Reflective Friday.

I'm writing about something a little different today. 

I'm writing about something that niggles me every single day that I leave my home. 

Dangerous Driving. 

Now, some people may have clicked off of this page after that, and that's fine. If they, or you don't want to read it then that's the choice you have made. Everyday we get hounded about dangerous driving, driving whilst on the phone, driving under the influence etc. It's on the news, in the paper, on the telly and even, sometimes, personal experience. 

I was in a car accident when I was a couple years old, my parents were driving back from Taunton, (a town in Somerset where we live, it's the nearest shopping location to us with Topshop and River Island etc.) to home. A car pulled out of a road straight in front of them and hit the front wing of their car. The driver never looked, they just drove out. Coincidentally my best friend was in the same sort of accident in our home village when she was a baby too. 

I can't remember a time I didn't want to be a Police Officer. It was all I wanted. The picture on the right is of me and a cousin. I am about two years old, and I'm on the right. That police bike was everything to me. This must have been when the need to be in the emergency services began. Ever since then, I loved it. Everything about it. Police Halloween costumes. Police programs. Meeting them at every single fare and show we went too. On my birthday one year my parents took me to the Bristol Police Dog and Horse Academy. I sat on a Police horse called Monty and it triggered my need to join the Mounted Police. I've recently migrated to wanting to join the Traffic Cops and that's where this blog post sort of comes into it all. I have recently been on a 'Ride Along' where I shadow a police officer for a 12 hour shift, and I learnt a lot. 

On my Facebook home page I see a lot of bragging, arguments and pictures of broken cars, and drag races. The sheer amount of people that support these, (I say it because 99% of the time in my case it is...) boys with their dangerous driving. People's comments of 'GTA inspired 'lol' and taunts of how others could have pulled it off better are disgusting. Not one person ever speaks up about the immaturity and danger of this sport. Local boys use a straight piece of road about fifteen minutes drive from my house for a drag race every now and again. I cannot believe it. Today a boy put a picture of his car today, very obviously it had been rolled in a crash. The fact he even put it onto Facebook is a way of him showing what he has 'achieved'. I showed my dad the picture (an ex-fireman) and through his experience he could tell me how this may have happened.. a corner at too high a speed. 

Speed limits are put in place for a reason. 

Remember that advert... 

'Hit me at 40 and there's an 80% chance I'll die. Hit me at 30 and there's an 80% I'll live.'

Watch this speeding Ad from THINK!

Daily Hair Care

Since your hair is actually dead, you can't do much to improve it on a cellular level, but you can damage and destroy it, so it's important to take proper care of it everyday. 

How Frequently Should You Wash Your Hair?

  Some professionals say that you should only wash your hair once a week, whilst others swear you should shampoo on a daily basis. My routine is more, 'less is more'. The follicles in our scalps produce sebum. This the oil that makes your hair greasy. This is down at varying rates. If you wash your hair everyday, you strip this oil from your scalp, causing your follicles to produce sebum at a greater rate to compensate. You can change that, though, and coach your follicles to produce less oil, by gradually washing your hair less frequently. Going from washing your hair everyday, to every other day to every third day, etc. This is great news for those of us who like to style our hair. Because doing a full styling routine everyday less often makes your hair healthier. If you have long hair, the night before you're planning to skip a wash, sleep with your hair in a loose plait, as this avoids bed hair. 
   For those times when you want to make your blowout last for an extra day. there's always dry shampoo. But use is sparingly - no more than a couple times a week. If you find that you're trying to extend time between shampoos with too much dry shampoo, then it'll end up that you'll wash your hair more often. It's important not to let sebum build up on your scalp. Like with your skin, pores on your head can become blocked and clogged, which can result in things such as hair loss. You don't want to over wash it, but you need to make sure that it's clean and healthy. 

A Little Elemis Bundle!

So, the lovely Jennie at Elemis has sent me two products for me to try and review. I am so excited by this as I have used a couple of their products before I was so impressed by them that I just had to experience some of their FreshSkin range.

   The fresh skin range is targeted at the 'in between age group', from teens to twenties. It's aimed at girls that haven't got a serious skin care regime and this is a brilliant line for them to start out with. 

   I have been sent the softly softly daily moisturiser and the peachy perfect gentle face wash. Both look, and smell incredible. 

This is the softly softly daily moisturiser, it comes in some cute packaging and it's a perfect palm size bottle. On opening it smells of lavender and floral. It's got Chamomile, Geranium, Rosehip Seed Oil, Seaweed Extract and Sweet Almond oil. I can't wait to try this out. 










This is the peachy perfect gentle face wash. It's in packaging which means you really can see when you're in need of a repurchase. It's got Lemon, Elder flower and Chicory extract. It seems a really fresh product that will wake up my skin in the mornings. 

I'll be reviewing these products on my YouTube channel very soon so stay tuned!

xx

Hair Care

I've always been very shy with my hair. I've never had it any outlandish colours, any extreme cuts or lengths. It's pretty much stayed mousey to dark brown, straight, shoulder length. Just with the occasional different fringe style. Your hair can be such an amazing fashion accessory. If you're going out for a fun dinner with your friends in a bold dress, why not add volume and curls to give it that bouncy look. For something more formal, try a polished look. There's so much fun to be had with your hair when it comes to styling. I love how any look in temporary. You're just one wash and blow dry away from the blank canvas look again. So have fun!

   But before the fun can start, it's best to learn a little about what hair actually is and how to make sure you're taking good care of it. Hair covers every square inch of your body - except from the palm of your hands, the soles of your feet and your lips. Although in some places it's hard to even see! Strands of hair are actually composed of dead cells, which is funny because all of the hair products try and get you to make your hair healthy. The only part of your hair that is alive is the follicle, the bulb implanted in the scalp, which is what you can see if you accidentally tug a strand of hair out. The follicle is responsible for producing oil, for generating the melanin that gives hair it's colour and they flex to produce goosebumps.

   For the most part, your hair is what it is. Sure you can straighten it, perm it, colour it and get it into a general submission, but your head of hair is yours for a reason. It's something you've inherited. Just as it can be futile to rail against the shape of your body, your hair probably looks best when it's your natural colour and shape. You can maximise this with the right cut and technique. This part of the blog is all about proper hair care, plus I'll give you some tips for when you're at the hair dressers so you have as minimal bad hair cuts as possible.

Just an update.

Gosh I'm tried! I have pushed myself into writing you guys a blog post. This one's freehand straight online though, so apologies on my behalf. I normally plan and write a draft into word first!

   I've been a little bit 'AWOL' recently  (I had to look up the spelling for this and I never knew it was an army saying!) And by doing this, I've just realised I've posted two blogs without definitions on the end. Doh! I'll fix that up tomorrow sometime. 

   Why have I been away you might ask? I'm trying to set up a Youtube account. It's all very complicated now with Google+ and I've got the hang of it. I've set up the account, made myself some cover art but I have yet to record any videos. I'm trying to find a decent camera without breaking the bank. I was all set to use my mum's Nikon D50(?) but it doesn't have video record.. will try the other half's Nikon but I don't think that does either. So at the moment I am stuck with my mum's video camera, but the quality isn't brilliant. I'm getting there. The lighting is another issue. I may have that solved first. 

   I've subscribed to my favorite beauty guru's in the meantime though.

-Beautybaby44

-Zoella

-Dollybowbow

-beautycrush

-eletricstrawberry48

 -makeupbymandy24

-TaynaBurr

and some others but this is all off the top of my head. 

   That's it for now, I'll link you to my youtube but it's not much use. My account name is 'Devon Kelly'

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgC_SFLV2ViBKFKsGTNnpAA/feed

xx

The Worst Things For Your Skin

My Favourite Sun Lotion - Smells Like Coconut!

Sun

Contrary to popular belief, baking in the sun doesn't clear up spots, especially if it's spots on your face. It might modify your skin tone so they aren't as visible, and it might dry up the outer layer of skin, but it can actually exacerbate* the problem, particularly if you're prone to rosacea* or on medication that's light sensitive*.
   And speaking of sun, don't forget to apply SPF on your chest, neck and hands, as the thinner layers of skin here will show sun spots. You can do everything to maintain a young looking face and quickly give yourself easily away elsewhere. There are great natural and mineral-based sunscreens on the market that don't contain scary chemicals - a small powder foundation is something I keep in my bag for when I re-apply my sun cream. And because it's not liquid it's perfect for on the go. You don't need to pull out the SPF 45 on a daily basis - and you shouldn't avoid the sun completely, since that can result in having a vitamin-D deficiency. Anything in the SPF 15 to 30 range should be enough for everyday. 
   I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you expose yourself too much to sun throughout your life make sure you see a dermatologist for a full-body check. Skin cancer can be fatal; it's key to catch it early. If you're obsessed with having tanned skin, and make up doesn't cut it - look at fake tanners. There are countless options and brands in shops to give a natural glow. 

Smoking

In addition to all the horrible things smoking can do to your health, it's another way to destroy your health. Not only because you'll get wrinkles around your mouth but because smoking speeds up the aging process of the skin. It's a gross habit, so just try to steer clear of it. 

Dehydration

Your skin is your body's largest organ and it need hydration to function at it's best. Drink pleanty of water and you skin cells will be plump and healthy. 

Picking At Your Face

This one's easy - picking at your face will only exacerbate whatever's going on there. Hands off for a happier complexion. Make sure to keep your phones and glasses clean because they can harbor bacteria that you don't want touching your face. 

One Simple Thing You Can Do Everyday

I know I've pretty much shoved the SPF message down your throats but there's one more thing you need to know. Your lips need protection too. Add a lip balm with SPF into your collection and you're covered. There are tinted ones, so you can be protecting your mouth and prettying up your pout at the same time. 

Which sun cream products do you use? 

Have you joined stoptober? 

xx

*Exacerbate - To make a problem, situation or bad feeling worse. 

**Rosacea - A condition in which facial blood vessels enlarge.

***Light Sensitive Medication - Such as:

• benzoyl peroxide, BenzaClin, Benzamycin
• Accutane (isotretinoin)
• Products containing alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, etc.)
• Antibiotics like doxycyline, metronidazole,erythromycin and Bactrim
• Retinoids like Retin-A, Differin, Tazorac, Ziana

Analyse Your Face.

Recently I've become a bit obsessed with eastern medicine and face mapping. The idea is that you have a strong connection between your internal organs - and other things happening in your body - and the different zones of your face. For example, issues with your liver will show up as redness in the center of your forehead. A breakout here my signify overly rich foods in your diet or an allergy to dairy. You can even tell which side you have ovulated that month by examining your chin with a microscope.. (obviously to be done professionally). Professionals can also sense when you've just been ill or about to become ill by looking above your eyebrows. It can be really fun and interesting way to find out what's happening on the inside - it makes sense too, if you keep in mind that your skin is actually an organ/ Here is a basic face map showing some areas you can break out and what they could mean:

1. Forehead: Breakouts across the forehead can be triggered by stress or lack of sleep.

2. Above Brow: The area above your brow represents your immune system. Breakouts tend to appear here before, after or during a cold or flu.

3. Between Brows: Breakouts between your brows are often caused by overindulgence. Try cutting back on sugar, rich foods and alcohol.

4. Cheeks: Your cheeks are affected by your lung quality. Smoking and breathing polluted air can cause breakouts here. 

5. Chin: The chin is affected by hormones. Breakouts can come around the time of your period and more on one side depending on which ovary is ovulating that month. 

Do you find that you breakout somewhere in particular? 

See if you can find out more about face mapping

xx

Make Up Wishlist

So my last wishlist turned into more of a beauty product wishlist instead of a make up one, so I thought I'd just quickly add a make up one just to make up for it! (If you pardon the pun).

1. Mac's Mineralize Rich Lipstick - Everyday Diva

I'm getting braver with my lipstick! I used to stick to nudes and then slowly branched out. Now I want to try an actual red lip. Not everyday maybe, on nights out and important dinners. I'm not that brave to walk to the shops in my Jeffery Campbell's and bright lips just yet.

2. Mac's Paint - Untitled 

I need to buy a base for my eye shadows that is actually designed to be a base. At the moment, I am very unprofessional and use a concealer as my base. This product is used sparingly so you can make it last for ages. 

3. Barry M Chameleon Colour Changing Nail Effect - Pink

I love having a accent nail on my ring finger and I love the idea of having it change two tone in the light. I wear my nails pink quite a lot so even the lilac shade could match my nails.

4. Barry M Textured Nail Effects - Station Road

I NEED THIS. I don't have any yellow nail varnish and this has the added texture too which just makes it top in my books. It has a grit like effect for a bit of a grunge touch. I need to try this out soon. 

5. Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil 

This is a type of tanning I'd like to try, a dry oil. It's meant to give just a bronzed sheen with a really nice shimmer. 

6. Bourjois So Perfect Base Coat

I don't actually own a base coat, that's actually really bad isn't it? I use a top coat, so maybe it's time to purchase one. Bourjois is quite a reliable brand in my books so I think this is one I'll be picking up soon. 

7. Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara - Black 

Like I said before, I'm down to one mascara now and I really need to branch out and explore the world of mascaras. I find high end mascaras are a lot better than high street. I also have seen a lot of reviews defending the non smudge claim, apparently it doesn't end up all over your eyes! Yay!

8. Maybelline's Superstay 14Hr Lipstick - Infinitely Fuchsia

Along with my red lipstick, why should I not try a bright pink one too? This claims to stay for a long time, and apparently it's really ultra creamy to go on too. And it's not as expensive as the red one!

9. Rouge Allure Velvet - La Sensuelle

Lipstick again. I'm sorry! I can't help it. This is the ultimate lipstick brand. Chanel! I don't think I'll be able to get this for a while.. I don't know if I can just splash this much out on a lipstick. I'll dream about it though. 

10. YSL Forever Youth Liberator Foundation

I'm still using highstreet foundations, and I think maybe it's time to try a high end one and see what the hype is all about and YSL is the way to go!

xx

My Wishlist.

So I'm trying a little different. I'm having a break from beauty advising and I'm going to share with you my top ten cosmetic and beauty wishlist. These are my top ten products I am looking to try in the coming months. 

1. Redken Guts 10 Volume Spray Foam. This product is amazing. I cannot wait to try it. It is a hairspray or boosting wax type product. You just spray it into your roots for a ridiculous volume boost. (and I mean ridiculous in a good way)

2. Lancôme Nutrix Royal Mains Hand Cream. This hand cream smells gorgeous.

3. Macadamia Moisturizing Rinse. This conditioner is paraben-free and sulphate free. It's good for dry hair, like mine and it smells so natural and yummy. It's not expensive at all and I will be ordering very very soon. 

4. Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara. I have heard so many good reviews from this mascara. It's meant to give you long full of body lashes and so far I've only found one mascara that does this. So maybe it's time to try a more up market one!

5. Elie Saab Le Parfum Perfumed Body Cream. Ok, so spending near fourty pounds on a moisturiser sounds stupid but this is an incredible smell. I've tried a sample of the perfume but my perfume collection is silly now and I'm not splashing out for another bottle to gather dust. I'm trying to get into the habit of applying a moisturiser daily so hopefully a lovely smelling one with encourage me. 

6. Jessica Hand & Body Moisturising Emulsion. I LOVE jessica nail polish. The girl that does my nails locally always uses the brand, and now they've brought our a hand moisturiser. She used it on me the last time i visited and now im just yearning for it. 

7. GUERLAIN Météorites Voyage. Ok, this will forever be on my wishlist because I doubt I'll ever buy an illuminating powder for one hundred and four pounds but it's absolutely gorgeous. It has a patchwork of mauve, pink, champagne, white and green.

8. Area H20 Hard Water Shampoo and Conditioner. I live in a soft water area, but the rest of my family live in a hard water area and it wrecks havoc with my hair. So this helps treat your hair to keep it just as healthy as before. 

9. Deep Steep Tangerine - Melon Hand Scrub. This product is an exfoliator for your hands with a gorgeous fruity citrus smell. 

10. Biotherm Age Fitness Yeux Powder 2 Smoothing Relaxing Eye Care. This is the nest top product for eye care and age prevention. It also helps with signs of fatigue and tiredness. 


So there we are. Ten products (more than make up) I need and want to try. I'll do a make up one later on in the month. 

Love <3

Acne.

College is hard enough - why do spots have to make it harder? Oh, and whoever said acne and spots go away after school is a liar! So, whether you're fifteen or thirty-five, you can still be dealing with spots.

Blackheads

Up until last year, I thought having blackheads meant your face was dirty. That's not exactly true. A blackhead forms when your pores get blocked. The clogged oil (also known as sebum) interacts with the air and turns black. Whilst you can squeeze blackheads out, they'll keep coming back.

Whiteheads

Despite the fact that these are under the skin and therefore not exposed to oxygen (which is why they're white), whiteheads are often more noticeable than blackheads - especially to you. But even though you might have one that looks ready for popping, resist the urge. letting it run it's course will help you avoid getting scars. If you have an especially troubling white head and you just can't let it lie, the easiest thing to do is wrap an ice cube in tissue and hold it against the spot. the ice will take down the inflammation and redness and kills bacteria, and you can safely do this several times a day. After a couple times, it should be in better shape to cover with make up.

 Body Acne

There is nothing more frustrating than body acne, which is incredibly prevalent. Think about it: your back is covered in oil producing pored that are generally covered with layers of fabric. It's no wonder they're inclined to get clogged. But it's fairly easy to clean your back properly by using a plastic handled bristle brush (plastic can't breed bacteria) to scrub with soap. You can also treat back acne with Benzoyl peroxide. Chest acne is a bit trickier, since the skin is more delicate. You can was your back gently with a shower puff. Breakouts here are highly hormonal and will usually fade without treatment. Do your best to keep your hands off it. 

How To Pop A Zit

The short answer to this is: don't. Definitely if you skin is scar-prone. Not only can you damage the skin around the pimple, but you can inflame it and increase how long it will stay. You can also cause the pimple to burst inward. If you also have a very painful red cyst - do not touch it. Contact your doctor. 

   If you absolutely must touch it, and you are convinced it's ready. Wash your face really well and place a hot flannel on the spot to draw it out as much as you can. Wrap each finger in tissue, apply a small amount of pressure. Make sure it pops fully. Cleanse your face again, and add witch hazel.

Ingredients To Avoid

Rather than tell you which products you should be using, (which I will never tell you too), I want to provide you with a list of ingredients to try to avoid. Whilst I've been told that the products designed for penetrating the outer layers of your skin can't reach your bloodstream, I still try and but products with a list of natural ingredients. One good indicator that a product isn't good for you is a lengthy list of ingredients that you can't pronounce. Keep in mind that all of these are necessarily bad. After all, even water is a chemical (H2o). Also keep in mind that just because something claims that it is 'natural', 'green' or 'organic' doesn't mean it's healthy - trading standards are sometimes lax on this rules and letting companies write this across their products. It could be a completely false claim. And sometimes things that are natural aren't necessarily good. Arsenic? Natural. 
   
Below are a list of ingredients I try my best to avoid, but this list is not comprehensive. You can research a lot of information on toxic ingredients on plenty of websites and blogs online. 

Fragrance

When it comes to skin care, I try to skip and products that contain a synthetic fragrance, this is linked to being carcinogenic. Whilst I want my hair to smell good, I don't need my skin too as well (Unless it comes from a natural smell in oil)

Phthalates

These commonly go by dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, and diethyl phthalate and can be found in some skin products, hair sprays, and nail polishes. They're constantly on the trading standards watch list, and whilst not proven to be harmful in low doses, I try to avoid them when possible. Studies show that phthalates are hormone-disrupting and are one of the reasons girls are hitting puberty so young these days. 

Diethanolamine

This is used in cosmetics to create a foaming effect. Whist it is registered as safe, I try to skip cosmetics that contain DEA or DEA-related ingredients.

Coal-tar Colours & Dyes

These have been proven to be carcinogenic, and many are banned. Thise that are still in use pass safety tests and are marked as either FD&C or D&C. If the former, that means that the colour is safe to be consumes. If it's D&C it's only safe for topical application. According to guidelines, don not apply it on or near eyes/lips. 

Formaldehyde

I used to think only undertakers used this. Not true. Formaldehyde is frequently used in beauty products because it's an antibacterial and a preservative. But it's a known carcinogen so avoid it when possible. Some ingredients in mascara break down and become formaldehyde, which is why you should replace your mascara every few months. 

Aluminium

A common ingredient in deodorants as it plugs sweat ducts (niiice), aluminium has been known to be absorbed by the skin and behave like estrogen. 

Parabens

Parabens are preservatives to make products last longer. Parabens interfere with hormones and can be absorbed though the skin. 

*carcinogen - a substance that can cause cancer in tissue

DKH - Find Your Beauty 

Your Basic Skin-Care Advice

Example of Skin Care Products

Once you've picked which products you want to try - and are willing to try with them for at least a month you can use these basic skin care rules I've learnt from years of blogs, vlogs, friends and mags. This is why (touchwood) that my skin is in such good condition. 

Cleansing

We all know that girl with the perfect glowing pure complexion that looks like not a single product has touched it. If I left my skin like her.. let's not even think about it. Shudder. But anyhow, morning and evening rituals are essential. Your pores need to be cleaned so they can breathe and work as they were intended too. Having clean pores also means that the products you put on your face can be absorbed. If you clean your skin too aggressively you can upset it and cause inflammation and sore patches, you can also trigger your oil glands to mass produce. It's a good idea to follow basic cleansing with some toner, especially if your skin is oily. Witch hazel is a good alternative if you prefer more natural products.  
   If you don't wear a lot of make up, then using your hands to cleanse should be fine. Get your hair out of your face and off of your neck, and then in a circular motion work your cleanser into a lather across all of your face. Spend equal time on your cheeks, chin, your upper neck, behind your ears (!) and along your hairline where residue build up. This process should take about a minute, don't just lather up and rub it on and think that's it. Be sure to rinse it off well, don't leave any on your face. 
   If you wear a lot of make up, like I do, you will need extra help. You can use an exfoliating cloth, a Clarisonic face brush (my next new purchase, hopefully!) or make up remover and cotton wool. 

Exfoliating

If you run your finger along the edge of your face you'll feel it's a bit rough, this is due to clogged pores. Dead skin cells, oil, dirt and make up are all things that can be clogged into your pores and this causes blemishes and spots. You want to prevent this build up so that the skin underneath can breathe. Once a week, make up free, I'll scan my face for roughness and then use my exfoliator. If your skin is sensitive, you'll still need to exfoliate but to make it extra gentle, dilute your exfoliator by mixing it with cleanser. If your skin looks red or raw, don't exfoliate 

Moisturising

My Moisturiser 

Even if you have oily skin, you'll still want to use a light, oil-free moisturiser across all zones of your face and your neck. Ensure that you trap most of the moisture by applying it to damp skin. If you tend to have drier, flaky skin, exfoliate and slather on the cream immediately. Moisturising in the winter is essential, especially if you live somewhere colder!

When To Seek A Doctor's Opinion

Since there's not a lot you can do about serious skin conditions of the inside in, if you have a condition such as skin-cystic acne, painful eczema (ding!) or psoriasis (ding again) - you should absolutely see your doctor. Don't pick at your face or do a little research and think you're ontop of it. Your doctor will know what's going on and will work with you to find the right combination of products (some might be prescription) to help you sort out your skin. 

As always I have to add a little note - Don't quote everything you've read in this post, no matter how much you exfoliate and moisturise, if you don't get some rest your skin will suffer. You can't stay out all night and expect your face to be ok with you the next day. There's a reason it's called beauty sleep. 

Enjoy! 

DKH - Find Your Beauty