DIY AT HOME MANICURE/PEDICURE-eco friendly,cost effective,fun!

This whole procedure can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.You can also use ingredients from the kitchen cupboard,so it can be a very cost effective and fun and relaxing way to spend a saturday afternoon.
Grab a bottle of champas, a couple of girlfriends & youv'e got yourself a spa party!

You'll need:  olive oil ( or any quality base or carrier oil such as almond or macadamia
                    sugar OR salt and bicarb soda (to make your scrubs)
                    essential oils(optional)
                    foot soaking bowls/dishes (stainless steel is good)
                    towels
                    mani/pedi tools like files/emery boards,nail buffer,orange sticks,cuticle clippers etc.,nail polish remover
                    nail polish-nail polishes can be toxic.If you are using cheapies or SOME mainstream nail polishes make sure you stop breathing while applying them....OR buy nontoxic ones.SUCH AS: ZOYA; BUTTER LONDON; SPA RITUAL;HONEYBEE GARDENS;NO MISS; PRITI ( in actual fact there is still no such thing as  completely natural/organic nail polishes-the one's I have listed are some of the companies that have removed really harmful,toxic substances such as pthalates,formaldehyde and toluene- and good on them.)

                  Now for the fun part:
    Crack open the bottle and drink up! show's over... just kidding

Get comfy & start by filing nails -best to start with the pedi before the mani
fill foot bowls with warm water and  1 or 2 drops of  essential oil-peppermint,lemon myrtle or lime are all nice -soak feet.Next step is scub: make your own with the olive oil and raw sugar or mix salt,bicarb and a small amount of oil.Scrub recipes are endless but these are among the best  and cheapest.
Then apply generous amounts of oils to cuticles and massage in.Next push back and tidy up cuticles,clean underneath nail etc.
Massage entire feet /hands with oil
Use nail polish remover to wipe  excess oil off nail before you paint
Start mani as your toe polish is drying,so that by the time you paint your fingernails,toes should be dry(you hope!)
PS:with the manicure, you can just use small dishes or bowls in order to soak hands and nails and lemon oil is great to add to the water
ENJOY love f

RAW 100% ORGANIC COCONUT OIL-uses & benefits for beauty

Organic virgin cocnout oil has many uses & benefits for skin & body.It is readily available from health food outlets etc, so an ideal choice,as it becomes a 'multitasker'  that's also easy on the wallet.There are a few  brands on the market and the one I am using at present is Niugini Organics from Papua New Guinea.It is cold pressed,wild harvested,no fertilisers or pesticides ever used,purely organic & raw.Besides the fact that pure coconut oil can be used in cooking,it makes an amazing overall skin/hair/body product.
It is an ideal makeup remover & cleanser for face.It also conditions hair when applied as a luxurious oil treatment.(To this you could add certain intoxicating essential oils such as ylang ylang or neroli so you can pretend you are in a very expensive spa).It is an excellent body moisturiser and  again you can personalise it with essential oils.Coconut oil helps to prolong & preserve a tan.It definately worked for me the summer a couple of years ago when I was a princess & spent the entire summer at the beach.I also made a bottle up for our neice & it worked to prolong her tan & condition her skin as well.A lovely shop assistant told me she uses it at night around her eyes as wrinkle prevention.I regularly use it in my hair as a deep conditioning treatment,I leave it on overnight and wash my hair twice the next morning and my hair looks really healthy and lush.Coconut oil is suitable for ALL SKIN TYPES AND AGES,it is high in antioxidants,contains vitamin E,and is naturally antibacterial,antfungal and antimicrobial.

Here are a couple of quotes I found inspiring I thought id share

'I don't like standard beauty-there is no beauty without strangeness'-KARL LAGERFELD

'The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you'-COCO CHANEL


Enjoy winter skin care,love f

REAL BEAUTY-BY MAX ROSS.FOUNDER&MANAGING DIRECTOR,NATIO

He say's:The best foundation for real beauty is self-acceptance,a positive mind,a balanced diet,regular exercise,some yoga & meditation if it fits,plenty of water & lots of happiness.

"...laughter is the very best beauty lotion & self -love is the top shelf elixir of youth..."

I say: Amen!

Max Ross.Founder & managing director,Natio

HEALTHYBEAUTY: SKIN HEALTH-THE BENEFITS OF EXCERCISE

HEALTHYBEAUTY: SKIN HEALTH-THE BENEFITS OF EXCERCISE: Unless you're sixteen years old,(ok,mabey twenty),it's likely that some effort has to go into healthy looking skin.A good skincare regime,wh...

SKIN HEALTH-THE BENEFITS OF EXCERCISE

Unless you're sixteen years old,(ok,mabey twenty),it's likely that some effort has to go into healthy looking skin.A good skincare regime,where cleansing and moisturising are the name of the game,appropriate products for your particular skin type,healthy diet -it's true being healthy on the inside has incredible bonuses for your skin.Water intake-drink plenty and you will glow.Then there's excercise.Regular excercise that You enjoy doing, not only gives you the obvious benefit of maintaining a healthy weight,but it also visibly improves the look of the skin.Excercise increases the blood and lymphatic circulation,which encourages fresh blood supply with nutrients to the skin,while waste is removed by the body.Excercise gives you a healthy 'flush',a clearer complexion,improved skin tone & condition.
                                                                               love,f

BEAUTY TIP-TAN ZINC

Tan coloured zinc makes the BEST concealer.If you are a makeup wearer,but spend a lot of time outdoors or if you really dont like wearing much makeup but are concerned about redness , pigmentation or blemishes, then the simplest (and often the cheapest)way to go is to use tan zinc.This can be used by ALL AGES-you just pat it over the area's you want just like you would any other concealer or makeup.I use it all the time because then I know i've got sun protection as well.I started off using the really cheap one's from pharmacies,which are great,but now I use the invisible zinc brand.(Elle Macpherson is the spokesperson),as I love the texture & the coverage-you can actually use it all over like a foundation if you want.It's 30+ zinc protection without nasty chemicals.It's a bit more expensive than other zinc's but worth it.
If anyone uses any of the tan zinc's as concealer or as an alternative to traditional makeup,drop me a line & let me know what you think.love f

HEALTHYBEAUTY: ESSENTIAL OILS TO REJUVENATE SKIN(not to mention m...

HEALTHYBEAUTY: ESSENTIAL OILS TO REJUVENATE SKIN(not to mention m...: Aromatherapy is one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon woman(and man).There are many essential oils that have exceptional rejuvenating prop...

ESSENTIAL OILS TO REJUVENATE SKIN(not to mention mind& spirit!)

Aromatherapy is one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon woman(and man).There are many essential oils that have exceptional rejuvenating properties for the skin.Winter is a perfect time of year to up the ante on your skin care regime,really look after it,& reap the benefits.Massaging your entire face & body with an essential oil mixture is the way to go.Even if you only have one essential oil & a cupboard full of olive oil,you'd be onto a pearler!Olive oil makes a fantastic carrier oil & is particularly good for dry,mature skin.
The following oils have excellent skin rejuvenating properties and if you use them regularly you will notice the condition of your skin improve.You might also notice other improvements such as sleep,moods & sense of wellbeing.
                 LAVENDER: Antiseptic,wound healing,promotes  and encourages tissue regeneration, making it a good skin rejuvenating oil, also prevents scarring, suited to all types of complexion.
                 NEROLI: Regenerative,especially good for sensitve , inflamed & ageing skin.Excellent for broken capillaries.Antiseptic,supports skin's renewal process.
                ROSE:Wound healing properties,helps to keep skin healthy,lubricated & elastic,making it less prone to wrinkles.All skin types especially dry,inflamed skin.
                GERANIUM:Anti-inflammatory,antiseptic.Balances dry AND oily skin,improves circulation,great for acne,broken capillaries,dermatitis & eczema.
                CHAMOMILE:Anti-inflammatory-great for eczema,dry,irritated & inflamed skin.For use in skin care especially for sensitive skin,red or sore skin,allergies & stress related skin complaints.This is a very soothing oil & is excellent to use at night as a rejuvenating skin treatment.

                                                  Enjoy winter skin care,luv f

PRODUCT REVIEW-ANTIPODES

Antipodes' Avocado Pear Nourishing night Cream.

This New Zealand made cream is one of the lovliest creams for facial use,for it's price,on the market.It contains a plethora of botanical ingredients good enough to eat,including: SHEA BUTTER,AVOCADO OIL,MANUKA HONEY,LECITHIN,PATCHOULI,YLANG YLANG,& SANDALWOOD ESSENTIAL OILS & VIT E.The list of ingredients goes on,with the emphasis on collagen production & regeneration of healthy cells.The consistancy is a rich creamy texture with a pale lemony appearance,but still light to apply & non-greasy on the skin.It has a beautiful herbal aroma.
I would highly recommend ANTIPODES AVOCADO PEAR NOURISHING NIGHT CREAM for those concerned with aging,dryness,dehydration &  normal skin to feed & maintain healthy skin.
  http://www.antipodesnature.com/    happy skin care,love f

BEAUTY TIP OF THE WEEK

Due to the weather,temperature & season,the best advice I can give you this week is to moisturise really well with a good quality CREAM.Slather it on girls.Make sure you have a lovely rich version,preferably as chemical free as possible & with added essential oils/antioxidants to treat & comfort the skin.You can apply a moisturiser as often as you need to,so take it with you to work, or on your shopping spee...
Last thing at night after cleansing, apply an oil such as rosehip, or a serum ,& then your moisturiser over the top.Pour a few drops of lavender oil onto your pillow & drift into blissful slumber.
                                                                                                     love,f
                                                                                                              
Quote of the day: "Style must be adapted to the woman & not vice versa"- SOPHIA LOREN