neals yard remedies

i don't know if i've ever fully expressed my love for neals yard remedies. so here is a little ode to them.

we have a store in my local town, which is really great, because that means i can pop in there and just inhale the goodness every time i go shopping.

the staff are super friendly, and they will always give good advice and not try and sell you something you don't need.

there's also an online neals yard store that ships to the us and japan! amazing!

the main reason that i love this brand is that it is ethical and natural. there are some organic products too, and every item will have a label on it that says what % organic it is. they always give a full list of ingredients, and proper instructions for how to use everything!

oh and the blue glass bottles are the most beautiful thing to have on your bathroom shelf :)

these are some of my favorite things:

- frankincense hydrating cream

- honey and orange scrub

- mahonia clear skin gel

- organic lip formula shea nut and rosehip

- white tea enriching facial mask

- wild rose beauty balm

- lemon and coriander deodorant

- melissa hand cream

- rosemary and elderflower shower gel

- kaolin or bentonite clay or green clay

- remedies to roll travel

underarm waxing

ok, this is never anything i would want to admit to doing, but a couple of my friends have asked me questions about it, so i thought it might be useful for you all to know.

waxing underarms is more painful than any other waxing, but if you've had waxing done before then you'll be fine!

i went and had mine waxed at my local beauty therapists for the first time a couple of years ago. i just hate having the shaving shadow, and someone suggested that if i waxed them it would look smooth and hair free for ages. too true.

so anyway, i went, and because i've had everything else waxed i wasn't too worried about it. i just kinda had that fleeting thought of just HOW painful it would be once the wax was on. best to start having a panic then, because you've then only got about 2 seconds before it starts to sting!

anyways, it was so effective, lasted 4 weeks before they started showing through again, amazing! well worth it for £5 i think.

so, i resolved to go back and have it done again and again, but sometimes i just can't stand to grow my underarm hairs to the appropriate length....ew (which is about 0.5cm btw).

eventually i have managed to go several times, and am determined to keep up a better routine. but, i am now also brave enough to wax my own underarms. i know that sounds terrifying to a waxing newbie, but to us oldies we know that the pain subsides loads after the 5th time you wax any area. you just get used to the type of pain i think.

so i get some really cheap mini waxing strips from boots or tesco, and away i go. the thing is it doesn't take that long, and then when the hairs come back they are smaller and easier to take out again.

just make sure that if you do it on yourself you are waxing on clean skin and hairs, which will make them super easy to pull out.

now, enough of such a gross post.

i wish i could afford laser treatment on them, that would be ideal. then i wouldn't have to worry about them more than twice a year!

any questions about waxing i'd be more than happy to answer them!!!

english rose beauty makeup look

here's a requested look i created for my YT channel:

eyelash perming and tinting

one of the more bizarre beauty therapy treatments is eyelash perming and tinting. it sounds ridiculous doesn't it? i mean, who came up with the idea..?!

anyways, so after going on my course i was totally happy with the results, even if the method felt a little strange.

this is a pic of me tinting my friend E's lashes. they looked so good after, but my camera went a bit blurry, so you can't really tell from the pictures:

before we did the tint, we did the perm. by far the longest part of the treatment...the whole treatment takes just an hour, and three quarters of that is the perm.

it basically involves little rods going just above your eyelash line, gluing the lashes to the rod, popping perm gel on, covering in cling film for 15mins, brushing on some neutraliser, then covering in cling film again for another 15mins. Its pretty lengthy, but any good therapist will give you a hand massage or mini manicure during the waiting parts.

then the therapist takes off the rods, cleans off any residue and goes on with the tinting, which is literally protecting the eyes, then painting on the dye. you can also tint eyebrows, to make them seem more structured.

the perm lasts for 4-6 weeks, and the dye for about 2-4...depending on.

its a really good treatment for holiday, as you won't have to worry about mascara or eyelash curlers. but if you still want volume and thickness, you'll want to put on mascara.

don't be afraid of having this treatment done, and its not usually that expensive. let me know what you think if you have one, or have had one...where you pleased with the results?

over and out.

benefit makeup

Don't you just love the packaging for benefit?! Its beautiful! these are the things that i really want to try :) stuff thats been really well reviewed on youtube and other blogs. hmm, it would cost loads though!