Reflecting on 2020 and my Goals for 2021

It’s hard to know how to start this post after not updating my blog in so long, so I think I’ll just start by saying ‘hello’ again! Being quiet on here since July hasn’t been deliberate. I’ve desperately wanted to share posts and have a growing list of ideas of things I’d like to write about. I’ve just struggled to actually do it! A mixture of my health being decidedly rubbish since my major surgery in November 2019 and a global pandemic affecting both my physical and mental health haven’t made for a very productive Jenny. But one of my goals for 2021 (more on those later) is to really try and start getting some content out on here again, even if it’s just writing little bits here and there. So here I am with my first post of the year! And I thought a good place to start would be to just reflect a bit on the past year and then look forward to the year ahead.

 

Reflecting on 2020

 

Where do I even start with reflecting on the last year?! It’s certainly been a strange and scary one for most of us hasn’t it? I started 2020 having just had major leg surgery (a Femoral Osteotomy). I was spending the majority of my time sleeping, keeping dosed up on various painkillers and having regular physiotherapy. I saw 2020 as my year to recover – to gain strength, increase my mobility and to start doing some of the things I enjoy again as I started to get better. But I hadn’t planned for two things – one, that complications from surgery would make recovery increasingly difficult and two, that we would be plunged into a global pandemic. 

 

I always knew that the surgery came with risks (with added risks on top because of my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). But I think when you go in for any kind of surgery, you convince yourself that you will dodge these risks and that things will go smoothly – otherwise you wouldn’t go ahead with the surgery! And a lot of the time, things do go to plan. You have your surgery, it resolves the problem, you make a good recovery and generally your life is better for having that intervention. But occasionally, things aren’t quite so straightforward. And this seems to have been the case for me this time. 

 

The place where they broke my femur has actually been healing quite nicely (albeit rather slowly). But unfortunately, the surgery has affected my knee and nobody seems to know why. As the months have gone on, I’ve been struggling to bend my knee, have been getting a lot of pain and swelling in it and have been finding it hard to put much weight through my leg because of this. It’s been incredibly frustrating, especially as my mobility is now worse than it was before I had the surgery (which definitely wasn’t the plan – it was meant to try and improve it!) 

 

And unfortunately a global pandemic hasn’t helped matters, as it meant my physiotherapy had to stop and I struggled to get appointments with my surgeon. When I did eventually manage to see my surgeon in person, he let me know that because my appointment (and possible treatment) had been delayed due to Covid, there is a very real possibility that I may never regain the full use of my leg again. Devastated is definitely an understatement! I don’t blame my surgeon – he’s just as frustrated by the situation as I am and it’s not his fault we’re in a global pandemic. But I am obviously angry and upset at Covid for potentially losing me the full use of my right leg. 

 

I’m trying to stay as positive as I can in the hope my surgeon can find an answer and that I will see some improvement. But it’s not easy, especially when it’s still so difficult to access services because of the strain of the pandemic.

 

And that brings me on to the second significant thing that happened in 2020 – Coronavirus. It’s obviously been a difficult time for everyone, although we have all been affected in slightly different ways and perhaps some more negatively than others. I can only really talk about the effect it’s had on me and my loved ones, but I don’t want to dismiss the fact it’s impacted each and every one of us and that some people are struggling a lot more than others. 

 

For me, in some ways, I guess I’ve been kind of lucky in a strange, roundabout kind of way. Having been chronically ill for the last 17 years, often spending large parts of my time housebound, being put into Lockdown wasn’t a huge shock for me. Chronic illness had prepared me pretty well for not being able to leave the house. So while a lot of the world struggled to come to terms with staying at home for months on end, the chronic illness community didn’t see our day-to-day lives change particularly. 

 

Don’t get me wrong – it was really hard to suddenly hear everyone complaining about being ‘stuck’ at home, telling everyone that they didn’t know how they were expected to live like this for so long. It was strange to suddenly be surrounded by people living a life that you have lived for so many years without any recognition. All of a sudden things started to be made available to people who couldn’t leave the house. It was possible to work from home, medical appointments could be done via video call, virtual tours were made available for museums and gardens and communities came together to ensure those who were housebound had access to food, medication and company. 

 

For a lot of the chronic illness and Disabled community, these changes were a double-edged sword. In some ways it felt really great to see the wider world being made accessible for the first time. I have friends who were finally able to speak to a doctor after struggling alone for years because they weren’t well enough to get to a physical appointment. But it was also incredibly frustrating and hurtful to see these adaptations be put in place with such ease and speed. We have been asking for them for years and have either been ignored, or been told it simply isn’t possible. Imagine developing a chronic illness, asking your work if they will facilitate working from home to enable you to still do your job and then having to leave when they tell you that the job can’t be done from home. And then, to add insult to injury, someone else is given your job and is then given the adaptations needed to do the job from home. It was possible all along, but only when a situation arose that affected non-disabled people. 

 

I think the way Disabled people have been treated over the last year is one of the things that has affected me most during the pandemic (other than losing the majority of my medical care and the fear of myself and my loved ones getting the virus). I’ve been well aware of ableism growing up, having been Disabled since I was 15. But over the last year it has become so overwhelming that it’s been difficult to escape, even in the safety of my own home. 

 

Constant comments on social media like “Only the elderly and vulnerable will die,” “the vulnerable should just stay inside so the rest of us can get on with our lives,” “the vulnerable should take responsibility and protect themselves – it’s not our job to mollycoddle them” and “why should the majority suffer to protect the few” have been hard to ignore. 

 

Finally being able to leave the house and finding Disabled parking bays have been turned into queuing areas or toilets have been closed has made it even harder for Disabled people to access the world. And knowing that, in the first half of 2020, 59% of all deaths involving Covid-19 were among disabled people was terrifying to hear. 

 

This year, it’s just felt like things have gone backwards with our society’s attitudes towards Disabled people, and it’s been really sad (and quite scary) to witness. I know a lot of Disabled people have found this has taken a toll on their mental health (myself included). So I hope anyone who is reading this that has been affected in a similar way is doing as OK as possible at the moment. It hasn’t been easy (and it’s hard to see things improving any time soon) but you’re doing an amazing job simply getting from one day to the next, so please don’t be too hard on yourself. Apart from my family and friends, the one thing that has kept me sane over the last year is the amazing Disabled community I have found on social media. Perhaps I’ll do a blog post at some point sharing some of my favourite accounts, as feeling a part of a community who are fighting back, showing that being Disabled isn’t a negative thing and supporting each other through this has been a real lifesaver. 

 

Goals for 2021

 

So moving onto this year – I often find it quite difficult to set New Year’s Resolutions and goals to be honest. Being chronically ill, life can be pretty unpredictable and so it can get quite demoralising setting goals and then finding my health just won’t allow me to achieve them. Add into the mix a global pandemic, and it almost feels impossible to look ahead and find things to aim for that I know will be achievable. However, I do think setting myself targets is important, as it helps me to have positive things to focus on and gives me some motivation on those days where it’s seriously lacking! So this year, I’ve tried to set myself goals that I should be able to achieve regardless of what’s happening with the pandemic (and my health to a lesser extent). I’ve tried to focus more on self-care – doing things that I know will help me to feel a bit better physically and mentally – because I think that’s what I need right now. I thought I’d share them with you, partly to give myself some accountability, but also just in case it helps anyone else who’s trying to set goals but doesn’t know where to start. So, my goals/resolutions for 2021 are:

 

Go to bed earlier

 

I’ve always been a night owl, but since the pandemic hit, I’ve got into a really bad routine of going to bed far too late. In some ways it does work for me (I guess that’s why we get into bad habits, because they do serve a purpose, even if it’s not in the best way) but I also know that it’s not the best routine to be in because it leads to me getting up a lot later in the morning and generally just feeling pretty groggy. So I really want to get myself into a better routine of going to bed a bit earlier. I’m not saying I’ll be in bed by 10pm, as that just isn’t how my body works, but I do want to gradually bring my bedtime forward until I get to a place that feels right for me. And I’m hoping it will bring the added bonus of giving me a bit of time to start reading again before I fall asleep because at the moment, I’m just too tired to even try.

 

Get back to doing my skincare routine

 

I used to religiously follow a skincare routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising every day. But when I had my leg surgery, it kind of went out the window a bit and for some reason, I’ve really struggled to get back into doing it. I think part of the reason is because I’ve felt so rubbish since having my operation – I just haven’t really felt like doing anything nice for myself, partly through feeling physically unwell and partly through my mental health not being great. And this is something I want to work on because I know spending a few minutes each day giving myself some simple pampering can make a big impact on how I feel. Even if I start with something very simple – like putting a bit of moisturiser on – I want to get back into consistently making time to look after my skin.

 

Post on my blog more

 

So as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, things were pretty quiet on my blog during 2020. And it’s something I really want to change. My blog is where I first started creating content before I expanded to Instagram and YouTube, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love writing and taking photos – it just ended up falling by the wayside a bit recently as my energy was being used for other things. I don’t want to compromise on creating content for my other platforms, so I need to try and manage my time a bit better so I can start getting some more posts on here. Apart from my energy levels, I think one thing that continually stops me posting on here is not feeling like my work is good enough. Comparing my photos to other bloggers who take the most beautiful pictures, doubting myself over whether I have something interesting or useful to say and worrying that, because I can’t get out much, what I post won’t be interesting enough – I’m constantly telling myself that there’s no point in trying because it won’t match up to what other people are doing. But the more I think about it, the more I realise how ridiculous that all sounds. I follow a whole variety of content creators and the things that they post are so diverse, and that’s why I like them. And even if no one wants to read my ramblings, I enjoy writing them and taking the photos, so I think that’s the most important thing to focus on. 

 

Be open-minded about treatment for my leg

 

As I’ve talked about in this post, my post-surgery recovery from my Femoral Osteotomy has not been going to plan. To begin with, I was quite fixed with my ideas of what was causing the problems (I thought it was all down to the rotation issues with my lower leg, and believed that by having that corrected, everything would be fixed). But, with the help of my surgeon and other medical professionals, I’m starting to realise that it probably isn’t as ‘simple’ as that, and it may be a case of a number of problems going on that we have to deal with (i.e. muscle and nerve problems too). Because of this, I feel like I need to try and be a bit more open-minded about possible treatments I’m being offered. It’s not discounting that I’m likely to need further surgery at some point to correct the misalignment in my lower leg (and possibly sorting out my other leg at some point!), but just recognising that it’s probably not a straightforward issue and that I may have to have other treatments to get me to a place where surgery can be considered. 

 

Less mindless scrolling

 

It’s only fairly recently that I’ve realised just how much time I spend scrolling through social media on my phone and how much of a negative effect this has on my mental health. I definitely think it’s got worse since Covid came along – perhaps because there’s a bit more time, but also because I think I’ve got a bit drawn into reading comments on news articles on Facebook, which really isn’t good for my mood and anxiety levels! I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with social media – in some ways, I find it completely draining, while in other ways, I find it a great place to keep in touch with friends and to feel part of an amazing community of disabled and chronically ill people. So I guess I just want to make sure I’m using it more mindfully, in ways that make me feel good. I’ve already decided not to look at Facebook before I go to bed because I know it just triggers my anxiety and doesn’t help my brain to wind down. And instead of just scrolling and scrolling, I want to use the time I’m on social media to create more content, reply to more messages/comments and interact with users who make me feel happy and empowered. 

 

Be kind to myself

 

This last resolution is probably my most important one, but is also the one I know I’m going to find the hardest. I’ve never been very good at being kind to myself. It’s a major underlying theme of my mental health problems and I can trace it right back to my childhood. But I know it needs to change if I want to keep as well as possible. I know it’s a bit non-specific, but that’s kind of deliberate, as if I make it really specific, it will just be another thing I can use to berate myself when I don’t achieve it. I’d rather see it as an overarching theme, rather than a set goal. It could include things like not giving myself a hard time if I have a day where I don’t achieve one of my goals, letting myself start the next day afresh, cutting myself some slack when I’ve felt too exhausted/unwell to do anything but get out of bed and eat. There’s a never-ending list of little things I can do to just be a bit kinder to myself, so I just want to try and be more conscious of my thoughts and actions towards myself and to continually question whether I would treat a friend the way I’m treating myself. I’ve got a long way to go to get to a place where I accept and even love myself, but starting small and making the first step is the only way to start.

How did you cope with 2020? Do you have any goals for the year ahead? And do you have any advice that might help me with mine? 

 

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Botanics Skincare

Although I love experimenting with pretty make-up, I’m definitely a skincare girl at heart. I just love trying new products, pampering myself a bit and to have my skin feeling the best that it can. Although I certainly have some favourite products, I do like to wander round a store or browse online looking at other products on the market, and I’m always interested in trying new things. A while back, I was running out of a couple of items so decided to ask around for recommendations, as well as having a browse around my local Boots store.

First up, I needed to find a new toner. I’ve tried all sorts of toners over the years, from budget versions from the likes of Garnier, Nivea and Simple, to more expensive ones like the Pixi Glow Tonic. Although I enjoyed using all of these, I fancied a change. And while perusing the shelves of bottles and boxes, I came across the Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner. According to Botanics, if you’re looking for a dose of radiance then this is the toner for you! I’m quite lucky with my skin, but one thing I do tend to find is that it can look a bit dull and tired. This toner contains Hibiscus, known for its brightening properties and exfoliating flower acids, which also improve skin’s texture and radiance. It sounded like just what my skin needed, and at £5.49, it wasn’t going to break the bank either.

I’ve been using it daily since then, and am nearly at the end of my bottle, so I feel I can now give it a proper review. After cleansing my face, I pop a bit of this on a cotton wool pad and sweep it across my skin, neck and décolletage. Unlike some toners I’ve tried, it feels gentle and delicate and hasn’t irritated my skin at all. It has a very subtle scent, which I quite like, as it doesn’t feel too overpowering. After using it, my face doesn’t end up feeling tight either – just cool and refreshed, ready for my moisturiser. I’ve received a few compliments recently, from people saying that my skin looks healthy and radiant, so I guess it must be doing what it’s meant to! Overall, I’m really enjoying using it (so much so that I’ve bought another bottle to replace this one when I finish it!) and am really happy with the way it leaves my skin looking and feeling. 

The next thing I wanted to replace was an under-eye treatment. Again, I’ve tried various things over the years, but my particular favourite was the No Puffery™ Cooling Roll-On from Origins. Unfortunately though, at £25, it isn’t something I can repurchase very often, so I wanted to try and find a cheaper alternative that gave similar results. I asked around on my social media for recommendations of a roller-ball eye treatment and a few people suggested I try the Botanics Brightening All Bright Refreshing Eye Roll-On. I really wanted to stick with a roll-on treatment because I just love the cooling and gentle massaging effect it has under my eyes at the end of the day. This one also contains Hibiscus, which was chosen for its skin brightening properties (essential when you have bags as big as suitcases under your eyes!) and it also helps to hydrate the under-eye area. 

As with the toner, I’ve been using this eye roll-on for quite a while now and am so happy to have found a cheaper alternative to my favourite Origins product (this one is only £8.99, rather than £25). It feels gently cooling under my eyes, which is great when they’re feeling uncomfortable and puffy, and it’s also really easy to apply. I tend to get a lot of headaches/pain around my eyes, and this feels so nice to apply – I’m tempted to keep it once it’s empty, just so I can massage under my eyes when the pain gets bad! The actual treatment is very gentle, with the same delicate scent as the toner. I definitely think it has brightening properties, as although I still have dark circles (it will take a miracle to get rid of those!) they do seem to be a bit brighter than they were before I started using this.

Although I’d heard of the Botanics range before, I had never really ventured in to trying any of the products. But after trying these two out, I wish I’d given the range a chance sooner! At Botanics, they believe in the power of plants for their holistic benefits to improve more than just your skin. They search for the most effective plant extracts to target skin’s specific needs and sustainably source these extracts from around the world. Their beauty products are formulated with plant extracts, natural and organic ingredients and are all developed to be effective while staying true to their ‘inspired by nature’ philosophy. They also like to make sure that their products don’t cost the earth, which is always a bonus.

After reading a bit more about the Botanics brand, and also trying a couple of their products, I will definitely be trying more from the range. I love that they are made from natural and organic ingredients and that they sustainably source these from around the world. The fact that the products feel gentle on my skin, whilst still working, is a massive positive for me. And, of course, it’s great that their range isn’t too expensive either!

Have you tried any products from the Botanics range at Boots? If so, what are your favourites that I should try out next?

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Empties - August 2019

Back in March I published my first ‘Empties’ post, where I spoke about some of the products I had used up. I really like hearing what bloggers thought about products they have completely finished, as it’s good to know they’ve given something a really good try, so I thought I would make it a regular series (well, as regularly as I can use things up anyway!) I’ll still be writing about some of my first impressions of products too, but I think talking about a product you’ve used over a longer period of time means you can really work out whether you liked it or not. It’s taken me a few months to build up another collection of empty products, but I now finally have a decent amount to talk to you about. So, here are some of the products I finished up in August!

My first empty for today is one that I’m pretty gutted about to be honest, as they no longer sell it – the Dream Time Temple Balm from Lush. I received this quite a few years ago now, but you need so little with each application that it lasted forever! The product is basically like a hard lip balm, but rather than putting this on your lips, you can rub it into your temples or other pressure points like your wrists. It is scented with lavender and chamomile, to help the user have a deep and restful sleep.

I got into a routine of applying this every night before I went to bed, and although I’ve found a different sleep balm to use now, I’m really missing this one! I often struggle with anxiety, especially at night – my brain just likes to run away with itself when the world goes quiet. But having the scent of this lingering on my skin was often enough to help me to do some controlled breathing and start to relax, so I could drift off to sleep. If you’re looking for a range of products with a similar scent, I would recommend checking out the Sleepy products, although unfortunately they don’t do a sleep balm any more.

Next up is the Dr. PAWPAW Original Balm, which I think I received in one of my beauty subscription boxes when I was still getting them. It is marketed as ‘the original balm you can’t live without!’ although, before finding it in my box, I had been living without it, as I’d never got round to trying it! It is made in the UK from a variety of natural ingredients including paw paw (not entirely sure what that is!) When these ingredients are blended together, they create a multi-purpose formula that can be used for a whole handful of things including as a skin protector, moisturiser, nappy cream and lip finisher. It also has healing properties and can be used on sunburn, skin irritations and as a hair conditioning treatment. 

I can’t claim to have used it for all of these things, but for those that I did use it for, I found it pretty magic! For example, back when the weather was colder, the inside of my nose became really sore. So I started putting a little bit of this on the sore places at night, and within a few days my nose had begun to heal! I also used it on my dry, cracked lips, and again, within a few days they were feeling so much better. I can’t believe after all the hype I’d heard, that I hadn’t got around to trying this out for so long. I really need to buy myself another tube now that this one is empty.

My next empty product was actually a free sample that my Mum received when she bought a standard sized item as a gift – the Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Body Lotion. This lotion is a relaxing blend of ylang-ylang, cardamon and sweet vanilla, and normally comes in a 300ml bottle with a pump. It’s not the type of fragrance I would ordinarily gravitate towards, which is why I love a good free sample, as it allows me to try things I wouldn’t normally go for. I actually liked the scent a lot more than I thought I would and with it being a higher-end product, the scent lingers long after you’ve applied the lotion. It’s a lovely thick product, but absorbs well and doesn’t leave you feeling greasy, which is always a bonus! If I were to buy a standard sized bottle, I’m not sure if it would be the first scent I would choose, but after trying the sample I definitely wouldn’t discount it as I used to.

Whenever I think of ESPA, I always think of luxury spa treatments and beautifully indulgent products. And the ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser certainly didn’t disappoint. This is a 3-in-1 skincare essential – an effective gel cleanser, exfoliator and mask that will help to nourish and visibly brighten the complexion. Moringa Seed Extract cleanses and removes all traces of make-up while gentle Jojoba Spheres buff away dull cells, revealing a radiant, youthful glow. 

I absolutely loved using this skincare product and always felt like I was giving my skin a bit of an extra treat. I particularly love the little Jojoba Spheres, which melt away as you massage the product into your skin. Because of these spheres, I would have to spend a little bit longer rubbing the product into my face, and it was nice to just take that little bit more time over my skincare routine sometimes. The full-size product is quite pricey, but if I were treating myself or asking for a gift, I would definitely go for this product again.

Another brand that automatically makes me think of luxury is Aromatherapy Associates, and I was lucky enough to try a sample size of their Hydrating Renewing Rose Cleanser recently. This is a rick and velvety cleanser, which is ultra-gentle yet really effective. Infused with an essential oil blend of radiance-boosting finest Damask Rose and complexion-balancing Geranium, it brightens and hydrates. Alongside that, silky Jojoba oil melts away impurities and make-up to leave skin dewy, freshened and petal-soft.

This was another product that I absolutely loved using as part of my skincare routine – I only wish it hadn’t been so small and run out so quickly! Rose is one of my favourite scents and always makes me feel quite nostalgic, reminding me of the Turkish Delight that my Grandad used to love. So I’m always excited to try any product scented with it. This felt comforting and gentle to use on my face, and left my skin feeling nourished and glowing without being too drying. 

Since my hairdresser started using hair oils on my hair, I have got quite into trying out different types and different brands. I recently finished using this Pantene Smooth & Sleek Dry Argan Oil, which is actually recommended for dry hair (although I wouldn’t necessarily say that mine is particularly dry). It helps to make the difference between straggly, dry ends and a luxurious glossy mane, and even with my fairly ‘normal’ hair, it left it feeling shiny and hydrated. The blend of Moroccan Argan oil and lightweight Pro-V complex ensures you get the benefits of Morocco’s famed beauty elixir, without the greasiness associated with the 100% pure oil. 

Proven to add moisture for 24 hours, the Argan Dry Oil is the ideal treat for thirsty strands and is particularly good for fine hair.  I have very fine hair, and find it can be really difficult to find an oil that doesn’t weigh my hair down. But thankfully, this one didn’t leave my hair feeling heavy or greasy. Plus the bottle lasts ages, as you don’t need a lot per use.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be products that I don’t get on so well with, and this time round one of those was the Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Clarifying Tonic. I’m a huge fan of the Garnier Micellar Water, so when I saw this I thought I would give it a try. It is meant to help tighten pores and soothe skin. With Witch Hazel extract, it is formulated for sensitive skin with imperfections and combines effectiveness with a gentle, hydrating formula. It is also hypoallergenic and ph neutral for optimal tolerance.

I will say that it felt quite cooling and soothing when I applied it to my skin, but I really just wasn’t that keen on the gel-like formula. I found it quite messy, as it would drip off my cotton pad and be difficult to apply if I put even a little too much on. I don’t by any means think it’s a bad product, and like I said, I love a lot of other Garnier items, but I just don’t think this particular formulation was for me. I think I’ll probably stick to liquid toners in future.

This next product is one of my all-time favourites, and I’ve lost count of how many bottles of the Simple Kind To Eyes Make-up Remover I’ve bought now! It cleanses effectively yet is gentle around the delicate eye area. It is also an oil-free formulation and even removes waterproof mascara, as well as soothing the area around the eyes. This contains no artificial perfume or colour and no harsh chemicals that can upset sensitive skin. It is also dermatologically tested and approved.

As I said, I’ve been buying this for quite a while now – I’ve tried other eye make-up removers, but this is the only one I’ve tried so far that doesn’t irritate my eyes. I’ve used some that have literally had me crying in pain, despite saying they’re sensitive, while others haven’t particularly hurt, but they also haven’t removed my make-up. Whereas this one ticks both boxes for me – it doesn’t hurt my eyes and it removes my make-up really well. Plus, it is really inexpensive – what’s not to like?!

I’m pretty sure this next item came in some sort of Christmas gift set or something, so I’m struggling to find a link to the Baylis & Harding Wild Rose & Raspberry Leaf Hand & Body Lotion unfortunately. It has a lovely soft floral scent, which is perfect for a hand lotion that you don’t necessarily want to linger too long. The actual product is quite a thin lotion, a bit more on the watery side, rather than being very thick. However, this didn’t stop it from moisturising my hands well, especially over the summer months. I’m not sure how effective it would be during the colder wintertime, as I’m not sure it would be thick enough, but certainly for everyday moisturising when the weather is good, it definitely did the job.

The Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle Shine is another product that I continue to re-buy. This treatment deeply nourishes and revives tired locks into full beam shine in just 3 minutes. It gives dull hair a shine super boost adding gloss to every strand, with Australian Ginseng extract and Pearl powder. The Aussie products always smell absolutely delicious, and this one is no exception! I would definitely say my hair routinely looks tired and dull, but one use of this just peps it back up again and leaves it feeling hydrated and happy. I keep meaning to try some of the other Aussie products when I get the chance – if they’re as good as this one then I can’t see my bank balance being very happy!

I wasn’t quite sure whether to include the Colgate Plax Gentle Care Extra Mild Mouthwash, as it’s a bit different to hair and skincare products. But I use it so much I thought I might as well add it in, in case you’re looking for a new mouthwash to try! This alcohol-free mild formula has been specially developed for people with sensitive teeth and gums. It’s clinically proven to provide 24/7 bad breath control and fight over 99% of bacteria, leaving your mouth feeling fresh and healthy. 

I use this in the morning and the evening, as the instructions suggest, and like it so much that I’ve continued to buy it for at least a year now. I’m not a big fan of alcohol in mouthwash, as I tend to find it too strong and it leaves my mouth with a funny taste. So when I found this Colgate one without alcohol, I thought I would try it out. It feels gentle on my mouth, which for someone with sensitive teeth and gums is always good. And it never leaves me with a funny after-taste, but instead makes my mouth feel fresh and clean. Plus it’s pink (although of course, that’s not what initially drew me to it!)

I’m pretty terrible when it comes to moisturising my body, so I try and improve my chances of doing it by finding products that smell and feel nice on my skin. The Garnier Body Tonic Hydrating Lotion is enriched with Phyto-caffeine and seaweed extract, for skin that feels firmer and more toned. It has an ultra-fresh and hydrating formula, and promises smoother skin from just 7 days. I really love the smell of this lotion – it’s fresh and uplifting and always lifts my mood when I use it. The lotion isn’t particularly thick, which means it absorbs relatively quickly, so no sticky skin for ages afterwards. With regular use, I definitely started to see a change in the appearance of my skin, with it becoming smoother and firmer. 

I hadn’t used Herbal Essences for years before I decided to try this Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Shampoo in Grapefruit and Mint. It is crafted with a blend of essential antioxidants, aloe and sea kelp, as well as having 0% parabens, silicones, gluten and colourants. It promises to help bring your hair back to life, and this particular fragrance also helps to boost hair volume (which, as someone with ridiculously fine, flat hair, I am always looking for!) It smells incredible, as does most of the Herbal Essences range, and left my hair feeling bouncy and soft. It was nice to find a shampoo that doesn’t weigh my hair down, so I will definitely be trying some other products from the range to see what they can do for my hair. 

The last product that I’ve finished up recently is the Vo5 Nourish My Shine Oil Heat Protect Spray. Vo5 believe that hair shouldn’t be dull, life shouldn’t be boring and that you should never restrict your self-expression. They recommend using Vo5 spray for a silky smooth and shiny finish to your hair. It also features heat defence to help protect against damage caused by heat styling tools. I use this on wet hair before I start to blow-dry it by spritzing a few sprays across my hair both underneath and on top. It’s difficult to tell if a heat protection spray is working, but I definitely notice my hair feeling more dry when I don’t use this. I also think it helps my hair to look more glossy and healthy after every wash, and I like the thought that my hair is being protected from the heat of my hairdryer. 

And that brings me to the end of another selection of empty products that I’ve finished using recently. I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about some of the things I’ve been using recently and find my reviews helpful if you’re looking to buy some new products yourself. I would be really interested to hear if you’ve tried any of these things and what you thought of them! Or, if you have any recommendations for things I might like to try based on what I’ve spoken about today.

What do you think of the products I’ve reviewed in today’s post? Are there any products you’ve been enjoying recently that you think I should try?

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Elemis Skincare Buys

My usual skincare routine generally consists mostly of fairly cheap, drugstore products, and to be honest, for every day, I’m pretty happy with what I use. But sometimes it’s nice to splash out a little bit and have some more expensive products that you can treat yourself to. A while back now, I went to Champneys Forest Mere (one of my favourite places for total relaxation!) for a day of rest, relaxation and indulgent spa treatments, with a good friend before her wedding. As well as enjoying the use of the pool, hot tub, relaxation rooms and a cheeky treatment or two, we were also able to take part in a session with an Elemis therapist. She was absolutely brilliant, and led us through a skincare routine using different Elemis products, so we could try them out for ourselves and see what we thought. She also offered plenty of advice on the types of products that would suit us individually and answered any questions we had on any other products that took our fancy.

I had never had much opportunity to try any Elemis products before, so I really enjoyed being taught how to use different items and experiencing how they felt on my skin. I loved trying them out so much that, at the end of the session, I decided I wanted to treat myself to a couple of things. Something that we had used in the demonstration that I particularly loved was the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, which exfoliates and purifies tired, lacklustre skin. It is non-abrasive and leaves skin feeling soft, revitalised and radiant. Natural fruit enzymes of exfoliating Papaya and calming Pineapple smooth and clarify the complexion. The rinse-off cream also contains nourishing Milk Protein, anti-oxidant rich Vitamin E and Marine Algae to moisturise, repair and protect skin. 

This peel smells incredible and feels so smooth on your skin. It feels like a real treat when you use it – after applying to your face, you are meant to leave it for 10-15 minutes and then remove with lukewarm water, so you really feel like you’re giving your skin an indulgent spa treatment. I can often find that harsh exfoliators leave my skin feeling red and sensitive, but this peel felt gentle, leaving my skin glowing and radiant afterwards. 

The other product I wanted to buy was body oil. Originally, I really liked the idea of the Frangipani Monoi Body Oil because it smells incredible! But after talking to the Elemis therapist about the kinds of things I wanted to use it for, she suggested trying the Musclease Active Body Oil instead. It combines the richness of the sea with the power of aroma and with a powerful synergy of Maritime Pine, Sea Buckthorn, Sea Fennel extracts and Rosemary Essential Oil, it can be used to help ease muscle pain and stressed joints.

I must admit, it doesn’t smell the best (especially compared to the Frangipani!) but it really does seem to help with my aching muscles and joints. I get a lot of body pain from having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and although it’s not going to get rid of that pain, I think the act of moisturising it into my back, legs and shoulders really helps ease some of the tension associated with chronic pain. Now all I need is for someone else to do the massaging for me!

At the time I bought these products, the Elemis section in the spa were running an offer whereby you would receive a bag full of goodies if you bought two Elemis products. Not one to pass up on some freebies, I, of course, jumped at the chance to receive my free gift. It came presented in a gorgeous silver make-up bag with turquoise edging, which I am more than happy to use for make-up and toiletries when I go away. 

Inside were four Elemis miniatures – Rehydrating Ginseng Toner, Skin Nourishing Shower Cream, Dynamic Resurfacing Serum and Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash. I’m a sucker for a miniature product and think it’s a nice way to try out products for a while before you decide if you’re going to buy a full-size one.

The toner feels light and cooling on your skin and doesn’t feel harsh like some toners can. I love how refreshed my skin feels after I’ve used this product and as someone who can get slightly dry skin in places, this really seems to help add hydration.

The shower cream definitely feels like an extravagant treat for me, as I’m so used to using a £1.99 bottle of shower gel from Superdrug or Boots! But this Elemis one feels luxurious and moisturising, with a gentle comforting scent that I think is perfect for an evening shower before bed. Looking at other reviews of this, it seems it is really good for those with dry skin conditions, so I might have to recommend it to my sister to try.

Moving on to the serum, I’ll start by saying that this is something that would ordinarily be way out of my price range (at £88 for a bottle), so it was nice to have the opportunity to just give it a try. The serum feels light and fresh and absorbs quickly into the skin. You don’t need much per application, as a little will go a long way, which I guess will help the product to last a bit longer and give you better value for money. From the small amount I’ve used so far, it does seem to improve to look of my skin and has helped it feel smoother and brighter. Unfortunately I just couldn’t stretch to rebuying this particular product to continue trying it though.

The last product in the bag was the facial wash, which is currently on offer on the Elemis website. It’s a nice gentle cleanser, which feels luxurious to use. And like with the other Elemis products, it definitely seems to make my skin feel nourished and bright without being too harsh or drying. Again, it’s probably more than I would usually spend on a cleanser, but as a treat now and again it’s definitely something I would go back to.

So that’s all of the products I bought from Elemis when I went to Champneys. If you ever get the chance to take part in some sort of master class or session with an Elemis therapist (even if it’s just on one of their counters) I would definitely recommend it because I learnt so much and found some great new products to try out on my skin. I’m really enjoying using all of the products I came away with and Elemis is certainly a brand I will go back to if I’m ever looking for a bit of a treat for myself.

Are you a fan of Elemis products? Which ones would you recommend trying?

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