The “Princess” Factor <3

The beauty and health benefits of Aloe Vera are countless! I remember reading in Marie Claire that the Sanskrit name for Aloe Vera is “kumari”, which means ‘princess’, attesting to its ability to help you maintain youthful beauty and a healthy glow. Sounds amazing, right?

Everyone must try this magical plant!

My fave form of Aloe Vera is the pure Aloe Vera Gel from “Forever Living”

I came across this brand a couple of years ago, when I was undergoing chemo and started changing my life towards organic foods and supplements. I did a lot of research into the health benefits of Aloe Vera, and I was on a mission to try the purest form of it.

I had tried sooo many various brands as well as aloe capsules, juices, tablets, gels etc. After a recommendation from a friend, I tried Forever Living’s “Aloe Vera Gel”, which was actually composed of the inner leaf gel, as opposed to the outer leaf (which a lot of high street health shops sell!). It is a thick pure gel which you drink, as opposed to the diluted juice-type ones I had been used to . Therefore, the aloe is more potent and the benefits even more obvious!

It is perfect for anyone and everyone, and I am on a health mission to introduce this amazing product to all my friends and family.

In a nutshell, the main benefits of using the gel are:

• It boosts your hair growth!
• Gives you insanely clear and youthful skin (& increases your collagen)
• Supports your immune system
• Lowers blood sugar & cholesterol
• Improves digestion
• Increases your vitamin & mineral intake
• And when used topically heals scars, burns, acne and hydrates!

I was soo impressed with these benefits, and instantly became a fan of this gel.

The recommended dose is 60-120ml per day, and although I don’t find the taste bothers me too much, you can mix it with juices etc to taste 🙂

So, I am SUPER excited to announce that I have partnered up with this amazing brand to offer my readers a chance to snap up this amazing product and see the benefits for yourselves, from the following URL:

https://www.foreverliving.com/retail/entry/Shop.do?store=GBR&language=en&distribID=440500047124

The price is £20.80, and can be taken every day or from time to time as a nourishing health drink 🙂

Stay healthy my loves! ❤

Beauty Wonderland <3

Hello my pretties! Happy New Year!! WOW.

I still cannot believe how quickly 2013 flew by!

As you can probably tell, I have taken a small break from my beauty blogging, as I have been moving house and it has been SUPER stressful 🙂

I am so happy to be back now with you guys and settled into my new home!

I have missed sharing my beauty tips with you all and hearing from you too!! I am so grateful and blessed for every single one of you that take your time to check in with my page!

2014 will be even more beautiful, and I am so psyched for what the new year will bring!

I have been insanely excited to share with you guys my latest beauty shopping destination! …….TK MAXX. I am a 1000% serious!

I have picked up some of the best beauty products here and there are so many exciting brands to choose from, that I think everyone will love this as much as me.

Every single one of you have to locate your nearest store on your Iphones as you are reading this!! It’s THAT important 🙂 The prices are soooo good, and I have managed to find some amazing buys!

I picked up Rodial’s Famous Snake Serum for £17, recommended retail price is normally £127. I literally almost wet myself from excitement.

My absolute favourite buy of the moment is Murad’s Skin Kits.
They have different ones for different skin concerns. I picked up the 30 Day Blemish Complex Kit and I am IN LOVE.

If you are someone struggling with breakouts or have very acne-prone skin-you need this baby in your life!! I paid around £10 for this, when the full price is between £39-£52.
They even have a kit for minimising pores/combination skin which will be my next purchase!

It has been ten days since I started using the kit and my skin feels and looks amazing!

These are just some examples of some things you can find in this store, which proves that you don’t have to spend £££ to have incredible beauty products!

I hope I inspired you all to find some beauty bargains!

 

Love you all and until next time….!

B xox

Ready to Take the Day Off! …

Bioderma is my go-to brand for skincare recently! I am SUPER impressed by their Sebium Collection for acne-prone & oily/sensitive skin.

The Sebium H20 Purifying Cleansing Micelle Solution is the love of my life at the moment!! …Well one of them at least 🙂

I previously used the original H20 solution for normal skin and realllly liked it, but they took it to another level bringing me this beauty into my life!

In case you arent familiar with this speeectacular product- it is a make up removing solution that is soo gentle but SO clarifying. It takes off every scrap of makeup with minimal effort- even waterproof makeup!! It is a *star* product that the best make up artists are using backstage on models and it’s a favorite at Fashion Week!

It has zero oilyness, it’s soap free and it’s just like using water! SERIOUSLY! Its so magical- I will have to YouTube a video of this one in action! Another great thing about this one is that on top of removing the make up, this one dissolves excess oil! It has very similar purifying ingredients as the foaming Sebium facewash. 

I have the HUGE size in my bathroom too as I want to make sure I never run out! This is PERFECT for those lazy evenings when you are almost too tired to wash off your make up (like today for me:) )! Now there is no excuse! …
I’m off to cleanse my darlings!

It is available from many stockists online,  I have seen Amazon have plenty! They are even doing double-jumbo packs at amazing prices!

Have you tried this? Comment below!

Love B x

In-Shower Body Moisturisers?

Call me a geek but I am sooo excited when I find a great product that actually cuts down time in my beauty-routine, rather than adding to it! I would love to say that I moisturise eeevery time I shower, but I mean.. who has the time??

If I am not working, cooking, or spending time with my loved ones, then I am usually running around after my puppy- so any pampering time I get to myself is precious!

The idea behind skin conditioners is to save time by moisturising in the shower, so that you shouldn’t have to apply any lotions or oils afterwards. I definitely like the sound of that!

The first one I put to the test was the Nivea “In-Shower Body Moisturiser”. Usually I can depend on the Nivea body lotions as they are soo rich and nourishing, so I had high hopes that this would be fabulous. The instructions say to shower with your regular body wash before applying.

I REALLY wanted to love this, but it just wasn’t amazing.

I mean, it was okay. It leaves your skin feeling a little smoother and softer than if you were using a regular body wash, but I wouldn’t say you could skip your lotion altogether. I picked the one for dry skin as it contains Almond Oil, which I am a huuge fan of in general, but it felt just like a nourishing body wash instead of a moisturiser.

The second one I tried was the Soap & Glory “Clean on Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel”. This has a “built-in body lotion” so unlike the Nivea, it is supposed to be a one-step solution without having to wash with a shower gel first.

I am already obsessed with this! The smell is DIVINE.

I rushed out to buy the biggest tub of this as soon as I could! The packaging is soo gorge in my bathroom. I have been using this every day and each time I love it more! It turns into an extra creamy foam and spreads easily. It has clarifying properties so will help to keep skin super clear. It definitely felt moisturising and left my skin feeling realllly soft. I would still use an oil or a lotion after using this, especially if you have dryer skin.

I think you could afford to skip a day or two of putting lotion on after using this product, but I think old-fashioned moisturising after showering is here to stay unfortunately 🙂

I haven’t yet been impressed with a product that can replace this step in my regime.

Whats your verdict on in-shower moisturisers? Do they work for you?

Both products are available from Boots and prices may vary.

Love B x

Beauty on a Budget / How to keep your body blemish free & fade any marks!

I have had a looot of friends & family asking me how to get rid of break-outs on the back/chest and other body areas.  I have super acne-prone skin and if I don’t look after my skin with the right products, I immediately get small breakouts on my back known as back acne- or backne!

It can be one of the most annoying things to deal with as a woman (or man!), especially when you are no longer in your teenage years. Do not panic my loves because I have found a FABULOUS  solution that has been working for me and kept my body soo clear that I have not had to worry.

What makes this solution even better is that it’s a budget drugstore product!

It makes me soo happy to find excellent products that are affordable to all on a beauty budget!

The Garnier “Pure” range has actually really impressed me in general, but the stand-out product for me has to be the Garnier Pure 3-in-1 Wash Scrub & Mask.

This was designed as a face product, and I do like it on the face, but where it amazeeees me is when I use this on my body!!

I scrub it all over the areas on my body that tend to get blemishes or where I have scars/marks to fade and leave it on for a few minutes while washing my hair.

It has a scrub-like texture with fine granules but also foams up so it is easy to spread. The texture stays on the skin (like a mask!) until you wash it off, so it definitely does what it says on the tin 🙂 .

When you rinse it off, it does not leave your skin dry like many other purifying body products and feels sooo clean.

It contains a super high amount (for a drugstore product) of one of my fave clarifying ingredients- salicylic acid (2%) as well as a blend of other ingredients including eucalyptus and menthol extract which helps to purify & soothe the skin. It fights blackheads, fades marks and scars and reduces any oiliness. I use this sometimes on my face as a blackhead treatment.

Within a week you will see such a BIG improvement. Everyone must try this!

Available from Boots and larger pharmacies.

£5.99 Prices may vary (Also-I think its on a promotion at the moment in Boots so I am gonna be stocking up on this baby!)

Love B x

Smooooth Operator

It’s no secret that I love face scrubs! This relates to the fact that I am a teeeny bit of a clean-freak and scrubs just make your face feel super-duper clean and polished!
Exfoliating is something allllll dermatologists and beauty experts rave about because of the importance for healthy,fresh and glowing skin!
On my latest trip to Selfridges, I picked up ” MyChelle Fruit Enzme Scrub” and to be honest….I didn’t have mega high expectations of this.
I always try to choose natural beauty products over any other. I especially like those packed with super-active beautifying ingredients, however natural brands do not always deliver in this department. I like to see & feel the difference of using a product and I am soo happy I found this one.
It was one of those “where has this been all my life?!” kinda experiences.
This product is packed with pectin (fruit enzymes) which are self-dissolving and remove dead skin cells and dirt deep within your pores. Bamboo stem power is another amazing ingredient that prevents future breakouts and jojoba spheres soften skin & allow the enzymes to reach deeper into pores.
The directions say to leave this on for 3-5 minutes for the best benefits.
You can SEE & feel the results instantly but with more uses your skin tone will become so even and clear.
The Result: Baby soft skin & my makeup applies like a dream!

It wasn’t until I used this several times that I really fell in love with it and noticed my skin glowing!

What’s even MORE special is that it is super affordable and suitable for all skin types (especially good for combination skin!).
I will definitely be using this from now on.
Happy scrubbing!

Available from Selfridges (pharmacy).
£13 prices may vary.

Have a beautiful day!

Love B x

Beautifying with.. COCONUT OIL!

I know this may sound ridiculous.. but I cant even begin to tell you all how much I am in looove with coconut oil. I ALWAYS have a big jar in my kitchen and buy back ups just incase so I am never without!
I even named my puppy coco 🙂

All my friends & family like to tease me for always smelling like a coconut or eating something coconut-related!

There are soo many incredible benefits to taking coco oil. I know when first reading this, many of you will think I am a little nuts as oils usually have such high amounts of fat. Many of you may typically think it would be hugely fattening, but the way the body absorbs coco oil is totally different!!

But…don’t just take my word for it. I’m gonna turn into a bit of a science geek for a minute here and tell you that although coconut oil is made up of approx 90% saturated fats (dont panic!) it actually is composed of special types of fats called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs).

Studies have proven that by digesting these types of healthy fats in the liver means your body will in turn actually burn MORE energy! I know!! Amazing. What this means is by taking in this oil daily, your body will burn more calories than usual (especially from the tummy area).

Its no wonder why supermodels such as Miranda Kerr swear by this beauty secret!

She claims to take a super FOUR tablespoons of the magic stuff a day!

If I wasn’t already sold …I certainly am now! I mean, if its good enough for gorgeous Miranda, it surely is good enough for all of us 🙂

Coconut oil is mega high in the antioxidant vitamin E, which means it protects our bodies from any damage to our tissues, healthy fats and cells. This is reallllllyyyy good news for our skin as it means through protecting our cells, we will be able to get anti-aging benefits.

Coconut oil is used in many of today’s best skincare products and lotions as it is anti-fungal, antimicrobial and antibacterial. This means it can even help to cure skin ailments such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. On top of that it’s SUPER moisturizing and very soothing. I love using it on my face and body at night-time and waking up to baby soft nourished skin!!!

Indian women are known for their gorgeous THICK long healthy hair & coconut oil is commonly used in each household as an excellent home conditioner remedy. It aids hair growth and makes hair look super shiny and feel less-damaged.

When applying to hair, I personally use a mixture of two tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil, two tablespoons of organic olive oil, and one tablespoon of organic honey (you may wish to change the mixture for longer/shorter hair). Massage this into your hair and leave overnight if you can. This mixture works super amazing if you heat it up slightly before applying, as it then opens your hair follicles and can be absorbed better.

The uses for coconut oil are endless! I would LOVE to hear whether you guys are coconut oil fans and how you like to use it?

Love B x

Beauty From Within- Vol One-Omega oils

As some of you may know, I am a BIG believer that beauty starts from within.

This means that no matter what stunning makeup someone wears, it will not help to cover up unhealthy skin and poor diet. You must have a healthy base to begin with.

It kinda goes without saying thats a healthy diet and excercise is a good place to start BUT there are a variety of beauty-enhancing vitamins that could MAJORLY boost the quality of your hair, skin and nails in a way that a healthy diet alone may not achieve.

This week I want to discuss one of my faaaavorite beauty vitamins which I have been taking religiously for the past year which is Omega 3, 6 & 9. You can start to see the benefit from taking this within just a few weeks. You will notice your skin will start to glow and feel more hydrated!

Omega 3, 6, 9  is an important combination of essential fatty acids that provide a multitiude of health benefits. Omega 3 & 6 are especially crucial as our bodies do not produce these naturally. They can improve brain function, decrease inflammation, help to increase oxygen intake & circulation and helps cells repair themselves faster.

It has actually been known to cure various skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.  It also has some SERIOUS benefits for healthy hair growth and helping hair become OUTRAGEOUSLY shiny!! It increases hair elasticity (so less breakages), nourishes the hair follicle and improves scalp circulation meaning faster hair growth!

More benefits include plumping the skin, less wrinkles, more moisture and faster skin cell repair. I have noticed a MASSIVE difference when taking this and now I cannot live without it! I take this in liquid form (which i’ll be honest, doesn’t taste the best BUT its totally bearable! The taste disappears after a a minute or two! ) . I have tried capsule forms in the past which have been also very good! You can find this in most health food shops. You must try this!

Please do consult with your doctor before introducing any new supplements into your diet.