4 key ways to maintain your eye health

Eye health is a big issue in the UK – in 2022, a report from Specsavers stated that sight loss and blindness were responsible for an economic cost of £36 billion in 2019 alone; a sum expected to rise by £2.5 billion by 2024.

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50% of sight loss is avoidable, that's why it is crucial we all do what we can do to maintain healthy eyes, including doing regular eye checks. If you are in London, for example, you could look for an eye clinic in London with specialist consultants to assist you

Take care with glare

While winter is indeed darker, the sun can cause eye problems in the chilly months just as much as in the hot. In the winter, the sun hangs lower in the sky, which can create glare on paths, roads, and cars. And when it’s snowy, UV rays are reflected up from the snow to your eyes.

As such, make sure to bring a pair of sunglasses out with you when you go on walks on sunny winter days, and keep a pair in your glovebox in case your drive is hit by sudden glare.

Consider room temperature

In winter, the use of dehumidifiers and central heating can reduce the amount of humidity in our homes. Our eyes need moisture though, so to stop itchiness and dryness, moisturise your eyes regularly if you wear a pair of contact lenses – especially monthly lenses – and have a moisturising spray on hand for when your eyes feel tired and red.

Mind your devices

Our devices are a key driver of poor or positive eye health – all that bright, blue screen light can cause our eyes to strain, as well as cause headaches and poor sleep. As such, reduce the brightness of your smartphone, laptop, monitor, and TV where possible.

Unless you work on colour-sensitive tasks like graphic design or photo editing, the reduced brightness won’t have any effect on the experience, and in the case of portable devices, you’ll increase the battery life of your devices too.

Lead a healthy lifestyle

Believe it or not, diet can affect your eye health too. Antioxidants found within food (such as zeaxanthin and lutein) are important for purging your eyes of free radicals – molecules that form naturally in your body but can damage cells within the eye and rest of body.

Certain foods contain higher levels of these eye-friendly antioxidants, so be sure to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, omega-3-rich fish, and whole grains – washed down with plenty of water. It’s also a good idea to stop smoking, since smoke getting in your eyes won’t do them any good.

What do you do to keep your eyes in good condition during the winter months? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Four Aesthetic Ideas for Your New Bedroom Look

Redecorating is a task that is equal parts stressful and fun. In between all the admin of planning your renovations, booking handymen, and figuring out how to use certain tools for the umpteenth time, there is that same excitement that would take you over as a young child choosing their room colour for the first time.

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Indeed, the way you choose to decorate can say a lot about who you are as a person, whether bright yellows for an innovative soul or light blues for an open, airy personality. If you find yourself stuck for bedroom decoration inspiration, you could always reverse-engineer these principles – right down to some core aesthetic values you hold. But what might these look like? Here are four strong examples with trendy pedigree:

“Cottagecore”

Cottagecore aesthetics have been taking the internet by storm in recent years, inspiring everything from Tumblr mood boards to outfits and even entire lifestyles. The “-core” suffix has been used to describe specific and niche trends or genres online for some time, inspiring some unique frameworks for aesthetics and style; cottage-core is one of the most popular, encapsulating a particular rural cosiness that comes from a traditional countryside cottage.

But how to incorporate this in your bedroom? Natural colours and materials are paramount, whether ‘raw’ linens and cotton or unvarnished wood furnishings. Rugs, blankets, and throws are a must, while matte neutral colours on the walls can help reinforce the cosy vibes.

“Soft Girl”

The soft-girl aesthetic is a close relative of cottage-core, having originated similarly and cultivated a similarly enthusiastic following. This time, though, the trend has emerged more fully on video sharing platform TikTok, as people share their fashion tips, shopping hauls, and, yes, their bedroom décor.

Soft girl aesthetics also have an element of nostalgia attached to them, harking back to the gel pinks and glitter of the early-00s. Pastel pinks and bright accents perk up a room in that familiar candy-gloss fashion, while maximalist displays of plushies and dolls fill out the space. Soft touches to your finishings, such as smooth surfaces and soft fabrics, gives you complete control over every aspect of your room’s colour, finish and feel.

“Boho”

Bohemian, or “boho” style has been around for generations now, and, like many other quintessential aesthetics, enjoys its peaks and troughs of popularity. While boho may appear to be on the downswing at the moment, interest in this hippy-influenced smart-slacker style is fast regaining ground. Bohemian chic is often defined by its worldliness; European aesthetic instincts meet Middle Eastern fabrics and textiles, to create a vibrant space that is equal parts vibrant and chilled.

“Indie”

Just as soft-girl aesthetics seek to capture a specific feeling through a snapshot of a time gone by, so too does indie aesthetic. Indie encompasses the best of alternative culture in the 1990s, from the grungy heights of Nirvana’s fame to The Strokes’ reinvention of New York rock ‘n’ roll.

Indie aesthetics are very much in the eye of the beholder and can signify either the quiet cool of early alternative rock or the countercultural swagger of leading underground artists. What they share in common are bold colours and a maximalist style not dissimilar in effect to soft-girl aesthetics – only using posters and alternative artwork instead of dolls and plush toys.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Arran Sense of Scotland Glen Iorsa Collection

Having shared my love for the Arran Sense of Scotland Hot Toddy Candle, the collection I am sharing with you today could not have come at a better time! Meet the Arran Glen iorsa range.

At this time of year when we are on a festive comedown, back to work, trying to get back into a routine, deal with the stresses of modern living and the weather, taking time out for yourself has never been so important and with these products, creating a spa-at-home sanctuary is a breeze.

I am often at my most relaxed in water, perhaps being a Cancerian is the reason for this, but the bathroom is a place of sanctuary and self-care; a place where I feel I can retreat to unwind, take time for me, wash the stress away and just relax. I am a huge fan of products which have a calming and relaxing influence over my sense of self and with Glen iorsa you get the notes of lavender and spearmint blended with tiny indulgences of geranium, sage & patchouli. Glen Iorsa takes its name from the calm serenity of a remote glen on the Isle of Arran.

Starting with Glen Iorsa Lavender and Spearmint Bath & Shower Gel (£16) and it is the most wonderful scent to relax and unwind with.

Described as being the ultimate scent to help you relax and transport you into a world of tranquillity and peace, the Glen Iorsa Bath and Shower Gel is fragranced with the essential oils of lavender for soothing skin and relieving stress, with spearmint oil for refreshing and resetting body and mind.  It is also enriched with Pro-Vitamin B5, so not only does this bath &shower gel cleanse and nourish the skin, the lavender calms and reduces stress and the spearmint awakens and resets the body and mind.

Once you've finished showering or bathing, the second product I have to share is the Glen Iorsa Lavender and Spearmint Calming Pillow Mist Spray (£15) which is just divine.

This mist is designed to promote relaxation and create a sense of peace and as with the bath & shower gel, it has the calming properties of this Lavender and Spearmint.

Sink into a relaxing sleep amidst the soothing aroma when used as a pillow spray. To use, the advice is to spray a couple of spritz onto the skin directly after showering or bathing or within your room before settling down for the night and it can also be sprayed directly onto your pillow to promote a restful night's sleep.

Having both the Lavender and Spearmint together is not a blend I've come across in many products and unsure how it was going to work but I can't tell you just how wonderful it is and definitely a scent concoction that would be amazing to use in an oil diffuser.  Alongside the bath & shower gel and the calming mist, this range also has a body lotion, soap, hand wash and hand cream in the same scent.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Pixi Beauty Botanical Collagen Collection

Forever a fan of Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic, I was delighted when the Botanical Collagen Collection from Pixi Beauty arrived. Designed to improve skin elasticity for more beautiful and youthful-looking skin, I have four products from the range.

The first product is the Botanical Collagen Tonic, anyone who is familiar with Pixi Beauty will know just how good their Tonic range is.  Soothing, hydrating and refreshing, this tonic helps to volumise, firm and revitalise skin's elasticity. Infused with Botanicals to provide antioxidant benefits while promoting a youthful-looking complexion, you will find Coconut water which works to hydrate, Peptides to firm and Collagen to boost elasticity. 

Applying a few drops of the tonic to a reusable pad, the first thing I noticed is how hydrating it is, probably the most thirst quenching of all the Pixi tonics I have used over the years and despite being fragrance free, there is the slightest hint of coconut, which isn't too domineering, but just gives it a little extra. 

The second product is the Plump Collagen Boost Sheet Masks (x3) and again, I am a hug fan of Pixi Beauty Sheet masks and have constantly repurchased Glow Glycolic Masks because they are just so good.

If you are familiar with Pixi sheet masks, you will know that they are always saturated in serum, which, my dry, dehydrated skin absolutely loves.  These masks again contain Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides and Botanical Collagen, as well as some Glycolic Acid, which come together to help brighten, hydrate and restore balance to the skin. I find my skin has a slight glow and feels nourished after using and they are perfect for using as part of your self-care routine.

The third product within this collection is the Botanical Collagen Lip Gloss and admittedly I am not a fan of lip gloss if it is sticky or tacky when used, so I was a bit apprehensive about trying this.

A clear gloss, the texture is like a lip balm with its thick and silky texture instead of being sticky like a standard gloss. When using, my lips feel plump and have a fuller look and because it contains Peptides, Acacia Collagen and Vitamin E to nourish, volumise and replenish the lips.

The final product in this collection is the Botanical Collagen Eye Serum and I ave absolutely loved using it.

This serum is incredibly lightweight on the skin and absorbs pretty much as soon as it is applied. Formulated to rejuvenate and revitalise the delicate eye area while helping preserve youthful-looking skin it uses Acacia Collagen which which works to volumise and rejuvenate, Adenosine which soothes and smooths before finally the use of Hyaluronic Acid which firms and hydrates.

So there you have four amazing products from the Pixi Beauty Botanical Collagen Collection and I have enjoyed using all of them. Alongside the products I have shared, the Botanical Collagen range is quite extensive and you can find everything on sale with Pixi Beauty or Marks & Spencer with prices starting from just £10.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.