Simple Skin Care

We all know how important it is to have a great skin care routine. Cleanser, toner and moisturiser are
usually the bare minimum now with so many other products sneaking their ways into our everyday
regimes. It's all well and good using these products and hoping that they will make us look 10 years
 younger and as fresh as a daisy but without eating properly and concentrating on the basics, how
well will they really work? 

I'm going back to the very basics, before all the magical creams, and take a look at what we can do
ourselves to look beautiful. 

EAT YOUR WAY TO BEAUTIFUL SKIN

1. We all know how important it is to drink plenty but to get glowing skin we should be aiming to
    get about 6 glasses a day! And that does not include coke or coffee. 
2. Fruit and Vegetables!!!!! I can hear you all now, "5 a day, yes yes we know!" But did you
   know that carrots, broccoli, apricots, strawberries, watercress and oranges are all skin
   superfoods, so get them down you as often as you can! 
3. Chocolate hasn't been linked to having problem skin, so you can still indulge in your little
    choc-attacks. Within reason people! 
4. Skipping meals is a big no-go when it comes to healthy skin so make sure you're sticking to a
   regular, balanced diet. 

LOOKING AFTER YOUR SKIN IN SUMMER

Winter is on it's way out (thank goodness) and Summer is just around the corner so here's some
things to remember for when the sun comes out.

1. Slap on that suntan lotion! Do it before you get dressed as part of your normal moisturising
   routine. 
2. Don't forget about the skin on your lips. They are so prone to burning and people often miss
   them out so invest in a lipsalve with SPF.
3. If you can stay out of then sun between 12 and 3. You're all shouting at me again, "We know
    this!" but how many of you actually do it?! 
4. Buy a fashionable summer hat, one that you really like, and WEAR IT! 

LOOKING AFTER YOUR SKIN IN WINTER

Although we may be seeing a tad more of the sun now, Winter is still lingering and so we need to be
protecting our skin from the cold weather. 

1. Cold weather and freezing winds dry out the skin and make us itch so make sure you're
   covering up and trying to keep as much of your skin away from the elements. 
2. If you're layering up in this weather then make sure the layer closest to your skin is a light
   cotton as this keeps the skin warm and dry and is less likely to irritate it. 
3. I know you're all dying to hop into a nice hot shower or bath when you get in but the water
   dries out your skin! I'm afraid that if you want beautiful skin you're gonna have to turn the heat
    down just a little bit, and keep your time in the water to a bare minimum! 

So there you have it, just a few tips and tricks to save our skin without the expensive products.
However, integrating these pointers with your usual regime will most definitely give you the best
skin you have ever had! 

Controlling Relationships.

"If you loved me, you would do it."

Who of you have had a loved one say this to you? Many people don't know that this is actually a form of blackmail and something that controlling partners use on an all too regular basis to get you to do something that you are not comfortable with. 

I know, I've been there. I was in a controlling relationship from age 14-17. It was the reason I never completed college and why I have so many problems with my self-esteem and trust now. It's something that I am working on and I'm getting better, but if I can help just one person out there avoid being in this position then it would make it all worthwhile. 

Young love (or new love) is an exciting and beautiful thing but sometimes it doesn't last. Things change and all of a sudden you find yourself in something you wish you weren't. You should never feel pressurised to do something you don't to. This includes being told to wear certain clothes, or to do your hair and make up a certain way. Not being allowed to see your friends or family, your partner checking your phone or facebook, and using the age old phrase of, "If you loved me..." is all controlled, unhealthy behaviour to have in a relationship and it is not something you have to put up with, 

I know from experience how easy it is for a genuine, loving relationship to slowly slip into a controlling one. I also know how hard it is to get out of one, and how much it hurts. What you have to remember is that, although it's painful and might not be what you want at the time, getting out of a controlling relationship is always better for you in the long term. 

My ex-boyfriend used to take me out of classes at college, he would threaten me and my family and eventually things got physical which was when I knew I needed to get out. I loved him very much, he was my first proper boyfriend, and it was very painful to leave but in the end it was the right thing to do. I waited nearly a year before I did something but I encourage you to take action as soon as you see the telltale signs. The longer you leave it, the more likely you are to experience long-lasting effects. 

If you are in a controlling relationship currently, or a physically abusive one, then please get help and talk to someone. It doesn't matter who it is as long as you trust them. 

Here are some links to people you can talk to in confidence: 

• Childline - Talk to trained professionals.
• Elefriends - Get encouragement from others in a Facebook like setting.

Thank you for reading, and I truly hope this helped some of you. 

Lottie x 

"Get Some Meat On Your Bones"

I hate this saying. My Nan says it to me almost every single time I see her, along with, "You're so pale, you look like a ghost."

"We need to feed you up"
"Do you ever eat?!"
"Why are you so thin?"
"You look anorexic."
"You must not eat enough to keep a fly alive."
"You are too skinny."

All of the above are things that I have had said to me over the years and all of them are things that I find offensive.

I have always been thin. I danced from the age of 3 and still do so I never really put on any weight. I have a very high metabolism and I am just generally quite a small person, In the past doctors have expressed their concern from my BMI being lower than it should be but only by about 1 or 2 points and nothing to worry too much about. The fact is is that I have always been like this, no matter how much I eat. And crikey, I eat a lot!

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that phrases like the ones above are not exactly helpful. In fact they can often make people feel self conscious and worried about their appearance. I feel this way and I am perfectly healthy. But imagine if you did say this to someone who does suffer from an eating disorder, how would it make them feel? It certainly wouldn't help them in their recovery, I can bet that much!

I suppose it's just important to think about what you say before you say it, and to consider how it may be received by the person to whom you are directing it. There are better ways to compliment someone on their weight or appearance.

No matter what you're body shape, if you are healthy and happy then don't worry about what other people are saying. Just be confident with who you are because you are beautiful.

If you do think that you may know someone who is struggling with an eating disorder then please tell someone who can help them and get them the support they need.

Let's just be nice to one another and take care of each other.

Lottie x


P.s. Zoella did a blog post on this topic back in 2011 if you would like to check it out. https://www.zoella.co.uk/2011/03/why-are-you-so-skinny.html