Vlog: Moving House and a Tour of the Beauty Cabinet

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dexter the cockapoo

I envy people who can remember to do a proper little picture for their “vlogs”; if I ever make a casual diary-style video I always, without fail, forget to take a decent photograph to use as the thumbnail! Hence I’m stuck with a picture of Dexter the Dog to illustrate a video that has very little to do with dogs whatsoever – it’s almost completely irrelevant! Though you do get to see a close-up of a charming wicker chair and some nice beams in the background..

This was really just a video to keep Youtube viewers in the loop as I hadn’t uploaded anything for a couple of weeks. I explain my house move (most of you will know all about that) and do a little tour of my temporary barn accommodation, which might interest some of you. I also do a little whizz through my old beauty cabinet – the glass-fronted one that has appeared in the background of many videos – because lots of people wanted a close-up view of what was inside.

All quite random and roughly-cut, but please do take a look if you fancy a bit of a nose about. You can all tut-tut at the colossal mess that is my bedroom. I’m off to finish tidying it right now – I felt very shamefaced looking back over the video…

Viewer Notes:

There’s a stair-gate because dogs aren’t allowed upstairs. It’s a holiday barn, so no, none of the furniture or bedding is mine! My IKEA cabinet is the Expedit with glass doors.

I am now 28 weeks pregnant for those who are curious! Hopefully I will be back in my house before I have the baby – EEEEK!

Colour on my lips is Dior’s Rouge Balm 448. On my nails I have “Bikini” by Kure. My shirt is from Hollister. My dog, Dexter, is a cockapoo and he’s about one and a half years’ old.

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For The First Time In Years, I’m Taking Christmas Off: Here’s Why We All Need A Break

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I’ve always been a bit of a workaholic. As a child I juggled school with Brownies and three dance lessons a week, preferring to fill my time with activities rather than sitting around getting bored; as soon I was old enough I was working double shifts and juggling restaurant responsibilities with mini bar duty, and even at Uni I had a ‘day time’ job in House of Fraser and a ‘night time’ job in what can only be described as a drinking hole. (The emphasis on hole.) When I started this blog it was as a hobby; a form of escapism and a creative outlet that filled my otherwise dull evenings between dinners with friends and a cheeky cocktail or two. For years I always had my blog to turn to when there was nothing in my diary and even less on the telly, but this became a habit that was hard to break once it became my job.

Over the last three years I’ve really struggled with achieving a balance between work and play, spending many of my evenings and weekends taking photos or catching up on emails – rather than actually enjoying my free time. It’s hard to close a metaphorical door when the work never stops, especially when you’re a one-woman-band who’s set on world domination. My blog and the tasks that surround it have become somewhat of a comfort blanket, but over the years that comfort blanket has become suffocating – to the point where I don’t know what to do with myself when it’s not there.

In the last few months I’ve made a concerted effort to put down the laptop and read a book, do some colouring, run a bath or watch something on Netflix; I’m trying to be more sociable and spend more time with friends, popping for a couple of glasses of wine or to see the latest film at the cinema, rather than ploughing through my to-do list. As Christmas gets closer and closer I’ve started to unwind and have even taken a few days off just to wrap presents, wander around town, get my hair cut or snuggle on the sofa wrapped in a blanket with a cup of tea… And it’s glorious. Having time away from what you love provides the benefit of a fresh perspective and passion channeled into a clearer vision.

Usually this time of year involves tonnes of planning and work that takes me right up to the very last moment, but I’m seriously winding down and making an effort to wrap things up with a few days to spare so I can thoroughly enjoy the festive season (and basically spend it in the pub.) Usually I’d take my laptop with me wherever I went, filling every spare moment with an opportunity to get ahead with content, but this year I’m leaving it behind so I can focus on spending time with my loved ones and actually relaxing like everyone else. Usually I’d spend those few days between Christmas and New Year prepping and planning, uploading new posts and taking advantage of the relatively quiet social media platforms to get ahead; right now I can’t imagine picking up work until the New Year, simply just because.

This is the only time of year the majority of us get the opportunity to refresh our bodies and minds, preparing for a whole new year and the challenges it brings, so I hope you’ll all take a leaf out of my book and make the most of it. Burning the candle at both ends only works until they meet in the middle (and our metaphorical fingers get burned.) My out of office is on, I’ve got nothing planned but lunches, champagne and catch-ups with my nearest and dearest until Christmas Day and I couldn’t be more pleased.
ty: thoushaltnotcovet

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New In This Week: Ten Pampering Beauty Gems To Boost Your Mood This Winter

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I have to admit that I’ve cheated a little bit when it comes to this post. Over the last couple of weeks there hasn’t been that much newness (or new-on-my-desk-ness) worthy of your attention, so this time around it’s an edit of some of the more exciting bits and pieces that have made their way to me over the last month or so – and for one reason or another I’ve not written about them previously. When the sunshine seems so far away and the cold weather is playing havoc with our skin, it’s the perfect time to give yourself a pamper and get to know some new treats that will undoubtedly tickle your fancy. I’ve pulled together an edit of ten things I think you’ll love getting to know, none of which cost a fortune either.

1. Maskorea 3-in-1 Sheet Masks (£7.99 each)
Sheet masks aren’t new (in fact they’ve been clogging up my inbox for the best part of a year,) but what intrigues me about the versions from Maskorea is that they come with two little sachets of product to ensure you get the most benefit from the experience. Each features a cleanser to use before and ensure there’s no trace of makeup or dirt left to prevent the enriched mask from getting to work, as well as a night cream to apply afterwards to boost the benefits and hydrate the skin. Available in three variants (Too Many Late Nights, Turn Back The Clock and Instant Glow) this is a fun take on the trend. Personally I prefer my usual skincare products to those included, but I love the idea.

2. ‘B’ Hylaronic Acid Facial Spritz (£7.99)
Usually more popular in the summer, facial spritzes are a great way to perk up skin or refresh the senses during the day. However, this version from Superdrug’s own skincare range ‘B’ is enriched with hylaronic acid to help plump the skin and restore moisture when skin is looking and feeling a little parched. You can use it as a first step when applying your morning skincare, spritz over makeup for a dewy and refreshed look or add a touch throughout the day when you need a boost; the mist isn’t the finest and it takes a bit of getting used to before you get the perfect amount, but it’s a great little treat to pop in your handbag when the cold zaps all the goodness from our complexions. A steal at £7.99 too.

3. Beauty Bakerie Lip Whips (£16.00 each)
Matte liquid lipsticks are definitely my faves right now, thanks to the long-lasting result and modern twist on traditional lipstick formulas that just seems to give a look new life. These little gems from Beauty Bakerie are du jour; not only do they look gorgeous and remind me of chocolate ice cream, but they apply beautifully to leave an incredibly pigmented result behind. You do have to thoroughly exfoliate and delicately tap balm into the surface of lips to get the best result (and maybe if you’re concious of fine lines give this a miss,) but they’re just beaut. If you can’t get your hands on a Kylie kit, these are a great alternative.


4. Temple Spa ‘Work It Out’ Muscle-Tox Bathing & Massage Oil (£25.00)
I’ve been back in the gym this January, which means I tend to spend the day after each session feeling a little sore. This beautifully scented oil has been specifically developed to help ease tension and help massage away stress, thanks to a blend of 21 Mediterranean essential oils (including juniper, clove, cypress and thyme) in a lush base of sesame, avocado, jojoba, kukui, grapeseed, soybean and coconut oil. It also claims to ‘detox’, but I’m not convinced on that front; for me it’s enough to have an affordable bottle of oil that’s full of goodness and will help to restore my flexibility after a long soak. Continue reading →

The ‘Skintensive’ Hero from Comvita.

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I’ve been suffering from perioral dermatitis now for a good few years. In recent months, however, I haven’t been able to remember what my skin is like without this irritating enemy taking over my face. Sure, I could go to the doctors and be prescribed yet another round of antibiotics for my skin issues, but, I’ve learnt antibiotics are only ever a very temporary cure for my acne and this annoying re-occurring itchy, bumpy rash. It always comes right back. Instead, I’ve been researching, trialing and looking into other methods for keeping the problem at bay – I know I’ve mentioned some of them before on the blog, and I promise eventually I’ll do a roundup of those that really work for me, but for now we have just one product that’s doing a stellar job.

I’ve been using the Comvita Medihoney Natural Skintensive Cream (£8.99) now for a couple of weeks and I really feel like it’s helped keep the inflammation down during a time of stress and a poor skincare routine thanks to moving house. Perioral Dermatitis is particularly ugly thanks to the little red bumps and constant flaking of the skin, I can’t use any of my normal spot treatments as it’s not acne, and I can’t use nourishing oils as they would exacerbate the situation even more, so a lightweight yet super hydrating cream is just what the doctor ordered.

The Comvita Skintensive Cream is PH balanced, completely fragrance-free and doesn’t use any phenoxyethanol (which is a preservative I’ve since learnt sends my PD crazy). Comvita use medical grade ‘Medihoney’ Manuka honey which is clinically proven to support wound healing, soothe skin and helps retain moisture. The cream itself is very lightweight and has a thin, almost runny texture that spreads easily over skin and feels immediately hydrating and soothing. Despite the texture, the cream’s first five ingredients are water, honey, coconut oil, olive oil and cupuacu butter, so it is still rich and soothing for dry, scaly skin.

This cream is specifically created to soothe very dry skin, so I only use it to spot treat the areas of dermatitis and don’t apply it all over my face as it would likely be far too rich for my oily, acne prone skin. I tell ya, having more than one skin issue in a small area is no walk in the park. I avoid using coconut oil on the rest of my face at all costs, but in the areas of PD it works a treat which is so weird?!
I have also been using the cream on any other dry patches I may have; elbows, knees and feet especially. It works a treat slathered generously over your feet with some socks on – hello super soft sandal ready toes! … it’s actually a little late for sandal weather, but who says you can’t have soft feet under your winter boots?

For under a tenner this cream is a total bargain, and now with the weather turning colder it’s a good one to have around for emergency situations!

What do you think? have you tried anything from Comvita before?

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