DIY Top 3 Face Masks for Oily/Acne Prone Skin

Image via pixabay.com 

Oily skin can be so troublesome, causing you to break out more easily and who wants to look like they can fry an egg on their face?! I've always suffered from oily skin, some months more than others and after many trials I have found ways to minimise this. If you are regular with your skin care you will see an improvement over time, but it does take a while. I started to incorporate natural face mask into my skincare regime as I found it more gentle on my skin (I have sensitive skin) and have found these to be my top 3 favourites. Not all masks will suit everyone's skin types, but it is a process of trial and error to find out what best suits you. All ingredients can usually be found in your cupboard or purchased at your local supermarket. 

Warning! A patch test should be done prior to using any of these ingredients in case of an allergic reaction. If at any stage the mask is causing irritation, it is important to wash it off straight away.

Honey, Lemon and Sugar Mask

This is my number one favourite mask. Honey has natural antibacterial and antiseptic qualities. It is full of antioxidants and is great for slowing down the aging process. Honey can also be extremely moisturising and can help calm and soothe the skin.  The lemon is used to lighten aged spots and scars on the skin. It has natural antibacterial properties that make it a good choice to help cure acne and prevent further breakouts. Lemons are also effective in removing a tan due to lightening agents, but should be used with caution as your skin may become more photosensitive. A good SPF cream should be applied if you are going out in the sun. Adding sugar to the mixture is optional, but it’s great if you want to use it as a scrub to remove the dead skin cells.

What you will need:

1 Tbsp. of honey

2 Tbsp. of sugar

Juice of one lemon

Directions:

Add the honey, sugar and lemon to a bowl and mix together. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a few drops of water to it to make it a bit smoother. Apply the mixture to a clean face using circular motions, be careful not to put too much pressure on your skin as the sugar granules can be quite abrasive. Leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes,  once the time has passed, rinse skin with cool water, pat dry, and apply moisturiser. If there is any leftover scrub remaining, you can also use any left over for your hands to remove and dry rough patches.

 Egg White and Milk Mask (sensitive skin)

  

This mask is great for helping with oil control, reducing acne and inflammation if you suffer from sensitive skin. The egg whites help minimise large pores, balance the oils that your skin secretes and reduces redness whilst the milk lightens and tightens your skin. Both ingredients work to cleanse the skin from impurities. The mask can be used in conjunction with honey if you want more hydration for your skin.

What you will need:

One egg

4 tbsp. of milk

Directions:

Separate the egg white from the egg yolk and whisk the whites in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add in the milk and mix together to form a paste. Apply on to a clean face using a cotton pad and leave on for 20-30minutes. Once the mask has dried, rinse skin with cool water, pat dry, and apply moisturiser. For best results, use the mask 1-2 times a week.

Cinnamon and Honey Mask

  

Cinnamon and honey can be very moisturising and has helped reduce inflammation and redness caused by acne. Cinnamon is an underrated spice that has many health benefits. Like honey, it contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which is great news if you suffer from acne. It is fantastic for declogging pores and bring oxygen and blood to the surface. Cinnamon is also be used as an exfoliant  to remove dead skin cells, which will help restore shine and suppleness of the skin.

What you will need:

1 Tbs. of honey 

¼ tbsp. of cinnamon 

Directions:

Mix together the honey and cinnamon in a small container. Once the skin is cleaned and prepped apply the mixture to your skin. The mask should be left on for 20-30minutes. Once the time has passed, rinse skin with cool water, pat dry, and apply moisturiser. For best results, use this mask once a week. Using it too often can cause irritation, so it is best use once in a while.

I hope this post has been informative. If you have any questions, please do ask. All ingredients I use are raw organic material. Enjoy!

xSx

Fun Day Out at Mudchute Farm

Mudchute is a hidden gem in the middle of London, located in the Isle of Dogs and easily accessible from Crossharbour and Mudchute station. The farm is run by a community charity, with stables, a children’s nursery and a wide range of education activities. It provides a wonderful day out for the family, with friends or on a date. I love animals and so me and my partner decided to go visit a farm, Mudchute being the closest to us.

Having been to many farms and animal sanctuaries, I can say that the animals are well looked after and have enough space to frolic in, which is surprising to find in the centre of London. There is a great collection of animals with the usual farm animals plus llamas, alpacas and small animals too. There is also a farm shop which sells fresh garden vegetables and seafood at the weekend. 

 

You can feed certain animals special nibbles that you can purchase from the shop and all the proceeds go towards the maintenance of the farm. When I was feeding the animals  pellets from my hand, the intial worry of being bitten immediately goes when they hoover up the food. As soon the animals see you with the bag of pellets they come running over to get food, which can sometimes mean the little ones are left out but luckily with some distraction techniques you can soon feed them (like Linden in the above pic :))

 

    

We also went for a stroll through the park and there were various routes to choose from. In the summer the park is a great place to sit down with some friends and family for a picnic or just to sit and admire the view.

 

When you are all walked out you can grab some food at the lovely little cafe which serves breakfast, sandwiches, paninis and much much more. The staff were pleasant and the food was very reasonably priced too. I went for the vegetarian breakfast whilst my other half went for the farmers breakfast, thumbs up from both of us and the portions weren't skimpy either. 

I had such a lovely day out with my fiancé and we really enjoyed walking around, feeding and petting the animals. I loved the little walks that they had all over the park which is a nice addition. I highly recommend visiting Mudchute farm, it is an excellent day out for a couple like us and a nice way to escape from city life for a few hours. To top it all off, it's free entry!

xSx

Top 4 Ways to Protect Yourself in the Sun

Image via pixabay.com

As the weather is heating up and most of us will be taking advantage of the warmer weather by spending more time outdoors or jetting off to somewhere exciting, I thought I would do a little post on protecting yourself in the sun. Exposure to the sun is essential for producing vitamin D in your body. Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium, keeping our bones healthy, and for protecting against chronic diseases later in life. 

Prolonged sun exposure can be damaging to your skin, this is down to UVA and UVB rays, which can cause premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, and skin cancer. UVB rays cause sunburn and can lead to skin cancer, whilst UVA rays (present even on cloudy days) penetrate deep below the skin, causing premature ageing and are also linked to melanoma. The amount of damage from UV exposure depends on the strength of the light, the length of exposure and whether the skin is protected. It is especially important to be careful in the sun if you burn easily or spend a lot of time outdoors.

 

The 4 main elements for good sun protection:

1. Applying sunscreen. We all know this one, but it has to be said; sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!! A sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 should be used, but for the fairer ladies who burn easily should go for a higher SPF factor. It is important for darker skin ladies to apply suntan lotion as well. Pigmentation on darker skin tones does protect you to some extent, but not completely. Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your body and reapply every 2-3 hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. Take precautions even when the sun isn't shining brightly as you are still exposed to UV rays.
2. Sit in the shade. Take frequent breaks from the sun by going indoors or moving into the shade. This is especially important between 10:00am  and 16:00pm when the sun is at it's strongest.
3. Cover up. Wear a hat and sunglasses which is ideal for protecting your eyes, ears, nose, forehead, neck and scalp. Wear longer looser clothing will help reduce the chances of getting sun burnt.
4. Avoid sun beds and sunbathing. Tanning beds still use UV light which can cause skin cancer and make your skin age faster. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun,  consider using a self-tanning lotion. There are various types of self-tanning products to suit your preference and can be picked up at any cosmetics store. If you are worried about doing it yourself and messing it up, there is always the option of getting it done professionally in a salon.

If you would like any more info or if you want to share anything please feel free to comment below.

xSx

DIY Hair Growth Oil Mask

A lot of beauty products out there contain harsh chemicals that just damages your hair further. I started looking for more natural ways to improve the health of my hair. One of the main DIY hair masks that I have started using on a regular basis is a concoction of almond oil, castor oil and sesame oil. I have noticed a decrease in hair fall since I started using the masks and some new growth around the hairline. My hair is quite fine naturally, so I wasn't expecting it to get any thicker.

Down below is a little description of the benefits of each oil and how I go about applying it.

1. Almond Oil  

The first oil that I am going to talk about is Almond oil. Almond oil is rich in Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, phospholipids, vitamin E and magnesium. Almond oil moisturises your scalp and strengthens your hair to make your hair soft and shiny, and is optimal for treating hair loss and damaged hair. 

 

2. Castor Oil

  

Castor oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and it contains high amounts of ricinoleic acid, Vitamin E, minerals, proteins, and Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids which accelerate blood circulation to the scalp, hence increasing hair growth. It works on nourishing the scalp and strengthening the roots with the help of essential nutrients. Castor oil has a thicker consistency compared to other oils and is best mixed in with another oil.

3. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is rich in vitamin E and B complexes, It also contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, and zinc. Sesame oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce dandruff and an itchy scalp. It can also help promote blood circulation to the scalp, thus encouraging hair growth.

The Process

Mix together 60mls of castor oil, 2 tbsp of seasme oil and 3 tbsp of almond oil. There is quite a lot of mixture so it is best stored in a bottle for future use, you can always readjust the levels to suit your needs. Massage the oil into the scalp for 3-5 minutes to encourage blood flow to the scalp. It is not necessary to apply it to the whole length of your hair as it has quite a rich sticky texture, but if you have dry ends you could apply some at the tips. The mixture is best left on for around 5 hours or overnight. There is an optional stage of using a shower cap or plastic bag to cover your hair. This can be used to lock in moisture further which allows the oils to penetrate deeper into the hair follicles. 

If you have any questions, please ask.

Happy reading all. xSx

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason- Alice Through the Looking Glass

London is well known for its scrumptious afternoon tea hot spots, so why not stop at Fortum and Mason for an afternoon treat?! I have heard such wonderful things about F&M and I was intrigued to see the new Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Gass display, which was to celebrate the release of the new movie, the shop front has been temporarily transformed into an Alice-themed extravaganza and it did not disappoint!

The display felt like a combination of  Lewis Carroll’s classic fantasy and adventure tale of Alice, with a hint of Burton’s unique and quirky style.

As we made our way to the 4th floor for the Diamond Jubliee Tea Salon I noticed that they had displayed the original props and costumes from the production (I asked as I was curious). There was a VERY dramatic suspended Alice, falling in her original costume from the film, through the length of the four-storey Atrium at the centre of the store.

Upon entering the tea salon my first impressions were how beautiful, bright and spacious the tea room was. The staff were warm and friendly and we were told from the beginning that we were to order to our heart's content :). There were various types of sandwiches, pastries and cakes all served with your choice from Fortnum's exquisite teas or coffees. There was even a seperate vegetarian menu which I thought was a nice touch for all the veggies out there.

 

If I am being quite frank, I didn't find the service to be that great initially. I waited around 40 minutes to receive my tea and then a further 15-20 minutes before I had a chance to eat my mini sanwiches, which I only received because my friend asked why it was taking so long (I think they forgot). The waiter was such a lovely guy (wish I knew his name) and he really did try to make up to us as my friend was getting impatient with staff.

 

When we were all done, our delights continued with a take-home box of the pastries we were too full to consume and an additional slice of each of the cakes we had ordered. Lets just say, I was a happy bunny by the time I left.

xSx

Coconut Oil for Strong Healthy Hair

I am always on a mission to find the best beauty buys for my skin and hair that is organic and cruelty free.

My number 1 beauty staple that I always rely on is coconut oil. It's a god send! The best type to use is extra virgin cold pressed, as this does not contain any nasty's and is just pure coconut oil.  I use it in my food and I love using it on my hair as a hot oil treatment once a week. It can also be applied on the skin as a conditioner, but I personally do not do this as I have very oily skin and causes break outs. I have done a little break down on the benefits of coconut oil and how I apply it on my hair. Enjoy!

Benefits of Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids like lauric acid and linoleic acid, it can provide many benefits for hair. Some of the benefits of coconut oil are:

1.  It has antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties which keeps the hair strong and healthy

2.  The antimicrobial properties found in coconut oil are excellent natural treatments for various scalp infections

 3. The natural antioxidants and nutrients (vitamin E, vitamin K and iron) found in coconut oil boosts hair growth and regrowth

 4. Coconut oil is known to mimic sebum, which is the body’s own natural oil that helps keep the scalp from drying out and also coats hair roots to protect them from damage. Doing this regularly can potentially reduce the chances of hair loss.

 5. The various fatty acids present in coconut oil serve as very good anti-dandruff agents. It seeps deeper into the hair shaft, providing lasting conditioning without the harsh reactions of chemicals found in other conditioning treatments. Regular application of coconut oil can help reduce dandruff long term.

How to Use Coconut Oil for Hair:

Step 1: Heat a tbs for 30 seconds in the microwave. More oil can be used if you have longer thicker hair (my hair is quite fine and medium in length, so this is enough for me). Don't use it straight away as it may be too hot.

Step 2: When the temperature is warm apply it all over the hair concentrating on the ends, as this is where most of the damage occurs.

Step 3: Massage the coconut oil in to the scalp in small circular motions. When massaging the scalp with coconut oil it improves the blood circulation to the scalp and hair follicles, which helps hair follicles to absorb the valuable nutrients in the oil necessary for hair re-growth.

Step 4: Once the hair is saturated with oil, cover the hair with a plastic bag or a shower cap for up to 5 hours. It can be left in over night for a longer treatment and washed out in the morning. Using a cap produces heat which is trapped, allowing the hair shafts to open for the coconut oil to deeply penetrate through and moisturise the hair.

Step 5: Once the 5 hours is up it is time to wash out the oil. Regular shampoo and conditioner can be used. Sometimes there may be some oil residue left, so the hair may need to be washed twice. One the hair is dry,  it should look softer and more manageable.

Hope this post was informative enough. If you have any questions please ask. :) xSx

Welcome- About Me

Hi all,

I am Shami. I am a health and lifestyle blogger who is lucky enough to call London my home. I live with my fiancé Linden and my two little guinea pigs, toffee and mini, who are a handful btw.

Linden and I are old souls. We love our movie nights in, walks around London, and trying out new recipes on our days off together. I especially love to bake (I could be better lol).

On Miss Silva, I hope to share my interests and those little moments and joys that make this life so wonderful :)