Nails of the Month

It is the middle of August and it means it's time for having my nails done again. So here you go - the end result. Yellow gel on the tips and blue flower in the middle. While it is still summer (British summer is simply awful) I decided to have sunny colors. This yellow one actually looked much more brighter in the jar, but I quite like this pastel finish. Still very summery and fun. What do you think?


Love


Lace Butterfly

Dry Skin: My Attempt To Fight It

I normally have combination skin. It is oily on T-zone and normal on the cheeks during summer and normal on T-zone and dry on cheeks during winter. Usually I have quite a lot of dryness in winter, but with the arrival of spring my skin tend to go back to normal quite fast. However, this year it was a different story. During winter I had really dry and flaky skin. Sometimes it was red, sensitive and sore. In cases like this I use Avene Rich Moisturizer, but it did not help, so I had to find something else. Some products helped a bit, but were unable to improve the situation completely. Now it is August and I still have dryness - my skin is just refusing to be normal, like it used to be. Here I would like to tell about those remedies that I tried.

There are two products that are missing from the picture - Trilogy Rosehip Oil and Boots No7 Beautiful skin Cleansing Balm for very dry skin. I was thinking that oil would help, but I was wrong. It disappeared into my skin very quickly and had no results - my face was still very dry, flaky and tight. The cleansing balm did absolutely nothing and was horrible - the smell, the texture and the after feel - awful! Completely useless product!
Now, let's go back to my picture and see what we have here.

1. Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter.

I got this as a sample, when I was buying the cream and I must say it is very nice. It has a light foam and very delicious smell and at the same time it feels very gentle on the skin. It cleanses very well and doesn't leave skin dry or tight. Really nice.

2. Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask for Dry/Very Dry Skin

This one is interesting. You have to apply it on your face, wait for ten minutes and then wipe it off with cotton wool. It has very runny texture, so be careful - few times when I applied it on to my face it was just slowly dripping down. It doesn't dry like clay masks and it doesn't stay on - it actually sinks in to the skin. My skin was extremely dry and this was like a nice drink for my thirsty face. Sometimes I had some residue left after waiting for ten minutes, but sometimes I had nothing to wipe off.
It makes skin feeling alive and fresh. No sign of dryness at all. When you wipe it off it feels like butter - thick and very greasy, but my skin loved it and felt so much better. Highly recommend it.

3. Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Dry Skin Rescue

This one was wonderful as well. It is a thick balm with velvety feel, which applies easily on to the skin and makes all those flaky bits to disappear in an instant. However, this effect is only temporary - when you wash you face - it is dry again. So it is not really healing the skin, but it makes it look OK for the time being. Also it is a great as a base for the make up.

4. Clarins HydraQuench Rich Cream for Dry Skin or Cold Climates

This beauty is the star of the whole lot and the only thing that actually helped my skin. I am still using it and I must say - it is a beautiful product. It is available in a lotion form for normal skin and in a cream form for dry skin. As my skin was in such a horrible state I decided to go for Rich version.
It smells amazing! It is very rich so you only need a little bit and the whole jar will last for a very long time. My skin never felt so good. After applying this cream it feels smooth, supple, well moisturized and glowing. Now I occasionally have some dry bits, but they are not so noticeable like they used to be. My skin is not sensitive or sore, redness is gone and it feels very comfortable. Definitely 5 out of 5!


5. La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense

This product also is available in rich and light versions, I have rich one. Honestly I was hugely disappointed. I heard a lot of good reviews about La Roche Posay products and I do like some of them, but this product didn't work for me. It was supposed to be suitable for people with sensitive skin, but after applying it I had a strong burning sensation, my face was red and I had to reapply it frequently during the day as dryness became visible and my skin was feeling tight. So this is a big no no for me. Sorry La Roche Posay...


Anyway, those were the products that I tried and the only ones that I am still using are the face mask, Clarins cream and cleanser. Other ones are just wasting away in my cupboard.
What about you? Anyone here is a dry skin sufferer? What works for you? Let me know, I'll be happy to know.


Love

Lace Butterfly

Eternal Fight With Cellulite

This is the worst nightmare for all women. That "orange peel effect". We all hate it and we all have it. It is a very difficult battle, but with hard work, determination and patience we can win! Now I am not a professional and I haven't tried absolutely all miracle potions available, but I did try a few tricks and I am willing to share my experience. But let me clarify straight away - all those creams will not help you. Not on their own. You have to do so much more to improve the look of your tights.

Eat well

That is one of the essential rules that we must follow. Do not eat junk as it only will make matters worse. Healthy, low fat food will make you feel better and you will be healthier. There are so many good foods that actually help fighting the cellulite, so it is important to have well - balanced diet. Also less fat means smaller risk of getting cellulite.

Stay Hydrated

Our boy needs water, so it is crucial to drink around 2-3 liters of water. It purifies, hydrates and helps to detoxify our body. It also helps to keep skin healthy and glowing.

Exercise

Combining good diet with sport is the ultimate way how to get rid of the problem. Exercise will burn the fat and will help to get rid of the most stubborn problems. Since I started exercising I noticed that the look of my cellulite is improving. I have been advised to start running for 1/2 - 1 hour a day, which will give even better results.

Try Dry Body Brushing 

Very important step for good looking skin. Dry body brushing improves blood circulation, warms up the skin and works it's magic on fat cells beneath the skin by smoothing it out. Try to use brush with natural bristles and don't be afraid of them being too harsh. I use the cactus brush from Body Shop  it is great, feels soft and nice on the skin. Try to do it every day, befor going to the shower. Start with the bottom of your legs and go upwards.

Massage Your Tights

You can do it with or without creams. Possibly with creams results will be even better, but for some reason I never tried that - I prefer massaging without creams. That also helps to smooth out those lumpy bits and improve blood circulation.

Exfoliate

When in shower, try using your favorite body scrub and massage it into the problem areas. It will remove dead skin, improve circulation, massage the lumpy bits and will help your skin to stay firm and toned. You can also use loofah, or any sponges made from natural ingredients.

I like to use exfoliating gloves - they are very easy to use and I prefer to use them rather than sponges.

Creams That I Have Tried

I am not going to list all of the - only the most recent ones. The first one is Good Bye Cellulite from Nivea. It is a very cooling and refreshing gel. It makes skin very soft, but after using up all tube I did not notice any difference.

Also I tried Dr Organics Cellulite Cream with Royal Jelly. It has natural ingredients and smells like propolis, which I find quite pleasant. It doesn't have a gel consistency - it is a proper rich cream. Possibly that is the reason why it is so hard to rub in - it takes ages to absorb. However, I like this fact, because that makes me massage my skin longer than I usually would and that way it can deliver results. It makes my skin absolutely beautiful and soft. My cellulite is less visible, but I am not sure if it is due to the fact that this cream is working, or because I am combining all the points listed above. Anyway, I think it is worth to try.

My recent purchase - Soap & Glory Sit Tight Intense XS Body Serum. I use this one in the mornings - you just twist the cap, press it to the skin and massage it. While you are doing it the gel comes out and covers your tights. It says you have to wait for 3 min and then get dressed. Honestly - it takes much longer than that. It feels very sticky and it activates when you sit down - it starts heating up. Sometimes I felt like my bum was on fire and on other days I felt nothing... Be careful not to get it in your eyes or anywhere else - it will burn without sitting :))) I am not sure, but it is possible that this cream could help a bit.

Lately I started using just simple body lotion with firming properties and massaging that in. I don't think that the results will be worse. We will see.

And Another Thing...

There are of course other ways how to fight cellulite, from salon procedures, to home made remedies. I heard that massaging problem areas with citrus oil is effective. Also I herd good reviews from clay masks  - you prepare the mixture according to recipes (there are loads available) and then cover the area with cling film. Whatever works for you. Let me know if you have some special tricks that work and that you like to use - I would like to try something new. And remember - we can win this fight and have a bum like this..... :)

Love


Lace Butterfly

You Are What You Eat

When I was a teenager my friend really surprised me with a revelation that she is "on a diet". It was very surprising, considering the fact that she was not fat at all and only 15 years old. Did I say anything to her? Oh, yes I did. Was it something sensible? No, not at all. I only asked the details of her diet. It didn't really concern me why she does that - at that time it seemed to be trendy to be "on a diet". So I followed a lead as well. No bread, no sugar, nothing fat and not eating after 6 p.m. Did it work? Well, it's hard to say, as I wasn't fat either. I did feel miserable and hungry all the time and after a while I gave up.
The truth is - diets do not really work. It's just a torture. The main secret is exercise and healthy eating. Don't get confused here - healthy eating is not the same as diet. Healthy eating is not about restricting yourself, but about enjoying everything in moderation. Recently I watched Katya's video (harmonyofbeauty on the you-tube) about slimming down. There she made a really good point - before starting a diet you have to ask yourself - are you going to able to stick to it all your life? Most of you will think - yes, of course. So did I. But then she made another good point. If you are sticking to a certain diet and then stop - all the weight that you lost will come back and very possible you will gain even more than you had before (tried and tested - 100% true) so it all becomes pointless. Also we have to remember - one day (if you are a woman) you will decide to have a baby - and then you will have no choice, but to stop dieting. And that is the fact we all are forgetting about.

The best way is to make healthy choices, enjoying everything in moderation and making it your lifestyle. If you all the time will be eating fresh fruits and vegetable, brown rice and pasta you will never have to stop and it will only be good for you.

It really does work. I try to eat healthy all the time and if I want some chocolate - I will have some, just not the whole bar, if I want ice-cream I'll have a frozen yogurt instead - healthier and as delicious as ice-cream. If I want pizza I can make some myself - using wholemeal flour for dough, fresh veggies, healthy topping and low fat mozzarella. I pay attention to ingredients on the pack, try to cook my meals every day and avoid using ready prepared, processed meals. Also try to steam or bake you food instead of frying too much. And of course lots of water - no fizzy drinks, no juices (too much sugar). 

It is not so complicated and it does deliver results. It also makes my grocery shopping a lot more interesting. You will be able to stick to it forever and see results, with the additions of some exercise. 

Trust me - you are what you eat. If you want to be beautiful and healthy you have to take care of your body and it will thank you afterwards. You know what they say - beauty is within us. So take care of yourself!

Love 

Lace butterfly

Wishlist

I must admit - I like really good clothes. But... I buy them very rarely - I am one of those people, who sees something in the shop and thinks "OMG I love that!", but after a while I start thinking "Oh, do I really need this? I already have a dress at home. And I don't go out very often, so why buying this? Let's save some money". And I always end up never buying things.. Only when I really need something I do purchase things... Crazy, isn't it? I talk myself out of it...
Another thing that I noticed is I have a very expensive taste. Always when I like something - it is extremely expensive. I remember recently browsing through a shopping site and decided to check some classic white shirts for women. I was looking at this endless list of hundreds of nearly the same looking white shirts, when one pop out. It was outstanding - you could see that it is very good made and the quality of material is very nice. So I clicked on it and... Yes, there it was... Hugo Boss... ££££££..... Oh dear..
Then I was watching TV and there was a program with Gok Wan. It was a fashion show, where high street was competing with designer. Nobody knew at first which outfit was designer and which one was high street - it was all revealed in the end. But watching this show I was assessing the outfits and every single one, which I liked was designer!!!! Is there a sign in all this? Maybe, I'm not sure...
Anyway, I started receiving newsletters from Selfridge's - my favorite shopping destination (to look, not to buy - everything is so expensive!!!) and there it was again.. Look at this beauty...

I just love it... Like always - it is from Gucci and it costs around £2 300... I don't earn half as much in a month!!!
And then this beauty from Burberry... Oh dear...

The most beautiful coat I've ever seen... Wool and silk, and of course £2195... I also love the shoes, but the black ones look much better.

Nice...Really nice... And £600 away...Well, who knows, maybe one day I will be able to have some of that... Why not, right? Just keep dreaming and never give up, remember? :)

Love

Lace Butterfly

Nails of the Month

For over two years now I've had gel nails. I always loved perfectly groomed, manicured, long nails. However, my own nails are very weak and thin, they break easily and it is impossible to grow them. So I found the perfect solution - gel. I do not do it myself - all work is done by professional. My natural nail is covered with gel and sets under UV light. That is it. They are very strong, long and I can have any design I want. The best thing? It stays on forever, unlike nail polish, which starts chipping after 2 says. I have to do them every three weeks and they do not break at all - you have to do something really bad and smash your nails really hard to break them. That is why I am so happy! I decided that every month when I have them done, I'll post a picture of them - just for fun. My nail technician does an amazing job, so maybe it will be a great inspiration for somebody?

Here are my nails for this month :)

Product Review: Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm

As I have quite big and full lips I do not like lip glosses as they make my lips extra huge. I prefer lipsticks or lip balms, but as long as they are not glittery, shimmery or metallic. I like satin finish and I still have divided opinion about matte lipsticks. Anyway Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm is a lip balm with color. I have only one color - 04 Crystal Red as I am trying to introduce red color into my make up, but I want to start with something sheer and not too strong. Clarins is perfect. It has color core surrounded by rich balm, which looks like a gel.
The packaging is very nice and expensive looking, which I like a lot.

I apologize for the poor picture quality, but it is the best I could do.

As you can see the center of the balm is very pigmented, but still it is very nice red, which is not too strong. Possibly the balm surrounding it makes the color more sheer, which I like. It is very nice color for everyday wear and is very suitable for summer.

The balm feels very smooth and rich, it doesn't dry out my lips, like some similar products and color stays on for hours after application. Very often I noticed that the feeling of the balm is gone, but the color is still there. The only thing to remember is that because the color is in the middle, you really have to blend it well by rubbing your lips together. Overall, it is a very good balm, which looks good and feels luxurious, so well worth the money :)

Love 

Lace Butterfly