A Nutritional Update

Some of you might remember that back in April I went to see a nutritionist in regards to my eczema.  My skin was particularly bad at the time, however certainly not as bad as it was here.  As we are approaching August, and I’m now onto my fourth month of my new diet, I thought I’d share with you my progress and how I’ve been getting on!

Yeast, gluten, dairy, chilli, ginger and garlic were all eliminated from my diet for a minimum of six weeks – you can read more about it here – in order to give my skin and body a chance to detox from the bacteria’s causing my problems.  I won’t lie, it was really tough for the first week, I ate around 30 eggs over breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!  After that though, I found a lot of new things to try, and got myself into a pretty consistent routine.  Breakfast was a nutrigrain style Weetabix with plant based milk or a gluten free granola with Alpro yoghurt.  Lunch was either an omelette/hard boiled eggs with baked beans or a bowl of gluten free pasta.  Then for tea it tended to vary from an omelette, pasta or a tortilla pizza!  Hard boiled eggs were often a snack of choice as they are super easy and quick to prepare, as well as being rather filling and healthy! 

For a while I found it really hard to find things to snack on between meals, as I used to be the type of person who would reach for a bag of crisps or a bar of chocolate – no matter what time of day it was.  Now however I know I can go for foods that are not only tasty, but pretty heathy and filling too.  Nakd bars, Pulsin brownies and Kettle Chips have been my snacks of choice as of late due to their convenience and special offers!  I felt really restricted when I first started my diet, as I went from being able to eat whatever I wanted whenever to being very much limited on a day to day basis.  I now know that there is just as much that I can eat and enjoy as there is that I cannot! 

Since having switched up my diet, I have seen a huge improvement in my overall health, not just my skin.  My eczema has improved tremendously, and although it has flared up a little on my hands right now – this normally happens when the weather goes from one extreme to another.  When my diet was mostly rubbish based, I would often take a nap during the day as I would get quite tired around 3pm.  I can now function like a normal person from 6am – 11pm without a nap, which is a massive improvement as I can actually do things after work and with my evenings!

I no longer need a nap before my evening walk with Hulk!

Finally, the results that I have been most pleased with is my stomach.  I no longer feel bloated on a day to day basis.  I no longer need to eat and eat and eat to feel full, and I’ve lost around about a stone – solely from switch around my diet, which no extra exercise, which is amazing!

Of course this is all still a work in progress, however I’m absolutely delighted with all of my results.  I feel a whole lot healthy on the inside and out - and would very much recommend a visit to a nutritionist if you feel that your diet could be improved, but you don’t know how to go about it.  If you stay in or around Aberdeenshire, I would highly recommend using Nourishing Insights, as Beverly has been great helping not only me but also my brother and boyfriend too!  You can read all about the work they do here.

What’s the best thing you’ve done for yourself that has changed your life completely?

Until the next one,

Don’t Look at Me Facemask

It’s that time of the month again when my skin starts to act up and breakout in the most inconvenient ways.  My face feels super bumpy due to my pores and spots being big and gross, and my eczema has broken out on my hand again – where it tends to act up the most and often gets infected.  Both these things though can be treated, my eczema will clear up after a day or two of steroid cream – and my skin will clear up with the help of a fresh facemask!

We all know that I enjoy a Lush facemask (see here, here, here and here for some of my faves) so naturally, when my skin acts up I reach for a little black pot to speed up the recovery process!  At the end of last month, I traded in another 5 little black pots for a new fresh facemask, so  here is what I’m using right now…

What first drew me into Don’t Look at Me was of course the lush looking vibrant blue colour than filled the round silver bowl on the ice display in store.  The colour intrigued me to look further at the ingredients – which then led me to discover the amazing smell… LEMON!

It’s absolutely delicious, the scent reminds me very much of the ocean salt face a body scrub, which I have used in the past and adored.  So it was with great delight to find a facemask that would somewhat replicate the good of the scrub, as Don’t Look at Me is also very exfoliating.

Upon applying, as you spread the mask over your face you really feel the ground rice rubbing into your pores and working it’s magic!  You can also feel the lemon juice seeping into the pores and creating a tingly sensation. I love to leave it to dry up for around 20 minutes at least, because I find that the longer you leave it, the more noticeable the results!  Today I washed mine off in the shower, which I found to be a lot easier than trying to do it over the sink – as it’s way less messy.  As you wash it off, the mask melts away enough to allow you to give your skin a gentle exfoliation – without the lemon juice being too harsh.  Afterwards my skin feels cleaner, smoother and looks a lot brighter too!  Even more surprisingly, my skin actually feels very well moisturised, thanks to the murmuna butter.

Don’t Look at Me is perfect for me to use despite my sensitive skin, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a deep cleansing experience, without the fuss (and mess)!

What’s your favourite fresh facemask right now?

Until the next one,

Little Indulgences

Over the last couple of months I’ve been discovering a lot of tasty goodies in my local supermarkets that I wish I had known about my whole life! From potential healthy snacks to just general treats –these have since become my favourite go to goodies during my trips to the supermarket. 

Free From Fellows

Spied in Home Bargains, these fantastic little jelly sweets were sold to me from the moment I first set my eyes on them.   What drew me in was the name of course, after having changed up my diet back in April.  Free from what though, exactly?  Dairy, gluten, sugar and gelatine – as well as avoiding any product that comes from animals.  Not only are these bad boys suitable for vegetarians, they are also vegan too – meaning that myself, my brother and my mum can all enjoy them!  Best of all though, they actually taste really good.  The cola bottles taste just like actual cola bottles, the gummy bears are super fruity and delicious, and the berries are super chewy and yum – just the way gummy sweets should be!  Before becoming a vegetarian, Haribo used to be my favourite sweeties ever – so it makes me really happy when I can find the perfect alternatives to my old favourites.  Since discovering them, my local store has stopped taking them in!  This makes me super sad, however I will hopefully be reunited with these lovely treats once again.

Pulsin Brownie Bars

Holy mother of mackerel… have you ever tasted something so, so good that is relatively healthy and makes you question all of the bad stuff you’ve put into your body eating the alternative versions?!  Because that is exactly what eating this brownie makes me do every time.  Created out of mainly cashews, dates, raw cacao, raisins and almonds these delicious bars create the most perfect brownies – other than my mothers real ones, ya feel me?!  Super softy, chewy and delicious, these bars really do hit the spot for when you fancy something indulgent but don’t feel like being naughty.  I first discovered them back in April when Aldi did their gluten free week.  Gluten, Dairy, Soya free and suitable for vegans, these really are great for people in general, no matter what diet preference you follow! 

Fruit YoYos

Being a sucker for a fruity treat on occasion, I have been struggling to find goodies that are suitable for my diet (and waistline!)  I love jelly tots but I know they’re full of sugars so I’ve been trying to keep them as an occasional treat.

My dad bought these several months back for my little brothers packed lunches, and when they sat for weeks on end because no one was interested, I decided to give them a go! 

Made from 100% fruit and contributing to one of your five a day per pack, these tasty yo yos have sorted out my sweet tooth on more than one occasion as of late.  My favourite flavours being the Apple, Strawberry and Mango ones, I usually pick up one of each from my local supermarket when they’re on a 3 for £1.20 deal or similar. Yum, yum, yum!

What’s your favourite thing to snack on when you’re feeling indulgent?

Until the next one,

Battle of the Lip Care

I’ve been on a mission these last few weeks to try and find the perfect lip product for my poor dry lips.  I woke up one morning and they were just so red, sore, chapped and just really uncomfortable – not to mention really unpleasant looking.  I tried creams, coconut oil and my trusty Lush Lip Scrub – but none of it worked!  So payday past, I picked up a few wee bits to put to the test of trying to bring my lips back to normality.  Here is what I found!

Crazy Rumours

After searching high and low online for a cruelty free lip balm, I was delighted to spy that Holland and Barrett stocked these fantastic balms.  For a long time I saw a lot of people raving about these on Instagram, as they are a 100% natural and vegan lip balm with a load of lovely favours!  From sodas, to citrus, to coffee and even festivities – Crazy Rumours legit have a flavour for everyone and every mood possible!  I treated myself to the lovely Peppermint one as I like the tinglyness on my lips when they’re not looking great, and it sure didn’t disappoint.  A simple balm with no colour, it’s really helped to try and get my lips over this weird dry phase!  It’s a lovely light weight balm that is non sticky and really soothing – especially when the peppermint starts to set in.  It takes a few seconds to feel the tingle, however it lasts long enough to make them feel lush and lively!  The smell is so great too, it reminds me of candy canes and you can actually smell it as you’re wearing it which is fab.  I’m really pleased with my purchase and will be picking up a few others the next time I head into Holland and Barrett!

Burts Bees

How is it possible that I am going to be twenty two this year, and this month was the first time EVER that I have tried a Burts Bees product?  Although not vegan, they are a totally cruelty free which is exactly what I need right now!  Seeing as Holland and Barrett had a BOGOHP sale on at the time of purchase, I decided to go for one of each brand.  I went for the Wild Cherry flavour as I fancied something fruity, which smells absolutely amazing, like good enough to eat.  Unlike Crazy Rumours, Burts is quite a thick balm which you can totally feel as you apply it.  It leaves my lips feeling glossy and very well nourished with every application, and I’ve noticed that one application of this will last me hours – although I do like to apply a touch up, it definitely is not necessary.  Like Crazy Rumours, Burts have a great variety of flavours to choose from – so many actually that I’ve decided to pick up a few gift sets to put away for Christmas pressies already… I like to be organised okay?! 

Lush Charity Pot

I also picked myself up a small pot of my trusty old friend Charity Pot during my last visit to Lush, as it’s been a while since I scooped one up.  It’s the perfect size for my little travel bag, and is great for those times when my lips feel like they’re on fire and need to be soothed.  A little goes a long way with this, so for just £3.50 it’s a bargain considering I’ve barley made a dent in it coming up to week three since purchase.  I will admit that it does feel a little greasy at times when apply to my chin and upper lip too, however when it’s all absorbed it does leave my skin feeling soft to the touch and less irritated.

Unfortunately, as much as I’ve loved all these products - none have them have managed to cure my poor old lips completely…yet!  Although very much improved, there have been a few days (like today) when nothing seems to want to help me out.  I’m delighted with each of my purchases - however I’m still on the hunt for that perfect product!

What’s your go to purchase for your peckers?

Until the next one,

Inecto Products

We all know that I’m cheap, there is no denying that by all means.  I like to pick myself up a bargain – be it beauty products, hair care or even grub.  I always like it cheaper.  Saying that though, I almost always tend to stick to well known brands – more so for my skincare and hair care.  I’ve never been one to go and pick up just any old bottle of shampoo or moisturiser in the shops, simply because if I don’t know the brand, how can I know if it’s going to be any good?  Since going cruelty free with my cosmetics, there have been a lot of brands that I have come to read about that have been of a lot of interest to me.  Apart from Lush, a lot of my regular go to brands are no longer suitable – so they’ve had to be replaced by new finds.  I never thought that I would find a cruelty free brand so beautifully tailored to my likes, needs and wants in both skin and hair care!

Inecto was brought to my attention about two months ago when my mum spied their products in our local Homebargains store.  My mum is vegan, so she was totally delighted to find that they are a 100% vegan company who source the purest ingredients to make their products at least 90% natural – starting from for just a mere 99p!  I won’t lie, I was more than sceptical when she brought it to me to try – I’m really fussy about cosmetics.  If it’s cheap, it makes me worry that it’s going to irritate my skin – however I gave it a go anyway when my mum wouldn’t stop banging on about it and I had read online about the brand (and discovered that coconuts play a large part in their products… and we know I love a coconut!)

I picked up a large tub of the moisturiser for just 99p the other week, after borrowing my mums on numerous occasions.  It’s a really thick and creamy consistency, however it is totally absorbent and light weight when fully rubbed into the skin.  I’ve been using it day and night on my face every single day since purchasing – and have found it to really effective!  I dries in so quickly when applied, and doesn’t leave my face sticky either – which is great for the mornings as I don’t really have to wait to apply my make-up.  I’ve also been using on my arms, thighs and hands at night before bed, and it really does leave my skin feeling well treated and moisturised.  Even better, I can still apply my coconut oil after using it, without it making me feel like a giant grease ball.  I’ve really fallen in love with this particular product and can safely say that it will be one that will become a regular purchase of mine!

Another one from Inecto that I have recently discovered and again since become obsessed with is their Coconut Shampoo, which you can pick up for just a mere £1.48 at Homebargains right now!  Again, a really thick and creamy mixture, but it lathers up beautifully in my long, curly hair!  It smells totally gorgeous, like a really sweet coconut, and as it is rinsed out it doesn’t leave my hair feeling tuggy or matted before  I apply the conditioner.  Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to treat myself to the conditioner to match yet as my local supplier is all out *cries* however the shampoo works a treat with my Lush Jungle Conditioner for now!  Hopefully I will be able to pick up a bottle of Inecto conditioner soon, alongside the other couple of hair care products that I have since spied on their site.

I’m totally blown away by the quality, price and just the overall standard of products by Inecto!  They smelly fantastic, work brilliantly and allow me to keep my spending to a minimum – which I can honestly say is something that I struggle to do with cosmetic shopping.  I can’t wait to try out all of the other products that Inecto have to offer, as they really have made me so happy with the variety and quality of their goods!

Have you tired out any Inecto goodies yet?

Until the next one,

Cruelty Free Make-Up Follow Up

A couple of weeks back I shared with you all the lovely and affordable cruelty free make up in the form of Barry M and B.  As promised, I’ve broken down the products to try help you get a better feel for them.

Mascara

I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this mascara – it’s totally amazing!  It’s not a particularly fancy wand, if anything it is probably a little bit old school.  In the morning I do about three swipes across each eye to give me a nice natural looking lash – however if I have plans in the evening it’s really easy to build up the look without clumping, leaving me with a nice dramatic eye look!

Barry M Foundation

I really think that this could be the best foundation that I have ever tried out – like ever!  It’s so light to wear, and if blended well (which doesn’t take much effort at all) I really don’t think you can tell that I’m wearing it!  I was delighted to find the perfect shade for my skin, I could tell just by looking at the bottle it was the one for me.  However I did sample it too… you know, just to be safe!  It gives the most perfect matte finish ever, and leaves my skin looking lovely and healthy every day.  My only concern with this was the price – this little pot cost me £5.99, and I’m already just about half way through.  Saying that though, Barry M usually have some sort of promotion on too at all the major drug stores – which will hopefully mean I can stock up then, making it cheaper for me in the long run!

Blusher

I really like the style of this blush, its powdery but whipped, so when you apply it with a brush it takes really nicely to my matte foundation, and gives me a nice pinky glow all day.  I picked this up for £3.99, but as it retails at £7.99 full price, I’m not sure that it will be one I’ll be quick to pick up again unless its on offer.  I’m cheap okay?!  I do however adore this shade, and the peach alterative was super cute too!

Blemish Primer

This stuff is amazing, it makes my skin feel fantastic with every single application!  It feels really moisturising and leaves my skin feeling super hydrated throughout the day too – a win win situation!  I’m not sure I can say much about the blemish control – but it does create the perfect base for my make-up, which now lasts pretty much a whole day with no touch ups!  This is one product that I would be willing to pay the full £9.99 for as it had been great for my skin, however I will not say no to a promotion in the future *wink wink*.

Beauty Blender

This was one of the items that I had not intended on purchasing, but you know for £4.99 I couldn’t really say no.  I was in desperate need of a new one anyway… or so I told myself at the time!  It’s the perfect sturdy little blender, although slightly smaller than the real techniques one.  My sisters have however told me that it feels and looks just like the official real deal, whatever that means – but I presume it’s good news!

Face palette 

For £4.99, I suppose I can’t really complain.  But I will, my only problem is that the swatches are simply not big enough!  The highlighter is amazing, it gives me a nice glow without being too dramatic.  The concealer is pretty good too – however I have noticed that if I don’t blend it to my best ability in the morning then it does tend to get a bit patchy as the day goes on.  These are the only two items I’ve used so far, but I’m sure the others will come in handy sometime soon!

The finished look!

So there you have it, I really like everything that I picked up!  If you’ve not checked them out yet, then give them a go!  I’m now on a mission to find the perfect lip care product – so if you know of anything, let me know below!

Until the next one, 

July Lust List

Just like last month, I’ve put together a few bits and pieces that I would like to treat myself to.  I’m keeping it short and sweet this time round though, as I have three birthdays in July to fund – as well as another three during the first two days in August… YIKES!

Vegan Subscription Box

My six weeks on my gluten/dairy/yeast free diet have been and gone, and I’ve decided to carry on with it until I’m given a reason not to (bar the occasional treat mind you!)  My mum is a vegan, and she has come across the perfect wee snack box for me.  It’s 100% vegan and totally gluten free too, and it only costs £9.50!  They send you out a box a month, which will contain five to eight vegan snacks that are guaranteed to cost more than the value of the box you are paying for.  I’m excited to try this one out and report back to you guys at a later date!

Nakd Treats

I’ve found that buying Nakd bars from my local supermarkets has become a little bit repetitive.  They only stock certain flavours now – and although I do still really enjoy them – I like to have variety.  You can now purchase a variety box online from Nakd for just £7.99 – they send you 9 bars in the post, some of which I’ve yet to try!  I can’t wait to place an order, I’ve been dying to try the Café Mocha for ages now… so here is hoping it’s a good one!

Lip Care

If you follow me on Twitter, you will have probably noticed that I’ve been complaining about my lips and awful lot this last few weeks.  I don’t know what happened, I basically woke up one morning and my lips were dry and red and sore and just really not nice looking!  It’s really quite painful at times, so I’m hoping that I’ll be able to find something that will fix the problem sooner rather than later. I’ve been having a look at a few vegan and cruelty free lip balms and moisturisers since my problem occurred, so watch this space.  I’ll fill you in if I find that miracle product any time soon!

I think that’s it really!  I’ve a few trips coming up in the next couple of months that require hotels and train fares – as well as all these birthdays (and my boyfriends and I three year anniversary) that all need funding too.  I don’t need to crazy splurge on myself every month – but I do like a wee treat here and there!

What’s everyone else got their eyes on this month?

Until the next one,