How to make your own hand and body scrub

Like most people I use my hands a lot, whether it is cleaning, washing-up, polishing, ironing or typing to name just a few of my every day things, it takes it toll on my skin, not to mention the ever change in weather which can leave my hands feeling really dry and horrible.  

A few weeks ago I shared a post on my blog about how I love to use Coconut Oil and listed some of the ways I like to use it best, which you can see HERE. In that post I mentioned a quick recipe that you can use at home to make your own scrub.  Today's post is a similar scrub which I have been using, made at home in my kitchen and given it takes less than ten minutes to make, I thought I would share it with you.

All you will need to make this scrub is:

• 1 Kilner Jar because it has a secure lid
• A tablespoon, 
• A knife to cut the orange
• 3/4 cup of granulated sugar which will act as your exfoliant to remove dead, dry and flaking skin
• 1/4 cup of Pure Coconut oil, this will soften and moisturise your skin 
• 1-2 tablespoon's of freshly squeezed orange juice which smells wonderful and is both invigorating and uplifting

I have the little ramekin as an extra for when I squeeze the orange juice onto a spoon for measuring so it can catch any excess juice.

Once you have gathered all of the things you need for this scrub, all you need to do is follows:

Put the coconut oil directly into the Kilner jar which is where it is going to stay and then add the sugar.  Once both of these ingredients are in the jar, give them a stir, using your tablespoon, to ensure they are mixed together, then do a little test to see how if you are happy with the coarseness of the mixture by taking a small amount out of the jar and place it on your skin and then rub gently, if you are happy that it will give your skin a good scrub leave it as it is, if not add a little more sugar and test it again.  

Once you are happy with your scrub, cut your orange in half and then squeeze the juice onto the tablespoon, add it to your scrub and mix it in before repeating.  Again, give your scrub a really good mix and again text it on your skin.  If you are happy with it, clean the edges around the top of the jar, securely close the lid.  

A little tip - You need to ensure your scrub is stored in a cool, dry place and I would recommend leaving it for 24 hours or overnight before using it to give the coconut oil time to solidify again before using.

Now I have used this scrub on my lips, legs, arms and hands to date and it is really lovely, effective and best of all cheap, not to mention really effective on dry skin.  It also makes a nice little gift for someone too.

Have you ever made your own products at home?

Himalayan Detox Bath Salts from Therapie

When asked if I would like to try some Himalayan Detox Bath Salts from Therapie**, I immediately said yes. Those of you who know me, will by now know that I absolutely love having a bath to help unwind, de-stress, relax and escape from the real world for an hour or until the water is cold and I can't stand it any longer.

Now, this is a bit of fangirl post because I absolutely love these bath salts and it isn't often that this happens. These salts were created by aromatherapist Michelle Roques Oneil, who with around 25 years experience in the business has been voted as one of the worlds top ten Aromatherapists! These salts contain over 84 minerals and are infused with many essential oils such as Lemongrass, Lavender, Juniper and Geranium to name just a few. The scent is nothing short of being divine, that is the best way I can describe it and no sooner had I opened the packet to take a sniff, the water was running in the bath so I could try them.

These salts are said to help you de-stress, eliminate toxins, Detoxify your Body and they also help with insomnia, balance pH levels as well as counteracting the electro-magnetic energy we absorb from modern day gizmos - woah!! Or to put it another way: 

"A blissful cocktail of therapeutic Himalayan mineral salts, powdered Amethyst & essential oils of Lemongrass, Juniper & Geranium; these pink crystals work to balance pH levels & positive/negative ions, to help the body establish equilibrium. The Amethyst has a high mineral content, to heal & clarify problematic skin whilst counteracting the electro-magnetic energy we absorb from modern day gizmos. Add to this blood purifying & anti-inflammatory properties & discover that heaven is a bath soak".

All from a very small handful that you need to use as shown above and the salts themselves are a mixture of pinks and white grains making them just as pretty as the scent.

As soon as these salts come into contact with the water (they do dissolve) and then the vapour from the steam, the scent really comes alive and once in the bath it does truly become an amazingly relaxing experience and like nothing I have ever experienced from similar products and some people refer to these salts as being the natural Valium due to the long lasting effects. Once out of the bath there is a very slight residue on your skin which Therapie recommend not washing off, so I massaged my skin for a few minutes and then continued as I would normally do and shoved on my PJ's on and the next thing I knew my alarm was screaming at me to get up because it was time to get ready for work.

It has been a long long time since a product has given me the ability to sleep so soundly and I do believe it is this product because having now used them three times, once on a Saturday afternoon, where I was out for the count for a good few hours and when I did wake up I felt totally refreshed, the sluggish feeling had gone, instead I was alert and raring to go.

A pouch this size which has 100g inside will last a good few months and they cost just £10 which you can see HERE and I cannot recommend them highly enough.  

The Dos and Don’ts of Leggings

Leggings were a big deal in the 80s, then the 90s, and again in the 00s. It is now 2014 and it seems this particular item is going nowhere. There have been some interesting incarnations of the legging, some more appealing than others, but however you wear them, you have to admit that, when done right, they look great as well as being comfortable. Despite the fact that leggings have been around for a good few decades, there are still those that commit big fashion crimes when wearing them, so here are the basic dos and don'ts of wearing leggings: 

As tights

It is perfectly acceptable to wear leggings as a substitute for tights, they are much cosier in the winter, and less see through if you’re rocking a short skirt. If you choose to do this however, make sure you are wearing boots or other foot covering footwear, as being cut off at the ankle does nothing for the legs, even on the loftiest of supermodels. If you are wearing your leggings in the place of tights, you should shop around and try and find a pair with invisible seams so they really look like thick tights even up close. For really cold days why not invest in a pair of thermal leggings complete with fluffy inners to keep your pins extra toasty?

As trousers

The nation is split as to whether leggings should be worn as trousers with most believing that if you are going to do this you need to wear a long top that covers at least the top half of your bum. An absolute must if you are going for leggings in the place of trousers however, is that you buy a quality pair that are big enough. The least attractive thing in the world is a pair of leggings that have worn through or are being stretched too much over a derriere so that your whole bottom can be seen through the fabric. Have a look at George at ASDA's range of leggings for some good quality thick pairs.

For the gym

Leggings are great gym-wear as they are stretchy, absorbent, comfortable and available in different lengths. Originally most popular with aerobics goers, they are not used by weight lifters and runners as the training attire of choice. Team your leggings with an oversized t-shirt for a practical yet stylish workout outfit that won’t let you down at that critical moment. Leggings are especially good for those who are new to exercise and don’t want to fork out on expensive gear until they have decided whether it’s really for them. As you progress you can look into purchasing special sports leggings or yoga pants. 

Leggings are one of the most versatile items of clothing you could own, easily transitioning from day to night depending on how you wear them. What other item of clothing could both be worn to the gym for a workout, or with a tunic dress of an evening for cocktails? Leggings are 100% here to stay, so now’s a great time to invest.

Do you wear leggings?

**This is a sponsored post

Glossybox - March 2014 Edition

So my Glossybox has arrived for March and this month I used my Glossydots to get it and having seen a few other posts, I was hoping I would get some of the products they got.

Again, this month is a themed box and it is called Beauty Blossom and Glossybox have said in their magazine that now we can put winter behind us, shed the tights and black wardrobe to welcome in spring.  So to celebrate the season of changed, they have curated a Beauty Blossom theme for march.  So this is my box.

My first thoughts are hmmm... I didn't get the serum which ive seen in a few boxes and I quite liked the look of that because I am quite obsessed with serums right now. So this is a breakdown of what is in the box.

Mitchell and Peach Body Cream - With English Honey, Organic Cocoa, Vitamin B5 and Shea Butter, this Mitchell and Peach body cream is perfect to leave you feeling as though you've taken a walk in the English Countryside.  A 40ml sample is included in my box and a full sized 180ml would cost £36.  So at a rought guess this sample is worth around £8

Sleek Make-up Pout Polish and I have the shade Bare Minimum - This tinted balm is full of nourishment and has SPF15, almond oil, shea butter and Vitamin E, it will leave  your pout looking perfect.  The shade is a sort of peachy brown nude but when you use it, it is more of a clear gloss and I actually quite like it. This is a full sized product and has an RRP of £4.49

Bellapierre Cosmetics Ltd Shimmer Powder and I have Beige as my choice - This 100% pure Mica shimmering eye shadow will provide you with a long lasting vibrant colour without smearing, creasing or fading.  I am not new to Bellapierre make-up, I have a fair collection and happen to think it is pretty fantastic, so this is a nice little edition and it is also a full sized product which retails for £12.99

So those are the main items for me, three alright ones that I will use.  Now onto the products which frankly I probably won't use and feel a bit cheated about.

Dove Hair Therapy Intensive Repair 60 second shot - Hmm well... I don't use Dove hair products because they leave my hair feeling lank and greasy and whilst this is a full sized 15ml tube which costs £1.49 it isn't something I would buy or indeed use.  I much prefer my label.m versions which leave my hair feeling wonderful.  But this is the second 'shot' from a High Street Brand I have had in a Glossybox, the first being Tresemme which I also didn't use as I am not a fan of the brand.

Then there is not one but TWO Juicy Couture perfume samples.  For me, the only good thing about them is the bright coloured cardboard packaging which caught my eye.   This is what Glossybox say about them:

"Meet us in Malibu with Juicy Couture's Malibu collection! This fragrance blends the spirit of carefree Cali with Glam LA and we love it.

Sadly I like neither scent, one is meant to be fruity and the other floral, all I can see is that I won't use them.

So all in all it is an alright box, three products I like and three samples that I don't like.

Did you get your Glossybox this month? What did you think to mine?

Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick - Plus Giveaway

Bobbi Brown is a brand of make-up that I have never used before. Obviously I have heard of it, but always thought it was designed for people with a much darker skin tone than my own pale version, how wrong am I!

When the lovely Ashley from Mizspa contacted me to ask if I would like to try the Bronze Shimmer Brick, I jumped at the chance, having hit pan on my beloved Hoola, I am in need of a replacement and this sounded amazing and is described as follows:

"For an instant glow that's like moonlight, sunlight and candlelight, all at once, take this full feathery brush, twirl around the compact and sweep across the face. The result is addictive"

It comes packaged inside this wonderfully sleek black palette with the Bobbi Brown logo/insignia clearly visible. 

Once it has been opened up, you can see that the Shimmer brick is made up of 5 colours which I would describe as being from top to bottom as a pale gold, a champagne pink, a warm bronze, a rose gold and finally a deep copper bronze. There is a lovely mirror which is takes up the one whole topside of the compact, which is obviously always really helpful and handy to have.

The shimmer brick itself is fairly pigmented and shimmery and it reminds me of the baked eye-shadows that I have from other brands. It comes with an accompanying brush which is perfect for applying this too your face without adding too much of the product and the bristles themselves are really soft and smooth to use. As well as using this on your cheeks, you can also use it as an eye palette, which I discovered after not paying too much attention to the make-up item I was adding and it works really well, again you can build up the colour, or leave it to be as natural as you want it to be.

I am so impressed with this Shimmer Brick that I have been offered one to give you lovely readers as a giveway. As always the entry form can be found below and all you need to do is complete it.  This is also an International give-away, so you can all enter.  

Please note the first few options are mandatory and entries will be checked.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eye of Horus Teal Malachite Goddess Eye Pencil

Eye of Horus, for those of you who haven't heard of them or come across them, is an Australian cosmetic brand who have recently launched here in the UK, they want to awaken the Goddess in each and every woman.

As you can see, the brand is Egyptian inspired, with the products themselves being based on makeup used by the Egyptians. It all began when the ladies behind the brand, who suffered from sensitive eyes and fine brittle lashes, spent some time researching how the Ancient Egyptians used natural waxes and oils in their iconic eye make-up. So you won't be surprised to find that their products are paraben free and state that they used the ancient formula as a basis to make their eye makeup range to provide products which are long lasting, non irritating, nourishing and great for sensitive eyes, not to mention avoiding the use of nasty chemicals

The Goddess Eye pencils contain ingredients such as Beeswax, Candellia and Carnauba wax, all of which you can find on the back of the packaging. I was sent the Eye of Horus' Teal Malachite Goddess Eye Pencil* (£13) which is a beautiful vibrant Teal colour described as being:

"Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil. Mesmerize with ancient metallic malachite. Adorn and enhance your eyes with this hypnotic shimmering jewel – like formula

Gorgeous aquamarine / teal colour is perfect for day wear to illuminate eyes or get that eye popping effect for evening wear".

I absolutely love the colour teal when it comes to clothes because it is such a lovely shade of being not quite blue but not quite green, but somewhere in the middle. This eye pencil is an almost metallic shade and the crayon is really soft to use.

The pencil itself comes with a smudger on one end of the pencil to make blending the pencil under the eye a much easier task. However once you have blended it and it has set it doesn't budge all day and the colour doesn't fade at all. Whilst this is not the colour I would probably choose to wear because I have bright blue eyes and I am not sure it is a good match, I have tried and tested it and perhaps once I get to grips a little more with applying it properly, I will include further photos, but for the time being, I have swatched it so that you can see just how lovely the shade is. It is also waterproof, so ideal for wearing on the waterline as well as under the eye.

There are nine different shades to choose from with these pencils, definitely something for everyone ranging from Emerald Goddess, a brown shade, black and a stunning purple shade called Jewel Amethyst, all of which you can find online.

Have you tried any products from Eyes of Horus?

Caudalie Divine Oil

Caudalie is a brand that I am new too and one from which I have no great knowledge about, so when the opportunity arose to try out their Divine Oil** product from Farmaline I was delighted and jumped at the chance.

Being a recent convert to oils, for the hair, face or body, I am amazed at how well my skin and hair react to them, more so because my skin can either be quite dry in part and also quite oily, especially my face.  As this is a multi-use oil which can be used on your body, hair, nails, as a massage oil and as a bath oil, I couldn't wait to try it out.

The Divine Oil, which comes in this pretty glass bottle with a wooden lid, is a dry oil and to use it you simply spray it onto your skin.  What I love about this oil is the scent, I won't lie it is beautiful, more so than I expected it to be.  It is described as follows:

"Caudalie Divine Oil is a multi purpose dry oil with an intoxicating fragrance. It moisturizes, nourishes and enhances the skin thanks to its unique formula made with exceptional blend of Grape, Argan, Hibiscus, Sesame oils combined with patented anti-oxidant Polyphenols.

This quick-absorbing oil is formulated with anti-oxidant grape seed Polyphenols, moisturizing and nourishing oils of grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan. It envelops the skin with a subtle, floral and sun-kissed fragrance, with woody notes."

I have used this oil inn a variety of different ways and having done so, I love it all the more. If I use it after showering, I apply this to my entire body and face, though I haven't tried it on my hair.  You can either spray it directly onto the skin, or into the palms of your hands to massage onto the skin, my own preference is directly onto the skin because it disappears really quickly, as a dry oil there is no grease or residue left on the skin, the one thing you are left with is a stunning scent.  The photos below show some on my arm and then massaged in how there is no greasy residue left behind.

If you use this in the bath as a bath oil, the scent really comes alive as soon as it comes into contact with steam and then when on your skin in the bath, you massage your skin and once you have dried yourself, you will have soft, smooth and again lovely scented skin.

Towards the end of last year, I was introduced to facial oils, something I never would have dreamt I could use because my skin is normal/combination – leaning towards the oily side and I always assumed that adding an oil would leave my skin congested and even more oily, how wrong was I and infact it is the complete opposite, I have lovely, soft, smooth and very moisturised and hydrated skin after using this.  I do tend to use it mixed in with one of my night creams a few times a week as a little extra pampering treat.

This Caudalie Divine Oil has become one of my most used products since I got my hands on it and my skin really likes it not to mention so do I

Have you tried this product? What do you think of Divine Oil?

Caudalie uses natural active ingredients that are biodegradable, free from toxins such as parabens and petrochemicals and free from animal cruelty