Life Update

Hi all,

Long time no blog.

My life has been pretty hectic recently which has left my blog neglected. With that being said, I have really missed blogging and sharing my life with you so today I vow to post at least once a month (baby steps right).

I thought I’d welcome you all back with a bit of a life update, since a lot has changed in the last few months. 

Where do I begin?

Lets start with my work. I began working as a full time Beauty Therapist last Summer and it's been incredible. I absolutely love what I do and find my chosen career very rewarding. This job has completely boosted my self confidence and I believe that my skills are improving day by day. I’ve trained in many new treatments since starting this job such as; Hopi Ear Candles, Hot Stone Massage, Genie Take 10, Female Waxing and much more. The beauty industry is ever growing and there are always opportunities to grow and learn new treatments, which is another reason I love what I do so much. A part of my role in Clinic as being Assistant Clinic Coordinator allows me to create marketing materials for Social Media, which is a new found love of mine. I very much enjoy the creativity of advertising and have worked hard at creating new treatments and pamper packages for the business.

Just recently I organised a Giving Back Charity Party in support of St Barnabas Lincolnshire. The event was on March 22nd and involved beauty treatments such as Manicures, Facials, Massages and Brow treatments with half the proceeds being donated to the charity. I worked extremely hard creating posters and advertising the event whilst running my busy column in Clinic. I contacted local businesses for raffle prizes and received many kind donations. Overall, the party was a huge success and thanks to all the clients, my friends and family we were able to raise £420 for St Barnabas. This is a great achievement of mine and I am so proud to be supporting such an incredible and deserving charity who I hope to support again in the near future. 

The Clinic I work in has been taking votes from clients since September for our ‘Employee of the Year’ award. The ceremony took place in April at Branston Hall. It was a black tie event and we enjoyed a delicious three course meal, sat through an enjoyable presentation by our Manager and I can happily announce that I received the award for ‘Employee of the Year 2019’. I was elated to hear that I had been voted by clients, colleagues and my manager for this award and so pleased to see that all my hard work has paid off. I’ve been working in the industry for a short space of time however I am so excited for the future and to continue this journey learning and improving as a therapist. 

Just recently my boyfriend received the news that he got the job for the graduate scheme he applied for and I couldn’t be prouder of him. Soon enough we will be starting our journey into buying our first home together which is something we are both really looking forward to. He is studying International Business at Loughborough University and soon will be sitting his final exams. 
We have a holiday booked in July to Greece to celebrate our 2 year Anniversary and his University Graduation. So, you can anticipate that i will have fashion posts coming shortly. 

I hope you all enjoyed reading this little update and I can truly say that I have missed writing these posts for you all. Let me know in the comments how you’ve been and if you have any blog post requests as I’m hoping to write more frequently! 

With love, 

Tips for Healthy, Glowing Skin

Improve Circulation

Keeping the blood flowing promotes lymphatic drainage which helps to remove waste and toxins, leaving your skin glowing. Every evening when I apply my facial oil I take the time to massage my skin to improve circulation. This can also be done by using a facial brush or exfoliating. 

Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells on the outermost layer of your skin, known as the stratum corneum. It is one of the most important parts of your skincare routine as it not only helps with many skin problems but it can also increase blood circulation and allow you to achieve a healthy and glowing skin. Exfoliating once a week can increase cell turnover to improve the health of your skin and even out your skin tone. It also stimulates collagen to give your skin strength and elasticity. It allows deeper absorption of the following products you use- serums and moisturisers will be able to reach those new cells rather than sitting 'on top' of your skin. 

Beauty Sleep

One of the most known skin care tips out there is ensuring you get enough sleep, but it truly matters. While you're sleeping your skin cells repair and renew so it is important that you not only sleep for eight hours a night, but that it is quality sleep. The position you sleep it can also take an effect on your skin. Sleeping on your stomach can scrunch your face and this can then tighten your facial muscles, allow the skin to sag and cut off circulation. It has been said that using a silk pillowcase can help your skin stay healthy and smooth and can help reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles.


Sun Protection

Especially this time of year, we all enjoy some time in the sun however it is important to do so safely and protect our skin from sun damage. The sunshine always puts everyone in a great mood and for a short amount of time, makes us look good too. However, too much sun exposure can cause premature wrinkles and age spots on our face. 
Choosing a high quality sun cream is vital and some are better than others. You need to search for one that protects against both UVA and UVB light, and ensure that it has a five star rating. Certify that you are applying the cream correctly and allow for it to be applied half an hour before sun exposure so that it can be fully absorbed. You also need to reapply sun cream every few hours, especially if you are swimming or sweating (this goes for sun creams that claim to be water resistant too). 
On my previous holiday I took precautions to make certain that my face was kept out of sunlight, where possible. For example, when sat in the sun I would always cover my face with a towel and to protect my head I wore a wide-brimmed hat as I was kept in the shade and it made sure my scalp, ears and nose would not burn.  

Minimize makeup


For many years I loved nothing but to spend hours applying makeup. Over time I have started to wear less makeup and by doing that I have learnt and witnessed the effects that has had on my skin. A lot of makeup products include chemicals that will only clog the pores leading to breakouts. Ensure that you check the labels of makeup products for the word 'comedogenic' which means it has been scientifically tested not to block pores.There are in fact safer alternatives for those who cant bare not to wear makeup. I have minimized the amount of makeup I wear or, leave it for special occasions. I know my skin is thanking me for it. 

Healthy Eating

When I think about food and my skin a certain saying comes to mind- 'You are what you eat'. Beautiful and radiant skin truly starts from within, so keeping an eye on your diet could do wonders for your complexion. This includes, getting your 5-a-day, receiving enough Vitamins, drinking plenty of water to hydrate the skin and avoiding the cravings. It's important to remember that a miracle isn't going to happen overnight and it takes time for your skin to resurface. For persistent skin conditions you can visit Body TLC in Lincoln, talk to your GP or consider seeing a dermatologist.

Like millions of other people, I absolutely adore chocolate. Naturally you would think that by cutting out chocolate your skin would improve, right? Wrong. There are plenty of reasons to continue eating chocolate due to the skin benefits that it actually has. Cocoa has both antioxidant (flavanols) and anti-inflammatory properties, this will hydrate your skin and improve circulation. Flavanols help the skin to reflect UV light which in turn reduces the appearance of skin damage and contributes to reducing collagen breakdown. So, you can have the best of both worlds- continuing to indulge on a few squares of chocolate a day and also maintaining that glowing skin. 



I hope you all enjoyed reading just a few of my personal favourite tips for achieving beautiful skin. Please share below any tips I haven't mentioned that you love in the comments below. 


With love, 

Style Diary | Holiday in Gran Canaria

Well it's back to reality after a blissful week in the sunshine. My boyfriend and I were in desperate need of a break and some relaxation, and that's definitely what we got in Gran Canaria. 
We stayed for 7 days, all inclusive at the Hotel Riu Vistamar and it was paradise. We had a stunning view of Amadores beach from our balcony and no matter where you were in the hotel, you could always see the sea. This was both of our first times visiting Gran Canaria, so naturally I did a lot of research before we arrived, but I still wasn't 100% sure of what to expect. However, I do not have a bad word to say about our hotel; the food was outstanding, all three pools were beautiful, the room was clean and modern and each and every staff member was friendly. 
Amadores was absolutely breathtaking! We took a boat ride to Mogan and walked along the cliff to Puerto Rico and both areas were also gorgeous. 
We spent several days just chilling by the pool, making the most of the all inclusive drinks (of course) and working on that summer tan. We also took a boat to Mogan for the Friday market and went on a peddle boat on Amadores beach. We had a tournament at three different mini golf courses throughout the week (I lost unfortunately) and I took part in karaoke in our hotel.Overall, we had a wonderful holiday and would certainly re-visit in the future. If you were thinking of visiting Gran Canaria.....don't hesitate. 

With that being said, I figured that for today's post I would share with you a selection of my outfits from this trip. It took a good few shopping trips to put together my outfits and personally I love to see what other people wear on holiday. So without further a-do, here is my style diary for Gran Canaria....

OUTFIT ONE
Playsuit- River Island
Sandals- Topshop
Sunglasses- New Look

OUTFIT TWO
Dress- Asos
Hat- Zara

OUTFIT THREE
Dress- Newlook
Shoes- H&M

OUTFIT FOUR
Jumpsuit- Bershka
Shoes- H&M

OUTFIT FIVE
Top- River Island
Shorts- River Island
Sandals- Newlook
Bag- A Spanish boutique??

OUTFIT SIX
Top- Miss Selfridge
Shorts- Topshop
Sunglasses- New Look

OUTFIT SEVEN
Top- Topshop
Shorts- Topshop
Sandals- New Look
Sunglasses- New Look

I hope you all enjoyed this post! Have you been to Gran Canaria before? Also, let me know your favourite outfit in the comments below. 

With love, 

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops | Review

As Summer approaches us, there is nothing that gives you confidence like a glowing tan. I have tried every method of tanning such as self tan products like; lotions, gradual tanners, mousses and sprays. I've also had regular sprays tans and used sun beds however no-matter-what the tan never seems to work or stay in place on my face. 

After struggling for years to find the perfect facial tanning product I discovered the Isle of Paradise drops. These have been raved about on social media, so I decided to purchase the product and try it myself. I bought mine in store from Boots for £19.95, and on first impressions I like the overall appearance of the bottle and the price isn't too extortionate. The product is dispensed with a pipette and you simply add 1-12 drops (depending on the darkness you wish for) into your normal moisturiser and apply to the face. 

Isle of Paradise are a vegan, organic and cruelty free brand which I know appeals to a lot of people. The tans are formulated using ingredients such as chia seeds, avocado and coconut oils which makes them kind to the skin unlike other tans which can personally sink into my pores and break me out. They use colour correcting technology which is something I’ve never seen before in a tanning product. I use the Purple bottle for a dark tan however you can also get Peach for a light tan and Green for a medium colour. There's a flowery scent to this, which makes a pleasant difference to the usual biscuit smell.

Before my first application I made sure to exfoliate my face to buff away any dead skin and allow for a smooth application. I decided that I wanted to apply the product in the morning so that I could watch the process and see how quickly it develops. Although, the bottle does suggest to apply it before bed and allow it to develop overnight. I applied 8 drops into my Liz Earle moisturiser and mixed it together in my hands before applying directly onto my face. I know people like colour guides, which is something this product doesnt have but once you get used to it, it’s easy. This particular moisturiser needs a bit of help absorbing and rubbing into the skin so I made sure to be careful as i didn't want to risk getting streaks, especially on the neck. Lastly, I thoroughly washed my hands to avoid orange fingers. 

Throughout the day I continuously asked my boyfriend for his opinion on my facial tan and I gladly got his approval. After about 9 hours I washed my face and found myself not overly satisfied with the colour. So, when applying my night cream I decided to add a couple more drops (which took me up to 10 drops). In the morning I woke up to find the most dark and glowing tan of my life, so I just washed my face, applied some mascara and headed off to work. I will happily admit that I have never gotten so many compliments on my tan, almost every customer asked me if I had been on holiday. I take that as a compliment! Approximately 5 days later I found the tan to have faded completely which I believe to be a great amount of time considering the skincare products that I am constantly applying to my face.Before my next application I will follow the same steps by exfoliating beforehand just to ensure every trace of the tan is removed.

Overall, I am extremely happy with this purchase and recommend any fellow-facial-tanning-product-addicts give this one a go! 

Have you tried the Isle of Paradise drops? Let me know in the comments and share your opinion. Thanks for reading! 

With love,