DIY beauty: Honey and oat facial scrub

 

There is no denying that shop bought moisturisers and exfoliators are good quality, but when you read the label on the back it does sometimes worry me the actual things which I am I putting on my skin and what they are doing to my face in the long run. This is why I sometimes find it preferable to make my own scrub as I know exactly what is in the face product and how each ingredient effects my skin, This honey and oat facial scrub would act wonders for your skin as all the ingredients worked into the mixture have different rejuvenating properties. It is quick to whip up and only needs four ingredients, the scrub also lasts for six weeks when stored in the refrigerator. The ingredients to buy work out to be £15 which is the usual price of a decent facial srub and remember that the ingredients would last for a large number of scrubs so in the long run making your own scrubs would save money. This scrub which I have made removes dead skin cells to reveal a smooth layer, it can be used on any skin types.

 

The ingredients:

 

• 4 tablespoons of glycerin
• 4 teaspoons of honey
• 6 tablespoons of oats
• 8 drops of orange essential oil

Method:

 

1. Crush the oats with a mortar and pestle until they are a powder, or you can use the end of rolling pin in a bowl.
2. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly.
3. Place in a container and leave in the fridge for 24 hours to let the mixture set.

Ingredients properties:

Oats contain both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which means that it cleanses and conditions skin as well as repairing and preparing skin. Oats are good when treating eczema, sunburn and allergic reactions. They are good to use in a facial scrub as they can be used on all skin types and can remove dead skin cells. This is used as the exfoliator in the product.
You can find this in most supermarkets.

Honey is a natural ingredient which has many uses from wound healers to face masks. This is because honey heals cuts and acts as as an antiseptic but the properties which makes it good for a face scrub is that honey repairs and protects skin and improves skin tone. Honey can lighten the skin tone, highlighting your face and is good for sensitive skin. This is used as the toner and cleanser in the product.
You can find this in most supermarkets.

Orange essential oil has skin protecting and repairing properties and also tones the skin. This is because it helps to promote collagen production which the encourages the skin repairing process. It also adds a citrusy flavour to the product so leaves your face feeling and smelling refreshed. The orange essential oil is especially helpful for acne prone and dry skin so add extra if you have either of those skin problems.
You can find this in Holland and Barret and other health stores.

Glycerin is an odourless product, which helps to hold the ingredients together as a facial scrub. It also contain moisturising properties so is an essential for the scrub.
You can find this in the baking aisle of most supermarkets.

 

Favourite make-up brand: Benefit

 

It has come to my attention that half of my make-up draw is full of benefit products, I think this represents my love for the brand. For me, benefit is at the bottom of the high end spectrum of make-up and is the brand I have grown up with for make-up. I feel as if I purchase most of my products from here as my first make-up items were from benefit and therefore I am confident with the products.

 

Favourite products:

 

I absolutely adore benefit's creaseless cream eye shadow range and my favourite shade is birthday suit. I used to have the mini version but then splashed out on the large version of this shade. I love the formula of the cream shadows, they are a shimmer shade and are so easily spreadable and blend well with other colours in the range. Birthday suit is a gold, bronzy colour and my preferable shades of eye shadows are nude colours so it is no surprise this is my favourite eye shadow and benefit item. 

 

My other favourite benefit item is the they're real mascara. This mascara thickens my eye lashes and extends them so it looks as if I am wearing false eyelashes. I think it beats the other mascaras in the benefit range which is the roller lash and bad lash, and if my opinion is not persuasion enough that this is an incredible product the mascara was also voted number one in the UK.

 

 

Least favourite products:

 

 

One of my less preferable products is the all over me body mist. I don't want to seem ungrateful as I was given this as a gift but I really dislike the scent of the product. To me it has a soapy, musky smell whereas I prefer more floral and sweet scents. I also do not like the way that the mists sets on the skin, it doesn't see to soak in and lays on my skin layer uncomfortably.

 

Another item which I would avoud is the ultra plush lip gloss which I have in the shade a-lister. Firstly the colour is too much of a baby pink for me to wear and I do not think this shade suits me. Secondly the lip gloss formulation seems rather thick when on my lips but also quite slimy at the same time. Overall I would give the whole plush lips range a miss.

 

Price rating: ££

Their products are mid prices, they are not cheap but are more affordable than brands like Bobbi brown and Giorgio Armani, their prices average at about £20 per product.

Healthy salad with flavour

 

 

So recently I have been embarking on a 'healthy eating' regime (I must not call it a D I E T) and I have almost met my goal weight. Throughout my 'healthy eating' I have had many salads and realised that some are just bland and boring and others that just do not fill you up. But this 'chicken tikka' salad has so much flavour I thought that I would share the ingredients with you so you can whip it up in 5 minutes so that you are full for hours:

 

• Half a red pepper
• Handful of santini tomatoes
• One piece of celery
• Half  a pack of M and S chicken tikka fillets
•  50g roasted tomato rice salad
• Half a pack of mixed leaves

I accompanied my sald with a cold glass of water with lemon as this drink has many health and diet benefits: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/11-benefits-lemon-water-you-didnt-know-about.html .

Inspiration (10 things)

Writers block. The dreaded fear of all bloggers, can't think, can't write, can't blog. Lately I have been a victim to writers block and here are some of the things which I do to re-inspire myself and get typing.

 

1. Take a walk, stroll, plod- whichever pace suits you really! I find taking myself away from the laptop and into an new environment gives me a new thinking space.
2. Listen to music- We all have different music that suits us best but I find typing in 'relaxing music' into youtube and listening to those tranquillizing songs takes me to a paradise where I can unwind.
3. Read other blog posts- I am not saying STEAL their ideas but they can always prompt new and might I say better ideas.
4. Take a shower- Legend has it that your best ideas come to you when you are showering.
5. Unplug- Sometimes all the blog posts, tweets and dare I say those beach pictures on instagram wont help cure that writers blog. Take yourself away from your phone, laptop, the 21st century and allow and empty mind, then there is free space for new ideas!
6. Take a nap-You may just be tired?
7. Eat-Any excuse to eat is good really so we will use a writers block as one excuse.
8. Talk to someone-Sometimes we gain inspiration from others.
9. Go shopping- This would especially help if you are a beauty blogger as you may just find that product which is dying to have a review written about it.
10. Read inspirational quotes-They do help. Period. Here I will leave you with one:

 

 

What helps you best when you have a writers block?