So you may have noticed that my blog and Instagram have been dead for the past few. This is all due to my poor health. Throughout March i experienced bad health yet again starting off with a viral infection which turned into a chest infection and eventually Pneumonia. I found that my body and mind took a beating, along with my blog - which i am pretty sure you could see a tumble weed blowing across! Anyhow, my poor health has brought some positivity in this blogpost full of wonderful beauty products that helped me through a difficult couple of weeks....
Being a bit of an beauty product junkie, ( i don't try to hide it lol ) you may be a bit taken a back to hear that i could not stand wearing ANY makeup the whole time i was ill and i couldn't even bring myself to apply skincare for the longest time either! The smell of almost everything made me feel nauseated and had me coughing chronically!So when my skin started acting out becoming dry and experiencing breakouts i decided to slowly introduce a few items back into a skincare routine. Products that helped moisturise, nourish and heal the skin. I have also used this illness to kick start a healthier lifestyle. Over the past year i have gained a lot of weight since moving out to the countryside, going from a small size 12 ( which i was perfectly happy with ) to a large size 14, with extra weight in places i really don't want! I have now cut down on my dairy intake. My dairy intake is mostly cheese, but i am actually lactose intolerant, and also suffer with inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. So naturally have a weaker immune system that others, which means i catch things easily. Dairy actually produces more mucus in the body, which can cause problems for asthmatics. I also have completely given up red meat! Good bye sausages, thank goodness for Linda McCartney sausages. I now only eat chicken on occasion. I have added vitamins, coconut oil and manuka honey also into my diet. I hope to incorporate more exercise into my life again to feel healthier, lose weight and tone up.
So while i was stuck in bed i only got up for nice warm soaks in the bath tub, until i was feeling stronger and got up to cook home-made soups in the kitchen. My hot baths were my luxury and really helped to clear my chest and relax my body - which i really needed as i was beginning to feel like it had been thrown around a tornado with bruising from all the coughing. I would pour 3 capfuls of the Elemental Herbology Detox Bath Oil into the bath. The botanical bath-infusion helpsed to relax my body and mind, whilst stimulating circulation and fighting fatigue. This is perfect for anyone who finds themselves feeling sluggish or run down, it also helps to boost circulation and improve mental focus and concentration. Leaving you feeling relaxed and your skin feeling nourished. The EH Detox is Packed full of detoxifying ingredients like Grapefruit and Juniper Berries - that improve drainage by tackling fluid retention ( the main causes of bloating and cellulite ) and they also help to detoxify the blood. Then there is ingredients like Rosemary and Geranium which help to enhance mental well-being and help you feel more energised. Of course a bath needs moisturising agents and detox contains Sweet almond, Jojoba and Peach Kernel which help to leave the skin soft, supple and nourished. It's really is a perfect cocktail. Every time i use this oil the aroma help to de-stress my body and mind, giving me a pleasant, uplifting and relaxing experience; and my skin is left hydrated, nourished and smooth - with no greasy residue behind. This oil is packed full of 100% natural carrier and essential oils. Despite all the essential oils i have not found this to be at all irritating on my skin, and my body skin is much more sensitive than my face. So if you want a product that will not only hydrate your skin but lift your senses i highly recommend this! The 150ml bottle will last you around 6-8 baths. This is definitely a repurchase for me and i cannot wait to use some more of their products.
My skin was angry and unpredictable, so after leaving my skin to recoup i decided to start using the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist to help add a touch of hydration back into the skin, and it was great at helping to cool my face down. Omorovicza revived a 14th century old beauty recipe that was originally created for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary. Deriding from the Hungarian healing waters they packaged this 'youthful magic' into a glass bottle with a super fine nozzle to deliver a soft and hydrating spritz to the face, adding minerals to purify, tone and protect the skin. With a soft and delicate aroma it didn't overpower my senses and make me cough. I do have the full size in a limited edition bottle, but i personally prefer the nozzle on the travel size 30ml bottles. Plus the travel sized bottle is the perfect size to throw in your handbag. I love using a good mist throughout the day and i exercise my right to mist anywhere, everywhere and any time lol. After all if this mist is good enough for the goddess herself Miss Jennifer Lopez, then its good enough for me.
I was dreading cleaning my face as i felt so sick, so i opted for a creamy cleanser that i could gently remove with a wash cloth. The Pai Camelia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser was my cleanser of choice. It contains ingredients like Witch Hazel, Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Menthol which are uplifting and soothing. Which are usually ingredients i don't like - however this is not at all overpowering ( take note Caudalie ). Honestly this cleanser was my lifesaver and i used it with the accompanying Pai Muslin cloth. I originally purchased this cleanser in their discovery set for combination skin, after i fell in love with the BioRegenerate Rosehip oil. I have decided that i will be purchasing the full size of this cleanser. If the Pai is just slightly out of your price range a similar cleanser if the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. Creamy and rich cleansers are wonderful in the colder months, especially if you have combination skin that can be unpredictable with the seasons changes. I think it is fair to say that i am relived i had this in my bathroom skincare cupboard. If you suffer with dry, sensitive or delicate skin that is prone to flakiness and breakouts, then i highly recommend you try out this natural cleanser.
If i cleanse then i have to tone. It's just a step that is a crucial step in my skincare routine and i have done it my whole life! If you are confused about what a toner can do for your skin then i highly recommend you browse through this post ). I have just always used a toner, it's just a habit and i can relax knowing my skin is completely clean and ready for the the next lot of skincare products i will be treating my face to. The Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic is delicate and soothing. I find the scent of the Liz Earle skin tonic intoxicating and it's honestly one of my favourite scents ever! It just smells clean and fresh and before i know it im daydreaming picturing myself lying in a beautiful country field with the sun shining on my face. It is alcohol free and packed full of gentle ingredients like Aloe Vera, Calendula, Chamomile and Cucumber ( which is a natural source of Vitamin E ) to soothe, refresh and revitalise the skin.
After cleansing and toning i had to get some kind of moisture into my skin. Suffering with a fever i was far too not to wear a heavy moisturiser, so i opted for a hydrating serum and the Kypris Antioxidant Dew was the perfect fit for me. This is a magical multi-action moisturiser that is jam packed full of antioxidants. The botanical ingredients help to calm and soothe skin, decreasing any inflammation on the skin. My skin was left feeling nurtured and soft with my skins strength restored. I really do this this is the product that helped nurse my skin back to health.
I couldn't bear looking at my phone or watching tv as i found my eyes were sensitive to the light, so i enjoyed reading when i started feeling better. I recently purchased the Face Paint by Lisa Eldridge book. Lisa is one of the first original celebrity makeup artist's that started doing tutorial style videos on Youtube, and is one of my makeup inspirations and idols. She has inspired so many of us to embrace our passion and talent for beauty also. As a loyal follower of her work, blog and channel i was excited to find that she had written a book. I am still reading through it, so i wont go into much detail as i hope to do a blog post about it at some point. I will say that if you are into beauty and are interested in the history of makeup, and not just the application side of makeup then you will thoroughly enjoy this book. It's packed full of beautiful illustrations and iconic photography which is refreshing and inspiring. I cannot wait to get lost in it more.
So besides Manuka Honey, Lemsip and lots of water these are the products that got me through a very difficult time. I did take to Google and Youtube to see what else would be good to help me recover from pneumonia, but despite all the weird tips like - cutting an onion up and putting it on your bedside table to draw out impurities from your lungs, drinking a cup of hot water with lemon, honey and crushed garlic, and leaving a pot of hot water with a few garlic cloves under the radiator ( which btw stinks out the whole house ) it was actually these products along with lots of sleep and antibiotics that helped me to recover. I'm just glad to be feeling like a normal person.
Products Mentioned:
Elemental Herbology Detox Botanical Bathing Infusion 150ml - UK £21 Link | USA $35 Link.
Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist 100ml ( mine is a sample size ) - UK £48 Link | USA $90 Link
Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser 100ml ( mine is a sample size ) - UK £28 Link | USA $50 Link.
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 100ml - UK £14 Link | USA $25.50 Link.
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic 200ml - UK £14.50 Link | USA $24.50 Link.
Kypris Antioxidant Dew 50ml - UK £52 Link | USA $67 Link.
Lisa Eldridge Face Paint Book - UK £18.99 Link | USA $29.95 Link.
Do you have any products you swear by when you are feeling under the weather?
Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist 100ml ( mine is a sample size ) - UK £48 Link | USA $90 Link
Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser 100ml ( mine is a sample size ) - UK £28 Link | USA $50 Link.
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 100ml - UK £14 Link | USA $25.50 Link.
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic 200ml - UK £14.50 Link | USA $24.50 Link.
Kypris Antioxidant Dew 50ml - UK £52 Link | USA $67 Link.
Lisa Eldridge Face Paint Book - UK £18.99 Link | USA $29.95 Link.
Do you have any products you swear by when you are feeling under the weather?
Thanks for Reading Lovelies
Jamey xo
*Disclaimer - I only add links to websites i personally recommend or use.
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