Facemask of the week..

Hey guys, 

Before I start I just want to apologise for being away for so long. Just so you are aware, for the next month my posts may be a little all over the place. I've had some bad news from the hospital so at the moment I'm working hard to sort that out! I will try my very best to get at least 3 posts up a week for the next month so please keep coming back!! 

Now on to what this post is actually about. My facemask of the week!! 

This week I chose the Montagne Jeunesse White Chocolate mask. 

Oh my word this mask smells amazing!! Once again I had to restrain myself so I didn't start licking it off my face!! 

This mask is ultra deep cleansing and contains cocoa butter, jojoba oil & rich cream. It also contains melted white chocolate.. YUM!! It deeply cleanses your skin to help clear/prevent any breakouts and leaving your skin feeling so amazingly soft and looking beautifully radiant. My skin looked absolutely gorgeous straight after removing this mask! It really did look radiant and clear enough to go without foundation!! (Please note: I didn't have any breakouts before applying this mask) The radiance lasted for the whole week which is just great. I really did feel as though I had a new skin. 

Another plus is that I didn't come out in any breakouts after using this mask. I do feel that Montagne Jeunesse masks are the best for not giving you breakouts after using! As you know, the company only use all natural products, which is one of the main reasons I continue to purchase their products.

I once again had enough in the sachet for two applications so my mum joined in the facemask fun!! I frequently save the left overs for the next week by putting them in a sealable bag to prevent them drying out.

I think the whole Montagne Jeunesse range is brilliant value for money.. Most of their masks can be picked up for £1 and most contain enough for two applications!! If you're not a fan of the clay masks then they do also do peel off masks and cloth masks, I believe these are priced a little higher but are still great value for money! 

I would highly recommend the White Chocolate mask, not only does it smell AMAZING!! But it leaves your skin looking good enough to go without foundation for a whole week! (I didn't have any blemishes at the time of using this mask, if you do then I can imagine it will help to clear them but don't expect it to clear your face instantly.. Though.. you will notice that your skin looks better instantly.) 

You can find this mask in most drugstores & supermarkets. You can also find it online at the Montagne Jeunesse website. (Sorry, I can't link as I'm on my IPhone) 

What is your favourite facemask from the Montagne Jeunesse range?

Laura

Xx

Hot Picks -My Top 5 'Body Shop' Products

So for this weeks Hot Picks I have chosen the brand 'The Body Shop'.

 

The body shop is another brand that I absolutely love! All of their products are just so luxurious and smell AMAZING! I have picked 5 products which I absolutely love and continue to go back and buy all the time.

 

1) Moringa Body Butter - No surprises that this is one of The Body Shops best sellers! It has a really nice floral scent and it just smells AMAZING! It leaves your skin feeling super soft and smooth and smelling lovely all day!! £13 from HERE.

2) Moringa Shower Gel - Can you tell that I'm into the whole Moringa range? Once again this smells AMAZING and it lathers up really well, you really do only require a tiny amount! 60ml for £2, 250ml for £4 & 750ml for £12, all from HERE.

3) Wild Rose Hand Cream With SPF15 - This hand cream is one of the best I have ever used! It leaves your hands hydrated all day with only the tiniest amount of product! This is one of my everyday staple products and I think it will be for a long long time! It smells great too! It does say that it is for mature skin and it is suppose to minimise brown spots but who cares if it does what I want it to do? 30ml for £5 and 100ml for £10 from HERE 

4) Mango Body Scrub - I love anything that smells of mango so this was a must have product for me! It is great at removing dead skin cells and leaving your skin soft without the feeling that you've ripped 10 layers of skin off! £12.50 from HERE.

5)Vineyard Peach Lip Gloss - I haven't tried anything else from this range but if the lipgloss is anything to go by then I will be super happy! Every time I have it on my lips I want to lick it all off!! It smells that good! It does actually taste really nice too... I obviously had to try it!! It lasts ages for a gloss and it is super super glossy too! £7 from HERE.

What are your favourite Body Shop items? Can you recommend anything I should give a try?

 

 

Wrinkle Fighting Super Foods

Who doesn't want to stay looking younger for longer? I know one big concern I have is getting wrinkles as I get older. Now I know I'm only 22 at the moment but with products already being marketed at my age group it is quite clear that prevention is key when fighting wrinkles! I came across an article on the internet that listed a load of different foods that are suppose to have anti-ageing properties and I have picked out my top 10 that are already included within my diet and researched them to find out what makes them anti ageing super foods. 

 

Water

 

This is one of the best anti ageing substances out there and something that is readily available to most of us. I already drink plenty of water so I'm half way there to maintaining my youthful looks! It is recommended that you drink 2 litres of water a day. Water has many different advantages, one of them being anti ageing. It helps to retain your skins moisture and flush out any toxins that could cause your skin to age. Because of this, water is also great for people with acne or even if you just get frequent breakouts! Drinking 2 litres a day is such an easy way to get great, healthy looking skin! And.. to most of us (especially in the UK) water is FREE!!

 

Dark Chocolate

 

Who doesn't like chocolate? I know dark chocolate can be a bit hit and miss at times but in the name of beauty surely it's worth a try? Dark chocolate is loaded with age resisting antioxidants and flavanoids. It is thought that the higher the cocoa content, the more antioxidants. I personally like 'Green & Blacks Espresso Organic Dark Chocolate' with 70% cocoa. Chocolate already contains caffeine but this bar is infused with Arabic coffee, it is thought that caffeine not only has anti ageing properties but it also helps to prevent age related brain problems. 2 benefits in 1! So, next time your down the chocolate aisle in the supermarket, swap your milk chocolate for dark chocolate! Think wrinkles! 

 

 

Grapes

 

My favourite fruit has to be grapes so this is no problem for me. Grapes contain some of the most potent antioxidants in the world and are one of the best anti ageing foods out there! It is recommended that eating grapes alongside taking vitamin C makes the antioxidants even more potent and therefore increases the benefits. The main benefits are protecting the skin from damage caused by toxins and pollutants in the air and encouraging the repair of collagen, this means that the skin keeps its elasticity and in turn means less wrinkles/saggy skin!! Red grapes are known to contain more of the antioxidants so it's definitely worth swapping your white grapes for red!

 

Eggs

How do you like your eggs in the morning? Whether you like them scrambled, fried or poached, eggs are one excellent food to prevent ageing! They include Omega 3 fatty acids, protein, selenium and zinc which are all well known wrinkle fighters but the yolk contains Biotin. Biotin is known for repairing cell damage and therefore, repairing damaged skin. Egg-cellent!!

 

 

Onions & Garlic

 

If you can live with the smelly breath then onions and garlic are amazing at combating wrinkles! They are both known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties which all together provide great anti ageing properties, mainly by helping to prevent cell damage, they are also powerful enough to reverse cell death which are both parts of the ageing process. These two super foods are best eaten raw so have your toothbrush to hand!!

 

Carrots

 

  Not only are carrots brilliant for increasing your tan but they are also brilliant at fighting ageing. They are high in Vitamin A and Beta Carotene - both of these are very powerful antioxidants and dramatically boost collagen production and in turn prevents skin damage occurring. Have you ever heard someone say 'eat all your carrots so you can see in the dark'? Carrots are great for improving sight and stopping the deterioration of sight that sometimes occurs with ageing. Add a pile of carrots to your plate and make sure you can always see in the dark! 

Cucumber

 

This may be no surprise to you but cucumber is great at fading those wrinkles. Most of you will have applied slices to your eyes at some point in time but it pays to eat them afterwards! Adding cucumber into your diet will benefit those wrinkles in the long term. Cucumber contains vitamins A & C which are known for their collagen boosting properties, vitamin K, which is essential for bone strength and increasing brain function! Great to have the day before an exam in a nice tuna & cucumber sandwich! And, if that wasn't enough there are also many other compounds in cucumber which destroy harmful toxins. So, why not chop a cucumber up and place it in the fridge for the next time your feeling peckish.

 

Oranges

 

 As you all should know, oranges are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is great at finding and destroying toxins in the body, leading to healthier, younger looking skin. Oranges also are great at reducing blood pressure, improving circulation and reducing the levels of stress hormone. The reduction in blood pressure and the improved circulation are great ways to speed up the destroying of the toxins, meaning you will haveyounger looking skin in no time! Add a few oranges into your 5 a day and your well on the way!

 

Strawberries

 

 
Strawberries and ice cream - one of my favourite desserts of all time and now I can eat them and know I'm preserving my youthful looks. Strawberries are packed full of antioxidants and other anti ageing products which stimulate collagen production. They also contain a natural enzyme which whitens teeth, eliminating the yellowness that sometimes happens as you age and keeping your teeth pearly white!

 

 

 Do you know of any more anti ageing super foods?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Beauty Products 2

 

Who doesn't love home made beauty products? Not only are they cheap to make but they are chemical free and you know exactly what goes into them! There's also no packaging bumping up the cost of the product or adding to the landfill! It's a win win situation really! Home made beauty products also make brilliant gifts... place them in reusable containers and decorate to add your own personal touch. Let's face it, if I can make them then anyone can!

 

I have been testing out some new DIY Beauty Recipes over the past couple of weeks and thought I would share my top 3 with you!  

 

1) Dry Skin Treatment

 

All you need to make this treatment is mayonnaise and baby oil. Place 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise  in a dish and add 1 teaspoon of baby oil, this will make enough for one application. Apply it all over the face and neck and leave for 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. This treatment can also be used on any other dry patches you may have including, elbows, knees and feet! My face has been suffering lately and has had some dry patches here and there, this treatment left my face feeling beautifully smooth and well hydrated without leaving me looking really oily! I also tried this treatment for my feet! I applied it to my feet and placed cotton socks over the top. This meant that I could carry on walking around whilst letting the treatment do its work! I noticed an immediate improvement in the condition of my feet after using this and I will certainly continue to use it on a weekly basis! 

 

2) Herbal Facial Toner

 

For this recipe you need a bottle of Witch Hazel (which can be found at most pharmacies for pennies!) Witch Hazel makes a great facial toner but to add an added zing and extra

benefits, pour the Witch Hazel into a bowl and add fresh pieces of cucumber and rosemary. You can add 2 drops of essential oil to add a scent to the toner but this is optional. Cucumber is known for its soothing properties and will sooth any redness on the face. The rosemary is great for keeping blemishes at bay as it is a natural acne treatment. Place the mixture in the fridge and allow to soak for 3 days. After 3 days, pour the mixture through a sieve into a bottle. Add your own decorative label and this can be kept or given away as a gift! The perfect natural skin revival for when the weather gets colder. I have been alternating my home made toner with my everyday one and I have noticed such a difference in the amount of facial redness. My face looks more radiant after using this toner as opposed to my shop bought toner!

 

3) Honey Face Wash

 

You might not know but honey is a fabulous antibacterial natural product and has many unknown uses! One that I came across not too long ago was a honey face wash. It is simple to make yet very effective. You may think that you will end up in a sticky mess but trust me you wont! Honey can be used on its own as a gentle wash even on the most sensitive of skins but I came across a recipe which recommended adding a teaspoon of baking soda Add the baking soda to a tablespoon of honey , mix together and massage into the skin in circular motions, rinse off with warm water. The baking soda helps to gently exfoliate the skin without being too harsh and the honey helps the skin to retain moisture and feel more hydrated. This face wash is also great for people with acne due to the antibacterial properties of honey.  

 

 

Have you got any great DIY beauty product recipes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liebster Award 2

I have very kindly been nominated again for the Liebster Award by +A. Beniot  from Always Blabbing.

 

 

Unfortunately, due to being nominated already I cannot accept this award as such. I am very grateful for the nomination and it means a lot to me that I have been nominated not only once but twice!

 

To show my gratitude I am going to answer the questions that +A. Beniot  has set.

 

To find further details on the Liebster Award and to view my previous nomination please click HERE.

 

+A. Beniot Questions

 

1. Eyeliner gel or pencil?

Pencil. I find it much easier to use a Kohl pencil rather than a gel.

 

2. Favourite nail polish. 

OPI Are We There Yet?

 

3. Dream vacation destination?

Thailand - One day I will get there!!  

 

4.  Sandals or boots?

Sandals - I cannot stand having hot feet!

 

5. Favourite Season?

Autumn - I love how pretty everything looks in Autumn and how the sun is still shining but it is not boiling hot and you can still wrap up warm!

 

6. Favourite Holiday ?

Ibiza with my best friend.

 

7. Coloured mascara yay or nay? 

No. If a pop of colour is needed then eyeshadow is the way to achieve it!

 

8. Do you have animals?

Yes. I currently have 2 mice called Ben & Jerry. My cat, Poppy has sadly been put to sleep :-(

 

9. One make up product you can't live without

Foundation or Tinted Moisturiser - instantly brightens your complexion

 

10.  Favourite Movie?

PS. I Love You - It is one of the few films that I can watch over and over again!

 

11. Favourite Food?

Vanilla Brioche! - Lush!!!

 

Thank you once again to +A. Beniot the nomination means an awful lot to me and I am sorry that I couldn't accept as such.

 

Please check out +A. Beniot blog @ Always Blabbing, She has some great content as its definitely worth having a look :-)