Tip Tuesday: Fake Tan

With the increased risk in skin cancer from using tanning beds, it is becoming more common for girls and guys to use fake tan. This Tip Tuesday is going to be all about fake tanning, how to achieve a great even fake tan and how to fix any fake tan disasters.

1. First of all it is important to chose a fake tan that is right for you. Whether it be a mousse, spray or lotion, deciding what you can work with is the first step for achieving the perfect fake tan. Personally I use a mousse, as I feel it is easier to blend using a mitt and you can see the application immediately. A spray is good for a quick and easy application where little blending is required, and lotions often need time to build a gradual tan so you cannot see the tan as it is applied. I rarely use fake tan on my face as I feel any tan that I want on my face can be achieved by using bronzer, but tanning wipes or a spray would be best recommended for the face. 

2. EXFOLIATE! Before tanning you should always exfoliate to remove any dead skin cells that may be on your body. Dry and dead skin will only cause the tan to cling to it, resulting in a patchy and uneven fake tan. I would also recommend shaving a day before or after tanning (not immediately!) as a fresh shave then application of tan just leaves horrible razor burn on your legs - not pretty girls!

3. Give yourself plenty time to do your tan and also allow time for it to dry. You do not want to rush as this is something that takes time and effort so that the end product is flawless. Especially with a mousse, you want to take the time to apply using circular motions and then pat over the area to ensure even application. If you can't reach an area such as your back, don't hurt yourself doing all sorts of yoga positions to try and reach.. Just ask someone to do it for you :)

4. The last point I want to talk about is your hands! It has taken me years in order to figure out how to perfectly tan hands without them becoming patchy and giving myself cheesy looking fingers. What I do is to use any remains on my mitt and then go over my hands, up and down my fingers, between my fingers and then lastly over my knuckles. This is the best way I have found of applying tan to my hands without it looking awful. 

If you ever do get that patch of tan on your hands that doesn't look right, or your tan has leaked through the mitt I have found a great little trick to remove it. Simply apply some soap to a luffa and scrub gently to remove any unwanted tan without causing any harm to your skin. This works like an absolute charm and removes any of those unwanted tan patches without you having to make much effort to remove it!

That's all for today's Tip Tuesday! If you liked this and want to read more of my Tip Tuesday's, or have any of your own tips to share then just comment below.

xx

Tip Tuesday: Skinny Jeans

Do you ever get stuck into that skinny pair of jeans that you absolutley love? 

After spending ages wriggling, yanking and pulling to get them on for a long day and when you try to get out of the them when you're home you find that you just can't budge them?

Have you been 'in the moment' and have to get them off but you just can't and end up doing crazy yoga positions in order to try get the jeans off in the least sexy way possible?

Well beautys for this Tip Tuesday I am going to tell you one of the little tips that I have came across that will help you get your favourite skinny jeans off, no bother at all!

The easiest way to take your skinnies off is to simply take them off inside out.

Yes people, that is it - as simple as that! Simply roll them down from your waist and they will come off so much easier than trying to take them off normally. 

Hope this tip saves some girlies some time and agony as it has done for me! Comment below to let me know if this helps you or if you have any other tips for getting off difficult skinny jeans.

x

Ance Face Mapping: Understanding Your Spots!

The most important way of dealing with any breakouts is by first understanding what is causing them. One of the best ways to do this is by identifying where your breakouts are happening on your face and using this in order to determine the primary source of the spot.

Here are a few different problem areas of the face, and why you may be getting breakouts at theses places:

Upper Forehead

The upper forehead is directly linked with your digestive system, the large intestines and the bladder.  A poor digestive system will begin to struggle breaking down food resulting in a large build up of toxins. In this case it is important to eat more antioxidant rich foods such as green teas, lemon water and berries. 

Lower Forehead

This area is associated with your mind and spirit. Breakouts in this area are often a result of lack of sleep, stress, depression or even bad blood circulation.  In order to prevent spots in this area, it important that you maintain a good sleep pattern (approx 8 hours a night) and you make time for yourself in order to relax. Whether you are busy at work, school, college or university, or even have personal issues that are causing you stress, take time to relax and clear your mind before solving the problem. Stressing over something does not change the outcome, e.g. if you are stressing over an exam, you know that you are still going to have to do it so just take a breather and get your mind set on the problem you are facing, and find away to solve it. 

Nose

Again, the nose is a problem area affected by blood pressure and stress. Make sure you make time for yourself to relax, even by putting on your favourite film, having a long bubble bath with candles or even taking some time for retail therapy (a personal fave of mine!).

Eyebrows

Spots in the eyebrows, yuk! Who wants spots in their eyebrows right? But it does happen guys! Spots in the eyebrows can be an indication of a poor diet or the consumption of too much alcohol. In this case, detox and clear your body of all the bad stuff that you have been consuming. I am not saying completely change your diet and cut out the food you love, I am just saying do this in moderation. It is important to balance the bad with the good.

Ears

Breakouts in your ears may be a cause of liver problems. This may be due to not drinking enough water, or consuming too much salt or caffine. Make sure you drink your 8 glasses of water a day and cut down on caffine and salts.

Cheeks

Spots on the cheek are caused by lung problems. These lung problems may occur from smoking, respiratory stress and allergies. In order to tackle this area, try to avoid smoking or smoking areas and get plenty of fresh air in order to relieve any respiratory stress. If you have allergies ensure that you are aware of what is causing the allergy (do this by making an appointment with your GP) and taking a regular antihistamine. 

Mouth and Centre of the Chin

The mouth and the chin are related to the stomach and the small intestine. Again spots that are appearing in these areas may be a result of a poor diet such as eating too much fast food or consipation. Try to introduce fresh food with higher fibre into your diet such as, vergetables, fruits and whole grain food. 

Sides of the Chin

The sides of your chin is linked to the reproductive organs and the kidney. This means that breakouts may flare up here during the womans menstrual cycle or even due to the kidneys working overtime due to stress. Ensure that you give yourself plenty time to relax and during that one week a month girls be prepared with sudocream and your favourite spot fighting products to deal with any unwanted spots!

Something a bit different today but I hope you all liked it!

 

How I Whiten My Teeth

Recently I have been asked the question 'how do you whiten your teeth?' .. So I thought I'd share my tips for keeping teeth white in the comfort of your own home without having to spend lots of money!

So first of all, I hate my smile. I have always hated my smile and used to always smile with lips closed and no teeth showing. There is no better way to combat this lack of confidence than by having nice glowing white teeth. Straight away this will brighten your smile, give you confidence, make you look healthy and let people know that you take good care of yourself. Nothing worse than horrid teeth right?

There are two main methods that I use to whiten my teeth. 

Method 1: Dial-a-Smile Professional Home Teeth Whitening Kit

This first method is more expensive than the next one that I will get round to. The kit costs around £50 on the web but I was lucky to recieve a package including the full kit, two Whitening Lightning lipglosses and two Whitening Lighting touch up whitening pens for $50 (£30 approx) with a discount code I came across on youtube - so definatley do your research before spending money on the package alone.

The kit comes with three treatments in where you have to swab your teeth first then apply the whitening gel with a brush. After doing so you then have to hold the small handheld UV light in your mouth for half an hour in order to complete the process. After half an hour you then brush your teeth and that is you done! The process does work BUT it is quite a lengthy process including what you have to do prior to applying the gel to your teeth.

Method 2: Crest Professional Whitening Strips

Crest Whitening Strips are a much simpler and more inexpensive way of whitening your teeth which has now became my go to routine. I buy the strips from ebay - 10 packets for approx £16 (within each packet is an upper and lower whitening strip). 

For this method all you do is open the packet and stick the top and lower strips to your teeth (they stick straight away) and fold them over your row of teeth in order to keep them in place. They are then left on for approx. 20 minutes before they are removed and you have to brush your teeth. I can't explain how easy this is, they cause no hinderance whilst in place as you hardly notice that they are there which is why the strips have become my preffered method of whitening. I mean pop them on before you jump in the shower or do your make-up and by the time you have finished you just take them off and brush your teeth then you are good to go! :)

*Note - Neither of these methods have cause me any sensitivity during the whitening process but that does not mean that it will be the same for each user so do your homework before using.

A few more tips:

It is important to have a good whitening toothpaste that will help maintain the pearly whites that you have, I use Blanx although it is a tad expensive for a toothpase. 

Try avoid any foods or drinks that may cause discolouration to your teeth such as fizzy drinks, coffees, harsh coloured foods (eg. curry) or if you do eat or drink any of the above make sure that you brush your teeth as soon after as you can in order to prevent your teeth from becoming stained.

That is all the tips that I have for keeping your teeth white. Disclaimer, I am by no means an expert on teeth whitening but this blog post is to share products and tips that have worked for me although this may not work for everyone. Teeth whitening can however, damage the tooth enamel so it is important to whiten your teeth safely and in moderation.

Make sure to comment below with any tips you have for teeth whitening!

'A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear...'

xo

Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Instant Tan Review

Whether it is for a night out on the town, a bronzed summer glow or to keep that skin golden brown through the cold winter months, every girl need a good 'go-to' fake tan that they can rely on.

I have always been a dedicated of St. Moriz as it is so cheap (£2.99), easy to apply and has a great colour yet I decided to try the Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Instant Tan by Marissa Carter in order to see what the fuss is about.

Firstly there are a few reasons I would like to point out that made me so hesitant to try this product. Not only is it a little pricey at £7.99 at Superdrug (currently on sale for £5.32 - here), a 1 hour tan is not something that I have ever thought of trying. The thought of applying a product to have to sit around and wait for it to dry for an hour to then jump in a shower to wash it off is only good if you have the time to do so. BUT in saying that, after its application the product did dry quite quickly which meant I could shove on some pjs and twat around for a while, keeping busy whilst I waited on it drying.

The tan claims to: - Give beautifully bronzed, radiant skin in just 1 hour - Provide a tan that will last for 5-7 days - Have NO fake tan smell I tried the tan out for the first time last Friday and it is now Tuesday and the tan is going strong although I do feel the urge to top it up with another coat. It does contain NO fake tan smell much to my and my boyfriends surprise, which meant he was happy to help out on my back with those areas that we just cannot reach - even after trying in every yoga position possible! The colour does turn out really nice which I did not expect when the product came out onto my fake tan mitt; WARNING the product does come out quite quickly so make sure that you take note of this depending what area of your body you are applying it too so that none goes to waste! :) As you can see the product comes out quite light looking (excuse the state of my mitt! A new one is defo on my shopping list!). But don't be fulled as it does give a nice bronzed glow to even the palest of skin, and it is super easy to apply. It seems as though it dries super quick on your body but is still easy to blend leaving no harsh lines on areas that you have to go back to.  Overall I am quite happy with this product but I don't know if it worth paying the extra few pounds when the trustly old St. Moriz achives the same finish.. Yet I will more than likely nip out and grab a few now that they are on offer. One thing that I was disappointed with was the security label. Just look at this... Not only is it plastered over the information I like to have a good read of before using any product, it is also impossible to remove as you can see from my attempt :( Get it sorted Superdrug!!  If any of you have any favourite cheap go-to faketans please comment below and let me know as I am always on the lookout for new products to try. Any excuse for a splurge ae girlies??! Can't have too many faketans! ;) x

TMI Tag (50 Questions)

I thought I'd do a get to know me tag so that you readers can get a better idea of what I'm like. It's just for fun and to give a better insight into me as I just kind of launched into this blog without any kind of introduction to myself or my life :) So here goes..

TAG QUESTIONS:
 
1: What are you wearing? 
Jeans & a pink top with cosy socks and slipper boots!

2: Ever been in love? 
Yes, I am just now <3 

3: Ever had a terrible breakup? 
Yep one around 2 years ago now..

4: How tall are you? 
I am 5ft 4.5" haha and yes that half does count ;)

5: How much do you weigh?
I weigh 7st 12 pounds, so around 110 pounds or approx 50kgs

6: Any tattoos?
None yet, but I've wanted one for ages and my boyfriends dad does tattoos so maybe soon if I work up the courage!

7: Any piercings?
Both ears, twice on my left ear and three times on my right

8: OTP?
What does this mean haha :( ? I think it means, 'One True Pairing' so for now I'm going to say Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl cause I'm currently watching it and only starting season 3!!

9: Favorite show?
Right now, Gossip Girl.. But I love The Hills, Laguna Beach, KUWTK, Teen Mom, Catfish etc

10: Favorite bands? 
There are too many to name, but a few.. Arctic Monkeys, The Courteeners, The View.. most Indie bands and anything I can sing along too (not very well)...

11: Something you miss?
Being in Ibiza with my boyfriend :( Sun, sea, sand and a gorgeous tan
 
12: Favorite song?
At the moment, Jealous by Beyonce

13: How old are you?
21 years young!

14: Zodiac sign?
Virgo, the perfectionist ;)

15: Quality you look for in a partner?
Someone that can make me laugh, that understands me and has a good work ethic
 
16: Favorite Quote? 
I have loads of fave quotes but currently, 'When it rains look for rainbows, when its dark look for stars' 

17: Favorite actor?
Wentworth Miller, it saddens me that he's gay :'(

18: Favorite color?
Blue

19: Loud music or soft?
Loud!
 
20: Where do you go when you're sad?
My rooms so I can be on my own, my boyfriends or a lonnng drive to no where

21: How long does it take you to shower?
About 15 minutes?

22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
About half an hour if its just for Uni

23: Ever been in a physical fight?
Yes

24: Turn on?
Dark hair, strong arms

25: Turn off?
Long nails

26: The reason I joined Youtube?
I haven't yet but might if I can get the confidence

27: Fears?
Pigeons, heights.. I am squeemish with eyes so I guess I'll put them here. Michael Myres in Halloween.. eeek
 
28: Last thing that made you cry?
Over thinking

29: Last time you said you loved someone?
Earlier today on the phone to my boyfriend

30: Meaning behind your Youtube Name?
Well the meaning behind this blog, 'Perfect Imperfection' .. I guess I would define it as that even your imperfections are perfect because they are yours. Your flaws and insecurities are your worst enemies so you should learn to love them!

31: Last book you read? 
The Quickie by James Patterson.. Soo good
 
32: The book you're currently reading?
None because I have so much work to do for Uni :( HELP
 
33: Last show you watched? 
Gossip Girl, of course
 
34: Last person you talked to? 
My doggy
 
35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted?
Boyfriend :) 
 
36: Favorite food?
Indian! Love spicy food
 
37: Place you want to visit?
Paris
 
38: Last place you were? 
Dundee

39: Do you have a crush?
Just on my man! .. And Wentworth Miller..
 
40: Last time you kissed someone?
Wednesday morning
 
41: Last time you were insulted?
About a month ago.. By a lecturer

42: Favourite flavour of sweet?
Strawberry

43: What instruments do you play?
None, I'm not musically talented
 
44: Favourite piece of jewellery?
My Michael Kors watch and my Pandora charm bracelet
 
45: Last sport you played?
Bowling.. on the wii ;)
 
46: Last song you sang?
Drunk in Love by Beyonceeee

47: Favourite chat up line?
Why do they call you a bee? .. Is it cause you couldn't BE anymore of a HONEY haha
 
48: Have you ever used it?
No but it has been used on me and it made my day

49: Last time you hung out with anyone? 
This morning at Uni
 
50: Who should answer these questions next?
Anyone reading this blog & then they should comment and let me know so I can go check their blog out :)

Indie x