Florena Fermented Skincare

(samples/affiliate links)

 If you're into skincare like me, chances are you will have heard of fermented skincare. Fermented ingredients are essentially supercharged versions of the originals- the fermentation process concentrates the beneficial parts of the ingredients, making them more quickly and easily absorbed.
Florena is a French Pharmacy brand and was actually the first in Europe to bring the concept to market. They've created some gorgeous products, some of which I've been fortunate to try out and share right here.

Florena 24H Hydrating Day Cream (50ml £19.99)

Designed for all skin types, this antioxidant-rich cream moisturises for 24 hours and is made from 99.47% natural origin ingredients including fermented Avocado,
Coconut and Olive oils. The fermentation process means the oils have 50 times more Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids than their non-fermented counterparts, making the cream incredibly high in antioxidants while keeping the skin nicely hydrated. 

It's satisfyingly thick yet still 'light' enough for day time use/ under makeup and I found it very comfortable to wear. No pilling, very light, sweet fragrance.
The brand has purposely made the jar to be lightweight (with an aesthetically pleasing wood lid) to reduce plastic usage. The jar is completely recyclable and is made from over 97% recycled plastic.

The Illuminating Facial Oil (30ml £24.99) contains fermented Pink Helichrysum and Safflower Oil which work to restore radiance as well as Almond, Coconut and Avocado oils to nourish and moisturise. Rich in antioxidants, the facial oil can be used alone or mixed in with other skincare bits - you can even add it to your foundation for extra glow.

It's lightweight and non-greasy with a delicate, barely-there floral scent and Pink Helichrysum petals suspended in the oil. The bottle is both recyclable and crafted from 98% recycled glass.

The Cleansing Bar (90g £8.99) with fermented jasmine and fermented angelica oil is designed to cleanse gently and effectively, without the need for packaging.
With naturally fermented jasmine flower and angelica oil, the bar has a softening effect and leaves my skin feeling cleansed but not that squeaky kind of clean often associated with 'soap' bars. This cleansing bar has a PH balance of 5.5, to match the natural PH of the skin, making it ideal for drier or more sensitive complexions.

With a sweet and subtle scent, this bar creates a creamy, rich lather and is actually really pleasant to use. I love the sustainable aspect of it too. Probably my favourite product from the lot.

The 24H Hydrating Face Mask (sachet, £4.99) is designed to give skin an intense hit of hydration and moisture, for up to 24 hours. This thick, creamy mask features fermented Camellia Sinensis, which is rich in antioxidants and fermented Olive Oil, high in Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids.
Suitable for every skin type but ideal for dry to very dry skin, the cream mask is applied in a thick layer after cleansing and left to work for 5 minutes before being removed with a damp cloth. You can also add a few drops of the Illuminating Facial Oil for extra oomph.

Along with the rest of the range, the mask is COSMOS Natural certified by the soil association.

This selection of products was a lovely introduction to the Florena brand and I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for any new releases. Florena is available at Escentual where it is currently 1/3 off as part of the French Pharmacy promo.

How to wear your favourite clothes confidently

 (collaborative post)

People of every body type and size can find clothing in today's fashionable world. We're all unique, and that's a good thing. When it comes to the type of clothing you want to wear, why not think about how you could change up the rest of your look so that you can pull off those outfits a little bit better?

Having your hair groomed to match the look you wish to create can make a huge difference in your overall appearance. Consult the internet and magazines for ideas and bring them to your fashion stylist to determine whether something similar will work for you. Makeup your own mind but remember that not every face shape is suited to every hair style, so seek advice from family members and friends before committing to a certain look. Another option is to use one of the various apps available that allow you to upload an image of yourself and 'try on' different looks before committing to the real thing. Wigs can also be a great way of changing up your appearance.

Going to the gym and working out not only has a positive effect mentally as endorphins are released but it can also have an impact on how your clothes fit. It doesn't have to be about losing weight and you should of course have confidence in your body as it is, but adding some tone, definition or bulk to specific areas of your choosing can make all the difference. Maintain a nutritious, well-balanced diet because you will need to keep your energy levels up if you want to go to the gym on a regular basis. If you find that the gym isn't the best place for you, invest in some weights and other training equipment and do your workouts in your own home. There are a plethora of exercise videos available online as well!

A healthy, glowing complexion will increase your self-confidence, in turn making you feel better about yourself and the outfits you're wearing in the process. Be sure to drink plenty of water every day and try to eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. If you have a hectic lifestyle, try taking vitamin supplements to maintain a healthy body and skin.

Makeup can be a really useful (and fun!) way to subtly enhance your look or completely transform yourself and express your creativity. You may like to maintain an all-natural appearance, or you may wish to make a statement with your makeup. You can learn more about how to achieve the look you want by watching online makeup tutorials- there are a lot of really talented make up artists from all corners of the world providing great tips and techniques, so spend some time on social media, search the appropriate hashtags and be inspired. Sometimes, your makeup can drastically alter the way you want to be perceived, so think about how you want to seem and how you would like others to see you before applying it.

Styling your figure for the things you desire to wear will alter not just your appearance but also your mentality. Confidence in your wardrobe and in your own skin will also boost your appearance as a result of your happiness.

Feel Happier In Your Own Skin With These Tips

(collaborative post)

 Do you often feel shy or withdrawn? If so, then it’s possible that you are dealing with a lack of confidence. Here are some of the steps that you can take to build up your confidence to ensure that you are happier in your own skin. 

Buy The Right Clothing

It’s possible that it’s your body which makes you feel less confident in yourself. If that’s the case, then you might want to explore some of the ways that you can build up your confidence here. One of the options worth exploring would be to invest in some new clothing. Clothing can help you feel sexy, empowered and desired. You could flatter your figure with see through lingerie or treat yourself to something special that shows off your natural curves. The choice is entirely yours. 

Try New Skincare Routines 

Your skin is a huge part of the way you look and thus can have a massive impact on your confidence levels. You probably notice features of your skin more than any other part of yourself. As such, it is worth exploring steps that you can take to ensure that your skin looks better overall. The right skincare routine will give you a natural glow and in turn add a little spring to your step.

Hair Choices

It’s possible that it’s your hair causing your low levels of confidence. Perhaps your hair looks thinner than you would like or maybe you’re struggling because you feel like it doesn’t quite fit your face the right way! If that’s the case, then you might want to speak to a hairstylist to find out the choices that they recommend. You could also think about exploring the ways that you can reinvigorate your hair, including changing up your shampoo and conditioner or trying some new deep conditioning and styling products and tools.

Psychology

Do be aware that issues with confidence can go deeper than your skin. You might want to explore emotional causes of your low levels of confidence. This could include people in your life who tend to train your confidence. That can happen if you are in a toxic relationship. Or, you might find that the problem is due to trauma in your past. Cognitive therapy can help ensure that you are tackling issues like this head on and not letting them continue to hurt your life. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the key ways that you can build up confidence in yourself and ensure that you feel happier in your own skin. By taking the right steps here, you can make sure that you don’t feel as though your confidence levels are constantly being drained overtime. This can lead to huge benefits in your professional and personal life. Indeed, research shows that the right levels of confidence will always help people open up new doors that they may not have even realised were there in the first place.

bareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation

 (post contains sample and affiliate links)

 Back in the day when I would wear makeup daily, I was a big fan of the original powder bareMinerals foundation. In fact I think one of my first blog or Instagram posts was about a very cute, very tiny pot of the powder foundation. I remember loving how buildable it was, the swish-tap method of applying it and the seamless, lightweight finish. Reminiscing about it now actually has me wondering if I should revisit it and add a pot of the powder to my stash! Or I could stick with the foundation I've got to review today- the bareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation. Inspired by the powder version, the foundation is formulated with minimal, vegan ingredients designed to improve the appearance of skin over time.

I really like the packaging for the bareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation. It's an airless pump bottle with a twist-up function, so there's no separate lid and it's virtually spill proof. In the images here I've used two pumps of product, which gives me the kind of natural look that I like, but you can of course use more or less depending on the kind of coverage you prefer. This is advertised as a medium coverage foundation so if you'd like even more of a subtle finish just mix a pump in with some moisturiser to sheer it out.

With Squalane derived from olives and mineral sunscreens, the liquid foundation has an SPF of 20, which is excellent, but I've seen enough to understand that a separate SPF is required before you apply any foundation, regardless of the SPF rating, because you're not going to be applying enough to actually reap the benefit. The Original Liquid Mineral Foundation feels light and comfortable on the skin and is non-comedogenic, so it's not going to clog pores.

With and without the foundation:

I really like the finish of this foundation. It's dewy with a nice glow. A true lit-from-within look which I think most would appreciate. If you prefer a matte finish or have an oily skin type, you might want to add a little powder afterwards.

I've only worn this foundation for a few hours at a time so can't comment on it's true staying power, but I will say that for those few hours I didn't notice any oxidisation or separation. Overall an impressive foundation that I'd recommend to fans of the powder formula and really anyone who likes a light yet buildable base and natural look.

BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Foundation is available in 30 shades, so in theory everyone should be able to find a pretty close match. 

Retailing for £31, the foundation is available from Look Fantastic and Feel Unique.

Vanilla Pumpkin at The Body Shop

(post contains affiliate links)

 Something most don't know about me is that I'm a total Halloween enthusiast. I love all things kooky and spooky and Autumn is, hands down, my favourite season. With this in mind, it's almost a given that I'm pretty keen on pumpkins (I consumed 3 pumpkin spice frappucinos in the space of 4 days recently!) and I've been a fan of vanilla fragrances since I can remember. The Vanilla Pumpkin range from The Body Shop is right up my street- though this is the first year I've actually tried it!

I have the shower cream from the collection and a Pumpkin Spice Lip Juicer. Here's the lowdown on both.

The Vanilla Pumpkin Shower Cream promises sweetly scented suds to satisfy your autumnal candy cravings. For normal to dry skin types, the cream wash gently lathers and cleanses, leaving skin with a nice 'kiss' of pumpkin vanilla scent that's deliciously cozy and perfect for this time of year when the leaves start to turn. Enriched with Glycerin and Vanilla extract, the rich shower cream produces a frothy lather. According to The Body Shop, the Vanilla Pumpkin range smells like warm baked pumpkin with notes of caramel, maple syrup and almond milk. I'd have to agree- it's pretty delightful. The limited edition shower cream comes in a 250ml bottle and retails at £6.50.

The Pumpkin Spice Lip Juicer took me by surprise, firstly because I expected a non-coloured balm rather than a pigmented product and secondly because it has a very true pumpkin spice scent! I'm not familiar with Lip Juicers so can't compare to others in the core range but this limited edition Pumpkin Spice variation feels lovely on (it coats the lips but doesn't feel sticky) and leaves a subtle pumpkin-copper tint with a slight shimmer. This isn't a shade I'd pick on purpose but it's surprisingly pretty. The colour is buildable too, so just swipe over the lips a few times for a more intense payoff. The Lip Juicer is suitable for vegans and formulated using organic Fair Trade Olive Oil. It's £7.

The Vanilla Pumpkin range also features a Body Butter, Hand Cream and Bath Bomb. There's also a new Pumpkin In-Shower Radiance Mask that I'm very keen to try!

Jones Road Miracle Cream

Bobbi Brown is the woman behind Jones Road Beauty - a relatively new beauty brand founded on the principle that we don't need more beauty products, we just need better ones. No longer associated with the Bobbi Brown cosmetics brand, the make up artist launched Jones Road with a vision to cater to every skin type and tone and a focus on functional, 'clean', high quality products that deliver. 

The brand's makeup range is quickly gaining cult status, but there is a small selection of skincare available. It's all very minimalist and chic and truth be told I'm keen to try everything from the range. The skincare collection includes a solid oil stick, eye cream, use-everywhere balm, light moisturiser and the Miracle Cream, which I have here.

Created for very dry skin, Miracle Cream is rich and balmy in consistency. As is the case with Jones Road's popular Miracle Balms (tinted, multi-purpose makeup pots that I need to try), the Miracle Cream's 'seal' needs to be broken before use. The seal is basically the surface of the balm, which naturally forms a waxy sort of coating that you break through with a finger to get to the good stuff underneath. When I first tried the Miracle Cream I didn't break the seal quite enough, so ended up with a bit of the waxy film on my face, which initially turned me off the product as I thought this was the cream's texture. But the true texture lies beneath that waxy seal and, while it's rich and thick, it's not uncomfortable and strange, as I initially thought!

Miracle Cream is a sort of 'ritual' product, in that it needs to be warmed between palms before pressing into the skin. It's not the kind of thing you can just slap on and I actually appreciate this aspect of the product - I love something that forces me to slow down just a touch and enjoy the application process.

The intense moisturiser can be used during the day (used sparingly) or applied a little more generously as an overnight mask. The cream contains Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil, Avocado Oil and Vitamin E as well as a blend of Fatty Acids and Glycerin. It's pretty full on and incredibly comforting - I think it will be perfect to nourish and protect on windswept, cold days outside and equally when I'm indoors and central heating sucks all the moisture from my skin.

Jones Road Miracle Cream is £34 for 40g at Jones Road.

Glowy Skin at Home with DrMediSpa

Dr Munir Somji, aka DrMediSpa is an expert in the field of Medical Aesthetics and has become well known worldwide for his signature treatments. With DRMS clinics in London and Essex, Dr Somji is loved by celebrity clients for his world class approach and exceptional results.

Throughout the recent lockdowns, Dr Somji was asked by numerous patients how they can achieve glowing skin at home, so he came up with an effective face mask recipe - his own version of an ancient beauty treatment that has been passed down over generations, tweaked and perfected. And I've got it right here to share with you! 

With ingredients including Honey, Turmeric and Honey, the DIY face mask is designed to help reduce pigmentation and add natural glow to the skin.

Turmeric is key in reducing pigmentation, Yoghurt is in the mix due to natural enzymes that aid in removing dead skin cells, microbial Manuka Honey balances the skin as does Chickpea Flour thanks to the Zinc it contains.

 

How to make the DRMS At Home Face Mask

Take 1 tablespoon Chickpea Flour, 1/2 teaspoon of Turmeric, 1 teaspoon of Yoghurt, 1/2 teaspoon of Manuka Honey - mix together to make a paste. 

Add yoghurt as required to make a consistency that’s spreadable but that won’t drip. 

Put in a fridge for 45 minutes. 

On a clean face, apply as a mask and after one hour, remove gently with warm water using circular motions. 

After cleansing, splash cold water on the face.

Dr Somji recommends using the mask a few times a week to maintain a fresh and glowing complexion. For more information about DrMediSpa and the treatments available visit DrMediSpa.

 

Advice For Updating Your Morning Waking & Grooming Routine

 (Collaborative post)

 Every morning, most of us wake up and immediately find ourselves preparing for the day. This often means getting into the shower, taking some time to wake up, drinking some coffee, and attending to our morning self-care. 

Depending on how much time you have before you have to make it to your job or other responsibilities, this may mean a mad dash to put on your everyday makeup and gather your belongings, or it might mean giving yourself the time to meditate, relax, and plan the day you’re going to have. 

For this reason, no two-morning routines will look exactly the same. It’s a good idea to focus on designing this process by determining exactly what helps you prepare for your day properly. A stay-at-home parent’s routine may be much different than someone who has to make it to work in thirty minutes, for instance.

In this post, we’ll try to strike a careful balance between the different forms of morning responsibilities you have and the self-care routines that will help support that in the best sense. With that in mind, let’s consider:

Wake Yourself Up Properly

Unless you’ve woken up well, it’s easy to feel a sense of drudgery throughout the day. First off, we’d recommend that unless it’s an emergency, you don’t spend the first few moments of your day looking through your phone notifications. It’s very easy to do this, especially if we encountered some interesting news or social media activity during the previous night.

However, waking up properly, waking to the window, letting in some deep breaths and allowing the cool air to envelop us, or going out and spending a moment in your front garden with a coffee, or performing a little meditation can make a massive difference. Don’t be afraid to get out there and feel more like yourself without connection to the screens. It’s odd how this can help your headspace feel less inattentive, but it makes a massive difference in how healthy you feel when starting your day.

Eat A Healthy Breakfast

Making time for a healthy breakfast is key, and can make an absolutely massive difference in how you perceive your morning. It can also prevent you from heading to a local snack shop and picking up a cheap, greasy breakfast item, or resting on fast food joints like McDonald’s to satiate your hunger with something less-than-healthy.

A healthy breakfast, in this sense, can also help you think more readily. For instance, healthy fats like that provided from a morning avocado, perhaps mixed with eggs on some wholemeal toast, can help you feed your brain the nutrients it needs while also thinking more clearly throughout the day. It makes a massive difference.

Showering & Skincare

It’s good to have an indulgent shower in the mornings to totally remove the grime of sleeping and sweating in bed for a number of hours. Make sure the shower isn’t too warm, because that can lead you to feel even sleepier than you were going in. A (quite literally) cool technique to use is the ‘James Bond method,’ which involves turning your water temperature to cold for the last thirty/sixty seconds of your shower. This can revivify your attention span, and it’s also good for your skin, joints and muscles, too.

From there, applying healthy skincare can be helpful. A good lotion, treatments you might need for sores or other very light wounds, moisturizer and exfoliant can be a fantastic way forward, as can medicine such as Mirvaso for Rosacea, but don’t be afraid to experiment with the right routine that works for you. This way, you’ll feel your most refreshed and capable self, ready to start the day with aplomb.

Proper Stretches

However, there’s one step to get right at this point. Proper stretching can help you feel your absolute best going forward, giving you the chance to work out all the kinks that your morning routine hasn’t removed thus far.

A few stretches, a few poses, or even a couple of yoga moves can help you stretch out before you put your work suit on or get ready to order your children around (with love, of course). Some people may prefer to do this before or after their shower, but one thing is for certain, getting a little active in the morning can wake you up and help you feel stronger than almost anything else. Making time for that can be key.

With this advice, you’re sure to update your morning grooming and waking routine in the best possible sense.