Autumn Conkers Squirrels Porridge

00.02 in autumn, conkers, kind, moisturiser, Paid, porridge, rich, simple, skin, squirrels, to

Well, summer has well and truly gone for another year and autumn is upon us. That doesnt doesnt bother me as much as it may some people. I mean dont get me wrong theres something in every month I love. Spring is all about freshness and new starts. Summer, bursting with activities. Winter, full of Christmas spirit. But, for me, I think autumn is a special season, not only unlike the other seasons brings about a calming and relaxed sense, but it mashes together the best bits from the other seasons.

Porridge, my staple breakfast for the colder months, gradually making its return. Theres something really comforting, sitting down to a nice bowl of porridge, the way it warms you from the inside and gives you that extra bit in the battle against the colder mornings. 

I always look forward to those particular mornings when I open the door to a cool, refreshing air - that revitalises me. But more so when that air is paired with the appearance of the beautiful wintry sun. You know the one I mean?! The one that we see but we dont feel, the one that even though its lowness blinds us, it instantly brings a smile to our faces, the one that seems to bring all the seasons together.With the added rustle under my feet from piles of fallen leaves scattered on the ground, their vibrant colours almost creating pieces of art - especially when the crisp wind lifts them up and swirls them around.  Those are the mornings I love.

The return of acorns, conkers and spinning jennys. I remember in primary school when I my conker collection would sometimes get a little excessive - coming home each day with a few more to soak in vinegar, which I think helps preserve them, then placing them in a shoe box along with the rest. Did anyone else used to sing the song about conkers in primary school? We always had seasonal songs, but this was by far my favourite and I even still sometimes find myself singing it, well the parts I can remember (conkers, Im collecting conkers, Im trying hard to find the biggest and the best!) 

Today on my way to college I noticed the sudden appearance of spinning jennys and I held back the temptation to pick a few up, throw them into the air and watch them as they gracefully fall back to the ground. Again, back to primary school, throwing them over each other, almost like autumn itself is showering us with its beauties.

We cant forget the woodland creatures, even though they do seem to be around throughout most of the year, I always associate squirrels, badgers and owls with autumn. Another memory of my childhood pops into my head - Autumnwatch. I used to watch that show religious each night! Following the little animal families, was just too cute. I think the only reason I stopped watching was because the hosts changed (Kate Humble and Bill Oddie ftw!)

Of course though, being British and all, I have my complaints with the weather. Autumn is a season in which risking it without a coat means youll get cold, but then with a coat paired with walking briefly for 5 minutes and you get too hot. But that doesnt bother me half as much as when the heavens decided to open. You end up battling against the harsh wind that lashes rain towards you, the wind that on good days can be so refreshing and gentle. Your hands numbing as they grip onto your umbrella. We cant forget how the leaves create a slippery, deadly path after being soaked by the rain.

But that just makes walking through the door when you arrive home so much more comforting. When your hair finally being able to fall and stay down, popping the kettle on, snuggling into the blanket and turning on your laptop or TV. 

The spring, summer, is quite a hectic time for people in their lives, but then it comes to autumn, and to winter, and you cant but help thing back to the year that was, and then hopefully looking forward to the year that is approaching. - Enya

Read more

Simple Kind To Skin Rich Moisturiser

11.04 in bites, butter, date, delicious, healthy, kind, moisturiser, Paid, peanut, rich, simple, skin, snack, to

As we are now transitioning into the colder months and harsher weather, our skin usually changes too. For me I tend to get dry flaky patches, mostly between my eyebrows and on and around my nose. But of course its not just as simple as that, as I also continue to get oily throughout the day - luckily not as much as in summer. 

I have the annoying combination type skin, I have an oily t-zone, which also gets very dry but then to top it off I have normal cheeks. Finding skincare products that work well for me is difficult! I cant really buy products that sway for oily skin, otherwise my skin dries out and begins to flake and on the other hand I cant go for products aimed at dry skin or Im like a grease ball. Products aimed at combination and normal skin are usually my best bet, but they dont always work. So it means that when I find a product that truly works I just dont budge from it! 

Simples rich moisturiser is by far one of the best products Ive come across that caters for my skin perfectly. Although it states its a rich moisturiser and youd expect that to mean that those who suffer with oily skin are going to look greasy pretty fast, Ive never experienced that - which is great! It definitely does what it claims Like a desert needs the rain and a digestive needs to be dunked,this gives drier skin the moisture it craves, with none of the slippery after effects.

I actually discovered this product towards the end of 2012 when I picked up a travel size for going skiing, as the conditions on the mountains would dry most peoples skin up like crazy. Since then Ive never bought or even tried another moisturiser! Seeing as Ive just picked up another bottle I decided its probably a good time to write a review on it. 

I use it both morning and night right after cleansing my face. Its really easy to apply, its smooth and soaks into the skin pretty fast - which is great in the morning when youre wanting to apply make-up straight after. 

Usually, if I have flaky patches arising Ill just apply a little more in that area and that does the trick. This moisturiser does not feel heavy or greasy at all! At only £3.99 a bottle from Superdrug whats not to love.Also, as an added bonus, the bottle lasts me ages!

Id definitely recommend you try this product out if you have similar skin to me, or even if you just want to try something new - its a keeper.

In a nutshell

+ Inexpensive

+ Does what it claims

+ Not greasy

+ Great for both day and night

+ Great all year round

I have no faults with it!

Read more

My Acne Story

11.56 in 5, acne, and, beauty, my, Paid, simple, story, tips, tricks

The other day someone said something to me, something that was definitely a first for me. They complimented my skin! I was completely taken back by this and didnt know how to reply - I kind of just lightly laughed and gave a small smile. Their comment made me realise how much my skin has improved over the past year. So, with a cup of tea by my side, a spotify playlist playing and a neighbours very annoying barking dog, I thought Id share my acne story. 

I am no expert, I am just sharing my experience and what worked for me. Also, I thought Id just mention that I didnt include any before and after pictures as I never took any pictures before as I didnt feel comfortable - although I wish I had, to see the difference.

Background

It all began around the age of 12, during the time of puberty, which is completely normal and at this stage I wasnt phased by the change in my skin. At first it was a few blackheads around my nose and the odd one or two white heads on my forehead. However, a few months down the line and I began feeling as though my nose was being taken over by blackheads - it sounds silly, but there was practically no patch on my nose that wasnt filled with blackheads. It was at this point I began feeling more aware and slightly self concious, but I didnt jump into finding a solution to clearing them.

Around the age of 13/14, I notice girls at school were beginning to wear make up and at my school about 60% of these girls didnt exactly choose wearing it natural and light. Instead they caked it on, they had lovely orange complexions and nice thick spidery lashes (you may know the type of image Im talking about). Luckily, I was a later starter in the area of make up so didnt join this trend. However, as the school year progressed, like previously, my skin gradually worsened and it was now the turn of the white heads to make they spreading advancement. It was around this time that I began buying a whole range of products. Almost every other week Id be wanting to buy a new cleanser as I thought my current one wasnt working - it was the same with scrubs, moisturisers and masks. Of course I had no clue what I was actually meant to be looking for and once I realised the fact the products werent working I thought itd be in my best interest to do some research.

I spent hours trolling across the internet, reading many articles and tips, finding out there are benefits of products containing certain ingredients and learning about how to clear my skin. With my new found knowledge I went out an bought some products and allowed them time to do their work, if after 6 to 8 weeks they hadnt given any results Id move onto another. But this soon started becoming quite expensive, especially as Id now started to wear make up (around the age of 15), and I slacked off on my skin care. Which was a big mistake! As I was only removing my make up with wipes, it wasnt thoroughly being removed as I didnt follow up with cleansing and moisturising. I look back and just think Why?!. 

Within a few weeks, my skin started to breakout even more, I now began developing those bright red, painful, non headed spots. During this time, I became very self concious and would struggle to look people in the eye if they were talking to me as I sometimes noticed their eyes scan across my face and it felt as if they were almost judging me because of my skin. I slowly stopped seeing friends out of school and turned down invitations to stop over at their houses, it even got to the point where I couldnt even be around my family without make up on. Can I just point out that my skin was by no means classed as severe acne, it was more likely to fit in between mild and moderate.

How I cleared my skin 

Thankfully and happily one year on ,from my skin being at its worst, I can say I never suffer from those frustrating, painful spots and rarely find even a minor breakout in white heads.

After my mum telling me countless times that its pointless and they wont help me in any way, I went a spoke to my doctor. Im actually going to thank James from The Vamps for speaking out about his acne story and how a seeing a doctor helped him. Just before Christmas last year I was prescribed medication for a 6 month period, taking one of these tablets once a day helped massively, though I did still suffer from a blackhead problem. After this time was up I was given a benzoyl peroxide cream to use for a year. 5 months in and it has made such a difference and even the blackheads are clearing up. Obviously as benzoyl peroxide is very drying I make sure to keep my skin care routine aimed towards that too. I would highly suggest that if you are troubled by acne, just go and speak with your doctor. Even if they dont prescribe you with anything they may suggest certain products and sometimes just talking to someone about it helps.

Here is probably a good place to point out that what you think might be blackheads may actually be sebaceous filaments, because I certainly did until reading it on this blog.

I would also say that a small change in what I eat has benefited my skin as well. Ive never eaten atrociously bad but probably not always the best and I certainly did not drink enough water. 

My tips I stick by

Some of these you may be tired of hearing but that most likely shows they are highly important.

1. Dont pick or squeeze! 
2. Remove make up every night!
3. Try to give your skin a break by not wearing make up everyday.
4. Be patient, give new products chance to work - about 8 weeks.
5. Dont constantly wash or scrub your face.
6. Drink more water!
7. Change up your diet, cut out those bad foods.
8. Remember that everyone experiences acne! You dont need to feel as self concious about your skin troubles as everyone most likely is feeling or has felt the same as you at some point.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont matter, and those who matter dont mind.” - Bernard M. Baruch

Read more

5 Simple Beauty Tips and Tricks

01.56 in 5, and, beauty, get, outside, Paid, simple, sunrise, sunset, the, tips, tricks, watch

A couple of months back I began slacking on applying face and hair masks, cleaning make up tools and taking care of my skin - other than just my face. Recently, I have gotten back into somewhat of a beauty routine. Back before I slacked I tried and tested quite a lot of different tips and tricks Id come across, these 5 Im sharing today are the ones I came straight back to.

1. First of all a honey face mask once every fortnight as honey has many benefits for the skin such as :

• Great for healing spots as it is has antibacterial properties, therefore reduces any infections.
• Moisturises the skin, making it soft and supple leaving you with a glowing complexion.
• Can help with anti-ageing as it contains many antioxidants. 

I simply apply a thin layer all over my face, avoiding my eye area, and gently massage it in. After 30 minutes I wash it off.

2. Next is using conditioner for shaving. Yes I know it may sound a bit strange, but I find it works better than the shaving creams Ive tried. Just apply a generous amount of any conditioner to dampened skin and once you have shaved wash away any residue and youre left with soft, smooth and moisturised skin.

3. This next trick is something you could use before the tip above to achieve even softer skin, it is an easy home-made scrub. It is something that can be thrown together in a minute, with the added bonus of smelling delicious too! 

Simply melt 1tbsp of coconut oil, it only takes a few seconds, then add in 3-4 tbsp of brown sugar, mix and apply to wet skin. The brown sugar gently exfoliates while the coconut oil leaves the skin feeling lovely and soft.

4. Once every fortnight I like to mix in 1tsp of baking powder into my shampoo as this helps clean out any product build up.

5. This last tip is a way to reuse mascara wands, of course wash them first. I like to use them to separate my lashes after applying mascara as I find the it gives an overall better finish than if I was to try and achieve it while using a wand covered in mascara. 

Read more