The Skin Quiz!

What is your skin type? Find out below by taking this quiz!

1. How does your skin feel after if you cleanse it with facial wash or just water?
A. Tight feeling
B. Smooth and comfortable
C. Dry and itchy in some places or all over
D. just fine
E. Dry in some areas and smooth in others.
 ( write down which letter you answered on a piece of paper with each question)

How does your skin feel when you cleanse with a cream cleanser?
A. Relatively comfortable
B.Smooth and comfortable
C. Sometimes comfortable and sometimes itchy.
D. Quite oily
E. Oily in some areas and smooth in others.

How does your skin usually look by the middle of the day?
A. Flaky patches appearing
B. Fresh and clean
C. Flaky patches and some redness
D. Shiny
E. Shiny in the T-Zone.

How often do you break out in spots?
A. Hardly ever
B.Occasionally, perhaps before or during that ' time of the month'
C. Occasionally.
D. Often
E. Often - just in the T-Zone.

How does your skin react when you use a facial toner?
A. It stings.
B. No problems.
C. Stings and itches.
D. Feels fresher.
E. Feels fresher in some areas, but stings in others.

How does your skin react when you have applied a rich night cream?
A. It feels very comfortable.
B. Comfortable
C. Sometimes feels comfortable, sometimes feels irritated.
D. Makes your skin feel oily.
E. Oily in the T-Zone, comfortable on the cheeks.

Now all you have to do is add up your A's, B's, C's , D's and E's to see which letter you got most of to find out your skin type.
Mostly A's - Your skin is DRY
Mostly B's - Your skin is NORMAL
Mostly C's - Your skin is SENSITIVE
Mostly D's - Your skin is OILY
Mostly E's - Your skin is COMBINATION

Thank you for doing the skin quiz! hope it helped to find exactly what skin type you could be which is great because this can help you buy the right products for your skin and use the correct remedies to!

Health Scares

We all know that to eat right and exercise keeps you healthy right? Well I guess we all have our days or weeks or months where we get a little bit lazy with it all and just think to ourselves " oh well we only live once so I will eat what I want".I guess we do not realize that's the attitude that will shorten our lives in a lot of cases, I mean if you only live once then don't you want to live it to the fullest and be the healthiest and happiest you can 90% of the time? I have had this attitude sometimes as well, and we just have those days where we just cannot be bothered to get up and be motivated and healthy...Its understandable.

Last night what alarmed me was watching a TV that showed different people with illnesses and things growing in their body that they didn't even know were there and life threatening. Some of these cases can be caused by genetics and other factors, But we really do need to take care of our body.

This is just my opinion about living healthy, its common sense really. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water, exercise more days in the week than not, and take very good care of your digestive system!

I am going to make a healthy lunch now :)

Dehydrated skin - I found a remedy!

Well I have not posted any blog posts for a few weeks as I have been away on a beautiful holiday in the beautiful Germany! Unfortunatly whenever I travel to colder climates my skin gets quite sensitive to the air and can become quite dry...or very dry!

I tried using a few different natural remedies but they were not helping as much as I thought they would and it took a while for it to go away. I did however manage to find one that improved it almost overnight thankfully.
First I rubbed in some paw paw ointment (that I usually use on my lips occasionally) into the affected areas on my face that were a little red but very dry and scaly. I then used some of the amazing Avene thermal spring water spray a few times a day especially when i first wake up and just before bed.
I personally think this worked great for me so I would recommend giving it a try if you suffer the same annoying skin problem as me...I know how you feel!

:)

Swedish Massage - By Asha.

Today for the first time, my good friend who is a naturopath gave me a Swedish Massage. I have never had a massage before on my neck or back by anyone, so I cannot compare the two. I do know that this massage was wonderful!
I have suffered with a few problems with having a occasionally aching neck & shoulders, but also on my bottom half of my legs too because I have flat feet and that affects my legs when I walk a lot but not in the right shoes.
I definitely noticed that just with one Swedish massage, it helped loosen the tension that I didn't even know I had!
Swedish massage is a very relaxing type of massage, it is not so much for recovery of injuries or anything like that...but it definitely helps to boost blood circulation and release some tension from problem areas.
My good friend Asha is amazing at Swedish massage and I only trust her now to do it because it is done so well. I highly recommend it for a great way to unwind, relax ad release any tension or stress .

Enjoy :)

Natural skincare night!

Tonight, A close friend of mine and myself both made a list of natural beauty remedies to try and use this evening as a time for relaxation and to pamper ourselves!
I am going to tell you in this blog all the recipes we tried and how to make them yourself, they are all very simple!

First we started with removing our makeup and applying the face mask -

AVOCADO AND HONEY FACE MASK: All you need is one half of a avocado mashed in a bowl, and 2 tablespoons of honey. Combine together in the bowl until it has turned to a thick paste and well combined, then paint it onto your face and leave to set for 15/20 minutes. We both loved this face mask! it smells yummy, and leaves skin feeling soft and glowing and very hydrated.

We then moved onto rinsing off the mask then applying our face scrub -

LEMON AND SUGAR FACE SCRUB: You will need a couple of drops of rose hip oil, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 2 tables spoons of castor sugar and half a lemon squeezed. Combine these together in a small bowl and gently apply in soft circular motions all over the face for 1 minute, then rinse!
This feels amazing and smells like homemade lemonade! it leaves skin feeling silky soft to.

Now onto the lip scrub...

COCO HONEY OLIVE LIP SCRUB:  You can lick this off your lips....unless you are on a sugar free diet then it probably is not the best idea for you! This lip scrub works really well and leaves your lips feeling smooth and soft and gets rid of flakiness or dryness. I would recommend doing this a couple times a week, all you need is a teaspoon of coconut oil, teaspoon of honey, teaspoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of sugar.
Combine together and scrub away, then rinse.

Next was the ...

OLIVE OIL CLEANSER: This is very simple, all you need is olive oil...and only a few drops of it.
Slowly massage olive oil all over your face for about a minute, then with a cotton pad soaked in warm/hot water press it gently onto face and wipe away the oil, after this, splash your face a few times with cold water to remove any excess oil. We found that this worked great and is very hydrating!

And last of all was the simple....

COCONUT EYE TREATMENT: This is extremely simple! all you need is to massage a little coconut oil over your eyelids and under eyes for a hydrated look everyday, this also helps with puffiness, skin dryness and dark circles over time. A must try!

Enjoy! I hope you find the results amazing like we did! :)

Review - Vanilla birthday cake wash by Philosophy Skincare

I have used this product a couple of days ago for the first time as a bubble bath. Not only does it smell amazing, but it is not a over powering smell, it is a soft, sweet and warm scent that puts you in the mood of ...well baking a cake! ( it does to me anyway!)

Just add one squirt of this to your bath while its running and it will the air with a sweet scent and a warming feeling ! it is also a 3 in one! shampoo, shower gel & a bubble bath.

I really love Philosophy so far, the products are really gentle and do not irritate me at all and I can be quite sensitive to getting dry skin so I need soft, gentle & rich moisture products.

On the front of the bottle it even has ingredients to make a vanilla cake! how nice is that? great idea by the company I think.

I cannot wait to try more of their products! I definitely recommend giving them a try, and you will also love the positive sayings on all their packaging, its adds something great to the brand!

Mmm yumm! enjoy!

Antioxidant Bath

Last night I tried a remedy that I have heard about in the past, but never got around to actually trying it.
Tea bags in the bath! this really works and helps the skin with a boost of antioxidants that it needs.

Usually we can make or buy a face serum filled with different oils and vitamins and antioxidants, but we only apply that to our face most the time don't we? I guess sometimes we forget to take care of the rest of our body and skin and nourish it as well. This remedy is a great way to refresh the skin, I noticed my skin felt softer and I felt calmer just by the aromas the tea let out in the bath.

The best tea bags to probably use for this is any tea that is rich in many antioxidants, for example :

Black tea
Green tea
Berry enriched teas

The above teas are all the best ones! I have only tried black tea yet, but I will try others very soon!

Another tip, for that extra relaxation add a few drops of lavender oil to the bath :)

Enjoy!

Tropical island health smoothie!

Yummy Yummy! As you know by now if you have read my previous posts about the benefits of Coconut oil, I love most things coconut for the body! I use coconut oil internally and externally.

I have a great and simple recipe for a very yummy tropical smoothie to give you that extra health boost, but to also change up your morning smoothie or shake for the warmer weather!

All you need for this recipe is :

- Coconut water
- Coconut oil ( optional but I think this tastes great! )
- freshly chopped pineapple ( or you could use a more organic and pure pineapple juice, the left over juices from the cans of chopped pineapple can work well!)
- Soy or pea protein powder, preferably unflavored.

Add all ingredients into a blender, I would use 1 cup of coconut water, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil & half cup ( or more) of pineapple juice, 1 scoop of protein powder.

You could even add a pretty straw, umbrella and a wedge of pineapple on the side to really take you to the Bahamas ;)

add it, blend it, sip it ! Enjoy!

Philosophy Skincare - Lip Gloss Raspberry Sorbet

I have recently tried the Raspberry Sorbet lip gloss by Philosophy skincare and I cannot tell you how amazing it is.You can get the same lip glosses in many different flavors as well!
I will start by telling you that I am usually not the type of person that likes to over do makeup ( I prefer a natural look) and I usually do not even wear blush, lip stick, gloss,or eyeshadow. When I tried this lip gloss it was not like any others that I have tried...( I am usually very fussy with anything I use on my lips and I often suffer from them getting a little dry).

I thought I would give it a try and to my surprise ...WOW! This is one lip gloss that's not too shiny or sticky, it has a slight shimmer but gives a natural polished look and glow....and best of all it stays on for longer! it even tastes & smells amazing ( it should not taste horrible to your partner after some kisses either! uh la la! )

I definitely recommend giving this product a try if your looking for a nice lip gloss. everyone is different, but my personal opinion is try it! :)

p.s I love how this brand always has quirky positive sayings on there packaging and how its different. :)

Blood type Diet?

About a year ago I first heard about the ' Blood type diet', I gave it a try just for a few weeks and discovered myself feeling really good!
To be honest I did find it quite hard though. It is quite overwhelming if the diet is done wrong and too fast. Personally I got a little lazy after a few weeks because I was overwhelmed with the things to eat and not eat.

I have discovered a better way recently to go about this diet. Recently I took my friend who wanted to start the diet to a health store and wholefood market to help her look for good organic foods she can eat ,and just some healthier alternatives for her.

The best way is to do proper research on your blood type first. Below you will find just a few foods that highly benefit each blood type.

Group O : Beef, Lamb,Veal, Salmon, swordfish, mackerel, Cod, Mozzarella cheese,Olive oil, flax seed oil, pumpkin seeds, walnuts,onions, parsley,broccoli,pumpkin, spinach,seaweed, sweet potato, Garlic,Figs, plums,prunes,peppermint tea, pineapple juice, ginger tea, soda water.

Group A : Snapper, sardines, cod, salmon, carp,sea trout, soy milk, olive oil,peanuts, pumpkin seeds, peanut butter, black beans, red soy beans, oat flour, rice flower, buckwheat, spinach, seaweed, broccoli, garlic, onion, parsley, tofu, cucumber, pineapple, plums,apricot,figs,grapefruit, lemons, prunes, celery juice, apricot juice, water with lemon juice, pineapple juice, carrot juice, echinacea, alfalfa, aloe, ginger tea, ginseng, red wine, coffee, green tea,

Group B : ( this is my blood type) : Lamb, mutton, rabbit, cod, mackerel,sardines, haddock,sea trout, eggs, skim milk, goats milk, yogurt, mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, olive oil, kidney beans, rice bran, oat bran, oatmeal, rice puffed, brown rise bread, oat flour, rice four, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, peppers, parsley, carrots, beetroots, yams, sweet potato, cranberries, pineapple, plums, papaya, grapes, grape juice, papaya juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, curry powder, horseradish, parsley, peppermint tea, green tea, ginseng, ginger tea.

Group AB : echinacea, ginseng, alfalfa, coffee, green tea, miso, curry powder, horseradish, parsley, papaya juice, cranberry juice, cabbage juice, grape juice, figs, plums, cranberries, cherries, beetroots, yams, tofu, cucumber, celery, sweet potato, parsley, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, oat flour,rice flour, brown rice bread, oat bran, oat meal, rice puffed, all soy beans, chestnuts, peanuts, peanut butter, walnuts, olive oil, eggs, goats milk, cottage cheese, mozzarella, sea trout, grouper, tuna, mackerel, cod, sardines, turkey, rabbit, mutton, lamb.

These are all the " high benefit" foods for each blood type, I recommend not being too strict with yourself and just slowly easing into a blood type diet. Eat more highly beneficial foods than any other foods, its all about balance :)

Enjoy!

Apple cider vinegar- great toner

Apple cider vinegar is a great skin toner for those with acne prone skin, like me. Sometimes when I get a breakout I notice that this really helps as it doesn't not change the PH balance in your skin. it surprisingly gentle while still killing the bacteria from causing the acne breakouts to get worse and prevents them from spreading.
The only unfortunate thing about this is if you leave if on your face smell a bit too much like vinegar! (obviously), but you could apply this as a toner after you have cleansed your face, keep it on for half an hour and then gently rinse off with warm water and then a last splash of cold water! This will still work, it wont be on overnight and have its most intense time to repair the skin but it will still help.
If you decide to sleep with this on, wait for the toner to dry before you apply your moisturizer.
Make sure you dilute the vinegar, mix with some water .

Read my older post " Wake up your skin!" for a great routine in the morning after sleeping with your apple cider vinegar on your face!

:)

Olive oil, not just for food!

Olive oil is great for using on the face and body in many different remedies. Olive oil is great for dry skin especially, but can also be used on oily skin to.
some great ways to include olive oil into your beauty routine are :

- Use olive oil as a eye makeup remover, it works great! It also helps eyelashes grow over time to!

- Olive oil works as a great facial cleanser. Apply 3-4 drops onto your face and massage all over for 10-20 seconds, rinse off the oil  by applying a warm damp face cloth and dab it onto face. This is great at giving you a deep facial cleanse. Splash some cool water after to close the pores.

- Use as a shaving cream on legs for extra soft legs afterwards!

- Soak finger tips in olive oil a few times a week for 5 minutes and this helps fingernails stay healthy and grow.

These are just a few great things to do with olive oil that I have tried and work great !

Give them a try yourself! :)

Fruit for the inside & the outside...

We hear it all the time " eat 2 fruit 5 veg a day". Well this is not the only ay we can include fruit and veg into our diet, we can use fruit and veg for many reasons and health benefits inside and out!

For example:

Strawberries are a great sweet snack through the day, they are good for us women as they are high in iron, they can be used for beauty home remedies! for example whitening your teeth & making a face mask from them, this is especially good for people with acne as strawberries contain a small amount of acid which helps rid acne!

Blueberries are a super food and great for anti aging. These are great to add to a shake, smoothie, oatmeal or yogurt ( about half a cup of blueberries) for a extra health kick! They help the digestive system to!

Oranges are very rich in vitamin C, they help prevent cancers and heart disease. They are very alkalizing for the body and help the digestive system to work smoothly. A beauty tip with oranges is that you can squeeze the juice into ice trays, freeze them over night and then rub over face! it helps calm acne and soothe the skin with a glow!

Pomegranates are great for the skin especially for anti aging and hydration and cell repair! blend up some pomegranate for a face mask while relaxing in the bath!
They are also good for sun damage protection. This magical food can help lower blood pressure and prevent heart attacks and strokes!

Well they were just a few of my favorites and tips! Enjoy :)

Take the time...

Many people  these days are in such a rush, running around...I guess that's why they call us ' the human race'.
We all get caught up in everyday stress and rushing and wanting to get things done fast all of the time, all of us, it happens.

I cannot see sometimes what the big rush is all about? I am guilty for being this way sometimes, we all are in our own small ways. I think a lot of people need to start seeing life through different eyes sometimes, when things get a little too much ad stress about tiny things that really, compared to other things going on...are just small problems. I often wonder as we get older why we feel like life feels like its going so quickly, the days, the weeks, the months etc...It has to be because as we get older we get busier, more things on our minds and more things to do, have to see, have to get done by a certain time. It all takes over LIFE, yes a career and working hard to move towards your dreams and falling in love etc is exciting and important to earn money and to live a happy comfortable life, But we should take the time...most things are beyond our control.

Take the time to breathe in fresh air. Take the time to think about what your true passion is. Take the time to indulge in the things you love most. Take the time to thank people and give them a smile. Take the time to feel the sand between your toes. Take the time to be grateful for what you have and what will soon come to you. Take the time to listen to nature and take a stroll. Just take the time to smell the roses :)

When life gives you lemons, read about the benefits!

Lemons, most of us keep them in our house...I hope! :)
There is many health benefits of lemons both internally & externally. I have mostly only used lemon in face masks, on food & in warm water some mornings.
I did not realize how many amazing benefits there is in one single citrus fruit! ( If you are allergic to lemons...don't try any of these...)

- Lemons can be used to lighten the hair over time. If you are trying to lighten your hair for the warmer months this should help over time. I have personally never felt the need to try this but I know people that have and it works well for them!

- Lemons make a good mouthwash, yes they have acid in them, but wouldn't you rather lemons that whitens, kills bacteria and leaves a fresh taste in your mouth rather than chemical filled mouthwashes filled with alcohol? hmm...

- They help prevent colds and soothes sore throats! It is good to gargle pure warm lemon juice if you have a sore throat.

- if you suffer from asthma it is good to drink lemon syrup everyday to help relieve it.

- Drinking warm lemon and honey helps colds, also drinking warm water with lemon and coconut oil is the best start to the day to cleanse the digestive system and the liver! Also a warm cup of water with lemon and a pinch of salt helps lower cholesterol.

- Lemons give the skin a great glow! so try a face mask or put some sliced lemon in your bath!

- If you notice the skin on your elbows or knees look a little dry or dark, try this, cut a lemon in half and rub on your elbows and knees and leave for about 5 minutes then hope in the shower! done if you do these every day or every few days you should see a difference.

These are just some things that I know about the benefits of lemons, try some of these and see how they work for you :)


-

Coconut oil -'SHAKE' it up!

I have recently tried coconut oil a smoothie....WOW! If you want to add a little extra something to your shake or smoothie, try 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.

The first smoothie I tried was :

bright pink!
1 table spoon of blueberry yogurt
1 banana
2 table spoons of coconut oil
half a cup of coconut water ( i did mine straight from the coconut!)
1 handful of raspberries!

Yum! You do not have to do this smoothie, it is endless what you can put coconut oil into for health benefits. I am sure I will keep experimenting with different recipes, smoothies and shakes. I will update more posts when I experiment some more! keep a eye out :)


Try Coconut magic....this oil  is fantastic!
http://coconutmagic1.worldsecuresystems.com/AP.aspx?ID=802&EID=53447014

Rosewater Spray

I have started to often use rosewater spray, I have heard many good things about it and I thought I would try it for myself. I have used it everyday for 1 week now as a toner, so far I love it!
Rosewater spray is very refreshing, hydrating and soft. If you do not like the 'floral' smell, then I guess this product probably is not for you, but it will work well for your skin.

How I use my rosewater spray is after cleansing and before moisturizing ( I only use it in the morning though, I may try this at night aswell.) It is like a spray on toner, I usually don't like toners on my skin where I have to use a cotton ball or pad to swipe it all over my face, sometimes the cotton fibres come off onto my face or it may make my face feel tight. Spraying is more refreshing!

I do suggest trying this product as a toner for yourself if you suffer from dry and dehydrated skin, but this product can be used on all skin types!

A quick couple of tips if you decide to start using rosewater spray:

- Keep it in the fridge overnight if you want a extra refreshing spritz in the morning! this feels lovely!
- You can use this all throughout the day for a quick ' pick me up' of hydration!

You can find rosewater spray at most health food stores in the essential oils section ( this is where I always seen to find it! )


:) happy spritzing!

Rosehip oil

Rose hip oil has been very good to me! I use it as my facial moisturizer every night before bed.
I used to suffer with moderate acne, there is a few red marks that I am trying to fade and eventually rid off!

Rose hip oil is definitely helping fade my scars, it really is a product that really works! the oil is very moisturizing as well, so it is great for dry/ normal skin. Rose hip oil is high in vitamin A, rich in essential fatty acids and omega 3 and 6.

This oil is also good for stretch marks and helps prevent lines from aging. Use it every night as a facial moisturizer

This oil is also not full of nasty chemical, its natural, try and look for the certified organic ones! ! ;)
and you will start seeing a difference within a few weeks! ( I did, that is my personal opinion!)

Hair treatment trick

Do you ever feel like your hair just needs a ' pick me up' ? I am sure sometimes we all have our days! 

Most of us really should be putting a hair mask or treatment in our hair, it rehydrate
and helps give it a little extra softness and bit of shine! It also helps rejuvenate again after using heating tools and harsh chemicals in other hair products.

A great home remedy hair mask is pure coconut oil! I love this oil for manyyyyy different reasons I really do. 

The best way to do this mask is quite simple, this is best to be done at night before bed.

1. Apply a good amount of coconut oil to damp or dry hair either works fine. Apply enough to cover the whole hair and gently comb through, don't use too much  though!

2. Tie hair up in a bun on your head to keep out of the way of your face.

3. Sleep with this in overnight..

4. In the morning all you have to do is shower as normal! Just rinse out like washing your hair normal with shampoo and conditioner! 

Completely simple! Now you have nourished your hair without the chemicals and it still looks just as good!

To purchase a fantastic coconut oil, follow the link below! I highly recommend this brand ! :)

http://coconutmagic1.worldsecuresystems.com/AP.aspx?ID=802&EID=53447014

Herbal Tea time

I have always loved herbal teas, many people prefer many different tastes. For example some people prefer floral, some love citrus, some like berry, some like spicy...we are all different, and so are the teas! They all have many different health benefits. I believe in finding at least 3 herbals teas which you really love and that really relax you, and even can help you with certain health issues you are trying to tweak.

My three favorite herbals teas at the moment ( they sometimes change) are peppermint tea, camomile tea & fennel tea. I am yet to find a really nice citrus tea ( if you have any suggestions, comment below ! ).
There is something about just sitting back and relaxing and having a healthy herbal tea, whether its before bed, in the bath, sitting outside first thing in the morning and having a sip of 'healthy' to begin your day...anywhere and anytime really!

Green tea is very good for the body, a couple things I have learned about green tea is that it helps with weightloss, its good for the skin, good for the digestive system and many more! Green tea is one of the best teas out there. Not everyone likes green tea, its an acquired taste ( you can buy many different types of green tea though, find the right one for you.)

Peppermint tea I really like when I am feeling a little bloated after a big meal. This tea is great when feeling a little nauseous in the stomach, every time I feel like this peppermint tea always helps me, as does Fennel tea.
Peppermint tea bags are also good used for beauty benefits! When deciding to have a little 'me' time to take a relaxing bath, it is nice to wet two peppermint tea bags and place them in the fridge for a few minutes before you have a bath, once the teabags are cooled, place them over your eyes for a few minutes while taking a nice relaxing bath. This feels amazing!

Camomile tea tastes lovely, its a very soft floral taste. I drink this tea to help me sleep and it really does work! ( for me anyway), it is worth a try, but just a warning that apparently people with high blood pressure should not drink this as it may make them feel quite tired in the morning.
I drink this tea right before bed some nights and it really relaxes me, it is a lovely tea to drink while having a luxurious bath in the evening. Mmm sounds nice!

These are just a couple of teas I like and I know are good for my health, they are worth a try for you certainly. As I said in the beginning, everyone's taste is different. I do recommend going to a health store and ask someone to help you look for a good organic tea that is more acquired to your taste buds and for any health issues it may help!

 I hope this information was Tea-rrific! for you ;)

Organic skin care - Avocado!

Avocados are fantastic for the skin, internally and externally! Sometimes I like to make a face mask made up of pure mashed avocado for my skin for softer, hydrated and less aggravated skin.
Avocado is great as an alternative to butter. I usually like to put avocado on my toast for that extra health kick! you can add it to most things! its also great with a squirt of lemon juice! ( I will write a post on lemons benefits also! they are amazing! )
The biggest health benefits from avocados is that they are really great for the skin, and full of good fats!
They contain vitamin B6, C & K which are great for the skin. If you suffer from under eye dark circles, vitamin K is good for that issue, also drink more water!

I highly recommend trying a avocado face mask at home just to see how your skin feels afterwards, leave it on for about 5-10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
This is great for dry skin! If you have combination skin ( oily t zone, dry cheeks) Try applying avocado just to your cheeks.

:)

Eau Thermale Avene : Thermal Spring Water Spray Review

I would like to review this product as it really works and I love it. I try to buy this product whenever I can, especially when my skin needs a little 'pick me up' or is dehydrated and feeling a little dry. I sometimes suffer from getting dry skin on the back of my upper arms occasionally, I found this product really helps with that.

Thermal spring spray is very natural and easy to use, I have recommended it to my family. The spray does not at all irritate my skin, my skin is sometimes quite sensitive and dry and the Thermal Spring Spray really helped with that.

Personally, I find the best time to apply this spray is after I get out of the shower and gentle pat dried myself. I apply it down my arms, chest, stomach, legs and a little on my face, and also the backs of my shoulders ( I am not flexible enough to reach around and spray my back perfectly!).

This product isnt tooooo pricey, I personally think its worth its money. I started buying the small can and I loved it so much I went and bought 2 more large ones!
If you suffer with dry or sensitive skin I really recommend giving this a try!
:)

The sound of nature

A great way to get in touch with things besides the everyday stressful routine of work, Is to get among nature. Nothing is more soothing than taking a stroll to have some 'me' time and just listen to the birds whistling their sweet tunes. I think nature is at its best in the early morning between 5-6.30am, when the sun is just rising. Everything just looks and feels so beautiful and the crisp morning air fills your lungs.

 If you do not have much time ( although you should always make time to relax with nature) then there is great apps that have different sounds of nature that sound 100% real! birds whistling, forests, beaches, day spa, waterfalls & more! I have one of my own for when I am working and thinking to much,I just switch it on and it relaxes me instantly and inspires me.

 One thing you could do is have a luxurious bath filled with essential oils and candle and play some nature sounds & day spa music. This will take you to a different place! (you may not want to get out the bathroom...and don't fall asleep in there!). This sounds so nice I may do this myself this evening! Also try applying a homemade organic face mask! Take a look at my blog post about my 'Honey bun' face mask which would be a good one to try out with this! Now you have your very own day spa in your bathroom...Enjoy!

Wake up your skin!

Want to really wake up your skin and feel fresh first thing in the morning ? 

Here is a 3 step by step -

1. Wake up!

2. Glass of water! ( or if you like a warm cup of water with lemon and coconut oil, or a green tea? )

3. Grab a face cloth, soak it in warm/hot water, and hold/dap onto your face for 30 seconds...or more if you like. Once you have done this give your face a gentle scrub with a good ( preferably natural) exfoliator!

There you go! Wake up, drink up, soak up! :) 

Coconut Magic - is amazing !

A previous post I wrote on my blog was a basic overview at some of the benefits of coconut oil. 

Coconut magic is the best coconut oil I have ever used for all purposes and I highly recommend purchasing some for yourself and you will not have to keep buying all nasty ingredient filled products!

Coconut oil can be used internally and externally. It is a huge health benefit! 

Go ahead and read my other post from earlier about coconut oil and you will be amazed! 

Follow this link to purchase it straight from the website! 

http://coconutmagic1.worldsecuresystems.com/AP.aspx?ID=802&EID=53447014

Organic skin care - Honeybun face mask

This face mask I have made many times. 

If you suffer from acne and would like to reduce any redness on your face and also to hydrate your skin then this is a good face mask for you!

All you need to make this mask is -

2 tablespoons of Honey

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine together and apply all of the face, (avoiding eyes) and leave on for 10-15 minutes. This is a good mask to leave on while in the bath relaxing.

The cinnamon and nutmeg are good for the skin because they are gentle and are used to draw out some of the dirt in your pores and they act as a exfoliant.

I recommend doing this face mask 2-3 times a week for a few months and you will see a difference. 

( just a warning to not use honey, cinnamon or nutmeg in this mask if you are allergic) 

Let me know how this face mask worked for you! 

Food...some alternatives

We all eat food, but we all have different taste buds of what we like and don't like. Me personally I love trying to eat quite healthy but I do indulge! Especially when overseas...you cannot stop yourself! You should never be on a diet when traveling because you just know its not going to work!

I quite love all European foods & some tropical foods. A good plate of bacon & eggs is definitely a yes for me though! Unfortunately I am the kind of person who cannot have too much gluten or dairy, but there is many alternatives and ways to limit the intake if you have the same problem or if you just want to limit the amount to be healthier.Below I will tell you some ways I changed things around for a healthier and better me!

- If you find yourself eating quite a lot of cheese, drinking a lot of milk or butter, then good alternatives to these are to still have them but change them up a bit. Instead of eating normal cheese that is rich in dairy or fats, switch to a lactose free cheese to help that heavy bloated feeling you may find you get when eating pizza, toasties and more.
We all drink milk...well most of us. Sometimes just a dash in tea or used in recipes or a lot of us have a glass of milk to boost our calcium intake. We can get calcium from other foods to. A good alternative to milk that works for me is either Oat milk or Almond milk which are both high in calcium and gluten and lactose free.
A good alternative to having butter on toast or on anything else is Almond spread, organic peanut butter or even organic jams. ( Don't go for the nut alternatives if your allergic!).

For me these really do help and I have noticed a big difference!

Travel!

Traveling, Most of us love it! Why wouldn't you? seeing the world and meeting new people and friends for life, the feeling of landing in a new place about to begin a new adventure and make a memory.
I am very passionate about traveling and the aviation industry. Since I was very young my family & I have always traveled and I consider myself very fortunate to have traveled with the people I love and sharing my experience in seeing new places with close family & friends.

For me the best places I have been to and met the most people and shared many life long memories would have to be Europe. I love the cold weather & the warm so I do not mind going anywhere...the weather doesn't concern me much. There is just something about Europe though, The sweet old cobbled streets of France and the patisseries, The scenery and wonderful people of Germany and the food is unbelievable! It is one of my favorite countries.
My family and I once decided to take 7 weeks to camper van around Europe, we started in the south of Germany in the beautiful black forest region, then made our way to Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Monaco, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands, The north of Germany and back to the Black Forest.
Since then we have been back to Europe a few times, mostly to Germany, France, England, Ireland,Scotland & The island of Guernsey ( off the coast of France...its a beautiful place!).
We have made many memories and life long friends in a few of these places and that is another reason I hold the love and passion for travel in my heart!

I will write more posts detailed about each of my favorite places I have seen soon!

Great products for great wellbeing inside and out! Here are some products you can buy through amazon that I HIGHLY recommend!

For the love of Yankee Candles!

If you own a Yankee Candle or you have seen and smelt their beautiful scents then you will most likely agree with me!
I love these candles because the names of each candle actually smell like the real thing. I have never been unhappy with a purchase from Yankee Candle, they are by my most favorite.
They have many different types candles for example :

Food scents
Relaxing scents
Floral scents
Clean Scents
Tropical Scents
Warming scents   
Berry Scents
Citrus Scents
Occasion Scents
& more!

My personal favorites are Mountain Lodge & the food scents...but also some tropical ones are amazing!

Yankee Candle also do car scents to hang in your car! they do almost all Scents you can imagine they are fantastic! Take a look at some below...these are just a few...

My 3 go-to Skincare Brands at the moment

Most of us try to always find good skincare products that agree with our skin, Some makes it too dry or too oily or even start to breakout ( I used to be one of them!).

I have been on the lookout recently for buying brands for myself which are just a bit more natural and don't have as many nasty ingredients in them, but also ones that can hydrate and not irritate my skin. My skin type would be dry,a bit acne prone & sometimes sensitive. My favorite brands at the moment would have to be Eau Thermale Avene, Burts Bee & Nivea.
Below I will tell you a little more about each brand and product I love to use!

Eau Thermale AVENE- I use the Avene gentle cleanser which is great for sensitive skin and it does not make my skin feel dry like some other harsh cleansers used to. This is quite a softening cleanser for my skin and very gentle. I do not even have to use water with this, washing our face too much can actually cause our skin to be dryer. I use this cleanser also as a makeup remover and just wipe it off with a cotton pad ( I try to look for organic cotton pads to!). Avene's main ingredient is its healing natural thermal spring water from France. Avene specializes in skin that is problem skin and works very gently to help people who suffer from eczema, sensitive irritated skin & acne. This is a great brand and I definitely recommend it.

Burts Bee - I love this brand, I have not yet tried all of their products, but so far it is a great skincare line.
Beside the awesome packaging it comes in, it has worked well on my skin! I am currently using the Intense Hydration mask with Clary sage. I have said before that my skin can tend to get quite dry when I use the wrong products or the bad habit of sometimes not drinking enough water, also in the winter. I have too keep my skin well hydrated so I use this mask 2-3 times a week and It definitely helps! This is a very natural brand...just another reason why I love it!

 Nivea - I am taking a wild guess here and saying that I think most of you know this skincare brand yes? Well I love it! I am currently using the Q 10 eyecream, A rich moisturizing day cream ( comes in a small pot), The In-shower lotion wash, & the pure and natural hand cream for dry skin which works brilliant!.
One thing I notice with Nivea is that when  product says what its meant to do and the name says it all, Nivea actually does do what it says! the rich creams are great for my skin being dry. I have not tried any of their face lotions as they say dry skin should use creams rather than lotions.

Simple ways to relax

Many people these days get caught up in the busy working life and do not take enough time in their lives to get in touch with their true selves and just breathe.

Below are just some ways I enjoy that make me relax and feel calmer and happier.

- When I hear the sound of birds whistling through a calming forest makes me feel relaxed and reminds me to just breathe! You can download a app on your iPhone with many different nature sounds ( I did!)

- I really love a morning sunrise on a cool crisp morning and feeling the sun coming up and warming your cheeks as it begins a new day of shining. This makes me feel like there is a whole new day ahead waiting for me to make another beautiful memory in life! This automatically lifts my spirits no matter what.

- I have a huge passion for the Aviation world as well and I absolutely love travel! I love the feeling of walking into a airport and hearing the roaring of the aircraft engines starting up and the smell of aviation fuel and you just know that a new adventure is about to begin! this fills me with excitement! I guess anything that you have a true passion for ...you can just feel it!

- A popular and great way is to switch off the lights, burn a few candles and take a warming bath with warming and refreshing essential oils with a herbal tea. This is very relaxing!

- Hearing waterfall really puts me at peace. Taking a stroll through a forest and just getting in touch with nature is a wonderful way to really appreciate everything in life and to always know that no matter what happens in life you can just appreciate nature and its calming ways and to just breathe.

These are just a few things, but they are all beautiful ways to have a more calmer & peaceful lifestyle.
Tell me some things you love?!

Coconut oil - what is it good for?

Coconut oil is quickly becoming very popular. There are many reasons why as well! Coconut oil is amazing to be used internally and externally. I used to work in a health store and learned many great things about looking after the body inside out and all in natural ways.
I would recommend coconut oil to many kinds of people with many different problems... there was always positive feedback!
If you choose to buy coconut oil, always go for one that is certified organic...as you do not want any nasty added ingredients in there, Natural is best!

Coconut oil can be use for ...
- A skin moisturizer, its great after a evening shower.
- Oil pulling ( I will explain this one in just a moment.)
- Rubbing on the nails for growth and moisture
- A hair treatment ( leave in overnight then wash out in the morning while in shower with shampoo and conditioner)
- Add it to a herbal tea for daily cleansing of the digestive system and let it work inside out for your skin! ( I recommend adding it to a green tea or a cup of hot water with lemon)
- Coconut oil is a great eye makeup remover too! Just close your eyes and rub on, then wipe off with a cotton pad or ball!
- You can also add a teaspoon of coconut oil to a morning protein shake to give you that extra kick of healthy!
- Cooking with coconut oil is great especially for chicken meals or anything else you desire! my personal favorite would be choc protein balls, the coconut oil is used to combine these into balls. Coconut oil has a high heat point so it doesn't get toxic at high temperatures.
- You can even use coconut oil as a shaving cream! just wet your legs and apply a good amount of coconut oil onto legs and rub in ( don't rub in too much as you still want the oil to be visible and easy to shave off )
your legs will be soo soft afterwards!

- coconut oil can actually be used in the bedroom! ( uh Lala if you know what I mean!). Coconut oil is great used as a lubricant and completely safe ( make sure it's the organic ones though). A warning though is that you should only use it without condom or latex free condom, otherwise it could cause the latex condoms to become weak and more likely to break! 

A quick tip about coconut oil... It is normal for the oil to sometimes be solid and white or a clear oil. The reason for this is because when it's in a cooler environment it hardens, and when it is in a warmer environment it has a more oil texture and appearance. 

If you want a luxurious moisturising routine but your oil has hardened in cool temperatures then all you have to do if fill a bowl or your basin with hot water and place the jar in the warm water ( only half the jar) and it will start melting into a nice warm oil to apply to your skin for that extra relaxing and nourishing feeling!

Oil Pulling with coconut oil is a great health benefit. To oil pull you just have to keep a jar of coconut oil by your bed and every morning before you wake up...even before you have a sip of water, have a teaspoon of oil and keep it in your mouth and swish around for about a minute and then just spit out in the bathroom. This may sound strange but you will be surprised at all the nasty things that absorb in the mouth through the night and also its a great way to prevent any gum infections or problems in the mouth. This is also great for dehydration and dry mouth. It is also a great teeth whitener!

I have used coconut oil a lot with many of these things and they all do work! Try it !
It also smells amazing! ;)

Organic skin care - Lemon Scrub

There is a lot of harsh chemicals in many products these days! So why not make your own organic skin care treatments at home? Scrubs, cleansers, face masks etc...! You will be surprised at just how amazing the difference is and you can get it all from your kitchen! ( Well most the products!)

In this blog I will tell you how to make a good body exfoliater yourself to prep your skin for the warmer months after the winter season has soaked up all your moisture!

A good body scrub I make myself which is soo easy to make is the Lemon sugar scrub.

This scrub is best used just before you have a shower, I do this in the evenings so while I sleep my skin has time to rejuvenate!

1. Make sure you have 1 lemon, 5 tablespoons of castor sugar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil & about 6 drops of rose hip oil.
2. Combine all these ingredients into a bowl, you can store this afterwards in a plastic tub and it can last you about 2 weeks.

It is best to exfoliate your body 2-3 times a week. It also depends on how dry your skin is.
This body scrub is great for dry skin as the sugar wipes away all the old dead skin cells, and the oils add and lock in moisture while the lemon brightens the skin and gives you a fresh ZING!

Happy Scrubbing!