Winter wonders - skincare for the colder months

As the weather gets colder and conditions more harsh, I find that my beauty routine seems to focus more on skincare products than makeup.
In these deepest, darkest wintry days of the year it can be difficult to find a product which strikes that fine balance, both protecting and enhancing your complexion.

Go for a cream which is too rich and it can over-compensate, resulting in oily and breakout-prone skin.
But, in contrast, anything too lightweight will be instantly absorbed and won't offer any protection at all, leaving you with dull looking, dry skin.

I've compiled a list of the best skincare products I've found to date, which I feel really do work and are worth investing in.

Lush Cosmetics Oatifix Fresh Face Mask

This delicious, vanilla-smelling face mask nourishes and hydrates skin, using fresh and natural ingredients. Perfect for slathering on in the evening with a glass of wine for that essential winter skin boost.

(You will note that none of the Lush Cosmetics moisturisers are included on this list. This is because Lush Moisturisers contain two types of paraben preservative, a known carcinogenic, which really shocked me! I'm hoping that they can find a less harmful alternative in future since their entire brand is built on 'natural' and 'healthy' products. Their fresh face masks, however, do not contain any harmful ingredients are really are wonderful.)

RRP £5.95 from Lush Cosmetics.

Green People hydrating firming serum

I can't stress just how important it is that you try this product!! Completely natural, certified organic and cruelty free, this amazing toning serum soaks into the skin almost instantly and provides day-long moisture. It has proven anti-ageing qualities, contains exciting ingredients like seaweed and marshmallow and makes an amazing make-up base. This toner has wonderful moisturising qualities, so if you have phases where your skin becomes more oily, this is great as it hydrates without the stickiness or greasy appearance that creams can sometimes cause with oily skin. Fabulous for all skin types, GREAT for sensitive skin or those who have skin complaints and it's organic.

RRP £11.95 for 50ml from Green People. Trial size of 10ml also available for £3.60 here.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

Great things really do come in small packages! This eye cream works wonders for those in need of a little under eye pick-me-up. The metal tip instantly soothes and tautens the sensitive under eye skin, whilst the slightly tinted balm gives translucent coverage. This product is great for disguising the delicate under-eye area during the months that we can't get away with slathering on as much fake tan!!

RRP £28 for 10ml from Debenhams

Green People anti-ageing facial oil

I briefly mentioned this little wonder-product back in my review of the Green People Oy! Organic Shampoo and Shower Gel and promised my review. Well, I can't do anything but plead that you try this product!! Facial oils are creeping onto the market more and more now, with people realising that with the right oils you can moisturise without encouraging grease and breakouts. This anti-ageing, organic oil smells absolutely divine and leaves your skin feeling softer, more supple and moisturised. This nifty little product is also available in a trial size, so if you don't want to rely on my word alone, you can pick up a little 10ml vial for a fraction of the cost to try before you buy. But you will most definitely buy!!

RRP £16.95 for 30ml from Green People. Trial size of 5ml also available for £3.60 here.

Good Things Face the Day moisturiser

Good Things is another fab little 'friendly products' brand which I've stumbled across. They use gorgeous, natural ingredients like blackberry and pomegranate, so their products are really good for your skin and they smell delicious!! A firm fave of mine is the Face the Day moisturiser. Retailing at less than £10 it's a fab little disposable product for everyday use. Containing goji berry and papaya, the moisturiser balances your complexion and soothes your skin. Perfect for dry or outbreak-prone skintypes.

RRP £7.99 for 100ml from Boots.


I really hope that you find something on this post which you like. Getting your skincare products right will help to balance your complexion, meaning that makeup will sit far better, enhancing your natural skintone.

If you think there should be any other 'natural' skincare products here which I've missed then let me know!!

Check your ingredients: Part 1 - Parabens.

With a wealth of beauty counters, product ranges, miracle fixes, and new releases any girl looking to keep up with the latest beauty regimes and must-have products is easily overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice and jargon when looking to purchase beauty products.
These days it's difficult to open the page of a magazine or turn on the television without having drug brands trying to convince you that their new anti-fatigue, light reflecting, pore minimising, anti-ageing, illuminating, super-product will instantly rejuvenate your face and release your inner, air-brushed supermodel.
And we all believe it and off we march down to the high street, armed with our advantage card, without so much as a disgusted glance over our shoulder at last month's miracle product, sat half-used on our dresser.

On top of these wondrous claims and promises, we are also faced with the new brands of 'affordable' make-up coming onto the high street, aimed at those of us who realise and admit to having a teeny bit of a self-control problem when it comes to cosmetic buying and so therefore need to reign in our spending. How perfect, then, when along comes a brand who can offer items at £1 a piece?! It seems too good to be true!! And the truth is, that well, it is.

Because, you see, a lot of us aren't quite au-fait with the hydro-exyl-ethyl-methylene type ingredients lists on the back of these little pots, tubes and jars. We don't actually know what these scientific names really MEAN and instead just 'trust' these brands not to put us in any danger. We don't think too much about putting these products onto our skin day in, day out, nor that these ingredients are being absorbed into our bloodstream. Our bank balance rejoices at the minimal prices and so we are pleased with our purchases and think no more about it.

And it gets even sneakier! There are companies out there who have cottoned onto the more cautious buyer, who have built their branding on 'pure' or 'natural' images, to have us believe that we are making careful choices when in fact they are as 'pure' or 'natural' as the next chemical-loaded product. This sneaky trickery has been labelled 'green washing' and is a clever marketing ploy used by big companies to lead consumers to believe that they are buying 'eco/natural/green/organically-derived' products when in fact that are just as 'green' or 'eco' as the bottle of bleaching agents next to it.

There are a wealth of damaging, dangerous and totally nasty ingredients used by companies these days, but I am going to focus on a few of the biggies over the course of my next few blog posts.


My number one ingredient that I would urge all consumers to avoid are parabens. Parabens are synthetic preservatives used in cosmetics, skin care products, baby products, deodorants, toothpaste and a whole manner of other products (also including foods). Basically, if you are buying a product which is going to come into contact with your skin, check the ingredients lists for these little nasties.

Parabens can mimic oestrogen which can cause female cancers. In a recent study of breast cancer tumours, scientists discovered parabens in 99% of tumour samples (see article here:   http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/01January/Pages/parabens-in-breast-cancer-tissue-studied.aspx ). Separate research into the exposure of newborn male mammals to butylparaben showed that it “adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system.”. They are bad, bad, bad for you.

I have looked at the ingredients lists on some day-to-day products and compiled a small (and rather surprising in some instances) list below of the products which I found to contain parabens, which most people use/consume without even thinking that they may be harmful.
Also note that a lot of these products are labelled in such a way that you would believe them to be a conscientious choice...

Huggies *PURE* baby wet wipes - contain Methylparaben

The Body Shop cocoa butter - contains both Methylparaben and Propylparaben

Johnson & Johnson baby nappy cream - contains Methylparaben and Propylparaben

Simple *kind to skin* soothing facial toner - contains Methylparaben

Aussie 3 minute miracle - contains Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben (How many!!!!)

Garnier *Skin Naturals* Simply Essentials soothing cleansing lotion - contains Methylparaben

As for cosmetics, these can be a lot more difficult to investigate as most do not display a list of ingredients on the bottles / tubes / pots. Purely as an example, here is a link to the MUA Cosmetic line's own ingredients list, available freely on their website: http://www.muastore.co.uk/ingredients
See how many parabens you can spot?! Although, I will give them their due for publishing this as many cosmetics companies do not openly publicise their ingredients lists. Very naughty.

It is important to realise that spreading product after product across your skin day after day will undoubtedly transfer the ingredients into your body. If these ingredients are harmful, this is a very bad thing!!! Many women wear cosmetics for up to 14 - 16 hours a day, every day, therefore it is important that a) you know what you are putting onto your skin and b) whether it is good for you or not!

I would recommend looking at sites such as cutECOsmetics , Naturismo , GreenPeople and LoveLula if you are interested in buying truly 'green' and cruelty free cosmetics or skincare products.

I really hope that you found this post informative and would love to hear what your thoughts are on organic/eco-friendly beauty and skincare products.

xxx

Green People Oy! Organic Shampoo & Shower gel / Oy! Organic Cleanse & Moisturise cream

I was recently lucky enough to be contacted again by Green People to trial some of their Oy! range, which is a delicious collection of products specifically designed with young skin in mind, particularly teens and twenty-somethings who may still be battling with those oily t-zones and breakouts.

I was sent the Green People Oy! Shampoo and Shower and the Green People Oy! Cleanse and Moisturise.

Oy! Shampoo and Shower from GreenPeople.co.uk

RRP £10.20

The Oy! Shampoo and Shower is just delicious. It has a zesty, fruity smell to it and it lathers beautifully. Due to containing chamomile, marshmallow (yummy!) and aloe vera this would be perfect for anyone who suffers with skin complaints such as eczema or psoriasis, or breakouts on their shoulders/back which I know can be especially common in teenage boys. I am fortunate enough not to suffer from skin conditions but I do find that I can suffer from razor burn after shaving my legs in the shower, something which 'chemical' shower washes can aggravate. This product not only fails to aggravate my skin after shaving, but it goes one step further and soothes and actively nourishes any razor burn or tender areas! Yay for no more post-shave red legs!!

Oy! Cleanse and Moisturise from GreenPeople.co.uk
RRP £9.95

On to the Oy! Cleanse and Moisturise. I've been using the Green People Anti-ageing Facial Oil for some time now (utterly amazing - review coming soon!!) so already swear by the Green People Facial Range.
The rosehip scent in this product just reminds me of having a professional facial, whilst the green tea and mandarin really refresh and waken the skin.
As a make-up remover, this works very well. I find that most make-up removers can really irritate my senstivie eye area, which seems ridiculous since this is where the majority of my make-up is! Since this product contains no alcohol or artificial fragrances, and is a 100% certified product with 90% certified ingredients (all available on the product page on their website) this product is perfect for using on delicate skin and doesn't cause inflammation or redness.
As a moisturiser, the silky texture and refreshing scent makes my skin feel beautifully hydrated. A little does seem to go a long way, so this product would seem to be very good value for money. The product makes a good base for make-up (which may seem funny, considering it is also used as a make-up remover!) and doesn't clog pores. It has an active anti-acne formula, which is a great reason to wear all day beneath your make-up if you're prone to break outs.

I love Green People products, and these two are no exception. I'd recommend them to anyone looking for a refreshing range of eco-friendly products which don't break the bank.

As an additional bonus, these products are currently on promotion at GreenPeople.co.uk so don't miss out!

* For a limited time the Oy! Shampoo and Shower is on Buy One Get One Free Promotion*

*For a limited time buy an Oy! Cleanse and Moisturise and receive a Green People 'Hit The Spot' FREE*

Jump for Josie - charity skydive

For those of you who have taken a look around my blog you will have noticed that I am avidly trying to raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care - a charity who provide two hospices which care for terminally ill patients.

This is a cause very close to my heart and I would like to share my story in the hope that it just might inspire you to donate a small sum of money toward this fantastic cause.

Josie - before she fell ill

My younger sister, Josie, developed leukaemia - a blood cancer - at the age of just 18. She was initally rushed to King's College, London where she had to be put onto life support for a number of weeks with a 5% survival rate as her internal organs closed down. It was here she was diagnosed with leukaemia, and miraculously pulled through to come off of life support, only to have to face 2 and a half years of gruelling chemotherapy treatment, prejudice and ignorance from the public and her peers. She tried to live her young life as normally as possible, continuing to go to nightclubs with her friends and insisting on shopping for cute new outfits whenever she managed to muster the energy. These outings would take 4 or 5 days in bed to recover from, but it was her way of refusing to give up, to stick two fingers up at the illness and be as 'normal' as possible. When she lost her hair, she refused to wear a wig, instead donning punk boots and painting her nails red in defiance. When she lost her lashes, she would put on the biggest, most outrageous false pair she could find. She never was a shrinking violet.


Throughout her battle she remained courageous and dignified, never complaining or self pitying. She survived long enough to see my twin daughters come into the world, and was a fantastic, loving auntie. My son doted on her, and my daughters always smiled when she cuddled them from her hospital bed. I feel so grateful for these memories.

Josie with her nephew and nieces - Christmas 2011

Josie's final few months were spent at St Julia's Hospice in Hayle. She was provided with her own room, round the clock care and a team of nurses and doctors with whom she formed firm, trusting relationships. The staff would trick or treat her room at Halloween and came carolling at Christmas. She was made to feel as comfortable as possible, for the hospice to be as homely as it could be, and she knew that she was surrounded by people who cared deeply for her.

Josie passed away on 28th December 2011 aged just 21.


In her final few hours, as my family and I sat with her while she slowly passed away, we were all treated with the utmost dignity and privacy. We were given time to say goodbye without unneccesary interruptions, space to grieve and support when we needed it. For this I will be eternally grateful.



The work that Cornwall Hospice Care do is second to none. They touch the hearts of those suffering with horrific, destructive illnesses and those who they matter to the most.

Unfortunately, like so many amazing services, Cornwall Hospice Care do not receive funding. Instead, they must raise over £6.75 million per year in order to continue to care for those who need it most.

Me - jumping from a plane 10,000ft over the Cornish coast

On Saturday 8th September I jumped 10,000 feet from an aeroplane over Perranporth in Cornwall to try to raise money for CHC. Those who know me will testify that this probably wasn't the most amazing prospect to me, as I hate heights, I have a fear of flying and I had nightmares in the weeks leading up to this!! But I did it, and I hated every second, but to date I have raised just over £1,600!!



I am going to continue to raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care with a variety of findraising ventures over the coming months and years. I will be publicising these on my blog and also via my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Memory-of-Josie-Brooks-fundraising-for-Cornwall-Hospice-Care/291389120933189?ref=tn_tnmn

If you can show your support by making a small donation toward this most worthy cause then you will be making a difference to so many people.

To donate simply visit: http://www.justgiving.com/jumpforjosie2 and give whatever you can spare.

Thank you xxx



Josie and I - October 2008 xxx

Monochrome mod meets countryside chic...

As much as I hate to admit it, summer is slowly drawing to a close.

With 'next season' emails creeping into my inbox and stores beginning to sneak the odd couple of rails' worth of browns, greys and ochres into the corners, everything is hinting toward the shift to A/W trends.
So reluctantly I have begun my wardrobe wishlist for the transition into autumn/winter.


Two of my favourite trends this A/W are mod and heritage. I absolutely love them both, especially the monochrome mod pieces and the luscious tweed and quilted detailing on the items in the heritage collections.

Below, I have put together a selection of items which I would love to add to my wardrobe as autumn draws in.







I love the tweed jacket shown here in the centre, which is from missguided.co.uk and sells for £34.99. It is a really versatile piece and could easily be worn causally or formally. The tweed hints toward the heritage trend without having to go down the check pattern and corduroy-elbow-patch route.


The white peplum top is from glamorousuk.com and retails at £22.99. I paired this with a skinny black waist belt from Warehouse for £12.00 and black jodphur style skinny trousers from River Island for £38.00 and then finished the look with a cute pair of leather gloves from boohoo.com which sell for £22.00.

The combination of the tweed jacket, jodphur trousers and leather gloves gives a real British countryside edge to an otherwise slick monochrome look, which in turn is a very 'mod' influence.

Finally, I added a simple quilted bag and shoe boots, all with gold accents to pick up on the buttons of the coat and buckle of the belt, to keep the look clean and structured.

I chose two options for the shoe/bag combo, a more expensive option and a cheaper high-street option. I think that if you choose a timeless look with shoes and bags then investing a little more expense can be worthwhile, however if money is tight then you can get the same overall result but at a fraction of the price! So here are my two options:



Option 1 - high street:





 

ASOS quilted chain strap bag - £20.00






ASOS gold heel shoe boot - £35.00








Option 2 - designer:






Marc Jacobs 'The Single' quilted chain strap bag - £440.00










Giuseppe Zanotti peep toe shoe boot - £494.00



I absolutely love the gold piping detail on these Zanotti shoe boots, and would love to add them to my shoe collection. Equally I think the flash of gold heel on the ASOS shoe boots would work just as well to tie in the gold accent details throughout the outfit.

The overall look would work equally as well with a sheer chiffon blouse and pair of flat, patent riding boots for the day time - again as a nod toward the heritage trend.

I hope that you like to combination of the two key trends in one, and hopefully think it works!

I'd love to hear which trends will be influencing your wardrobe this A/W.

xxx