Hand Care In Winter (part one)

Howdy,

This time of year does look pretty and makes you feel very festive but there are many things that are not quite so joyful! The heating goes on and what happens to our skin? It tends to dry out!
A job like mine, where you are washing and sanitising your hands constantly, doesn't help either.

One thing you can do to help with winter skin is to look at what you are using on your hands! If, like me, you don't have a dishwasher (well a working one, thanks previous owner) you will tend to wash up quite a lot. I don't like using rubber gloves! I find it best to use a washing-up liquid that won't be so stripping on your hands, I prefer to use Fairy, the one that contains Olay. It's just slightly kinder to the skin and won't be as drying, it also smells lovely!

Now for hand soaps, we all wash our hands many times a day or maybe too many times in my case. I can't stand dirty hands, even as a child I hated it! I have found foaming hand soaps to be the most gentle, I like to use the gentle foaming hand soaps from Bath and Body Works. They really are perfect and do live up to their name of being gentle! I have them by every sink in the house.

Don't worry though I have thought of a couple of options for those that live in the UK, I have used these before and they are a great alternative. One is foaming which I prefer, but it doesn't last as long as the gel formula. Method is a great brand that can be found in Waitrose stores or at waitrose.com
They use plant based ingedients, do not test on animals and all container materials used can be recycled.

Part two on looking after your hands is going to be going up this Sunday 2nd Dec. This will include what creams can help prevent/heal dry sore skin and what I recommend to get you through these winter months! Nobody wants dry skin, it's not pretty ;-)

Thanks for reading.

Kara xx

Bee Good Facial Exfoliator

Bee Good Honey and Camelina Facial Exfoliator

Howdy,



It is so rare to find a product you get results from with the very first use, but with this exfoliator I noticed a difference in my skin straight away. I'm not sure if it is the honey, beeswax or the lavender in it, but my skin feels very clean and soft after using this and this is before I have applied any moisturiser.

It has such a fresh scent that is quite refreshing and perfect for morning use especially. I used this product 4 times in a row then decided to read the instructions, which said it was meant to be used twice weekly! So for 4 days in a row of continuous use my skin loved it and I had no problems.

 

 It suggests using this product on dry skin after cleansing but my skin hates anything with granules if used on my skin dry! I always make sure my skin is very wet then just massage in a large pea sized amount enough to make sure my whole face gets a covering. After a few minutes I rinse off and you are left with moisturised feeling skin that feels wonderfully clean and soft.

 The ingredients found in this product:       

• British propolis (extract)
• British beeswax
• British camelina sativa seed oil
• British crambe seed oil
• Wheatgerm oil
• Milled lavender flowers
• British wildflower honey

My rating: 8/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes, I recommend this as a little goes a long way and I would repurchase, it costs £10.50 for 50ml

Pros: Cruelty free, contains no parabens, synthetic colour, mineral oil, silicone, SLS or SLES. Made in the UK, its good to support local businesess

Cons: Expensive delivery if you just want one product, the cheapest delivery charge is £3.50 for second class! So almost a third of the price you have to add on again

However, for the Black Friday weekend sale there is a code where you will recieve 1/3 off any order and also receive free UK delivery. The code is LOVE16 which you can enter at the checkout. This code is valid until Monday 28th November. Go to beegood.co.uk

Thanks for reading

Kara xx

Mulberry Key Holder (SLG)

Mulberry Key Holder

Here is an item in my SLG collection that I cannot be without, some may look at this as an  unnecessary item but to me I love it and would not want to be without it.

If like me you like to take care of your bags and purses then a key holder is a must for you. When you like to invest in good quality leather pieces, the last thing you want to happen is for them to get scratched. I have a goat skinned purse that I would hate to get scratched.

When you are forever pulling your keys in and out of bags, there are many chances for your purse and contents of your bag to get scratched.

I find by having my keys in a key holder that not only are they kept tidy and safe in my bag, but they are easy to find and pull out. It is perfect to pop in an evening bag as you always need your keys and there is also room to put your cards in the slots at the side.

My rating: 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes and even though it cost £125 which is not exactly pocket change it has held up amazingly.

Pros: Very hard wearing and stood up to everyday use for the last 18 months

Cons: This exact key holder is no longer available and it isnt a cheap item

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

20 Facts About Me

20 Facts About Me

Howdy, want to be a nosey rosie and know more about me? Here are 20 facts  ;-)

1. I am a true home girl, I am most happy when the doors are closed and i'm in the house being cosey under a blanket with my boys (my husband and cat) eating my husbands home made buffalo chicken and triple cooked chips mmmmmmmm

2. I have duel nationality and own a British and an American passport as I was born in New York

3. I specialise in endoscopy and have done so for almost 9 years

4. I am ambidextrous but do more things left handed than I do right.

5. I feel drawn to being in America, as much as I love living in Surrey. When ever I am in the States it gives me a feeling like it's right I should be here.

6. I am an only child

7. I love to cook traditional food from scratch, ie old English desserts, roasts dinners with all the trimmings, roast potatoes, yorkshire puddings, crumbles etc

8. I love travelling and seeing parts of the world I've never been to before

9. I am part American Indian

10. I am a massive fan/collector of face masks (won't say how many I own)

11. I actually enjoy doing housework, keeping a tidy home and caring for my husband, we have a 1950/2013 style marriage and it works for us

12. I find it hard to trust people, but if I trust and care for you I will do anything for you

13. I got married on Friday 13th so no superstitions here, the day honestly went perfectly

14. I have wanted to blog/vlog for years but scared of what people will think

15. I can turn my tongue upside down (did you just try? I've never met a person that could do it)

16.  I enjoy instagram as 9/10 I don't feel judged for what I post and have made some friends from all round the world, which I love speaking to and seeing their lovely pictures of their lives

17. I love my cat more than I love most people

18. I am a massive worrier and have learnt to control it with the support of my husband

19.  I am a feeder, come to my house and you will be rolling out my front door or falling asleep on my couch, that always happens. It's super comfy and there is always a big fluffy blanket near that will help you drop off.

20. I love making lists and writing using pen and paper, not my phone. I find it hard to read black and white writing fluidly so all my own notes I write with coloured pens.

Hopefully you have learnt something new about me? I tag anyone that reads this, tag me on instagram (kara1818) so I can read yours

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

The Best and Most Effective Leave in Conditioner I Have Found

Howdy everyone,
Are you still on a quest for the perfect leave in conditioner? Fed up of knots and can't find one that suits your hair type?

Well then you need to try this brand and I love it. My hair is curly and very fine, I alway describe it as hair of a child. Any product I put in my hair needs to not weigh it down and must be very conditioning/hydrating. I have found this fulfills my hair needs, I have no tangles, it smells nice and good to know my hair is always protected if on the rare occasion I use heat.

Its a 10 do many different hair products, so depending on your hair colour and needs I am sure they have a product that would suit you. There are shampoos, conditioners, different treatments and many styling products. If this range was easy to buy here from the UK, I am sure I would have tried many more products but as I am alway limited to weight restrictions on my US visits I always just stick to what I know and love. 

How I use this product:
I shampoo and conditioner my hair first, then after a quick towel dry whilst its still wet I apply about 4/5 pumps of this in my hair and just comb it through.

It's a 10 comes with a ton of benefits and here is what they are
* Repairs dry and damaged hair
* Adds shine
* Detangles
* Controls frizz
* Seals and protects hair colour
* Flat iron spray and thermal protection
* Stops hair breakages
* Creates silkiness
* Enhances natural body
* Prevents split ends

 My ratings: 9.5/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes 100%, something that I keep stocked up on at all times. It costs $18 for 4oz or $36 for 10oz from ulta.com or amazon.co.uk for around £26. Some might see this as a lot of money but for a product my hair loves and the big bottle lasts at least 6 months its worth every penny. It is one of those products that you can't skip using as your hair wont feel or act the same.

Pros: Knot free hair, smells good, not a heavy weight product

Cons: Not readily available, more costly

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Quick and easy way to clean your brushes

Howdy, this really is the one chore I do not enjoy doing, but it needs to be done. I have tried quite a few different products to deep and spot clean my brushes but here is what I find works best for me:

For a deep clean I use my Sigma spa brush cleaning mat, Johnsons baby shampoo and a clean hand towel.

For a deep clean I place my cleaning mat in the sink, run warm water to wet the brushes first (always wet brushes before applying soap, same rule applies when washing your hands) and then add a little baby shampoo to clean them. I use Johnsons baby shampoo, it cleans the brush handles and bristles well. On the cleaning mat you can see it tells you where to clean each brush with the washing and then the rinsing stage. Once I am happy the brushes are clean and there is no make up or shampoo is left on them. I straighten out the bristles of the brush and lay them down to dry on the towel, I usually turn them after a few hours to help them to dry. The shampoo can be picked up from any supermarket and the mat can be purchased for $32 off Sigma or £25 from Cult beauty. sigmabeauty.com or cultbeauty.com

For a spot clean I use a sheet of paper towel and Dior brush cleanser

My favourite paper towel is the Super Strong Thirst Pockets, multicloth. I prefer this brand as one sheet is all you need and it can be recycled when your done (no im not being sponsored haha). I cant stand cheap paper towel or toilet roll because as with both you do not want yout fingers etc to come throught the paper :-/ lol
I spray and few spritz of Dior brush cleanser on to the paper towel then rub the brush in circlular motions. It does a fantastic job at removing the make up, it also contains antibacterial properties which is great for preventing any spread of germs. If you wish to use the same brush for another make up product you can clean it and use it almost straight away. The Dior cleanser can be purchased at dior.com where you will receieve free delivery, free gift wrap and two free samples of your choice. It can also be purchased from most department stores that have a Dior counter. I will let you decide what brand of kitchen towel you use but dont say I didnt warm you if its paper thin ;-)

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

My Most Used Make Up Brushes

Howdy everyone, we all have our favourite brushes that we reach for the most here are mine.

                                                                   
Sephora Pro Liquid Foundation Brush:

My favourite of them all is my Sephora pro liquid foundation brush in no.63, I find this an absolute dream to use. It blends out my tinted moisturiser or foundation perfectly. It is quite a small brush so does mean more blending but I find it gives you a more even coverage. It easily glides around your nose and the contours of your face. It doesnt seem to pick up too much of the product and can easily blend around your chin and hairline!This can be purchased at sephora.com for $32 and I will be buying more.

 Sigma Brushes:

These two Sigma brushes I have had for over 5 years and look how well they are doing. The smaller brush the E55 I use to pack colour on to the eyelid, it picks up a good amount of product and doesnt give to much of fall out when using basic eye shadows.
The F30 Large powder brush is pretty soft and picks up just a light amount of powder when setting your liquid product. No cake face here!

The E55 now retails for $16 or £16 and the F30 $30 or £30, so obviously works out cheaper for the people living in the US. They can be purchased from sigmabeauty.com who do deliver world wide or if you live in the UK you can go to feelunique.com, lookfantastic.com and cultbeauty.co.uk

These brushes come from the Mr. Bunny essential kit, it now retails for $179/ £179.

My last sigma brush is the E38 defussed crease brush, ideal for blending colour into your crease. Also works quite well to just give a wash of colour accross the eye lid if your in a hurry. Basic but very useful, purchased from Feel unique for £17 (link above)












 
 Fan Brush :

Thought id just try out a none expensive fan brush for putting on highlighter as i'm new to applying this, this brush turned out so well that I am not even go to buy another one. It cost around £1.50 from Hong Kong and does exactly what I need it to and it doesnt shed. I found mine through ebay ebay.co.uk

  
MAC Brush:

The MAC 150 is one of the first brushes I purchased so must be least 6-7 years old, I use this to apply my blusher. It doesn't pick up too much product, just enough to give you a flush of colour across the cheek. I find if I use a smaller brush I end up applying too much, it can be purchased from a MAC counter found in a lot of department stores or online here maccosmetics.co.uk









All the brushes mentioned are all made using synthetic hair, no animals were harmed with the making of these brushes. If you are interested in how I keep my brushes clean and what I use, stay tuned for the next post. I will show what I use for a deep clean and the best spot cleaner I have found so far, till next time :)

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

GlamGlow Thirsty Mud Hydrating treatment

GlamGlow Thirsty Mud

Winter has definitely made its way to the UK, the leaves on the trees are changing colour and falling to the ground. There is also a definite nip in the air with this cold weather now here to stay, so on goes the heating for the first time. I will now be reaching for this cream more than I have over the summer months.

If you are suffering with dry skin or the occasional dry patch on your face then this is the cream for you. I have not found a more hydrating or calming one, I find it best used once or twice a week to maintain moisturised skin. Moisturised skin also means a better canvas for applying make up and who doesnt want that?

It has a wonderful coconut smell that you actually enjoy, its not too sweet or offensive in any way. 

Its designed to be used as a 10-20 minute quick daytime treatment or as I prefer it an over night mask, I dont feel too comfortable wiping off a $69 cream. The other use I have found this mask fantastic for is for a long haul flight, I am happy to go make up free and have hydrated skin. Rather than starting a holiday with a break out! Got to love that recycled plane air, said nobody ever! ;-)

My ratings: 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes totally, another staple I will have in my skincare collection. $69/£50 usually (Yet ive just seen it being sold on the Glamglow website for £39)

Pros: Hydration like no other, gives plumped moistured glowing skin, smells great.

Cons: Must leave on for a good 10+ hours as a night mask to ensure its fully soaked in and you dont appear greasy (even after washing your face/ applying make up the next day).

Links below if you wish to read up more or check this wonderful cream out.

sephora.com glamglow.co.uk spacenk.co.uk

Thanks for reading

Kara xx

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

This has the be the best peel off mask I have ever tried, not only does it shrink my pores after every use but it pulls any nasties from my skin. I have never had a mask that gives me the feeling of new skin, the next day not only does it feel cleaner but it helps to lessen any hyper pigmentation. For the next day or two my skin feels happy and refreshed, its also suitable for all skin types.

       
One time I used this mask it made my eyes water, not sure if it was my error of going to close to them or if they were just extra sensitive that day. Take care also to not put this on any areas with hair, even the finest hairs will be waxed off with this (be warned). Baring all that in mind, it's a wonderful mask that I will repurchase and always keep in my skincare collection.



My ratings:  8.5/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes it's $34 for 2.8oz or 80g for us UK folks.

Pros: Results after first use, shrinks pores, evens complexion, long expiry date, no sulphates, phthalates or parabens

Cons: Sticks to any hair even the finest, quite a strong smelling (not enough to be put off), not sold in the UK. Can purchase product from sephora.com

Thanks for reading
Kara xx