My Skincare Routine!

Hello! Thank you to those that wished me well in my recovery, I am definitely on my way back to a normal self :D. I thought I would post some skincare recommendations based on my routine, and what has worked for me.

To begin, I have normal-dry skin. It is hard to put anyone's skin into any one category, because our skin varies throughout the seasons and throughout the month, but this is a rough idea. I used to have very oily skin, but took Accutane to cure my acne about 3 years ago, and ever since then my skin has been on the dry side. So this is what I use to keep my skin healthy and glowy, even throughout the winter! You will notice a lot of LUSH products. I don't think enough people look into and try out LUSH skincare products, but they truly are amazing value for money.

CLEANSER:
Angels on Bare Skin (LUSH) £5.95:

I would describe the consistency as a scrubby putty, with lavender and rose chunks in it - ha! In case you're not familiar with LUSH, every product has a sticker posted on the packaging with an expiry date on it. The length for this cleanser is roughly 3 months - the exact length of time it takes me to use a pot up. I use this at night to exfoliate. It is very gentle, and recommended especially if you have sensitive skin. 


Daily Care Face Wash (Organic Surge) £4.99:

Organic Surge is a great line! Pure skincare, great price. The full range used to be sold in Boots, though I can never seem to find them these days and have to order direct off their website. I use this in the morning to rid my skin of any oils that may have set in overnight, and it leaves my skin clean but not tight. 

Toner: 
Breath of Fresh Air (LUSH) £3.75/100g:

Amazing toner! I spray a couple spritzes onto my face after I cleanse either morning or night and gently pat into the skin. You can also use on a cotton pad to remove excess make-up if you like. It instantly refreshes and reduces redness, and smells DIVINE - like you are at the beach :). Lasts just over a year before expiry.

Moisturiser:
Natural Repair Face Cream (Oilatum) £7.65:

Now, I change up my moisturisers depending on if I need SPF, what my mood is etc, but this one is always a staple. It gives me long-lasting moisture that I desperately need when my skin is dehydrated and lacking juice! Natural ingredients, great price, very uninvasive and great for dry and sensitive skin types. 

Celestial (LUSH) £11.50: 

This is also advertised for sensitive skin, with soothing vanilla and almond milk it smells incredible and provides beautiful moisture for the skin, helping to rid any irritation. It isn't very thick, so would work for any skin type I think, as long as you aren't either extremely oily or dry. Expiry is 12-15 months after purchase.

Vita-Zing (Origins) £25:

Now, this little beastie is rather on the pricey side as far as moisturisers go, like all Origins products, BUT I heard an unbelievable amount of hype about this product so gave in around February and got one. Boy am I not disappointed! The product comes out a greyish-white colour, and once in contact with the skin changes to your skintone to even out the skin and provide a light coverage. I would say it is similar to a tinted moisturiser, but perhaps with a little less coverage? I don't know.. its a unique product, and really makes my skin look dewy and healthy. I am lucky in that my skin is pretty clear and even, so I don't really need foundation, but when I just want a little evening and sun protection then this is a great option. 

Extras:
To remove make-up at night, I usually use Simple Face Wipes. When I want a treat, I usually go for a LUSH face mask or one from Montagne-Jeunesse. DID YOU KNOW: If you save 5 black pots when you have used up the LUSH product inside, you can take them into store and get a free face mask!
 
Let me know what you use! And if you have any recommendations :D.

Mega Love xx 

My poor little ovary!

Ugh! I haven't been able to post since last week as I have been recovering from SURGERY. I had a cyst removed from my ovary last Friday, and have spent the past few days just trying to will my body back to its normal state of being!

The surgery went exactly according to plan, and I'm extremely grateful. The incisions were small and the stitches very neat, so scarring will be absolutely minimal - yay! I had a laparoscopy done, and as well as removing the known cyst, my lovely surgeon did a good old inspection of my other ovary and tubes etc. to just check everything was looking good and healthy. So I have a total of 3 incisions: one in the belly button, one over my uterus and one over my left ovary (yeah, they reach the right ovary from the other side, weird!)

I guess, because I had never had surgery like this before, I didn't really know what to expect. My dearest Mama has had C-sections and a hysterectomy, so she was fully aware of the kinds of pains you get post-op, and bless her little cotton socks..she has been so incredibly wonderful in making my recovery as speedy as possible!

The first 48 hours are the worst. The first 24 hours you are in agony..but not because of the incisions, rather the CO2 which is trying to work its way up and out of your abdomen. When a laparoscopy is performed, the abdomen is pumped full of CO2 so that none of the organs inside stick together - gives the surgeon a clearer view of everything. It festers in your shoulderblades and collarbones, and comes in waves of stabbing pains. Yeah.. not so nice :/, BUT you can move around until you find a position that helps you. I tried gently rolling my shoulders around. Getting in and out of bed is a bitch, and you have to sleep upright for the first couple nights, but as long as you've got a great support team of friends or family to help you, you'll be juuuuust fine! Promise!

It's amazing how quick you are to forget how far you've come. But I was talking to sweet Mama on Monday, and she said, "There'll be a day that you wake up and think: hey, my body feels OK!" For me that was yesterday..so the fourth day of recovery. Not bad! Obviously you still have swelling across your belly, and little twinges of pains here and there, but if you have to have this done, just KNOW that it does get better...and sooner than you think actually!

I am so grateful that everything has gone so smoothly. Let me know if you've had a similar experience; I'd love to hear how things have gone for you! And I'd be happy to answer any questions :)

Mega Love xx

Cowpats in the rain

Nothing beats a little English countryside, with a helping of rain and dodgy cows. I went for a wee 15 mile hike today, and it was so nice to breathe...I mean really breathe. And walk to my full potential. There was a very well-deserved pot of tea and slice of carrot cake waiting for me at the end =]! When  I do eventually move away from England again, I will definitely miss this:

Mega Love xx

I AM IN LOVE!

With these shoes:

I picked them up from ASOS for a sweet £12 in the sale (original price £40). BARGAIN MUCH?! I was actually searching for a pair of nude peep-toe platform heels, and stumbled across these. I ended up with a great pair of nudes and these babies for a grand total of £30. Less than the original £70-something I would have paid for the two pairs!

They are amazing! I've tried styling them with dresses, cigarette pants, leggings, many lengths and styles of skirts, and the combinations are endless. They're very high, I'd say a good 4-5inches on the heel, but the platform makes them pretty comfortable. They're satin, with a zip up the back, and deliciously enticing ;-).

A little part of my boyfriend's soul was crushed into oblivion when he saw me put these on... I am a sizeable bit taller than him (being a pretty tall gal already), but I don't really care haha! I say wear what you want. Wear what makes you feel happy, and expresses what you're feeling, and the kind of message you want to shout out to the world about you. Let your little fashionable heart roam free!

Mega Love xx

Prowl-tastic

Urban goes into the wild with today's outfit:

Dress - Dorothy Perkins
Boyfriend Cardigan - Zara
Boots - Stead & Simpson
Bag - Camden Market

I love non-traditional animal prints. And even better - mixing and matching!!

Mega Love xx