VIDEO | March Favourites 2016

Who can believe that we are already in the fourth month of 2016?! I know it is such a cliche to comment on the speed that the year is travelling at, but yikes! Still, I am trying to get into good habits and post videos on YouTube more regularly. I'm starting with a favourites video, but if there are any videos you would like to see, give me a shout!

Leather saddle bag ~ Zatchels

Original Skin Face Mask ~ Origins
7/8 Kinetic Leggings ~ Sweaty Betty 
Shoes ~ Blink
Candle and home fragrance kit ~ Sanctuary
China Cup ~ Orla Kiely

For further details and disclaimer, please see the description on the video's YouTube link. Please like, comment and subscribe -it would mean the world to me!

Natural Skincare Products

I have popped a couple of DIY's on the blog over the last few months, so I thought it was about time that I showed you some of the natural skin and body care that I use. Ideally, I look for products that use natural/organic and sustainably sourced materials, are cruelty free and from companies with a planet-friendly ethos. I have ver fair, quite sensitive skin, so using naturally-dervived products tends to keep my skin happier, although I am careful around harsher ingredients such as tea tree oil. One thing to bear in mind, is that "natural" as a label, really doesn't mean anything; it gives you no guarantees about the product. Look for certifications on the packaging, such as the leaping bunny (cruelty free), or the soil association (organic material). These markers are the gold standard to proving that you are buying something that you can trust. I do find that I am starting to become quite loyal to a handful of brands, as trust is something very important when buying natural or cruelty free products. My two most go-to brands at the moment are Neal's Yard and Lush. They are very different brands, but I feel like both represent my views very well.

Neal's Yard Rose Otto Cleanser

This cleanser is my absolute miracle product. Until I switched to it a month or two ago, I was still using products aimed at oily skin. After a foray with my coconut oil scrub, my skin seemed to respond well to the added moisture, so I decided it was time to make the switch. The cleanser is aimed at normal and sensitive sin types, so really is perfect for me. It comes as a gel rather than drying foam, or rich milk, so is perfectly light. I like to massage it into damp skin with my fingertips, before dabbing off with a flannel and splashing with cold water. I've really seen an improvement in my skin texture and clarity, so I am really impressed!

Neal's Yard Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is the natural beauty hero product of the moment. The medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are anti fungal and antibacterial, so I like the thought of this for my skin. Double cleansing has recently become popular with beauty bloggers, and using a face oil counts as the first of your two face washes, in order to get a squeaky clean finish. I melt the oil in my fingers and use a cotton pad to lightly wipe around my face and eyes to remove grime and make up before using my rose cleanser. I originally bought a pot of coconut oil for the bathroom simply because conventional make up removers were hurting my eyes. Now, I find it absolutely indispensable, and is more hygienic than using the same oil for in the kitchen and bathroom. It makes a lovely moisturiser, deep hair conditioner, sun burn relief, and just a great all-rounder. I know coconut oil is having a bit of a thing at the moment, but if you don't want to jump on the band wagon, or deal with melting the oil, try almond oil or similar.

Elemis scrub

Elemis has created a range aimed at young adults, with gentle products aimed to help skin in its transition from oily teenage, to normal or dry adult. I use the scrub once or twice a week to get rid of any dead skin cells and declog any pores. It has a subtle, grapefruit-like scent that is really lovely. Whilst Elemis doesn't advertise itself as a natural brand in the way that others featured do, it is surprisingly good. Cruelty-free, and containing active plant ingredients, including cherry powder, jojoba beads (no plastic micro bead nasties here!!) and mandarin. It is quite a gentle scrub, which is perfect. And the price tag comes in at much lower than some other Elemis products, making it a great introduction to the brand. Unforteuntely, it seems to be a little difficult to find online now. I have spotted the range in TK Maxx, so you may get lucky.

Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream

I still haven't found my "perfect" moisturiser (if it's out there!), but I am really happy with the Botanic's range so far. The award winning range is a partnership between Boots and Kew Gardens and has been recognised as a sustainable business. Organic and paraben-free, I know that my skin won't suffer with these moisturisers. I have been using the night cream as well, but I haven't replaced it. The day cream is SPF 15 and 5* UVA protecting. It's currently half price, making it a pinch at £2.50. The Botanics range is also often on offer for 3 for 2, so keep your eyes peeled!

I have to say, I am very tempted to try a moisturising oil in the place of a night cream. I have heard some really good things about Pai's Rose Oil and would love to try that! In the mean time though, I'll be sticking with my trusty Boots products.

Lush Charity Pot (Hand and Body Lotion)

Lush has got me pretty well sold on their haircare. I love the packaging-free solid shampoo bars, hair masks in returnable/reusable pots and the Avocado co-wash (that's a shampoo and conditioner in one to you and me) is next on my list to buy. However, I haven't really used all that much of their other products. I usually buy one of the £1 mini charity pots whenever I am at the till, but after my friend and I spotted Fin Fighters on the top of on of the larger charity pots, we both had to buy them! Fin Fighters is a charity that I am passionate about, and they are committed to ending the distribution and sale of shark products in the UK and beyond. To be able to buy a yummy-smelling moisturiser that ticks all the boxes mentioned above, AND to donate to a cause that I support? It's brilliant.

Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream

I mentioned the Bee Lovely range in my post about Neal's Yard in York. I absolutely love this hand cream as it is so moisturising without being too sticky. It smells heavenly and supports the protection of bees -so far the range has raised £60 000! It is full of goodness including, of course, honey that keeps my skin happy during busy days. Students get a handy 10% off as well.

I hope you found this post interesting and useful, do let me know if you use any of these products, or have any favourites of your own!

An Interview with Neal's Yard

Alongside the DIY natural beauty that I have been creating, I have been making the switch with my products that I use to natural, ethical brands. I think one of the most well-known brands for this is Neal's Yard, which has been creating natural-based remedies since 1981, using aromatherapy principles. In terms, of beliefs, Neal's Yard is awesome -carbon neutral, organic certified, cruelty-free and fair trade, amongst many, many other accolades. I popped into their York shop to have a chat with Felix and Chloe and find out more about the brand.

One of my favourite aspects of Neal's Yard is their involvement on campaigns. The two I am most interested in is the Beat the Microbead and Bee Lovely campaigns. Microbead plastics are found in many exfoliators and enter the water systems and ocean where they become ingested by animals and move up the food chain, potentially to us. Neal's Yard instead uses yummy ingredients like rice bran, Argan shell, lotus seeds and sea salt.

In response to the rapid decline of bee species, including honey bees, £60 000 has been raised by Neal's Yard through their Bee Lovely products (that's about £10 000 per year since the line launched!). Alongside using organic, responsibly sourced honey to make the moisturisers and products, a petition has been taken to Downing Street asking for a ban on neonicotinoids, a group of insecticides that have been wiping out bees. To top it, the range smells so good -Felix described it as like carrot cake, which gives you an idea of how rich and sweet it is.

I asked what item was currently standing out as a hero-product, and was surprised to find that the answer was a diffuser. The Zen diffuser is ionising, has mood lighting and turns itself off so is really safe in a busy household. One of the diffusers was filling the room with scent from an in-house essential oil and it really was lovely.

To get a look at the York store and life as a Neal's Yard team member, Felix gave me the lowdown:
"York has an alternative health scene, which fits in well with Neal's Yard. There are lots of yoga studios, buddhist centres and independent holistic health practitioners in the city". Coworker Chloe is a yoga teacher, specialising in Yin yoga, and teaching in some of these yoga studios. I am hoping to attend one of her classes with a little luck!

The York store also has a therapy room, with services including reflexology, psychology, massage and facials offered. Felix is an aromatherapist, and is benefitting from the Neal's Yard graduate scheme, which offers professional support and further learning to support new practitioners. With these qualifications, Felix is more likely to be found making up his own facial oils himself than using the pre-made products, but loves the Men's moisturising cream. His favourite oils to use are lavender and tea tree. Felix also recommends rose hip oil, which is full of moisturising fatty acids, whilst relieving congested skin. I personally have been using a rose otto-based cleanser and have seen real improvements in my skin in the last month.

It was a really insightful afternoon, and I had a lovely time talking to Chloe and Felix. I couldn't leave without a few cheeky purchases, so bought myself a new Bee Lovely hand cream, and a pot of coconut oil just for hair, skin and body care, rather than having to use the oil that I use for cooking. I have learnt a lot more about the brand, and feel even more confident about what I am putting on my skin.

Natural Beauty: Lavender Toner

Despite it's somewhat granny-ish associations, I have always loved lavender. Mum has always had a few plants growing in various gardens as long as I can remember, and the heady scent of the flowers, so much brighter than in toiletries, always goes straight to my head. Lavender is famous for it's calming properties, but also boasts a wide choice of benefits when used in natural beauty products. It is both antifungal and antibacterial, acts as a bug repellent, calms inflamed skin, and is also an effective acne treatment. So, when I saw a recipe for a lavender skin toner in Simple Things magazine, I knew I had to give it a go.

I would recommend using fresh lavender if at all possible -I can't comment on the potency of using dried flowers. You'll need a hob top espresso percolator -buy an inexpensive one just for making herbal infusions rather than having the coffee and floral scents taint one another!

Ingredients

• Fresh lavender flowers
• Cider vinegar (raw if possible)

Pack the flowers into the base of the coffee percolator and top up with water. Screw on the top part on firmly (no need for the middle filter part) and place over a hot hob to boil. This creates a hydrolsol, a semi-concentrated floral water. Immediately pour into a heatproof, sealable container and allow to cool.

To make the toner, mix 100ml of the hydrolsol with 25-50ml of the cider vinegar. Apply to a cotton pad and wipe over your face between cleansing and moisturising. 

If you have any hydrosol or toner going spare, use as a light cleaning spray for your yoga mat. Just wipe over and allow to dry before rolling the mat back up!

Have a Healthy Glow this Summer

Albiet between rain showers and cold mornings, the warm, sunny weather is making it feel like summer has finally arrived. Skin gets bared, make up goes lighter and everything feels healthier -in theory. Instagram has slowly but surely become filled with snaps of exotic locations and glowing, healthy women. Summer is a time in which we want to feel our best, but things don't always end up that way, especially when working life doesn't embody the wholesome, active lifestyles of role models. With that in mind, I thought I would share a few tips and tricks to keep your skin glowing and body energised.

Hydrate
I almost feel like I am cheating by putting this as a tip, as it is one that we are constantly reminded of! However, with added water loss from sweating, summer is the crucial time to keep your fluid intake up. Rather than aiming to grab some water or a hot drink at work, commit to bringing a (bpa free!) bottle with you at all times. Flavour with lemon or other fruit and herbs for added alkalising or antioxidant benefit, and to keep you away from fizzy drinks and sugary juices. The standard recommendation is eight glasses, or two litres of water per day, but how much you really need depends on climate, your activity level, and the water content of your foods. Drink up to keep skin cells plumped and hydrated.

Eat your greens
Call me a biology geek, but I find the fact that haemoglobin in our red blood cells and chlorophyll in plants differs on a molecular level by just the central atom really cool. The consequence of this, is that ingesting green, leafy vegetables is fantastic for our blood, helping to regenerate red blood cells. Healthy blood = healthy flush to the skin. Chlorophyll is found in the uppermost layer of cells on plant leaves, beneath the waterproof leaf cuticle. Go for a variety of leaves, especially dark green, for a variety of nutrients and high levels of chlorophyll. Superfood powders such as spirulina and chlorella are also great sources.

Embrace fat
The deliciousness of avocado has done wonders for stopping us fearing eating fats. Avocado has antioxidants and vitamin C that absorb free radicals to help slow the ageing process. The monounsaturated fatty acids in avocado, and many nuts and seeds are great for maintaining moisture within the epidermal layers of your skin. This means that your skin will naturally be comfortable and moisturised, even without slapping on heavy moisturiser. Try avocado on toast for breakfast, or indulge in nut butter-filled dates.

Enjoy the sunshine
There is nothing like getting outside in the warm on a gorgeous summer day. Depending on the level of sunlight, ten minutes or so is perfect for getting the correct level of vitamin D for the day, without risking burning or skin damage. With spf applied, stay out longer for an al fresco workout, gentle walk with friends, or even just sitting and enjoying the warmth. The endorphins produced are perfect for counteracting stress, which causes havoc on our body, including breakouts and dull skin. Speaking of endorphins...

Exercise
Come on, you knew this was coming. We all know how great exercise is for us, but to make it even better for you, change thing up a little. If exercise tends to be a chore rather than something that you enjoy, do something different. Even if you aren't building as much muscle, or burning as many calories, doing something that you enjoy is worth so much more. For a complete body blast, try lots of different things. Mix up long, slow runs, with sprints and HIIT workouts, and compliment weight lifting with yoga and pilates. By cross training in this way, you target your whole body for a more well-rounded exercise routine than keeps you at your best level of fitness. As well as the physical benefits, a good, fun summer workout should leave you feeling great. A smile and a positive attitude creates more of a glow than any amount of facials and dieting can.

Finally, wind down
We are geared up to be on go at all times, but giving your body and mind a rest is so vital. Treat yourself to that ice cream and watch some trashy television once in a while. If you like, meditate, but acting mindfully is also great. Find whatever it is that helps you to switch off and embrace it. Like exercise this keeps cortisol, the stress hormone, at bay and lets serotonin take over. Ahh....

Natural Beauty: Mermaid Exfoliator

I still use quite a few conventional products along with my natural and/or homemade products but I have noticed that my skin, hair and body seems to respond much better to the natural, simple ingredients. I'm hoping to try and make much more skin and body care products myself over the summer. Today's recipe is great if you are a little short on time, both in the making process and in the shower. The oils and honey are cleansing and moisturising, whilst the sea salt is exfoliating and leaves your skin clean and polished. Sea salt is awesome, full of natural minerals and the large flakes are great for using in body care. So get your mermaid on and get scrubbing!

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp good-quality oil such as cold-pressed olive oil or coconut oil.
• 4 tbsp sea salt
• 2 tsp honey

Simply combine all the ingredients together and decant into a jar or pot. I used half olive oil and half coconut oil. This is ready to use straightaway, but do give it the odd stir if leaving to set overnight. I love the natural scent of the oils, but you could also add a drop of an essential oil such as grapefruit. Obviously you will get different consistencies depending on what oils you use, so have a play around to see what you prefer. I find that the half and half mix of coconut and olive oil creates a thick, creamy scrub, whereas pure olive oil is perhaps closer to a traditional exfoliator.

Rinse off well after use to avoid any sticky residue. A light moisturiser applied to damp skin will have your skin glowing and thanking you all the more!

Book Review: Eat Pretty

Eating healthily used to bring up images of thin, soggy salads and limited joy. Fortunately, there has been a surge in make clean eating appealing and Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty Inside and Out by beauty editor Jolene Hart is no exception. For anyone interested in eating healthily or nutrition, this will be a hit. The food facts are often fairly well known, but with a beauty-based spin on the recipes, ideas and tips given. The beauty foods are largely plant-based, although eggs and fish both feature.

The book itself is a gorgeous addition to a coffee table or bookshelf with the water colour front cover, and elegant design which continues through the book. The contents are divided into Rethink Beauty, Four Seasons to Eat Pretty; and The Essential Beauty Players. In Rethink Beauty, Hart explains the difference between what she dubs Beauty Betrayers and Eat Pretty foods. As you'd expect, Beauty Betrayers are the foods that make your skin come up in spots and sensitivity, make your gut bloated, and generally leave you feeling run down. Eat Pretty food are, of course, all the fresh, healthy produce that will leave you feeling lighter, more energised and clear skinned. Hart looks at these negative-effect inducing foods and explains why they cause problems, such as gluten, sugar, BPA, dairy and overcooked foods. Like many health writers today, Hart explains the importance of each macronutrients -carbohydrates, proteins, and fats -but also lists the benefits of vitamins and micronutrients such as zinc.

Four Seasons to Eat Pretty gives suggestions on what to eat throughout the year. Obviously this varies based on where you are, but it gives a few good ideas on what might be locally in your shops. Seasonal food undeniably tastes better as it hasn't had to be picked before it is fully ripe and shipped hundreds or thousands of miles. It helps you to eat the foods that are suited to the seasons that you are in. After a winter of eating rich, comforting foods, spring is the perfect time to detoxify the liver with lots of the fresh greens that are starting to grow with the rising temperatures. Expanding from the nutrients list of the previous chapter, Jolene Hart suggests foods to eat for each season and to keep stocked up on, with the benefits of each listed. For each season, a few sample recipe ideas are suggested.

The final section looks "beyond the plate" talking about sleep, stress and healthy digestion (which is often overlooked) and how to make sure that these factors optimise your health and beauty rather than reduce it.

Some of the research has had reports recently published, which adds weight to Hart's book, particularly in relation to acne. However, I can't conclusively say that every single claim made in the book does have a corresponding area of proven research to it, so listening to and feeling how your body reacts to the food is also important. Gluten, for example, divides many people. If you are truly allergic to gluten, then of course you have to avoid entirely. However, most people have a degree of intolerance ranging from negligible to very sensitive. In this case, go with what you feel is best for you, and this is may vary day-to-day.

Overall, this is a really lovely book; great as a gift. It helps to help you to stay positive about eating clean and healthy, as well as understanding some of processes behind how food affects your body. Pop it where you can see it next to some flowers to keep you reminded of your Pretty Eating aims. Big thank you to my friend Sophie who kindly bought me this read!

Natural Beauty: Waitrose Pure Face Cream

Being in a small Welsh city and on a student budget, I was a little worried when my last face cream ran out. While I like to use the nicest skincare I can get (I'm currently loving the Elemis FreshSkin cleansers and exfoliators) this time around I knew a budget replacement cream was on the cards. I wanted to find a natural product so as not to irritate my skin, especially with the lower price range. My skin is prone to both sensitivity and breakouts (still!) so I needed a product that I could trust not to damage.

The solution came, surprisingly, in the form of Waitrose's in-house skincare range. I didn't even know that the supermarket had released its own cosmetics, but for a face cream 97% natural ingredients at £2.99, I wasn't about to complain. The cream uses Shea butter to moisturise and vitamin C to nourish.

Being so inexpensive, I wasn't expecting an amazing cream, just something gentle and lightly moisturising. But it so far is performing better than expected. Despite feeling initially thick, the cream is quite watery, giving it an unusual texture. This puts some people off, but I was surprised to find that the cream absorbed quicker and moisturised me more than my previous moisturiser.

Because of the price, I am quite happy to be generous about moisturising my neck and décolletage area, something I have skimped on when using more expensive creams.

In the week that I have been using this product, my skin has been feeling comfortably hydrated, and no new blemishes have appeared. It is by no means a hero product, but is a great budget or back up option to keep in your beauty cabinet.

The Pure face cream retails in Waitrose stores for £2.99, or two for £4.

Natural Beauty: Coconut Oil Shaving Scrub

I hardly need to give coconut oil an introduction do I? Popular for it's health benefits both inside and out, it has become as essential in the health junkie's life as green juices and chia seeds. I first started using it when making soap a couple of years back, but since then I have mostly been using the oil in cooking and baking only. I treated myself to a jar of Essential Organic's raw virgin coconut oil from my amazing new local health food shop recently, so I decided it was time to get creative.

For a cooking oil, coconut oil is relatively expensive (my large jar cost £8 or £9) but as a multitasking moisturiser/scrub/hair oil it suddenly becomes a pretty economical choice. I found the recipe for this online and although it is labelled as a shaving scrub it works nicely as a moisturising exfoliator for your face, lips, hands and body. It also smells gorgeous thanks to the two sweet ingredients. You could add a drop or two of essential oil to add extra benefits to your scrub.

This recipe is really simple; heat coconut oil gently until melted, with equal amounts of brown or granulated sugar. Pour into a jar and leave to cool, (in the fridge or at room temperature) stirring regularly so that the sugar stays in suspension as the oil hardens. You may find that you need to add a little extra sugar; the scrub is not an exact science and varies depending on the oil used and how you want your scrub to feel like. The sugar helps to stop the oil from setting rock solid. If your bathroom gets especially cold in winter, then a tablespoon or two of almond or groundnut oil will loosen the texture.

Give the scrub a last stir once it has mostly set, and pop it into your bathroom.