Quicky: key to a blemish free face? Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize...

I felt the need to quickly share 3 basic things we all must do in other to achieve a "sort of" blemish free skin. I say "sort-of" because, for the ladies, issues such as hormones, menstrual cycles, mood swings, etc can cause us to break out.
However, all things being equal, if you want to have a blemish free facial skin, you must stick to 3 basic rules :
CLEANSE (with a good face wash); TONE (this doesn't mean bleaching or changing your skin colour in anyway); and MOISTURIZE (using a great face moisturiser).

Firstly, CLEANSE

There are various brands of cleansers in the beauty world. Just be sure to pick out one that best suits your skin type (oily, dry, or combination skin). Using a small amount, gently cleanse your face, using your finger tips particularly in circular motions.

Secondly, TONE

 The first picture shows how to tone your skin using cool water. This process tightens your pores, thereby revealing a much tighter and newer skin.

A toner can also be used as seen in the 2nd picture. All you have to do is buy a toner that suits your skin type, then use cotton pads to apply the toner to your face. 

Pls note that a toner is not a bleaching agent. Over the years, toning and bleaching have been used inter changeably, however the two have nothing in common. While toning is a healthy way of keeping your pores closed and face bright, bleaching is the use of strong chemicals, which can lead to skin discolouration, amongst other things (another topic for another post)

Finally, MOISTURISE

For the best skin, you cannot afford to miss this step, because your skin is healed during the moisture process. Also the face is replenished with all the moisture and vitamins that it requires. Choosing a good moisturiser is key.

In subsequent posts, i will show samples of good quality cleansers, toners and moisturisers. So till then, keep visiting, leave your comments or questions if you have any and invite your friends too.

xoxo

Best home remedies for glowing skin...

Halo! Welcome to another interesting post on easy-to-do home remedies that are fresh, organic and guaranteed to keep you glowing all year through.
I noticed some of you have difficulty in uploading your comments. Its so easy. all you need to do is click on "post a comment" at the end of each post, write you comment and click on publish. If you click on publish and the screen shows you a funny verification code for you to type out, simply type exactly what you see and then click on publish. Thats all!
Now, back to the subject at hand, these tips I provide are a continuous process. Then again, I must warn that you try out small portions of the recommended mixture, on smaller parts of your skin. The reason is some of you might be allergic to some of these things, while others are not.

Egg white and honey face mask: It works wonders, trust me. All you have to do is mix one egg white with 1 tbsp of honey, apply it evenly over your face extending it to the neck. Rinse off after 10-15 minutes and reveal your glowing bright skin.

-Milk and honey mask: It is one of the cheapest and best formulas to get that instant glow. Take a spoonful of honey and mix at least half cup of fresh milk in it (try Oldenburger fresh milk). Now, apply this wonder mask on your face and see the amazing results.

My last advice for that wholesome, fresh, glowing face will be to try out all 3 ingredients at once.

 So make a mixture of egg white, milk and honey, whisk and slather generously on your face. Allow up to 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Extra tips: For oily and acne prone skin, use egg whites only in your mixture, for dry skin, use the egg yolk, while the whole egg (both yolk and white) can be used for combination skin..

Enjoy using nature's goodness not only for your stomach, but also for the benefit of your lovely skin...

Do not use any of the products if you are allergic, otherwise, try it and give me feedback through leaving a comment on the blog.

xoxo

Things i am in love with and why you should too...

Scented candles have taken over air fresheners for me. Not that air fresheners are not great, but scented candles last longer and locks the aroma with the air in your space. Not only do they make your space smell so delicious, as they come in different fragrances, they also add colour and style into your interior. 

From chocolatey aromas to cookies and strawberry, scented candle give you wider varieties to choose from.
Vivabella Designs stocks up on a the latest scents of YANKEE CANDLES (uploads of stock available/prices coming soon)...

Area rugs add a unique look and feel to a space. area rugs are a bit different from the usual rugs, such as centre rugs, because they are used to decorate a small part of your living room. An area rug can be used in small areas like the side of your bed, in front of your favourite couch, as seen in the pic above.  When shopping for area rugs, look for unique patterns, and lovely colours that fit into your interior. 

Customize! customise!! customise!!! @ Vivabella Designs, we believe in customising your interior accessories to create a unique design/decor. instead of going into a store and picking up a throw pillow that 100 others have picked up, make yours using lovely fabrics. Vivabella stocks up on a large range of eclectic and high quality fabrics for your curtains, throw pillows, upholstery and beddings. 

ALL FABRICS SEEN IN THE ABOVE PIC ARE AVAILABLE. To order, pls call 08033272728 or send us a message on our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/VivabellaDesignsLtd. don't forget to like our page too..

With sweet smelling scented candles, a beautiful area rug and lovely throw pillows and bedsheets, why wouldn't "he" or "she" RUN HOME TO YOU? *wink*

xoxo

Need a VISA? Tips for the Embassy...

Hey peeps. So i got a mail asking for me to write up a post based on the above topic. After much research and probably based on my own experience, i have decided to give a somewhat easy summary of what you will need to know in other to nail that VISA..

First off, bare in mind that travelling abroad is not such a HUGE deal.. with that in mind, lets go...

1. Have a GENUINE reason to want to travel: It really is important as you will soon find there's really no need for all the "over-hype" about travelling abroad! (truly). So first of all, decide if you want to be away for vacation, business, shows/exhibition, schooling, attending conferences and so on...

2. Fill the RIGHT application form PROPERLY: Google is your friend on this one, because different kinds of VISA have different application forms. You don't want to fill a business application form when you are going on a vacation.

3. Once you know what form you are filling, start to gather GENUINE DOCUMENTS: This will surely include statement of accounts, hotel reservation, etc. additionally, you can google the APPROPRIATE DOCUMENT required for your trip. You don't need to include your WAEC certificate when you are applying for holiday VISA, lol...

4. Exude Confidence: How do you exude confidence when you are not appearing in person for your VISA interview?
Let your documents speak for you. Firstly, there is nothing as irritating as seeing  "black and white" photocopies of documents. The coloured printer has been invented, use it to your advantage.  Secondly organising your docs for submission in a neat way speaks volumes to the interviewer. It shows you are organised, knowledgeable and well prepared for your trip.

How do you exude confidence when appearing in person for your VISA interview?
Firstly, if you are a lady, this is the time not to fix all your gold, red and green coloured weave ons, lol.. For the guys, toss the "soot" and if you must be corporate, look for a really nice shirt, pants and shoes. Over dressing or under dressing could be a huuuuge killer. Don't over do your make up.

Answer questions directly, look at your interviewer, be calm and smile (not too much o, just keep it polite!)..
So for instance, questions like, "When do you intend to travel?" should be answered with a simple, " I intend travelling from the 1st of may to the 14th of may" and so on...

Lastly, please, be calm. Appearing for a VISA interview can be nerve racking, I know, but keep your cool, cuz even if u don't get the VISA (which I know you will if you follow these steps), its really not the end of the world.
For more questions, contributions and ideas on this post, pls leave your comments and I will be sure to reply u asap! ciao..
xoxo

Skincare- Dealing with body odour...

Body odour aka bromhidrosis is the unpleasant smell that can occur when you sweat. the sweat itself does not smell, but the unpleasant smell comes from bacteria on the skin that breaks the sweat down into acids. Anyone who has reached puberty can produce body odour, so its really not about effizy, lol..
However, things that can make the odour worse include:
1. Personal hygiene
2. Being overweight and
3. Eating rich and spicy food(I am sure there are a whole lot of other things too, pls contribute your ideas through the comments).

The best way to deal with body odour is to keep all areas of your body clean and free from bacteria. areas prone to sweating include armpits, genital area, and feet.

Taking regular showers using good quality liquid soap will help, especially paying particular attention to the areas mentioned above. regular shaving of your armpits can also help cuz the hair in your armpits traps sweat and odour and this provides ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply.

Changing diets could also go a long way. Try non-greasy meals, and eat lots of fruits.

Do try SURE MOTION SENSE (also available for guys). How does this work? When you use this anti perspirant, the more you move around the dryer you become. Magic! However, if u find that you are still sweating profusely, maybe its time to visit a doctor or consider botox.

Hope to see you in my next post on "Tips for the Embassy"

In other news.. Hair!!!

There will be special posts referred to as "In other News" on the blog. This section will discuss other issues not really related to interior design or skin care. So I am starting today's post with talking about Hair.
I am so in love with healthy hair and try to research and ask questions on ways to maintain our hair cuz "the hair is a lady's crowning glory" really...Home beauty experts swear by avocado—and not just to repair damaged hair. Its oils (which are light and moist like our own natural skin secretions) and proteins boast the best combination of nutrients for smoothing and weighing down unruly hair. Whats the point of having glowing skin and having dry, lifeless hair? (just asking)...
Today's home remedy is a mixture of Avocado+ Eggs + Mayonnaise + Olive oil.

Step 1: Mix 1/2 avocado + 1 raw egg + 1 spoon of Mayo + 3 spoons of Pure Olive oil.

Step 2: Apply mixture on hair, wrap hair nicely in a steam cap (shower cap) and leave on from 20-30 minutes ( you can also steam hair in steamer.

Your mixture should look like this:

Step 3: Wash off mixture and proceed to shampoo. style your strands and keep looking fabulous.

xoxo

Yes, you can loose 5 pounds in a couple of days! Learn how...

I am so guilty of what i am about to accuse everyone of doing, so don't worry, you are so not alone. Ditching or even reducing your intake of fizzy drinks like coke/fanta/sprite/DIET coke is your answer to loosing at least 5 pounds (over 2kg) in a few days. We all are fond of using "minerals" for our meals, so much that we are not getting enough water. Apart from the importance on loosing some pounds off your waist, research claims that less consumption of these drinks reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and lowers blood pressure.

In order to find out if cutting out drinking "soda" (fizzy drinks) really shrinks the waist, i decided to use myself as a "guinea pig" and for sure the results wowed me. So here goes, a picture of me after reducing my intake of fizzy drinks for like a month. 

Not bad, huh! lol!! This is to encourage u. trust me, my belly wasn't that flat before i decided to "reduce" drinking Fanta... lol.

See you in my next post and please feel free to contribute through commenting.

xoxo