Make Your Own Bod/Facial Scrub

Hello! 

Today I'm going to show you how I get rid of my dead skin! 

Before I start, let me tell you I LOVE exfoliating, maybe more than a person should. Nothing gives me more pleasure than scrubbing off dead skin cells. If you're having a bit of a gross day, it can be so very satisfying to buff away the old and make way for the new. Exfoliating also makes moisturisers work more effectively, and fake tan looks better on freshly polished skin! 

There are a couple of reasons I began making my own body scrub. One of them being the environment, I'm not a big eco-warrior, but I try to be at least a little bit conscientious with regards to plastic bags and recycling my cereal boxes. You only need to google something along the lines of 'microbeads effect on the enviroment' to be presented with gazillions of articles explaining the damage most scrubs cause to fishys! Click to read some examples here here and here. Using a product with natural ingredients will not only give you glowing skin but also a clear conscience regarding sea creatures! If you're not one for DIY, some fish-friendly scrubs on the market include Ocean Salt from Lush, Bare Minerals Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser (previously reviewed here) and Origins Ginger Body Scrub. 

I love the fact that I can control what goes in! I'm not going to give you a precise recipe, because I never use one myself! I play it by ear depending on what feels right, and with the process of trial & error. I've used both olive oil and coconut oil, and I've discovered a 50/50 mix of each is best. Coconut oil gives that amazing smell but on it's own it's a little too stiff and doesn't rub in as easily! Coconut oil needs to be heated up a little in a jar placed in warm water. Olive oil on it's own works perfectly, coconut oil can be quite pricey so don't feel that it's a necessity. 

The 'scrubby' aspect itself can be created with so many different things! Sugar and salt are so cheap, this massive bag of sea salt was only 99p, and brown or white sugar both do an amazing job. None of these ingredients are things I've purpose-bought either, everything was just in my kitchen cupboards. 

I've also experimented using oats, oats are known to soothe the skin, really good for someone who suffers with eczema, psoriasis or just redness and sensitivity. I've used this ready-brek style stuff as it's already finely ground, I'm not sure how well actual porridge oats would work, I might have to give it a try! I have also split open a (used) tea bag! Because... why the hell not?! Maybe it is a bit weird, but it's scrubby, so who cares! I believe green tea would be a more active ingredient. 

The one ingredient I couldn't go without is coffee. I hate coffee and I've never drank a single cup in my life. But I absolutely adore the smell, I'll happily stick my head in a tub of beans and have a good old sniff. Delicious. Personally, I use the ground remains left at the bottom of my boyfriend's cafetiere (how very thrifty!). However I know instant coffee also does the trick! 

Rubbing coffee into your skin boosts the blood flow to the surface, reducing cellulite! 

Here my stages of exfolating:

1) 10 minutes in the steam room at the gym. 

(This means my pores are open and have began flushing out impurities.)

2) Rub the scrub on my entire self (in a shower cubicle, so no one thinks I'm weird) 

3) Stand around (for as long as I can without anyone sussing out that there's a girl covered in coffee in a shower cubicle.) Allowing all the ingredients to have a little time to do their business. 

4) Rinse.

5) Sit in the sauna smelling of coffee, (usually someone sat in there will ask why, and I end up telling them all about fish and fake tan)

6) Shower again. 

7) Moisturise and/or fake tan!

This is me and my lovely friend Hannah who usually scrubs with me! 

Steam rooming etc isn't compulsory, scrubbing in a nice hot bath or shower will also do the trick!

Let me know if you do anything similar, or feel inspired to make your own!

Comment below or tweet me @ashtonlewsey! 

Thanks for reading

Ashton xxx

Liebster Award!

Thank you to Emma of The Turquoise Door for nominating me for The Liebster Award. Check out her blog, it's about renovating her newly purchased home! It's lush. 

I've heard of The Liebster award before but not really given it much thought 'til now! A bit of Googling and I have learnt it originated in Germany and is basically a chain-mail method of getting little-known blogs out there! The word Liebster means loved, welcome, dearest, valued. 

(I've got a bit of a thing for foreign words with no direct English translation at the moment. Since falling in love with a Danish word which was missing in my vocabulary, but that's another story for another day)

So... there's a couple of different version of the award, Emma has given me 11 questions for me to answer, and then I will give 11 to 11 bloggers...

1- Why did you start your blog?

Since I've been working in the beauty industry I've hosted a few bloggers events, and the girls I've become friendly with were nagging me to start one! It took two attempts the first one fell flat on it's face, but now I love it! It's nice to have a little hobby, and it's satisfying hearing that people have actually enjoyed or learned from what I've said! It's a nice extension of my job, but gives me a chance to enjoy cosmetics without the stress of work. I like that it belongs to me too, and I can write about whatever I fancy. Whether its food or farts or facepaints, I can please myself!

2- When you were young what was your dream job?

Umm, I think I was one of those kids who wanted to be a vet one week and an astronaut the next. I did often say I wanted to be 'an artist' even though I had no concept of what that actually meant!

3- What makes you happy?

The simple things! Pyjamas. Being warm. Wine. Good food. Good films. Good music. Not having any washing in the washing basket. Yoga. Swimming. Not having roots. Pinterest. Being really into a book. Candles. 

4- What are you most proud of?

I hate being proud, it makes me cringe. I should say my degree I suppose. I'm proud that I'm a relatively together person, I have a job and I live in a home and I can afford to feed myself and do fun things. I really don't know, I can't handle this question bye. 

5- What do you hope to accomplish this year?

This one also makes me feel a bit weird. Mostly, I'd love to just see some more corners of the world I've yet to see. Even bits of Great Britain I've not seen!

6- Describe your ideal weekend

Ok let's pretend money and tiredness aren't an issue here, as that's what would usually stop me. I would wake up early on Saturday, eat cereal and go to a yoga class, have a bit of a swim and then sit in the steam room for ages. Then I'd come back home and have a nap, wake up and put some lazy make up on. Have a barbecue in the back garden (because it's summer, obvs) and loads of my friends would be there. The sun would be out for ages and it would stay warm 'til late, we'd be drinking and eating and then they'd bugger off and I'd go to bed. Bed activities occur (wink) then sleeping. Amazingly deep, top quality sleep. Then on Sunday we would sleep 'til about 10.30, wake up and have eggs and bacon. Watch some crappy telly and then mooch about the local shops, go for Sunday lunch in The Urban Standard. Go home. Watch a film, have a cuddle. Have a bath, watch Mr Selfridge. Sleep. Done. Lush. 

7- Favourite quote

I don't really have a favourite which springs to mind. But here is something I like.

"A flower does not think of competing with the next flower to it. It just blooms."

I am slowly learning that my success, attractiveness, happiness and achievements are nothing to do with anyone else's.

8- What is one of your beauty secrets?

Facewipes can go to hell. Maybe when you're drunk and that's about it. They're the worst, they're full of alcohol, dry your skin out, never take everything off. Bleurgh, ban them!

9- A random fact about you

I'm an only child.

10- What is your signature dish?

That's another thing I am still in the process of learning. I love food, but I don't have anything I'd call a signature! Tonight I'm making some fancy lamb business which I saw on Pinterest!

11- Current favourite trend?

It's so boring to say 'pastels' isn't it? Such a cliche spring trend but I love a good pastel. I love when I start seeing all the high street retailers rolling out the pastels, because it means the clocks will go forward soon, the sun will stick around for longer, it will start getting warmer, and it's my birthday soon! Pastels just look happy! I'm not a big one for wearing new season trends, if I buy something this summer I'll want to be able to wear it in 2 or 3 summers time and not look like a pillock.

I nominate: 

Sophie opalwren.blogspot.co.uk

Jamie reaping-beauty.blogspot.co.uk

Beki bekilouisebeauty.blogspot.co.uk

SJ shipshapeandbristolfashion.com

Beky bekylou.com

Mali maliberrymakeup.blogspot.co.uk

Melody asimplemelody22.blogspot.co.uk

Oh dear. I really can't think of anymore. I read a really small collection of blogs, and some of them have millions of followers so there's no point tagging them! It's supposed to be 11 bloggers but never mind. Here's your 11 questions... 

1) How many blogs do you read, and how often?

2) Do you prefer blogs to be about one things, or a range of topics?

3) Which is better... food or sleep?

4) If you could only choose one piece of make up for the rest of your life, what would it be?

5) If you could only shop in one shop for the rest of your life, what shop would it be?

6) What do you do to relax? 

7) If you could give one tip to new bloggers like myself, what would it be? 

8) What is your best feature? 

9) What's your best personality attribute? 

10) Night in or night out? 

11) What did you have for lunch today?

(If you've already done it, or can't be bothered. I wont be offended!)

Ashton xxx

Urban Massage Review*

Hello!

Let me tell you my previous experience of massage. I used to think paying for someone to rub you was a strange concept, until one day when I decided to do the very same. Since then I've had dozens of massages, some bad some good. I was lucky enough to be offered a complimentary massage from Urban Massage, a company who already have a great reputation in London and recently launched in Bristol, and they are fabulous!

The aim of the game is of course to relax, both the body and mind. It's really tough sometimes to put down the iPhone and just.... do nothing, think of nothing, chill. I am guilty of having an over-active brain, massage is an opportunity to put that to bed.
I also struggle with back pain, due to the fact I spend 80% of my time hunched up feeling the cold. So I definitely wasn't about to say no to a free massage! I was a little apprehensive however, as this was going to take place in my home rather than a spa...

Urban Massage is an app, in which you can book a professional massage in the comfort of your own home! It's really simple to use, you just select the type of treatment you'd like, select a time, and select the available therapist.

 I decided to go for a Deep Tissue massage, in the afternoon on my day off. I'd spent the morning at a yoga class, going for a swim and chilling in the sauna. It's all very self indulgent, which I make no apologies for! Sometimes you just have to be kind to yourself. 

The therapist arrived on time and was friendly and professional, assessing any problems I suffer with and what areas I'd like her to concentrate on. Personally, when getting a massage in a spa I usually end up feeling guilty which ruins the experience for me! I know this sounds ridiculous, but I've spoken to many therapists who have told me they are often paid terribly, and expected to do back-to-back massage for very little pay! Which is of course, really exhausting physical work with little or no personal interaction. I had a bit of a cheeky chat with my therapist and found out she's able to fit Urban Massage around her life, they pay a really fair wage, and she really enjoys it! I was able to enjoy my massage knowing that she enjoys her work. 

I would definitely recommend Urban Massage! It was really nice that when it was all finished, I was at home! I was smelling good, I had some candles lit and I could just enjoy being chilled out! Rather than having to leave a spa and walk to a bus stop and be thrown back into real life! 

I've been given a code for my readers to recieve £10 off a massge, click this link to book online (you don't have to use the app) or us the code 'RASHTON2M'. Spoil yourself!

Thanks for reading! Any questions don't hesitate to get in contact! 

Ashton xxx

Bare Minerals Skincare Treats Part II

Hello!

Welcome to part two of bareMinerals skincare treats! I'm sat writing this in the cafe in my gym, I've just done a yoga class and I'm waiting for a goats cheese and grape panini. Check me out, I'm so fancy. 

Pure Transformation Night Treatment (£45)

This product comes as either clear (which I use) light, medium or tan. People always ask 'is it basically make up which you can wear to bed?' and the short answer is YES! When I first began working for Bare Mins and people would ask what it's for, I couldn't think of anything other than 'when you have a new 'partner' and don't want to go to bed without make up' if you catch my drift. Whilst that is a great selling point, that's not all it's for. My brilliant trainer told me it's great for people who do night shifts, or if you suddenly have to leave the house but you've already done your cleansing and moisturising and whatnot!

From a skincare point of view, it's fantastic. It's the highest concentrate of the Active Soil Complex available, (as mentioned in my previous post). It improves the texture and tone of skin, and helps tighten pores. This is the biggest benefit I have seen from using Night Treatment personally, especially during 'lady time' when I'm especially oily and have more open pores. People with open pores will benefit from using Night Treatment. 

The brush which comes with Night Treatment is really dense and it's actually quite a nice relaxing pre-sleep sensation on the face! The finish is not quite matte, almost like a slightly glowy powder. Again, it's one of those where you have to try it to believe it. I love it! 

Intensive Glow Pads Brightening Treatment (£34)

A pot of Glow Pads gets you 60 of these little textured beauties, which you gently sweep over the face to give you more radiance and luminosity. Containing that lucious Active Soil Complex business, as well as glycolic acid to naturally exfoliate and make way for fresh glowy skin. 

Glow pads weren't a product I felt an instant draw to, mostly because dullness isn't a huge concern of mine. Also, I think I subconsciously associated them with the Clearasil pads my mum gave me when I was thirteen and suffering my first breakouts! Full of alcohol and incredibly drying for the skin. 

VERY different to glowpads. All ingredients are natural and will only benefit.

I've only started using them this week, so I'm not really able to report a noticable difference as all skincare takes atleast four weeks to truly take effect. However I do feel a mild exfoliation after using them. Meaning I feel nice and clean, as I do with all bareMinerals skincare!

I'm going to share with you a before and after photo. Now, whether this progress is purely down to using bareMinerals makeup and skincare or if it's thanks to some other factors I couldn't tell you for definite. But it's a fact that the 'before' was at the beginning of making changes in my make up and skincare, and the 'after' is now. It was actually taken last week when I was on holiday with my boyfriend and decided to stroll about without a slick of make up. Which I simply couldn't have considered a few months ago, I would have atleast had a BB cream on to cover my redness. 

You can see I don't have any sore, painful, red and swollen spots anymore. I still get the odd one or two but it's nothing like before. I'm nearly 25 and it's taken this long! 

I have natural sunlight on my face in the second photo, but I promise you I am not wearing any make up what so ever. No tinted moisturiser, nothing. 

If anyone wants to have a more personal chat about anything to do with skincare. Please don't hesitate to Facebook message me or Tweet me, whether I know you or not! I won't tell a soul, I completely understand how soul destroying bad skin can be! (I can't even believe I've just put that photo up!)

Edit: I should also mention, the best place to catch me in person is the bareMinerals counter in House of Fraser Bristol!

Thanks For Reading Beauties!

Ashton xx

(Although I have a side section stating so, I'd like to state all opinions and photographs are my own, I do not write on behalf of my employer and his blog is in now way affiliated with my employer)

Bare Minerals Skincare Treats Part I

Hello! 

Today I'm going to talk to you about bareMinerals Skincare. You may or may not know, but bareMinerals are the company I work for. However, this blog of mine contains my absolute and utter true feelings (deep!) and I'll never write anything I don't believe. I was a bareMinerals customer long before I was a member of staff, so you can trust me on this one... this stuff is the shit!

Let's look at some treats, this is the sort of product you might not realise you need 'til you've tried it! A more unique product, which does something a little more specific for your skin than say a moisturiser or cleanser. 

Pictured:

• Active Cell Renewal Serum
• Exfoliating Treatment Powder
• Intensive Glowpads Brightening Treatment
• Pure Transformation Night Treatment

All of BareMinerals' skincare is powered by an ingredient called The Active Soil Complex. You can read more in detail about this here for some official info from the brand. 

My understanding of The Active Soil Complex is that it's derived from virgin soil, untouched by human hands, machinery, plants, animals etc... meaning it's really rich with minerals from the ground! It's such a unique thing which BareMinerals has, and I love talking about it, because it genuinely is so beneficial for the skin! 

Say hello to Active Cell Renewal Serum. (£39)

 Serums really confused me for a while, I was all 

"WHAT DOES IT DO?!" and "BUT I ALREADY USE MOISTURISER!"

However I now realise serum works on a much deeper level than a moisturiser alone, it will help your moisturiser work more effectively and get to work on a more specific problem. 

There are three different types of bareMinerals Serum which do different things. With this one you only need to apply at night, it helps to speed up and improve the effectiveness of the turnover of your skin cells. Your cells are renewed during your sleep anyway, this gives a helping hand.

This fast turn over means... spots are less likely to turn to scars, any scarring will heal quickly, your skin is less likely to hold onto old cells giving it a more bright and healthy texture and glow. 

It's one of those things that you just have to try, trust me! 

Next I want to show you Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser. 

This is hands-on-heart my number one BareMinerals product, it's fantastic. It's so unique and so different and I honestly think everyone should use it.

Before I start, please can I suggest you read Why Apricot Scrub Is Terrible For Your Skin by Lauri Shea, this review gave me such an insight into what exfoliation can actually mean. I don't want to go off on a tangent but I know we all love that 'ah my skin is so CLEAN!' feeling. (myself included, I've previously reviewed a scrub not dissimilar, tut) but quite often that sensation is just your skin being ripped to shreds. This lady is so thorough her knowledge is incredible, I dream of one day have an index of ingredients within this brain of mine! 

Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser is a powder which you can either mix with water, or your usual face wash or cleanser. It's brilliant to have so much control depending on how much of an intense scrub you feel you need. You can also make a really thick mixture, and leave it on as a face mask. 

When I was a kid and I suffered bad eczema outbreaks, I'd sit in a bath with oats floating around, as it's  so soothing for the skin. This stuff contains Collodial Oatmeal (you can smell this in the product, yum porridge) which acts in the same way. It also contains rice starch and a range of natural oils. 

It works as you'd hope, by buffing away dead skin cells, dirt and excess oil without any damage to the surface layers. 

It's brilliant for dry or dehydrated skin which needs a little refresh, it's amazing for oily skin which has a tendency to get clogged up. It's perfect for skin which is just looking a bit tired, and anyone who just needs to get rid of the old and make way for the new! 

Personally, I use it about three times a week and that's enough for me. There's no harm in using it more often than that. I've had a bottle for about 4 months and have half left, a little goes a long way! 

To follow this I'm going to be reviewing and explaining the other two products photographed. I don't want to over load you with information as I appreciate it's a lot to read! I'm super passionate! 

'Til Next Time (I'm back!)

Ashton xxx

(Although I have a side section stating so, I'd like to state all opinions and photographs are my own, I do not write on behalf of my employer and his blog is in now way affiliated with my employer)

Barry M Revisited!

Hello! 

A couple of months ago you may remember I posted about receiving a range of Barry M nail paints pre-release. Not for the purpose of blogging, but something else...

Well now that they've posted it themselves, I can show you!

I'm also hosting a Christmas GIVE AWAY, scroll to the bottom of this post for an opportunity to win all of the Barry M Gliteratti range!

I was asked to make two stop-motion videos for Barry M's Instagram. The videos feature the 'Gliteratti' waking down a red carpet being papped, and then arriving at a club on a dance floor. 

It was a really fun project to work on, and really nice to re-visit animation, which is what I studied at Birmingham uni. 

This project combined some of my loves... nail varnish, Instagram and animation! Lush.

Here is the video's...

(I feel like they look better in Instagram, please click either

My Instagram or the Barry M Instagram to see the videos there)

They have received a hell a lot of likes, which is really lovely! 

If you're wondering how Barry-M knew that I could do this sort of thing. They saw this animation which I did when I was working for Benefit! I was really curious about the social media side of the brand and asked if I could intern for a week in the department. Benefit then discovered I studied animation at uni and the rest is history!

It's a good example of how the blogging/social media/creative/make up industry works. Sometimes you just have to be brave and say 'I want to do this...' because if you don't ask, you don't get!

That's my advice!

My next step is to start nagging for an internship with my current employer and favourite brand, Bare Minerals!

This is the set you can win! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ashton xxx

No.7 Nail Effects!

Hello!

I've not blogged for fifty six days. The reason for which is a bit ridiculous really! Barry M kindly posted a link to my blog on their Facebook, and my page views shot up. However I did recieve a couple of negative comments about how I'm not a 'proper blogger' (whatever that means!) and the quality of my photos being not good enough... etc etc. On reflection, I honestly can't believe I let this bother me. I've had so many lovely comments which are really appreciated, I'm annoyed at myself for letting a tiny percentage get to me! When I started this blog a fellow blogger told me to do it for me and me only, if you're in it to get free stuff & recognition then you're not in it for the right reasons. Seeing my view count & receiving a couple of goodies is definitely a lovely bonus, and it's lovely to hear people enjoy reading. But ultimately it has to be just a little hobby for my own enjoyment.

Anyway, onwards and upwards! I'm back in the game!

Today I'm going to show you Boot No7 Nails Effects Nail Polish in 'Snow Wash'!

Snow Wash gives the effect of falling snow on a clear winters night. 

(Writing myself a nice cheesey little Christmas card poem there, vomit)

I've put two layers on top of a Lancome blue-black colour. It would also look good over red but that can wait for December, don't want to get ahead of myself with Christmassyness just yet! 

Snow Wash is £7. No7 are usually either on 3 for 2, or have the £5 off vouchers floating round. 

I can't remember the last time I bought a No7 product full price! 

There's also a more colourful version called Party Pearls too.
I would guess these are both limited edition for winter.

Glad to be back. Thanks for reading!

Ashton xxx