FASHION + BEAUTY
SUMMER SKIN FROM HEAD TO TOE cont .
Homemade honey face mask
Honey is a natural cleanser that helps to keep skin clear and it ’ s also a natural antioxidant and antiseptic , which makes it an ideal cleansing agent . Combine it with lemon – a fruit packed with both alpha and beta hydroxy acids , which smooth the skin ’ s outer surface , speed up cell turnover and help get rid of pesky blackheads – and you have a skin-saving dream team .
To prep your skin before you apply the face mask , pour boiling hot water in a bowl and stand above it letting the steam open your pores . Mix one tablespoon of organic raw honey and half a squeezed lemon in to a bowl and apply all over your face , avoiding the eye area . Let your skin soak up all this goodness for about half an hour and then wash away with warm water , finishing with one splash of very cold water to close your pores . If your skin feels tight , follow it up with your usual moisturiser , or just let it breathe .
Look after your locks
Not just a crown of glory , our hair helps insulate our bodies when it ' s cold and keeps us cool and regulated when temperatures are anything but … hair also protects us from UV radiation . Since it acts as a barrier between our skin and the sun ' s rays , our hair follicles can take on a lot of damage if not properly protected , so it ’ s important we give it the respect it deserves .
NOURISH YOUR HAIR WITH : The Noughty moistureboosting range Noughty ’ s 97 % natural , moisture-boosting range comes charging to the rescue of dry , sun-stressed hair . Packed with sweet almond and sunflower seed extract , To The Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner cleanse and revitalise damaged locks ; Intensive Care Leave-In Conditioner contains superquenching sweet almond and argan oil to help instantly nourish and repair ; and deeply nourishing , Anti-frizz Serum aids in repairing and protecting dry locks , splits and snaps . Vegan-friendly with no parabens , sulphates , petrochemicals or silicones . From £ 6.99 , www . noughtyhaircare . co . uk .
LUSCIOUS LEGS
While we may all want sculpted supermodel legs that travel from ankle to apparently armpit with nothing but a muscular shimmer en route , not all of us have them . And that is absolutely fine . There are ways and means of prepping your legs for the summer season , so that when you do put that pair of shorts on , you feel comfortable and confident . This failsafe beauty routine for your legs is easy to follow and will leave you proud to show off your pins .
Step One : Hair removal
Firstly , if it ’ s been a while since you bared your legs , take a deep breath before you reveal them in all of their ‘ winter / spring / summer-coat ’ glory and accept that hair removal is a must . Shaving is a cheap , quick , and , if you ’ re handy with a razor and can avoid unsightly nicks , pain-free option here . If you prefer the depilatory cream route ( they ’ ve come on a long way since the unforgettable chemical stench of Veet , née Immac ), try a Skin Doctors ‘ hair no more ’ hair removal pack . An easy twostep system that finishes with an inhibitor spray to saturate the hair bulb , preventing hair from growing back fast , it ’ s easy-peasy , effective and doesn ’ t smell like burning flesh either .
Step Three : Moisturise
Step Two : Exfoliation
Once the hair ’ s gone , it ’ s time to think tanning , but not before you exfoliate , a stage that ’ s essential for getting rid of dry skin and paving the way for that smooth and shiny leg look that we all want to achieve . An oldie but a goodie , Clinique ’ s Sparkle Skin is the body-exfoliating equivalent of an ice-cold plunge pool . Best used on dry skin , it ’ s got a sturdy , non-sticky consistency , which won ’ t melt from your hands before you get a chance to rub it in , and its gellike formula contains botanical ingredients and lots of menthol , so it ’ s seriously invigorating and cools the skin as it exfoliates leaving your legs glossy and glowing .
Dry , scaly legs are never a good look , and the key to them a ) looking lovely and b ) receiving a helping hand in the form of a hint of self tan , is to moisturise . Step up Emma Hardie Natural Life and Sculpt Body Butter – fragranced with zingy citrus and softer , floral notes , it ’ s an intense nourishing treatment that ’ s perfect for hydrating legs that have been left undercover for a while . Thick and really luxurious feeling , it ’ s packed to the rafters with everything tired skin could possibly need including Omega 3 , 6 , and 9 fatty acids , marine actives , Vitamin E , shea butter , and even Inca oils from Peru .
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