisturisers and serums can be a great way to trap moisture in the skin, which will prevent it from becoming dry, scaly and itchy. However, drinking plenty of water and staying properly hydrated is also important if you want to stop your skin from drying out.

4. Check your hormones

If your usual skincare routine isn’t resolving your skin issues, it might be time to get your hormone levels checked out by a professional. When your hormones are out of balance it can lead to breakouts, acne, hyperpigmentation, dry skin and many other problems. However, it’s relatively easy to have your hormone levels checked by your doctor or physician. If there are any underlying issues, accessing the right treatment can resolve the cause of the problem and make your skin healthier.

Enjoying Healthier Skin

Your lifestyle has a major impact on the health of your skin, but your skincare routine also plays a big part in how your skin looks and feels. As well as making changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can enhance your complexion by finding a skincare regime that works for you. With the right products, daily cleansing, moisturising and nourishment can help to keep your skin in tip-top condition.


Beauty Bites: Anti-ageing sun protection from Calypso

We all know the importance of daily sun protection, especially on your face which is exposed to the sun’s rays day in and day out. During the summer I’m hot on applying sun lotion to my body (being fair skinned and red haired) but I do tend to skip my face due to most products feeling too sticky, or too greasy to wear comfortably, especially under makeup.

Sensitive Lotion for Face & Neck c/o Calypso

I was recently sent this SPF50+ sensitive lotion for face and neck from Calypso, a brand I have regularly used in the past for my general sun-protection needs.
It’s been a while since I used anything from the brand and I was surprised at how big a range of products they do.

This lotion is delicate enough to use on the most sensitive of skin, and it has a special formula to make sure it is light to wear and non-greasy. I was sceptical as to whether it could meet these claims, but after a tentative application one morning before putting my makeup on I honestly couldn’t tell I was wearing this- there was none of that sticky, clogged up feeling you can get with some sun lotions.
This lotion also protects you from UVA rays (responsible for ageing) which is something that a moisturiser or makeup product with SPF can’t do…and now I’m noticing fine lines appearing by the day this is something I definitely need some help with!

A worthy and welcome addition to my fledgling skincare regime and worth checking out if you’ve struggled with facial SPF before.

*product gifted for blog consideration*

Healthy Habits for Healthier Skin*

A lot of people have spent heavily on skincare products and other cosmetics expecting to get flawless skin with one miracle fix; they don’t understand that a skincare routine is the secret to healthy skin and a fair complexion.

A skincare routine works magic in achieving great complexion, especially with the right products. Beauty comes from the inside; so what you consume also affects your skin’s health. 

Proper skin care routines also delay ageng and helps prevent skin infections. Have you been looking for effective ways of maintaining healthy skin but no results yet? Worry no, below are powerful skincare tips that will help get on you on the road to a glowing complexion.

1. Drink Enough Water 

Water helps hydrate your body and flushes out body toxins, a glass of warm lemon water early in the morning before breakfast works miracles in cleaning your skin. The lemon helps produce more blood cells, thus cleansing the blood, while water aids in relaxing the digestive tract. If you like, add ginger or honey to the concoction for soothing antibacterial properties.

Drinking plenty of water not only quenches your thirst but also clears your skin leaving it radiant and spotless. Besides, water is calorie-free, therefore, instead of drinking coffee or other sweetened beverages, grab a glass of h2o.

Drinking a glass of cold water in the morning helps you maintain a healthy weight. The body uses lots of energy to heat the cold water to the body’s temperature.

2. Avoid Intense Sun

Avoiding the sun is an excellent way of taking care of your skin. Intense sun rays cause age spots, wrinkles, and other skin complications. Sun exposure is also a key contributor to the development of skin cancer. Sun discolours your skin and so it’s essential to avoid exposure, especially when the UV rays are intense.

Otherwise, in the case of unavoidable circumstances, you can use sunscreen to protect your skin. Apply sunscreen on your body and keep reapplying every two hours. Also, wearing protective clothing when the climate allows; wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a hat to shield you from the harmful sun rays.

The destructive sun’s UV rays drain your skin, leaving it dry, and so your body reacts by producing more oil. Moreover, the rays destroy your skin’s collagen and elastic tissue leaving your skin sagging and stretched.

3. Be Gentle With Your Skin

Daily skin cleansing, as well as shaving may have adverse effects on your skin if you are not gentle. Avoid using harsh soaps and detergents that will strip oil from your skin. Ensure you use mild cleansers that are kinder to your skin. Shorten your bath time because prolonged showers, as well as hot water draw oil from your skin and dry it out.

Alternatively use warm water and take a quick shower. Also, be careful when shaving to avoid bruises and skin damage. For a smooth shave use lubricants like shaving creams, gel or lotion before shaving (or hair conditioner works well). Make sure you use a sharp and clean razor blade and avoid shaving against your natural hair growth.

Instead shave in the direction of hair growth for a clean and painless shave. After the shower don’t be rough when drying your body. Gently pat your skin dry using a soft towel to leave some moisture on your skin. Use a moisturiser containing SPF on your dry skin daily.

4. Get Adequate Sleep 

There is a close relationship between quality sleep and flawless skin. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep each day dramatically improves your skin’s health. On the other hand sleeping for too few hours will impair your skin complexion.

Studies reveal that people with sleep disorders are likely to get diseases like eczema, skin aging, and psoriasis. During the day your body goes through a lot, therefore a deep sleep is essential for cell regeneration. Prolonged sleep also rejuvenates and repairs your body’s damaged cells.

Failing to get enough sleep means that you interrupt the regeneration process which eventually results in noticeable signs of aging skin. For younger-looking skin and a fair complexion ensure you get enough sleep.

5. Choose the Best Face Mask 

Nowadays facemasks have become popular due to their importance in face treatment. It’s simple to use face masks, however, you need the right face mask for younger and better-looking skin. Apply the face mask and give your skin time to absorb the valuable ingredients.

It’s advisable to be cautious when buying a face mask because not all are genuine. There are lots of face masks on the market, and some are made cheaply with low quality ingredients, these are meant to deceive people in to thinking they are getting a bargain quick fix and they don’t result in a notable change.

Experimenting is the sure way of finding the right face mask. Nevertheless, you don’t have to try all of them to make a choice. If you choose the best face mask you will never regret it and your face will be flawless.

6. Don’t Use Your Hands to Remove Blackheads 

Removing blackheads using your hands is a bad habit that leaves your skin with red marks. Instead, the best and safest way to get rid of blackheads is by using a blackhead remover; when buying one choose a remover that is easy to use and has a high suction level.

Touching your skin with dirty hands also affects your skin. Choosing the best blackhead remover is ideal for the quick and safe removal of blackheads without physically touching your face. The best blackhead remover should be non-toxic and able to restore skin elasticity.

7. Eat Healthy Foods

The kind of food you eat determines your skin condition. You therefore need to eat healthy food to achieve a dazzling and glowing complexion. Food nourishes your body, which has a close connection with radiant skin. It’s worthwhile to include skin-friendly foods in your diet and skincare routine.

These foods include vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C has vast antioxidants that help protect the skin from the dangerous effects of free radicals. Also, vitamin C promotes faster healing, which improves skin texture. 

Vitamins A, E, and K, zinc, selenium, and omega-3 are also beneficial nutrients for healthy skin. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are equally essential for flawless skin. 

Healthy skin doesn’t have to cost you a fortune because some tricks are simple, like drinking water, getting enough sleep, and avoiding the sun. Most of the above tips may seem ordinary but make a big difference. All these tricks work wonders; however, for impressive results, you have to be consistent and make the habits part of your daily routine. 

Resources— Herbal Dynamics Beauty, Mayo Clinic, Times Of India


A New Routine with SkinChemists*

My lack of routine when it comes to my skin care has been well documented over the years, I’m just rubbish at finding products that work for me that I remember to use on a regular basis. I’m trying so hard to change though, what with being 32 now and wanting to look my best for my wedding, I have every reason to put in the effort, so this collaborative post with SkinChemists could not have come at a better time.

Products c/o SkinChemists

First up, apologies that the photos in this post aren’t the greatest; the lighting wasn’t playing ball and I started to run out of time.
Anyway, excuses over, this trio of products is from the Advanced Brightening range and comprises of a Micellar Water, Lotion and Toner and I’ve been giving them all a good trial over the last couple of weeks.

Advanced Brightening Micellar Water, £16.90

I love Micellar water as it’s just so convenient which means I am far more likely to remove my makeup before bed! I really like this one from SkinChemists, it’s gentle on the skin whilst being remarkably effective at removing makeup. It also contains skin brightening ingredients such as Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C as well as a whole host of other miracle workers and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or dry.

Advanced Brightening Toner, £16.90

I struggle with toners and over the years I haven’t found one that hasn’t irritated my skin and made it look and feel quite angry. Thankfully SkinChemists have come up trumps here as it has ingredients to moisturise and hydrate skin from the inside out (such as Vitamin B5 and sweet almond oil) and whilst it does make my skin a little tight, it’s in a good clean way and I’ve had no angry outbreaks that other toners have caused me.

Advanced Brightening Lotion, £19.90

This is a lovely lotion! It literally glides on and sinks in like a dream. Again it’s packed full of skin brightening ingredients as well as a nifty pore minimising ingredient that has made the world of difference to the appearance of my skin.

I’ve used quite of lot of SkinChemists products over the last few years and I have always been left impressed. This Advanced Brightening trio is no exception and is probably my favourite yet from the brand. Not only have I been using these products daily, I actually look forward to using them because of how good they leave my skin feeling.

Now, to keep up the good work…