Tag: skincare

S T Y L E | faffing around over lockdown …

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My mum always used to say I was a ‘faffer ‘ who liked nothing better than ‘faffing around’ with skincare and beauty bits .

F A F F E R – to spend your time doing a lot of things that are not important instead of the thing you should be doing . i.e “Tracey please stop faffing around”

I in turn always blamed Mum and her Avon [lady] sample kit. I can still see it now her little suitcase of complete and utter joy. The bundles of sachets of cream and THOSE Lipstick samples. Back in the 80’s lipstick samples were actually miniature lipsticks ; absolutely brilliant for handing out to customers with their monthly catalogue as they could fit through the letterbox. Great to try before you buy AND for my tiny hands to pinch & play with.

I’m not sure why they stopped doing them; in today’s weird ‘social distancing’ climate they would be ideal. Bring them back!

I found these photographs on Pinterest [ below ] can anybody remember them too?

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B E A U T Y | first impressions – Antipodes Skincare

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* Gifted products with no obligation to post. Contains affiliate links *

A few years ago I stumbled upon the brand Antipodes. I can’t remember which but if I recall rightly I had just read a blog post or watched a vlog by Megan from ‘Wonderful You‘ 

She was running through her daily skincare routine which included the ‘Juliet Brightening Cleanser’ . I immediately searched online and purchased it ; I mean she had amazing skin! What was there to lose? A lot actually . I’ve found in the past what works for somebody else might not necessarily work for you and it’s a total waste of money. [That’s why I wish more brands did sample sizes] BUT on this occasion we happened to love each other … and so my love affair with Juliet began.

I adore this cleanser and the brands ethos ; they are cruelty free, organic and vegan approved. I have made several purchases of the cleanser since. I am lucky in that I am in the position where brands send me products to try but I always seem to steer back to this cleanser.

Fast forward to a few days ago and the delivery of a care parcel from Antipodes.

Mucho excitement on my part !

I was kindly gifted:

  • Baptise H20 Ultra-Hydrating Water Gel
  • Kiwi Seed Gold Luminous Eye Cream
  • Moisture Boost Natural Lipstick in Forest Berry Red & Queenstown Hot Chocolate

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L I F E | lockdown PR

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Morning Campers how are you all doing today as we enter week 6 of lockdown ?? I think its week 6 anyway – who knows ?

[ I’ve just been advised it’s actually week 7! Bloody hell how time flies when you … don’t do much ! ]

Is anybody else losing track of the days, or is it just me? Days are blending into days and weeks into weeks ; it’s like one big old round of Ground Hog Day!

I have to admit I’ve not struggled too much with the lockdown, in a weird way I’ve actually enjoyed some parts of it. Tik Tok. Reading actual books . Afternoon Gin in the garden followed by decadent baths. Binge watching ‘Gangs of London’ and the beautiful ‘Normal People’. Friday Night Zoom quizzes with my friends. However as the weather has taken a turn for the worse and I’ve found myself confined indoors I have found myself feeling a little like spider man … and crawling walls !

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B E A U T Y | with Rebecca Elsdon Advanced Skincare

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If you’ve been hanging around here for a while with me you will know I love skincare and beauty.

You will also know that I had acne in my early 20’s which has left me with some scarring and hypo-pigmentation. ‘Bug-bears’ I have been trying to improve over the years!

I’ve had lots of treatments from derma roller to TCA peels to lazer but always with the words of a not so tactful therapist lingering in the back of my mind ‘we can’t perform miracles!‘ I’m not daft , a scar is a scar, skin that’s lost pigmentation will never regain it BUT I do believe that with lots of care, with the correct treatments and products you can improve your skins appearance.

So with that in mind and after discovering and talking on Instagram I made an appointment for a consultation with Rebecca Elsdon Advanced Skincare & Aesthetics’s and I couldn’t have been more excited.

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L I F E | my 2019 highlights

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One of the most important lessons  I’ll take from 2019 .

Why not me?

I have always struggled with the assumption that I wasn’t good enough… pretty enough… cool enough… ‘whatever it is’ enough. Or that if I was I would inevitably fall at the last hurdle and feck up whatever it was I was working on.

My lack of self-confidence drove my parents to the brink of despair and I guess over the years I’ve turned down various opportunities because it was easier than trying and failing. I mean come on I could potentially have been a weather girl on bloody Calender News had I followed up the invitation to audition many years ago.

In 2019 I guess something shifted … combined with the loss of my mum a few years before … I gained a new frame of mind.

So back to my revelation.

Back in early autumn I announced excitedly to a few people [including a few influencers] that I had been asked to be a Regional Ambassador for M.A.C.

The look on a couple of their faces was priceless. Maybe it was my age, maybe they thought my following wasn’t large enough … whatever it was it screamed “you? why you??” some people really need to work on their poker faces.

I admit to thinking that myself initially but I always question EVERYTHING. I joked about how they had obviously emailed the wrong person, but it did make me think …

why me?

or rather why NOT me?

BEAUTY | Skincare in the sun

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Contains PR / gifts and affiliated links marked with *

“The sun I’ll come out tomorrow … bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow sun will shine !” Yes I’m going all orphan Annie on you but by god this weather is absolutely amazing.

It’s Saturday afternoon, I’m laid melting into one of our garden loungers. I’m on my third Gin & Tonic. Don’t judge me … it’s only 2 o clock but I need to keep cool. I guess water would be preferable [and more sensible] … but not so much fun!

As always I’m fully factored up . I love the sun but the not the idea of the damage it could potentially cause.

Once upon a time my friends and I would lie on the beach in the tiniest of bikinis , wearing zero sun-protection and slather ourselves in oil … like the stuff you cook chips in. I’m not joking – tanning back then was all about how dark you could go and not about protecting your skin. I once burnt so badly my shoulders erupted in water blisters and I’ve had sun-stroke enough times to write a book . I was the colour of a Conker yes … but it was painful to say the least . I shudder to think about the damage I have caused myself.

Older and wiser I now wear an SPF every single day … even on days when it’s miserable and cold outside.

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