How I Cleanse My Skin

Something that I've always loved since I was a teenager is cleansing my skin.  It's one of my favourite parts of the day, particularly in the evening.  There's something satisfying and enjoyable about taking off the day's makeup and dirt that builds up over the day.   I’ve found over the years that properly cleansing and taking care of my skin has helped massively in keeping it clear, smooth and glowing. Cleansing your skin has many benefits.  Not only is it important for removing makeup and sunscreen, but it also helps remove dirt, excess oils, dead skin cells, and any other build up from the day. This allows your skin to properly breath, leaving you with invigorated skin.  I've always kept my skin care routine routine very simple and don't like to use too many products on my skin.  I feel like I have a routine that works for me whilst keeping my skin smooth and glowing.

Firstly, I like to take off my makeup with either face wipes (although I am trying to switch to a makeup remover that's more environmentally friendly) or a micellar water (I love Garniers' Micellar Water at the moment).  I have to admit that sometimes I use both for a double cleanse.  I then go in with a cleanser to really deep clean my skin.  Using a cleanser is crucial for protecting the skin's natural moisture balance.  I'm currently using the Nivea Micellar Rose Face Wash as my everyday cleanser but the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap is also a firm favourite of mine if I want to use a luxury brand for a special occasion.  After washing my face after cleansing, I like to use a face cloth to pat my skin dry.  It's important to use a separate face cloth from the towel you dry your body with.  Not only is it important from a bacteria and cleanliness point of view but products on your body, think perfumes and body moisturisers can clog your pores, cause breakouts or even rashes.  It is also essential to cleanser your skin post-workout to avoid a build up of bacteria and breakouts from leaving sweat on your skin for too long.  Using a gentle cleanser like these after a morning workout is really valuable for helping to cleanse your skin of any sweat.  I like to gently exfoliate with my hands which leaves my skin clean and refreshed every time!  Plus, it preps my skin for the next step, toning.

From left to right: Superdrug Essential Face Cleansing Wipes, Superdrug, 99p (25 wipes) | Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, Boots, £18.00 (200ml) | Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, Superdrug, £2.95 (400ml) | Nivea Rose Care Micellar Face Wash, Nivea, (150ml)

The next step I like to take is to use a toner.  This step helps to clear pores from any pollution, grime, makeup residue and dead skin cells to give you smoother, brighter skin.  Toning your skin also beneficial for prepping the skin before you moisturise it.  It exfoliated the skin leaving it more receptive to hydration and other treatment products you use after cleansing.  My favourites at the moment are  Garnier Skin Active with Aloe Vera Exract toner.  It's made of 96% natural ingredients and leaves my skin feeling refreshed.  Another favourite of mine is the Clinique Clarifying Lotion which I use alongside Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap.

From left to right: Garnier Skin Active Natural Aloe Extract Toner, Superdrug, £3.49 (200ml) | Clinique Cleansing Lotion 3, Boots, £18.00 (200ml) | Reusable Makeup Remover Pads, Amazon, £8.39

The final step in my cleansing routine is to use a moisturiser.  It's this stage that's going to leave your skin smooth and glowing. Usually, moisturisers hydrate your skin for about 8 hours. If your skin is more on the oilier side, a good moisturiser can help balance it too.  The one I've been using as my every day moisturiser at the moment is the Nivea Express Primer Gel-Cream.  This works as a nice base for before I apply my makeup, helping it stay on during the day.  It's such a lightweight texture cream and absorbs straight away.  I'd also highly recommend using the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel as part of the 3-Step skin system.

Normally, that's as far as my daily skincare routine goes but if my skin's feeling very dehydrated I like to give it an extra boost with the Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate.  It keeps my skin hydrated for 72 hours so its perfect for recharging my skin and getting it back to normal.

From left to right: Nivea Express Primer Gel-Cream, Superdrug, £2.49 (50ml) | Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel, Boots, £32.00 (125ml) | Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate, Boots, £36.00 (48ml)

*Disclaimer* The products I use are suitable for my skin type.  Always check products are suitable for your skin type before using them.  For the Clinique 3-Step products I really recommend speaking to an adviser at any Clinique counter.  They did should a good job recommending the right products for me.

So that's my simple cleansing routine I use on a daily basis.  What's your favourite part of your skincare routine? What products can you not live without? Do you have any favourite facial products? I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment down below!

5 Romantic Wartime Films To Get Lost In During Quarantine

As the world continues with lockdown, it's been a good chance for me to catch up on some films and TV series that I've been meaning to watch for a while.  It's been really nice to sit back, relax and take my mind of what's going on in the world.

What I need right now is something light and comforting that I can lose myself in for a couple of hours.  One genre I enjoy watching, in particular, are romantic wartime films: and, with that in mind, here are some of my recommendations on some of my favourite romantic wartime films that I've seen recently for anyone in need of a bit of gentle escapism...

This is such a beautiful film set during the aftermath of World War 2.  It follows the story of Juliet Ashton, a writer who travels to Guernsey Island to write a book about the resident's experiences during the war.  During her time on the island, she forms an unexpected bond with the residents.  As Juliet uncovers more of their story she finds it to be more interesting than the one she herself is living and begins to question her own choices in life.  The film is based on the novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and will definitely leave you feeling warm and cosy inside.

Set in London during the Blitz, the British government is desperately seeking to boost the morale of the country whilst trying to get the US to join the war and defeat Hitler.  Gemma Arterton plays Catrin, a former secretary who's been newly appointed as a scriptwriter for propaganda films.  This is one of those films that I wasn't expecting to enjoy as predictable as you might think.  This is also another film based on a book, I'm starting to see a pattern here...

This is another film based on a novel and tells the story of Lucile Angellier played by Michelle Williams.  Lucile lives in a small French village during the early years of Nazi-occupied France during World War II.  She falls in love with a German Lieutenant who has moved into her home during the occupation and, of course, they have to keep their romance a secret.  As you can imagine, there are a lot of ups and downs to this story and it may be a good idea to have some tissues at the ready with this one.

Allied is a film filled with intrigue and mystery throughout.  The story takes place in the midst of World War 2 when Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan meets a French Resistance fighter whilst on a deadly mission.  They are reunited in London and marry only to have their relationship tested by the pressures of war.  There a lots of twists and turns to this story and it'll have you on the edge of your seat.

Based on the novel by Rhidian Brook it's set in post-war Germany.  A British colonel and his wife, Rachael (played by Kiera Knightly) are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction.  The film deals with the tensions between the Germans who previously owned the house they live in and conflicts between British Forces and German citizens in Hamburg.  The story definitely kept me on my toes and had me second-guessing right up until the end of the film and even then I was expecting the plot to change again.

What's your favourite film genre?  What films have helped you stay sain during quarantine?  What films have you seen lately that you've really enjoyed?  I'd love to hear from you!  Leave a comment down below!

Easy Go-To Chunky Guacamole

prep time 10 mins      total time 15 mins      serves 8

I made a batch of chili this week so I decided to make a side of guacamole to go with it.  Recipes for guacamole vary so much, changing in both the ingredients and also the consistency.  I love chunky guacamoles and there's a great guacamole recipe I want to share with you!

I've always loved making my own guacamole because I like to tailor it to my taste buds.  I like to add in lots of lime juice and coriander.  For me, that makes the flavour really immense and yes, I'm one of those people who loves coriander. 

Guacamole goes well with literally anything. I love it with tortilla chips as a snack but I also like it with chili, on a burger, and with fajitas of course! It’s become one of my favourite dips to have on the side or with a snack.  I could eat an entire bowl of guacamole in one sitting...don't judge! 

Avocados are one of my favourite superfoods!  They are filled with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. I like to try and include them in meals whenever I can.

So here's how I make my chunky guacamole;

3 Hass avocados
1/2 red onion
1 tomato
Juice from 1 lime
Handful of coriander

1tsp cumin
Pinch of salt

1. Halve and stone the 3 avocados, scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash.  You want to mash it just a little so the avocado is still a little chunky.
2. Squeeze the juice from one lime in with the avocado.
2. Finely chop the red onion, tomato and coriander and add to the mix.
3. Lastly, season with the cumin and a pinch of salt and mix thoroughly.
4. Chill until ready to eat.

Notes:
* This goes great with as a snack with tortilla chips.
* Why not try this with fajitas or chili con carne.

It's as simple as that!  Why not try it yourself!

What do you love having guacamole with?  Do you prefer smooth or chunky guacamole?  What ingredients do you love to add to yours?  Also, coriander - yes or no?  I'd love to hear from you!  Leave a comment down below!

How To Love Home Right Now

While we are trying to cope during this very difficult time, it can be hard to stay positive and find beauty in life.  For me, I'm into my fourth week of self-isolating and it's beginning to feel a little dull and mundane staring at the same four walls.  It can be very hard to stay sane when you're confined to your home & right now it feels like time has lost all meaning.  Luckily, I'm quite an introverted person and I can't imagine what it must feel like if you're an extroverted person...pretty challenging I imagine. I'm slowly learning how to love my surroundings amid this time and I wanted to share some things that have been helping me keep balanced.

Being at home for long periods can be difficult on your body clock. The days can become a blur and start merging into one. You can become stuck in a rut which makes it hard to keep yourself motivated. However, I find keeping my routine as typical to how it usually is, helps to stop the days feeling dull and mundane. Making time for the small things in life, whether that's taking time to make your bed in the morning or having a healthy, hearty breakfast, enjoy it! We've become accustomed to everything being so rushed and now we have time to slow down and enjoy life a little more.

I'm someone who likes to have a cosy home no matter the situation but something is comforting about making your home feel extra cosy by lighting some candles, watching a film with snuggly blankets or playing a board game with your family. As much as I wish life could go back to normal right now it feels like a good opportunity to make the most of this time we have at home.

It's always good to start off your day with positive vibes.  I'm seeing a lot of articles saying that this is a good chance to learn something new like a language or a musical instrument, but seriously??? Whilst we are at home, most people are either working from home or homeschooling their children at the moment (or maybe doing both) so in the grand scheme of things should we also be pressuring ourselves to be fluent in Italian by the end of all this? I think not.

Although, I do like to set some objectives the night before so that I can start the day off to a good start. It also helps me feel as though I've accomplished something and not just wasted the day. Don't overwhelm yourself! It doesn't have to be anything super challenging. Something as simple as organising a messy cupboard, taking the time to read a book or making time in the evening to play a game with your children. Don't be compelled into what society says you should be achieving at the moment. Set your own goals and don't feel guilty if it's not some huge impressive life goal.

Even though this is a very obvious one there's no better time to get organised in your home.  When it comes to the home we always have projects that are ongoing in our home and a lot of “I'll do that when I have time” jobs.  So why not take a day to tidy that spare room or clean those kitchen cupboards that are in desperate need of a reshuffle.

To me, there's nothing nicer than reading a book.  Reading can be a really nice way to escape from the craziness in the world right now.  Whatever the book you choose, whether its a biography or a novel, take some time out of your day to sit down and savour that time. I've been reading a powerful book by Edith Eger, a Holocaust survivor, called The Choice and despite it sounding like a bleak story I'm actually finding it really uplifting.

If you're someone who likes getting out and exercising you may be finding this time difficult.  It can be quite restricting when you're used to going to the gym or going on a bike ride but there are online options that are offering free workouts at the moment.  Here are some of my particular favourites that are carrying out workout videos that you can do from home.

Free bodyweight workouts from Gymshark

The fitness clothing brand is offering free workouts on its Gymshark Conditioning app.  Most workouts require minimal equipment or you can use regular household objects, like a chair.  There's workouts available for all 

Lululemon

Another athletic clothing brand that's hosting a range of free Instagram Live sessions, from yoga to mediation to general workouts.  They also give out self-care tips too as an added bonus!

Rebecca-Louise

This YouTuber is posting daily 10-15 minute workouts on her YouTube channel.  She mostly concentrates on workouts for toning your body but you can also find some yoga, pilates and ballet sessions on there too.  She's really motivating so if you need a little encouragement, definitely check out her channel.

Love Sweat Fitness

This is another YouTuber I love for motivational workouts.  The channel is run by Katie, who's channel has followed her from her weight loss journey to now running the successful wellness brand Love Sweat Fitness.  Her channel and blog both share quick workout routines as well as healthy easy meal ideas...so it's win-win.

Well, these are six tips of mine that I hope you'll find helpful during this crazy time we call Spring 2020.  I'm looking forward to a little bit of normality in the coming months.  How about you?

What is helping you stay sane at the moment?  What have been your favourite things to do at home?  What's one of your intentions whilst we are self-isolating?  Leave a comment down below!  I'd love to hear from you!