How to deal with dry skin

I suffer from dry and sensitive skin and wanted to write a small blog post about a few products that I use to try and combat the problem getting too bad to deal with. I am not guaranteeing that all of these products will work for you as I know everyone is different but hopefully they will help give you an idea of what works well with your skin.

 

To begin this blog I am going to talk about some products that I feel have personally helped my skin and that I always use to improve the dryness and sensitiveness of my skin. The first is QV Cream, this is the best product I have used by far as it never reacts with my skin and it always helps improve the appearance of my skin quickly. It is completely unscented and it is a little oily so sinks into the skin quickly, it also helps when I have mild eczema as it is specifically designed for dry skin conditions. I have a 500g tub of this cream but also a smaller 100g tube that I can carry in my bag. This is my number 1 cream that I can always rely on.

Aveeno Moisturising Creamy Oil is what I like to use as a body moisturiser as an alternative to QV cream. Aveeno is nicely scented as it contains naturally active oatmeal and sweet almond oil so feels more luxurious than the QV cream so I use this when my skin is in better condition and not so sensitive. Aveeno is also specifically designed for people with dry and eczema prone skin, and although the official website specifies that this particular kind of Aveeno is for ‘normal skin’ I find it work well for me and better than the other kinds.

Next is a face cream which again I have used for years and works well with my skin majority of the time, it’s the Vichy Aqua Thermal cream in the Rich version. The moisturiser is as it states – very rich! It has a thick consistency which means that it can take a while to sink into your skin but it also feels extremely hydrating your skin for the same reason. You can buy this cream in different sizes and it is relatively inexpensive in comparison to some skincare products on the market (free sample sizes are often available in shops in which you can buy this cream so you can try it before you commit to buying).

Lastly I am going to talk about a facemask it is from the Glam Glow range and is the Thirsty Mud mask which is designed to hydrate, moisturise, restore, replenish and calm the skin. It can be used in a few ways but I feel that the best is leaving the mask on overnight to let the product absorb and deeply moisturise so you wake up with refreshed skin in the morning. It can also be applied for 10-20 minutes and then you can wash it off which keeps your skin hydrated when in a rush. I like this mask because it is so versatile and keeps my skin hydrated and I notice a difference when I do not use it. It is quite pricey but again test sizes are available to buy to try the products.

Where to buy these products:


QV cream: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=qv+cream


Aveeno Moisturising Creamy Oil: http://www.boots.com/en/Aveeno-Moisturising-Creamy-Oil-With-Colloidal-Oatmeal-300ml_1002789/


Vichy Aqua Thermal (Rich) cream: http://www.feelunique.com/p/Vichy-Aqualia-Thermal-Rich-50ml-48221


GlamGlow Thirsty Mud: http://www.feelunique.com/p/GLAMGLOW-THIRSTYMUD-Hydrating-Treatment-50g


GlamGlow sample sizes: http://www.glamglowmud.co.uk/glamglow/products/glamglow_revitalise_try_before_you_buy/

Do Raspberry Ketones Work?

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I have read lots of reviews about Raspberry Ketones but it has been hard to tell if they are bias reviews or not and since the use of these tablets are so popular at the moment I thought it was only fitting that I reviewed them on my Health and Beauty Hacks blog. This is my honest opinion of Nature's Aid Raspberry Ketones over the timescale of 4 weeks and is not bias or sponsored in any way.While using the Ketones I did not change my diet at all, I would say that I am relatively healthy & generally try to make healthy choices.

 

 

Starting Day – 9st 1.5lbs

 

Week 1

After taking the Ketones for a week I did not feel like I had more energy or that my appetite was supressed in anyway in fact I didn’t feel much of a difference at all I did not weigh myself for the whole week as I wanted to record my progress weekly rather than daily as I felt the results would be much easier to analyse at the end. Although after week 1 my weight had gone down to 8st 13.5lbs so I did lose a small amount of weight but was not entirely sure whether it was just a coincidence.

 

Week 2

It was not until about 5 days into week 2 that I started to feel like I had more energy and feel more energetic, I used to often feel tired but I genuinely started to feel like I was more awake and wanted to be more active – which was great! And to make things even better I had lost a little more weight. My weight after week 2 was 8st 11lbs.

Week 3

I continued to feel good in myself and like I had bags of energy! I still do not feel like the Ketones suppressed my appetite in any way but I did generally feel much better and I could not believe that I had lost a little weight as well. After taking the Ketones for 3 weeks I weighed 8st 9.5lbs and was feel extremely good!

Week 4

I was still feeling good and enjoying the effect that the Ketones were having on my body. My weight was down to 8st 7lbs meaning that I had lost 9.5 lbs in 4 weeks! Although I was impressed with the effects of the Ketones I feel that an effective diet and exercise would be just as, if not more, effective for someone trying to both lose weight and feel more energetic without the cost of taking the Raspberry Ketones everyday as mine cost £14.95 so they are not overly cheap and the same effects could be achieved my healthy eating and regular exercise.

 

Ending day – 8st 7lbls

To conclude, yes they do work!  

Where to buy Natures Aid Raspberry Ketones: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Natures-Aid-Raspberry-Ketones-Capsules/dp/B00C6IEDNO

 

 

 

How to paint your nails perfectly

To prepare your nails you should firstly shape your nails and lightly buff the surface of the nail to allow smooth application of the polish. Shape the nail how you feel comfortable & if you are new to shaping your nails try not to change the shape of your natural nail too drastically.

 

Nail file & buffer

 

Next step to preparing the nails is to push back the cuticles and remove any of the excess with a pair of cuticle pliers. Once you’ve completed these two steps wash your hands to remove any of the particles left after filing your nails and apply a moisturiser to your hands as if you accidently get some polish on the skin around your nail it is easier to remove.

Pushing back cuticles

Removing excess

Cuticle pliers & 2 cuticle pushers

 

Apply a clear base coat to protect your natural nails to avoid the colour dying your nails once removed (red is the worst colour for doing this). If your nails are weak then apply a clear nail strengthening polish at this point.
 

Nails with a base coat

Sally Hansen 'Hard as Nails' & Barry M
Base & Top Coat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add 2 to 3 layers of your chosen colour depending on the opacity of the polish. When applying the colour try to use as little brush strokes as possible – the best way to do this is by using the first brush stroke down the centre of the nail and then one smooth stroke down either side.

Nails with 2 coats of polish

Bourjour nail polish in the colour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This step is optional but if you wish to add any extra details to your nails whether it be with a gem or a bead stuck on with a small amount of clear polish or using a nail pen or dotting tool and a contrasting colour of polish.

 

Beads & gem set & applicator

Dotting tool, Rimmel 60 Second Polish &
Barry M Nail Art Pen

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



Dots & lines added to the nail

Gem on the nail to decorate

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding a top coat protects the colour and adds extra shine to the nails. Remember to leave 10-15 minutes between each coat allowing the layer of polish to dry thoroughly.

 

Finished!

 

Complete!

The next step is to clean away any small mistakes round the nail using a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover.

Finally when the nails are completely dry massage cuticle oil around the nails and apply a hydrating hand cream to the hands to complete the manicure.

 

 

Cuticle Oil & Garnier Intensive Repair Hand Cream

 

10 tips to feel healthier and better about yourself

I am not a health expert of any kind but this is just my take on how to make yourself feel better about yourself and generally feel a bit healthier.
 

Tip 1

Drinking water - I know that everyone goes on about drinking litres upon litres of water everyday but do not get yourself down if you do not drink the amount recommended by experts if you are drinking a litre of water a day and before you weren't drinking any at all this is an improvement and you can build it up as you go.
 

Tip 2

Try to cut down on your sugar levels as sugar can be addictive and it actually has bad health effects on your body as it speeds up aging and bloats you and when the quick hit of sugar and energy wares off you feel extremely tired. Even though fruit has lots of good vitamins fruit juice is very high in sugar and the juice doesn't actually have as many benefits as eating the actual fruit as it has been stored for a while. Adding to this try not to overeat dried fruit as it contains the same sugar content as real fruit but is much smaller and easier to eat so you could be overeating sugar without realising. A good book to read concerning this is 'I Quit Sugar' by Sarah Wilson

 

Tip 3

 Try to eat whole wheat foods as opposed to your processed wheat. Processed wheat is much harder for your body to process and whole wheat has many more benefits for your body so try to opt for brown bread, pasta, etc. For more information on good foods for your body Dr Gillian McKeith's Book 'You are what you eat' is very informative.

Tip 4

Try to eat from scratch as much as possible - making your own sauces and sandwiches rather than buying them as you know exactly what is in them. Make your own healthy snacks rather than buying the "low-fat" "low-calorie" products advertised in the shops as they can often have high salt levels or lots of added chemicals to replace what has been taken out to make the product "healthy".

 

Tip 5

Take your time to enjoy your food as if you eat quickly you body doesn't always register how much you have eaten. As well as this be aware of your food choices and portion control to avoid over eating.

 

Tip 6

Try to increase your exercise levels gradually by making small changes like walking to the shops or a friends house rather than taking the car - small changes can make a big difference.
 

Tip 7

Joining an exercise class or exercising regularly with a friend can increase your motivation and dedication as you can encourage each other and discuss your progress as the week by week.
 

Tip 8

Try not to keep weighing yourself. If you keep weighing yourself and do not see a drastic change overnight you will become disheartened and slip back to old habits so avoid weighing yourself continuously and focus on how you feel – do you have more energy? Has your skin improved? Do you feel less bloated? WEIGHT IS NOT EVERYTHING. You can look extremely healthy on the outside but your body is extremely unhealthy on the inside and vice-versa.
 

Tip 9

Don't limit yourself - if you cut out everything you like from your diet you are more likely to slip out of your healthy eating habits and back into the unhealthy routine so allow yourself a little bit of everything you like. Moderation is key.
 

Tip 10

One of the most important tips which has been touched on in the previous tips do everything in small steps at a time rather than all at once to make it manageable and less likely for you to quit and slip back to unhealthy habits. Try not to push yourself too hard and expect too much.