{Guest Post} How to pull off a bold lip!

Today I'm going to show you how you can rock a bold lip! I know that some people don't always feel comfortable in wearing a bold lip, so here are some tips on how you can pull it off!

1. Make sure you are keeping the rest of your makeup simple and not OTT because you want the attention to be on your lips and if you wear a bold eye and a bold lip then it would look too overcrowded.

2. Take a cotton bud and make sure your lip line is sharp because any mistakes of slightly going out of your lip line will show up as the colour is bold.

 3.  With a bold lip I would highly recommend wearing a lip liner just so the colour doesn't bleed out of your lips as many bold lip colours do that and lip liners prevent that.

 4. If you are applying a matte lip colour then I would recommend exfoliating your lips and applying a very hydrating lip balm because matte lip products can be drying towards your lips and they can show the dryness or flakiness that you might have on your lips.

5. Apply your lip product in layers and blot your lips as you go to get the perfect lip!

So they are my tips on your how you can pull off a bold lip!

Hope you liked it!

Author Bio

My name is Daniah and I have a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog! I love anything beauty and I am constantly trying out new things. My blog has everything on there so definitely worth checking out (beautily14.blogspot.com) ! Email me atdjawad1406@gmail.com for any questions!

{Guest Post} Amazing benefits of Potato Juice and ways to use it

We are quite aware of the fact that kitchen supplies are one of the most extensively used skincare items in one’s routine and the easy availability makes these ingredients one of the most sought after remedies followed in every house. 

One such Ingredient is Potato. We have known potato as vegetable and is widely used as a main food item in every household. Like one of the most popular remedy in which potato is employed is for dark circles which just resist fading in spite of trying an army of eye creams, gels & serums. The regular usage of potato peel or potato juice surely works for genetic dark circles too! 

Let us explore more benefits of potato juice and how this ingredient proves to be a common favorite ingredient for taking care of the skin in a natural way. 

Removing Blemishes- 

Potato juice comes to rescue blemished skin and makes it even with prolonged use. These results show up in the long run and really improve the texture of the skin in a gentle & effective way. 

Treats Sunburns- 

If you are very prone to tanned and burnt by the Sun rays even at the slight exposure to the sun, then you definitely need to check out the wonderful job potato juice does to sun burns. 

Aids in Pre-mature aging- 

The harmful sunrays and continuous exposure to increasing pollution tends to makes the skin inclined towards aging quickly. This can be sorted with the regular use of potato juice to keep fine lines & wrinkles away. 

Treating Puffy eyes- 

If you are someone who gets up with puffy eyes and is clueless about the cure then potato juice is for you to use and get rid of the puffiness.I love doing smokey eye makeup and with puffy  eyes it becomes a nightmare to wear it and its only potato juice which comes to my rescue. 

Glowing face- 

For having a radiant & glowing face potato juice is really effective in doing so. It tends to have a bleaching effect on the face and gives a visible glow to the skin.There is nothing like a glowing face and a beautiful dress which I keep posting on my Indian fashion blog. 

Treating Grey Hair- 

Boiling potato peels and staining its water works very well on the grey strands of hair. Just use this water as the last rinse after shampoo and you will observe a difference in the color of the strand with regular use. 

Lightening Scar marks- 

Potato is also used to lighten scar marks by grating and extracting potato juice and mixing it with multani mitti & lemon juice and applied directly on the scar marks. 

As an anti-aging mask- 

Potato juice when mixed with a teaspoon amount of curd gives an excellent hydrating and moisture restoring mask which slows skin aging considerably and with continuous usage. This mask restores the lost moisture from the skin and makes the appearance of fine lines to progress slowly. 

Lightening Skin tone- 

Mixing grated potato and cucumber in equal proportions and applying it all over the face including areas around eyes works really well to even out the skin tone. Cucumber juice is rich in ascorbic acid & caffeic acid while potato contains starch Catecholase which is an enzyme which helps in lightening skin tone and treating puffy eyes. 

Author Bio: Anamika is the owner  of Wiseshe and Fashionlivemedia.She enjoys makeup and fashion and  playing with her 2 year old toddler. 

Essential Oils for Anti-ageing.

Hi lovelies! I am going to be 25 next month and I don't feel anything near 25 years old. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Regardless, I've started doing some SIMPLE and NATURAL anti-ageing treatments. I will be telling you about that in today's post; it involves some essential oils. Very natural, simple and inexpensive. See below; coconut oil, castor oil, vitamin E oil and Tea Tree oil.

Coconut Oil as a day cream

I started using coconut oil about a month ago as an alternative to day cream. Coconut oil is an effective moisturiser for any skin type and prevents flaky skin and dryness- perfect for me! It delays wrinkles and sagging but if you already have wrinkles, have no fear! Because its never too late to treat them. Just rub some coconut oil on those wrinkles, lines and creases to soften them away. Not only is it a good moisturiser for the face, it is an all round moisturiser. I'm talking about from hair to toe. It is a multi-functional oil.

Hair-Coconut oil can help tame frizz, condition, strengthen and repair hair.
Body-  it is a good massaging oil. Use it after shower. 

Lip- apply coconut oil on your lips as a lip balm.

Other usages on the body
Make-up- it can be used as a make up remover. I've tried it a couple of times and it is quite effective. It is as good as DHC cleansing oil but coconut oil is cheaper, multi-functional, gentler and natural (no chemical).

Sun care- coconut oil has a natural SPF 4.

That's the external uses and now the internal uses. Coconut oil can be used as a cooking oil and cooking with it will help the body in many ways. It can help improve the digestive system, prevent various stomach and digestion-related problems. It can strengthen the immune system as the oil helps fighting harmful bacteria. Coconut oil help your body absorb other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids. For those looking to loose some weight, coconut oil can also help you with that. The oil contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that can help in taking off excessive weight, furthermore it increases the metabolism and thus burns more fat. 

How has it improved my skin?

I thought it would be very greasy and sticky but in fact it's extremely light, not sticky and not too greasy. It's bearable. I like it, it has prevented flaky skin and dryness and it makes me feel so natural. lol. So far so good. 

About the greasiness, I guess it depends on how much you use. A little goes a long way, I only use about the size of a 5p coin. Keep massaging into your skin and it will help absorb the oil making it less greasy. A jar of coconut oil will last you a year, that's a lot of money saved especially when it's multi-functional; no need to buy make-up remover, cooking oil, expensive face cream, etc.

Where can I buy coconut oil and how much does it cost? 

You can get coconut oil in health shops like Holland & Barratt, Planet Organic and independent pharmacies/health shop. Look for cold pressed and organic ones. They cost about £10-16 depending on the size and brand. 

Castor Oil

I mentioned a while ago that I use castor oil as an alternative to night cream and I still do. I've been using it for over a year now and I recently bought my second bottle. Again a little goes a long way. This however is very thick so I will only recommend you using it a night. I've been applying the oil all over my face including under eye area, that really helps in reducing bags and dark circles.

Benefits
Skin- the reason I apply castor oil over night because I have dry skin and the oil softens and soothes dry and irritated skin- I had some red patchy skin and after applying castor oil over night the redness were gone the next morning. It also helps to kill pathogens that can cause skin problems. The oil locks in moisture and has numerous minerals, vitamins and fatty acids that are essential for great skin health. In terms of anti-ageing, castor oil reduces the appearances of wrinkles and tones the skin. If you want to use castor oil for skin care, make sure it is COLD-PRESSED from castor bean, the label on the bottle will indicate whether it's cold pressed or not.

Hair- Castor oil is well known for stimulating hair growth. By massaging the oil onto scalp it will help blood circulation and moisturising dry, flaky and itchy scalp. It helps treat split ends, provides essential minerals for growing strong hair, supplies omega-6 essential fatty acids for healthy hair.

Applying castor oil on eyelashes can lengthen and thicken them. If you're eyebrows have stopped growing and you want them back, put some castor oil. I put castor oil on my eyebrows every night and they grow back pretty fast- I know that means that I have to get them threaded very often which can be quite annoying.


Other benefits: Internally.
Castor oil can help induce labour; mix 2-4 fl oz of castor oil with orange juice, taken once every 12 hours. You do not use the oil before you have reached 39-40 weeks of pregnancy. But there are possible side effects; diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, muscle cramps, decreased urination and dehydration.
Further more, castor oil can help liver and gall bladder function, boost immune system, remove intestinal blockages, improve gastrointestinal health and ease painful arthritic joints.

How has it improved my skin?
I love it because it works instantly. My skin looks more toned the next morning and my bags are reduced. But the only bad thing is, if you're not used to applying it at night you might not be able to sleep well. When I first used it, I was so concerned about the oil being wiped off if I move to my sides but I got used to it after a few weeks. Although, castor oil soothes dry skin but once washed off in the morning you will still need to apply your day cream, in my case the coconut oil.

Where to get it and how much does it cost?
You can buy this in any health shops and independent pharmacies. The bottle I got cost £12.99 from Holland & Barratt.. For those who are intending to buy a small bottle to try, you will not be able to find a small bottle. The only way to find a small one is asking someone who already has castor oil to pour you some to try.

Vitamin E oil

When it comes to anti- ageing, hands are also crucial. Must not forget about them as they show your true age and same with you neck. I have recently started to do hand mask every other night when I'm sleeping using vitamin E oil. It's extremely thick, thicker than castor oil and is quite greasy.

Benefits

Vitamin E is known to be a strong antioxidant that prevents premature ageing. The list of wonderful skin benefits that vitamin E oil is as long as castor and coconut oil. Vitamin E oil speeds up cell regeneration and so can be used to treat scars, acne and wrinkles. Treating wrinkles mean it is anti-ageing and makes the skin look younger. Vitamin E can also be used to treat sunburn or protecting you from the sun, according to Forbes(2013) combining with vitamin C can act as a natural form of sun protection. Vitamin E oil also helps the skin retain its natural moisture content.

Other than skin benefits, vitamin E oil is also good for boosting immune system, reduces cholesterol and the risk of developing cancer. High levels of vitamin E can reduce the risk of sunstroke and coronary artery disorder or heart disease.

The generic name for Vitamin E is "tocopherol".

How has it improved my skin?
I've only been using it on my hands for about 3 weeks and I've seen good results. One example is when my cuticles were peeling and they were so sore. I rubbed the vitamin E oil into the cuticles for two nights. The first morning they were almost gone and were completely treated the second morning. Second example is when my skin got a bit rough from not wearing gloves when washing the dishes- I got a bit lazy. After a couple of nights of using vitamin E oil on my hands, the skin definitely have gone a lot softer.

Where can I get this and how much is it?
You can find this in a bottle of capsule form in any health shops, The Body Shop, online stores and independent pharmacies. I don't think you can get this in Boots, I haven't seen it. Vitamin E oil are affordable, they are usually between £5-10 depending on the brand.

Tea Tree Oil

Last but not least, Tea tree oil. I only use this when I have spots or I can see a spot is forming, its really good for those purposes. I once had a spot each side of my forehead and I did a mini experiment using the tea tree oil on one spot and spot cream on the other. Lol. The next morning I woke up, the spot that was treated with the spot cream was still there and still looked red. The spot treated with tea tree oil was gone.

Benefits

It's not only good for treating spots and acne its also good to treat insect bites bites which is what I do. Tea tree oil also has many benefits and uses, internally and externally.

It helps heal and soothe sunburns, heals skin infections naturally, relieves itchiness from rashes as well as helps reduce rashes, treat acne, helps to prevent lice naturally; just add a few drops to your shampoo, cures toenail fungus and athlete's foot and naturally cures bad breath.

Tea tree oil can also be used around the house; helps freshen carpets, freshen laundry, keeps bathroom fresh, homemade kitchen cleaners and homemade natural deodorant.

How has it improved my skin?
As I mentioned earlier, I only use it for treating spots and sometimes insect bites and not for anti-ageing purposes.

Where to get it and how much does it cost?
You can get tea tree oil in many places, health shops, pharmacies and even £1 shop- that's where I got mine from lol. but it works fine.

That's the end of a length blog post. I hope you enjoyed it, if you did please share :) 

What sort of anti-ageing treatment do you do? Do you use any essential oils?

Guest Post- How to Grow Long Eyelashes, Get Extensions and Care For Your Eyelashes

Hi lovelies, this is a guest post by Danielle McAnn. She works for Lash Design (Click on the link Lash Design to find out more) and has given some very useful tips in getting long eye lashes. Enjoy!

Long eyelashes are desired by people all over the world. But to get those long, luscious lashes, you are are going to have to treat them right. There are various natural and cosmetic ways to promote eyelash health and growth. To get those long lashes that you dream of, you can try applying them with oils and leave them to sit overnight to absorb.

Castor Oil has been shown to be very effective for natural eyelash growth for many women. You can use any castor oil for this approach, just apply a little to a cotton bud (q-tip) or clean mascara brush and dab lightly with a tissue to remove excess oil. Leave to sit over night and before long you will be impressing people with your new healthy lashes.

Vitamin E oil is another option, it often results in either thicker strands, new lashes, or both. You can purchase the oil or gels and capsules to squeeze the oil out. Apply the same way at the castor oil, or ingest the supplement. Emu oil is the oil made from the fat of the Emu bird from Australia. While it promotes hair growth, it may not be the most ethical option if that is a concern.

I find that making sure I clean my make up off my face before bed can do wonders for the health of my eyes. Making sure you don't have any gunk on there before you go to sleep allows your lashes to grow without being hindered by mascara. I also use a mascara with a lightweight liquid and a good quality brush that doesn't weigh down my eyelids.

If you don't want to wait for your lashes to grow, you can try the cosmetic approach which means eyelash extensions. Salons such as LashDesign Studios offer a variety of options. Acrylic and silk are the preferred extensions, providing a soft result with different finishes to suit your needs. You can have long and thick lashes, voluptuous lashes, or even natural looking lashes when you just need a little lift. They come in permanent and semi permanent varieties There are also some aftercare considerations such as not getting them wet of exposing them to steam for 24 hrs to let the glue set. There is also mascara that is made specifically for eyelash extensions, although it is likely that you won't even need them!

My must-haves to survive through the coldness

Hellos lovelies! Its spring now but it's still very cold and heaters are on majority of the time. It's good to be nice and warm indoors but the downside is that heater dries up your skin. The cold temperature also damages your hair making them dry and brittle. I have found a few must have/ use products that have worked well for me. You could give them a try.

Face Day care- Fade Out 
I have been using Fade Out day cream (left) for almost a year now. The thickness of this cream is really suitable to use during cold seasons. Note: The thicker the moisturiser the better it hydrates your skin. I have dry and sensitive skin and it has kept my skin feeling soft and smooth and the most important thing is that my skin hasn't reacted to it. I've tried loads of cream which claimed to be extra hydrating but none of them were as thick and hydrating as Fade Out. Also, it has SPF 15. .Available at Boots, £9.18. 

Face Night care- Pukka Organic Castor Oil
I don't use any particular night cream, I use castor oil (right). I absolutely love this because its 100% natural, organic and of course hydrating. Yes, I TRY to stick to organic and natural products but its hard. lol. It is really thick, and I only apply a little and I mean little on my face. A little goes a long way and therefore the bottle could last you a year. Due to its thickness, its quite uncomfortable when applied to the skin which is why I only use it during the night. After washing it off the next morning (with any regular cleanser), my skin is extremely smooth and moist.

For those who don't know what castor oil is, it's a thick liquid found in castor beans. It's a multi- functional oil. Can be used to cure cuts, mixed with drinks, anti-aging, apparently can help hair growth and can be used on eyes. You can get castor oil from any health shops. If you're intending to use it as moisturiser make sure it is cold-pressed, otherwise it will clog your pores.

My mum applied a bit of castor oil on the area under her eyes-the crow feet area- for a few nights and she said she realised the crow feet are less visible when she smiles. For more info on castor oil, read this article : http://skinverse.com/castor-oils-many-uses-for-beautiful-skin-and-hair.html

Hair care- Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Serum
I've been using Organix argan oil for about 9 months now, really smooths your hair and gives it shine. I chose to use this because it says Moroccan (Lol!) and we all know Moroccan oil is really good for your hair. I apply it when my hair is damp and after blow dry. I also apply it every day just like I would put moisturiser on my face, focusing on particularly the tips.
Available at Boots, £6.99

Castor oil can also be used on hair but because its too thick it makes my hair look greasy and sticky. However, if I was to apply castor oil I only put it on my tips and only a SMALL amount.









Eyelash Care-Diorshow Lash Serum
The cold weather and the heating really dries up the mascara and makes them go flaky. Those flakes will drop under yours eyes making you look like a panda. Not good! To prevent this, you need to moisturise your eyelashes. I always apply a layer of serum before applying mascara. It really helps.

I'm currently using Dior snow lash plumping serum; as well as moisturising the lashes it also lengthens them. I bought this from Debenhams for £23.00

Body care- Rituals Magic Touch whipped body cream & Johnson's Baby Oil

Baby oil is the best or opt for a thick body cream if you don't like being oily, cocoa butter is the best. I usually use cocoa butter but recently I've been trying out Ritual Magic touch whipped body cream that I got from Glossybox. Its quite thick and smells good too. It works ok but cocoa butter is still better.

Hand Care
Ladies if you don't moisturise your hands they will look old and manly. Gentlemen if you don't moisturise your hands they will also look very old. I'm currently using Crabtree & Evelyn, got this from Glossybox. I love it. In the beginning your hands feel quite greasy but once its all absorbed, your hands will feel like baby's skin. Its almost finished :( I guess I have to take a trip to Crabtree & Evelyn.

Lips

You don't want crusty lips just so off putting. I use Vaseline and Simple lip balm regularly, I'm talking about applying every 20 minutes. No lie. Of course I don't use all those at once lol, these are just the ones I have. But I sometimes do use Simple lip balm with Vaseline's rosy lip on top.

Guest Post by Gracie- Beauty tips

A UK guest blogger, Gracie has offered to write a guest post from my blog. Thanks for the awesome beauty tips! For more info about Gracie, scroll down to the bottom to see her author bio. Enjoy my lovely readers.

Tips for Maintaining Your Skin to Look Flawless

Now-a-days many people face a lot of problems with skin diseases. To protect your skin from diseases you need to follow proper skin care routine. However to help you better, here are a couple of things which might help you to maintain your skin:

Eat Healthy:

 Take balanced and healthy food like fruits, cereals, proteins and vegetables. Avoid  greasy and fried diet which increases weight; develops spots, pimples, wrinkles and so on. Don’t take oily food as it creates moisture on your face and face becomes oily.

Don’t Expose to Sunlight: 

If the sun light directly falls on your skin, it causes discoloration, wrinkles, age spots or freckles. Sunlight contains ultra-violet rays which are harmful to health. Use sunscreen lotions, sunglasses to protect yourself from the harmful rays.

Take More Water:

 Drink more water. Take about eight to ten glasses per day or more than five litres a day, this helps to removes dirt, and moisture on your skin. Don’t take caffeine products such as chocolates, tea and coffee. Taking lots of water keeps you hydrated and helps in the removal of stones from kidneys.

Sleep More:

Sleep for about six to seven hours a day. Try to sleep more in night times. Short naps help to refresh your mind and it is good to take them if possible in afternoon after lunch. Hence Spaniards’ are lively as they follow siesta. 

Quit Smoking:

People who smoke are short-tempered. Anger and stress go hand-in-hand. Try to be friendly, happy and cheerful. You can keep a lot of diseases at bay. So better stop smoking which affects your lungs.

Don’t go to Bed with Foundation:

This will block your pores and clog them. Your skin cannot breathe freely. Before going to bed wash your face with soap or remove the makeup with baby oil or cleansing cream.

Make Use of Glycerine Soaps:

If you want to wash your face many times in a day then make use of glycerine soaps as it keeps your skin dry. It cleans your skin which in turns gives you great look.

Regular Exercise:

 Exercise regularly to keep your body fit. This will increase your blood circulation and make you look trim, slim and beautiful.

Apply Almond mask: 

In order to make your skin soft, apply almond mask to your face. You can make it at your house with almonds and honey. Take almonds paste and add few drops of honey apply to your face and leave it for an hour.

Eat two Carrots Daily: 

Vitamin A and fibre are present in carrots. This will increase your complexion and makes your skin soft. So try to eat more carrots in a day.

There are many spa treatments that cost you more. In such situations you can apply for same day loans.

Author Bio: This is Gracie a Guest blogger from UK. I have written many guest posts on different categories like Home-improvement, Beauty, Health, Technology , Business and finance. At present I am doing research on payday loans. You can find more about me @financeport 

Best Make-up Remover

Hi everyone. Today's post will be about make up remover products. I've used a few brands and type and have discovered the best one. I will first talk about my favourite make up remover, I will then tell you a couple that works ok and at the end of the post, I will tell you a natural and very cheap method of removing make up.

There are cream, liquid and oil based make up removers (Gel also I think). I find the oil based ones are the best; they remove make up very quick and cleans very well.

This DHC Cleansing Oil was a sample from GlossyBox. This is one of the best make up remover I've ever used. I highly recommend this. Massage a few drops onto face and then rinse off with water; the make up is totally dissolved and the face is also cleansed. To see if my face was clean from make up, I then put some make up remover onto a cotton pad and wiped my face. There was nothing left. No need to cleanse your face with other cleanser after. Your face is oil free, smooth and nourished once rinsed off with water.

If you're thinking 'why would you clean your face with oil when its not good to have excess oil on your face? Water and oil don't mix so how can you clean off the product?'
Oils breaks down other oils. This product contains olive oil (and vitamin E) which bonds with and dissolves the oil on your face. People with oily skin are recommended to use oil based cleanser. This article might explain it better Elle- Oil Based Cleaners


Fullsize: 200ml- £18 approx

Garnier Oil Based Make Up remover

This is my second best make up remover but isn't as effective as DHC. I think its to do with the application method. With this you don't massage onto face, you pour some onto cotton pad and wipe face. Majority of the make up comes off immediately but because your wiping some parts of the face with the same cotton pad that has makeup residuals, your leaving those behind. Therefore, you have to use a few cotton pads until the make up is totally removed. Its more time consuming and you're using up quite a lot of cotton pads.
My cousin said this is the only one that removes her waterproof mascara and it is only £2.99.

Nivea Eye make up remover

This is average. I wouldn't buy it again. This is not oil based, just a normal liquid one. Its not really a gentle remover as you have to really rub your eyes and a use few cotton pads for the mascara to be fully removed. On the long term, you will be getting those fine lines under your eyes from all those rubbing and dragging motions on the eye.

Guys, I wanted to show you the worst make up remover I've bought but silly me I've thrown it away. Been trying to google it but can't find it. So no pictures to show you which one it is. I know it doesn't really help lol.  I remember I got it from Boots and it was called Simple, in a see-through bottle. Maybe they stopped producing that product as they knew it was rubbish so probably the reason I can't find it. It doesn't remove anything off your face, I wiped my face and eyes a couples of times with the product on the cotton pad but there was nothing. Anyways, no point talking about it when there's no picture to show lol.

Natural and cheap method of removing makeup
My cousin taught me this when she came to stay at my house (well parent's house) a few nights. I happen to run out of her favourite Garnier make up remover (the one above) and so she asked me if I have any olive oil. I grabbed a bottle from our kitchen and she told me to pour a few drops on to the cotton pad. She started wiping her face and eyes. The make up was removed.

So basically, all you need is OLIVE OIL. Remember the DHC contains olive oil and we all know that it is good for us in terms of health, skin. hair and many more. (if you don't know now you do).

Guest Post by Sk:n Clinics: Tips To Slow Down The Onset Of Wrinkles

Hi everyone! Hope you're all doing well in this cold weather and can you believe that Christmas is just round the corner?

Anyway, today's post is a bit different. For those who have me on their Twitter and Facebook, do you remember that I mentioned about a skin care company requested to write a guest post on my blog ? Well here it is! The guest post is written by Sk:n Clinic giving tips on how to delay the appearances of wrinkles. I feel so honored that they chose my blog when there are so many other beauty blogs that are much better than mine. Maybe because I previously blogged about one of their products (Click here to read that review I previously wrote). Anyway, enjoy the article!

Source: Groupon.co.uk

Tips To Slow Down The Onset Of Wrinkles

The ageing process is inevitable. We are all going to get older and unless we have the resources to have cosmetic surgery performed on a regular basis, we are all going to see those age-related nasty little fellows known as wrinkles.

Wrinkles tell stories. They tell us what our face, neck and hands have been doing over the years, whether the diet has been deficient, whether sunscreen has been used and whether the owner of the wrinkles has been a smoker. Wrinkles, unfortunately, do not lie. But it is possible slow down the onset of wrinkles by making lifestyle changes that will stop potential wrinkles in their tracks, without resorting to seeing a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon just yet.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A diet rich in vitamins and proteins is essential for smooth skin. Incorporate vitamin C rich foods into the diet, like oranges, blueberries and sweet potatoes. Oily fish like mackerel contains Essential Fatty Acids which help keep the skin plumped up, and nuts and seeds like walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds all possess skin boosting properties. Keep sugar intake to a minimum, drink plenty of pure fresh water and the skin will be well nourished from within.

Don’t Smoke!

Smoking has a hugely negative impact on the skin. It reduces oxygen supply to the facial skin leading to wrinkles forming and the act of puffing on the end of a cigarette creates vertical lines around the mouth.

Use Sunscreen

Even on dull days, harmful UV rays can damage the skin so wear a sunscreen of at least SPF30 during daylight hours and reapply every 2-3 hours if outdoors for long periods. Wearing sunglasses will protect both the eyes and the delicate skin around the eyes and will stop lines appearing from squinting from the sun’s rays.

Exercise

Exercising regularly gives skin a healthy glow and also helps beat stress, which can contribute to the formation of wrinkles. Just exercising for 30 minutes a day, four or five times a week, will prove beneficial to the health of skin.

Keep Skin Care Simple

Many of us are guilty of buying the latest anti-ageing cream with its promises of youthful skin and wrinkle reduction. If it doesn’t produce instant miracles, it ends up in the bathroom cabinet along with other half-used rejected creams. The truth of skincare is that a simple cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen will be just as effective as those pots of promises and will cost considerably less. Exfoliate once a week to get rid of a build up of dead skin and debris and treat the skin gently. Use a heavier moisturiser in winter when cold weather and central heating add extra stress to facial skin and always go to bed with clean, moisturised skin. Getting at least 7 hours of good restful sleep will do more for skin than any expensive cream.


For more info about them check out their website: https://www.sknclinics.co.uk/

Are you fully protected?

I recently blogged about sunscreen; that your skin should be protected not only in the summer but all year round and ensure that your skin has optimum protection from the sun (Click to read this blog).
I just read an article/questionnaire on the Boots website on "Dangerous UV Rays" and I got 2 questions wrong. I thought it is has some really good facts so wanted to share it with you guys. I've copied and pasted my results below.

Results: Dangerous UV rays: Are you fully protected?

You answered 6 out of 8 questions correctly. Your quiz results:

1. Sunscreen and sunglasses are most important in summer, when ultraviolet (UV) rays are intense.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: False
   The sun produces visible and invisible light. Exposure to the invisible kind, ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB), is never safe and is responsible for skin cancers, cataracts, sunburn and premature ageing. That's why it's important to limit exposure to UV rays all year. While UV ray intensity tends to be highest in the summer, experts say there is no "safe" UV exposure. UV radiation can damage the body any time of year, even when it's cloudy.
   The answer? For adults and children over six months old, experts recommend sunglasses and a generous application of sunscreen with a UVA and UVB sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
2. The darker your skin, the less you have to worry about UV rays.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   It's true that darker skin doesn't burn as easily as lighter skin, but UV rays can lead to lasting harm, melanoma cancer, eye cataracts and other problems, no matter what your skin tone is. Research shows that cataracts are more common in black people than in white people. Also, skin cancers in people with darker skin are often not detected until later stages, when they're more dangerous.
3. For UV protection, even waterproof sunscreen must be reapplied after swimming.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: True
   A sunscreen needs to maintain its SPF after 80 minutes of exposure to water to be considered waterproof, yet even waterproof sunscreens can rub off. To stay safe, apply at least an SPF15 sunscreen 30 minutes before going into the water, and then again after you come out.
   Did you know sunscreens have a use by date? Like lots of products, sunscreen can become less effective over time. Check the label on yours, it may be time for a new bottle.
4. Wearing a hat is the best UV protection for your eyes.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   UV rays can severely damage eyes and the exposure accumulates, leading, for some, to macular degeneration, cataracts and blindness later in life. While a wide-brimmed hat offers good protection from ultraviolet light, it still manages to block only some of the sun's rays. The best protection from damaging UV rays comes from sunglasses that filter out 99% to 100% of ultraviolet light.
5. Sunglasses are recommended for adults and teenagers, not children under 12.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   Children usually spend a lot more time outdoors in the sun than adults, and that means they're potentially exposed to a lot more UV rays. The risk for retinal damage is greatest for children under 10, says Dr Alan Greene, clinical professor of paediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine in the US. That means sunglasses are a vital part of every child's sun protection, no matter what their age.
6. Damage from UV rays, like sunburn, heals after a couple of weeks.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   We suffer temporary pain with sunburn, but most effects of sun damage add up over our lifetime and can lead to life-threatening problems like skin cancer, macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as premature ageing. It is worth remembering that there is no safe level of UV exposure and no "safe" tan either.
7. Snow reflects over four times as many UV rays as sand and water.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: True
   Snow is an excellent reflector, sending 80% of the sun's rays back to us, sand and water reflect less than 20%, that's why it pays to be protected all year, even in winter. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and protective clothes whether you're playing on the beach or skiing on the slopes.
8. All sunglasses protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: False
   You can actually get sunburn on your eyes, raising your risk of macular degeneration and cataracts later in life. The best way to protect your vision is with sunglasses. But be careful when buying them; not all sunglasses filter out the same amount of sun.
   Expensive lenses or those with a dark tint don't guarantee more protection than cheaper, lighter lenses. So always read the labels. Look for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays, say the experts and look for snug-fitting glasses with large lenses, preferably with a wraparound design. These features all help to block damaging UV rays.