Cheap to Free: Winter Tips

In the last weeks of Autumn we were truly feeling the big chill of Winter. Freezing at night, icy in the shade and dry all the time. That's not even when the wind picks up.

Here's some of my tips and tricks to deal with Winter life:

Pep 200mm X 200mm Coral Fleece Blankets:

This is the first of my PEP buys. In normal PEP stores it's usually towards the back of the store and some malls have a PEP Home. I love picking up trend pieces there. Now I know there is always a question about quality with cheap products (R149.00) BUT the leopard print blanket is 5 years old! I also wash them often so they hold up quite well. They are nice to hide cracked up leather seats:

Lola doing some low key modeling

Nice for decoration

But also:

Double Blanket Bed Hack:

Now this is a recent thing I tried. I don't even know if it is a thing. I've been having a problem were the duvet is some how too small for the bed. Especially since it's been getting colder. Instead of going to buy a bigger (more expensive) duvet I hang a blanket over the edge each side. It may sound and look not so aesthetically pleasing but it does the trick. No one is cold at night.

I store the blanket under pillows during the day

Cheap Dog Sweater Hack:

My dogs (even though they originated in England) are cold in Winter. These two shiver and full out refuse to go outside if it's cold. (On several occasions I had to leave them inside unsupervised because they objected to go outside in the cold.)

Animal abuse, clearly.

Instead of buying a dog sweaters or coats, I sized them up and bought cheap PEP kiddies shirts. They also have hoodies but they got bigger in Summer. The last ones I bought a bulk pack of PnP Clothing long sleeves. With minor no sew alterations they are warm (I cut the sleeves in half and cut it like a high low top for the boy-boy because pee pee on a shirt is not cool.)

Close your curtains:

It looks like I only have grey curtains 🙈🙈🙈

Most homes in ZA don't have double glazed windows. When I stand near my windows I can feel the cold seeping into the house. Just pull them closed and they will absorb the cold from outside and make it feel more cosy inside.

Eucalyptus and Peppermint Oil:

Wow yeah I'm going there with the oils. I just don't like going to doctors. I have a nose issue so even if it's minor, I am guaranteed to have full on congestion. Now I had all types of nasal sprays prescribed and that stuff is not always great. My two methods are:

My Humidifier:

This is my expensive winter thing I bought recently (available at here at Takealot.com and I see in the front of Dischem's end of Autumn.) So pricey but cheaper to buy and run that a doctors visit with meds. (Also didn't have to leave my house. It came in 2 day.) I advise if you do suffer from congestion to get one. I got the 4 litre because 2017 is the year of extra.

Shower Sauna:

How has this gone unnoticed? I love this. HERE is the article. There are so many ways to get spa like effects with a bath but you only get steam showers when you Google 'Shower Spa'. The gist of it is that you shower and stuff then drop a few drops of any aromatherapy oil on a wet towel and sit in the steam for 10 minutes to inhale the good properties.

Wash your hands:

This has saved me from the sick (and if I was sick, I saved others). So simple but if you know #officelife, there is always some sick idiot who rarely washes their hands. They cough, give you germ laden paperwork you asked for 3 days ago. (Side note: They are also the ones who stay home conveniently on Friday as well as Monday because they are sick. #JustSaying) Or you know/ have a child that goes to the place that keeps sickness alive: Preschool.

Also always keep a tube of hand sanitiser AS WELL AS hand cream (winter hand washing is drying for skin) in you desk and bag. I would rather look OCD then sick.

Lip Balm:

Imma keep it real: I love these fake 4ss eos orb lip balms. I like pearl balms, ones with light pigment, gloss type to real old school tin types. With the matt lipstick trend (that has become a pillar in the beauty community) formulas tend to be drying. During the day I can remove the matt lipstick with lip balm and after blotting reapply it. I also suggest if you are going to do matt lips, to apply lip balm before even applying foundation so it has time to moisturises the lips before application.

Bonus Tip! The Over the Counter:

*Please Note: I am NOT a medical professional. I am suggesting these items that work for me. If you feel poorly and don't feel better for a few days, please consult with your doctor.

Now after that disclaimer: I hate going to the doctor. Sometimes when I sit in the waiting area I feel myself miraculously being healed and can run a 5 km fun run and I'm not even a runner. No lies, my one doctor asked me if I'm seeing another practice because the last time I was there was 5 years before (This story is 2 years ago).

My first pick is Oscillococcinum. YAS COME THRU WITH THAT NAME!!!! This is the most expensive one. One little vial of powder does magic. It's also homeopathic.

Next is Med-Lemon. My mother swears by this. If you have a nagging head ache that doesn't go away (no I'm not talking about the office idiot who can't work the copy machine) this would help for that too.

Last is McNabs Super Guard. Their products are my jam. Only good things are used to make this and as a bonus, you get a cool motivational quote square. It's no GMO, wheat AND dairy free.

The biggest thing these have in common is NONE of them will make you tired or sleepy. You are taking these to not need down time, what's the point if you can't focus on the job?

And that is all the things that make Winter a better time for me and hopefully for you as well.

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The R30 product that will boost your Winter beauty routine: Hoelson Sisters Coconut Face Oil 7 ways.

I am super obsessed with Fruit and Veg Food lovers market. I probably fall out there every two weeks, get a Seattle Coffee Company Grande Soy Latte/ Cappuccino (They look out for us lack toast and tolerant basic bit*hes) and do a walk through. That's how I found that they stock Sumac and always contemplating getting Jelly belly jelly beans(Ice cream flavour). But in general everyone knows the drill: Buy the weekly deal (Winter it's a deal with butternut squash, onions and potatoes and summer the tomato, cucumbers and lettuce) Buy some delicious fresh baked good, buy spinach you'll never eat and go to the till. That's where this discovery was made, at the till.

Damn I love this stuff. The last 3 years are the time of the beauty oil. Many people get weird because they think of cooking oil like sunflower. How can your hair and skin improve by using something you fry food in? Others thing of sebum, the stuff that makes for dirty hair and oily face. Not the same.

You can buy a few loose essential oils and blend them but it is so costly. But why tho'? Helen Hoelson did that for you already. This it one of the products I was stocked about picking up at the till. Here is my take on using Hoelson Sisters Oils 7 ways:

Hair mask/ Oil

With the new bottle design that dispenses drops, just use 5-10 drops and apply to hair ends. Especially with dry Gauteng winters it makes my hair more manageable. When I use it as a mask I massage about a quarter of a bottle into my roots and comb it through with a wide tooth comb. Because it is a natural product there are no chemicals that can cause damage. So you can leave it in for 30 minutes or over night.

Enriching any cream.

Instead of buying a winter specific cream I drop a few drops of oil in my face or body cream.

Hand and cuticle treatment.

I filled a roller ball with some oil to keep close to easely apply some oil to my hands and nails. I haven't had hangnails in a while.

Assist in smoother aplication of foundation

Here is the video of Wayne Goss. It also moisturises and so plumps up skin.

Makeup remover

Rub about 10 drops on your face and maybe a bit more on your eyes. I wipe everything off with a tissue, I guess the right way is with cotton pads but meh.

Eyelash conditioner.

I cleaned an old mascara tube and filled it with oil. I apply to my lashes and brows at night.

Make a scub

For the face I add a bit of oil to some Bi-carb and for hands and feet I mix it with sugar or salt.

*Bonus tip: Use it for shaving. For the last year I've been using oil to shave and am yet to get a cut.

I am still to try the lemon/ peppermint and cinnamon/ tea tree ones but so far I finished two of the original Lavender Rosemary. Here is their Facebook page. (They even had a stall a Cosme Tokyo 2016. BOOM. That makes me proud.) Here and Here are more of this company's awesome story.

Have you seen these awesome oil mixes?

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7 Ways to Drink (more) Water

The first tip in weight loss and being healthy is always drinking water. I have mentioned it a lot of times in my posts. A lot of people just don't drink water. I know people who just don't. The only liquid they would consume is coffee and the odd time they would eat soup. Funny that the easiest way to start getting healthy is drinking water.

Now I could go on about how your brain needs water and how much water your body is made up of. How water is an appetite suppressant and helps with detoxifying your whole body But I'm sure there are plenty of other blogs that can tell you about that in detail with numbers. You can read it like your interested, pin it and forget about it. I want to give you physical tools to drink more of the good stuff.

Here are some awesome ways to start drinking:

1. Get a filter. A potable bottle one is better.
   
   
   

That means you can fill it up any where and have fresh clean water. You could buy a whole pallet of bottle water but I think it's super waste full because let's be honest, you aren't going to recycle that sh!t. That way you can also monitor how much you drink easier. Here at Takealot is a Brita filter water bottle or here at Dischem is an Addis Bobble.

2. Spice your water
   
   
   

That is the most annoying thing that people say: I don't like the taste of water. WTF kind of water are you drinking? Water by nature doesn't taste of anything. Literally spice up your water. Add a pinch of ginger or cinnamon. Some or other time you probably got a post on FB or scrolled across a pin about the heath properties of both spices

3. Add some lemon or lime
   
   
   

Again a Facebook and Pinterest favourite. Those weird listy blogs (the ones that you can see are just for Google Adsense money with stock photos.) There are huge testimonials about drinking hot lemon water in the morning. It was claimed to be the next kale. Beyonce probably does it as well. I'm not going to announce that I'm vegan but I like the way it tastes. It's also super cheap. Cheaper that berries and stuff

4. Get appy
   
   
   

Punny. Get an easy app to measure your intake. I've been using Aqualert. You put in your info like height, weight and activity level and it works out the amount you have to drink. I like to set the notification to remind me to drink. I also like that there are badges that you get for reaching targets.

5. Buy a water bottle
   
   
   

Have a cool container to drink out of is more motivation. It also means you don't have to get up as often to get water. When it's with you on your desk or work area you would drink more often. Make sure it is BPA free. Don't use an old juice bottle or soda bottle. It tends to have a gross taste after a while and is probably NOT BPA free.

6. Bubble water
   
   
   

Chia seeds are one of the new very old things (Other new old thing: Oats, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cocoa powder) It's been used by ancients and now its cool again. I read about it a lot and bought a (Very expensive. Like R40 for 100g) pack the other day. I love bubble tea so this was awesome. Here's the recipeI started with. I didn't want is to drink that much because then it would finish sooner so I take 2 teaspoons of seeds mix it with one small glass of water. Mix it up with a chop stick. Leave it for 10 minutes. Mix it up again with a squeeze of lemon juice and a small drizzle of honey. Leave for 5 minutes, mix it up again (the seeds get a little clumpy) and BOOM, Chia water bugs.

7. Drinking certain times will make drinking more water easier.

Drink when you wake up, before eating, before and after a bath/ shower and before bed. That is already 2 litres of water

That is my ways to drink water. I know some people like their water frozen and surrounded by alcohol or like drinking water to surprise their liver. Be kind to your body.

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7 Eastern beauty tips you can start doing right now.

The Asian skincare industry is one of the largest in the world. Everyone is buzzing about South Korean beauty product and the western market wants these products as well. Though most women of the east have at least 10 products on there face from the morning and before bed.

Another big thing is the whitening chemicals that rule their products in India and China. I'm not about that. My one friend loves to bleach her skin and at the end of the day her dark spots looked even more prominent. Yet when she put on a simple BB Cream it just lit on her face. So flawless.

Here are my favourite Eastern beauty tricks:

1.Wash your face for longer.

Easy as that. Sounds dumb but it is that simple. Wet your face and wash yo' face for at least two minutes. Clarisonic is launching in SA but I don't have the R3000 for that. Just concentrate to really washing your face. Rinse it really well too. You will feel the difference.

2.Warm the product before applying them to your face.

Take your face cream and rub it between your hands/ finger tips and apply. Heating it helps absorption into the skin.

3.Pat skin product into your skin

Don't smear or rub it. Lightly tap it on to your skin. This stimulates blood flow and also assists the skin with soaking up the product. Recently I went away for a weekend break and had to move away from the ablution block to apply my cream. I didn't want to scare the small children.

4. Use an eye cream

I see many people my age who neglect their eyes. Don't get the most expensive one. Clicks & Dis-chem both have for under R50 and it lasts for up to 5 months as you really only do need a few specks. I like using African Extracts' Rooibos anti-ageing eye cream. I can really feel it work. Good burn.

5.Face massage

This helps circulation and puffiness. Follow my dodgy eyeliner arrows. Start at your neck and push up lightly. I usually do this with my face cream. Do it for as long as you have time.

6. Face masks

Here are a few options. Let's talk sheet masks. I first saw Bubzbeauty using them and then Michelle Phan as well. Living in ZAR I can't quickly pop in by Etude House and load a basket. I had to look for them. There are some awesome cheap ones but I don't want any whitening agents in them. There are ones that will tug on your pocket but this one from Dis-Chem at R14.95 (In the picture) was easy throw my money at them. It came with a serum enriched cream. Or make your own with tissue and rice. They are less messy than the muds and pastes in those tomato puree pouches. Though you could look alien:

I liked how this mask covers the neck as well. That's hawt

Another cool trick form India is a turmeric mask. Turmeric is the stuff that colours curries. In ZAR we use it in bobotie and yellow rice with raisins. The yellow brightens up skin.

I saw Promise Phan do a mask but Pinterest suggested this (also inspired by Promise):

http://www.healthbeckon.com/turmeric-face-mask-recipe-glowing-skin-acne-rosacea-eczema-dark-circles/

7.Do that sunscreen thing

Yup. Best anti-ageing thing you can do for your face. Driving in your car to work, sitting by a window, even jogging exposes you to the sun. One popular Chinese actresseven uses it while work in her laptop. I dunno if I'd be that fanatic. Choose products with SPF. BB Cream or foundations, even some day creams. When you are going out for a walk or a picnic apply day cream, sunscreen then foundation or BB. Sandwich the sunscreen between the two so your face isn't sunscreen shiny.

These are my favourite Eastern skincare rituals that I use. And they all are free to R15. Okay turmeric is R17 if you don't have in your cupboard already.

Ever tried a sheet mask?

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