Homemade Eczema Moisturiser

My interest in skincare definitely stemmed from suffering from eczema. The need to try several different skin remedies, diets and treatments sure did pay off! I am grateful for the knowledge that I have obtained from this experience and even though my eczema has reduced dramatically I am still very wary of the products I use on my skin.

Over the years I have found oat based products to work really well with my skin. Oats are great for reducing inflammation and of course the dreaded itchiness. Also eczema prone skin is known for being out of balance, one minute it could be super dry, the next excessively oil and oats are great for hydrating and restoring that balance. The Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask from The Body Shop and The Dream Cream from Lush are both oat based products that are staple in my beauty routine - you will undoubtedly hear about these products a million times over! But the best way to combat a skin condition like eczema is to go au natural. My mum & I came up with this simple and easy to make oat based moisturiser - with her knack for cooking I will hold my hands up and give her full credit for this....

What you'll need:

Oats
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil

1. Blend 1/2 cup of oats with a few tablespoons of water until the formula is in a paste form

2. Heat up 1/4 cup of coconut oil and add the blended oats to the pan

3. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil and stir the mixture on a low setting for a few seconds

5. Let the mixture cool for a few mins and then pop into a jar and leave overnight to harden

Et voila! you have made a moisturiser with only 3 ingredients.

Bedside Beauty

Coming home after a long day, sometimes I would just rather lie in bed with Netflix than get my skincare on. It doesn't happen often but it does happen! My bedside table has became a nesting place for my lazy beauty routine...

First up are Simple Cleansing Wipes, a staple on my bedside since I was a teen. They give me a squeaky clean face with only 2 wipes! I have been through my fair share of cheaper options (I find £3.99 quite expensive for something that I need ALL the time!) but nothing deals with my troublesome skin like these.

As soon as I hop into bed I apply Bio Oil to my legs and arms (I normally apply baby oil all over after my morning shower so this is just a little top up!) in hope that it will sink in before I get under the covers! On any ecezma areas I whack on the Lush Dream Cream  - perfect for hot nights when my skin is more prone to being irritable. To finish up, I slather on the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask, this product really gets to work when I am asleep and when I wake up my face feels hydrated, smooth and glowy! I apply this mask once a week but on any other day I use the Dr Haushka Rose Day Cream, I love smelling good when going to bed so the strong rose scent is perfect. Lip balm is my everything, so I have to pop a tad on before heading off to sleep and I can rely on a classic like Vaseline to do the job. You might have noticed the product selection to be a tad moisturiser heavy but this combo does wonders for my dry skin.

I will hold my hands up and say that I am an online TV addict so when I able to pull away from Breaking Bad (I am only on Season 2 so no spoilers!) I have my nose in the Revenge Wears Prada!

YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation

Ok, ok I am only 21 so why would I need the YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation?* Truth be told this foundation is perfect for those who are need of a complexion boost - aka if your skin is looking a tad overtired and lack lustre! YSL have set out to create an anti-aging foundation enriched with Glycanactif for a complexion that is smoother and revialtised, and that's definitely what you get!

What stands out to me most about this product is the Colour Tune Up Complex which is a blend of pigments to help correct colour metrics and give you back that lovely fresh rosy glow! I recommend preparing your skin with the Forever Youth Liberator Lotion, activating it with the Forever Youth Liberator Serum and finishing off with the Youth Liberator Creme, phew! sounds like a lot of work, but it's all worth it!

As will all my foundations I prefer to apply the product with my fingers rather than a brush. The liquid formula is super moisturising and lightweight which is great for dehydrated dry skin (the formulation resembles a tinted moisturiser) and creates a medium to full coverage that is buildable. Staying power wise, this product is fab! From a 6am application to when I get home after a hectic day, my skin is looking pretty darn good - most importantly that unflattering summer shine isn't anywhere in sight!

Will it be entered into my daily make up routine? I think so! The shade is a tad light  as I have developed a little summer tan but it will be perfect for Autumn. It will be available in all House of Frasers stores from August 21st 2013.

*Press Sample

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray

In the latest issue of ELLE UK, a rather generous size of the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray is being gifted - it might just be a September issue thing but magazines at the mo are giving away some seriously good freebies! Bumble and Bumble are a brand that are always lurking around the beauty world but one I have never actually purchased anything from  - the thickening spray along with the surf spray have been 2 products on my radar though!

From having a Nicole Richie style bob in my teens to slowly growing it out, the biggest changer has to be the thickness of my hair. A few spritzes of  this product to towel-dried hair along with my Percy and Reed Bodifying Cream and I am ready to being my styling routine - aka throwing my head over and blow drying.

Ok, so I wasn't expecting super thick hair but a least a little bit of an oomph....but that didn't happen at all. I am hugely disappointed by this product and I am so glad that it was a free sample! I gave it a few more goes and even though it's a lightweight formula after blow drying I just felt it weighed my scalp down making my hair look more limp. I think it's to time to return to the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray - the real way to beef up your hair!

Straight Up Snippets: The Berkeley Hotel - Prêt-à-Portea Afternoon Tea

Even though this is a beauty blog, I couldn't help but post about the awesome time I had at The Berkeley Hotel. Last Friday, my friend Carrie & I were invited to have afternoon tea but with a fashion twist - my two favourite things: fashion and sweet treats! Each dessert was based on a S/S '13 trend and this season they were inspired by designers such as Balenciaga, Prada and Jason Wu - I headed straight for the Balenciaga chocolate cake! I am not a big tea drinker (or any hot drinks for that matter) but I did order the Chocolate Mint Truffle tea however after a few sips as I was straight back on the champagne! The divine ambiance was complimented by the outstanding service and I guess the company wasn't too bad either ;)

After stuffing our faces we had a quick wander around Knightsbridge and somehow ended up in ZARA - of course I just HAD to buy some pieces from their new collection....

Gym Kit: Workout Haircare Tips

When you have finally got your healthy eating and gym routine in check, along comes the issue of how to deal with the barnet! I have wrapped a few tips on how to manage pre-workout and post-workout (hot-mess) hair...

Pre-Workout:

Nailing a hair style that will stay in place during a strenuous workout is a lot harder than it sounds! From top-knots to classic high pony tails, the best out-of-the-face look has to be braids. For long locks I would definitely advise popping your hair into a tight french or fishtail braid. I am team fuss free high pony-tail but that's just because I'm lazy. In the back of my head I know  my hair should look like...

Post-Workout:

As someone who works out in the evenings, I have my morning shower along with a shower post- workout and it is very tempting to wash my hair twice a day! Washing your hair everyday is bad enough but I always prefer to wash my hair after working out - I would rather not sleep in sweaty hair...

First things first, conditioner is key!  As I have increased the amount I have to wash my hair I have found my scalp to become drier. Using the 2 in 1 Smooth and Sleek Shampoo from Pantene followed by the conditioner has helped counter any dryness. Along with this, I use the Redken Butter Treat Masque as a weekly deep conditioning treatment - it also smells delicious! I have found shampooing from tip to root has helped my scalp lock in natural oils again helping to reduce any pesky dryness! I am prone to dry skin pretty much everywhere, so I need to make sure that my scalp is protected.

After washing my hair I try to use as little styling product as possible, they can often weigh down my scalp and attract oils and when working out this can lead to greasy hair. If I do find my hair is feeling a tad limp or greasy then I will use the Boots Build Up Removal Expert Shampoo  - this or any clarifying shampoo will help remove any build up and impurities.

Key-Product:

For those who are die-hard dry shampoo fans then you pretty much have an easy ride! The water-free method will help absorb up any excess oils and remove any build-up. Unfortunately, I am not big on this method. After using dry shampoo I just don't feel like my hair is clean and the ickiniess generated during my workout is still there!  (I do however keep a bottle of batiste in my beauty bag as it does help with volume for an up-do!)

Check out my pre-workout skincare essentials here!

Monday Must-Have: & Other Stories Fig Fiction Body Scrub

The smell of the beach, nothing beats it. Whilst I am more drawn to city breaks the smell of a beach holiday instantly relaxes me! & Other Stories beauty products are so unique with their minimalist packaging and cute names but with so much on offer it's hard to have a good scour around. With it being pay-day I was in the splurging mood and decided to grab the Fig Fiction Body Scrub.

The smell instantly drew me in and one whiff took me straight back to laying in the beach in Dubai! The formula is super thick and grainy (almost like soft sand!) which leaves your skin feeling like its had a good ol' scrub down but still moisturised. Writing this post-shower I can say that even after drying off & moisturising the smell is still lingering and it will definitely help aid my Monday blues.

P.S. I had to include the bracelet I also picked up, they have such unique pieces!