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Wednesday 28 January 2015

Things For The Girls With Dry Skin This Winter


If there's one thing that I dislike about the cold weather, it's the havoc it plays on my skin. Combine comfort food, cold weather and my college's heating system; and you have the perfect recipe for dry, irritated skin. However, this year I have been keeping this under some control with a few products that keep flaky skin at bay.

LUSH's Dream Cream 
Although this is officially a hand and body cream, the shop assistant at my local LUSH assured me that it worked just as well as a facial cream, too. And oh, she was right. As a girl with dry-combination skin, this does wonders on the drier areas of my face (my cheeks and temples), by applying a generous layer of it as a part of my evening routine after cleansing and toning, then it works it's magic as it soaks in overnight. I love to use it for its original use; as a body cream, too. Particularly after a hard workout at the gym, leaving my dehydrated face and body softer and smoother. A win-win product, for sure.

The Body Shop's Argan Solid Oil for Lips
As the usual victim of chapped lips, this year hasn't seen a bump or flake on my lips, and I'm pretty sure it's down to this product. Before bed and after slapping on some lip scrub from LUSH - love the stuff - I apply a thick layer of this unique solid-oil-meets-lip-butter product, and when I wake up, it's still on my lips 8 hours later. What more can I say?

The Body Shop's Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask
The Origins Drink-Up Instensive Face Mask will always be near the top of my wish list, but with a £23 price tag, ain't no student got time for that. However after trying this Body Shop mask that I received free at a members event, I feel we have a dupe on our hands. I have to warn you, it's the weirdest consistency, almost a bit like jelly, but it's cooling effect and wet texture feels amazing on dry skin. I usually leave it on for around an hour, or overnight, if my face is really suffering, and once washed off it leaves you with a bright and glowing complexion.

Superfacialist by Una Brennan 
I was converted to oil cleansers by Loreal's Skin Perfection cleansing oil over a year ago, but recently I this product caught my eye in Boots because a) Anna from ViviannaDoesMakeup raves about this on her blog, and anything she mentions is bound to be brilliant, and b) it was on offer. And I can't resist a bargain. The Loreal oil is quite similar in quality and price, but this oil left my face feeling cleaner, without drying out my face, which most oil cleansers can do. And it smells amazing, what more could you want in a cleanser?

Yes to Carrots Face Scrub
Now you are probably thinking that scrubs will only make dry skin worse, but as a big fan of the Yes To products, I was prepared to give their face scrub from their carrot range, suited for dry skin types, a go. With dry-combination skin, I tend to get dry skin away from my t-zone, however in the middle of,the winter, I get patches of dry skin on my nose and chin as well as my cheeks, and this scrub manages to lift these dry patches without causing irritation to my sensitive skin. I usually apply this in the morning, and after that I follow with the Yes To Day Cream; a thick but wearable cream that leaves the best base for makeup. Their face wipes are amazing too, so this range gets a big thumbs up from me. 

Sunday 18 January 2015

The Weekend Post: Clearing Space



You know the drill. New Years brings opportunities of a fresh start and new goals, but the first few days of January pass before you can blink and you realise you haven't kept to your resolutions even though the year has only just begun. So this Sunday it's time to chuck away the chocolate wrappers and get out of my PJs and sort out my life. Or, maybe just my room to start with anyway. 

Sort through drawers
Toiletries that are past their time, receipts and post-it's that are months old and just any crap floating in the sea of stuff, just get a black bin liner and dump them. Then pile the things you wish to keep somewhere temporary and clean the insides and outsides of your drawers. Today I am doing this for my bigger drawers for toiletries/skincare/haircare and smaller drawers for makeup.

Slim down wardrobe 
For this, I am making three piles of clothes: keep, donate, chuck. It's disgusting how many old clothes are sitting in my wardrobe, so today's the day they go. Also, take the time to rethink your storage. Refold or hang your keep pile, and return any loose clothes or underwear to their correct place. 

Clear the floordrobe
99% of the time, my bedroom floor is part carpet, part a sea of black garments. We've all had a floordrobe at one time, and if now is your time, it's time for it to go. Now for a couple of rounds of washing and a good hoover. Now I've finished with my room, time to light a candle and open all windows for that fresh scent. 

Get sh*t done
Clear space, clear mind. Buy a new diary (possibly the best New Years activity), transfer important dates and appointments you need to remember. Then consider the aspects of your life you want to organise whether it be work, money, univeristy/college/school or blogging, find or buy a notebook for each and start making to do lists. Always try to be one step ahead. Then close the windows, grab a cup of tea and catch up on your reality TV. It's a Sunday necessity. 


Wednesday 7 January 2015

Slovenia: The Photo Diary






















If you saw my latest weekend post; talking all things hot chocolate, you will know me and my family (mum, dad and my brother, Joey) took a week-long trip to a frequent family destination, Slovenia. We stayed in the town of Bled and even after visiting since I was a baby, it is still the same; peaceful but charming. Although we have visited the country countless times, I had not been inside the capital city, Ljubljana (except for the airport, of course), so a day trip was necessary.

The trip was exactly what I needed: fresh air, Christmas cheer, and a bit of peace and quiet. And as I am writing this with my head in the college books again, I wish I was back!



















Sunday 4 January 2015

The Weekend Post: Hot Chocolate on a Hilltop




If you've had your eyes on my Instagram (@deskparties if you wanted a quick peek before reading on) I spent a week over Christmas with my family in one of our favourite holiday destinations, Slovenia; a small country wedged between Italy and Croatia in the heart of the Julian Alps. After visiting the same town countless times, it's fair to say we know the town of Bled inside out. And the cafe Slaščičarna Šmon, or as we nickname it, The Brown Bear for fear of putting the Slovenian language to shame.

It can be found on the top of a hill along the road Grajska cesta, this restaurant small but mighty, with cake cabinets filled to the brim and the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted. So on our last day I light what better way to send off our holiday, and warm up in the snow that started falling that day, than sipping on a cup of what tastes like pure melted chocolate. I plan on doing a photo diary post of my holiday in the near future, so keep your eyes on the blog next Wednesday. 

Needless to say I am missing my holiday and that hot chocolate is now a thing of my dreams. Until next time...

Thursday 1 January 2015

Goodbye, 2014


Last night was time to say goodbye to another year, and welcome a new one with one too many glasses of Vino. So even though I am feeling a little bit fragile today, I wanted to write a little post wishing you the best for the next 365 days. 2014 saw me getting my second job, turning 18 (and celebrating most weekends in style ever since!), my summer life consisting of work, beach trips and festivals, and the latter part of the year visting open days, applying to univeristy, juggling studies and two jobs and going out on the weekend. Very busy, I know, but I hope that 2015 brings me as much activity and opportunity as last year!

As for my blog, I am swapping drafts for university applications for my blogger account, so expect a new post every Wednesday and Sunday. But before Sunday's post, expect to find me on the sofa drinking tea, watching rubbish Christmas films and making the most of my last few days off.

Have an amazing new year!