I have found sticking to a good skin care routine where I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily really helps prevent breakouts. Good skin care products don’t have to be expensive. This is one of my favourite home made cleansers made from ingredients found in most kitchens. It really works on my skin especially on blackheads.

Baking soda cleanser

• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon water
• Mix the ingredients together to form a paste. Rub onto the face in a circular motion and leave for three minutes. Then wash off with water.

I hope you love this cleanser as much as I do.

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good cup of tea. I even won the award for ‘the biggest tea drinker’ at my work Christmas party a few years ago. However too much caffeine and dairy tends to bring me out in a breakout. Therefore, for me too much English breakfast tea can lead to spots. Below are my three favourite caffeine and dairy free (so therefore skin friendly) tea recipes. These recipes are perfect on a cold day. I hope you love them as much as me.

Honey, ginger and Lemon Tea

1cm of ginger root
1 teaspoon of honey
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
Peel the ginger and cut into small chunks. Put the ginger in a mug and pour in boiling water. Let the ginger stew for about 5 minutes. Remove the ginger from the mug so you are just left with ginger infused water. Stir in the honey and lemon juice.

Turmeric Tea

1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1-2 teaspoon of honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Pour boiling water into a mug and stir in the ground turmeric, honey and lemon juice.

Mint Tea

80-100g fresh mint (I have a mint plant at home which I use for this recipe)
Place the the mint leaves in a teapot with boiling water. Let the tea brew for 10 -15 minutes. Then pour into a mug and enjoy.

I am a firm believer in ‘you are what you eat’. I know if I have been eating junk food it shows on my skin. Therefore I always try to eat healthily. I am normally up before my fiancé in the mornings so I make myself this drink (My Morning Ritual) and have a few minutes of peace before anyone else is awake. Since drinking this drink in the morning I have noticed that my skin is clearer and I generally have more energy.

My Morning Ritual

• 2cm of ginger
• 2cm of turmeric root
• 2 lemons (juiced)
• 150ml water*

*the amount of water you put in can be adjusted to your taste buds as ‘My Morning Ritual’ can be quite tart.

Mix all of the ingredients in a blender and then viola – ‘My Morning Ritual’. I hope you enjoy this drink as much as I do.

The recipe I have provided gives enough for one drink and I often make enough of ‘My Morning Ritual’ to last a few days which I store in the fridge.

Some health benefits 

Ginger has a long historic tradition of being very effective in treating stomach pains and gastrointestinal distress. It is also known to be very effective in treating morning sickness.

Turmeric has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. Turmeric contains a substance called curcumin which is believed to be a strong anti- inflammatory and natural antioxidant.

Lemons are rich in vitamin C which is known to help work against infections such a flu and colds.

Welcome to my first ever post on my blog. I am so excited to share with you my go-to home made face mask for whenever my skin needs a pick me up. I have never had perfect skin but over the last year I have suffered with acne. Whenever my skin has got bad I have used this recipe. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Cinnamon, Honey, Lemon and Green Tea face mask

• 1 tablespoon of raw honey
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of green tea (I often use a tea bag)

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and apply the mask all over your face taking care to avoid your eyebrows, eyes and mouth.

Rub the mask into your skin in a circular motion for 1 minute and then leave the mask on for 10 minutes.

After the 10 minutes, rinse the mask off with warm water and then voila brighter skin.