And the best bit? They're all under a fiver!
I am a total beauty junkie. My house is filled with serums, creams, face masks, oils and hair products, spending far too long each morning deciding which ones to use. With everything that’s out there on the market though, I have a few secret products I can’t live without. These are products that some of you probably already have at home, or else can buy from any supermarket or pharmacy – and for under a fiver. Bonus! Sometimes it really is the most simple things have that have the best effect…
Follow Roxie on Instagram @RoxieNafousi Rose Water
My mum is someone I always go to for beauty advice, she has the best skin of anyone I know. She grew up in a rural town where no one knew what the latest face creams even were and so her and her sisters relied on natural ingredients and home remedies. Rose water is one product she swears by and having done some research on it, I can see why. It’s not only filled with antioxidants and vitamins, but it’s also got incredible anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties. There are so many ways you can use it: put some in your bath for soft skin, apply chilled onto a cotton pad and place over your eyes to reduce puffiness or pour into a travel size spray bottle and spritz on your face when you need some extra hydration or a freshen up. My favorite way to use it though is as a toner. Just place a little on a cotton wool ball and wipe all over your face – the rose water removes oil and bacteria, and will leave your skin fresh and feeling tight. All hail, Rose Water!
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I love wearing face masks because I always feel like I’m in a scene from Clueless and it always feels good to give your skin some extra love and attention. During these colder months, skin can get dehydrated and look a bit lackluster, so it’s even more important to give it an extra boost of vitamins. My secret homemade (easy-as-anything to do yourself) face mask is simply a mashed avocado mixed with a tablespoon of honey, massaged onto cleansed skin and left for about 15-20 minutes before being rinsed off with warm water. It’s a mask that you can guarantee is free from any nasty chemicals and is packed with goodness. Avocados contain SO many vitamins that are essential for the skin, such as vitamin C, E, K and B6 which help to nourish skin as well as remove dead skin cells. They also contain amino acids to help protect your skin from those dreaded toxins. As for the honey, it’s not only moisturizing but its great for fighting acne thanks to its antibacterial properties. A one minute trip to your fridge and there you have it – revitalised and glowing skin!
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Baby Johnson’s Bedtime Oil
We’re back to the baby department again! This time it’s to make your skin literally baby soft. I’ve always preferred body oils to creams because they are so much easier to apply and they make my skin feel so much more nourished. The problem for me is that they’re not cheap and a lot of them are heavily perfumed which is nice on occasion, but I don’t like to use them every day. So, when a friend suggested I used Baby Johnson’s instead, I had to try it out. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels on the skin, and the bedtime oil is infused with lavender, which smells delicious and is so relaxing just before you go to bed.
It’s best applied all over the body after your shower/bath when your body is still damp so that it locks in all the moisture. Leave it to absorb for about 10-15 minutes before putting on your PJs. Another little trick is to cover your feet in baby oil (and/or Sudocrem!) and then put on a pair of socks for an hour to help with cracked and dry skin.
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I’m sure most of you have heard many different ways people use coconut oil. A very trendy health product that everyone seemed to have a use for - from cooking to whitening teeth - it's such a multi-purpose wonder. I'll admit that the initial hype surrounding it almost put me off, but when I started using it on my hair I became a self–professed coconut oil groupie. We are all so used to applying heat to our hair regularly, whether that’s from blow-drying, straightening or curling. Hair gets so damaged but coconut oil repairs our hair by penetrating right into the hair shaft, rather than just coating it. It’s been used for centuries as a remedy for hair loss and I'll attest to the fact, it truly has remarkable effects. To use it, apply a generous amount all over the hair and leave for 20-30 minutes before washing out thoroughly. I recommend doing this once or twice a week and in a few months you will see your hair looking fuller, longer and healthier!
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Sudocrem
Source: Instagram.com/AdindaBinTang Many of you, especially those of you with kids, will think of Sudocrem and automatically think of changing nappies and that thought alone might totally deter you from ever wanting to put this thick white cream on your face. However, I am asking you to put aside those preconceptions and trust me that Sudocrem will change your life! There is almost no skin ailment that I don’t believe this is good for. If you suffer breakouts, then a thin dab of this on the problem area is exactly what you need to reduce redness and the size of angry spots.
Sunburn, even? Here today, gone tomorrow.
I suffer badly from hives too and it is so effective in relieving itchy, irritable skin. I recommend using this at night just before bed after you’ve cleansed your face and your moisturiser has sunk in.
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